Thoughts on the season as November begins:
* I think the Cal Golden Bears would really be a dominant team if it weren't for the Trojans from Southern California. This Cal team is known more for its offense, but it can really play some serious D.
* I think Texas A&M was looking ahead to Oklahoma when they were stunned by Baylor. But that's no excuse. It's Baylor, for heaven's sake. Baylor! Shameful.
* I think Texas A&M's loss to Baylor is huge bad news for Utah that can be partially and nearly-completely erased if the Aggies can pull the upset over the Sooners next week in College Station.
* How bad was October 30 for Florida? The Sunshine State had four Division I-A college football programs in action, and they all lost (Florida, Florida State, Central Florida, and Miami). Florida is also home to two provisional Division I-A teams. Only one of those teams actually won.
* I think if Utah had a stiffer defense, there'd be much less discussion regarding their place in the national scene. It's difficult to know which result will have a greater effect on the Utes' place in the BCS mix: the Baylor upset over Texas A&M or the North Carolina upset over Miami.
* Is it okay with everyone else if we just hand Southern California the national championship? I just don't see another team in the nation that can beat them. Oklahoma might hang with them, make for a fun game. But, everyone else? I don't think the Trojans win by fewer than 10 points to any other program out there. I just don't.
* What a weird year for the folks in Starksville, Mississippi. The Sylvester Croom era opens with a win over Tulane, then proceeds with a loss to Division I-AA Maine at home and what are now familiar drubbings early in the SEC schedule. Then, somehow, the Bulldogs win back-to-back conference games over the Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats. There may be promise in the Croom regime after all.
* Then again, maybe not, as the NCAA revealed that Mississippi State would go on a four-year long probation for violations committed in the Jackie Sherrill era that just ended last season.
* With the Ron Zook era nearing its inevitable end in Gainesville, the question must be asked? Who else will be "released from their contract?" Illinois will almost certainly fire Ron Turner. Washington seems destined to let go of Keith Gilbertson. Rumors around Pitt have Walt Harris leaving the program, despite the Panthers being but one more win from bowl eligibility. Before UNC shocked Miami, John Bunting's ouster seemed a solid bet. Now? Who knows. And one must wonder about Kentucky's Rich Brooks. Sure, he says he wanted to continue, but Croom's Bulldogs have already led to the dismissal of one coach.
* Anyone who wondered how long it would take Mike Price to bring respectability to Texas-El Paso should take note: the Miners, with a win over San Jose State Saturday, became bowl eligible. Will they get a bowl bid? Probably not. But by reaching the six wins total in week ten, Price's Miners have tied the victory total of the last three season combined. That's a turnaround and a testament to the coach. If only he'd been given the opportunity to live down a single night of personal foibles at Alabama.
* Speaking of Alabama, I think it has gone completely unnoticed, maybe by design, of just how little complaining is being done about Mike Shula in his second season. He had a shaky rookie season as the Crimson Tide's head coach, but has lost his top two quarterbacks, his top two running backs, countless others throughout the team, and the Tide, while by no means spectacular, are a pushover for no one. Imagine if Shula didn't have NCAA probation sanctions to overcome.
* When was the last time a guy who was being handed the Heisman in mid-October got benched before November? I mean it, this is history, right? Incredible how far Purdue and their senior quarterback Kyle Orton have fallen. Truly astounding.
* As for the Heisman, I think I'm ready to say that maybe Heisman voters need to get over their fear of younger players. Is there a more outstanding player than Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson? I think maybe only one, Southern California's quarterback Matt Leinart. Other than that, everyone else I'm lukewarm toward. Auburn's Carnell Williams, Oklahoma's Jason White, and Michigan's Braylon Edwards are second-tier candidates in my mind.
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