NCAA Football... It's in the game! - Page 5

#61 10-15-2002, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake

I love to see the horns lose. For the last few years they seem to pull it out. Before watching A&M vs Tech I thought A&M's defense was pretty good and their offense needed work... Now I don't know what to think. If they could both work at once you'd have a helluva team.

Gig 'em

Well, i tell ya what, Tech beat us pretty bad. But i think our defense recovered well against Baylor. (I know it's Baylor, but it's still encouraging)

To me, the proof will be the Nebraska and Oklahoma State games. If we can dominate the Nebraska offense(which i think we will) and have a good offensive showing against OSU, i think the OU game will be a HUGE one.

Man, here's hoping we take care of business this week and put a whooping on the Bugeaters.

Kitso
KS 361 more yds. per game A&M's offense is averaging since Dino was demoted.

Kevin · #62 10-20-2002, 05:36 PM

Oklahoma picks up four first-place votes in AP poll
Oct. 20, 2002
SportsLine.com wire reports

Oklahoma gained ground on No. 1 Miami, picking up four first-place votes in The Associated Press Top 25.

The second-ranked Sooners (7-0) beat Iowa State 49-3 Saturday, while the Hurricanes (6-0) were idle. Miami's margin over Oklahoma decreased 15 points to 1,837-to-1,787.

Four other undefeated teams followed: Virginia Tech (7-0), Ohio State (8-0), Georgia (7-0), and Notre Dame (7-0). The Irish moved up one spot from No. 7, because Oregon (6-1) slipped from sixth to 14th after a 45-42 loss to Arizona State.

Iowa State's defeat also dropped it eight places, to No. 17.

The first Bowl Championship Series standings will be released Monday. That'sa compilation of the AP's media poll, the coaches' poll, seven computer rankings, strength of schedule and won-loss records. The BCS standings determine which teams will play for the national championship.

No. 12 N.C. State (8-0) and No. 24 Bowling Green (6-0) are the other ranked unbeaten teams.

No. 7 Texas (6-1) is the highest ranked team with a loss. Michigan (6-1), Washington State (6-1) and LSU (6-1) round out the top 10.

Air Force picked up its first loss -- 21-14 to Notre Dame -- and fell four spots to No. 22.

Arizona State's victory over Oregon put it in the poll at No. 23. The other newcomer this week is No. 25 Minnesota.

Mississippi and Washington fell out of the Top 25 after losses.

The top five in the coaches' poll are Miami, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Georgia.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2002, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

TigerGirl52 · #63 10-20-2002, 06:36 PM

Don't know if anybody watched the LSU-USC game but it was awesome being there. OK maybe not for the first half...but the third quarter was magical. I have never seen the fans get that loud and crazy. Saban must have lit a fire under all of the players' asses. There was a new team that came out of the locker room after halftime. Just glad we didn't lose because we seem to do that after winning a big game (exampe: stomping on Tennessee in 2000 then losing the next game to UAB). GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!!!

IowaHawkeye · #64 10-20-2002, 06:44 PM

I love my HAWKEYES

Up to #13 in the polls and ready to keep moving up! After we beat Michigan - we'll be top 10

Kevin · #65 10-20-2002, 06:51 PM

Irish make big plays, stuff Air Force
Oct. 20, 2002
SportsLine.com wire reports

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Notre Dame offense finally produced an effort worthy of a top-10 team. That doesn't mean the Fighting Irish defense took the night off.

Ryan Grant ran for 190 yards and a touchdown, and the seventh-ranked Fighting Irish stuffed the nation's top rushing team, beating Air Force 21-14 Saturday night to remain unbeaten.

Notre Dame (7-0) won its first six games despite an offense that was among the nation's worst. The Irish won this battle between two of college football's biggest surprises by taking advantage of their size up front -- up to 60 pounds heavier than Air Force's line -- to produce a season-high 447 total yards.

"I think our offensive line, our backs, our entire offensive team did an excellent job of execution," said Tyrone Willingham, who joined Jesse Harper (1913-14) and Ara Parseghian (1964) as the only Notre Dame coaches to win their first seven games.

Air Force (6-1), playing in front of a record crowd of 56,409, couldn't keep Notre Dame's defenders out of the backfield and wasn't able to get around the speedy Irish on the outside.

The 18th-ranked Falcons finished with just 104 yards rushing, 235 below their average.

"They didn't surprise with anything particularly they did. They just executed very well," Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry said.

The Irish did it by focusing on Chance Harridge. The diminutive Air Force quarterback had been elusive during Air Force's first six games, running for 615 yards and 15 touchdowns -- tied for most in the nation.

Notre Dame consistently had two players in Harridge's face immediately after he made the first fake on the option. The Irish also kept the running backs from reaching the corner on the outside.

Harridge finished with just 31 yards on 13 carries. He also was just 6-of-14 passing for 57 yards, and he had a pass intercepted by Shane Walton in the third quarter. It was Walton's sixth pick of the season.

"I thought they had a good plan and I thought they executed that plan," DeBerry said. "We didn't block them very well."

Notre Dame dominated most of the way, totaling 199 more yards than Air Force in the first half. But the Irish allowed the Falcons to stay in it with three fumbles and two missed field goals by Nicholas Setta.

Carlyle Holiday fumbled on Notre Dame's first drive when he was sacked by Cameron Hodge, then he put the ball on the ground again when he was blindsided by Jon Hicks on a run up the middle.

Air Force didn't capitalize on the first fumble, but Marchello Graddy returned the second one 21 yards for the game's first score.

Notre Dame led 14-7 at halftime on touchdown runs by Holiday and Grant, but Air Force quickly tied it after Sean Rodgers stripped Vontez Duff on the second-half kickoff. Kenny Smith recovered at the Notre Dame 16, and Harridge scored six plays later on a 1-yard sneak.

Setta pushed a 41-yard attempt wide right in the second quarter, and he missed to the left on a 36-yarder in the third.

Still, Willingham said he didn't think the turnovers had much of an effect.

"The mistakes that cause turnovers, I don't think they bothered our guys one bit," said Willingham, whose team is off to its best start since opening the 1993 season with 10 straight wins.

Notre Dame took a 21-14 lead midway through the third on a 1-yard sneak by Holiday, his second touchdown of the game. He also scored on a 53-yard run after being flushed from the pocket.

Air Force had just 57 yards rushing on 23 carries in the first half.

Offensively, the Irish easily sealed off the smaller Falcons at the line of scrimmage, giving Grant up to 4 and 5 yards of cushion before he reached any tacklers.

Grant had 129 yards on 15 carries in the first half, and he scored on an 18-yard run late in the second quarter through a huge hole up the middle.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2002, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

Kevin · #66 10-20-2002, 06:53 PM

I don't usually follow the Irish.. I'm really amazed though at what Willingham has been able to do since taking over the job. I'm still not a believer that they should be top 10 (with teams like Oklahoma, Ohio State, Miami, etc) but this is just not the same team I saw last year.

KSig RC · #67 10-21-2002, 03:13 AM

***PAGING QUEEQUEK***

4-22

43

3

***THAT IS ALL***

hahaha - j/k man, OU ends up being nasty, makes me wish we'd given stoops the money he wanted to be a hawk (his dad was, and he was an assistant for a while)

Kevin · #68 10-21-2002, 09:06 AM

I'm actually surprised he hung around here after the 2000 season. I'm afraid he's going to go into the NFL every time the offseason hits. If he leaves though, his brother Mike is Head Defensive Coordinator and would probably take over.

IowaHawkeye · #69 10-25-2002, 11:24 AM

BIG game this weekend for IOWA. We'll be taking on Michigan, a team we haven't beaten since an awesome 24-23 victory back in 1990.

But it's ok - we're not worried. It's Michigans homecoming, they stole our university president this summer, and we'll be playing in front of a huge crowd of over 110,000 - but it looks like it will be a close one. we're both undefeated in conference action and rank #2 (IOWA) and #3 (michigan) in scoring in Big 10 games.

If the game does come down to being a close one, like that day back in 1990 - special teams will be the deciding factor - and have you seen Iowa's special teams? We're awesome - definitely have the edge over Michigan on that one

valkyrie · #70 10-26-2002, 03:40 PM

Hahahaha! Wooooo hoooo! I'm laughing at all the people who were talkin' crap to me all week about how Michigan was going to beat my Hawks. Ha!!!

IowaHawkeye · #71 10-26-2002, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PM_Mama00

You play Michigan on its homecoming.... GOOD LUCK!

Ouch... lost your homecoming game 34-9 to the far superior IOWA HAWKEYES that hurts... wow and now there's only 2 undefeated teams in Big 10 play and you still have to play the other one, Ohio State... rough...

Pasadena is going to look so good in BLACK & GOLD

The word is Fight, Fight,
Fight for IOWA,
Let every loyal Iowan sing;
The word is Fight, Fight,
Fight for IOWA,
Until the walls and,
rafters ring,
(Go Hawks!),
Come on and cheer,
cheer, cheer
for IOWA
Come on and cheer until you hear
the final gun.
The word is Fight, Fight, Fight for IOWA
Until the game is won.

GO HAWKS

Kevin · #72 10-26-2002, 04:19 PM

For anyone that saw the end of the ND FSU game that Thompson QB is amazing! Replace Rix and you could easily go undefeated this season. He's an accurate passer with a hell of an arm -- and he can run as well!

My prediction is the Irish and the Sooners will meet in the Fiesta Bowl. I don't see how Miami can put anything up against the Hokies and their running attack after looking so mediocre against a mediocre team in West VA.

PM_Mama00 · #73 10-26-2002, 09:45 PM

Ouch........

Good job to the Hawks... as they kicked Michigan's ass today at their homecoming game.

Navarre---- G-dayum you suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edwards--- I catch a cold better than you can catch a football. Where the hell did you come from?

What the hell is wrong with these people?

I gotta give props to the Hawkeye fans out there who came to the Big House... they are one loud crowd!

That's ok tho... MSU here we come!

People with Michigan ticks... look out for the flying blown up... ahem... at the State game... courtesy of my friends.

KSig RC · #74 10-27-2002, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
I gotta give props to the Hawkeye fans out there who came to the Big House... they are one loud crowd!

You've obviously never been to Kinnick . . .

hahaha - my dad was at the BH, along w/ around 10 of my good friends, I only couldn't make it out of monetary concerns - but Hail to the Victors, Eh?

*insert* In Heaven There Is No Beer here

I hear nothing but good things about new year's in pasadena - I'll be sure to let you know.

Thrillhouse · #75 10-27-2002, 10:58 AM

And if Ohio St loses once, Iowa will walk away with the big ten title. Even if the buckeyes win out, both teams will be tied. The big 10 really needs a 12th team so they can have a title game. We don't need a team like Iowa representing us in the rose bowl, than getting blown out 44-14.