Three players certain to get consideration in the 2013 NFL Draft fared off in a Pac-12 matchup on September 24, 2011. While Washington squeaked out a 31-23 victory over the Bears, all of the pro prospects stood out. California's Keenan Allen ended the afternoon with 10 receptions for 197 yards and one receiving score. Trufant, meanwhile, found a way to record four tackles with three pass break-ups and Anthony's physical style stood out. DraftNasty's Corey Chavous gives an in-game report from Seattle, Washington.
So what did we learn from the opening week of the college football season?
Hot Seat: Typically, the biggest question surrounding coaches heading into the college football season involves their job security. Every game, from the outset, becomes either a lit match or a drop of water over the lined bomb that rests underneath the proverbial hot seat. Not everyone, though, has a warm cushion on which to squat.
Last Wednesday, DraftNasty.com's Corey Chavous traveled to a mid-week matchup between the Ohio Bobcats, seeking the MAC East Division title, and the Bowling Green Falcons. Two standout receivers in the conference, LaVon Brazill (#7 pictured) and Kamar Jorden (#19 pictured), were on display as the Bobcats defeated the Falcons on a chilly, brisk night in Bowling Green, OH. We break down each of their impressive skill sets.
Eastern Michigan head coach Ron English (pictured left) has done a remarkable job in just his third year in the Mid-American conference. Led by junior QB Alex Gillett's (#8 pictured) outstanding running skills, the team ranks 14th in the nation in rushing through nine games (234.9 yds/gm). The Eagles field a trio of runners with over 500 yards rushing and, for the second year in a row, Gillett leads the team in rushing. As you'll find out in our look inside Eastern Michigan's program, the experienced signal-caller can also get it done in the air. It's a big reason why the team is just one game away from becoming bowl eligible after winning just two games in a two-year span (2009-10).
The St. Louis Cardinals won their eleventh world championship last Friday in what proved to be one of the most exciting World Series matchups of all-time. Led by NLCS and Series MVP David Freese (#23 pictured), this team will go down in the ages as one of the most inspirational groups ever put together. Draftnasty.com pays a special tribute to the championship squad and manager Tony LaRussa, who finished his 33-year managerial career third in all-time victories.
The Mocs built a 28-0 lead in the opening half as redshirt freshman Terrell Robinson stepped up for injured star QB B.J. Coleman. He completed 11-of-13 passes for 140 yards with 3 TDs and ran for a game-high 115 yards on just 14 carries. Elon fell to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the Southern Conference, while Chattanooga improved to 4-4, 2-3.
Four weeks ago, senior QB Matt Christian wasn't even the starting quarterback for the New Mexico State Aggies. With just seven games remaining, he now has a chance to lead the team to its first bowl game since 1960.
South Carolina State's Bulldogs really had to battle on their homecoming in front of 22,181 fans at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Bulldogs junior running back Asheton Jordan rushed for a career-high 226 yards and 2 TDs on 22 carries. In redshirt sophomore quarterback Richard Cue's first start, he completed 15-of-22 passes for 171 yards and 2 TDs, while also rushing for 92 yards on 17 carries.
This past weekend, the Grambling State Tigers took on the Prairie View Panthers in what proved to be an outstanding battle of former SWAC conference champions. The annual classic pits two historically black colleges versus one another in conjunction with the State Fair. This year's game welcomed the return of Grambling State legend Doug Williams. He led the Tigers to three SWAC championships during his earlier stint as coach of the school in the early 2000s.
The eighth-ranked Cowboys rolled to a 37-14 victory last Thursday over the Arizona Wildcats largely due to an outstanding performance by their defense. The team limited Arizona to just 41 yards on the ground despite giving up 398 yards passing to Arizona QB Nick Foles.
There are a multitude of names that come to mind when one contemplates the prospects of elite NCAA basketball teams each season. Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, Connecticut, Kentucky, North Carolina and Syracuse are just a few that break through the conscious initially.
But San Diego State?
What’s happening to Tiger Woods at the moment speaks more about the game of golf than it does the once untouchable superstar.
It’s quite a fascinating thing, actually, that with all of the drama that unfolds during a college football contest, that at the completion of the momentum swings, points of triumph and missed opportunities, that at the conclusion of the questionable calls, the palpable sense of anxiety and hope – at the end of it all, each team is placed neatly into two categories.
This is a remarkable week in that it gives us a chance to offer thanks, as opposed to the general complaints that probably dictate the course of the daily landscape. Responsibly, Thanksgiving should be reserved for the things in life that grant us the most fulfillment, be it family, employment, freedom, or some other valuable belonging that which without we would be lost.
There’s something special happening in Clemson this season and it’s worth celebrating, not only for Tigers fans or for football fans, but for those who support victory for the young men shielded from the world on most Saturday afternoons.
Swarms of Halloween goers have already swept their costumes from the store aisles, whether it is children for trick or treating or their parents for office parties. College football, already at a scary point in the season with teams jockeying for conference position, has its share of superheroes, villains, and haunted houses, two in particular.
Veteran leadership is often factored into the assessment of a college football team. The club with it is viewed favorably and the team needing it is generally considered a work in progress. Certainly, freshman talent exists each year, but typically the team having to rely upon it, is one considered to be looking ahead.
Veteran leadership is often factored into the assessment of a college football team. The club with it is viewed favorably and the team needing it is generally considered a work in progress. Certainly, freshman talent exists each year, but typically the team having to rely upon it, is one considered to be looking ahead.
You won't hear much about what head coach Les Miles (pictured in middle of team after season opening win vs UNC) is doing off the field. DraftNasty.com lead journalist Patrick Green took some time with colleague Corey Chavous to find out why today's college football climate really doesn't care.
