College football opening weekend
NCAA football is back, and what a bang it started out with this year. BYU upsets Oklahoma, with Heisman winner Sam Bradford getting knocked out with an injury. Ohio State almost getting upset by Navy. Northern Iowa having TWO field goals blocked in the last seven seconds by #22 Iowa, preventing them from pulling off the upset. LeGarrette Blount of Oregon gets suspended for his entire senior season after punching a Boise State player in the aftermath of a defeat. And Florida State, led by Bobby Bowden who has battled NCAA violations this off-season, gets upset by Miami in arguably the most exciting game this week.
First off, while I did not pick this upset, BYU upsetting previously 3rd ranked Oklahoma did not surprise me at all. Not only did reigning Heisman winner and current Heisman candidate Sam Bradford of Oklahoma get knocked out of the game due to an injury, but BYU is led by Max Hall, another Heisman candidate in my mind who would have had Oklahoma fearing an upset the whole game with or without Bradford. BYU is a legitimate threat this year in football. Expect them to make some serious noise in the BCS standings.
Secondly, a game that had people thinking Appalachian State vs. Michigan all over again, Northern Iowa was a 47-yard field goal away from pulling off the upset over 22nd ranked Iowa. Northern Iowa lost 14-13 after two blocked field goals in the final 7 seconds by Iowa, both from 47 yards out. However, they had a 13-3 lead in the 3rd quarter, leading me to believe that Iowa gave a lackluster performance, only to step their game and expose Northern Iowa for who they truly are in the final quarter of the game. A good FBS (Division 1-A) kicker can at least get the ball high enough and far enough for a 47 yard kick. Accuracy is a different story. But Northern Iowa's two kicks weren't even high enough to get over the line of scrimmage, as both were blocked, proving the kicker was less than average talent wise, which ultimately led to Northern Iowa's demise.
Next, the Oregon vs. Boise State matchup, won by Boise State, ended in controversy when LeGarrette Blount punched a Boise State player in the jaw after being taunted, then attempting to attack a group of fans only to be held back by coaches and teammates. While the Boise State player should not have been taunting Blount, Blount clearly overreacted. When you play on a national stage such as the NCAA, and you play on ESPN in a nationally televised game, you have to hold yourself to a higher standard of integrity. Blount did not display that, and that is what resulted in his year long suspension.
First off, while I did not pick this upset, BYU upsetting previously 3rd ranked Oklahoma did not surprise me at all. Not only did reigning Heisman winner and current Heisman candidate Sam Bradford of Oklahoma get knocked out of the game due to an injury, but BYU is led by Max Hall, another Heisman candidate in my mind who would have had Oklahoma fearing an upset the whole game with or without Bradford. BYU is a legitimate threat this year in football. Expect them to make some serious noise in the BCS standings.
Secondly, a game that had people thinking Appalachian State vs. Michigan all over again, Northern Iowa was a 47-yard field goal away from pulling off the upset over 22nd ranked Iowa. Northern Iowa lost 14-13 after two blocked field goals in the final 7 seconds by Iowa, both from 47 yards out. However, they had a 13-3 lead in the 3rd quarter, leading me to believe that Iowa gave a lackluster performance, only to step their game and expose Northern Iowa for who they truly are in the final quarter of the game. A good FBS (Division 1-A) kicker can at least get the ball high enough and far enough for a 47 yard kick. Accuracy is a different story. But Northern Iowa's two kicks weren't even high enough to get over the line of scrimmage, as both were blocked, proving the kicker was less than average talent wise, which ultimately led to Northern Iowa's demise.
Next, the Oregon vs. Boise State matchup, won by Boise State, ended in controversy when LeGarrette Blount punched a Boise State player in the jaw after being taunted, then attempting to attack a group of fans only to be held back by coaches and teammates. While the Boise State player should not have been taunting Blount, Blount clearly overreacted. When you play on a national stage such as the NCAA, and you play on ESPN in a nationally televised game, you have to hold yourself to a higher standard of integrity. Blount did not display that, and that is what resulted in his year long suspension.
And then the best part about college football's opening weekend this year, the thrilling upset that Miami pulled out over Florida State in a game that came down to the final play. Miami showed incredible resilency during the game, especially from quarterback Jacory Harris, who led the Hurricanes on a game-winning touchdown drive with a num arm. Truly the heart of a champion.
To end the story, I have to be a homer. Kansas State beat UMass 21-17 in Bill Snyder's return to college football. 1-0 BABY!!! haha.
Posted by The NEWBO report at 9/8/2009 10:48 PM 
Categories: NCAA
Tags: NCAA Snyder Oklahoma State Football Bill Oregon Bradford Northern Iowa Sam Iowa BYU Kansas Boise State
Categories: NCAA
Tags: NCAA Snyder Oklahoma State Football Bill Oregon Bradford Northern Iowa Sam Iowa BYU Kansas Boise State
Comments