Pac 10 Recap, week 11, 2010

In November of 2008, Barack Obama was elected to the presidency of the United States, becoming the first black man to hold that post.  Also in 2008, everyone was talking about the Somali pirates, bailouts for the Big Three US automakers and the death of the world’s oldest woman, Edna Parker, who lived to be 115.  Also of import in November of 2008, the Washington State Cougars beat the Washington Huskies in the Apple Cup, 16-13 in double overtime.  Why was that important?  It was the Cougars’ last win in the Pac 10 conference.  Since then, for 16 straight games, WSU has lined up opposite a Pac 10 opponent and been beat down, bruised, bushwhacked, and bum rushed.  Well, two years later, the country’s long national nightmare is over.  If only Edna could have lived to 117, so she could have sung, with pride, “Win the day for Crimson and Gray!”  (Note:  she wouldn’t have.)

Onward

 It had to happen to someone.  In Corvallis, on a rainy, gloomy day, it happened to Oregon State.  The Beavers lost to Washington State, 31-14, and it wasn’t even that close (the Cougs jumped on top by 21 and then cruised the rest of the way).  It was ugly, and maybe the lowest point for the Beavers in a LONG time.  They’ve lost three of the last four and are in danger of not making a bowl this season (after a brutal start to the season, the Beavers finish with USC, at Stanford, and at home against Oregon, needing to win two of those games to be bowl eligible).  But this game belonged to the Cougs, who played GREAT from beginning to end.  Tuel, QB for WSU, threw for 157 yards and rushed for 79, and looked all world against a suspect Beavers' defense.  And WSU’s defense held Oregon State scoreless in the first half, the first time all season the Beav’s haven’t scored before halftime.  Fingers are pointing, grumbling is being grumbled, and the disgruntled are getting more (or is that less?) gruntled…could be a long off-season for OSU.

Whew.  That’s all I can really say after Oregon barely beat Cal, 15-13.  Okay, I can say a bit more.  This game worried me all week.  Sure, Cal has lost some bad games, and yes, their wins have been suspect, but still, at home, they are completely different (the Jekyll and Hyde comparison was cliche' before I brought it up, but since then, everyone has stolen it and used it for whatever Pac 10 team deserves it that week).  They win big at home.  And their defense, statistically, is best in the Pac 10.  And it just felt like that game, like the game back in 2007 when the number 2 Ducks went to Arizona and Dixon's knee blew up and they Ducks lost their Heisman hopeful and their national title hopes.  This game was very similar.  What wasn't similar was how the Ducks gutted it out.  I know everyone will point to the closeness of the game, and how they barely won, but they won.  Their offense was shut down, but their defense showed up, and after Cal missed their field goal to go ahead, Oregon kept the ball for NINE minutes, marching 65 yards in a clock-killing drive.  So now we know that Oregon can win whatever way they need to.  Hopefully they can do that for two more games.

Oregon wasn't the only top Pac 10 team to scuffle.  Stanford went to ASU and squeaked by with a close win, 17-13.  And won only when Luck drove the team down for a touchdown with 5 minutes left in the game.  Maybe it's the heat, but seems like good teams go to ASU and barely win.  And I may have said this before, in one of my previous years, but why the hell can't ASU be good at football?  4-6 overall, they need to beat UCLA and Arizona if they want to go to a bowl game.  A few years ago, I went on a road trip to see the Ducks play at ASU, and honestly if I had gone to college there I would STILL be going to college there.  The weather was awesome, girls were gorgeous, campus was nice.  I just don't see why ASU isn't good year in and year out...why college football players don't flock there is a mystery bigger than the appeal of Justin Beiber.

Also, USC beat Arizona 24-21.  Two big games for Arizona, to finally show they are the top echelon of the Pac 10, and both times they choke.  It might have something to do with the fact that they have THE single most high-strung coach in all of college football.  Mike Stoops makes kittens in a room full of rocking chairs look like the mellowest of stoner dudes.  He flies off the handle at the smallest of provocations.  I can just see him at home:  "I wanted SEVEN croutons on this m&^*erfu*$ing salad!  Does that look like SEVEN to you!  SEVEN!!!!"  If the team is an extension of their coach, the Arizona Wildcats collectively are going to explode during a game, which would be disgusting.  Oooo, maybe they'll do it in Eugene!  Note to self:  bring camera and a change of clothes.  No way am I driving home with Arizona Wildcat gore on my clothes.  Ick.

UCLA and Washington had a bye.      

Shout Outs

So, Notre Dame football.  They won, beating suddenly spiraling Utah 28-3.  Good for them.  One more win and they are bowl eligible, also good for them.  Two more and I think they're contractually obligated to be in a BCS bowl game.  I may be wrong about that, though.  I'll look it up.  But a great game from Notre Dame, and I was actually feeling good for them...then I saw this.  What....the....hell...is...this?

All I'll say is...that can't be okay, can it?

Augustana beat Illinois Wesleyan 20-17, clinching their 31st winning season in the last 32 years.  That is really good.  They finished 6-4 for the season.  No bowl games, since Division 1 is the only crazy division that has bowl games, so looks like that's it for the Fighting Vikings.  Another winning season is great, but boy would I like to write some stuff about the playoffs.  Hopefully next year.  Also hopefully next year, I move away from the theme of Augustana being like a high school team and come up with new material (I'm accepting suggestions, so hit me up if you've got something).


Recapper's Pac 10 Power Rankings

1.        Oregon – No asterisk for a close win.  10-0 is still 10-0.
2.        Stanford – They’re really good, and are going to get screwed out of a BCS bowl
3.        USC – Okay, not dead.  Not great, but not dead
4.        Arizona – Great season is getting away from them in a hurry.  Next up at Oregon
5.        Cal – The most crazy up and down team in the conference almost beat the number one team in the country.  Almost.
6.        OSU – Dropping like a rock
7.        ASU – Lost to USC and Stanford by a combined five points
8.        UCLA – Beats OSU, gets all excited, and now everyone is beating the Beavs.  Poor Bruins
9.        WSU (in best Harry Carey voice) – Cougs win!  Cougs win!
10.        Washington – Because they suck

Ass Handers Award

Do I even need to say it?