College Football Superlatives from Kramer's Korner: Was This the Best Week Ever?
Goal posts were triumphantly carried through cities, eventually making their way into apartment buildings.
Bars and living rooms reached max capacity, and then some. Fields were stormed, and because of this, fines were doled out and accepted with smiles. Hail Marys fell into unlikely arms. Tears were shed—on both ends of the emotional scale—and the greatest sport on the planet delivered one of the greatest Saturdays it has ever seen.
It’s hard to put the magnificence of Week 6 into words. If you curled up in front of your television—or hopefully, televisions—for Saturday in its entirety, letting the chaos flow through your veins, you were treated to complete and utter madness. And it was beautiful.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
One image pretty much says it all, really.
"Today got weird. pic.twitter.com/ccBmijQokw
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 5, 2014"
It wasn’t just the fact five of the nation’s top eight—and 11 of the top 19—teams lost outright, making this a truly historic day. The games themselves are what made Week 6 extraordinary. The end results will undoubtedly provide the ultimate memory, but the path to get there was what made it special.
Saturday began with Katy Perry hoisting corndogs to the Oxford sky, and it ended with Washington State and Cal shattering records and scoring touchdown after touchdown deep into the night. In between, there was everything. It was everything.
If you needed any validation as to why you obsess over this glorious game, you got it, and then some.
Well done, college football. Take a bow and a few days off. You’ve earned it.
As for the awards and happenings from the week that was, here is my feeble attempt to recap a chapter of the college football season that might be un-recap-able.
Offensive Player of the Week: Connor Halliday, Washington State
When you break the record for most passing yards in an FBS game, you’re going to get noticed.
That’s precisely what Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday did Saturday night—well, Sunday morning for some—against Cal, completing 49 of 70 passes for 734 yards and six touchdowns. The previous record was 716 yards, set by Houston quarterback David Klingler in 1990.
Yes, he plays in an offense that can be allergic to running the football, and as a result, Halliday regularly posts enormous numbers. But when you throw for more than seven football fields and break a record that was set the year Driving Miss Daisy was named best picture, you’re walking away with something.
And because Washington State still managed to lose this game—more on that momentarily—this is the least we can do.
Dominant Defender: Richie Brown, Mississippi State
Linebacker Richie Brown finished Saturday with only three tackles, but the Mississippi State linebacker managed to match that number in takeaways against Texas A&M. By doing so, he was a pretty obvious selection for this category given what was on the line.
The sophomore intercepted two Kenny Hill passes in the second quarter. He then added a third interception in the second half, which tied a school record.
These takeaways gave the Bulldogs offense all the fuel it needed, and Dan Mullen's team cruised 48-31. In reality, it wasn’t even that close.
Video Game Box Score
The entire Washington State-Cal matchup was being played on novice. In total, the two teams combined for 119 points and 1,401 yards. Quarterbacks Connor Halliday and Jared Goff also finished with a combined 1,261 yards passing, which was also an FBS record. And if you need further perspective on this game, here’s you go.
"cal’s jared goff and wazzu’s connor halliday passed for a combined 0.71 miles
— Jon Bois (@jon_bois) October 5, 2014"
On the topic of big performances in a loss, Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon finished with 257 rushing yards (a career high) and a touchdown on 27 carries. By nearly running for a first down on every touch, Gordon was rewarded with…an outright loss to Northwestern.
Anti-Video Game Box Score
The conditions in South Bend, Indiana, for Notre Dame-Stanford were not optimal. It was cold, windy and rainy, and as a result, the offenses struggled mightily. This allowed the punters of each team to exhaust their legs, and the result is a punting output for the ages. Seriously, this sounds exhausting.
"#NotreDame and #Stanford combined for 516 yards ... punting. #NDInsider
— Tyler James (@TJamesNDI) October 5, 2014"
A week after North Carolina State quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns—going as far to complete a pass lying flat on his back—he was held to just four completions against Clemson. It took Brissett 19 throws to reach this mark, and the end result was 35 yards passing on the day. Let's just call it a minor setback.
Biggest Surprise
We knew Oregon had issues. The offensive line is being held together with duct tape, and it was clear after the scare against Washington State that all was not well. Still, it was assumed that Oregon would get it together or at least stay unbeaten long enough to get healthy and find its stride.
Coming off a bye against Arizona as more than a three-touchdown favorite, however, we quickly discovered this was not the case.
We could explore the issues with the Ducks at length. But instead, let’s celebrate Arizona on its potentially program-altering win (again) and an undefeated start to the season.
Rich Rodriguez really has never gotten the appreciation he deserves, although perhaps that is starting to change. At the very least, Arizona finds itself in fantastic shape as conference play kicks into gear.
It also appears to have the locker room celebration thing down pat.
Best Moment
It's hard to isolate just one. There are so many places and campuses we could visit to dig up the best moment of the weekend, and none of them would be wrong.
In terms of overall excitement, however, how do you top Arizona State’s Hail Mary victory over USC? (If you’re a Trojans fan, now would be the time to fast-forward to another section. You know what happens next.)
For the rest of you, let us celebrate the ultimate way to end a football game. Again.
Jaelen Strong, one of the nation’s most gifted offensive players, capped off a brilliant day by hauling in the 46-yard touchdown as USC defenders could only sit back and watch.
This is the second Hail Mary to be featured in this category this season. May I remind you that it's only been six weeks.
For the Highlight Reel
Did you watch Kansas State beat up on Texas Tech? There was a lot going on, so there's no need to lie. If you didn’t—and you’re likely not alone—you missed one of the better catches of 2014.
Kansas State wideout Curry Sexton managed to haul in a touchdown using his shoulder pad. To add to this elevated level of difficulty, he accomplished this feat mid-air while being heavily guarded—some might even say interfered with. No matter; he still came down with it.
Sexton finished the game with nine catches, two touchdowns and 128 yards receiving. None of his other grabs were as pretty as this, though.
If the College Football Playoff Started Today... (Or Why I Hate Your Team)
Please keep in mind that these are not projections. The four teams listed below would make up our College Football Playoff if it began tomorrow.
Spoiler: It does not actually begin tomorrow, thankfully, so a limited sample size will have time to grow.
With the SEC West poised to create Armageddon weekly, these teams will certainly be moving plenty. For now, however, we’re rewarding the SEC’s hot start by offering up the following. (Share your outrage accordingly. And remember, if your team is not included, it’s because I hate it.)
- Auburn
- Mississippi State
- Florida State
- Ole Miss
Five Leftovers to Chew On
1. What a bummer for BYU and quarterback Taysom Hill, who suffered a broken leg Friday night against Utah State. As a result, he will miss the rest of the season, which seriously alters the outlook for the Cougars for the remainder of 2014. This isn’t just a loss for BYU, though. Few players are more exciting on a play-to-play basis than Hill, who still has a year of eligibility remaining. Hopefully he heals up and we’re able to enjoy his chaotic and successful style for one more season.
2. The game was ugly—much like the South Bend, Indiana, weather—although the Irish did just enough to power past Stanford at home. This game, given everything that happened, was somewhat lost in the madness. Brian Kelly’s team hasn’t exactly been crisp over the past few games, but it doesn’t matter, not yet, at least. Undefeated is the name of the game. Also, why aren’t more people talking about this Notre Dame defense? It’s been outstanding.
3. This cannot be the same Trevone Boykin. It just can’t be. The TCU quarterback isn’t just improved; he looks like a different player entirely. His passes down the field against Oklahoma were on the money for much of the game, and the Horned Frogs offense suddenly looks dynamic after struggling in recent years. Boykin might be the nation’s most improved player, and he can back up this claim further against Baylor in Week 7.
4. Remember a few weeks ago when we decided to rule the Big Ten out of the College Football Playoff? We do this kind of stuff a lot, don’t we? Although Nebraska made Michigan State sweat plenty at the end of its game—and kudos to the Cornhuskers for a fabulous effort—the Spartans are very much in the mix when it comes to the playoff after so many teams in front of them lost. We have such a long way to go.
5. What do Northwestern, Cal, Arizona and Georgia Tech have in common? As it stands at this moment in time, all four of these teams are currently leading their divisions, just like you predicted before the season began. Please note that the previous sentence is in desperate need of a sarcasm font. If you did actually predict this, you should move to Vegas immediately.
Katy Perry, Corndogs and Lee Corso
I can’t possibly add anything further to this picture without getting fired, so please enjoy the cover of the Week 6 Encyclopedia.
"— Spencer Hall (@edsbs) October 4, 2014"
That One Time Katy Perry Hit on Trevor Knight in Front of the Whole World
You could pin Oklahoma’s loss to TCU on a number of items. Turnovers, defensive breakdowns and overall sloppy play certainly played a role. Plus, TCU played one heck of a game.
Or, you could highlight the reason the Sooners fell.
Katy Perry, on national television, basically asked Trevor Knight on a date. If you’re wondering why the quarterback delivered his most disappointing game of the season, you have your answer.
"Katy Perry wants Trevor Knight to call her. https://t.co/auXm2Wg964
— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguy) October 4, 2014"
Knight never stood a chance.
This Week in Officials Scolding Themselves in Front of the Whole World
While officiating Mississippi State-Texas A&M, Ken Williamson went to make a call and faced the wrong direction for television purposes. For doing so, he decided to scold himself in front a packed stadium and much of the college football world watching.
I watched this live, and I don’t believe I’ve stopped laughing yet.
Ken Williamson really cares about his job; this much is clear. I’d hate to see what happens when he gets a flat tire or is late to the dentist.
This Week in Punter Body Slams
Things were going swimmingly for Georgia Tech punter Ryan Rodwell. A fake punt was called, there was daylight and he picked up the first down without issue. Life was great.
Miami’s Marques Gayot quickly changed all that by offering up his classic finishing move.
The only thing missing from this was a poorly constructed table, some exciting commentary from Jim Ross and a contract with Vince McMahon’s signature on the bottom.
This Week in End Zone Hide-and-Seek
Let’s call this the "camouflaged frog" and hope every other team in the country attempts this amazing bit of deception at some point over the next two weeks.
Please take note of TCU running back B.J. Catalon in the video below, assuming you can find him. He’s the player that purposely laid down in the "O" of "Horned Frogs" in the TCU end zone before the kickoff. He was hiding. (Don’t tell anyone.)
His teammate caught the kickoff and threw it across the field to Catalon, who emerged from his hiding spot. TCU then turned this glorious play into a big gain.
Yes, a holding penalty negated some of the awesomeness, but we all saw it. It was real and spectacular.
This Week in Todd Gurley Is Unfair
We get it, Todd. Geez.
You’re big, you’re fast, you’re robot strong and you can catch passes. The fact that you can throw passes—and also that you’re a lefty—is just showing off at this point.
This 50-yard completion was Georgia’s longest of the season. Now, how about leaving some physical excellence for the rest of us.
No? OK then. Carry on.
Large Man Moment of the Week
Jake Cotton sensed that Michigan State was bringing pressure. And although the Nebraska guard tried to hold off the urge to move, he simply could not.
Cotton tried to cover up his flinch by turning it into one continuous move. The end result is one of the finer Vines ever created. It’s made even slightly more spectacular with the appropriate song attached.
I don’t know how you could possibly penalize someone for this. If anything, he should get a Chili’s gift card and an automatic first down.
Reason No. 23,456 College Football Is Beautiful
When advanced coordination is involved, stadiums can create magnificent art. The scene at Tennessee, despite the loss, was splendid.
"A Tradition Unrivaled #CheckerNeyland pic.twitter.com/uI3wFaf4TQ
— Jason Bates (@jasonkbates) October 4, 2014"
Reason No. 23,457 College Football Is Beautiful
In a chaotic and insane football moment for the state of Mississippi, two human beings expressed their love for one another on the field they worship as the masses swarmed around them. It's like they were all alone.
"Tremendous. RT @ChipBrooker: Rebel fans behind me gave a whole new meaning to "rushing" the field #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/T7AVJGpd1i
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) October 5, 2014"
What a sport.
From the Peanut Gallery (Best Tweets of the Weekend)
"— nick pants (@nick_pants) October 3, 2014"
"Frame it and put it in the football offices, Wake pic.twitter.com/eg9ZtBssMg
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) October 4, 2014"
"Ulysses S. Grant with the interception! pic.twitter.com/bc4R7zjQyM
— MSU Football (@HailStateFB) October 4, 2014"
"Game. Over. pic.twitter.com/RGxvtOYUUg
— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) October 3, 2014"
Was Week 6 the best we've seen? The evidence is rather convincing.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
