Week 2 Summary

LISTEN UP:  I know this is late, but after last week, I was in no condition to write.  Most people that read this blog know I'm a Razorback, grew up around the program, Dad coached the Lady Razorbacks basketball team, and then graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.S.B.A. in Finance...I'm a homer.  I was hurting last week, I'm hurting even worse this week, and something tells me it's not over, but I must put aside my anger and write about something I truly enjoy, College Football.

So, even though it's late, a Week 2 Summary is in order.  I had a lot of good stuff prepared and just couldn't sit down and get it done.  If you've read before you know it's, "things are never as good as they seem and they're never as bad as they seem, but somewhere in the middle is reality."

We can start with ULM's victory over Arkansas....
Well down Todd Berry, you went into Little Rock, had little to no chance of winning that game and brought down an entire fan base.  You hit the quarterback early and often, gave the All-American a concusion and came back from 21 points down as Arkansas sputtered into a death spiral I'm unsure they'll ever come out of.  Arkansas, unfortunately, it's as bad as it seems, you lost your QB, both Full Backs are now out, you lost your best cover guy, you lost the game, John L Smith lost the team and the fan base, and you have Bama coming up...get ready for a lot more loss!

Miami, Al Golden, it's beginning to look as though, it IS as bad as it seems.  The U hasn't been, "the U," since my friend Larry Coker and QB Ken Dorsey couldn't get it done against Ohio St and the Buckeyes in what seems like forever ago.  The facilities in Miami are terrible and the fan base is mediocre, but there's no excuse for the University of Miami and all it's football greatness to be so flat as a program right now.  Miami needs to recognize who they are, and a disciplinarian school is not it, go get Jimmy Johnson back, go get Butch Davis back, it's time for Miami to bring back a coach that can relate to the players that program notoriously wins with, Al Golden is not that guy.  Kansas State, Snyder is going to be up for coach of the year again if you keep this up, but you haven't navigated the Big XII-II=X yet, we'll see what you're really made of when you travel TO Norman.

Oklahoma, it appears as though Heupel is getting settled in, but he better get something going because K-State looked very good against Miami and I think the Sooners are going to have to score some points in that one.

Michigan....buckle up for the Big 10, it was so sad to watch such a proud program and fan base gear up for a fourth quarter showdown with Air Force.  You're Michigan, I expect more, I expect 42-14 type scores against the Academy's, so stop acting like you belong in the conversation and go get some kids that can compete like Lloyd Carr had them competing just a short time ago.

Ohio State, Meyer has a QB to work with, and I think he spins it better than Tebow.  It's upsetting that the Ohio State program did not suffer stiffer sanctions after blantant rules violations, but College Football is about money, and Ohio State brings a substantial portion to the table.  With Urban Meyer you better get ready for it to be an even more substantial portion, Meyer can recruit better than anyone else in the Big 10, I think Ohio State will be the first team to take down the SEC's run of titles once they're off sanctions.

Arizona, looked pretty good, it's funny how some people wrote Rich Rod off as if he forgot how to coach at Michigan.  What people need to realize is that the Michigan experience made him an even better coach than he already was, and he was pretty good!  Oklahoma State, it's time to realize you don't have Weeden and you don't have Blackmon, you're not nearly as good on D as you thought going into this season, but with Gundy you always have a chance.  Gundy is the difference maker, and he deserves every penny of that $3.75MM you're paying him.  It's going to be alright, calm down, get ready for Texas, because I'm in the belief that Texas is back, and they're out for revenge in the Big XII-II=X.

UCLA, well done, I thought Nebraska was going to roll you up, but I was thoroughly impressed with UCLA on both sides of the ball.  I'm excited to see the Pac-12 this year, I think it's making some serious strides on becoming the 2nd most relevant conference in college football.  We'll know more next week when Arizona State takes on Missouri.

Oregon State, I way underestimated the Beavers, and I should have known better.  The Beavers looked really good defensively and shut down the run, I am thoroughly impressed.  Wisconsin, I guess it's no secret that you miss Russell Wilson, maybe from now on you'll spend a little more time recruiting quarterbacks and less time expecting great one's to show up after they graduate and are out of eligibility in the ACC.

LSU, although some thought Washington could compete, I knew differently.  I'm not surprised by the lopsided victory, nor am I impressed, you did what you should have done.  We'll know a lot more about LSU when they get to league play, right now I have them as #2 behind Bama.

USC, I saw enough of your game to know you're very beatable, I've seen beatable teams go the distance, Auburn in 2010, but I'd be nervous if I were Trojan.  Easier to call now that I know the outcome of the Stanford game I guess.

Miss State, Tyler Russell looked fantastic, kid is big, mobile, strong, and can spin it.  Auburn looked terrible, gaining 1 yard total in 1 red-zone visit, it was embarrassing, you better watch out Auburn, ULM can play a little bit.

Florida, I was thoroughly impressed with the resolve of that team after halftime, I knew A&M would struggle to score on Florida, but I never imagined Florida would come out in the second half and shut them down like they did.  Texas A&M, welcome to the SEC, unlike Missouri I think A&M will be a contender in their division, I'm excited to see what happens the rest of the year, but as of right now I've got A&M finishing third in the Western Division behind...well...I shouldn't have to say it.

Georgia, unlike Florida I expected more from you and especially your offensive line.  If that game was any indication of your offensive line, just wait until you see Bama and LSU...that's right, you don't have to see Bama or LSU.  You'll win the East on that technicality, but that's a two game swing in your favor, both Bama and LSU would beat the 'dawg' out of you.  Missouri, it was exactly what I thought it would be.  Emotion for 45 minutes and reality for 15, you have no business being in this league, you're completely outmanned and outmatched, a large group of your fans are worthless, inconsiderate pieces of trash, I'm pulling for every team you face this year, including Arizona State next week.

SpecialEdTeams Top 20
1.    Alabama - I hope you take it easy on the Hogs
2.    LSU - just trounced Wash, not missing Mathieu at all
3.    USC - better buckle in for Stanford
4.    Oregon - is fast
5.    Florida State - I wish you'd schedule someone
6.    Oklahoma - two weeks from finding out exactly where you belong on this list
7.    Georgia - better teach one of those big guys how to block
8.    West Virginia - we'll see how they do with the conference upgrade
9.    Texas - interested to see the Horns against Ole Miss
10.  Michigan State - is looking like the team to beat in the Big 10
11.  South Carolina - found something of a rhythm offensively
12.  Ohio State - Urban has a QB...he's dangerous with a QB
13.  Florida - Don't try to tell me they don't deserve this
14.  Notre Dame - I'm getting fed up with the Irish being this high already
15.  Tennessee - Should be a good one next week in Knoxville
16.  TCU - Pachall can spin it
17.  UCLA - much deserved move in my rankings...much deserved
18.  Tennessee - should be a good one next week
19.  Arizona - Rich Rod...Rich Rod
20.  Mississippi State - looked very tough to score against

SpecialEdTeams Conference Rankings
1. SEC - come on Pac 12, you're moving up but did you see the LSU vs Wash game?
2. Pac12 - much better in the middle than I thought it was going to be
3. Big 12 - can't be upset you moved down, just can't be
4. Big 10 - seriously, you don't even deserve to be ranked, but the ACC is pitiful
5. ACC - Florida State and Florida State, Va Tech has not impressed me
6. Big East - Are they participating in football this year?

SpecialEdTeams Heisman Watch
1. Matt Barkley - with those receivers I'm realizing he can throw it wherever he wants
2. Geno Smith - just threw another touchdown
3. Collin Klein - 281 yards and 4 TDs throwing and running...why not #3?
4. Johnathan Franklin - After that performance against Nebraska, looks solid at #4
5. A.J. McCarron - licking his chops after watching the tape of Arkansas' D

SpecialEdTeams Doak Walker Watch
1. Johnathan Franklin - 2 weeks, 431 yards on the ground...who else?
2. Mike Gillislee - only 83 yards this week, but an important 83 yards!
3. Kenjon Barner - 201 and 3 TDs this week, of course he makes the list
4. Le'Veon Bell - not quite as strong this week, but still 2 TDs and meaningul yards
5. Ka'Deem Carey - WOW...WOW...great game kid

SpecialEdTeams Biletnikoff Watch
1. Marquise Lee - 11 catches and 3 TDs, it'll be tough to catch this guy
2. DeAndre Hopkins - another impressive game with 3 TD catches
3. Justin Hunter - we knew Tenn had weapons out there, big game and he's on the list
4. Jordan Matthews - still riding week 1 a bit, but another strong performance in week 2
5. Marcus Sales - great effort, came up short against USC, but not because of this kid

SpecialEdTeams Mackey Watch
1. Chris Coyle - What a performance against Illinois - 130 yds 2 TDs
2. Chris Gragg - lost to ULM, but not because this kid didn't show up to play
3. Blake Jackson - from nowhere to be found in game 1 to a favorite target in game 2
4. Austin Seferian-Jenkins - tough loss, but not your fault
5. Kaneakua Friel - not your best, but few go for 100 yds at TE very often