Spec's College Nickel Package -- Week 1
Revenge of the directional schools ... and more

 

1. Football Championship Subdivision

It used to be called Division I-AA, but now that we're in a world in which everyone is above average, they had to call it something else.  And, since they don't play in bowls, I guess "championship" was available.  But what it really means is you get marching bands and rah-rah college-y stuff without all those big-time headaches and for half the cost.

In Week 1, it also meant ... cashing the guarantee check and stealing a victory:

  • Eastern Washington 49, Oregon State 46
  • North Dakota State 24, Kansas State 21
  • Northern Iowa 28, Iowa State 20
  • Eastern Illinois 40, San Diego State 19
  • McNeese State 53, South Florida 21
  • Towson 33, UConn 18

Directional schools unite!

That being said, things didn't work out quite so well for Elon, which lost to Georgia Tech, 70-0.

 

2. Vernon Adams

I suppose Beaver fans will see this guy in their nightmares.

Adams had 411 yards passing and 107 yards rushing to account for 518 of his team's 625 yards as he led Eastern Washington to that huge upset.  He also racked up six touchdowns (four passing; two running).

 

3. Washington 38, Boise State 6

Probably the game most of y'all care about the most.

Is it a statement win for Steve Sarkisian?  Or is the seemingly never-ending supply of Magic Sparkle Dust (kept in a vault underneath the Blue Turf) finally running out for the Broncos?

Or some of both?

It was also the first game in the Huskies return to their renovated home stadium.

 

4. Clemson 38, Georgia 35

Wow.

Boatloads of talent on the field.

  • Top old-school QB (Manning/Luck division): Aaron Murray
  • One of the top new-school QBs (Kaepernick/RGIII division): Tajh Boyd
  • One of the top RBs: Todd Gurley
  • One of the top WRs: Sammy Watkins

And they didn't disappoint.

The Tigers really needed the win because the rest of their season is pretty much Florida State and South Carolina.  If they avoid getting tripped up against the ACC, then they could be in the title picture even with a split of those two big contests.

 

5. Clowney for Heisman: Done Before It's Begun?

Jadeveon Clowney had the stage to himself Thursday night as South Carolina took on North Carolina, but viewers tuning in late to see what the fuss was about found a delay due to a lightning storm, and those who got the ESPN highlight package found some highlights, to be sure, but also a lot of criticism about "taking plays off."

When you're up against the pro-QB, pro-RB bias of most voters, that wasn't the way to start out.

Then again, Clowney's Gamecocks will face Boyd's Tigers on Nov. 30, in prime voting season, and things could be quite different by then.

ESPN's first Heisman Watch, for what it's worth, has Boyd at the top and Clowney sixth.

 

Also receiving votes:

  • Johnny Football: like a wreck on the highway, you want to look away, but ... after the weird half-game suspension, a handful of brilliant plays, and then an unsportsmanlike penalty for taunting.  Is he trying to be RGIII or Lindsay Lohan?
  • The big upset was on the road, but I found out in my research that Eastern Washington has red turf.  Is there just a surplus of dye in that part of the country?  You guys tell me.

 

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