USC slips to No. 10 in AP Poll; LSU No. 1
October 7, 2007
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) -- No doubt about it, LSU is No. 1.
As for the rest of the Top 25, five wild weeks of college football have taken quite a toll.
The Tigers were a unanimous choice for the top spot in The Associated Press rankings released Sunday, receiving all 65 first-place from the media panel. The last unanimous No. 1 during the regular season was Ohio State in December.
LSU is one of just four teams that started the season ranked in the top 10 and remain there. The others are No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 8 West Virginia and No. 10 Southern California, which became the latest team to take a tumble after a startling loss to an unranked opponent.
The Trojans fell to Stanford 24-23 on Saturday, then dropped eight spots in the rankings.
California is the new No. 2, with its best showing in the AP Top 25 since 1951, when the Golden Bears were No. 1.
Ohio State is No. 3 and No. 4 Boston College has its highest ranking since Doug Flutie had the Eagles fourth in 1984. South Florida, which entered the poll for the first time three weeks ago, is now No. 5.
A week before the first Bowl Championship Series standings are released, LSU is a unanimous No. 1 in all the major polls. In the coaches' poll, the rest of the top five is California, Ohio State, Boston College and Oklahoma and South Florida are tied for fifth.
In the Harris poll, the top four are the same as the AP and coaches' poll, but Oklahoma holds the No. 5 spot all to itself with USF sixth. The Harris and coaches' polls are part of the formula to determine which teams will play in the BCS national title game Jan. 7 in New Orleans.
On Saturday, a week after half the top 10 and nine ranked teams lost, another four top-10 teams and 11 ranked teams overall went down Saturday.
As a result, there are 10 teams in the latest rankings, including four in the top 10 (BC, USF, No. 7 South Carolina and No. 9 Oregon), that were unranked to start the season.
Coach Steve Spurrier has led South Carolina to its highest ranking since Dec. 12, 1984, when the Gamecocks were also seventh.
"It's nice, very nice," Spurrier said Sunday. "We appreciate it. Obviously it's good for our football program, for our university and all that. But we realize that it's almost exactly halfway through the season, six games. A lot can happen in the next six."
The second 10 starts with No. 11 Missouri, which has its highest ranking since 1981, when the Tigers were No. 8.
No. 12 Virginia Tech is followed by Florida and then three unbeaten teams -- Arizona State, Cincinnati and Hawaii. No. 17 Kentucky fell nine spots after losing at South Carolina 38-23 on Thursday.
Five teams fell from the rankings this week. Illinois, which beat No. 5 Wisconsin 31-26, and unbeaten Kansas, which won at Kansas State for the first time since 1989, moved into the poll for the first time this season.
The Illini are No. 18 and ranked for the first time since 2001. Kansas is No. 20 and ranked for the first time since 1995. In between is No. 19 Wisconsin, which dropped 14 spots after its first loss of the season.
No. 21 Florida State, winners of four straight, moved back into the Top 25, as did No. 22 Auburn. No. 23 Texas benefited from so many other ranked teams losing and stayed in the poll after a second consecutive loss. The Longhorns fell to Oklahoma 28-21.
No. 24 Georgia dropped 12 spots after a 35-14 defeat to Tennessee, and the Vols moved back into the rankings at No. 25, giving the Southeastern Conference seven ranked teams, the most of any conference.
Falling out of the Top 25 were Nebraska, Clemson, Kansas State, Rutgers and Purdue.
Georgia RB Brown out 4-6 weeks
October 7, 2007
Associated Press
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Georgia running back Thomas Brown will miss 4-6 weeks because of a broken collarbone, coach Mark Richt said on Sunday.
Richt wasn't sure whether Brown broke the collarbone in Saturday's 35-14 loss at Tennessee or the previous week in a victory over Mississippi.
"He might have played a week with it," Richt said. "He is just that tough. He would go anyway."
Knowshon Moreno, the team's leading rusher with 77 yards per game, and Kregg Lumpkin are expected to take up the slack on offense.
"They are both going to play an awful lot," Richt said. "I think the play will be close to 50-50. It will be very similar to the carries Thomas and Knowshon were going."
Brown, a senior, is 301 yards away from being among the top five rushers in school h history. He has 2,280 career yards.
"It is a shame," Richt said. "He is probably the toughest guy on our football team."
Hokies LB Hall to undergo wrist surgery
October 7, 2007
Associated Press
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Virginia Tech linebacker Vince Hall was to undergo surgery for a broken left wrist Sunday and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Athletic trainer Mike Goforth says surgeons at Montgomery Regional Hospital were to insert a plate into Hall's wrist to help stabilize it.
The leading tackler was injured in Tech's 41-23 win over Clemson on Saturday when he collided with fellow linebacker Xavier Adibi. He led the Hokies with 11 tackles.
Hall is fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in tackles per game and has 61 this year.
His replacement in the staring lineup has not been announced.
College football today - October 7
ASSOCIATED PRESS
STARS - Saturday
-C.J. Bacher, Northwestern, threw for a career-high 520 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime, in the Wildcats' 48-41 victory over Michigan State.
-Mike Hart, Michigan, ran for 215 yards, and matched a career high with three touchdowns to lead the Wolverines to a 33-22 win over Eastern Michigan.
-Tim Webb, Presbyterian, threw for 648 yards and seven touchdowns Saturday as the Blue Hose outgunned North Greenville 66-52.
-Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross, passed for 404 yards and six touchdowns and the Crusaders beat Brown 48-37.
-Matt Ryan, Boston College, threw for 312 yards and four touchdown passes and the Eagles overwhelmed Bowling Green 55-24.
-Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois, rushed for 160 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Illini's 31-26 win over Wisconsin.
-David Sinisi, Monmouth, ran for 200 yards and three rushing touchdowns and the Hawks won a 49-8 victory over Sacred Heart.
-James Starks, Buffalo, ran 36 times for a 183 yards and two touchdowns, and the Bulls defeated Ohio 31-10.
-Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan, passed for 360 yards and five touchdowns - and ran for 146 yards and another score - to lead the Chippewas to a 58-38 victory over Ball State.
-Benjamin Williams, South Florida, ran for 186 yards and four touchdowns, and the Bulls held off Florida Atlantic 35-23.
-Jordan Scott, Colgate, rushed for 270 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-24 victory over Bucknell.
-Ryan Mathews, Fresno State, ran for 171 yards and three touchdowns, in the Bulldogs' 49-41 victory over Nevada.
BADGERED
Rashard Mendenhall, rushed for 160 yards and scoreing two touchdowns in Illinois' 31-26 win over Wisconsin. The Illini ended Wisconsin's 14-game winning streak, the longest in the nation. Illinois is off to a 3-0 start in the Big Ten for the first time since 1990. Wisconsin's P.J. Hill entered the game as the Big Ten's top running back, averaging 133.4 yards a game. But the Illini held him to 78 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown.
HOOKED HORNS?
Sam Bradford threw for three touchdowns to steer Oklahoma past Texas 28-21 in their annual grudge match Saturday. Texas is now 0-2 in conference play for the first time since 1956. The Longhorns - who were ranked seventh before a 20-point loss to Kansas State last weekend - could be in jeopardy of ending a 114-week stint in the AP poll, the longest in the country.
FLYING HIGH
Matt Ryan threw four touchdown passes and Boston College overwhelmed Bowling Green 55-24 Saturday and to get off to its best start in 65 years. The Eagles, entering the game with their highest ranking in 23 years, have won 16 straight home games. The Eagles began the 1942 season with eight straight wins and finished at 8-2. They've gone unbeaten three times, the last in 1940 when they went 11-0 and won the Sugar Bowl. In 1984, they were ranked as high as fifth when Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie led them to a 10-2 record and a Cotton Bowl win. ... Kansas beat Kansas State 30-24 on Saturday. Todd Reesing threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns and the Jayhawks have started a season 5-0 for just the third time in 39 years.
WHAT A RUSH
Chadron State running back Danny Woodhead broke the NCAA all-divisions career rushing record in a game Saturday against Western New Mexico. Woodhead got the 121 yards he needed by the third quarter to surpass the previous record of 7,353 yards held by R.J. Bowers. Bowers, who set the record from 1997-2000 at Division III Grove City (Pa.) College. Woodhead, who won the 2006 Harlon Hill Trophy as the outstanding player in Division II, and set an all-division single-season record with 2,756 yards rushing last year.
GOTTA HAVE HART
Mike Hart ran for 215 yards to become Michigan's career rushing leader, and matched a career high with three touchdowns to lead the Wolverines to a 33-22 win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Hart needed 33 yards to break Anthony Thomas' record of 4,472 yards rushing. Thomas, who plays for the Buffalo Bills, set the previous record at Michigan from 1997-2000. Hart also became the first Wolverine to run for at least 100 yards in six straight games to start a season. Jamie Morris surpassed the milestone in the final six games of his career in 1987.
HURRICANE BUTCH
Brandon Tate scored on a long reverse in a spurt of 27 points to start the game while Connor Barth kicked four field goals to lead North Carolina past Miami 33-27, giving coach Butch Davis a victory against his former program. It was Davis' first league victory and ended a four-game Tar Heels' losing streak.
BETTER TO RECEIVE
Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree set the NCAA record for touchdown receptions by a freshman with a 32-yard scoring catch against Iowa State. It was his 15th of the season. The Red Raiders' receiver overtook the 14 TD catches by freshmen Jabar Gaffney (Florida, 2000); Mike Williams (Southern California, 2002) and Davone Bess, (Hawaii 2005). Coming into the game, Crabtree leads the nation in in receptions (60), receiving yards (920) and touchdowns (14).
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Javon Ringer rushed 12 times for 185 yards and three touchdowns, in Michigan State's 48-41 overtime loss to Northwestern. ... Brown's Michael Dougherty threw a school-record 65 passes, and completed 42 for 422 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-37 loss to Holy Cross. ... Matt Nichols completed 37 of 59 passes for 451 yards and two touchdowns, and Aaron Boyce had a school record 17 receptions for 232 yards and a score but Eastern Washington lost to Montana 24-23. ... Alex Brink completed 27 of 50 passes for 369 yards, with two touchdowns in Washington State's 23-20 loss to Arizona State. ... Colin Kaepernick, completed 20-of-31 for 330 yards and three touchdowns in Nevada's 49-41 loss to Fresno State.
SNAPPED
No. 5 ranked Wisconsin lost to Illinois 31-26 on Saturday. The loss snapped the Badgers' 14-game winning streak, which was the longest in the nation. ... Jake Brownell's third field goal of the game, with nine seconds left, gave Temple a 16-15 victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday. The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Owls, who had lost 27 of their last 28 games. It was the Owls first victory since the team's 28-14 homecoming win over Bowling Green on October 28, 2006.
RECORD-BREAKERS
Kareem Moore and Ladarius Webb each had two touchdowns and 114 yards on interception returns in the first half to tie an NCAA record and lead Nicholls State to a 58-0 victory over Northwestern State on Saturday. The Colonels' four touchdowns on interception returns tied a record set by Houston in 1987 against Texas. ... Alex Brink completed 27 of 50 passes for 369 yards, with two touchdowns in Washington State's 23-20 loss to Arizona State. Brink set a Washington State record for career yards passing with 8,923. Jason Gesser had the old record with 8,830.
SPEAKING
''That's why he's an All-American and some of the tacklers aren't.''- Eastern Michigan coach Jeff Genyk after Michigan's Mike Hart rushed for 215 yards in the Wolverines 33-22 victory over the Eagles. Hart broke Anthony Thomas' record of 4,472 yards by making a defender miss in the backfield and picking up 14 yards.
Top 25 betting recaps for Week 6
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Stanford 24, No. 1 Southern California 23
Cover: Stanford +40
Stanford scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and moved 45 yards in 11 plays for the winning touchdown during a shocking 24-23 upset of the No. 1 ranked Trojans.
USC's John David Booty had an awful day with four interceptions in the defeat.
No. 7 Florida 24, No. 2 LSU 28
Cover: Florida +4
The Tigers barely converted a pair of fourth-down runs before Jacob Hester powered over from the 2-yard line with 1:09 remaining, completing a stunning comeback that gave LSU a 28-24 victory over the No. 7 Gators.
LSU improved to 30-2 at home over the last five years.
No. 4 Ohio State 23, No. 20 Purdue 7
Cover: Ohio State +9
Todd Boeckman passed for 200 yards and two touchdowns as No. 4 Ohio State beat No. 20 Purdue 23-7.
Purdue had averaged 45 points and 496 yards per game, but Ohio State held the Boilermakers to 272 total yards.
No. 6 Boston College 55, Bowling Green 24
Cover: Boston College +12
Matt Ryan threw four touchdown passes and Boston College pulled away with four interceptions late in the first half to overwhelm Bowling Green 55-24 Saturday and get off to its best start in 65 years.
The No. 6 Eagles entered the game with their highest ranking in 23 years after two unimpressive wins over Army and Massachusetts.
No. 12 West Virginia 55, Syracuse 14
Cover: West Virginia +14
Fullback Owen Schmitt scored his first two touchdowns of the season, defensive tackle Keilen Dykes returned an interception 19 yards for another score, and No. 12 West Virginia beat Syracuse 55-14 on Saturday.
It was the 100th victory for West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez and helped put last week's 21-13 loss at South Florida behind.
Illinois 31, No. 5 Wisconsin 26
Cover: Illinois +3
Rashard Mendenhall led Illinois into unfamiliar territory Saturday, rushing for 160 yards and scoring two touchdowns in the Illini's 31-26 win over No. 5 Wisconsin.
The Illini ended Wisconsin's 14-game winning streak, the longest in the nation, and improved to 5-1 overall. Illinois is off to a 3-0 start in the Big Ten for the first time since 1990.
Tennessee 35, No. 11 Georgia 14
Cover: Tennessee +22
Arian Foster rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns, Lucas Taylor made the most of his very short time as a quarterback and Tennessee put an emphatic end to No. 11 Georgia's winning streak in Knoxville with a 35-14 victory Saturday.
It was Georgia's worst loss since the 2003 Southeastern Conference championship, a 34-13 loss to LSU, and coach Mark Richt's first loss at Tennessee. The Bulldogs had won their last three games at Neyland.
It also was the most points allowed this year by Georgia (4-2, 2-2 SEC).
No. 10 Oklahoma 28, No. 16 Texas 21
Cover: Texas +5
Facing a tough foe in a hostile setting, Sam Bradford looked as at ease as he did in his record-setting first few games against overmatched opponents, throwing for three touchdowns and hardly making a mistake to steer No. 10 Oklahoma past No. 16 Texas 28-21 in their annual grudge match Saturday.
Bradford was 21-of-32 for 244 yards with plenty of poise and patience, helping the Sooners (5-1, 1-1 Big 12) rebound from a second-half meltdown against Colorado and end a two-game losing streak against the Longhorns (4-2, 0-2).
No. 9 South Florida 35, Florida Atlantic 23
Cover: Florida Atlantic +5
Benjamin Williams ran for 186 yards and four touchdowns, Matt Grothe added 120 yards rushing and a score and the No. 9 Bulls held off fellow upstart Florida Atlantic 35-23 on Saturday.
South Florida (5-0) committed four turnovers for the second straight game. But Williams and Grothe did enough to overcome the mistakes.
No. 19 Arizona State 23, Washington State 20
Cover: Washington State +6
Thomas Weber kicked a 37-yard field goal with 50 seconds left to lift No. 19 Arizona State to a 23-20 win over Washington State on Saturday, keeping the Sun Devils undefeated under coach Dennis Erickson.
Washington State had a chance to tie with 12 second left, but Romeen Abdollmohammadi's 46-yard field goal missed left and Arizona State held on despite scoring its fewest points of the season for Erickson, who coached at Washington State from 1987-88.
No. 14 Virginia Tech 41, No. 22 Clemson 23
Cover: Virginia Tech +23 1/2
The 14th-ranked Hokies had a record-tying 100-yard kickoff return TD by Victor Harris and an 82-yard punt return score from Eddie Royal in topping No. 22 Clemson 41-23 Saturday night.
Clemson heads into its off week likely minus its national ranking and with questions about its star rushers - ''Thunder and Lightning'' backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller ended with a combined 12 yards on 12 carries.
Utah State 37, No. 15 Hawaii 52
Cover: Hawaii +25 1/2
Backup quarterback Tyler Graunke replaced an injured Colt Brennan and provided Hawaii the spark it needed. Graunke threw for three touchdowns in the third quarter and ran for another score as No. 15 Hawaii defeated Utah State 52-37 on Saturday night.
The victory gave the Warriors school-record 10 straight conference wins and their best start since the 1981 team opened 7-0.
No. 23 Nebraska 6, No. 17 Missouri 41
Cover: Missouri +28 1/2
Chase Daniel passed for a career-best 401 yards and ran for two scores and No. 17 Missouri got a big game from its suspect defense in a 41-6 victory over No 23 Nebraska on Saturday night.
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is 2-15 against ranked opponents in seven seasons, both victories coming at home over Nebraska.
No. 24 Cincinnati 28, No. 21 Rutgers 21
Cover: Cincinnati +3 1/2
Ben Mauk threw two of his three touchdowns in a 19-second span late in the third quarter and Cincinnati forced four turnovers, including a game-saving interception by linebacker Ryan Manalac with 1:19 to play as the Bearcats defeated No. 21 Rutgers 28-23.
Safety Haruki Nakamura and linebacker Andre Revels also had clutch interceptions for the Bearcats, who have now forced 25 turnovers this season.
Notre Dame 20, No. 25 UCLA 6
Cover: Notre Dame +35
Jimmy Clausen scored on a sneak and Maurice Crum returned a fumble 34 yards for another touchdown during a 50-second span of the third quarter and Notre Dame won for the first time this season, 20-6 over UCLA on Saturday.
Notre Dame knocked UCLA quarterback Ben Olson out with a knee injury late in the first quarter, then pressured freshman redshirt McLeod Bethel-Thompson into mistakes the rest of the game.
Injuries dim UW's star power
journalsentinel.com
Champaign, Ill - Right before halftime of its first loss of the season, the University of Wisconsin faced third and goal from the 6-yard line and broke the huddle with the following personnel on the field:
Freshman Zach Brown lined up at tailback. Freshmen David Gilreath and Kyle Jefferson were at receiver. The tight-end package featured regulars Travis Beckum and Garrett Graham.
With all due respect to the Badgers' "next man in" philosophy, Illinois fans had to breathe a sigh of relief.
Running back P.J Hill was on the bench getting treatment for a groin injury. Receiver Luke Swan had just left with a strained hamstring. Add Paul Hubbard's continued absence because of a knee injury and Wisconsin's once-potent offense looked really green.
"It hurts. It does," quarterback Tyler Donovan said of the injuries after UW's 31-26 loss at Memorial Stadium. "But then again in this program, it's been a staple for the next man to step up."
Gilreath, Brown and Jefferson did, but not on the aforementioned play. Wisconsin missed a golden opportunity to cut a 17-3 deficit to seven when no receiver could work free and Donovan was dropped for a sack.
The Badgers settled for a 26-yard field goal by Taylor Mehlhaff with 5 seconds left that left them with an 11-point deficit at the start of the second half.
Hill, UW's goal-line back, missed at least the final two downs of that possession.
"That was due to my little groin trouble, but I worked on it and put myself back in the game," said Hill, who gained 53 of his 83 yards in the second half. "I was playing with a sore groin the rest of the game . . . I know the team needs me."
The Badgers needed Swan just as much. He suffered his injury making a 17-yard catch across the middle on third and 10 that gave UW a first and goal at the 7. Swan made a twisting play on the ball, reaching across his body to catch it. But just as he made the grab, he was nailed by safety Justin Harrison and came close to doing the splits as he hit the ground.
Swan couldn't walk off the field under his own power and returned the field in the second half out of uniform and on crutches.
"I don't know the specifics of it but that last hit put him in an awkward position and strained his leg a little bit," Bielema said. "He claims he is going to be back."
The question is when. Considering how Swan left, it would be surprising if he played Saturday at Penn State
If he can't play, expect to see a lot more of Jefferson, Gilreath and Marcus Randle El and perhaps more two and three-man tight end packages that feature Beckum, who finished with a collegiate high in catches (11) and yards (160).
Jefferson finished with three catches for 65 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown that trimmed Illinois' lead to 17-13 with 10 minutes 8 seconds left in the third quarter. Two of his catches and 48 of his yards came after Swan's departure.
Brown was the No. 2 running back instead of Lance Smith, who is serving the second of a five-game suspension. Brown carried four times for 17 yards in the second half, including an 8-yard gain he nearly broke for a touchdown.
In all, UW scored three touchdowns and gained 286 of its 519 total yards after Swan left the game.
The Badgers once again showed life after one of their top players was unable to continue; only this time it wasn't enough.
"Kyle made a big play again and David continues to do some things," Bielema said. "I thought he made a couple of nice efforts to get the football.
"But they're freshmen. They're six games into it. And unfortunately because of the injuries to Paul and Luke they've been thrust right in the middle of it quite a bit."
Booty plays despite fracture
Los AngelesTimes.com
October 7, 2007
USC quarterback John David Booty suffered a fractured finger on his throwing hand during Saturday night's 24-23 loss to Stanford, setting up a potentially delicate decision for USC coaches this week.
Booty, who threw four intercepted passes, said he was injured midway the second quarter when his finger hit another player's helmet after he completed a 31-yard pass to Patrick Turner that set up USC's first touchdown.
Booty played the rest of the game and finished having completed 24 of 40 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns.
"We could have made a change but we went with our guy," Coach Pete Carroll said.
Booty said coaches asked him if he was OK.
"I want to compete. I want to fight. No way I was coming out of that game," he said. "Look at [Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett] Favre, look at those guys, they don't hardly ever play healthy so it's one thing you have to deal with."
Third-year sophomore Mark Sanchez did not play against the Cardinal, but he will probably get some first-team snaps in practice this week as Booty's condition is evaluated.
"I'm playing," Booty said. "I don't know what we're going to have to do to it. . . . It's my plan to play and start every game."
Fans booed the Trojans as they left the field at halftime and early in the third quarter as the offense struggled.
"Believe me, inside I was booing too. I was as frustrated as they were," Booty said.
Turner caught nine passes for 83 yards, but he also dropped several.
Asked what was problematic, Turner said, "I don't know."
Tight end Fred Davis caught five passes for a career-best 152 yards and a touchdown. Davis eclipsed his previous best of 124 yards set against Washington State on Sept. 22.
USC redshirt freshman Zack Heberer started for the first time, replacing injured Chilo Rachal at right guard.
Rachal suffered a sprained knee last week against Washington on the same play that center Kris O'Dowd suffered a torn knee ligament.
Rachal is expected to miss at least two weeks. O'Dowd had surgery on Tuesday and hopes to return by the Oct. 20 game at Notre Dame. Senior Matt Spanos started at center.
Cornerback Cary Harris, who was questionable because of a sore right shoulder, returned to the starting lineup after missing the Washington game.
UCLA could soon call Rasshan's number
Los Angeles Times
October 8, 2007
Osaar Rasshan was warming up. The need for him, or something, was apparent, as UCLA was quarterback-needy against Notre Dame on Saturday night.
Ben Olson was knocked out of the game because of a knee injury. Patrick Cowan, his backup, was still weeks away from returning from his knee injury. Walk-on McLeod Bethel-Thompson was earning an A for effort for trying to fill that breach. But everything else was graded as an incomplete . . . or interception.
Rasshan was ready. Coach Karl Dorrell wasn't. The Bruins offense, he said, could not call that audible.
Rasshan was recruited as a quarterback and trained two seasons to be a UCLA quarterback before moving to wide receiver over the summer. Yet, when the offense failed to re-boot under Bethel-Thompson during Saturday's 20-6 loss to previously winless Notre Dame, Rasshan was considered user unfriendly for reasons beyond his control.
"It wasn't an option," Dorrell said in a conference call Sunday night. "He hasn't had any reps in quite some time at quarterback."
The question some might ask is, "Why?"
The Bruins' top two quarterbacks have not been healthy in the same game this season. Olson missed one game because of a concussion and Cowan missed the first three because of a partially torn hamstring and the last two because of a partially torn knee ligament. Yet, the Bruins seemed unprepared for disaster, with Bethel-Thompson and freshman Chris Forcier, who they hope to redshirt, as the only backups to Olson on Saturday night.
Dorrell had considered resorting to the Rasshan option going into the season opener at Stanford, when Cowan was out because of a hamstring injury. Dorrell said they had a "package" ready for Rasshan in case of emergency. When an emergency came Saturday, the expiration date on that package had passed.
"We haven't practiced that package since the early portion of the season," Dorrell said. "We thought the injuries our quarterbacks had were not long term. We thought that Pat would be back soon. . . . We felt in pretty good shape."
They weren't. Bethel-Thompson showed he was not nearly ready, with four passes intercepted.
Rasshan's immense athletic abilities seem suited for a basic spread formation -- he had 1,716 yards passing and 860 yards rushing as a senior at Pomona Garey High. Against a slowish Irish defense, such a formation in his hands might have succeeded. It almost certainly wouldn't have resulted in the interceptions Bethel-Thompson put on his resume Saturday.
Other teams have used such a limited offense to take advantage of multi-dimensional quarterbacks. Florida spotted Tim Tebow effectively in its national championship run last season. The Bruins had seen it up close, when Utah used freshman Corbin Louks in opportune situations during the Utes' 44-6 win Sept. 15.
"With what we had going, how the offense continued to progress, we felt pretty good," Dorrell said. "We felt the injury Pat had wasn't long term. We wanted to continue Osaar's development at receiver."
Rasshan shifted from quarterback this summer after being unable to make headway on the Bruins' depth chart. But his career as a receiver hasn't exactly soared. Rasshan missed time before the season because of a concussion and Dorrell has seemed reluctant to use him since.
This week, though, he is apt to get a refresher course at quarterback.
Olson's injury is still being called a sprain, although he was expected to undergo an MRI exam today. Cowan, Dorrell said, "is not quite healthy." The Bruins have two weeks before playing No. 2 California to come up with an answer.
Now, Dorrell said, "we'll have the opportunity to look at a couple other guys, Chris Forcier and Osaar."
Injury won't stop O'Connell at Utah
signonsandiego.com
October 8, 2007
Less than 24 hours after orchestrating a dramatic comeback against Colorado State, Kevin O'Connell was sporting a sling on his left arm and a smile that suggested it would take a lot more than that to ruin his day.
San Diego State's senior quarterback, who scored three rushing touchdowns in Saturday's 24-20 victory, the final one coming with 43 seconds left, said yesterday that he has a slight separation of his nonthrowing shoulder but will play this week when the Aztecs travel to Salt Lake City to face Utah.
O'Connell, who was injured when he was hit by Rams linebacker Ricky Brewer while diving for the end zone on the Aztecs' opening drive, accounted for 225 all-purpose yards against Colorado State, completing 13-of-26 passes for 184 yards and rushing 16 times for 41.
After the Rams had taken a 20-17 lead with 2:29 left, O'Connell, SDSU's all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks, marched the Aztecs 80 yards on seven plays, providing the winner on a 1-yard run.
The drive was highlighted by O'Connell's 57-yard pass to wide receiver Brett Swain that came with SDSU facing a third-and-10 at its 20 with under two minutes left. The pass was delivered only after O'Connell had managed to weave his way through an onslaught of defensive pressure.
“He just rose to the occasion,” said coach Chuck Long. “He really measured up in the clutch, and that's what we're trying to find out about our whole team.
“He's really playing well right now. He's playing with a lot of confidence, and you can feel the rest of the team becoming confident around him. That's what good quarterbacks do.”
And do even better when they're upright. Under constant pressure throughout the day by a CSU defense that blitzed with regularity, O'Connell was sacked seven times. Keep in mind that this is a team whose backup quarterback, redshirt freshman Kelsey Sokoloski, has thrown six career passes.
“We had too many plays where we lost yards,” Long said. “But considering the conditions we were in and what we were facing at the end of the game, it was a great comeback.”
Step in right direction
SDSU's much-maligned defense turned in its best performance of the season, limiting CSU to 327 total yards.
If that number doesn't appear overly impressive, consider that in their three previous games against Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) teams, the Aztecs had allowed an average of 43.6 points and 560 yards.
On the mend
Long said the team is hopeful that linebacker Jerry Milling (foot), wide receiver Chaz Schilens (foot) and linebacker Brett Martin (knee) can resume running by the end of the week. Milling, who was expected to start at weak-side linebacker, has not played this season. Meanwhile, running back Lynell Hamilton, who suffered a rotator cuff injury a week earlier against Cincinnati, may return to practice this week.
Texas WR Sweed out for season
October 8th, 2007
Austin, TX (Sports Network) - Texas senior wide receiver Limas Sweed will have season-ending surgery to repair ligament damage in his left wrist.
Sweed, a 2006 first-team All-Big 12 selection and 2007 preseason All-American, has started 39 consecutive games and caught a pass in each of the last 24 contests. He hurt the wrist in the preseason, but played in Texas' first six games, and had 19 catches for 306 yards with three scores this season, bringing his total to 20 TD grabs in his collegiate career.
Late Monday afternoon team physician Dr. Carey Windler recommended the surgery.
"I knew it was an injury I would be dealing with going into the season and I did everything I could to play through the pain and help the team," Sweed said. "I've aggravated it a couple of times and again last week and have probably been in more pain than I let anybody know. I spent most of the afternoon on Monday with the doctors and training staff and they said that I should go ahead and have surgery to get it taken care of, so I'm going to take their advice."
Sweed led the Longhorns with 46 catches for 801 yards and a school-record- tying 12 TDs in 2006. His streak of seven straight games with a TD catch that year tied Roy Williams' UT record.
Texas also will be without two other players for at least part of the season. Junior fullback Luke Tiemann will undergo surgery to repair a fracture in his left wrist and junior defensive end Aaron Lewis sustained a fracture in his left elbow versus Oklahoma on Saturday. Tiemann will miss at least two weeks and Lewis will be out indefinitely.
Mizzou's Temple questionable for Saturday
October 8, 2007
Associated Press
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri may be without its leading rusher Saturday when the 11th-ranked Tigers play No. 6 Oklahoma, coach Gary Pinkel said Monday.
Tony Temple, a two-year starter for Missouri (5-0, 1-0 Big 12), sprained an ankle in Saturday's 41-6 win over Nebraska. He won't practice until Wednesday or Thursday, and a decision on his availability for the Oklahoma game will be made later this week.
"We've seen ankle injuries linger on," Pinkel said. "We can know by Thursday that he's not even going, or he might go on the trip and it'll be a game-day decision."
Temple had three carries for minus-2 yards and a reception for 20 yards against the Cornhuskers before getting hurt on a drive that ended with a Jeff Wolfert field goal that put Missouri up 17-3 with 5:28 left in the second quarter. Temple is averaging 70 yards per game with three touchdowns on the season.
Temple's backup, Jimmy Jackson, has 12 carries for 62 yards this season. Freshman Derrick Washington has played in three games and is averaging nearly five yards per carry.
SMU foe Southern Miss in QB quandary
The Dallas Morning News
SMU, coming off its bye week, is preparing for its first trip to Southern Miss (2-3, 1-1 Conference USA).
The Golden Eagles, who lost, 31-29, last week to previously winless Rice, are in a quarterback quandary.
Senior starter Jeremy Young (high ankle sprain) could not play in last week's loss and is questionable for SMU. Redshirt freshman Martevious Young started against Rice but broke his fibula and is out for the season. Senior backup Stephen Reaves was pressed into duty despite a strained oblique and threw four interceptions and lost two fumbles.
"We've got to prepare for both of them," SMU coach Phil Bennett said.
McFadden will play against Auburn
October 9, 2007
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Arkansas coach Houston Nutt says a CT scan of tailback Darren McFadden's ribs shows he suffered no fracture, clearing him to play in the coming game against Auburn.
Nutt says the Heisman Trophy hopeful was diagnosed with bruised ribs. McFadden does not recall a specific play that caused the pain in his ribs, but he appeared to clutch his chest after his final carry during Arkansas' 34-15 victory against Tennessee-Chattanooga last weekend.
Arkansas, 0-2 in the Southeastern Conference, will face Auburn in Fayetteville this Saturday.
UCLA QB Olson out 3-4 weeks
October 9, 2007
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- UCLA quarterback Ben Olson will be sidelined three to four weeks with a partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee.
The school announced that arthroscopic surgery on Olson's knee Tuesday showed he didn't have torn cartilage.
The Bruins (4-2, 3-0 Pac-10) are off this week. Their next game is Oct. 20 against No. 2 California (5-0, 2-0) at the Rose Bowl.
Patrick Cowan, Olson's backup, is also sidelined due to a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. It's uncertain whether Cowan will be able to play against Cal.
Walk-on McLeod Bethel-Thompson played most of the way at quarterback in UCLA's 20-6 loss to Notre Dame last weekend, but was ineffective, completing 12 of 28 passes for 139 yards with four interceptions. He replaced Olson in the first quarter.
Osaar Rasshan, who spent two years practicing at quarterback but moved to wide receiver over the summer, has returned to his original position. Freshman quarterback Chris Forcier hasn't played this season and was expected to redshirt, but it's possible those plans will change.
UCLA linebacker Reggie Carter had arthroscopic surgery to remove a piece of cartilage removed from his right knee Tuesday, the school said. He might be able to play against Cal.
N.M. State QB Holbrook out this week
October 9, 2007
Associated Press
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) -- New Mexico State quarterback Chase Holbrook won't play in Saturday's game at Louisiana Tech because of bruised ribs.
Coach Hal Mumme said Monday redshirt freshman J.J. McDermott will start.
"Chase cannot go. He cannot play," Mumme said. "J.J. will be playing."
Holbrook was hurt in the fourth quarter of a 20-17 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 29. He returned with 56 seconds remaining and directed a 35-yard drive, capped by Paul Young's decisive 37-yard field goal.
Holbrook started last weekend's 58-0 loss at Boise State but was shaken up on New Mexico State's first possession and left in the second quarter. McDermott took over but struggled, and the Aggies finished with 108 yards passing and minus-23 yards rushing.
Holbrook had 4,619 yards passing and 4,541 total yards last season, setting NCAA records for a sophomore.