How did new coaches rate in Week 1?
Bowl season roundup
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Bowl recaps and analysis:
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EagleBank: Wake 29, Navy 19 | CFN
New Mexico: Colo. St. 40, Fresno St. 35
St. Petersburg: S. Florida 41, Memphis 14
Las Vegas: Arizona 31, BYU 21 | CFN
New Orleans: SMU 30, Troy 27 (OT) | CFN
Poinsettia: TCU 17, Boise St. 16 | CFN
Hawaii: Notre Dame 49, Hawaii 21 | CFN
Motor City: FAU 24, Cen. Mich. 21 | CFN
Meineke: W. Virginia 31, UNC 30 | CFN
Champs Sports: Fla. St. 42, Wis. 13 | CFN
Emerald: Cal 24, Miami 17 | CFN
Independence: La. Tech 17, NIU 10 | CFN
Papajohns.com: Rutgers 29, N.C. St. 23
Alamo: Mizzou 30, N'west. 23 (OT) | CFN
Humanitarian: Maryland 42, Nevada 35
Texas: Rice 38, W. Michigan 14
Holiday: Oregon 42, Oklahoma St. 31 | CFN
Armed Forces: Houston 34, Air Force 28
Sun: Oregon St. 3, Pittsburgh 0 | CFN
Music City: Vandy 16, BC 14 | CFN
Insight: Kansas 42, Minnesota 21
Chick-fil-A: LSU 38, Georgia Tech 3
Outback: Iowa 31, South Carolina 10 | CFN
Capital One: Georgia 24, MSU 12 | CFN
Gator: Nebraska 26, Clemson 21
Rose: USC 38, Penn St. 24 | Analysis
Orange: Va. Tech 20, Cincinnati 7
Cotton: Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 34
Liberty: Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19
Sugar: Utah 31, Alabama 17
International: UConn 38, Buffalo 20
Fiesta: Texas 24, Ohio St. 21 | Analysis
GMAC: Tulsa 45, Ball St. 13
BCS title: Florida 24, Oklahoma 14
Photo gallery:
Shopping:
A Week 1 defeat that suggests a questionable hire could be credited to a deficiency in talent or attitude (or both) attached to the past regime. There's a reason why college football's 16 new top-level coaches were hired; with an exception or two, things weren't exactly ducky at that location last season.
So, with potential disclaimers barging in from all corners of the pigskin universe, let's attempt to use this tiny sample size and rate our first glimpses at the Sweating 16. We'll be dividing these new employees into three categories: So Far, So Good; Not So Hot; and More Evidence Required.
SO FAR, SO GOOD
It was Walker's swift and aggressive defensive unit that kept the Bruins alive against Tennessee while junior-college transfer Kevin Craft was lobbing four picks in the opening half.
After suffering like someone waiting on a download with a dial-up modem, Neuheisel in coercion with Chow made some QB-soothing adjustments at intermission and the mighty Vols sabotaged a small portion of Southeastern Conference ego by losing in overtime.
We'll see how much smart money is on Neuheisel when the Bruins play at BYU on Sept. 13.
Johnson's expertly schemed ground attack produced four ball-carriers with 50 or more yards. His next test will occur this weekend at Boston College.
Next up is MAC West power Ball State.
Sophomore Case Keenum accounted for 392 yards while pitching five touchdowns. Sumlin's status as a hot coaching commodity will be put to the test Saturday at Oklahoma State.
The school that produced Michael Turner and Garrett Wolfe is taking a new approach, having racked up 298 passing yards against the Gophers.
NOT SO HOT
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| Rich Rodriguez's debut at Michigan was less-than-impressive. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images) |
With no disrespect intended toward a really good Utah squad, Rich coaching in what was supposed to have been a jazzed-up opener at the Big House should have prevailed with superior talent.
But a four-point victory over Western Illinois makes him a deserving member of this division.
While Briles attempts to upgrade the talent level in Waco, Bears fans really can look forward to the basketball recruiting season (can John Wall play QB?)
MORE EVIDENCE REQUIRED
But the Huskers were beating up (47-24) on Western Michigan, a 5-7 team expected to finish no higher than third in the MAC West. Nebraska's next foes are San Jose State and New Mexico State, so Bo may have to stay in this division until the Huskers take on Virginia Tech.
Member Comments
Where's the Week 2 version of this article? I want to see what Randy has to say about Nutt.
dougneb9/9/2008 7:57:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
UClan, that was Tenn's game to lose and they did just that. Craft through 4 interceptions and had a DECENT second half yet everyone praises him as if he were Leinart in his Senior year. Chow is a legendary coordinator and im regretful we couldnt retain him. The Bruins had a competent D coordinator as well, he kept them in the game. Neuhisel though, more remains to be seen. Will he leave UCLA holding the bag in two years, or will he actually make them a respectable team again? Regardless, i look forward to SC running a 30+ margin on the baby bears.
9/6/2008 23:25:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Randy: If you aren't 40 yet, you better not mess with Coach Gundy. He's a man when he was only 21. Have you ever played DI Football?? From your sarcastic comment, I don't believe you have.
take2ngo9/5/2008 17:10:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I love Rick N.! UCLA win on national TV and he's on every sports talk show you can think of! Talk about recruiting!!! I love it. Thanks Tenn for helping us out. What do you think about this? Chat with me - a big boobs girl from "B l a c k W h i t e K i s s . c o m" -- for men to find real beauties, both black and white, and try inter-racial kiss and more...
9/5/2008 15:25:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
The writer obviously didn't listen to the Razorbacks game. The hogs played over 20 freshman and the only thing that one the game was great coaching down the stretch and a quarterback that could get it done. There is no question, the hogs are weak this year. But the coaching job was exceptional last Saturday. And...you've got to give Houston Nutt a lot of credit at Ole Miss. He inherited some pretty good experienced players, but he got a lot out of them this past weekend as well.
levelheaded9/5/2008 12:58:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
we handed the game to the vols. and they blew it . 4 int, and they couldnt, do anything with it. our D did a great job! we can only get better from here. IF we go to a bowl game . i CANT wait til next year. GO UCLA!
9/5/2008 11:46:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
SROregon said:<br />9/4/2008<br />9:36 PM (report inappropriate content)<br /><br />Honestly folks...<br /><br />Did Neuheisel win the game by sheer play calling excellence? Or did the Vols choke?<br />==============================<br /><br />Choke? Are you serious? This is the dumbest comment I havw heard in a long time. Did you even watch the game? <br /><br />It was UCLA's defense that kept the offense in the game. Tennessee was being manhalded by UCLA's defense which means Tennessee was hardly choking. They were being thrashed and so was their QB. <br /><br />My gosh, wake up you Kluck fan. You are the one that has luck and choke on your side. You were lucky to face a hobbling USC team at your house and barely won! Then when you lose one player, your whole team turns to dust. WHICH MEANS YOUR ENTIRE TEAM CHOKED AND CRIED TO MAMA.
9/5/2008 8:34:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
it's going to be a much longer season than it seems for RICH ROD.things aren't right in Ann Arbor.the rest of these guy will mostly win more than they lose.as long as they all beat the South Benders if given a chance
ailems9/5/2008 8:14:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I've been a DIE HARD Husker fan from day 1. The defense was better but they still have a long ways to go. But in time they will be better. I'm just like every Husker fan and wants a no loss season, but its not going to happen this year or the next. Give it 2-3 good years and Bo and Co. will have the Blackshirts back on track hopefully like the 90's when people didn't want to go against the Blackshirt D.
CORNHUSKER4LIFE9/5/2008 8:07:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Honestly folks...<br /><br />Did Neuheisel win the game by sheer play calling excellence? Or did the Vols choke?<br /><br />Seriously...<br /><br />The Vols' Crompton couldn't hit a barn and can't run!<br />The O-line couldn't block!<br />Which translates to Arian Foster and Monterio Hardesty... hardly the fearsome twosome that tore up the SEC last year.<br /><br />The only two offensive drives that Ucla engineered were at the end of the game. <br /><br />That said, the Vols had several more chance to push through a FG or TD to win and failed...<br /><br />No my friends, this is NOT a case of Neuheisel being good... this is a case of the Vols being that bad.<br /><br />Rick...<br />You are right. This is a 6-6 team that will once again be a drag on the PAC-10 conference by season's end.<br /><br /><br />Lastly, I don't recall a single play that Neuheisel actually called... do you?<br /><br />Norm Chow? ... Norm Chow? ... Hello? ... Anyone? ... Beuhler?
9/4/2008 21:36:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Agreed: Coach Stewart should be on this list. He is starting to remind me of Don Nehlen. The game was a little scary at first and we didn't look so good, but then Pat White got going. Still--giving up so many yards to Villanova? Our pass rush and our especially secondary looked very vulnerable. Stew and the gang need to toughen those guys up if we want to be in the discussion for a national championship.
sbeallvln9/4/2008 21:20:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I take it you don't consider West Virginia's Bill Stewart a new head coach. You didn't list him.
9/4/2008 16:25:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Yes Uclan. You guys should be good by then and we owe you a little pay back from the last time we faced each other!<br /><br /><br />OLB,<br /><br />Thanks! Good luck tonight!
9/4/2008 15:44:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
hook'em--like the new look.... texas is looking good
9/4/2008 13:36:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
No mention of the WVU's coach? Hmmm...
longrange12349/4/2008 12:53:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Umm... Larry Fedora at Southern Miss? 633 yards in a new spread offense? And not so much as a mention? Thanks...
9/4/2008 12:43:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I t was Villanova!!!!!!! He was left with talent. He is just maintaining the ship.
9/4/2008 12:05:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)





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