What a Saturday of football!

It's always a great time when you expect a little, and get a lot. That's exactly what happened during this college football Saturday. In what could have been labeled as "Cupcake Saturday," there turned out to be some great football games. Just as Herbstreit said on GameDay, there would be things that would leave them scratching their heads at the end of the day. Here are my thoughts and observations from today's games.

Ohio vs. Ohio State
As a pretty fair, unbiased observer of my two favorite teams I think I can gather a few things from this game. The obvious: Ohio State is much better with Beanie Wells. Beanie makes plays that the average back can't. Remember when Dixon went down last year? Oregon became a whole different team. Moving on: The Ohio Bobcats did not play very well. They amassed five turnovers and somehow stayed in the ball game; even led most of it. Ohio State did not decide to turn it on until the fourth quarter. Remember that statement Tressel said before the season started: "The fierce urgency of now." Well, apparently no one remembered about it until the end of the game. Had the OSU team been playing that way from the get-go the game would have been the blowout that everyone had expected. Next: Ohio always shoots themselves in the foot. They do it all the time. They bring you hope, you make you believe, and then they shoot your dog. I can't follow the team anymore because they do the same thing all the time, over and over again. Last note about this game: With or without Beanie next week, I believe you will see a completely different team next week against USC. I know the nation is against Ohio State, but remember, seniors win championships.

West Virginia vs. East Carolina
Just as Herbstreit had predicted a Pirate upset, so did I (it's provable in my Yahoo pickem league). Skip Holtz has been molded by the mastermind Dr. Lou, and in this case, the coaching apple has not fallen far from the tree. Not only did East Carolina win, they made a statement against WVU. It would be hard for any team to limit WVU to three points, but they just made it happen. I really enjoy this ECU team, and they remind me of USF last year. The only difference, ECU won't let the wheels fall of the wagon like USF did last year.

Speaking of a Holtz... let's talk
San Diego State University vs. Notre Dame
After an abysmal year in what was Notre Dame's worst season ever, the Irish were looking to restore to their glory days. Well... they won the game at least. A late turnover on a questionable fumble at ND's own goal line prevented an SDSU score that would have given them at least a 19-7 lead, pending the PAT. The call was reviewed, and stood as a fumble. Notre Dame would march down in that fourth quater and score a couple more times after that huge momentum shift, and went on to win 21-13. All of the pundits were predicting a big win for Notre Dame and that just did not happen. It's tough to say Notre Dame will improve much from last season based on today's performance. If the season does go down the tubes I think I know the solution to Notre Dame's woes. 1. Fire Charlie Weis: It's obvious the man has incredibly underperformed in his role, and has proven he is not worthy of any contract extensions. 2. Hire Skip Holtz: The man has turned about the ECU program and is making waves in college football. Conference USA is just his stepping stone into the big time. He is a Notre Dame guy (graduated there after transferring from another school) and he knows football. Notre Dame, admit you made a mistake, and do the right thing.

Continuing on that Notre Dame thing, let's talk about a close game with a former ND coach.
BYU vs. Washington
If you saw this game, or any highlight show for that matter, then you saw how this game ended. With time running down, Jake Locker scores with two seconds left in the game to go down one point, 27-28. The referees proceed to call Jake Locker for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty because Locker tossed the ball in the air in jubilation after he scored. Naturally, BYU accepted the penalty on the PAT, which moved Washington back 15 yards (to the 18). Well the kicker missed had the try blocked and things weren't all tea and crumpets from there. The players, extremely frustrated had to be restrained from jawing or striking any officials. As an official myself, I thought about the penalty in question, and how it was enforced. Do I believe that it was the correct ruling? Yes. Do I believe it was the correct call? No. The one thing all officials should remember and think about is their situation. Remember in the Kansas - Memphis national championship basketball game where the Kansas payer got fouled, and slammed the ball to the ground in the waning minutes of overtime? You don't? That's because there was no call. Everything is situational, and each play must be looked at on an individual basis. That's why I believe in that situation, you keep that flag in your pants (that's what she said).

Next:
Northwestern vs. Duke
Sure no one could see this game because no way would anyone want to watch it. But it was actually a good matchup. Northwestern avenged their lost against Duke last year by making the go ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter to solidify the game: 24-20. Call me optomistic, but I think Northwestern will be a more competitive doormat this season.

Wake Forest vs. Mississippi (Ole Miss)
College Gameday should have probably gone here, even though the two teams aren't ranked. You have to figure an okay ACC team would match up well with a not-to-great SEC squad, and they did. Another late game comeback in this one, as Wake Forest drills a kick to solidify the victory. I couldn't bring myself to watch this game, even though I figured it would be close all along. I guess I just hit the Snooze button any time I hear the words: Wake Forest.

Other thoughts from "Cupcake Saturday"
If you're a message board junkie like me, you are already seeing the trends.
These include: Basing the season of a team from one game: (See USCw, Ohio State, Alabama).
Worrying greatly about the Week 2, non-BCS polls.
Everyone thinking their team is better than they actually are.
Any blowout victory brings the statement "world beaters" with it.
The trendy pick is similar to taking the hot chick to play for your team. Sure she's pretty, but you don't know jack about her and she's probably not that good.

The Big Ten Sweep (11-0)
Not a single loss, not even Northwestern to Duke, nor Minnesota to Bowling Green. Maybe, just maybe, the conference is on the up and up. Hey, I have to represent the Midwest.

UCLA is in good hands
The football Monopoly in Los Angeles is over, and Norm Chow will help that offense look better than it's supposed to. How awesome was it to hear Tennessee fans cheer "S-E-C," only to get their butts whooped at the end. That is karma my friends.

Penn State
Again, the world beaters commentary is coming left and right, after beating a team that lost a ton of players. Wait till PSU plays in hostile territory before deciding just how decent they are.

Bowling Green
They may win the MAC, but they are not that good.

That's all I have for today. If I catch some highlights from the NFL I may just post my thoughts. Until then, stay classy.