From exhilarating Hail Marys to massive upsets across the country, this past weekend in football was one for the ages especially if you were one of the 11 am contests.
For Shame Rocky Top
I’ve never been one to attack a fanbase on this column, but the actions that a handful of Volunteer fans partook in during the final moments of the contest against Ole Miss is well worth breaking that rule. In a scene that looked somewhat reminiscent to Bottlegate, the fans in the student section started throwing everything from beer cans to a golf ball and even a container of mustard (who keeps one of those handy?) onto the Ole Miss sideline, making it look like the aftermath of when Hogan joined the New World Order.
I remember seeing something similar in 2012 during a Cajuns primetime game against Arkansas State when the crowd were given pieces of a rope to bring home the slogan of the program under Mark Hudspeth “Hold the Rope”. At one point during the 50-27 drubbing of the Cajuns by the Red Wolves, the fans started throwing their ropes onto the sideline.
The crazy part was that Tennessee was on the verge of winning the football game, which could have been a whole different PR nightmare with fans storming the field while Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss were still out on the field.
Cincy Firmly In Control of Own Destiny
The Cincinnati Bearcats have been building something special the last few years under Luke Fickell and a lot like 2014 with Mississippi State, it looks like there’s a contender that we didn’t expect to see in the four-team field in the College Football Playoff as they are ranked 2nd in the country..
Yes there’s a lot of football left to be played but a blowout victory over UCF only leaves SMU as the only true competition on the Bearcats schedule and going 13-0 definitely in the cards. Just imagine if Cincinnati keeps a team like Georgia or Oregon on the outside looking in on the playoff. Time to embrace the chaos.
Purdue 3:16 Says I Just Beat Number Two Out Iowa
If you didn’t take heed of my warning, it’s too late to tell your kids about undefeated Iowa. That said, Purdue deserves a ton of love for their shocking win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, causing a big shakeup in the top five. However, that’s not why I’m bringing this game up – instead it’s for this.
Yes, an offensive lineman just drank a beer a fan tossed to him on the field like he was “Stone Cold” Steve Austin after he hit a stunner on Vince McMahon. But wait, there’s more!
The social media team at Purdue needs more love.
UL Monroe Defies Oddsmakers; Beats Liberty
It’s not often I say anything about the UL Monroe Warhawks, but when you beat Liberty courtesy of a late field goal after being listed as 33-point underdogs is something to recognize and tip your hat to them.
That said, this makes the Cajuns game against the Flames next month looks a lot more manageable after what Tommy Bowden and the Warhawks did on Saturday night.
The Streak is Over
It took a war of attrition, but the Jacksonville Jaguars finally got off the schneid early Sunday morning with a field goal by Matthew Wright as time expired in regulation being the difference in foggy London Town.
With everything that has gone down in the last few weeks involving this franchise, it was pretty nice to see the Jaguars win one in what might be their eventual home across the pond if Roger Goodell ever has his way. Meanwhile, what happened to the Miami Dolphins? Seriously they were a 10-win team and still missed the postseason a year ago.
Are the Cowboys for Real?
With no Saints on the television, I had ample opportunities to see some of the other teams in the league and one game I focused on after getting some business taken care of was the Dallas Cowboys matchup against the New England Patriots. Yes the Patriots are dreadfully mediocre with Mac Jones at the helm during his rookie season but just pay attention to this team as a whole.
Dak Prescott looks to be in his prime after the injury that derailed him last season, CeeDee Lamb has emerged as a legit threat at the wide receiver position, and even Zeke Elliot is making an impact. But that defense makes me really think they’ll be a contender (Trevon Diggs may have already locked up defensive player of the year). The Cowboys fans are going to be even more insufferable now aren’t they?
Ravens Expose Chargers
Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers have been a pretty fun team to follow, but it clear that there are levels to these things in the AFC and they’re somewhere in the second tier just behind the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs.
It was impressive to see the Ravens roll over a team that looked like they could be a contender in the conference headed into that game. It’s clear that there’s only room for two teams atop the AFC.
Aaron Rodgers is Chicago’s Daddy
The Green Bay Packers looked dominant on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field and one statement was made in that win and it’s the fact that Aaron Rodgers owns their NFC North foe in the Chicago Bears. He made that crystal clear to a fan that gave the reigning NFL MVP a two-finger salute after running in for the score.
The thing is he isn’t wrong, currently holding a 22-5 record and has thrown 55 TDs against the Bears. I think it’s safe to say that statement is fact.