College Football: TCU Chokes Week 1...To Baylor

Friday afternoon Mrs .260 Hitters and I decided to drive up to Dallas that evening with the kids to take care of some business. Not exactly the greatest timing for such a trip, but never-the-less, business must be done. After some quick thinking on my part,  I convinced my bride we should take her zippity sports SUV as opposed to my zuppity F150 truck.

Citing quicker driving, easier merging, etc., it was an easy sell. Of course, the unstated fact, which I’m sure she understood, was the Sirius radio in her car which gets close to 20 radio stations carrying college football.

End result?

We made it to and from Dallas in record setting time, all while catching the TCU/Baylor, BYU/Ole Miss and Texas/Rice games on the radio. Win.

The rest of the story? I got a ticket while neck deep in the TCU vs. Baylor game, driving through Hillsboro, Texas. Lose.

It reminded me of the Auburn game against Utah State. Having more points when the clock ran out—win. Having to score twice in the last two minutes of the game, including a successful on-side kick in order to not lose to 4-8 Aggies of Utah State—epic fail. I guess Cam Newton really did carry that team. Backing up to Friday’s barn burner in Waco (sorry for the analogy, I couldn’t help it), I can’t decide if I’m more impressed with Baylor or more disappointed in TCU. Yes, Andy Dalton is gone, but it’s Baylor. I mean…it’s Baylor. 

The Bears are well on their way to a 5-0 record with Stephen F Austin next week, followed by Rice, K-State and Iowa State. Fighting hard to stay in the Big 12, are we?

Oregon simply didn’t have it in them Saturday night, giving up yards and football entirely too often against a well-run LSU squad. The Ducks had too little offense and not enough defense to get the job done—which is a nice way of saying the Ducks were a mess Saturday night. Of course this isn’t the first time the Ducks coughed up a season opener (i.e. losing to Boise State 2009, i.e. LaGarrette Blount’s left hook). So fear not Oregon fans, you fought back from that, you can fight back from this, but not if you don’t clean it up on the field first.

Insert nice comment here about LSU—something that I simply cannot do. Okie Lite had 666 yards of offense against Louisiana-Lafayette. I also heard Satan plans to dress up as Mike Gundy this year for Halloween. Seems reasonable. 

Oregon State lost 29-28 to Sacramento State. Yeah, I didn’t know there was such thing as Sacramento State either.

Stephen Garcia was punished for off-field frat boy antics by coach Steve Spurrier and had to sit out the first quarter of their opener against ECU. Trailing 17-0, Garcia was allowed back into the game, leading the Gamecocks of the other USC to a 56-37 win. Which begs the question, is South Carolina really that terrible without Garcia? Because ECU isn’t a very good team, and East Carolina isn’t even a state.

Anyone see that lightning strike at the Notre Dame while they were getting kicked left and right by South Florida? Maybe there are a few Catholics left at that school because God clearly wasn’t very happy with how things were going. Or maybe it was just the weather. South Florida 23, Notre Dame 20. I called that one! 

Stanford looked really good—really good. Yes, it was San Jose State, but no one is looking forward to playing the Cardinal this year.

While Oregon may still be one of the best teams in the country, even with an 0-1 record, I know who isn’t—Notre Dame. The Irish have the opposite problem as the Bears of Baylor, with Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, Purdue, Air Force and USC all lined up. Now I highly doubt that Irish go 0-7, but 2-5 isn’t out of the question.

Oklahoma 47, Tulsa 14. No surprise there. OU looked really good.

Texas 34, Rice 9. The collective sigh released in Austin was equated to gale force winds.

Runner up showing of the week goes to BYU, whose fourth quarter comeback edged the Rebels 14-13—which only makes sense as BYU might be the most anti-rebel school in the NCAA.

Texas Tech was losing to Texas State 10-9 at the half. Were Tech fans freaking out? Oh yes, my phone was literally blowing up. I guess sometimes the season opener really does get the rust off as the Red Raiders stomped the Bobcats of Southwest Texas…er…Texas State 50-10.

Upset of the Week

Maryland upset Miami in the final three minutes of the game, winning 32-24. If only someone had called that one. In uniforms likened to clown costumes (good call, Joey), the Terrapins found their way into the end zone with 39 seconds left on the clock, sealing the deal on the first big upset of the year.

Showing of the Week

Boise State went to UGA and beat up on an under-performing SEC team, but going to big name schools and beating up on them has become Boise State’s thing. Just another day at of the office for the guys in Smurf blue. Heisman hopeful Kellen Moore tossed the ball for 261 yards and three touchdowns in the Bronco’s 35-21 dismantling of the Bulldogs. Long time .260 Hitters readers know I’m no Boise State fan, but there’s little doubt this team is on path to play (again) in January.

Choke of the Week

TCU.  Yeah, I said it. Baylor sucks and TCU should be embarrassed. Seriously, it’s Baylor. I feel like I should say “no offense” at this point, but let’s be honest—the entire goal here is to offend.