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Five Musings on College Football Week 2

Here are five observations from the Week 2 as we look forward to Week 3.

Let me write the token “Matt Barkley is the next big thing” line

Yes, Matt Barkley impressed on that final drive against Ohio State in the largest game ever at the Horseshoe. His stats tell a story a different story. He was 15-31 with one hundred ninety-six yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs was 9-13 for 156 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. I know the circumstances were different but the defense remained the same. I give Matt Barkley all the credit in the world for pulling through, although Stewart Mandel gives him more, but Terrelle Pryor lost the game. All I heard this off season was how far Pryor progressed as a quarterback and a leader, but he threw up a stink bomb (11-25, 177 yards, and an interception) in the biggest game of the year and wasn’t much better against Navy last week. Maybe Jim Tressel would be better served by installing a spread offense that relies more on Pryor’s unbelievable athleticism and less on his erratic arm.

How about the token “This Tate Forcier kid is for real” line

He put up better numbers than Barkley in every category and even dropkicked a ball fifty yards, so Doug Flutie-like I almost fainted. I admit I am a Big Blue fan for no fathomable reason, but Michigan looked very good regardless against a supposed BCS team in Notre Dame. The Michigan defense put sustained pressure on QB Jimmy Clausen and held the vaunted Notre Dame receiving corps in check. Senior RB Brandon Minor looks like this will be his redemption year after doing relatively little in his three previous years at Ann Arbor. If Michigan can get its kicker situation settled, look for the Maize and Blue to make a run at the Big Ten title.

Georgia-South Carolina was fun

South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia, my former AAU teammate, finally put it all together in a tough road game against a formidable Georgia team. Garcia threw 53 passes and over 300 yards. The Spurrier Fun and Gun lives! There is a pulse at South Carolina! I also think Georgia should consider putting in true Frosh Aaron Murray if Senior QB Joe Cox does not firmly take hold of the job these next couple weeks. It looks like Florida might be the runaway train to take the SEC East title this year and Georgia should just retool for the post-Tebow syndrome that will hit Florida next year.

Here are some games you might have overlooked

• Wake Forest over Stanford in the battle of mediocre schools. Looks like the East Coast bias may be warranted.
• UCLA over Tennessee in a sloppy matchup that proves both teams still have plenty of rebuilding to do. Lane Kiffin is going to need diapers for next week’s Florida game.
• Florida State beating Jacksonville State by scoring twelve in the final minute. This is far more than a comedown game. FSU fans are quickly getting fed up with QB Christian Ponder.
• Maryland beating James Madison in overtime. Those James Madison Dukes can really bring it.
• Kansas State losing to Louisiana-LaFayette after barely beating Massachusetts the week before. What an embarrassment for Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, who brought the program to unprecedented heights only ten years ago.

Favorite games this coming week

• Georgia Tech vs. Miami, two teams I have in my top ten. Is ‘The U’ back after the blowout win.
• Florida State vs. BYU, a chance for either FSU to pick itself up after a near Jacksonville State disaster or BYU proves Oklahoma win was no Bradford-less fluke.
• Virginia Tech vs. Nebraska, a wacky matchup that could put a stamp on Bo Pelini’s progress as Nebraska head man while also putting a bulls eye on Virginia Tech’s BCS chances.

Tags: Aaron Murray, Christian Ponder, Joe Cox, Matt Barkley, Michigan, Ricky Dobbs, South Carolina, Stephen Garcia, Steve Spurrier, Tate Forcier