NCAA Football FanHouse

Dramatic Pac-10 Is Nation's Best

David Whitley — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, California, Oregon, Stanford, Pac 10

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Here's hoping SEC fans stayed up to watch Oregon beat Arizona Saturday night. They got to see a few things their league hasn't had enough of this season.

Drama, bedlam, theatrics, tension, hilarity and near-riotous fun. And that just begins to describe the Ducks' 44-41 double overtime win.

It finally ended as the clock struck midnight back East. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli slithered into the end zone to crash what would have been the biggest football party Tucson ever threw.

All of which settled one thing. The Pac-10 is the best conference in America.

Dramatic Pac-10 Is Nation's Best originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oregon Cheerleader Katelynn Johnson Hospitalized After Being Struck by Bottle

Ray Holloman — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:10:00 EST

by Ray Holloman

Filed under: Arizona, Oregon

Oregon delivered the knockout blow to Arizona, but the Wildcats gave themselves a black eye Saturday night when a bottle thrown by someone in the crowd sent Ducks cheerleader Katelynn Johnson to the hospital in the chaotic aftermath of Oregon's 44-41 double-overtime win.

According to OregonLive.com, Johnson, a senior, was struck in the head by a water bottle thrown from the stands and was taken to an area hospital after collapsing on the field shortly thereafter. She is expected to be fine, according to the Web site's report.

The incident came on the heels of a dramatic reversal of fortunes for the Wildcats. Students from the "Zona Zoo" had gathered around the field in the final minutes of regulation, expecting to storm the field when Arizona won. But Ducks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli hit Ed Dickson with six seconds left for the game-tying touchdown. Two overtimes later, Masoli ran in a one-yard score to stun the host Wildcats and the students dispersed.

Oregon Cheerleader Katelynn Johnson Hospitalized After Being Struck by Bottle originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kansas Still Fights for Embattled Coach

Terrance Harris — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:40:00 EST

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Kansas, Big 12

AUSTIN, Texas --- Embattled Kansas coach Mark Mangino's week got off to a rocky start and it didn't get any better as the Jayhawks rolled to their sixth straight defeat Saturday night, falling 51-20 to the second-ranked Texas Longhorns on the road.

On Monday, Mangino found out athletic director Lew Perkins has launched an investigation into allegations the eight-year head coach has been verbally and physically abusive to some of his players after linebacker Arist Wright reported Mangino for poking him in the chest last Friday. Several former players have come forth to discuss the often mean-spirited abuse Mangino often fired their way.

Kansas Still Fights for Embattled Coach originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McCoy Drums Up Victory for Longhorns

Terrance Harris — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:32:00 EST

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Kansas, Texas, BCS, Big 12

AUSTIN, Texas -- Usually one the most straight-laced and reserved of the Texas Longhorns, senior quarterback Colt McCoy finally stopped to take it all in late Saturday night.

McCoy Drums Up Victory for Longhorns originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ducks Bump Wildcats in Game of the Year Candidate

Brian Grummell — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:49:00 EST

by Brian Grummell

Filed under: Arizona, Oregon, Pac 10, General CFB Insanity

It was arguably the game of the year in college football. It was certainly further evidence that the Pac-10 is back as a national conference.

After two overtimes and a touchdown with six seconds left in regulation, the Oregon Ducks outlasted Arizona 44-41 to take control of the Pac-10.

For a while, the stars seemed to align for Arizona. California upset Stanford during the the third quarter of the Wildcats' game, bumping one Pac-10 peer from Rose Bowl contention. Meanwhile, Arizona shrugged off a 14-0 deficit to take a 24-14 lead early in the fourth quarter.

However, Oregon then rallied with 17 points in the final frame, including a highlight-worthy touchdown pass from Jeremiah Masoli to Ed Dickson with six seconds left that deflated the home crowd and dispersed the students, who had emerged nearby to storm the field.

Ducks Bump Wildcats in Game of the Year Candidate originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McCoy Keeps Longhorns on Title March

Terrance Harris — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:04:00 EST

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Kansas, Texas, BCS, Big 12

AUSTIN, Texas -- For 21 University of Texas seniors, Saturday night was their last time playing at Texas Memorial Stadium. So they made it a night to remember.

The second-ranked Longhorns overpowered Kansas en route to a 51-20 victory that cemented them as the Big 12 South division champions and sealed senior quarterback Colt McCoy's place as college football's all-time winningest quarterback with 43 career wins.

But the Texas Longhorns, who are well positioned for their first BCS national championship game bid since 2005, still have quite a bit of business to finish. They will have to get past rival Texas A&M on Thanksgiving night and then North division champ Nebraska in the Big 12 title game.

McCoy Keeps Longhorns on Title March originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stanford Passes on Victory Over Cal

Michelle Smith — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:33:00 EST

by Michelle Smith

Filed under: California, Stanford, Pac 10

STANFORD, Calif. -- Jim Harbaugh talked a little bit about hubris early this week, the danger of thinking you are more than you are.

Did Stanford think that putting up 106 points in consecutive upset victories over Oregon and USC would guarantee another flurry of points and touchdown celebrations?

Did they think that being ranked nationally and favored in the 112th Big Game - unheard of occurrences since Tyrone Willingham left The Farm for Notre Dame after the 2001 season - gave them an advantage against California's Bears?

Did they think that throwing the ball on 2nd down at the Cal 13-yard line with 1:36 to go was a better option that giving it to Toby Gerhart?

Stanford Passes on Victory Over Cal originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live Blog: Colt McCoy Shoots for Spot as Texas' Greatest Quarterback

Terrance Harris — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:46:00 EST

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Kansas, Texas, BCS, Big 12

AUSTIN, Texas -- Okay, so let the debate began.

Vince Young or Colt McCoy.

Which is the greatest Texas Longhorns quarterback of all time? Young led the Texas Longhorns to a season of perfection and the BCS national title in 2005 as a junior. McCoy, a four-year starter at Texas, has a chance tonight to become college football's all-time winningest quarterback with 43 wins should the second-ranked Longhorns make it past Kansas here at Texas Memorial Stadium.

Live Blog: Colt McCoy Shoots for Spot as Texas' Greatest Quarterback originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How's This for Improbable? Magic Miles Fails in the Clutch

Ray Holloman — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

by Ray Holloman

Filed under: LSU

There are two kinds of odds in the world. There are those that most of us live by -- the 50-50 chance Jon or Kate are on any random television channel at any given time, or the 100 percent certainty that it will rain any day you're without an umbrella -- then there are those that Les Miles lives by.

For the LSU coach, whose seemingly never failed to convert a fourth down, there's a certainty to things.

Miles could play Russian Roulette with a cannon and still walk away in one piece. He could fall from an airplane and somehow land unscathed in Angelina Jolie's bedroom. And if the house always wins, that's only because the LSU coach decided not to play.

We're not sure how it's scientifically possible, but every bone in his body is in fact made from a rabbit's foot.

And yet then there was Saturday, when Miles' improbable good fortune turned into inexplicable confusion and a whole lot of standing around wondering what just happened in the Tigers' 25-23 loss to Ole Miss.

And that was just the players and coaching staff. Those who watched were even more stupefied.

(Video of the now most infamous finish of 2009 after the jump.)

How's This for Improbable? Magic Miles Fails in the Clutch originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FSU's Streak Survives, Will Bowden?

Jim Henry — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST

by Jim Henry

Filed under: Florida State, Maryland, ACC

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- When Bobby Bowden finally decides to slip quietly into retirement, he believes Florida State fans will remember the good times -- and not the program's recent slide -- that happened during his storied coaching career. One question: Does his career have any chance at a storybook ending?

FSU's dramatic 29-26 home victory over Maryland Saturday helped an already wounded Seminole Nation avoid further grief, if not slow a potentially uncomfortable showdown with its iconic coach. Instead, the Seminoles (6-5) breathed a collective sigh of relief and became bowl eligible for the 28th straight year.

Another streak is on the line at top-ranked Florida next Saturday.

FSU's Streak Survives, Will Bowden? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Swinney Is Rock of Clemson Program

Ray Holloman — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:15:00 EST

by Ray Holloman

Filed under: Clemson, ACC

Even with 10 gallons of Gatorade - orange, naturally - dripping off him, and clad in a gray Clemson sweatshirt right out of George Costanza's wardrobe, Dabo Swinney may still have been the most neatly manicured man in Memorial Stadium.

Consider that a lesson about the unflappable nature of bookish Clemson coach. Not even a Gatorade ambush can stray so much as a hair from the coach's gameplan.

"This is just an extremely special day," Swinney said of the Tigers' 34-21 victory over Virginia, a win that came hours after they clinched the ACC's Atlantic Division, Clemson's first title of any sort since 1991.

It was a belated birthday present for Swinney, who turned 40 Friday and was serenaded with "Happy Birthday" by 77,000 purple-and-orange well-wishers, a going away gift for C.J. Spiller and Clemson's talented senior class, and something of an anniversary present for all involved.

Swinney Is Rock of Clemson Program originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Surprise as Ohio State Tops Michigan

Mark Hasty — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

by Mark Hasty

Filed under: Michigan, Ohio State

"For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'" -- John Greenleaf Whittier

For Michigan it really might have been, if not for a dreadful game by Tate Forcier and the Wolverine offense. Rich Rodriguez's squad fell to Ohio State 21-10 today, keeping Michigan out of the postseason for the second year in a row.

Forcier threw four interceptions. He also fumbled in Michigan's end zone on the Wolverines' opening drive, which OSU recovered for a touchdown.

No Surprise as Ohio State Tops Michigan originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live Blog: Connecticut Tops Notre Dame

John Walters — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

by John Walters

Filed under: Notre Dame, Daily Domer

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- "Patrick tends to follow Brian," says Brian Coughlin of his two sons, who are both walk-on wide receivers on the Notre Dame football team.

When Brian went out for wide receiver at Brother Rice High School in suburban Chicago, Patrick followed. When Brian was elected class president his senior year of 2005-06, Patrick ran for and won that office in 2006-07.

Brian matriculated at Notre Dame in 2006. Patrick ventured to South Bend the following autumn. Brian moved in to Dillon Hall. Patrick followed. Brian chose accounting as his major. Patrick selected accounting as his major.

In the spring semester of his sophomore year, Brian tried out at wide receiver as a walk-on. And made it. One year later, Patrick followed suit.

Live Blog: Connecticut Tops Notre Dame originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mailbag: KKK Arrives in Ole Miss

Clay Travis — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

by Clay Travis

Filed under: Michigan, Mississippi, SEC, All That and a Bag of Mail

Last week I wrote about the controversy over The South Will Rise Again chant at Ole Miss. In that piece I noted that Ole Miss was the only SEC school that couldn't escape the South's past. Now a new controversy is here, the Klu Klux Klan is protesting for this week's game against LSU. Seriously.

Faulkner memorably said, "The past is never dead. It's not even past."

And when it comes to Ole Miss that's certainly the case.

Mailbag: KKK Arrives in Ole Miss originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Week 12 NCAA Football Chat

Brian Grummell — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST

by Brian Grummell

Filed under: General CFB Insanity

Ohio State and Michigan may grab the headlines this fine November Saturday, but focus should also shift to the also-relevants, those programs like Arizona and Oregon and surging Clemson. We have no choice, really, since Florida and Alabama slotted in tomato cans Chattanooga and Florida International. For additional inspiration, look to the Big Tenleven's newest hackneyed rivalry between Penn State and Michigan State.

As usual we'll be here to talk about whats going on as its going on. So come on down, hit the keypad a little and join the conversation in the FanHouse Saturday College Football Chat starting at 3 PM Eastern.

FanHouse Week 12 NCAA Football Chat originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Longhorns Find It Easy to Stay Focused

Terrance Harris — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:10:00 EST

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Kansas, Texas, Big 12

AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas coach Mack Brown usually doesn't like to live in the past, but this week he broke out some old film for his team.

He showed the Longhorns how teams from 2006 and 2007 finished in comparison to 2005, when Texas won the BCS national title, and last season when many agree the 12-1 Longhorns should have been given the opportunity to compete for the national championship.

Brown's point to his second-ranked,10-0 squad is simple: stay focused these last two regular-season games, the Big 12 championship game in two weeks, and then biggest of prizes await the Texas Longhorns in Pasadena. A slip up anywhere between now and the Jan. 7 BCS national championship game will lead to great disappointment for Texas.

Longhorns Find It Easy to Stay Focused originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ohio State-Michigan Game 2009: Live Twitter Updates

Michael David Smith — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:05:00 EST

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Michigan, Ohio State

The Ohio State-Michigan game has always been my personal favorite college football rivalry, dating back to my days as a 5-year-old living near Ann Arbor and worshiping Bo Schembechler. OSU vs. Michigan 2009 doesn't figure to be one of the legendary games -- it might not even be a very good game -- but I'll be watching, and I'll be tweeting my observations while I watch.

And since I'm a sucker for rivalry games, I'll also be tweeting about lesser rivalries like the Harvard-Yale game as well. Follow along below or follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

Ohio State-Michigan Game 2009: Live Twitter Updates originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't Cry for Boise State in Weak WAC

David Whitley — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:23:00 EST

by David Whitley

Filed under: Boise State

LOGAN, Utah -- It's not easy to feel sorry for the winningest football program of the millennium, but let's try.

Boise State beat Utah State, 52-21, Friday night to improve to 11-0. For the second straight year it will probably finish the regular season unbeaten.

Who knows? If the Broncos have five or six more perfect seasons, the BCS might invite the Broncos to its title game. Not to play, but perhaps they'll be allowed to valet Alabama's bus or hand out towels in the men's room.

With that vision in mind, I came here to feel sorry for the eternally shafted Broncos. The more I saw, the less sympathy I felt.

Don't Cry for Boise State in Weak WAC originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big East Picks: An Irish Shuffle

Brett McMurphy — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST

by Brett McMurphy

Filed under: Big East

Technically Notre Dame is a bowl partner with the Big East Conference and the Fighting Irish is a full-member of the Big East, except for football.

Yet, even with the Irish's ties to the Big East, when they play host to UConn Saturday there won't be one person affiliated with the league that will be rooting for the Irish -- well, except for, the entire city of Cincinnati.

Bearcats Nation will be pulling for Notre Dame to win so that ND coach Charlie Weis will not become former ND coach Charlie Weis. And, in turn, current Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly won't become future Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly.

Other than Cincinnati, the rest of the league will be pulling for the Huskies. The reason is if Notre Dame (6-4) wins at least seven games, by either defeating UConn Saturday or Stanford next week, the Irish is a virtual lock to take the Big East's spot in the Gator Bowl. That would shuffle the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh loser down to the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Big East Picks: An Irish Shuffle originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storybook Season Unfolding in Cincinnati

Terence Moore — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:35:00 EST

by Terence Moore

Filed under: Cincinnati

CINCINNATI -- Go ahead. Combine Florida, Alabama, Texas and TCU, the only four teams ahead of Cincinnati in the BCS standings. Now throw in the rest of the programs throughout college football, and it still won't matter.

You won't find a collection of teams -- let alone one individually -- with more riveting stories than those surrounding Cincinnati. Come to think of it, the 2009 Bearcats have the best set of storylines of all-time for a season. Despite a wretched existence during their 123 years of playing football at a place more noted for the guy who designed the Golden Gate Bridge and Oscar Robertson, the Bearcats are in the national championship discussion with a 10-0 record out of nowhere.

That's the best of those stories.

Storybook Season Unfolding in Cincinnati originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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