Coach Mangino must hate his job…

Hot: Starting with a bang!

Just when it looked like Titus Young was going to fumble the opening kickoff and give Nevada an easy first score, he picked up the ball and ran it all the way back for a thrilling Bronco touchdown and statement about just who is the best team in the WAC. As usual, the Broncos stomped the Wolfpack (ten times straight now) and clinched the WAC title. Ho hum….just another day in Bronco Nation. Business as usual. Beyond the weather and the terrible officiating (see below) the only down point in this game was all the injuries. Thankfully they were mostly minor and everybody should have time to heal before a bowl appearance (and can rest up next week against NMSU). I think I might ask Coach Pete if I can fill in for anyone…shouldn’t really make much of a difference.

Not: Six blind zebras, six blind zebras, see how they run (for their lives after the game)

Um. Was it just me, or did the refs in the BSU/Nevada matchup really blow? I sure hope they got fined or egged or SOMEthing. If you missed it, here is a recap of some of the excellent calls they made in the freezing cold, rainy WAC championship-deciding game. Super Call #1: Defensive holding on an ineligible receiver. Yeah…whatever that is. I didn’t even know there were defensive receivers. Did you? Super Call #2: Pass Interference on a defender two yards ahead of the intended receiver, who fell down. Super Call #3: Giving the ball to Nevada after a questionable fumble during which Nevada picked up the ball after the play was blown dead. Fumble or no fumble, I’m pretty sure when a play is blown dead, everything that happens after that does not count. It’s like having something stricken from the record in court. Super NON Call #4: Not flagging the Wolfpack when the ENTIRE team came out on the field during an official review, instigating a chant from the stands of “Get off our field. Get off our field.” And in all seriousness, Nevada should throw a party for whichever booster slid those refs some cash money under the table before the game! Without the excellent officiating, Nevada wouldn’t have been in the game at all.

Hot: WAC losers win!

Both games may have been decided by three little points, but this weekend, Utah State took down Idaho to get their fourth win of the season, and San Jose State took down New Mexico State to get their second. Utah State may not have a lot of W’s on the board this season, but they are stepping up their game, and I like to see them come out on top sometimes! In fact, I would be thrilled to see the Aggies go to a bowl game next year! And San Jose State is just so sad this year. Their coach is out and their only other win came against Cal Poly. It’s nice that they had a little something to celebrate about this Thanksgiving weekend.

Not: Passing Time

Just for a second, put on your coaching hat and tell me what you would call in this situation: you are deep in your own territory, so deep you are snapping in your end zone, with 2.5 minutes left in the game and you are up by three points. What’s the call? I am willing to bet it wasn’t to try three passing plays in a row. More likely you dialed up some run plays to take time off the clock and keep control off the ball. Yet, for some reason Coach Mangino’s staff thought that was the right thing to do in the end of their matchup against Mizzou Saturday. So, after running about 10 seconds off the clock on downs 1 and 2, the Mizzou defense sacked the qb in the end zone to get a safety and the ball with, yes, more than two minutes and a timeout to play with. Needless to say, they got a field goal and the win, and solidified Coach Mangino’s need to send out resumes.

Hot: Running all over your rivals

Georgia may be having a questionable season, but they still had more than enough in the playbook to trample the Yellow Jackets on the road Saturday. The Bulldogs might not have been able to crush Tech’s chances at a conference title, but they definitely did some damage to their place in the rankings. Plus, it’s just good fun to beat a rival on their turf, no matter the circumstances!

Not: Farewell Florida’s Football God

Lame as it may be, I actually got misty eyed watching Tebow’s last snaps in the swamp. The stadium was a glittering sea of flashes from cameras capturing these final moments of a great leader at home. Can you imagine a Gator team without him at the helm? Has there been another player in recent history who has had such an impact, such a dominant presence, such a following among all college football fans? It is a little bit sad to see it all end. Two more games and Tebow’s college football career will be complete.

Hot: Paybacks

Okay, we all know Rice is just plain awful, but even they must have been ashamed of their showing against Houston this week. The Cougars scored 59 points in the first half, for heaven’s sake! So much for the Owl’s hopes for a repeat of last year’s dream crushing performance against Houston. I’m pretty sure Most of the Cougar’s grandpas were out there playing the second half of the game, and they still couldn’t help but put more points up. The most scored by any team this season; 73 in all.

Not: One really is the loneliest number

There may be six undefeated teams left as we close out November, but there is not even ONE one-loss team out there. There are a few one-win teams left. And a few one-conference-loss teams. But no overall records with one loss. Not sure if this is a reflection of parity in college football, or just the overall suckiosity of the majority of teams this season.

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