Hey all, it's time for that column that makes you happy it's Tuesday, Notes On a Pac 12 Scorecard. So it is time to take a look at the COVID-19 abbreviated Labor Day weekend of college football. We really miss you, Tom Kelly.
USC Flashback Summary
September 3, 1994, USC 24- Washington 17: The Trojans came out for their season opener/home opener/Pac 10 opener and dropped the tough Huskies with a one-two punch at Tailback from Shawn Walters and Delon Washington. The duo supplied the offense for SC because WRs Keyshawn Johnson and Ed Hervey hadn't practiced much during the week prior to the game battling injuries. The lack of practice showed in the fact that USC passed for only 123 yards. Even as the Trojan passing game struggled, the game was still a tight affair. The Huskies took an early 7-0 lead when QB Brock Huard hit WR Eric Bjornson with a 52-yard TD strike. SC got even in the second quarter when QB Rob Johnson connected with TE Johnny McWiliams from seven yards out and then the Trojans forged ahead 10-7 on a 32-yard field goal by PK Cole Ford. However, the Dawgs took a 14-10 the lead into intermission when Napoleon Kaufman plunged over form the one-yard line. Kaufman gave the Trojan defense fits all day. He gained 244 all purpose yards with 152 of them coming on 26 rushes with a TD. Early in the third quarter, UW tacked on a 29-yard field goal to take a 17-0 lead. It was then that SC scrapped their sputtering passing attack for old school Trojan football. The combination of Walters' power and Washington's speed spurred the comeback victory. Walters tied the game with a bruising run in which he carried three Huskies across the goal line late in the third quarter, then Washington put the Men of Troy up for good with 3:36 left in the final period as he went into the end zone untouched on the third of three straight plunges into the UW's goal line defense. The Trojan defense kept the Dawgs off the scoreboard the rest of the way to ensure the win. The Walters-Washington combo gashed the Dawgs for 200 rushing and two TDs. Telling Stat: 14-3=W; USC held the Huskies to just three second half points and forced two turnovers which let the struggling USC offense find its' legs and escape with a hard fought win.
Observations
...A thing of beauty; Watching Army execute its' option offense to perfection warms this old o-lineman's heart. On, Brave Old Army Team.
...Well fiddle-dee-dee; Middle Tennessee QB Asher O'Hara has a name that belongs in Gone With the Wind.
3 for 12; Three Big XII games have been postponed after positive COVID-19 tests forced the schools' hands. TCU-SMU, Louisiana Tech-Baylor, and Tulsa-Oklahoma State have all been postponed this week. Sigh.
...Odds in their favor; With 18 states plus Washington, D.C. having legalized sports betting, it really isn't that big of a leap to see that a major university in one of those states has inked a partnership deal with a sports betting company. The University of Colorado now has a five year deal with PointsBet. Read the details here. CU and the PointsBet
...Laid Off; The Pac 12 Network laid off most of its' employees a couple of weeks ago in the wake of the league's football season cancellation. This news led to shock across most of the college football world who didn't know the Pac 12 had a network in the first place.
...It's real in Salt Lake; The entire Utah athletic department has been furloughed. Some furloughs will be shorter than others but everyone will feel the hit from the AD on down. Wow. Gone
...Doesn't matter either way; With or without games being played, Jim Harbaugh is still a tool.
...No Volunteers; Tennessee had to cancel a scrimmage last Saturday because 44 players had either tested positive for COVID-19 or were held out for contact tracing. Hmmmm.
...Not surprised; This intrepid reporter was not surprised when the Pac 12 cancelled the season and the SEC went steamrolling right along. We will see which league was right in about a month or so.
...Holding that skillet for now; Due to a number of positive COVID-19 tests at TCU, this week's upcoming battle for the iron skillet between TCU and SMU has been postponed. The Mustangs don't mind holding onto the trophy a little while longer. Last year's upset of TCU was just SMU's third win over the Horned Frogs in the last 21 years.
...Daily is good; The Pac 12 entered into a partnership with Quidel Corporation for daily rapid COVID-19 testing. That's good news for possibly starting football, but testing isn't a cure. The Daily
...Surprised; This intrepid reporter is surprised at how badly the Big Ten handled the PR of their season cancellation.
...You gotta hit; Navy found out on Monday night that non-contact practices lead to non-tackling in their 55-3 drubbing by BYU.
...The first, but I fear not the last; OU HC Lincoln Riley said that the Sooners won't be releasing any COVID-19 testing data from now on due to "competitive advantage." OU will treat COVID-19 like injury info this year. Sigh.
...Goodbye Larry; Seems the Pac 12 presidents have been discussing restructuring the league and letting Tennis Larry go. Yay.
Ugly Uniform of the Week
In a limited schedule, there is always a chance for an ugly uniform winner. Memphis gets many thanks for stepping up and making it happen.
Departments
The look of this section of the blog will be a little different this year. First, there will be no C.W. Post Press this year. Post is a D-II school and there will be no D-II football this year. Sigh. However, the one set of small schools still playing this year is the NAIA. They start play on 9/12, so there should still be some good low score games and blowouts to report. Also, the Razorback Report will be here as long as the SEC plays this year.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
Grilled swordfish is always great.
Old APBA baseball is still a blast to play.
Carnival Eats is a fun show to watch.
Until next time, remember that if your team is still actually playing football, you still need to tackle in practice to tackle well in a game.
-The Commissioner
