Category: College Football (Page 273 of 296)

ESPN.com is reporting that Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle Bryan Pata was shot and killed outside of his apartment Tuesday night. Investigators don’t have any leads to Pata’s assailant at this moment, but have already ruled that the shooting was a homicide.

According to teammates, family members and friends, Pata was a soft-spoken young man who was well liked and had dreams of playing in the NFL. Nobody could grapple with the fact that Pata possibly had any enemy who would want to do this to him.

“Brian was cool, calm and collective,” Telfort told ESPN’s Joe Schad on Tuesday night. “He would do anything for his friends. He was a guy everybody loved. Bryan never got in trouble with anybody. I have no clue who would do this to him.”

“But I know the streets and to my knowledge he had no conflicts in the streets,” Graham said, sobbing. “Maybe someone was jealous. Maybe someone tried to rob him. I have no idea why he was shot. I just know he was shot. I didn’t know anyone that disliked him.”

This is now the University of Miami’s fourth death in one decade. Former safety Al Blades and linebacker Chris Campbell were killed in two separate car accidents within a year of each other. In 1996, reserve linebacker Marlin Barnes was murdered in a campus apartment while just a few months ago, reserve safety Willie Cooper was shot in the buttocks in an apparent robbery. Current starting safety Brandon Merriweather apparently shot and missed Cooper’s assailant. Since then, head coach Larry Coker has restricted his players from keeping guns (legal or not).

It’s sad that another young man has perished so early in his life. It’s also just as sad that the University of Miami is involved in another one of these situations.

With the new AP and USA Today Top 25 polls posting over the weekend, it’s time to take a look at the top 10 in college football.

These two polls can never just get along can they? The top two spot after Ohio State in both of these polls are always off. USA Today likes Texas at No. 3, while the AP prefers Louisville. As for me, Louisville still doesn’t crack my top five.

Here is how I see the Top 10:

1. Ohio State (10-0)
Previous Rank: #1
There is no question to me who the two most improved teams are from last year in the NCAA. One is Illinois, who gave the Buckeyes fits in the second half of OSU’s 17-10 victory in Champaign on Saturday. The other one you’ll have to wait until I talk about Florida. As far as the Buckeyes, hey, every program has hiccups at some point during the year. The main thing is that OSU survived and is still standing tall at 10-0.

2. Michigan (10-0)
Previous Rank: #2
Speaking of hiccups, the Wolverines almost choked away a huge lead to a Mid-America Conference team. And not even the best MAC school – it was Ball State. There are only two takeaways from Michigan’s narrow victory over the Cardinals on Saturday. One, the Wolverines won. And two, WR Mario Manningham may not be 100% yet, but he was on the field again for the Wolverines, which is huge.

3. Texas (9-1)
Previous Rank: #3
The Long Horns are really on the outside looking in as far as National Championship. Even at 9-1, I don’t think Texas’s schedule is tough enough to slide into a title appearance. Especially not with Kansas State and Texas A&M left on its schedule. The Wildcats aren’t ranked and with the Aggies losing to Oklahoma on Saturday, they might not be ranked by the time Texas faces them on November 24.

4. Auburn (9-1)
Previous Rank: #5
The Tigers are an interesting case as far as a title appearance. Yeah, Auburn lost to Arkansas. But the Razorbacks keep winning and therefore are making the Tigers strength of schedule look better and better every week. If Arkansas can pull off wins against Tennessee this Saturday and LSU in two weeks, the Tigers might seemingly come out of nowhere to make a National Championship appearance. This all depends on if Auburn doesn’t choke against Georgia and Alabama, of course.

5. Florida (8-1)
Previous Rank: #6
If you read what I wrote for Ohio State, you’re waiting for me to tell you what other team I think has most improved since last year. If you didn’t read what I wrote for the Buckeyes, than what the hell are you doing skipping all the way to #5? Anyway, Vanderbilt is the other team that I feel has come a long way since last season. The Gators still got the job done on Saturday, but I guarantee you it was a lot tougher than maybe Florida expected. Best case scenario for Florida: win out, hopefully play and defeat Auburn in the SEC Championship game and hope that the BCS doesn’t screw you over by ignoring that gauntlet of a season you just went through. Losing DL Marcus Thomas is a huge blow, though.

6. Louisville (8-0)
Previous Rank: #9
If I liked USC a little bit more than I do, I would put the Cardinals at No. 7…but I don’t feel for the Trojans. While Louisville beat a very good West Virginia team, how could the BCS possibly put the Cardinals in the National Championship – even with an undefeated season? If Louisville gets passed over for a title appearance, then maybe this will provoke the Cardinals to put a little more “meat” on their schedule from here on out. In my opinion, Louisville is lucky that Rutgers have been so good this season, because it will appear that the Cardinals played a “decent” schedule.

7. USC (7-1)
Previous Rank: #7
I said it on Saturday night in my college football recap and I’ll say it again now – where was the 42-0 effort all season Trojans? USC has sleepwalked through its entire ’06 schedule and finally got tripped up two weeks ago. Now, the Trojans face a tough three game stretch against Oregon, California and Notre Dame. But every single game will be at home! How did USC get this schedule?

8. Notre Dame (8-1)
Previous Rank: #10
The Irish get this spot by default with West Viringia and Tennessee losing. But hey, that’s not me taking away that hard-fought 45-26 win over North Carolina they just had. Or the wins ND will get over Air Force and Army the next two weeks either. Actually, you want one of my upsets of the year? The Falcons will top the Irish this Satuday.

9. California (8-1)
Previous Rank: Unranked
Boy the Bears have really come full circle haven’t they? Tennessee trounces California in the season opener, only for the Bears to take a full season to come all the way back and re-join the top 10…ahead of Tennessee. Interesting.

10. Arkansas (8-1)
Previous Rank: Unranked
Can I say it again? I hate this #10 spot. West Virginia’s offense is unreal with Pat White and Steve Slaton, but the defense is atrocious. Tennessee fights hard, but I think they’ve been overachieving all year and the loss to LSU sealed that notion for me. And LSU has let me down two before (I picked the Tigers to beat Auburn and Florida earlier in the year). So, why not jinx the hard-charging Razorbacks? Expect Arkansas to fall this week at home against the Volunteers – it’s just the curse of the #10 spot.

Here are your college football players of the week.

Remember, if you feel that another player was worthy of higher honors than the two I chose, post the athlete and let me hear why you think he or they were more deserving.

Here are your top performers of the week:

Offensive Player of the Week: Colt Brennan, QB Hawaii
Although Brennan’s Warriors didn’t play the stiffest of competition in Utah State, the quarterback had quite a game on Saturday. Brennan tossed six touchdown passes in Hawaii’s 63-10 win over the Aggies. He also broke Timmy Chang’s single season record for touchdown passes (39). Brennan didn’t stop there, either, as he set a new Hawaii record for consecutive passes without throwing an interception at 182 (he was intercepted in the third quarter on Saturday to halt the mark).

Defensive Player of the Week: Quinton Culberson, LB Miss. State, Erin Henderson, LB Maryland, J Lehman, LB Illinois
I can’t decide on which out of these three linebackers had the best day, so I’ll give due to all of them.

– Culberson had team-high 10 tackles and returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown in the Bull Dogs 24-16 win over Alabama.

– Henderson recorded 18 tackles and a forced fumble while leading a defense that held Clemson to just 12 points in Maryland’s 13-12 win over the Tigers.

– Anybody that saw at least a fraction of the Illinois-Ohio State game saw Lehman in on virtually every Illini play on defense. The kid was a machine in recording 19 tackles, a forced fumble, a sack and recorded at least three tackles for loss in U of I’s 17-10 defeat to the Buckeyes. The guy even spent his time in-between plays orchestrating chants for the crowd…literally.

Top 10 Rewind:

1. Ohio State (10-0)
The number one team in the nation learned just how much Illinois has improved over the course of a season after the Buckeyes had to hang on to a 17-10 victory in Champaign Urbana. After rolling to a 17-0 halftime lead, OSU was blanked in the second half thanks to an incredible defensive performance by Illini linebacker J Lehman. Lehman finished with career-high 19 tackles and was virtually in on every defensive play in the second half. Despite an average day by QB Troy Smith (13 for 23, 107 yards and one TD) and the rest of the OSU offense, the Buckeye defense continues to play at a high level.

Next Game: at Northwestern, Nov. 11.

2. Michigan (10-0)
Sound the prison siren because the Wolverines just escaped with a 34-26 victory over Ball State in Ann Arbor. Yes, that Ball State – the same team that lost to Division II North Dakota State 29-24 earlier this season. With a 31-12 lead halfway through the third quarter, Michigan had its starters off the field, the beer stands closed up and fans heading to their favorite tailgating spot before the Cardinals slowly started to mount a comeback. Think somebody is a little anxious for Ohio State in two weeks? The Wolverines better calm down and re-focus for Indiana next week, or else that contest with the Buckeyes will matter a whole hell of a lot less come November 18th.

Next Game: at Indiana, Nov. 11.

3. West Virginia (7-1)
Feel free to check out my recap of the WV-Louisville game, which was posted right here on The Scores Report last Thursday. I’ll take the time right here, however, to reaffirm how big I thought QB Pat White played in the Mountaineers 44-34 loss to the Cardinals. The kid played hurt for virtually the entire second half, yet stayed in the ball game and kept the contest close.

Next Game: vs. Cincinnati, Nov. 11.

4. Texas (9-1)
There was no slow start for the Long Horns this week, as Texas built a 20-0 lead at halftime and ended up routing Oklahoma State 36-10. Freshman Colt McCoy was the talk of the town again for the Long Horns. McCoy threw for 343 yards on 22 of 28 passing and three touchdowns. His main target was Billy Pittman, connecting with the wide out seven times for 88 yards and a score. Texas still remains on the outside of a National Championship showing and it won’t help that the Long Horns will not face a top 10 opponent the rest of the season.

Next Game: at Kansas State, Nov. 11.

5. Louisville (8-0)
Same thing goes for the Cardinals as far as my Thursday night recap of their impressive victory over West Virginia. Let me state for the record that I was wrong about West Virginia “showing” that it was the better Big East team. QB Brian Brohm really stepped up to the plate on Thursday and gave Louisville a solid shot at a National Championship. While I don’t think a team that gives up points easier than people give out candy on Halloween should be a legitimate National title contender, you can’t deny how great of a job head coach Rick Petrino has done in Louisville this season. The game next week against No.15 Rutgers is going to be HUGE.

Next Game: at Rutgers, Nov. 9.

6. Auburn (9-1)
The Tigers got over their fear of the state of Arkansas with a 27-0 drubbing of Arkansas State on Saturday. I think Auburn needed this type of win didn’t they? The defense has been fantastic all season long (except the one foul day against Arkansas, of course). But I think the offense is going to benefit from the 400-yard performance it put up against the Indians. QB Brandon Cox threw two picks, but also added two touchdown-passes while throwing for 249 yards. Ben Tate and Brad Lester combined for 155 yards on 23 combined carries while filling in for Kenny Irons (ankle injury). Also, wide out Courtney Taylor had four catches for 116 yards and one score.

Next Game: vs. Georgia, Nov. 11.

7. Florida (8-1)
The Gators 25-19 victory over Vanderbilt affirmed two things for me. One, Florida can win tight ballgames on the road under Urban Meyer now – something that eluded the Gators last year. And two, Bobby Johnson has the Vandy program heading in the right direction nowadays (something that the Commodore faithful have been looking forward to for a long time). Getting back to Florida, however, Chris Leak had a yo-yo type performance. He threw for 237 yards on 19 of 25 passing and scored on three of Florida’s four touchdowns (one passing, two rushing). But he also threw three interceptions and has now thrown an interception in every game this year except for one (vs. LSU). WR Dallas Baker had a solid game with seven receptions for 135 yards and a score as Florida looks to win the SEC East with a win over South Carolina next week.

Next Game: vs. South Carolina, Nov. 11.

8. Tennessee (7-2)
The game of the day was in Knoxville as LSU knocked off the Vols 28-24 on a last second JaMarcus Russell TD to Early Doucet. However, on the Tigers game-winning touchdown drive, the refs blew a call when Russell fumbled on a first down run (Tenn has a right to feel robbed). Vols QB Erik Ainge had to come out early in the game after suffering from a reoccurring ankle injury. However, freshman Jonathan Compton put himself on the map by coming in for Ainge and leading Tenn on three huge scoring drives. Compton finished the game by throwing two touchdown passes and 183 yards (including the play of the day on a 54 yard rainbow pass to stud wide out Robert Meachem). To me, this loss was long overdue for Tennessee – who reminds me of the Wisconsin of the SEC. Good team, but there’s just something that screams an above average program and not an elite team.

Next Game: at Arkansas, Nov. 11.

9. USC (7-1)
The Trojans lambasted Stanford 42-0 on Saturday, but where was this effort last week? USC has been fooling around all season with less superior teams and now they romp somebody? John David Booty was the stud, throwing for 203 yards and three touchdowns. He connected with his favorite wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett five times for 120 yards and one score. Despite the lopsided win, I don’t see how the Trojans should be considered in the hunt for the National Championship at this point. But facing three ranked teams in the next three weeks might help their chances (albeit, USC will be at home for every single one of those games).

Next Game: vs. Oregon, Nov. 11.

10. California (8-1)
I thought that UCLA would have put up a bigger fight against the Golden Bears on Saturday, but Cali ended up handling its business with ease. After only leading 14-10 at halftime, the Bears put 14 points on the board in the third quarter, which gave California a big enough cushion to top the Bruins 38-24. QB Nathan Longshore went 20 of 24 for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Somehow, despite giving up 492 total yards, the Bears found a way to win this contest. I still find it hard that Cal is a true top 10 team.

Next Game: at Arizona, Nov. 11.

Most impressed with: I liked Illinois and Ball State’s gusty performances against the top two teams in the nation who appeared like they were caught looking too far down the road.

Least impressed with: The following teams have given up on their seasons, coaches and themselves: Georgia, Michigan State and Iowa. What a joke.

Injury of the day: JoePa took a bad spill in the Penn State-Wisconsin game. Paterno was crashed into the sidelines during the Nittany Lions 13-3 loss to the Badgers. Paterno took a helmet to one of his knees (which buckled under him) and he was eventually carted off the field after first trying to make it through the remainder of the game. Toughest almost-80 year old I’ve ever seen.

Looking forward: Major BCS implications can be found in that Louisville-Rutgers game, which will take place next Thursday night. Two possible questions will come out of that contest and unfortunately for fans of the SEC, neither is good. If the Cardinals win and stay undefeated throughout the entire season, are they worthy enough to be considered a National Championship team over a one-loss SEC program? And if Rutgers win and lets say beats West Virginia in four weeks – holy garbage – are the Scarlet Knights supposed to be considered National Championship-worthy? The other games to keep your eye on: Tennessee at Arkansas, South Carolina at Florida and even Michigan at Indiana.