Some college football records are more interesting

Exploring college football’s record book is an eye opening experience. In many ways the history of the game unfolds right in front of you. Reviewing passing records reveals the transition from three yards and a cloud of dust to the spread offenses that dominate offensive stats today. Individual performances jump off the pages, like the incredible year Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State had in 1988 where his season was not defined by 200 yard games, but the four he had over 300.

A figure that is really kind of staggering, even when considering the high powered offenses of today, is the single game passing record held by David Klinger of Houston. In a 62-45 win over Arizona State he threw the ball around all day, and when the air was cleared had passed for 716 yards.

There are other records we don’t think about very often that are interesting because when we see them, we just scratch our heads and ponder the reality of them. When you recall the 1916 game between Cumberland and Georgia Tech it is difficult to figure how there is even enough time for one team to score 222 points. The reason may be an offense for Cumberland that was just as inept as their defense, since they were shut out in the game.

But we don’t recall some moments because they did not happen in an era when replay is found for every game played from pee-wee to the NFL. Records are broken at all levels as well, and sometimes it is hard to find the superlatives that occur in the levels below the Bowl Championship Division of the NCAA, you know, Division I. Beyond being broke at lower levels, it is special teams that cause the curious to stop and ponder just what the day was like for the record holder.

For example, in 1976 Ove Johansson sent a field goal 69 yards off a 2-inch tee against East Texas State. It was an NAIA game, but hey, 69 yards is 69 yards in high school, college or the NFL. How do you even begin to line that one up and decide how much to get under it? What was the wind like? When the ball came off Johansson’s foot you have to wonder at what point he knew it was good. It would be hard to imagine he kicked it and instantly raised his arms making the call; after all, the ball would have taken almost as long to reach the uprights as it does to fly from Atlanta to Miami. While we would like for a kick of this distance to have some magnitude as every player and fan held their breath to see if the short par three drive would be good or not, this is not the case. The final score of the game was 17-0.

What is a busy day for your team’s punter? Do you even know his name? If you saw him ten times a game you would probably want the offensive coordinator fired. It was 1939 and Texas Tech played Centenary during a downpour in Shreveport. The game was an event that would cause current Tech coach, Mike Leach, to have a stroke. On that day the Red Raiders Charlie Calhoun punted the ball thirty-six times. THIRTY-SIX! He was credited with 1318 kicking yards that day. Twenty of his attempts were returned, eight went out of bounds while six were downed. For the day the number one was only used twice to describe Calhoun’s efforts. He had one roll into the end zone for a touchback and one blocked. Of his punts that day the most eye opening number is thirty-three. That is how many times he punted the ball on first down. Guess the coaches felt field position was important that day. The outcome? A scoreless tie.

Kicking the ball is easy compared to setting a record the way T.J. Mayer did in a 2003 game when Waldorf played SMSU. Mayer had the privilege of returning thirteen kickoffs before the final gun sounded. How does one guy get into a position to return that many kickoffs in four quarters of football? You lose the game by a score of 84-7. Obviously on a team outmanned in every way, Mayer had to walk the field over and over that day, and run headfirst into a swarm of SMSU players. His blocking could not have been any better than the teams other skill players had that day. And he had a head full of steam every time. Beyond this particular game Mayer was given plenty of other return opportunities that season. Waldorf went 0-11 and gave up seventy or more points in three other games.

This year keep an eye on the record book, and the next time you hear someone asking a superstar how they feel about having their longstanding record broken think of poor A.J. His record might never be broken, and more important there is probably not a player out there that wants his title.

Gary Brown
gary@secmatchups.com

College football top 10...for now

Picking the top 10 for college football for 2009 may sound like a bold, definitive position to be taking, but the first qualifier for these picks is simple. They are subject to change. For now, and just right now, here are the teams we see sitting in the top 10 at the end of the year and why.

1. Florida-18 returning starters and perhaps the best offense and defense in the country.
This was easy.
2. Oklahoma-Someone has to win when they play Texas. Oklahoma gets the nod, the Big 12
title and we get a BCS rematch.
3. USC-They don’t have a QB, but still play in the PAC-10. That alone will keep them near
the top.
4. Virginia Tech-They were young last year and grew up during the season. They win the
ACC and have an outside chance at the BCS Championship Game.
5. Ohio State-Like the talent they have at skill positions and their coaching.
6. Georgia-If Joe Cox steps up they will only lose to Florida.
7. Texas-Lots of talent and on a mission after being kicked out of BCS Championship Game
game last year. They lose to Sooners and Oklahoma State.
8. Boise State-Their schedule and talent level may leave them undefeated when bowl picks
are made.
9. LSU-Tigers win the toughest conference division in college football. Tough enough to keep
them out of BCS title game.
10. Arkansas-The Razorbacks are my pick to be the most improved team in the nation this
year.
Why are teams like Ole Miss, Alabama and Cal missing from this list? They all have a glaring challenge ahead of them that have to be addressed before they can be listed with this group.
While bringing back several defensive starters from last year, Ole Miss played pretty average defense most of the year. They have to play like they did against Texas Tech to become a top 10 team. While Bama’s defense is stout, their offense will have to prove it can get the defense some rest and score points. Cal’s questions start on defense where only three starters return. Their offense can light a scoreboard up.

So, what will the actual results look like? Who knows, but for now this is a place to start the conversation from.

Gary Brown
gary@secmatchups.com

Alabama has been placed on probation again by the NCAA. That news does not seem like anything fresh. Since Antonio Langham signed with an agent in 1993, on the morning after Bama beat the Miami Hurricanes to win the National Championship, run-ins with the NCAA have become as much a part of Alabama football tradition as hounds tooth hats. So, what are the facts regarding the new probation period Bama faces?

· Over 201 athletes from 16 sports were involved. Only athletes from the crew team
avoided participation in the textbook scheme.
· Football victories from 2005, 2006 and 2007 are being vacated.
· Track and tennis will have individual records and victories vacated.
· There are no scholarship losses for any team.
· Alabama will remain on probation through 2012.
· The five year offender status will remain in place until 2014.

Now, what are the real implications of the penalties?

· Bobby Bowden and the Seminole faithful may be facing the biggest reality. The NCAA will
have a hard time letting Florida State keep the 14 vacated wins currently under appeal by
FSU. If he does not get those wins back it will be tough for Bowden to pass Joe Paterno of
Penn State on the all-time coaching win list.
· Alabama needs a new AD. Mal Moore has been the man in charge twice now when
Bama was placed on probation. This time the NCAA was light in many people’s eyes. Over
200 athletes involved in a textbook case? That sounds like a lack of institutional control.
· Ozzie Newsome should be hired to replace Moore. The Tide legend has indicated he would
like to come home at some point. Now is the time.
· It is a good thing Saban is a great recruiter. Do you think Auburn, Tennessee, Florida and
all the other schools beating a path to the nation’s best players will whisper anything about
the five year window and possible “death penalty” into the ears of these impressionable
young people?
· Alabama better stay really, really clean until the window is closed, and pray that none of
the schools boosters decide to “help” out in the recruiting process.

Now, that said, Alabama fans need to look closely and not have expectations that are too high for their team this season. Replacing most of the offensive line, breaking in a new quarterback and still not knowing who will get most of the carries in the ground game, while knowing that almost every pass will go to Julio Jones will be the dominating elements of discussion about Alabama football soon.

Gary Brown
gary@secmatchups.com