Never underestimate JoePa
Posted: Friday September 11, 1998 11:16 PM
Well take it easy on me, so I was wrong on a couple of games last week.
You Penn State fans must think I really don't like your team. I really have nothing against them, I just thought Southern Mississippi was a dangerous team. They narrowly lost to Florida last year and had a lot of people back.
I probably once again underestimated the ability of a Hall of Fame coach in Joe Paterno. As our president said, I was wrong and I deeply regret it, please know that I will not question JoePa again!
Rocking in Boulder
How about Colorado. Give Rick Neuheisel a lot of credit. He took a team that clearly doesn't have the talent on paper he had two years ago, and forced a new aggressive attitude. To hold a very good Colorado State football team to one yard rushing in the second half was awesome. Look out Kansas State and Nebraska, the folks in Boulder could be for real.
Orange crushed
When will Syracuse win a big game? Despite holding Tennessee's Tee Martin to 9-of-26 passing and dominating the time of possession, the 'Cuse found a way to lose.
Donovan McNabb was fabulous, going 22-of-28 for 300 yards and four scores. Now comes a Michigan team that was embarrassed by Notre Dame last week. Syracuse should have some success with the option game but will again find a way to lose this one.
Spartan slide
Nick Saban's defensive front seven was dubbed the best in the country by most experts before the season began. They have played only two games, and it looks as though they may have already quit. After a tough loss in week one, Michigan State encored with a pitiful effort last week against Oregon. The Ducks racked up over 540 yards against a defense that must play better because Notre Dame is next. The Irish will pound Michigan State into submission this week.
Longing for revenge
Clearly the marquee game this week is the rematch of last years "Rout 66."
Texas, clearly embarrassed last year by UCLA, will look for revenge. But don't expect a different outcome. I talked to New Mexico State head coach Tony Samuel this week, and he told me that although his team lost to Texas 66-36 last week, the Longhorns are vulnerable on defense.
With the intent to get more speed on the field, Texas has moved players around. There are a lot of guys playing new positions, and their techniques are not sound. Look for UCLA to run misdirection plays and bootlegs with Cade McNown to keep this Texas defense off balance. I like UCLA in a high-scoring game.
Trev Alberts, the 1993 winner of the Butkus Award, is a college football analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated, the 24-hour sports news network from CNN and Sports Illustrated. He appears on CNN's College Football Preview, which airs Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. His column appears every Thursday exclusively on CNNSI.com.
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