Category: College Football (Page 274 of 296)

This game lived up to the scoring hype, but man, I never thought I would be craving for a little defense more than I am right now.

The game turned on its head early in the third quarter. Hands down, Malik Jackson’s touchdown return on a Steve Slaton (156 yards and a TD) fumble and Trent Guy’s 26-yard punt return for a TD sparked this win for the Cardinals. After that, West Virginia was cooked – even with Pat White turning in one of the most incredible performances I’ve seen from a college football player (222 passing, 125 rushing and four TDs). Brian Brohm was fantastic as well for Louisville. Brohm threw for 353 yards and one score while hitting Harry Douglas (6 rec. 116 yards) and Mario Urrutia (6 rec. 113 yards and one TD) for first down after first down. I can’t believe how the Mountaineers defense allowed Douglas and Urrutia to take up real estate in the secondary all night long. The Cardinals did whatever they wanted to offensively in the second half.

Both White and Slaton were marvelous again for West Virginia, but turnovers sunk this team in the end. You just can’t give an offense like Louisville extra possessions – especially when your defense is playing with only four guys (WV’s defense was short handed tonight right? I swear it was with how open everybody was for Louisville).

Now of course, the topic of if Louisville is a deserving enough squad to be considered worthy of a National Championship appearance will be in full force. My opinion? Hell no. Are they good? Yes. Are they fun to watch? Absolutely. But watching the way West Virginia and these Big East teams play defense, there is no way that Louisville (or West Virginia for that matter) goes into a title game with Ohio State, Michigan or any stout SEC team and scores 44 points. You see, the Big Ten and the SEC have that little thing called: playing defense.

Fun game, I would do it again in a heartbeat. But don’t tell me either of these two offensive circus acts is better than the top dogs in the Big Ten or SEC.

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Michigan State University has decided to part ways with head coach John L. Smith. According to MSU athletic director, Ron Mason, Smith will remain the Spartans head coach through the rest of the ’06 season.

The firing should not come as a surprise, but the timing of it sure does. However, I actually applaud MSU for coming out with the decision now. Here’s why, everybody in East Lansing knew this guy was as good as gone at the end of the year. So, instead of trying to negotiate with new coaches behind Smith’s back, MSU just decided to make it public and give Smith the option of finishing out the season. Too many times do we see a coach’s head on the chopping block, yet the college or professional program continues to act like the general public is stupid. If a coach is not your guy anymore, part ways, period. And give Smith credit – while his career at MSU was awful (to say the least) he remained a professional throughout this announcement and will continue to be until this dreadful season is over for MSU.

Possible candidates as replacements for Smith have surfaced and they are as follows: former Cleveland Browns and University of Miami head coach Butch Davis, former San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions head coach Steve Mariucci, former University of Washington and current quarterback coach for the Baltimore Ravens Rick Neuishal and Central Michigan head coach Brian Kelly.

In honor of the 2006 College Football Season, Bullz-Eye.com will preview an up-and-coming game of the week, each week, for the entire length of the NCAA season.

Each week a game will be highlighted and broken down by each teams strengths and weaknesses vs. its opponent. Plus, no preview would be complete without a forecasted score – you’ll find a prediction on the game at Bullz-Eye.com as well.

This week, we give love to the Big East conference as West Virginia travels to Louisville to take on the Cardinals with huge BCS implications on the line. The winner of this contest has a real shot at a National Championship bid, while the loser will likely be bounced out of the top 10 come next Monday.

On tap this week: (#3) West Virginia at (#5) Louisville

With all due respect to Brady Quinn’s hype, Steve Slaton’s numbers and Ray Rice’s little-school story, Troy Smith is your Heisman winner right now.

You want numbers? Try 1,898 passing yards, 23 touchdowns (one rushing) and only two interceptions. You want big victories? Try convincing wins over then-ranked #2 Texas in Austin and Big Ten rival Iowa in Iowa City.

To me, what Smith brings to the Buckeyes isn’t even close to what other hopefuls have given their programs this year. Smith makes everyone around him better. And while it’s true he has a budding star at receiver in Ted Ginn Jr. to throw to, Smith has made players like Anthony Gonzalez and Antonio Pittman better by just playing in the same offense as the senior quarterback.

Imagine if Smith leads Ohio State to victory over rival Michigan later this month – he should win the honor in a landslide.

Check out Troy Smith’s profile page on Bullz-Eye.com