Week 2: Friday Night College Football

Cedar Rapids, IA --Friday night, September 9th, the Big Ten for the second straight week heads to Miami for another game against Florida International (0-1).  This week it is the Maryland Terrapins (1-0). The other game tonight in the FBS division is an Atlantic division match up in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Another Big Ten team headed to Miami to take on FIU in September.

• Maryland at Florida International 6:30 pm CBSSN - first meeting between in this Big Ten vs. C-USA match up. 
• Louisville at Syracuse 7:00 pm ESPN2 - Bobby Petrino is his third season, since he returned to lead the Cardinals. The Orange welcomed Dino Barbers 

Syracuse beats Minnesota in Texas Bowl: 3 is a charm for Orange vs. B1G

Houston, TX -- After opening the 2013 season with back to back losses against Big Ten opponents (Penn State, @ Northwestern), the Syracuse Orange (7-6) finished the season at the Texas Bowl, with a 21-17 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-5). 

 What does that have to do with
Minnesota vs. Syracuse in the Texas Bowl?

During the game, the "Who Hates Iowa?" chant was apparently in full force, during the 2013 Texas Bowl.

Another sidebar to the game, was the return of Minnesota coach Jerry Kill to the sidelines. 

Kill decided to coach from the sideline for the first time since the Golden Gophers Homecoming game with the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sept. 28th. 

Iowa beat Minnesota 23-7 for the first time in three tries at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Just like Syracuse, who won their first game against a Big Ten opponent in 2013, with the 21-17 win over Minnesota.

	1st 2nd 3rd 4th F  Syracuse 0 7 7 7 21  Minnesota 0 3 0 14 17
17	Final Stats |  Photo Gallery	21

Stats at a Glance MINN SYR  First Downs 19 23  Total Offensive Yards 350 396  Passing Yards 223 188  Rushing Yards 127 208  Penalties-Yards 8-65 9-53  Turnovers 1 1  Punts-Avg. 6-47.7 4-43.0  Punt Returns-Avg. 2-(-1) 4-27.6  Kick Returns-Avg. 3-16.0 3-18.6  3rd-Down Conversions 8-17 7-14  4th-Down Conversions 1-1 1-2  Time of Possession 30:13 29:47  Scoring Summary  First Quarter No Scoring  Second Quarter SU 10:04 Smith 1 run (Norton kick) UM 0:00 Hawthorne 41 FG  Third Quarter SU 2:57 Hunt 5 run (Norton kick)  Fourth Quarter UM 14:55 Leidner 20 pass to Williams (2-point failed) UM 12:34 Leidner 55 pass to Wolitarsky (2-point good) SU 1:14 12 Hunt run (Norton kick)  Statistical Leaders  Rushing: David Cobb - 18-91 yards  Passing: Mitch Leidner - 22-11-0, 205 yards, 2 TDs  Receiving: Drew Wolitarsky - 4 - 94 yds, TD  Defense: Cedric Thompson - 14 tkls, FR

"I made a decision," Kill said about joining his team on the sideline. "I felt that we needed a little bit of pick up. I talked to a couple of the coaches, and we weren't as zippy as we have been. I made an instinct decision, but whether right or wrong, I did it."

Kill began the Texas Bowl in the press box, where he has observed his team since returning from a leave of absence because of his epilepsy. Kill has had five seizures on game day in his two-plus seasons in his three season at the helm of the Minnesota program. Kill took the leave of absence in October and returned a couple of weeks later.

"I felt I would do anything I can to help," Kill said. "I'm not sure if it helped or not. Evidently, it didn't because we didn't win the game."

The Golden Gophers loved seeing Kill back on the sideline, but disappointed not to finish the game, after taking a lead in the fourth quarter.

"I think the whole team got pretty pumped when he made that announcement," receiver Drew Wolitarsky said. "Coming into halftime, I felt like everything was a little flat and he gave us that spark, which is another reason why we came out and started executing better."

Unlike the Iowa game, where Iowa dominated the Golden Gophers in the first half. Syracuse and Minnesota played a back and forth game in the Texas Bowl.

Syracuse pulled out the game in the final minutes, with a 12 yard carry from sophomore quarterback Terrel Hunt.

Like the "Who Hates Iowa?" chant, emotion only gets you so far in College Football. Also, it is important to have an effective quarterback leading your football team. While the Golden Gophers won at least eight games for the first time, since the 2003 season, an effective quarterback is still needed.

Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4) will face the LSU Tigers (9-3) in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. The last time LSU was in Tampa, it was the Syracuse Orangemen (nickname back in 1988) defeated the Tigers 23-10 in the Hall of Fame Bowl. The Tigers will be starting a new quarterback, with freshman Anthony Jennings in for injured starter, senior Zach Mettenberger, who was injured in LSU's final game.

The Big Ten (0-1) opens the 2013-14 bowl season with a LOSS. 

Tonight, the Michigan Wolverines (7-5) will face the Kansas State Wildcats (7-5) in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl from Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Wolverines, like the LSU Tigers, will start a true freshman at quarterback, when Shane Morris replaces injured junior Devin Gardner, who was injured in Michigan's final game.

A future Big Ten team, a Big Ten team and an Independent face Bowl opponents

Military Bowl: 

Marshall vs. Maryland at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN (HD) 

3M: final bowl game as an ACC team for Maryland, ahead of joining Big Ten for 2014!

Texas Bowl: 

Minnesota vs. Syracuse at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN (HD)

Golden Gophers open B1G bowl season vs. 2012 opponent, Syracuse!

Fight Hunger Bowl: 

BYU vs. Washington at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN (HD) 

The Cougars and Huskies square off in a bowl game ...

Friday night football in the Big East

Friday, October 19th

Connecticut at Syracuse, 7:00 p.m. on ESPN (HD) / espn3 - Big East Friday night showcase... can the Orange get it done vs. UConn in the Dome?

Two College Football Games are better than one for a Friday Night!

Friday, October 5th

• Pittsburgh at Syracuse 6:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3

• Utah State at BYU 9:15 p.m. ESPN (HD)

Last week, BYU blew out an opponent on Friday night!  It was the only game on TV.  Tonight, two games in College Football are on!
***  ***  ***
The three public schools that make up the Cedar Rapids Community Schools are a combined 3-15 this year.  Each school has one victory a piece.  That will change tonight, as Washington faces Jefferson at Kingston Stadium.  Go Warriors!

It's September 1: Time for the Kickoff of the 2011 College Football season!

It should be another interesting year in College Football. Will a program emerge like Auburn last year or will we see a dominate program, like Alabama in 2009, run away with the BCS Title, as the 2011 College Football season kicks off?

• The defending Big Ten co-champion, Wisconsin Badgers, kick off the 2011 season in Madtown! Welcome, former NC State QB Russell Wilson, new #1 at UW!


• Former Iowa assistant and ISU head coach Dan McCarney kicks off his era at North Texas with a conference road game in FL!


• Will Arizona State contend for a division title in the new Pac 12?


• How strong will Mississippi State be in the top flight SEC West in 2011?


• Utah is now in the Pac 12 ... that is something to get used to!

Thursday, September 1st

National Line up tonight!

Murray State at Louisville, 5:00 p.m. on ESPNU (HD)

Drake at North Dakota, 7:00 p.m. DirecTV - 623 / FCSC (cable) - The Bulldogs are a huge underdog, but here's to them any way!

Mississippi State at Memphis, 7:00 p.m. on FSN (HD) (Click for DirecTV channels)

UNLV at Wisconsin, 7:00 p.m. on ESPN (HD) (3D) / espn3

Bowling Green at Idaho, 8:00 p.m. on ALT

Kentucky vs. Western Kentucky (Nashville), 8:15 p.m. on ESPNU (HD)

UC Davis at Arizona State, 9:00 p.m. on FSAZ (HD) / FCSP (cable)

Games not scheduled for nationally available networks

• Montana State at Utah, 7:00 p.m. on (KJZZ / Max Media) (cable) / Live Video


• New Hampshire at Toledo, 6:00 p.m. on espn3


• North Carolina Central at Rutgers, 6:30 p.m. on espn3


• North Texas at Florida International, 6:00 p.m. on espn3


• South Carolina State at Central Michigan, 6:00 p.m.


• Villanova at Temple, 6:00 p.m. on espn3


• Wake Forest at Syracuse, 7:00 p.m. on espn3


• Western Carolina at Georgia Tech, 6:30 p.m. on espn3

The first weekend will have some very good games. Tonight's top game should be Wake Forest at Syracuse, two BCS programs, but it doesn't even garner a major network broadcast. What does that say about the ACC and Big East?

Iowa Hawkeyes lose Heartland Trophy for at least a couple of years, after 30-31 loss to Wisconsin on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium

The Iowa Hawkeyes (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten) and Wisconsin Badgers (7-1, 3-1 Big Ten) will not play football again, until after the 2012 season. Next season, the Big Ten will add Nebraska, as the 12Th member, and break up into to separate divisions costing the annual series between the Hawkeyes and Badgers. Off course, if both are successful in winning their division they can

Iowa 30, Wisconsin 31 - as the Hawkeyes lose for the third time, since 2002 in the series and the series is now knotted up 42-42-2 throughout the years.

Saturday of Week 8 was an interesting day in College Football, with the #1 team in the BCS Poll falling in Missouri. Other teams, like Texas, Iowa and West Virginia fell at home. Iowa State knocked off Texas 28-21 in Austin, while Syracuse beat West Virginia 19-14 in Morgantown.

Football Releases from the University of Iowa:

• October 24, 2010 - Iowa No. 18 in BCS List


• October 24, 2010 - Two Hawkeyes Honored: Ricky Stanzi (pictured) and Ryan Donahue


• October 24, 2010 - Wine Online: The Positives of Saturday


• October 24, 2010 - United We Stanzi


• October 24, 2010 - Blackout Saturday Opponent: No. 5 Michigan State


• October 23, 2010 - Postgame Quotes


• October 23, 2010 - Special teams, penalties haunt Hawkeyes


• October 23, 2010 - Coach Kirk Ferentz Postgame Press Conference Transcript


• October 23, 2010 - Iowa's Miscues the Key in Back-and-Forth Battle


• October 23, 2010 - #10 Wisconsin 31, #12 Iowa 30

It wasn't a good Saturday for Iowa, as penalties and special teams cost Iowa dearly. Wisconsin played a solid game. Iowa had an early extra point blocked, a field goal attempt was blown and penalties hurt special teams.

"The real things that hurt us were the special team's gaffes. There's a
lot of football left. We have a good team, but we have to play better and play
cleaner. There are still five games left; this game is going to hurt awhile, for
good reason, then we'll have to move on." - Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz

No question, failure to call a "safe punt" defense on the final drive by Wisconsin was key to Iowa's loss at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa will have to regroup and get ready fast, since the Big Ten's top team, Michigan State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) will come to Kinnick Stadium this Saturday.

peace

Breaking down the The Big East in '09: Is it a five team race for the conference title?

Does the Big East Conference get more pressure from the non-BCS teams in '09 or will it return to the BCS with a representative program. How does the conference breakdown in '09?

• Cincinnati won the Big East last year, but only finished #17 nationally
• No Big East teams are in the AP or Coaches' preseason polls
• Could five teams compete for the Big East title in '09?
• Will the Big East avoid comparisons to the MWC in BCS talk?

Ranked teams in the AP and Coaches' preseason polls:

• None

Some magazines do like these ACC teams in the Top 25 preseason:

• West Virginia
• Cincinnati
• Pittsburgh
• South Florida
• Rutgers

Teams rebuilding in the Big East in '09

• Connecticut

Teams not quite ready for prime time in 2009?

• Louisville (no bowls the past two seasons)
• Syracuse (won at Notre Dame 24-23 in '08)

Will the Big East finish this way in 2009?

1. West Virginia (5-2 in '08) (13-15 in bowls)
2. Pittsburgh (5-2) (10-15)
3. Rutgers (5-2) (3-2)
4. Cincinnati * (6-1) (5-5)
5. South Florida (2-5) (2-2)
6. Connecticut (3-4) (2-1)
7. Louisville (1-6) (6-7-1)
8. Syracuse (1-6) (12-9-1)

* denotes Big East champion last season

Last BCS title winner

• 2001, Miami - FL (former members of Big East)

Kickoff Game of the Season

Saturday, September 5

Minnesota @ Syracuse

11:00 AM CT
TV: ESPN2

Final Look at the Big East teams, using the preseason Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings:

1. West Virginia (#11 in Sagarin ratings) - The Mountaineers finished #23 in the final AP poll in '08 after winning the Mieneke Car Care 31-30 over North Carolina... coach Bill Stewart enters his 2nd year with 33 letterwinners, 5 OFF and 7 DEF, but must replace award winner at PK/PT in Pat McAfee. They open with Liberty, East Carolina, @ Auburn, bye and vs. Colorado, followed by Big East play.


2. Cincinnati (#37) - Coach Brian Kelly enters third year at helm, with 43 letterwinners, with 8 OFF 1 DEF plus placekicker. The Bearcats are coming off 7-20 loss in Orange to Virginia Tech to finish 11-3 in '08. The defense will be revamped under new DC Bobby Diaco and open with a Big East showdown on Labor Day at Rutgers.


3. Rutgers (#38) - Coach Greg Schiano is now entering his ninth season at Rutgers and the Knights have played in four straight bowl games, after playing in only one prior in 1978. The Knights return 47 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 6 DEF plus both kickers from the team that finished 8-5 in '08, beating North Carolina State 29-23 in Pappajohns.com. As mentioned, the Knights open season with Cincinnati on Labor Day in the Big East.


4. South Florida (#39) - Coach Jim Leavitt is South Florida football entering his 13Th season and four straight bowl games in their history now. The Bulls return 40 letterwinners, with 6 OFF and 6 DEF plus both kickers from a team that finished 8-5 in '08, defeating Memphis 41-14 in St. Petersburgh.


5. Pittsburgh (#40) - Coach Dave Wannstedt enters his fifth year at Pitt, after missing the Top 25 at the close of '08 at 9-4. The Panthers return 49 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 7 DEF, but must find a new PK and PT for '09. After playing in their first bowl game under Wannstedt, the Panthers came up short 0-3, losing to Oregon State in the Sun. Pitt opens with Youngstown State, at Buffalo, Navy and North Carolina State, before Big East play.


6. Connecticut (#49) - Coach Randy Edsall enters his 11Th year at UConn, where the Huskies have played in two straight bowl games and 3 in 5 seasons. The Huskies return 37 letterwinners, with 6 OFF and 6 DEF plus both kickers from a team that finished 8-5 in '08, including a 38-20 win in International over Buffalo. UConn opens at Ohio U in '09.


7. Louisville (#50) - Entering his third season for the Cardinals, coach Steve Kragthorpe is on the hot seat, after missing in back to back seasons with bowl trips. The Cardinals were in the BCS in '06 and won the Orange, but times have changed. The Cardinals (6-6 in '07 and 5-7 in 08) with 49 letterwinners, 7 OFF and 6 DEF plus both kickers, open the '09 season with Indiana State, bye, @ Kentucky and @ Utah before opening Big East play. The other OOC game is on Halloween vs. Arkansas State.


8. Syracuse (#97) - A new era begins of Orange football with new coach Doug Marrone taking the helm, after the Orange finished '08 at 3-9. Notre Dame is off the schedule in the OOC, but the Orange with 45 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 7 DEF plus punter, will open with Minnesota, @ Penn State, Northwestern and Maine, before opening Big East play with South Florida for Homecoming.

A look back at last year's statistics in the Big East.

peace