With the stories of the college football year starting to pick up steam, it’s only fitting to stock up on tomatoes – specifically aiming at those who earned them in the opening weeks leading up to the beginning of conference play. Take the following targets that may wanna duck due to their lackluster beginnings…
Throwing Tomatoes – Volume XVII
Ohio State Tressel may want to switch from sweater vest to turtleneck. For a team that appeared in back-to-back National Titles, returned 19 starters, and snagged the top recruit in the country in Terrelle Pryor, the Buckeyes have really underachieved after getting smoked by USC, trailing late to Ohio, and struggling to get into the end zone against Youngstown State.
Maurice Evans Someone please check his phone records for Josh Howard or Ricky Williams. The defensive lineman for the Nittany Lions is considered to be one of the best in the country, but he’s yet to produce due to a marijuana possession charge. Having him back will be key to Penn State’s season – but when that will be is still up in the air.
Rutgers At least Piscataway is still a big score in Scrabble… I guess it’s official, the Scarlet Knights are yesterday’s news, gone faster than you can say “Ray Rice runs for the Ravens”. If you need proof, how about blowout losses to Fresno State and North Carolina, plus losing to a Paul Johnson-less Navy team. On the bright side, Morgan State is on deck. West Virginia All of a sudden, Rich Rod doesn’t look so bad now, does he? After back-to-back road losses to East Carolina and Colorado, a three game homestand against Marshall, Rutgers, and Syracuse will be mighty refreshing for the Mountaineers.
Steve Spurrier Didn’t his past teams put up these kind of numbers in fourth quarter mop up duty? Great effort by South Carolina against Georgia, but… twenty-three points against Wofford? Really?
Tennessee It isn’t like they can easily hide in those uniforms… Plain and simple, this team should be better. But if the Vols experience another loss like the OT heartbreaker to UCLA or the blow out against Florida, Coach Fulmer’s seat may get a little hotter.
UCLA After recent play, there’s only one place that finger belongs… The Bruins have been outscored 90-10 over the last two weeks. Something tells me that Tennessee game is feeling like it happened years ago.
Oregon State McKnight with a migraine will still shred up this Beaver defense… “Wake me up when September ends” is what Coach Riley has to be saying, and with McKnight, Sanchez, and USC on deck, October won’t come soon enough.
East Carolina Looks like Cinderella broke a heel on the way to the ball – or Tom O’Brien tripped her. After such a great start, to lose to an N.C. State team that is still trying to find itself… that’s just a tough loss to take. Besides, we as fans now have to look elsewhere for a BCS buster.
BYU anyone? Or perhaps Boise State again?
This has been “Throwing Tomatoes”… where conference play could get even messier.
Can't wait for WVU to be 4-2 just in time for Auburn game so they can be ranked #24 without any justification. Very disappointing season for them. White/Devine should be ruling some of these teams they've played and will play.
Oh Rutgers... we hardly knew you!
Wait a minute, remember how demonicume (fox blogger) used to talk about how tough Wofford is? I'm dead serious. Really.
USC-Oregon State will go a little like this:
24 yard run, 56 yard TD, 3 & out, rinse repeat and 42-0 at half. Beavers have nothing on defense. Cupboard is empty.
Kevin, my second favorite team is going to win it all. You heard it here first. If the first four games say anything, Penn State is awesome. They could be ranked #1 right now and I'd be happy. The offense is so good, the D is tight and mean. Why in the world they aren't ranked higher bothers me.
KP, OSU certainly deserves a few rotten tomatos thrown their way. No doubt. Hoping to see them recover in time for a great contest against PSU in the Shoe. Might be the Lions chance to get a win there as I don't think they have ever beaten the Buckeyes in Columbus.
ED,
I tell you what, the Cougars have looked real solid so far, that much is for sure.
JON,
I'm with you on that prediction. Fresno State could have easily knocked off Wisconsin - if only their kicker could put the ball through the uprights that night.
NORCAL,
- Agreed on White and Devine - which really tells me that I think this team has a few more losses coming, just not in the next three weeks.
- I don't recall that about Demon and Wofford, but that's pretty funny.
- Hmm, that sounds a lot like the PSU-Oregon State game actually.
NIQUE,
Thanks, I appreciate that. You're not the first to say that, so that definitely encourages me to get back on it.
MARTY,
A lot of people think the Nits should be ranked higher - but hey, keep winning games, and they'll move up the charts. They haven't really faced adversity yet, and this weekend's game against Illinois will present a challenge. It will be interesting to see how they respond. Hope all is well my friend!
SKCUBOG,
They have actually, but not since '78. The Nittany Lions have not beaten OSU at The Shoe since joining the Big Ten, and for the most part, the games have been ugly too. Take care!
JoePa does not need Maurice Evans. He has never had problems on the defensive end. However, when he seems to find a productive offense, they only lose 1 or 2 games. Their offense should be good enough to outscore everyone in the Big 10.
JUSTAN,
All fair... though now, we know that USC will top the next one.... easily.
SHORTMAN,
The PSU d-line has played well, but depth is needed, especially in bigger games, and Evans put up the biggest numbers last season. He could be back this weekend.
As for the O, should is the key word... but they need to learn how to win at Columbus.
ksp
Since when did the Trojans start to resemble the French army ? They all but laid down and died. If that was an effort on their part I'd like to see what Carroll would deem resourcefulness. They showed an inherent lack of neither last night !
