These Ten Things: Highlights of the college football week that was
Every Monday Eye on College Football's Tom Fornelli looks back at ten things that stood out to him over the college football weekend. Everything from the awesome to the just plain stupid. Mostly stupid.
We've put two college football weekends in the books, and although Week 2 didn't really have the headliner games as opening weekend, there still were plenty of interesting happenings. The Big Ten wet its pants on the big stage yet again, Oregon proved that it's definitely a contender for a playoff spot and other powerhouse programs beat up on schools that are most definitely not powerhouses.
But that's only some of what happened, and you certainly couldn't have seen everything. Not to worry, though, because I did and I'm here to make sure you stay up to date on 10 awesome things you may have missed. Because I love you, and I want you to be the smartest college football fan you can be.
1. Get To Know Pitt RB James Conner: You probably didn't watch Pitt's 30-20 win over Boston College on Friday night, and I can't blame you. Sometimes you just want to do something different with your Friday night than watch ACC football.
But do yourself a favor next week, check in on Pitt's game so you can check out Conner. The kid has all the potential to be a monster. He rushed for 214 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles, and the week before he had 153 yards and four touchdowns even though he only played one half.
While some running backs rely on their speed and vision to get yards, what stands out about Conner is that he not only has speed and vision, but he's huge. And he likes contact. Conner is listed at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, and as a freshman last year there were actually some Pitt fans who felt the team should move him to defensive end. I'm pretty sure Boston College defensive backs wish Pitt had, as they were bouncing off Conner all night.
Pitt plays FIU next, and this week's slate of games is pretty weak, so do yourself a favor on Saturday morning and flip the Pitt game on just to see the Conner and the carnage. The sweet, sweet carnage.
2. Terry Bowden's Golden Mane: Akron lost to Penn State, but who the hell cares? Look at Terry Bowden's hair!
The sun never sets in Akron when Terry Bowden is in town.
3. Speaking Of Glorious Hair: Are you familiar with Nevada defensive lineman Brock Hekking? One of my favorite things about the start of a new college football season is sharing the glory of Hekking's mullet with all those fans who have never seen it before.
A mullet not seen on a college football field since the likes of The Boz himself.
One picture is simply not enough to capture Hekking's essence.
Nevada pulled off an upset over Washington State on Friday night, and I think we all know what inspired the Wolf Pack to victory. It was Brock Hekking's mullet. There is simply no other logical explanation for it.
Now, if Hekking could combine his mullet with the mustache of this police officer working the game in Reno he'd probably take over the world.
4. A Treasure Trove Of Names: The Illinois-Western Kentucky game was not one you should have been watching over the weekend, but while the game itself was all right, what really made it were some of the names of players involved in the game. It was one of the finest collections of names I recall hearing in a game in quite some time.
On the Illinois side of the ball you had defensive lineman Jihad Ward and wide receiver Geronimo Allison. Two solid names, sure, but they couldn't compete with what Western Kentucky had.
The Hilltoppers have defensive back Wonderful Terry and defensive lineman Ge'Monee Brown (pronounced G Money Brown). Now, Wonderful Terry doesn't just have a wonderful name, but he also had a wonderful strip near the goaline and then took the ball on a wonderful 95-yard return to score a wonderful touchdown.
Though it wasn't wonderful enough to win the game for Western Kentucky, as Illinois prevailed 42-34.
5. Sorry Folks, Park's Closed. Moose Out Front Shoulda Told Ya: Last week we had Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen quoting Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on Gameday, and this week the 2014 College Football Tribute to National Lampoon's continued thanks to Arkansas State.
I wonder if Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson calls them "Sparky."
6. Maybe Notre Dame Isn't In So Much Trouble: When it was announced Notre Dame would be without four players because of academics, like many others, I thought it would be a terrible blow to the Irish's hopes in 2014. Well, it's only been two weeks, but maybe we were wrong.
Apparently Everett Golson is enough to overcome some key losses. Through two games Golson has thrown for 521 yards and five touchdowns, and he's rushed for three more scores as well. And he's done it all without turning the ball over a single time. If Golson is any indication of what Notre Dame players can do after being forced to sit out due to academic troubles, Davaris Daniels, Kei'Varae Russell, Ishaq Williams, Kendall Moore and Eilar Hardy are all going to have monster seasons in 2015.
As for 2014, while the hype machine will certainly be kicking off in full-force after two solid games from the Irish, that schedule is still murderous, but thanks to Golson the Irish should get through it with most of their limbs intact.
7. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit Dress Like Twins: I think the best thing I can say about Chris Fowler replacing Brent Musberger for ESPN's featured game of the week is that I've hardly noticed it's happened. Fowler is just a pro who can easily transition from hosting Gameday to doing play-by-play of one of the week's biggest games, and then afterward he can jump in a helicopter and go cover the US Open as well.
He's great, it's just he needs to stop going to the same tailor as his partner, Kirk Herbstreit.
A flattering shot of Herby, I know.
8. Ameer Abdullah Is Pretty Neat: There's no reason for Nebraska to feel good about its narrow escape at home against McNeese State, but if there's anything positive to take from it all, at least Nebraska's struggles for 59 minutes all led to this winning touchdown from Ameer Abdullah.
Such fine tackling form from McNeese State as well.
9. Arkansas Has A Very Efficient Offense: Arkansas killed Nicholls State this week, but you knew that just by looking at the 73-7 final score. What that score doesn't tell you, however, is how efficient the Razorbacks were in their destruction of the poor Colonels.
Arkansas rushed for 495 yards on 40 carries, or 12.5 yards per carry. That's crazy too, but there's more.
Arkansas ran only 54 plays and scored 10 touchdowns on offense. That's one touchdown every 5.4 plays, and that number is only that low because the Hogs were called off in the second half. Arkansas actually finished the game with five one-play touchdown drives. Five! The Razorbacks also added a two-play touchdown drives and two three-play touchdown drives.
That's efficiency at it's finest.
10. Tom's Trolltastic Tweet of the Week: Because there's nothing better to do on Twitter than rub salt in the wounds of others.
Until next week!
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