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You remember Gene Hackman's coach Jimmy McGintey in the movie The Replacements...the strike was ending at midnight, the replacements had no tomorrow, playing a team of stars who had all crossed ...

College Football Early Upsets: "Very Dangerous People!"

by Tim McGhee (Scribe)

19

769 reads

Preview/Prediction

July 12, 2008


You remember Gene Hackman's coach Jimmy McGintey in the movie The Replacements...the strike was ending at midnight, the replacements had no tomorrow, playing a team of stars who had all crossed the picket line, and "that makes you very dangerous people!"

Here are three early weeks of otherwise reasonable folks turned sociopaths by being backed in the corner:

 

Aug. 30: Florida Atlantic at Texas

FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger made the promise after pounding Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl last season that few heard and still fewer believe: They're going to Austin to win it.  He's taking 18 returning starters with him.

Texas is on a roll in home openers by a ridiculous margin, but the Longhorns are rebuilding a defense and looking too far ahead at a brutal Big XII schedule.  Too many of us have UT contending, and everyone wants to be the next Appalachian State.  If anyone can do it, it's Schnellenberger, the wily and wise Owl himself.

 

Sept. 6: Louisiana-Monroe vs. Arkansas (in Little Rock)

What does ULM bring to the table? The Warhawks went on the road and took Alabama down late last year. They're carrying into Little Rock 15 starters who remember that feeling very well.

They know that when someone says you are 24 1/2 point underdogs, it only means you have a great opportunity before you.

As well, the Razorbacks are on a downswing, retooling in every facet of the game, even though they are being led by a pro-set coach in Bobby Petrino with a big-time, albeit very young QB.

All told, it's too soon for Arkansas, and after several attempts, ULM just might finally get one from the Hogs.

 

Sept. 13: Auburn at Mississippi State

From the Lightning-Never-Strikes-Twice Department...the 'Dogs took their 13-point underdog status on the road last year and strutted away with a huge 19-14 win over Auburn.

Now, the Tigers have reloaded and are chasing the dream of a national title. For the first time since Terry Bowden, they could do it.  However, I have two words: Sylvester Croom. 

The head man got it clicking last year, also catching Kentucky not looking in Lexington.  The offense might need some work, but I like Croom, even if he needs to refine his manners as a host. Result: Mississippi State will send 'em packing, and hurting.

I'll have three more later.

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19 comments Last one added 12 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Chris 12 months ago

    I'm a little confused by this comment:

    "Now, the Tigers have reloaded and are chasing the dream of a national title. For the first time since Terry Bowden, they could do it."

    Unless you count the New York Times awarding Auburn the NC in 1993, we didn't win a (mythical) National Championship under Bowden. If your comment was more along the lines that this is the first time since Bowden we've got a team that has a realistic shot at doing it, you've missed seeing us play for the last 5-6 years. We've had mulitple teams that were close and one that just didn't win the beauty pageant, but won where it counts; on the field. Either way, the comment is kind of off.

    Thanks for the article though. Always fun to try to guess the next shocker.

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    • Tim McGhee 12 months ago

      Chris, Thanks for your comment. I was referring to the year during the BCS reign that TB and Auburn went undefeated, only to finish 3rd, which is like Miss Congeniality. So close, yet... I'm depending on my memory. I should Google next time. Please correct me if I am wrong.

      Tim

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    • James Doker 12 months ago

      Tim: That never happened.

      Terry Bowden left Auburn in '98. You're right that he coached them to an undefeated season (in '93), but they were on probation and couldn't play in the postseason. They finished ranked 5th in the final AP poll.

      The year you're probably referring to was 2004, and the coach then was Tommy Tuberville, not Terry Bowden. At any rate, they have in fact contended for a national championship since Bowden left.

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  2. Chase Dunagan 12 months ago

    Nice try. But the Sun Belt Champs are not gonna beat us at home. We're Texas. The rest of the nation needs to remember that. This year is not a down year, I'm seeing 10-12 wins.

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  3. Jonas 12 months ago

    Good luck with that Chase.

    FAU is a dangerous team. Put 20 on Florida, 17 on Kentucky, took #6 USF to the wire.

    If you think it's going to be easy, you have another thing coming.

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    • Tim Pollock 12 months ago

      Yes, and FL put 59 on them, and Kentucky put 45 on them. USF game was 35-23 despite the Bulls losing 3 fumbles, two within their own territory; down to the wire might be misleading.

      Will Muschamp is in the house; Horns should take care of business.

      10-12 wins, though, I'm not seeing.

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    • Bud smith 12 months ago

      With 1 minute left in the game against USF, FAU had the ball on their own 20. The score was 28-23. Instead of giving up and punting, FAU went for it on 4th down. They didn't get it. USF got the ball on FAU's 18 yard line with less than 1 minute in the game. Instead of taking a knee and ending the game, USF went for the touchdown to run up the score. Yes it was down to the wire.

      Howard Schnellenberger didn't expect to win against UK or UF and rotated the players quite a bit in the 2nd half.

      Last year means nothing. FAU's team this year is very senior laden and experienced.

      BTW, The state of Florida is the football capital of the world.

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    • Tim Pollock 12 months ago

      So 80 yards in one minute is down to the wire these days?

      Let me get this straight: Schnellenberger didn't think he could beat an unranked Kentucky team but did think he could beat an undefeated USF team? USF was/is better than Kentucky. I'm confused by the logic there.

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  4. Tim McGhee 12 months ago

    Chris, James...Terry Bowden in 1993? Probation? As you can see, my Internet skills are in 1993, which is the year Al Gore invented it, isn't it? Thanks for all your corrections. Tim

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  5. Dino 12 months ago

    Florida Atlantic doesn't have a prayer. Yes Texas nearly blew it against Arkansas State in the opener last season, but they will take care of business this time around. Hook 'em

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  6. Lisa Horne 12 months ago

    I am totally sold on Florida Atlantic, soley due to their coach...the man has a handful of championship rings. He's a class act. And a great coach.

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    • Justin Goar 12 months ago

      i hate Schellenberger (sp?).

      when LSU is #1 or #2, he votes them like #13.

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    • Tim Pollock 12 months ago

      Class act?

      In the coaches poll in December, old Howard went with: Kansas #2, Missouri #4, Oklahoma #7, Florida #21, and USC at #12. Hello!

      Then to declare a win at Texas through the media? Lame if you ask me. Tell your team, but don't go public with it months before the season.

      What will he say when/if they lose?

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    • Tim McGhee 12 months ago

      Class act. Great coach. And, a visionary. Texas fans have to consider that Schnellenberger is like Steven Jobs; he starts with nothing and makes things happen.

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    • Jimson Cuenta 12 months ago

      "Class act?

      In the coaches poll in December, old Howard went with: Kansas #2, Missouri #4, Oklahoma #7, Florida #21, and USC at #12. Hello!"

      What are you talking about???

      I would have also put Kansas at #2 in December, lolz :)

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  7. Tim Pollock 12 months ago

    So you really don't have a problem with his end of the year ballot, Tim?

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    • Tim McGhee 12 months ago

      Good morning, Tim:

      Typically, I don't micromanage coaches' ballots, but your point is valid on how...interesting...Howard's ballot is, especially if you're looking at the final poll taken after the bowls. His USC pick is certainly off, Oklahoma is right, he nailed Florida, Mizzou is close, and he obviously is a friend of Kansas. Visionaries often can't explain why to our non-visionaries' satisfaction, and he's not the first coach to vote weird. However, you've piqued my interest. I'll watch Schnellenberger and his ballot more closely, if only to see if he can, like Jobs, successfully sell his college football equivalent of the iPhone 3G to those who just paid double to the original.

      Thank you for your comments. Tim

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    • Tim Pollock 12 months ago

      I hear you, but the other coaches who voted strangely (especially Stoops and B. Bowden) had much more at stake. Stoops was still lobbying for his team to reach a better bowl (I think he put LSU at 7), and Bowden is trying to hold on to his legacy at all cost.

      The #2 Kansas pick is simply ridiculous.

      I guess you feel the Florida pick is right on, but not one coach picked them past 15. Seems like Schnellenberger might have voted based on the 59-20 spanking FL gave them early in the year.

      Either way, this seems more narrow-minded and way less visionary to me.

      All that said, I actually think saying he would win at Texas is worse than any of these votes. It's something a 20-year old kid would say, not a man with accomplishments like he has.

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  8. Dave 12 months ago

    Texas nearly blew it against Ark State. They nearly blew it against UCF too.

    Texas was poor at defending against the pass last year. FAU passes very well.

    There lies the potential for a shootout this Aug.30th

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