Coaching Changes

The 2007 regular season isn't even complete and already we've had a number of coaching changes. I'll try and keep them all on this post

Nebraska

Ole Miss

Texas A&M

SMU

Baylor

Michigan

What I'm Watching (Thanksgiving Weekend)

Thanksgiving Day
Southern California @ Arizona State 8:00 p.m. ESPN

Friday 11/23
Ole Miss @ Mississippi State 12:30 p.m. LFS/GP (Ch. TBA)
Arkansas @ LSU 2:30 p.m. CBS
Texas @ Texas A&M 3:30 p.m. ABC
Boise State @ Hawaii 9:00 p.m. ESPN2

Saturday 11/24
Morning
Virginia Tech @ Virginia Noon ESPN
Tennessee @ Kentucky 1:30 p.m. CBS

Afternoon
Georgia @ Georgia Tech 3:30 p.m. ABC/GP (Ch. TBA)
UConn @ West Virginia 3:30 p.m. ABC/GP (Ch. TBA)
Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma 3:30 p.m. FSN
Florida State @ Florida 5:00 p.m. CBS

Evening
Clemson @ South Carolina 7:00 p.m. ESPN2
Missouri vs. Kansas (in Kansas City) 8:00 p.m. ABC/GP (Ch. TBA)
Alabama @ Auburn 8:00 p.m. ESPN

What I'm Watching 11/17/07 (picks in red)

Morning
Ohio State @ Michigan Noon ABC - The best rivalry in cfb (outside of Army/Navy) isn't for as big of stakes as last season's game, but it is still for the Rose Bowl, and if Michigan wins could be for a 2nd BCS team for the often mocked Big10. Hart, Henne, and Carr need this game more than the Buckeyes, especially after their BCS NCG are basically gone after falling to Illinois.

North Carolina @ Georgia Tech Noon LFS/GP (Ch. 777) - The Jackets try and lock up a bowl bid and get to 7 wins against a talented but young Tar Heel squad who are already dealing with rumors of their coach leaving for greener pastures after only 1 season.

Missouri @ Kansas State 12:30 p.m. FSN - Missouri has climbed to 5th (probably 4th next weekend now that Oregon has lost) and only have 1 nice victory on their resume with a win over Illinois the first week of the season. The Tigers must not look ahead to their game against Kansas next weekend or the Wildcats could sneak up on them. Not likely with the way KSU played against Nebraska, but this is the same team that crushed Texas.

Kentucky @ Georgia 12:30 p.m. LFS/GP (Ch. 781) - Is anyone playing better than Georgia right now? This team could steal back their way into the NCG if LOTS of craziness goes down over the next two weeks. They are also looking very good for an at large BCS spot if Tennessee wins the SEC East

Afternoon
Duke @ Notre Dame 2:30 p.m. NBC - A battle of 1-9 teams has never gotten as much pub as this week's ND/Duke game. The Irish are in uncharted waters having never lost 9 games in a season, and could finish off with two more losses if they don't play better than they did against Air Force last weekend. Duke hasn't stopped anyone, but they are capable of putting up points.

LSU @ Ole Miss 3:30 p.m. CBS - LSU is the unquestioned #1 team now that Oregon has lost (at least until Kansas plays Missouri next weekend) and is down to a 3 game season for a trip to New Orleans. The Tigers need to beat Ole Miss, travel home and defeat Arkansas, and then beat Tennessee or Georgia in Atlanta on December 1st. They should get by Coach O's team easily on Saturday.

Evening
West Virginia @ Cincinnati 7:45 p.m. ESPN - Battle for the Big East's BCS bid. WVU also is keeping an eye on the Big12 teams and hoping they knock each other off leading to a possible birth in the national title game for the Mountaineers.

Boston College @ Clemson 7:45 p.m. ESPN2 - Two weeks ago BC was a national title contender with a Heisman candidate leading the offense. Two losses later and the Eagles are playing an elimination game for the ACC championship game. For the first time in memory Tommy Bowden's Tigers haven't imploded to close out the season.

Oklahoma @ Texas Tech 8:00 p.m. ABC - Oklahoma has been unstoppable and home and frighteningly vulnerable on the road. This is their last real test before the Big12 title game (assuming they can get past Okie State at home) but if anyone is to knock Oklahoma out of the national title picture it will be Texas Tech.

#2 Oregon @ Arizona

Pregame
The University of Oregon has risen to #2 in the BCS after Ohio State lost last weekend and travels to Tucson, Arizona to take on Mike Stoops' Wildcats. It has been another tough season in the desert, but Arizona feels they have a chance with their newfound offense with quarterback Willie Tuitama who has been playing much better the past few weeks. He'll have to play lights out against a suspect Oregon secondary in order to keep his team in a shootout because Oregon figures to have no problems scoring points themselves if Dennis Dixon is back to 100% healthy.


First Quarter
Oregon gets the ball and is able to drive fairly easily on Arizona before getting stopped at the 39 yard line of the Wildcats. Facing a 4th and 3 the Ducks decide to go for it with Dixon running the read play and keeping it himself for a 39 yard touchdown run where he wasn't touched. His knee looked healthy to me and I'm sure all the Heisman voters. Oregon then decides to line up and go for two and are able to convert successfully there as well. Two and a half minutes in and Oregon is already up 8-0.

On Arizona's first possession they are able to get a short completion before going for the long ball. Unfortunately for the wildcats the pass is easily picked off at the Oregon 43. The Arizona defense needs to do something to get off the field. They do well on the first two downs getting Oregon into another long 3rd down, but Dixon has all day to pass and completes it easily. Oregon is now at the UA 29 after only 3 plays. The Ducks run a reverse to WR Derrick Jones that goes down inside the 5. Dixon makes his first mistake. He has plenty of time to pass but waits a second too long getting the ball to his man Jones in the endzone. Flutie agrees with me that he might have tried to force it and the ball is picked off and returned out to the 45. That's only Dixon's 4th INT of the season.

Arizona really needs to answer here after the big interception. First down is the first running play and only gains a few yards. Second down and they go back to the pass and leave themselves with a 3rd and long. Tuitama picks it up with his legs and gets the ball down inside the Oregon 30 with an 18 yard run. Then Arizona is able to complete a quick WR screen that goes to the house. Oregon 8 - Arizona 7

The two teams then trade field goals to end the quarter, but Oregon has to pay a big cost with Dixon hurting his knee again and early signs say he's out for the rest of the game.
End of the 1st
Oregon 11 - Arizona 10


Second Quarter
Can Oregon do anything without Dixon in at QB? We get the answer quickly with a pick 6 of Brady Leaf for Arizona giving the home team the lead, 17-11 just 15 seconds into the 2nd quarter. The next possession doesn't go much better for Leaf with it ending in the first punt of the game. Arizona with the ball with decent field position and the lead early in the 2nd quarter. They don't get much on their first few plays but a roughing the passer penalty on Oregon gives the drive new life. A few plays later and Tuitama finds Mike Thomas deep for his 2nd touchdown of the game.
Arizona 24
#2 Oregon 11
11:34 left in the half

Oregon needs to go with a steady diet of Jonathon Stewart running the ball. He's easily the best player on the field for the Oregon offense. Sideline report now saying the trainers believe Dixon tore something in his previously sore knee. Oregon listened to me and ran Stewart 2 of their 3 plays, but are unable to pick up a first down again. Arizona looking for another huge score already up 13. Arizona isn't able to capitalize and has to punt for the first time this game. A good punt puts Oregon inside their own 20 trying to come back.

These Oregon receivers are killing Leaf. He isn't playing perfectly, but there have been a number of dropped passes. It could be timing issues, but if you're a major college receiver these are catches you must make. Then on 3rd down the protection breaks down and Leak is sacked for an 8 yard loss. In 18 snaps since Dixon has gone down Oregon has only gained ~40 yards of offense, and Oregon is forced to punt from within their own endzone. WOW. That could be the game. Senior Antoine Cason just returned the punt 55 yards for his 2nd touchdown of the quarter (he had the pick6 earlier in the quarter) to give Arizona a 20 point lead with under 6 minutes to play in the half.
Arizona 31
#2 Oregon 11
5:40 remaining

Oregon really needs to get an answer before the half. Leaf is now 1/6 for 4 yards and an INT. Oregon is only 2/8 on 3rd downs in the game. They are able to convert this one it appears with a quick WR screen. No way Oregon doesn't go for it here if they didn't get it. The Ducks do pick up the 1st down, but the good news doesn't last as the offense ends up moving backwards with another sack of Leaf forcing another punt that travels only 11 yards. Arizona gets the ball back with just over 2 minutes left in the half. The wildcats aren't able to get any points but they take care of the football and run some time off the clock. The punt isn't that great and Oregon will have it at their own 33 with just over a minute remaining before halftime.

Oregon is able to get a few quick yards with short passes to get on the Arizona side of the field before Leaf makes a very dangerous pass that would have been another 6 for Arizona. Leaf is able to make them pay for not making the interception by getting a deep pass inside the Arizona 15. With 33 seconds and 2 timeouts they have to be thinking endzone. Perhaps an ill advised short pass gets nothing for the Ducks and they have to burn a timeout with 25 seconds left in the half. Arizona is able to get right in Leaf's face but unable to bring him down. He gets the pass off but it isn't caught. Cason is right there ready to break on the pass. The 3rd down pass is way too high. Leaf didn't even give his receiver a chance with that one and Oregon is forced to attempt a field goal from 32 yards out and the kick is good. At least Oregon is able to add something, but they still face a huge deficit. Arizona just sits on it to end the half up 17.
#2 Oregon 14
Arizona 31
HALFTIME

Third Quarter
Arizona comes out going for the jugular with a deep pass on first down, but it falls just incomplete. Arizona is still gashing the Duck secondary with quick screens. An illegal hands to the face penalty negates a first down and puts Arizona in a very long 3rd down. A shovel pass gets back 15 of it, but they still are forced to punt. That is a small victory for Oregon who gets the ball back quickly to their struggling backup quarterback.

Oregon's potent offense is nothing without Dixon leading them. Leaf has an intentional grounding penalty that kills any chance of that drive going anywhere. This game has felt like it was over since midway through the 2nd quarter, and Brady Leaf isn't doing anything to change that. Arizona is letting the Ducks stick around by not getting on the scoreboard, but if they do you can go ahead and turn on the cartoons because no way Oregon can score 3 more TDs.

There's the play Oregon needed. Tuitama is flushed out of the pocket and doesn't protect the football and is hit from behind losing the football and giving Oregon the ball inside the Arizona 15 yard line. Oregon has to score here. One play and Stewart finds the endzone. A hold on Oregon brings this one back. The Ducks have realized Stewart is it for their offense and they will give him the ball again on 1st and long. Leaf is limping which totally takes away his effectiveness with the zone read play. On 2nd down Leaf almost throws an interception in the endzone which would be a HUGE dagger. Oregon is only 3/12 on third downs, and they need 13 yards here to keep the drive going. A false start penalty pushes them back even further and Leaf isn't able to get much on his passes with as bad as he's limping around. The Ducks have to settle for another field goal from 34 yards out and again the kick is good. Oregon isn't able to gain anything after the fumble, but they do get more points on the board.

#2 Oregon 17
Arizona 31
9:10 left in the 3rd

The potent Pac10 offenses aren't doing anything in the 3rd quarter against defenses that were being absolutely gashed in the beginning of this game. The teams trade disappointing drives and punts and Arizona has it back with 4:45 left in the 3rd. Arizona tries to put a drive together and does put together a few first downs before again being forced to punt. The Oregon bench is lifeless. This team has been playing without emotion since Dixon went out. Now with an injured Brady Leaf the offense is completely lifeless. Three quick passes that fall incomplete give Arizona the ball back again. Both teams seem to be happy with taking one shot down field before a short rushing gain and then a 3rd down with an incomplete pass before punting the ball away. The 7-0 Miami, OH win last night had just as much offense as this game as had in the last quarter. There's another Arizona punt. Both teams had the ball and punted in under two minutes total. One quarter to go for Oregon's NC hopes.

Fourth Quarter
Looked like it was going to be another 3 and out for Oregon, but Cason jumps the route a little too soon and gets a pass interference penalty called against him. He definitely got to the ball and the announcers think it was a ticky tack call. Still keeps the Oregon drive alive with now under 14 minutes left in the game. The Ducks can't take advantage and just have another 3 and out. And its a fake! Oregon rushes up the middle for a HUGE offensive gain (the longest since Dixon went out in the first quarter). Then Cason, the MVP for Arizona tonight for sure, forces a fumble on the fake punt. Arizona recovers! Fowler wants a review thinking the ground caused the fumble. The ball is out before he hit the ground. What a change in momentum. Oregon finally gets a huge play but after a 41 yard gain the ball is knocked loose giving Arizona the ball back.

The Wildcats get another couple of first downs but punt again. They keep giving Oregon chances, but Brady Leaf hasn't been able to lead his team to touchdowns. Oregon is down to 11 minutes left still down 2 touchdowns. Stewart breaks off two good runs in a row to give Oregon the ball in Arizona territory, but a quick WR screen to Derrick Jones leads to a fumble giving Arizona the ball again. These Oregon turnovers are sick. Looks like his knee was down, but with the Pac10 officials one can never be sure. The play is overturned and Oregon is facing a short 3rd down at the Arizona 39. Stewart fights forward for the first down. This is now easily the best drive Oregon has put together since their first touchdown. They've got a first down inside the 15 yard line with 8:28 left in the game. Stewart is carrying this team on his back. This drive is 16 plays 69 yards and has gone over 4 minutes. No play has gained more than 6 yards, though. They are definitely dinking and dunking their way down the field. Unfortunately for Oregon fans, Stewart was just helped off the field. Oregon has a first and goal at the 3. The backup running back, Andre Crenshaw, gets the carry and rushes for the touchdown. With under 8 minutes to play we've now got ourselves a ballgame again.

#2 Oregon 24
Arizona 31
7:53 remaining

Okay, Oregon, are you the #2 team in the nation? I know Dixon is out, but this isn't an elite Arizona team. Arizona hasn't scored since the 11:34 mark in the 2nd quarter. There is still a ton of time left in this game, especially since Arizona continues to try and pass which only stops the clock for Oregon. Tuitama is just 1 for his last 8 passes. He finds his TE there for the first down on an important 3rd down for Arizona. WOW. A personal foul facemask goes uncalled against Oregon which should have given Arizona an automatic first down. Instead they end up with a 3rd and 10 that only gains 9 yards. Stoops says go for it on 4th and 1 at the Oregon 36. A tough second effort may have picked up the first down on the off-tackle running play. The chains come in and Arizona does pick up the first down bringing the clock under 5 minutes.

That might be why college football is the greatest sport ever. How quickly fortunes can change. After getting a huge first down on a 4th and 1, Arizona loses the ball when Tuitama tries handing the ball off and it is recovered by Oregon. Reply shows his right knee is on the ground before he was able to hand it off. The fumble should be overturned and given back to Arizona. The Wildcat fans have probably never been happier to have their center step on their quarterback's foot causing him to fall down. Arizona is able to gain a few yards and get the ball to the 29 setting up a 46 yard field goal that is perfect.

#2 Oregon 24
Arizona 34
3:20 remaining

Oregon still isn't playing with any sense of urgency. Short crossing routes that stay inbounds aren't going to allow them to comeback. An incompletion on 2nd down followed by a short completion on 3rd down sets up a 4th and 4 that could be the ballgame and the BCS for Oregon. Leaf is able to complete a short pass over the middle to pick up the first down. Arizona students are ready to rush the field with 2:06 still remaining. And that should do it. Arizona gets another interception of Brady Leaf to get the ball back with 1:55 remaining. Oregon still has all 3 timeouts remaining, but this one should be done soon.

Arizona picks up a first down, and that's it. Oregon uses their final time out, but Arizona should be able to take a knee and finish this out. The Wildcats punt with 0:14 left in the game giving Oregon the ball at their own 25, but this game is over. A short completion and a deep incompletion end it, and Arizona wins back to back home Pac10 games for the first time since 1998.

#2 Oregon 24
Arizona 34
FINAL

What I'm Watching 11/10/07

All times Eastern

Morning
Michigan @ Wisconsin Noon ESPN - Michigan has assured themselves a chance to play for the Big10 title if they beat Ohio State next weekend. With all their stars being banged up it will be interesting how they play at Wisconsin before getting their hated rivals in the Big House in a week. Michigan could still be seeing Roses with 2 more victories, something which was unimaginable back in September

Texas A&M @ Missouri 12:30 p.m. FSN - Coach Fran is all but done in College Station, but it sure would give the Aggie faithful something to smile about if they can beat the Tigers going into their annual Thanksgiving Day showdown with Texas in 2 weeks

Alabama @ Mississippi State 12:30 p.m. LFS/GP (Ch. 780) - Bama lost a heart breaker to LSU last weekend in Tuscaloosa all but eliminating them from the SEC West chase. They'll need to win out and hope for LSU losses to both Ole Miss and Arkansas. Still Saban can increase his team's bowl by avoiding his predecessor's biggest transgression - getting Croom'd. If Bama wins Saturday they've got another sure win against ULM before the showdown against Auburn that the Crimson faithful are paying Saban $4million a year to win to get to 9 wins on the season.

Arkansas @ Tennessee 12:30 p.m. LFS/GP (Ch. 779) - After falling 42-29 to Kentucky on September 22nd Arkansas was left for dead in the SEC West. Now they 3 nice wins and brought their record back to 6-3 after the upset victory over South Carolina in which both Darren McFadden and Felix Jones rushed for over 300 yards. While they still would need LSU to lose to Ole Miss to have a chance at the SECCG for a 2nd straight year, beating Tennessee and Mississippi State could give Houston Nutt another year in Fayetteville. If the dynamic Hog pair can get similar production against the Vols this one could get ugly.

Afternoon
Auburn @ Georgia 3:30 p.m. CBS - UGA has climbed into the top10 of the BCS and are at the head of the SEC East after their big win over Florida 2 weeks ago and their win over Troy last weekend. The Dawgs are thinking SEC championship and Sugar Bowl. Auburn still has an outside shot at a BCS at large if they win out and LSU wins the SECCG. This could be a battle for the Sugar Bowl between the Hedges.

Florida State @ Virginia Tech 3:30 p.m. ABC/GP (Ch. 777) - Florida State isn't the same program that dominated the ACC during the 80's and 90's, but they showed last week in Boston that they are still a force in conference play when they show up. Can the Seminoles knock off another division leader on the road?

Texas Tech @ Texas 3:30 p.m. ABC/GP (Ch. 778) - Both teams would need Oklahoma to lose out to be able to make the Big12 CG and that isn't going to happen, but Texas is still playing for a BCS at large if they can get by Texas Tech and Texas A&M. A 10-2 Longhorn team would be very appealing to someone wanting to sell tickets to one of those big money bowl games.

Illinois @ Ohio State 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN (reverse mirror) - The Buckeyes are giving us a repeat of what they did last season. March through the Big10 unscathed on their way to a monster showdown with Michigan for a chance to play in the National Title game. Of course, they still have to get by a pesky Illinois team that has speed and playmakers on offense. If Illinois can catch Ohio State looking ahead and not playing focused football (which is how they looked for 3 full quarters against Wisconsin a week ago) they should have an excellent chance at pulling the upset. Jim Tressel is too good of a coach to let that happen 2 weeks in a row.

Evening
Florida @ South Carolina 7:45 p.m. ESPN - A game that used to just be Florida dominance now has a whole new twist since Steve Spurrier started prowling the sidelines for the Gamecocks. This is Florida's last SEC game so they have to get this win and have some help to get to the SECCG and a trip back to the BCS. A 3 loss Florida still might be attractive to a bowl selection committee. Spurrier's team is all but out of the East race after losing to Arkansas.

Louisiana Tech @ LSU 8:00 p.m. GP (Ch. 777) - Homer pick. LSU hasn't lost to Louisiana Tech since 1904 when the Tigers fell 6-0 in Ruston. LSU has won the last 13 with the only game played since World War 2 being in 2003 when LSU won 49-10. Perhaps the Tigers can beat their instate opponent again on the way to a national title.

Kansas @ Oklahoma State 8:00 p.m. ABC/GP (Ch. 778) - Kansas is undefeated and ranked #4...and not in basketball! The Jayhawks have taken advantage of a soft, backloaded schedule to get out to 9-0 start. With their biggest two games still to come with a match-up in Kansas City against Missouri and a possible showdown in the Big12 CG against top5 Oklahoma. Kansas gave up a ton of yards to Nebraska a week ago and will have to play some defense to slow down Okie State.

Southern California @ California 8:00 p.m. ABC/GP (Ch. 780) - In the preseason this date was circled as the biggest game in the Pac10. Surprise losses to Stanford, Oregon State, and UCLA have taken the shine off of this match-up but it still means a lot to those in Southern California. Plus a 10-2 USC team would be a lock for a Rose Bowl birth if Oregon makes it to New Orleans.

Late Night
Fresno State @ Hawaii 11:00 p.m. ESPN2 - Fresno State can continue their role of BCS spoiler if they knock off the Warriors in Hawaii. Sadly this is one of Hawaii's biggest tests of the season.

What I'm Watching 11/3/07

Morning
Purdue @ Penn State Noon ESPN - Penn State needs this game bad after getting its doors blown off last Saturday night by Ohio State. If they can shake that one off they can still get back into the division race and cheer for Michigan loss to perhaps still get into the BCS (a 3 loss team will go this season)

Wisconsin @ Ohio State Noon BigTen (Ch. 220) - I can't actually watch this game in Atlanta because of course we don't get the Big10 network. Nice job, felllas. Just imagine if Wisconsin hadn't lost to Illinois....

Nebraska @ Kansas 12:30 p.m. FSN - In what used to be a blowout, just might still be a blowout early Saturday afternoon, but not the way it used to be. Nebraska can't do anything on offense and just lost its starting quarterback for the season. Not to mention they can't stop anyone from running the ball either. They did have Texas beat for the first 3 quarters last weekend before giving up about 1000 yards rushing in the 4th quarter. I am not sold on Kansas still, but they will stay undefeated until Thanksgiving.

Early Afternoon
Navy @ Notre Dame 2:30 p.m. NBC - If Navy is ever going to beat Notre Dame again, this would seem to be the year. Too bad they just got beat by Delaware. Roger Staubach finds another year of eligibility and passes all over the Irish

Texas @ Oklahoma State 3:30 p.m. ABC/GP (Ch. 779) - Don't look, but Oklahoma State is looking like a legit threat in the Big12 South for Texas and Oklahoma. If the Cowboys can get past the Longhorns Saturday afternoon it will all come down to the Bedlam matchup with their cross state rivals for a chance to play Missouri/Kansas in the Big12 Championship game.

Michigan @ Michigan State 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN - Michigan is still tied for first in the Big10 and like always is looking ahead to the matchup against Ohio State in what could lead to the Rose Bowl for Michigan. Even if they lose that game, if the Wolverines win out they could still find themselves in the Rose Bowl (I told you a 3 loss team was getting in this season)

Evening
LSU @ Alabama 5:00 p.m. CBS - Saban Bowl I. If you're reading this, you've already heard plenty about this game.

Arizona State @ Oregon 6:45 p.m. ESPN/FSN Regional - #4 vs #5 in the game that should decide the Pac10 champ and possible the #2 team in the nation (at least this week). The loser still could get into the Rose Bowl to play Michigan (most likely) if they continue to win after this game.

Florida State @ Boston College 8:00 p.m. ABC/GP (Ch. 777) - After years of dominance by FSU they now have the chance to play spoiler in Boston College's perfect season and national title hopes. BC squeaked by Virginia Tech in the rain a week ago needing a fantastic performance by senior Matt Ryan to pull off the victory. Can they do it another week? Even if they do, look for the Eagles to drop if Arizona State goes to Eugene and wins.
11-03 Sat. Texas A&M @ Oklahoma 8:00 p.m. ABC/GP (Ch. 778)