8BLACK E8 DAILY 09-15-07 MD SU E8 BLACK

E8 Saturday, September 15, 2007 S K The Washington Post

CollegeGameday By Eric Prisbell THE RUNDOWN IF I WERE IN CHARGE Noon Noon: Virginia at North Carolina, WDCA (Channel 20), WJZ (Channel 13) Noon: Central Michigan at Purdue, ESPN2 Noon: Pittsburgh at Michigan State, ESPN Conference Call 1:30: Iowa at Iowa State, Versus Don’t worry, the games get better as Leaders of the Pac Are Making a Case the day progresses. Not much to watch early on, except to see That the West Is Best Michigan State continue to prove why it is the best team in the state. The Spartans have a chance to earn a Louisiana State Coach Les Miles fueled pre- State to 10 points last week, has become a trendy “It’s too bad we didn’t hold up our end of it,” measure of respect for the struggling season debate about conference supremacy when upset pick against Ohio State. And USC gets to Oregon State Coach Mike Riley told reporters Big Ten by winning convincingly he mockingly called some Pacific-10 teams “real flex its muscles at Nebraska, which welcomes a this week. “I think the conference is the strongest against Pittsburgh. Auburn has not juggernauts.” top-ranked team to Lincoln for the first time since it has been in a long time.” The mandatory played well, but that should change Miles should have left out the sarcasm because 1978. Conference strength could have added impor- two-point conversion against Mississippi State. The the Pac-10 might consist of a few juggernauts oth- Perhaps Miles had it backward: USC might tance this season if no non-BCS team earns a slot rule in the third Bulldogs expect to be improved, er than Southern California. Through two weeks, have a more difficult path to the national title in one of the five BCS games. Hawaii is still in overtime and beyond particularly offensively, and they had the Pac-10 has demonstrated it is at least on par game than LSU, not the other way around. contention, but Texas Christian, Southern Mis- would be eliminated. better be if Sylvester Croom wants to with the , and two California’s season-opening 45-31 victory sissippi and Boise State have all essentially been return next season. They were shut games today will go a long way in determining against Tennessee was further testament of the eliminated, which could mean that four at-large The Problem out by Louisiana State’s whether the Pac-10 is the nation’s strongest con- improved strength of the Pac-10. The confer- teams from power conferences make BCS games. Once a game progresses overwhelming defense in the opener. ference. ence’s only disappointment so far has been Ore- Which conferences deserve two bids will be a past the second Auburn, on the other hand, fell in Surprising Washington, which held Boise gon State’s 34-3 loss at Cincinnati on Sept. 6. hot topic in the coming weeks. overtime, teams must overtime to South Florida in a game attempt a two-point controlled by the Bulls, who missed conversion following four field goal attempts in the second each . This is half. Auburn struggled to beat PACIFIC-10 SOUTHEASTERN BIG 12 flawed on a number of Kansas State in its opener. The Record: 14-4. Record: 17-6. Record: 18-6. levels. First, it deprives Illinois-Syracuse game is another Good: Cal earned a measure of revenge Good: Louisiana State showed off its de- Good: Oklahoma pounded Miami. Texas fans the chance to see a measuring stick for against Tennessee. Washington has be- fense in the Virginia Tech rout. Georgia overcame a halftime deficit against Texas truly spectacular game the Big Ten. If Ron come one of the bigger surprises national- beat Oklahoma State by three touch- Christian. And Nebraska beat defending go as long as it deserves Zook finds a way to ly. Oregon thrashed Michigan. Arizona downs. ACC champion Wake Forest. to go. If two teams are lose to the Orange, State has looked improved under Dennis Bad: Auburn struggled in two games, los- Bad: Texas A&M needed three overtimes so even that they will then the Big Ten Erickson. ing last week to unranked South Florida at to topple Fresno State. Colorado lost to trade into a will be universally hailed as the Bad: Potential sleeper Oregon State home. Tennessee was overmatched against Arizona State. Iowa State dropped games sixth overtime, let it country’s weakest power conference. whiffed on its attempt to beat middle-of- Cal. No one has shown it deserves to be against Northern Iowa and Kent State. play out in that fashion. the-pack Cincinnati. mentioned in the same breath as LSU and National title contenders: Texas, Okla- The NCAA always tries Afternoon National title contenders: Southern Cali- Florida. Teams from other conferences homa. to shorten games, 3:30: Notre Dame at Michigan, WJLA (Channel 7), which is an admirable WMAR (Channel 2) fornia, UCLA, California. have shown they have speed to compete This week’s test: USC at Nebraska. This week’s test: Ohio State at Washing- with SEC teams. goal because most 3:30: No. 10 Ohio State at Washington, ESPN games are not instant 3:30: No. 22 Tennessee at No. 5 Florida, WUSA (Channel ton. National title contenders: LSU, Florida. 9), WJZ (Channel 13) This week’s test: Louisville at Kentucky. classics. But a game 3:30: No. 6 Texas at Central Florida, ESPN2 that extends into a third 5: Ball State at Navy, CSTV overtime is already The best game is Tennessee-Florida. great and has a chance The most intriguing affair is Ohio to be epic. The sport State-Washington. The game that benefits from such most resembles a horror movie is games. What’s more, Notre Dame-Michigan. And the other prominent sports game that last season resembled a don’t tinker with mixed martial arts competition is significant rules as the Florida International-Miami. Skip game progresses. The the Miami game because there is no rules are not made more way first-year coach and difficult once basketball disciplinarian Randy Shannon is teams enter the third letting his players get involved in a overtime. The scoring scuffle with the FIU players they rules are not changed tangled with last season. Tune in and once baseball teams out of the Fighting Irish game to see enter the 12th inning. how Michigan freshman Ryan Mallett is faring against Notre My Solution Dame’s porous defense. Then check Just maintain the same how is faring against scoring rules for the the Wolverines’ porous defense. For third overtime session the most fun, log onto both teams’ that exist in the first message boards and witness two. Teams can kick complete meltdowns. If there is not a field goals or go for photo of Les Miles on some touchdowns. After a Michigan message board, it is touchdown, they can kick an extra point or undoubtedly in the process of being BIG EAST BIG TEN ATLANTIC COAST added. Speaking of Notre Dame, go for a two-point former Irish coach Tyrone Record: 15-2. Record: 18-4. Record: 13-12. conversion. Let strategy Willingham could become one of the Good: South Florida proved the conference Good: Penn State earned a convincing vic- Good: Georgia Tech drilled Notre Dame, become more of a factor season’s biggest surprises if the is four deep with the victory over Auburn. tory against Notre Dame, which does not but who doesn’t? Virginia beat Duke. Wait, in the third overtime Huskies can beat a Buckeyes team Cincinnati demonstrated it will be a factor mean what it used to. Duke is still an ACC team? and beyond. Don’t that committed five turnovers after pounding Oregon State. West Vir- Bad: Where to start? Michigan is one of the Bad: Virginia Tech’s margin of defeat in the mandate strategy. against Akron. The Huskies held ginia manhandled Maryland. biggest disappointments of all time. Wis- LSU game was the worst-case scenario for Why It Will Work Boise State to 10 points and have a Bad: Syracuse appears to have no hope. consin needed a late-game touchdown to the ACC. Miami’s blowout loss at Okla- Part of the charm of the chance if they can figure out a way to Rutgers and Louisville bullied light- avoid a monumental upset at Nevada-Las homa showed the Hurricanes are not close college overtime format score. Washington quarterback Jake weights during the opening weeks. Vegas. Ohio State survived a five-turnover to being an elite team. Virginia made Wyo- is that coaches have to Locker has a cult following in the National title contenders: West Virginia, effort against Akron. ming look like USC. North Carolina fell to make the decision Northwest. Speaking of cult heroes, Louisville, Rutgers. National title contenders: Wisconsin, Penn East Carolina. North Carolina State lost to whether to try to win a popular Florida quarterback Tim This week’s test: Pittsburgh at Michigan State, Ohio State. Central Florida. When does hoops start? game outright with a Tebow faces his first stiff test as a State. This week’s test: Notre Dame at Michigan. National title contenders: None. two-point conversion. starter: the rival Vols. This week’s test: Florida State at Colorado. Louisiana Tech made Night that decision last week, 6:45: No. 16 Arkansas at Alabama, ESPN perhaps thinking that it 7:30: No. 9 Louisville at Kentucky, ESPN Classic would be unable to go 8: No. 21 Boston College at No. 15 Georgia Tech, ESPN2 touchdown-for- 8: No. 1 Southern California at No. 14 Nebraska, WJLA touchdown with Hawaii (Channel 7), WMAR (Channel 2) 10: Florida State at Colorado, ESPN and quarterback Colt Brennan. Louisiana Louisville-Kentucky should be an Tech did not convert the in-state shootout featuring two two-point conversion, heralded and coaches will be . second-guessed for Brian Brohm gets making such a all the attention win-or-bust call. But with the that’s the beauty of Cardinals, but overtime. Let the coach Kentucky’s Andre Woodson is one of make the decision. the country’s best. Neither team is Don’t impose a rule that known as the most defensive-minded makes it difficult for the squad. Louisville needs to tighten its teams to keep the game defense if the Cardinals hope to going regardless of how compete for a second consecutive thrilling the action is. Big East title. Southern California, which did not play last week, has an opportunity on national television to show the country that it has both the best defense and the best team. Louisiana State’s dominating performance against Virginia Tech caused some to question whether THE PLAYBOOK USC should remain the top team in both polls. The ACC has had little to FIRST DOWN SECOND DOWN THIRD DOWN FOURTH DOWN cheer about, but Boston College and Georgia Tech have been among the few bright spots. The Yellow Jackets’ Plucky Duck That’s a Maori Original Sin OU’s Appeal defense silenced Notre Dame, and Oregon’s duck could star Hawaii players will A six-minute video on Oklahoma has filed an tonight will get an opportunity to in the next installment of continue performing a YouTube.com, which has appeal requesting the chase down the Eagles’ Matt Ryan, Mascots Gone Wild, but it pregame Maori war dance since been removed, NCAA overturn the ruling one of the better quarterbacks in the will not be on the sideline this weekend called a “haka” despite being penalized showed how a man posing as a Roman that would strip the Sooners of their country. when Fresno State visits today. The for it last week in a victory against Catholic priest sneaked into Notre eight victories in 2005 because of rule duck was given a one-game suspension Louisiana Tech. The Warriors were Dame’s game against Georgia Tech. violations involving quarterback Rhett for its fight with the University of assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike Notre Dame now is reemphasizing its Bomar, who accepted pay for work he OTHER TOP 25 Houston mascot, a cougar, during the conduct penalty after performing the stadium security procedures. Notre did not perform at a Norman car No. 2 LSU vs. Middle Tennessee, 8 season opener. The duck repeatedly emotional chant away from the field in Dame spokesman Dennis Brown said dealership. The Sooners are accepting No. 3 Oklahoma vs. Utah State, 3:30 assaulted the cougar as stunned front of their fans. “It is not going to the act looked “professional enough penalties that include an additional two No. 7 Wisconsin vs. The Citadel, Noon No. 8 California vs. Louisiana Tech, 6:30 Houston cheerleaders looked on and prevent us from doing the haka in the that clearly the ushers at the gate were years of probation and the reduction in No. 11 UCLA at Utah, 5 then tried to intervene. The duck future,” Hawaii Coach June Jones said. deceived and made a mistake.” The scholarships and recruiting time, but No. 12 Penn State vs. Buffalo, Noon apparently became upset because the “We were 75 yards removed from the video showed the man posing by the the school believes taking away the No. 13 Rutgers vs. Norfolk State, 3:30 No. 17 S. Carolina vs. South Carolina State, 7 cougar had imitated one of the duck’s field, doing what we do — something team’s “Play Like a Champion Today” wins is excessive. University President No. 18 Virginia Tech vs. Ohio, 1:30 trademarks: push-ups for total points that’s special to Hawaii and special to sign and greeting players as they ran David Boren said, “I think it’s unfair No. 19 Oregon vs. Fresno State, 7 No. 20 Clemson vs. Furman, 1 after each touchdown in front of the our fans. It was just an unfortunate onto the field. Considering how Notre because you’re punishing the people No. 23 Georgia vs. Western Carolina, 1 student section. Video of the one-sided situation, I thought.” Dame has played this season, one that are totally innocent, that did their No. 24 Hawaii at UNLV, 9:30

No. 25 Texas A&M vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 7 mascot duel is available on question is why anyone would go to any jobs right and that worked hard.”

YouTube.com. effort to watch the Fighting Irish play. 8BLACK E8