Bits and Pieces, Week 2

Ho HU(l)M


Arkansas won and looked absolutely average Saturday night. For a team that some would like to think is a darkhorse contender for the national title, one touchdown in the first half against the Fighting Bubby Brister's isn't going to get it done.


Sure, the final score looks good and Ryan Mallett had the numbers, again, to impress but as we were watching it, the cunning genius of ULM d-c Umm, ol' what's his name, had the Razorbacks offense on the ropes with a 3-3-5 scheme.


It wasn't just that, the Brister's were actually running a two-deep with help in the flats and no deep help, or at least that's what I could tell from watching it on Fox Sports South.


Not to go off into football jibberish, but that's pretty daring for a team playing a quarterback like Mallett and a clue that ULM took this game more seriously as a tune-up than the Piggies.


Pounding a meme
Fox Sports wouldn't shut up about how Arkansas was going to establish its power running game. The state-wide daily wrote the same thing. (Maybe they shared notes?)


Yeah, that didn't work out so well.


For all of Broderick Green's 250 pounds, he sure can't get one yard when Arkansas needs it.


And who is playing fullback?


Four players deep at tailback and not a single consistent player in the bunch, the lack of a pound it running game is going to cost Arkansas at least two games this season.


For all the flash and sizzle of a consistent 400-yard passer, you need at least one decent back or the defense keys on the quarterback and the offense goes into the dumpster.


James Madison, a great patriot
James Madison University beat Virginia Tech on Saturday. By five points in miserable conditions and the Hokies were going on five days rest.


No excuses, but a really good I-AA usually makes it interesting when they play a big-name I-A. Best example is Appy State taking down Michigan or, more recently, Jacksonville State beating Ole Miss.


It happens.


More pressing is the ripple effect on a team like Boise State and its chances for playing in the national title game. The voting coaches are already looking for any reason to drop Boise in the polls and this is a reason.


The Hokies might roll to 10-2 and the ACC's automatic qualifier but it won't matter for the Boise haters.


Strap one on
So what's up with all the flying helmets?


No, seriously.


Watching a full day of college football on Saturday and it was raining helmets. They still use chin straps, or at least it looks like they do.


It used to be that when you'd put your helmet on, an equipment guy would stick an air pump in and inflate the cushioning to create a custom fit. But that doesn't seem like it is happening with all the helmets flying off.


It might be some concussion thing, a way to prevent head injuries, but that seems counter intuitive watching guys make tackles with no helmet on.


Around the country
4 Meechigan used an improbable game from its quarterback to beat Notre Dame. Guy rolled up 502 yards of total offense.


4 The ACC is one of the best six leagues in the country, right? All that happened on Saturday was its four best teams got their asses handed to them by college football teams of all stripes. Maybe North Carolina can still save, oh never mind. The Tar Heels are angling for the death penalty instead of being a good football team.


4 Georgia rebounds to its loss to South Carolina by shutting down Mallett and the Hogs next week in Athens as the Dawgs run and run to 1 and 1 in the SEC.


4 Stanford looked pretty awesome against UCLA in the late game. And Oregon made Tennessee look a little silly once the Ducks got used to playing in the water, I mean rain.


Fan feedback fast
From the Facebook, Saturday night:
"A win is a win." – Poolsville regular Brendan Oman on Arkansas beating ULM


"Ain't no way we beat GA next week. Defense just ain't strong enough! I hope I'm wrong…." – Poolsville reader and dedicated Hog fan Kevin Benson, who doubles as an ace caterer and trust me, his meat is delicious