2014 Week 13
November 24, 2014
The games took a bit of a breather last weekend as we gear up for Showdown Rivalry Saturday Judgment Day matchups.
The SEC had their annual cupcake showdown. Florida bombed Eastern Kentucky. Alabama had no trouble with West Carolina. Georgia put up 55 on Charleston Southern. South Carolina took on an all star team from Conference USA and won 37-12.
But the most impressive cupcake win was Auburn's 31-7 triumph over the Stanford Cardinals. War Tide!
Meanwhile, the Volunteers must not have read the fine print in the contract, as their cupcake game wasn't against Missouri State but rather Big Eight power Missouri, and Tennessee lost 29-21.
Speaking of the Big 8, Kansas City State and coach Bruce Snyder continued their winning ways, holding on for a win over Western Virginia, 26-20. But the most impressive performance was by Oklahoma. In a 44-7 win over Kansas, running back Samaje Perine ran for over 400 yards, breaking the long-standing all-time record set last week by Mel Gordon. I bet Samaje's mother Valerie Perine was pretty proud, as was probably whichever of those Village People don juans who fathered Samaje on that movie set.
There were some impressive wins for western teams. Oregon annihilated Colorado 44-10, which I bet made the QB who helped them beat the Golden Buffs a few years ago, Joey Heatherton Jr, proud. UCLA had little trouble knocking off USC 38-20, to take possession of the famed Cheerleader Bowel. And Dick Rodriguez's Arizona team flew to the Loan Star State to take down the University of Texas at Houston in a surprisingly easy romp, 42-10.
In the newly expanded ACC, the St Louisville Cardinals held on for a very narrow win over Notre Dame. The Irish have now dropped three straight while the Cardinals are making up for their embarrassing October loss to the Dodgers.
One of the more fascinating games of the day took place in Winston-Salem-Freeport, where Wake Forest defeated Virginia Tech 6-3 in double overtime. Believe it or not, the game was scoreless in regulation. You'd think it was a soccer game or something. I'm still a bit confused about these overtime rules. Apparently this one was settled with a field goal shootout. Wake got one more past the goalie so won the contest.
Probably the biggest surprise of the week was Ole Southern Miss, rated #8 in the country, getting shut out by the Hogs of R Kansas, 30-0. Rebel scion Peyton Manning Senior must have been pretty saddened by that result. The Razorback JV team, R Kansas State, did not fare as well, falling to the Texas JV team, Texas State, 45-27.
The most unfortunate and unnecessary result of the week took place or, rather, did not take place in Buffalo. The game between Kent State and the Bills was postponed due to snow.
Now in the past coaches, players, and administrators never let a little inclement weather or other difficulty get in the way of a football game. I've told stories about games played in lightning storms and hurricanes.
One of the lesser known such stories took place in the heartland, during a 1933 game between Washington University of St. Louis and Southern Illinois University, with the game being played at Washington U's stadium in St. Louis.
The Saluki fans traveled well and were fairly rowdy for that or any other era, banging on cowbells and stomping their feet throughout the contest. The old stadium rocked as Southern Illinois built a 21-10 lead. Washington U came back and scored with about 4 minutes left to pull within four points.
Washington got the ball back after a punt and moved down the field in the final minute and were facing a 4th and 3 at the Southern Illinois 17 yard line. The Saluki fans stomped louder and louder as the entire stadium seemed to sway. The Washington U running back took the handoff and broke into the clear.
Just then there was a rumbling and a giant crack opened up at the 5 yard line. Into it fell most of the players from both teams. The crack widened and reached the stands and most of the SIU cheering section fell in as well. Many perished as the New Madrid fault claimed some new victims as the crack went across the entire Washington University campus.
However, in spite of the dozens of deaths, the game was not postponed. Instead Washington U had the ball, first down, just beyond the crack in the earth. They scored two plays later and won the game 24-21.
You folks should not think that the officials were insensitive to the plight of those sucked into a giant magma spewing crack. I know I'm reminded of fiery emanations from a narrow crevice every time I have jalapenos. I can only imagine what it's like to enter such a maw, though my good friend Coach Corso always said it wasn't so bad.
After the game, due to the unsafe situation at Washington U, the campus was relocated from its downtown St. Louis campus. And that is why today we speak of Washington University being one of the finest schools in Seattle. And now you know the rest of the story.