Thursday Night College Football: October 11th

Thursday, October 11th

• Western Kentucky @ Troy, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU (HD)/ espn 3
• Texas-El Paso @ Tulsa, 7:00 p.m, FSN Affiliates (HD) / FCSC (cable)
• Arizona State @ Colorado, 8 p.m., ESPN (HD)

A batlle in the Sun Belt, the Conference USA and the Pac 12 highlight Thursday night football in College Football.  None of the teams are Top 25 programs currently, though Arizona State be getting closer to breaking the Top 25.  The Sun Devils are 2-0 and leading the Pac 12 South currently.  Colorado is 1-1 in the conference.

Western Kentucky is 1-0 in the Sun Belt, while Troy is 2-1 in the conference.  Huge game for both programs in the hunt for the '12 Sun Belt title.

Tulsa is 3-0 in the C-USA West, while UTEP is 0-2 in the conference.  Who will pick up this important conference Thursday night game?

If Spring Football attendence was the measurement of success in College Football, then Nebraska would be among the best!

Most Big Ten spring experiences don't compare to NU's - Omaha World Herald

The Iowa-Nebraska rivalry should be a good one in time. For the fans, it will start immediately, but we will have to wait and see if three's a charm. Iowa will replace Oklahoma, then Colorado, as the Nebraska Cornhuskers final regular season opponent. Historically in the old Big 8, it was always Oklahoma-Nebraska. In the Big 12, it became Colorado-Nebraska on Black Friday, the day after Thanksfiving. Now, with the Cornhuskers debut in 2011 in the Big Ten, it will be Iowa-Nebraska on Black Friday. The Big Ten enters the post Thanksgiving era with division play and the first Big Ten title game in 2011.

peace

Oregon 60, UCLA 13 in Thursday night College Football in the Pac 10

#2 Oregon certainly has an offense today, in contrast to the performance in Boise in the 2009 season opener. After Thursday night's performance in Eugene, it may be getting harder and harder to not vote Oregon #1 right now in College Football.

Why Oregon will beat UCLA on Thursday - ‎ESPN (blog)
This week the Oregon Ducks will play their first-ever game as AP No. 1, but don't expect the Ducks' stay at No. 1 to be short-lived. Since No. ...
No. 1 Ducks romp over UCLA 60-13 ‎ - The Associated Press

Interesting to see that Colorado and Utah will be joining both Arizona and Arizona State in the same division of the Pac 10, soon to be Pac 12. The Pac 8 has come a long way and it is a little interesting that the four newest members are all in the same division ...

Conference reveals two-division setup for football as Pac-12 - The Statesman Journal
It's a whole new world in the Pac-10, er, Pac-12 Conference ...

peace

FBS Football: Conference reallignment continues with BYU and two members of the WAC

It began earlier this year with one WAC program announced it was moving to the MWC. Then, it was the two Big 12 teams leaving and one MWC leaving. Now, there is news out of the MWC and WAC again ...

• Boise State was moving from the WAC to the MWC, after '10


• Nebraska is moving from the Big 12 to the Big Ten, after '10


• Colorado is moving from the Big 12 to the Pac Ten, after '10


• Utah is moving from the MWC to the Pac Ten, after '10

Now, BYU is planning to become an independent in football and will move to the WAC for all other sports. The decision isn't official yet, regarding BYU, but the discussions are clearly on the table. While the MWC is going to likely lose both Utah and BYU, the WAC will lose not only Boise State, but Fresno State and Nevada appear headed now to the MWC, as 2010 is turning out to be a big year for conference realignment.

@Mark_Schlabach Fuzzy math....MWC sits at 10 for '11
(Utah, BYU gone; Boise, Fresno, Nevada coming in). Need two more for conf. title
game .. if BYU leaves ~ Twitter from Mark Schlabach of ESPN

BYU's quest for independence proves conference realignment isn't over - ‎NewsOK.com
BYU's happy feet are merely the latest example of why conference realignment has not checked in its equipment. It's only taken a timeout. ...

Latest: MWC invites Fresno and Nevada, and Fresno accepts while ... ‎- Salt Lake Tribune (blog)
Fresno State and Nevada-Reno to join its conference, an obvious shot across the bow at the WAC for taking BYU. ... In fact, it is changing by the minute.

Video: MWC-WAC dance resumes - KRQE.com
Sources: BYU to join WAC for all sports except football ‎ - The Herald Journal
Fresno St., Nevada plan to join Mountain West - ESPN
Report: Fresno State has agreed to join the Mountain West Conference ‎ - Los Angeles Times (blog)
Nevada, Fresno State accept offers to leave WAC and join Mountain West ‎ - USA Today

peace

Iowa State faces challanging schedule in 2010 in the Big 12 and Out of Conference

It will be a challenging schedule for the 2010 edition of Iowa State Cyclones' football. For 12 straight weeks, the Cyclones will face eight bowl teams, three other Big 12 opponents and an in-state match up with FCS power Northern Iowa. The Cy-Hawk game will be in Iowa City this fall. ISU has been held without a scoring a TD for 14 straight quarters vs. Hawkeyes. Three new Big 12 South opponents will come onto the schedule, with Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech.

The Cyclones welcomed new coach Paul Rhoads last year to Ames. The Cyclones finished 7-6, with a solid 14-13 win over Minnesota in the Insight Bowl in Arizona. But, year two will be a challenge, with 8 offensive, four defensive starters returning and their talented punter departed.

ISU hoping to follow Austen Arnaud's lead ‎- The Associated Press

Arnaud struggled with Iowa State's new spread offense, ... studied and watched how they've been some of the best passers college football has ever seen ...

Cyclones on the rise? ISU faces tougher schedule in 2010 ‎ - KUsports

The Cyclones return its top two QBs in senior Austen Arnaud and sophomore Jerome Tiller, senior RB Alexander Robinson (#33), the #2 and #3 WRs in senior Jake Williams and junior Darius Darks and four starters in the offensive line. Junior PK Gran Mahoney is back for another season, as well, for the Cyclones offense.

The retooling is on the defensive side of the ball for coach Rhoads and his coaching staff. All three linebacker positions will be have new faces, as well many in the defensive line. The defensive line and secondary will return half of the starters. A redshirt freshman punter is projected to replace talented punter Mike Brandtner. The top return specialists are back for the Cyclones for '10.

Here's the Cyclones 2010 schedule:

• Thu, Sept 2 vs. Northern Illinois 7 PM Central Time


• Sat, Sept 11 @ Iowa 2:30 PM Central Time


• Sat, Sept 18 vs. Kansas State* 11:00 AM Central Time from Kansas City


• Sat, Sept 25 vs. Northern Iowa 6:00 PM Central Time


• Sat, Oct 2 vs. Texas Tech


• Sat, Oct 9 vs. Utah


• Sat, Oct 16 @ Oklahoma


• Sat, Oct 23 @ Texas


• Sat, Oct 30 vs. Kansas


• Sat, Nov 6 vs. Nebraska


• Sat, Nov 13 @ Colorado


• Sat, Nov 20 vs. Missouri

This will be the final season for Nebraska and Colorado in the Big 12. The loss of both programs will be felt by the Cyclones, especially the home and home with Nebraska, the closest conference program to Ames.

peace

We are less than two months out to the kickoff of the 2010 College Football season!

Regrets on not wishing everyone a Happy Independence Day on my blog sooner. It's been a busy 2010 and time hasn't offered as much opportunity to post. The blog has been idle for awhile, but the love and passion for College Football still lives on!

We hope you will keep an eye on our blog as we head into the 2010 College Football season, which is less than two months away! The first game kicks off on Thursday, September 2Nd with Presbyterian at Wake Forest on espn3.com. Plenty of other games kickoff the big Labor Day weekend! The regular season will close out on Saturday, December 4Th with conference title games and final regular season games.

It was a great 2009 college football season and 2010 should be great as well. The news out of the Big 12 Conference and MWC has been very interesting of late. It started with the news that Boise State will leave the WAC after 2010 season to join the MWC. Then, we learned the Big Ten and Pac Ten are both expanding, with Nebraska joining the Big Ten for 2011, while Colorado in 2012 and Utah joining in 2011 the Pac 10 Conference.

We want to welcome Nebraska for accepting an invitation to the Big Ten Conference. For years, we have enjoyed Cornhusker football growing up here in Eastern Iowa watching and following Dr. Tom Osborne. It will be enjoyable seeing Iowa-Nebraska on the gridiron more regularly. The late Bob Devaney would be proud for his Nebraska Cornhuskers.

From our nation's founding fathers to the major conferences in College Football, the landscape continues to evolve in 2010.

peace

Hope everyone is enjoying their week of Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Creighton Bluejays pushed the Michigan Wolverines into OT in Orlando on Thanksgiving. But, too many mistakes cost the Jays down the stretch.

Ott's Thoughts: Michigan 83, Creighton 76 (OT) - White and Blue Review ‎
Except Creighton fans could say the same thing. The Bluejays out rebounded Michigan for the better part of 45 minutes. The Jays shot better than UM. ...
Michigan Holds Off Creighton in Overtime - New York Times
Michigan 83, Creighton 76 - USA Today
Recap: No. 15 Wolverines 83, Jays 76 (OT) - Detroit Free Press

Celebrating Thanksgiving today with our family and a little football

Friday, November 27Th on DirecTV today

• Rutgers at Louisville 10:00 a.m. ESPN2 (HD)


• Temple at Ohio 10:00 a.m. ESPNU (HD)


• Illinois at Cincinnati 11:00 a.m. ABC (HD) - Tough times for the Fighting Illini!


• Wyoming at Colorado State 1:00 p.m. Mtn.


• Alabama at Auburn 1:30 p.m. CBS (HD) / Online


• Memphis at Tulsa 2:30 p.m. CBSC (HD)


• Nebraska at Colorado 2:30 p.m. ABC (HD) - A Thanksgiving Family Tradition


• Pittsburgh at West Virginia 6:00 p.m. ESPN2 (HD)


• Nevada at Boise State 9:15 p.m. ESPN2 (HD)

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend!

peace

Thursday Night Football: Washington Warriors Homecoming and College Football tonight

The Cedar Rapids Washington Warriors will host Iowa City West High at Kingston Stadium on Homecoming tonight in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Warriors are coming off a 44-6 win over Kennedy last Friday night. It will be wet and cold tonight at Kingston. Go Warriors!

Thursday, October 1st in the FBS - College Football!

Colorado at West Virginia
6:30 p.m.
ESPN (HD)

Remarks: The Mountaineers look to get back on top of things after a loss in Week 3 at Auburn!

Southern Miss at UAB
7:00 p.m.
CBSC (HD)

Remarks: The Golden Eagles didn't get the upset at Kansas in Week 4. Time to get a win in Week 5 @ UAB.

peace

A couple College Football games before Saturday's action

Our #25 Clemson Tigers travel to Our #15 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Thursday to square off in a big ACC showdown. You can tune into ESPN at 6:30 pm Central Time to catch the action. Our pick: Georgia Tech in this one.

On Friday:

unranked Colorado @ unranked Toledo on ESPN at 8 pm CDT.

Both games are in HD, if you are asking.

This week's action in College Football.

Thursday night at Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Washington High School will work to get back on track with their winning ways, as they host Prairie in football. #1 City High of Iowa City gave the Warriors a smack down last Friday night.

peace

One Team succeeds, while another team falls short

The Iowa Hawkeyes (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) are bowl eligible for the eighth straight season. The Hawkeyes will host Senior Day at Kinnick this Saturday vs. Purdue (3-7, 1-5 Big Ten), in Joe Tiller's final game in Iowa City as the Boilermakers' coach.

The Iowa State Cyclones (2-8, 0-6 Big 12) are closing out head coach Gene Chizik's second season in Ames. The Cyclones host Big 12 rival and Big 12 North leader Missouri (8-2, 4-2 Big 12) on Saturday night.

It was a tough 24-28 road loss at Colorado for the Cyclones this past week, while the Hawkeyes boot a late 31 yard field goal to beat Penn State 24-23! Ironically, the radio announcer for the Cyclones Radio Network suggested ISU might go to the option. It appears the Colorado defense was prepared for it.

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More College Football Today

The first weekend in college football is 1/2 complete. Today there are three more games on tap on TV:

• Sunday, August 31st
  
• Hampton vs. Jackson State
  1:00 p.m.
  ESPN2 (HD)
  
• Kentucky at Louisville
  2:30 p.m.
  ESPN (HD)
  
• Colorado vs. Colorado State (Denver)
  6:30 p.m.
  FSN (HD - Click for details)

Further, next weekend is the kickoff of NFL Football! Plenty of football will be coming our way in September. Let's enjoy the final day of August today!

peace

One Week Left: 2008 College Football season kicks off

Iowa State will host one of the first games of the 2008 college football season from Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. The ISU Cyclones face the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, a FCS school, with a 7 pm start on August 28, 2008.

One week from today, the 2008 college football season will begin. Also, in the State of Iowa, high school football will begin, with the first week of action.

The Cyclones are coming off a 3-9 (2-6 in Big 12 in '07) season under second year head coach Gene Chizik. The Jackrabbits were 7-4 last year and will join the University of Northern Iowa in the new Missouri Valley Football Conference (formerly known as the Gateway) for 2008.

This will be a huge game for the Jackrabbits, who last year did not face a FBS opponent. As Jackrabbits head coach John Stiegelmeier points out in this "big time" game:

‘‘Normally we talk about a game three, four days before we play it. So we
started six, seven months early,’’ Stiegelmeier said Monday. ‘‘We did that
because things have changed. It’s a higher level. We need to have that focus.’’

Iowa State is on a one game losing streak to FCS programs, after losing to UNI at home in '07. However, the Cyclones are on a two game winning streak at Jack Trice, with back to back Big 12 wins over Colorado and Kansas State in '07.

One week from today... we will kick off the 2008 college football season!

peace

Is the Iowa-ISU Rivarly in Football Living up to Expectations?

Well, ISU's AD Jamie Pollard and Iowa's AD Gary Barta put things to bed and extended the Cy-Hawk Football Series through 2017 this week.

Well, they need to make one more major change. Please, move the game to late November. Make it the last game of the season for the University of Iowa.

The Iowa-Iowa State rivalry in football is better the Colorado-Colorado State, but is it the best in-state non-conference rivalry game in the Nation? Shouldn't it be better?

The Big Ten has an odd number of teams, so the rotation of Iowa - Wisconsin - Minnesota will always leave one odd team out each season. Last year, Iowa was the team. This year, it's Wisconsin, who will close with Division I-AA (FCS Division) Cal-Poly, while Iowa faces Minnesota. The rest of the Big Ten: PSU-MSU, Michigan-OSU, IU-Purdue, and Northwestern-Illinois. Wouldn't it be a win-win for all in the Big Ten?

Who is Iowa State's regular rival to close the Big 12? Does ISU, in football, clearly have a natural rival better than the University of Iowa. Iowa does have Minnesota... and, Wisconsin has certainly developed as one. I would not count Iowa's top game annually as being the in-state rivalry. It shouldn't be.

On the flip side, who is ISU's natural rivalry in the Big 12? Nebraska-Colorado, K-State-KU, KU-Missouri, but does ISU really have a similar rivalry? Nebraska fans would mention OU before ISU, imo. This is despite the fact they don't play OU regularly, each season, since the Big 12 was formed.

Iowa vs. Iowa State would be a natural rivalry, like the ACC's Georgia Tech and the SEC's Georgia. For a rivalry that has lacked a spark at times in football... at minimum, it could become the Midwest's version of what is found in the South in Georgia.

On Iowa! Go State! Let's see it happen in the State of Iowa!

BTW - Iowa vs. Nebraska and Iowa State vs. Minnesota would appear to be outstanding future non-conference rivalries too. For now, it's Floyd (the Pig), the Bull, and Cy-Hawk!

peace