The “traditional powers” are back. Teams that dominated college football in the 1900s have risen back to the top after many seasons of despair. Sure, there are still teams contending for national titles now that never had much of a chance back then, but overall, the big boys are back. I think it’s safe to say that the people who doubted Notre Dame, saying they aren’t for real can now officially shut their collective mouths. It’s been 14 years since the Fighting Irish have won a national title and 12 since they last contended for one. The wait for the golden domers is now over, and the Irish are back where they belong–at the top.
I don’t think there is a person reading this column (myself included) that thought ND would be 8-0 at this point in the season. There may be people who said they could beat Florida State in Tallahassee as they did this weekend, but I can almost guarantee you NO ONE thought they would be 8-0 right now. Although the Irish are on the outside looking in when it comes to the BCS standings, it is almost certain that if they run the table despite whether or not No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 Miami do the same, that the Irish will play for the title in Tempe, Ariz., on Jan. 3. Why? Notre Dame has the toughest schedule in college football bar none. If ND can finish undefeated, there is no doubt that they deserve their first title shot in 12 years.
Another one of the traditional powers that have made their way back up the to the top is unbeaten Ohio State. The Buckeyes haven’t won a national title since 1964, but have contended for many since. It has been a while, though, since OSU has been considered for the top prize so late in the season. It is very possible that the Bucks could finish undefeated with only two more road games left (at Purdue and at Illinois). Some say OSU will only go as far as star running back Maurice Clarett will take them, but with Clarett now sidelined with a shoulder injury, it’s up to OSU quarterback Craig Krenzel to lead Ohio State to the Fiesta Bowl and the national championship.
Then there are the Oklahoma Sooners. Although OU won the national title in 2000, Sooner fans suffered through many seasons without a title, some of which were losing seasons. Before 2000, OU had gone 15 years without a title and 12 without a conference title, but thanks to Bob Stoops, the Sooner nation is once again alive with talk of bringing national title number eight to Norman. Oklahoma seems to have the easiest road to Tempe, playing only one ranked team before their probable matchup in the Big 12 Championship game in Houston on Dec. 7.
Notes from around the country
* “First time for everything”–Tennessee has never lost to Alabama, Florida and Georgia in the same season. There’s a first time for everything, though. With their 27-14 loss at home to Alabama on Saturday, Tennessee not only made history by completing that infamous trifecta, but they also had their seven-game win streak against the Tide snapped. Too bad ‘Bama won’t be able to play for an SEC championship this season, because if they did, UA fans would get to see a rematch of their 27-25 home loss to Georgia in Atlanta.
* “Sliding into November”–After starting the season 5-1 and 2-0 in the SEC, UM has managed to get throttled by Alabama on national television 42-7 and then get embarrassed again by Arkansas 48-28. Rebel fans who seem to have nothing better to do than post asinine messages on the message board kept telling me that Mississippi is “moving on.” Where are they moving to? Is the famed “Rebel express” rolling to another season without a bowl? Yes.
* “Top Dawgs”–The Bulldogs were idle this past week, so no game ball will be given there, but I do have a national game ball to give out. This week’s winner is the Iowa defense. The Hawkeyes shut down Michigan in Ann Arbor by a score of 34-9, keeping the Wolverine offense out of the endzone. Michigan’s only touchdown came on a blocked punt in the first half, and the offense was held to just a field goal. It is true I picked Michigan to play Oklahoma for the national title at the start of the season. Boy, was I wrong. That’s the last time I pick a school like Michigan to contend for a title.
* “Hunting for Heisman”–Still anyone’s guess. Seneca Wallace’s stock went up a little bit despite a loss to Texas Saturday, but Wallace is still trailing big time. My advice, throw these names in a hat: Ken Dorsey, Byron Leftwich, Willis McGahee, Chris Brown and Onterrio Smith, put them in a hat, draw a name and there you go. When the time comes to vote, I would imagine Heisman voters could be doing the same.
* “Upset of the Week”–OK, so my pick of Kentucky beating Georgia last week was way off. I plan to redeem myself this week though by picking Pittsburgh to beat Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Could I be crazy? Maybe, but ask me that after Panther fans are storming the field on Saturday.
* “Angelic presence”–Congratulations go out to the Anaheim Angels who won their first World Series title in their 42 years of existence. Angel third baseman Troy Glaus won the World Series MVP, and San Francisco Giant slugger Barry Bonds will once again have to wait until next season to claim his first world title.