Rosenbaum's Rousers: College Football Week #2

In my opinion, nothing can match the passion, tradition, and pageantry of college football. There are always particular games, plays and players that "rouse" us for various reasons. It may be a shocking upset. You might have seen a play that you’ve never witnessed before. Or it could be that you saw an individual performance that captivated your attention. Whatever the case may be, you have to love the uncertainty and exhilarating thrill of college football. This is unless of course you’re on the losing end of one of these major upsets or great games, OR perhaps were victimized by a particular unorthodox play or outstanding individual performance, OR had a major speed bump thrown in your team’s path by a severe injury to a key player.

Each week, I will note a few of the things that "roused" me and demanded my attention from the previous weekend’s action.

Broncos still buckin’ in Boise under Chris Petersen

Yeah, Boise State lost a great coach when Dan Hawkins left to take the Colorado job. Chris Petersen, who was the offensive coordinator under Hawkins, was the obvious choice to replace his departed boss. After all, he has guided the Bronco offenses that have been as potent as any in the nation in recent years averaging over 40 points per game during his tenure. It is an extremely balanced offense as the Broncos have been among the nation’s team leaders in rushing and passing during recent years.

Peterson’s Broncos are 2-0 following an impressive shellacking of Oregon State, which took place before a national television audience on ESPN on Thursday night. The Beavers jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but all Boise State did was score 42 unanswered. The Broncos could have probably won by more, but played it smart and ran out the clock. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit projects Petersen’s squad to run the table and possibly bust into a BCS bowl.

BSU defeated Sacramento State, 45-0, in their opener. Next up, they travel to Laramie, Wyoming to play the Wyoming Cowboys.

Broncos’ back Ian Johnson is a thoroughbred

In 2005, it was tailback by committee for Boise State. This scenario meant that Ian Johnson was one of four featured backs for the Broncos. In this role, he rushed for 663 yards on 119 carries, an average of 5.6 per.

In the opener, Johnson rushed for 89 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns. His second start as the premier back in the BSU attack came against Oregon State on ESPN before a national viewing audience. Behind a very strong offensive line, the sophomore ran for 240 yards on only 22 carries, while setting a school record by scoring five touchdowns.

Johnson, who had two touchdown runs of at least 50 yards against Oregon State, demonstrated that he has the ability to be the back that the Broncos place the majority of the rushing workload on this season. He appears to be the total package, possessing all of qualities desired in a running back—speed, strength, vision, good feet, durability, good hands, and that quick burst that you can’t teach. If you give him the smallest of creases, he will make you pay. Ask Mike Riley and the Beavers. On his 50-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, he was going left before finding the crease back to the right; at that point, he showed an incredible burst as he exploded through the hole, sprinting 50 yards for the score.

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit considered him to be one of the top running backs on the west coast.

#1 Buckeyes hold Horns to a single touchdown in Austin

Many analysts have stated that Ohio State might have to outscore people at times this year if they want to achieve their team goals of Big Ten and National titles. Well, on Saturday they proved they might not have to. Yeah, I know it was only game two, and Texas’ QB Colt McCoy was starting only his second game, but it is a very strong performance regardless.

“BEAMERBALL”: Hokies use familiar formula to beat Tar Heels, 35-10

Virginia Tech, despite only gaining 224 yards on offense, easily defeated North Carolina on Saturday. The Hokies, who have been notorious for blocking punts, field goals and forcing turnovers under Frank Beamer, won with their old formula of great special teams play and defense. This formula had been appropriately titled, “Beamerball.” Their first score was on a one-yard drive, which was set up by an Adibi interception of Tar Heel QB Joe Dailey. A blocked punt that was returned to the one-yard line set up their second score. They would end up with five takeaways on the day, including four interceptions.

Schiano has Scarlet Knights sizzlin’

Last season, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano led the Scarlet Knights to only their second bowl game in school history and first since 1978! Rutgers finished 7-5 following their 45-40 loss to Arizona State in the Insight Bowl. This year, Schiano’s sixth at the New Jersey school, the program is continuing its newfound winning ways. The Scarlet Knights are currently 2-0 following a 21-16 road win at North Carolina and a 33-0 win at home over Ron Zook’s Illinois Fighting Illini. Expect Schiano and Rutgers to be going bowling again come December.

Akron “Zips” out of Carter-Finley Stadium with huge win

J.D. Brookhart led his Zips into Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday and won on the final play of the game. Akron led only 7-0 at halftime, despite really dominating the play in the first half. NCSU took a 17-14 lead with just under two minutes remaining after converting a fourth down play from the Akron five-yard line. However, in celebrating the play, a Wolfpack player came off the bench, which resulted in a 15-yard penalty. This forced them to kickoff from the 20 and gave the Zips very good field position at their own 33.

Akron was resilient though, responding with a 67-yard touchdown drive to win the game. Despite the game-winning drive, Akron got caught off guard by the new clock rule and was not ready when the ball was whistled for play, wasting 20 seconds. This made NC State’s 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the touchdown that allowed Akron to start their drive at their 33 rather than the 18 that much more costly.

The Akron offense gained 412 yards on the day, while holding NC State to 290, including only 81 rushing yards on 31 carries. This was an impressive performance considering NCSU’s stable full of talented running backs.

I-AA New Hampshire spoils Northwestern and Fitzgerald’s home opener

First year Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald, the youngest coach in Division I-A, and his Wildcats were knocked off by I-AA New Hampshire in their home opener on Saturday. The other Wildcats came into Evanston on a mission to prove that they could play with a team from the Big Ten. Needless to say, they accomplished that mission, winning 34-17. NU out gained UNH, but UNH took advantage of three NU turnovers.

Northwestern University honored late head coach Randy Walker before the game. Walker died of a heart attack a few weeks prior to the season.

Falcons’ DeBerry goes for two and win rather than OT on Rocky Top

Air Force, which had trailed 31-17, had a chance to tie and possibly force overtime at Tennessee, but Falcons’ coach Fisher DeBerry elected go for two and the win in regulation.

Personally, I don’t agree with the move. I know the reasoning behind the move is that you’re playing on the road, so go ahead and try to win it on one play from three yards out while you have the momentum. However, I’ve always said that I’d prefer to take my chances with the PAT (assuming you don’t have kicker issues) and then hopefully win in overtime. The odds of a two-point conversion being converted is somewhere in the 30-40% range. DeBerry knows his team’s fatigue issues, etc. at the time and obviously had his reasons for doing what he did.

Mississippi State continues to be plagued by poor offense: Scoreless in ‘06

Sylvester Croom’s Bulldogs have had their offensive woes during his tenure in Starkville. They averaged 15.7 points per game in Croom’s debut in ’04 and it has been downhill ever since. They did score a Croom era high 38 points in the ’05 opener versus Murray State, but would then only average 12 points per game last season. MSU has been shut out five times in 24 games under Croom.

This year has not been any different as they have yet to score. MSU lost to South Carolina, 15-0, in the opener. Auburn shut them out, 34-0, this past weekend at MSU.

The Bulldogs, who have played some solid defense under Croom, are 6-18 since he took over in ’04. In his defense, he did inherit a program that was in disarray.

Bowden and # 9 Seminoles survive scare from Troy

Troy went into Tallahassee and led the Seminoles 17-10 with just over 11 minutes remaining, but FSU would score two touchdowns in the final 6:12, allowing them to avoid the upset, 24-17.

WEST TEXAS SHOOTOUT: #24 Texas Tech escapes El Paso with 38-35 win

Mike Leach’s Red Raiders got everything they wanted and then some from Mike Price’s Miners, but a 49-yard field goal by Alex Trlica propelled Tech to a 38-35 overtime win. The field goal attempt ricocheted in off an upright.

These two teams, which are known for their high-powered offenses, kept trading shot after shot at each other before a UTEP record crowd of 51,827 in the Sun Bowl on Saturday night. The Red Raiders gunslinger Cody Harrell completed 40 of 52 passes for 376 yards and two scores, while UTEP’s Jordan Palmer went 34 of 51 for 334 yards and three touchdowns. The two teams combined for 978 yards of total offense and 55 first downs. The game also featured a total of 17 penalties for 164 yards.

SWEET HOME CALIFORNIA: Cal responds to loss at UT in big way

Jeff Tedford and the Cal Bears suffered a very disappointing opening loss at Tennessee in their opener. They took that frustration out on Minnesota on Saturday, winning 42-17. The offense racked up 531 total yards, which included 300 through the air and 231 on the ground. Star running back Marshawn Lynch finished the day with 139 yards on 27 carries.

Solich and Ohio surprise Northern Illinois in MAC opener, 35-23

Frank Solich and his Ohio Bobcats went into Huskie Stadium and defeated one of the preseason favorites to win the Mid-American Conference. The game featured 971 total yards. OU had 509 yards and quarterback Austen Everson was 23-31 for 322 yards and three touchdowns.

Clemson and Wyoming suffer overtime losses after failed PATs

The 18th ranked Clemson Tigers lost 34-33 in overtime at Boston College on Saturday following a blocked point after touchdown attempt. Tommy Bowden’s Tigers lost two overtime games last season as well as a couple others in the final minutes.

Clemson wasn’t alone. Wyoming lost to Virginia in overtime, 13-12, following a missed PAT.

Lubick’s Colorado State Rams win “Rocky Mountain Showdown”

Dan Hawkins’ Buffs are now 0-2 following a 14-10 loss to rival CSU in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. The Rams defense held CU to 147 total yards. Colorado State wide receiver Johnny Walker caught 10 balls for 157 yards, including one where he went up between two CU defenders. This particular catch earned him a spot on Sportscenter’s Top Ten Plays of the Day.

James Jones’ run lifts San Jose State over Stanford, 35-34

Spartan running back James Jones scored on an amazing 42-yard run, one on which he went left before reversing field and scoring in the right corner of the end zone. The play was so good that it was #1 on Sportscenter’s Top Ten Plays of the Day on ESPN.

Ol’ Ball Coach shut out for the first time since 1987

The Georgia Bulldogs went into Williams-Brice Stadium and shut out the Gamecocks, 18-0. It was the first time since 1987, when at Duke, that a Steve Spurrier team had been held scoreless. It was also only the second time it has ever happened.

For UGA, it was fitting that the shutout came the week that their former great defensive coordinator, Erk Russell, passed away. Russell’s defenses were referred to as “The Junkyard Dawgs.” A new set of “Junkyard Dawgs” were present in Columbia on Saturday.

“Mumme Ball” at NMSU: Holbrook throws for 472 yards vs. Lobos

Hal Mumme built Kentucky and I-AA Southeastern Louisiana into winners. He is now attempting to do the same at New Mexico State. After going 0-11 in his first season, Mumme and his Aggies are 1-1 this season with a win over SE Louisiana and narrow loss to rival New Mexico. In the loss to New Mexico, NMSU quarterback Chase Holbrook completed 37 of 56 passes for 472 yards and four touchdowns.