The 11 Best 11s Of College Football, Week 12: Down Goes Penn State

An often quoted phrase seems appropriate here: "Having something is not quite as fine a thing as wanting something". It is not logical but, is many times true. The Penn State nation wanted this national championship badly for their ancient warrior head coach, now in his twilight years.

Perhaps when the curtain comes down on his magnificent career, we will appreciate the accomplishments of this great coach. He is the embodiment of a man for all seasons.

Known as a leader, even when he joined the coaching staff of Penn State in 1950, four years before the Supreme Court ruling on "Brown v. The Board of Education". He likely will leave Penn State with an African-American U.S. President in office.

Perhaps then, somewhere in the back of our mind, even the most impassioned observers may think back to this past Saturday and wonder "what if" the wind had not been so strong and directional in Iowa City? Would fate have deemed it any other way? We will never know.

                                                        The 11 Best 11s

RANK THIS WEEK                                                       RANK LAST WEEK

1) ALABAMA                                                                #2

2) TEXAS TECH                                                           #3

3) FLORIDA                                                                #4

4) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA                                      #5

5) (TIE) PENN STATE                                                 #1

5) (TIE) TEXAS                                                           #7

7) OKLAHOMA                                                            #8

8) OHIO STATE                                                           #10

9) BOISE STATE                                                          #6

10) UTAH                                                                    #11

11) MISSOURI                                                            N/R

On The Porch: Georgia, Cincinnati, LSU, Oklahoma State

Upon further reflection, I feel Texas should be moved up to No.5. Penn State is tied with Texas at five because it is fitting. Both top teams lost on the road with one second remaining so, there is no shame in that. Maybe they can even face each other in some kind of "Battle For No.3" in a Bowl somewhere.

Missouri is on the road back along with Ohio State, while Oklahoma State barely keeps Oregon State off the porch.

And "yes", is the answer to the question: Is that the legendary Fullback Franco Harris with his coach Joe Paterno in the picture above?