Middle Tennessee-Louisville thoughts

You know, if you spend a whole week getting your butt kissed by adoring fans and media, it is kind of hard to take a little school from the Sun Belt Conference like Middle Tennessee seriously. This is what I think happened to Louisville Thursday night.
Don't get me wrong, Louisville has some defensive issues on their team. But in a first half in which they gave up 35 points to the Middle Tennessee offense, their defense looked lackadaisical, not hustling and out of position. They looked like what they were, a top 10 team that spent the past week begin told how awesome they were by their classmates.
Fortunately, they were able to wake up and find religion at halftime, holding UMT to only one TD in the second half. Middle Tennessee is probably a lot better than many people think they are; they would have scored some points on Louisville tonight even if the Cardinals' defense was in their right frame of mind. I just don't think they're 42 points better than Louisville's best effort.

Fran wants defense to be more aggressive

Fran thought A&M's defensive secondary should have been more aggressive against Montana State. I think Fran should have hired a better defensive coordinator than his buddy, Gary Darnell. I also think that anyone who needed three years to see that Carl Torbush couldn't scheme his way out of a paper bag shouldn't comment on deficiencies in a defense.

Fresno State working on their option defense

Fresno State's defense is preparing for A&M's option attack by having their backs play without the ball. This is actually a good scheme, b/c it forces the defenders to stick to their assignments, and stay disciplined. The defenders aren't watching the ball, and flowing playside, which is what the offense wants; they're just going to their assignments and getting after it. The only problem with this drill is that you can't account for the blocking scheme of your opponent when running it.

SMU-Texas Tech thoughts

• Tech still can't stop the run.
  
• DeMyron Martin is a hoss. SMU should have ran him more.
  
• There is a distinct difference in the size and speed of players in Conference USA and players in the Big 12. It was glaringly obvious in this game.
  
• SMU's Gerald Ford Stadium is a jewel. If they could ever get a strong program going there, they have the perfect place to showcase their school and team.
  
• SMU's DBs need to learn how to tackle.
  

Florida State-Clemson Thoughts

1. Regardless of who their offensive coordinator is, Florida State is going to have issues until their offensive line learns to block someone.
   
2. Drew Weatherford is still a marginal D-IA QB, if that.
   
3. FSU's defense is solid, not spectacular.
   
4. Clemson came VERY close to choking this game away.
   
5. I doubt either of these teams will end the season with fewer than 3 losses.
   
6. It is always fun to watch games played at Death Valley.
   
7. I was surprised Clemson fans stormed the field after a win over a 19th ranked team.
   
8. Florida and Miami have both picked up their recruiting, causing FSU's drop-off.
   
9. I was unimpressed by Florida State's defensive backs.
   
10. I did like the trickery employed by Clemson.
    

Reviewing the BTN

Apparently in a marketing push, the Big Televen has decided to offer its television network free to television viewers as a sort of preview. This afternoon, I found that I now have the BTN available to me on my dish satellite system. I was able to watch the replay of the Michigan-Appalachian State game, which was nice.
I do believe the BTN lucked out somewhat, b/c the first football game they televised is the biggest upset in college football in the last twenty years, if not ever.
I do like being able to watch the game replays of all of the Big Televen games from the previous weekend, which will be the allure of the network to many college football junkies.
Looking forward, I think the SEC and the Big 12, should they start their own networks, will experience the same type of subscriber attitude, people subscribing simply to be able to watch game replays that don't happen on regular cable.
The one group I would think who would be hurt by this would be the school video labs which offer season video subscriptions, sending game films via DVD or VHS format to diehard fans. With a ready source for game replays, and the ability to Tivo the games they want to keep for later, the need for those video subscriptions would disappear.

We have college football now.

Appalachian State upsets Michigan AT the Big House. TCU shuts out Baylor, 27-0. texas scratches out a win over Arkansas State, 21-13. A&M's defense looks shaky in a 38-7 win over Montana State. Colorado wins a wild one in overtime over Colorado State. Missouri wins a shootout over Illinois.
Yes, boys and girls, we have college football again, and it is wonderful.