2022 Week 10
November 7, 2022
We certainly had a lot of excitement last week! First off, the best news was the end of the baseball season. Hallelujiah!
As for football, some of the less crucial games featured a lot of action. First off, I want to congratulate SMU for their amazing 77-63 win over Houston. You'd think it was decades ago and the Pony Express facing off against Bill Yeoman's veer offense, except with SMU paying the players legally now. By the way, speaking of the Pony, has anyone seen the Pony?
Elsewhere in the Southwest Conference, the TCU Horny Toads continued their undefeated season by pulling away from Texas Tech. They have to be the favorites to play on New Year's in the Cotton Bowel.
In non-conference SWC action, R Kansas fell way behind Liberty and couldn't complete the comeback so lost 21-19. I would have asked my good friend Sam Rutigliano for his thoughts as he started the Liberty program, but it turns out he's still doing the mortal coil thing and even does TV football commentary in Cleveland. I don't know why a guy in his 90's would want to go on the air to talk football. I didn't get started doing that until I was 110.
One of the wildest plays took place in Starkville as Mississippi State took on Auburn. Mississippi State kicked a field goal with 29 seconds left to tie it, then tried an unusual onside kick - the kicker drilled a line drive right at one of the up men for Auburn. The ball bounced off the Auburn player's crotch and, as he laid writhing on the ground, 7 Mississippi State players jumped on top of him. My good friend Ray Nietzcche was watching with me and he broke out in hives. Then he went over to the other room and beat the hell out of Burt Reynolds. On many occasions I say "I don't understand him at times", but in this case I understood completely.
My Pitt Panthers had a tough game with Syracuse but pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 19-9. Pitt scored on a couple touchdowns, an extra point, a field goal, a safety, and a rouge. Apparently the Orange Testicles' home stadium, the Terrier Dome, was annexed by Ontario.
North Carolina had a rivalry game with Virginia and won 31-28. After that tight basketball game I guess the played football too.
Notre Dame pounded previously undefeated Clemson at home, 35-14. It was quite the impressive win for the Irish as they thoroughly shut down the Tiger offense. Notre Dame now has taken command of the ACC race as they've beaten just about anyone who could make it to the conference title game.
The most exciting finish was in Baton Rouge, as the LSU Bayou Bengals beat Alabama in overtime, 32-31. Head Coach B Kelly made a daring decision to go for two points and the win and LSU succeeded in scoring the winning points on a pass to the flat. The replays showed the receiver spinning around then going over the goal line and, at the same time, Tide head coach Nick Satan's head spun around as well.
It was windy in the Midwest and that hampered the powerful Ohio State offense as they scored late to pull away from a plucky Northwestern team. The Huckeyes remain on track for a BS playoff berth.
In the biggest playoff matchup, Georgia dominated Tennessee between the hedges and also on the football field, winning 27-13. The Bulldogs are now in prime position for a playoff berth and that thrilled our newest neighbor Vince Dooley. He was so excited to see our setup that he said "if I'd known it was like this up here I would have croaked years ago".
To conclude I'd like to make a public service announcement. I know the past few weeks have been full of discussion, debate, advertising, and a huge buildup leading to Tuesday, November 8th. It's been a long wait until that day. We've heard from people who are gung ho for their team, be it red or blue, and I have to say that while I admire your passion, you should just let Tuesday's events play out and accept the results graciously whether your team is red or blue and whether you win or lose. So everyone, whether they're on team Red or team Blue, should just sit back, relax, and tune in Tuesday's coverage of the big Ball State at Toledo game. I know I can't wait.