More bewares to college football!

Beware to thee, college football teams….

I shoulda done this earlier, because maybe some of my warnings might have been heeded.

Before I get to that, I hope you guys take a look at some of my older blogs, especially my continuing series of “Greatest Running Back EVER” in the NFL. It’s pretty interesting, if I do say so myself.

Anyway, this blog is to throw out some early warnings to some college football teams this week. What should have been proven is that ANY team can fall. When Ohio State lost to USC, everybody had thrown the Buckeyes under the bus, and proclaimed the Trojans not only a National Championship, but an undefeated season…

How’s that working out.

One thing is so true about college football; it’s unpredictable. And that should continue for the next couple of months too. So there are some warnings I hope to throw out there for some of the teams this weekend. I say to you…BEWARE!

It’s kinda late, but South Florida should have taken greater heed than they did. Last year we remember that they climbed as high as #2 in the nation before taking a hard spill. When I watched the game last night, I heard that they said that they “learned” from last year…

That’s cool, but learning does not mean you can change it. When I was a kid growing up, we used to play sandlot football in a big field. One day, one of the older kids had come back from football practice, with his gear on. He wanted to play, so he did, and I tried to tackle him while he was wearing all that armor…

Lesson learned as I flew into the street, wondering how hard I would land.

But learning that lesson does not mean I can tackle that guy if he is wearing all that gear, and I am in regular clothes. It just means I’ll be launched into the air, or trampled underfoot again.

South Florida kinda reminds me of ECU in that neither could really handle the fame of the top 25. I am not saying South Florida is not good, I am saying that to truly be considered for a National Championship, you have to prove it every game. Last night, at home, they could not do it.

Beware Duke, for those roses you smell from early success may not be roses at all, rather scented plastic dressings. Shame on the coaches for jumping on one of their players after he dove in the end zone. It’s not like YOU have seen a winning season anytime soon, so enjoy the moment like the Duke fans…you may not see it again for awhile. I am not ready to crown you as the ACC elite, you gotta prove it….you were warned….

Take heed Penn State, lest you fall from the heights of the undefeated…

I actually LIKE Penn State, so I’m not gonna clown them, but liking a team does not mean they are guaranteed to go undefeated. In a conference that actually is pretty tough, but has no conference championship, every game matters. I certainly don’t see Northwestern’s undefeated season to continue much longer, but Penn State has an excellent chance to get in the top 5 if they can beat Purdue. But this is an away game, can the Nittany Lions come up with a high scoring game as they have done so far this year?

Be careful NC State…lest we see a pack of pups, rather than wolves. This game might be the LAST hope for postseason for you. You can lose 2 more games and still have a chance to win 6 quality wins and HOPE for a bowl…but now you face a team that your coach bailed out on, and that win vs. ECU didn’t quite wake you up as you thought it would…your postseason life is on the line now…

Warnings to West Virginia AND Rutgers. Was all that talk last year about your greatness just lightning in a bottle? The Big East needs teams to step it up in a big way, and South Florida fell flat to Pittsburgh. West Virginia gets an embarrassing loss to ECU and Rutgers gets trucked by UNC…what’s up with that? The Big East is still up for grabs, but the loser of this game is DONE…well, West Virginia might have a little more hope, but not much.

Beware Kentucky….you have been called out for that 4-0 record you boast. You and Vanderbilt are the temporary darlings of the SEC, but you’ve been midcard in the SEC for eons. Now you have to go TO the home of the #2 team in the nation…save up all your clippings of the 4-0 start because next week it will be a bit different….

Caution to #7 Texas Tech….there are major concerns about your sudden abundance of prosperity. The Big 12 seems to score 4000 points a weekend, and Texas Tech is one of those reasons. But with NO valuable wins, are you REALLY as good as the ranking? I admit, I like Texas Tech, and if they are on tv, I will be watching, but if they start reading the headlines of themselves, they will fall like South Florida and ECU. Yes you are playing Kansas State, but if you have already looked over that, then you are assured a loss this weekend.

Be careful Michigan…playing enhanced ball one weekend does not mean you are “back in the race”. A very poor performance by Wisconsin was why you won. And playing in the 500th game gave you incentive when Wisconsin apparently pumped the brakes on you. But outside of that, your team still has MAJOR issues, and this home game will determine if in truth you are for real, or just a flash in the pan this year.

Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, canst thou defend thy house?

You better if you want to keep this magical season going. Your schedule has not been as weak as some other top 25 teams, so you deserve the ranking. But NOW things get a bit different. You now have to wear the thin veil of the elite, knowing that it can be here today, gone tomorrow. Don’t do like Georgia and get too emotional at home, and then forget how to play ball. Learn from that, or fall like they did.

You have been warned Connecticut….I scream it from the tops of the mountains!

Impressive you have been the last 5 games…but the polls show that your 5-0 record is BARELY noticed. Now with two key players out with broken bones, how can you continue the streak. With UNC just coming off a huge win vs. Miami, and now playing at home against you, how can you “bring it” to the Tarheels’ place? Granted UNC is not a top caliber team, but they have had some impressive signs, and are not going to lie down for you. You won’t go undefeated this season…and it may be proven this weekend.

Beware Wisconsin…and shame on you!

You had that game against Michigan, you had the Badger foot over the Wolverine neck…and you let him go, you gave him hope by playing conservative. When I saw that game near the end, I said to someone, “if Wisconsin scores even a field goal, they will win”. That was when you had 19 points…and just stayed there.

When you get a chance to crush the spirit of your opponent, DO IT, or else you give them a chance.

To every Wisconsin fan, I want to share this quote from a cartoon character. If you have ever watched G.I. Joe, there is a very candid statement by Destro, and it goes as the following, said to Cobra Commander when the failed to destory New York….

“Your stupid attempt to disintegrate New York has given our enemies the two commodities they must NOT be allowed…TIME and HOPE…

Nothing undermines our cause more greatly than FAILURE to execute our threats!”

It’s just a cartoon folks, don’t get excited. But there is a real message for teams like Wisconsin. When you have a team “on the ropes” you must FINISH them because if you don’t, they will start thinking that they have a chance. You will have given them time and hope. And when your threats to crush their spirit have failed, you give them exactly that.

Consider those ideas when you see the Buckeyes come to town, because they are coming to crush your spirit. They need this win to stay in reach of a possible National Title game….will you give it to them, make them earn it, or take it away from them?

So many games….so many warnings to pass out, but I think I have said enough. I am really excited for this weekend, this is fun stuff.

Anyway, gotta go, check out my “Greatest Running Backs EVER” blogs as I continue to count it down to number 1.

Laters!