WHO'S UP?
Joe Paterno
JoePa is one tough SOB — even at the ripe old age of 79. For just the second time in 41 years, the Penn State head coach will have to miss a game. Paterno suffered a broken shinbone and two torn knee ligaments after a sideline collision that occured during the Nittany Lions' loss to Wisconsin on Saturday. Team doctors suggested that Paterno not coach because it might slow his recovery.
Bob Stoops
Here at The State News, we like to see football coaches who call the game like they actually have a pair (meaning "anti-John-L.-Smith play-calling"). Leading Texas A&M by one point late in the fourth quarter Saturday, Oklahoma faced fourth-and-inches from its own 29-yard line. Rather than punting the ball and giving the Aggies a chance for a game-winning drive, Stoops sent the offense on the field to go for the first down. It worked, and Oklahoma escaped with a 17-16 victory.
LSU
The Tigers struggled on the road early in the season, losing to Auburn and Florida. They were labeled as a talented team that racked up wins by beating up on inferior competition (Louisiana-Lafayette, Arizona, Tulane, Mississippi State), but couldn't win a big game. Les Miles' squad finally got over the hump Saturday, topping Tennessee, 28-24, on a touchdown pass by JaMarcus Russell with nine seconds remaining.
WHO'S DOWN?
The NCAA rules committee
First, it created stupid new clock rules. Then, it left a major loophole — and someone finally exploited it. Wisconsin head coach Brett Bielema, hoping to run a few extra seconds off the clock against Penn State, instructed his players to intentionally go offsides on two consecutive kickoffs. Since the clock now winds when the ball is kicked, and declining the penalty puts a team in poor field position, there was nothing the Nittany Lions could do to stop it. The NCAA needs to reevaluate these changes.
Mike Shula
Expectations run high at Alabama. That's what happens when a program racks up 12 national championships. So you can imagine the heat Shula is facing after the Crimson Tide lost to SEC doormat Mississippi State on Saturday — at Bryant-Denny Stadium — by a 24-16 score. Shula desperately needs a win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl on Nov. 18, or his job will be in serious jeopardy. In fact, it might be too late already.
The BCS
No, this isn't a rant about a playoff system. This is far more important. It's a matter of life or death.
Now that the BCS has moved to the FOX network, Keith Jackson will not be able to call the Rose Bowl. Words cannot adequately express this grave injustice.
