Week 11 recap - Happy Veterans Day

As I mentioned last weekend, my options for this Saturday were either to stay home and binge-watch 200 games on TV or to catch a Division II game 90 miles away in Pensacola, FL. I chose the latter and attended the University of West Florida Argonauts’ home game against the North Greenville Trailblazers.

UWF has a fascinating and unique history for such a young program. They fielded their first team in 2016 and won the Division II national championship in 2019—in only their fourth season! With a winning record across their short eight-year history, the Argonauts have been successful from day one. They play on campus at Penn Air field, which will soon undergo a major renovation. Right now, though, it looks more like a high school stadium. Several parking lots had a decent tailgating scene, and the locals showed strong support, bringing great energy.

I was joined by my neighbor “P-Squared,” who scored a rare hall pass to come out and play. We set up a simple tailgate of hot dogs, chips, and beer and soaked in the pregame atmosphere.

Two Man spartan tailgate!

Inside the stadium, we watched the Argonauts build a substantial lead in the first half, heading into the locker room up 28-14. For a small school, they had a decent-sized band with a sound that felt legit. The second half was a defensive battle, with the Argonauts scoring one final touchdown with four minutes left to seal a 35-14 victory, improving to 7-2 on the season.

The action at Pen Air Field!

Around the Country

Hotty Toddy in Oxford, MS, as Ole Miss looked smarter than Kirby “not so” Smart and handed the UGA Bulldogs a sizeable 28-10 defeat. Alabama rolled into Baton Rouge, delivering a blowout victory over LSU, 42-13, behind an epic performance from QB1 Jalen Milroe. This game effectively eliminated LSU’s playoff hopes.

In the Big 12, Colorado traveled to Lubbock, TX, to face Texas Tech, with the Buffs coming out on top 41-27 in a chippy game. Meanwhile, the Holy War in Salt Lake City saw BYU pull off a one-point win over rival Utah, thanks in part to some “alleged” controversial calls. 

In the ACC, media darling Miami fell to Georgia Tech in the day’s biggest upset, 28-23. Notre Dame added to Florida State’s woes with a 52-3 trouncing in front of Touchdown Jesus.

Over in the Big Ten, Indiana made history, improving to 10-0 for the first time ever by defeating Michigan 20-15. Next up for the Hoosiers in two weeks: Ohio State. Penn State white washed Washington in the “White Out” in Happy Valley.

Boise State and star running back Ashton Jeanty continued their playoff quest as the Group of Five’s top contender by edging out Nevada in a tight contest. In what’s dubbed “the biggest little game in America,” Amherst defeated Williams 21-0 in Division 3 action.

Enjoying the night games.

Bieber Award

It pains me to say this, but my new home state of Florida went “o-fer” this weekend in Division I-A football. Miami, Florida, Florida State, UCF, USF, and FAU all lost, marking what might be the first time this has happened in a single day. FIU had a bye, sparing the state an unlucky seven. Adding insult to injury, all three FCS schools in Florida (FAMU, Stetson, and Bethune-Cookman) also lost. I may have been onto something by opting for a Division II game at UWF—at least they pulled out a win. For delivering a big goose egg, Florida’s D-I football programs collectively earn the prestigious Bieber Award.

Ginger Award

When Pat McAfee first hit the scene, I found him a bit much—trying too hard to be over-the-top. But like a fine wine, his antics have become more refined with age. Up until two years ago, ESPN’s College GameDay had grown stale. The blowhard and Bieber Hall of Famer David Pollack was taking up too much time, so when he was replaced by McAfee, it was a breath of fresh air. McAfee brings a unique energy to the show, taking time to learn the host school’s traditions and engaging every GameDay crowd.

He also created the “kick for cash” contest, where a student tries to nail a field goal for big bucks—and if they miss, he doesn’t hold back on telling them. This season, he’s joined by Nick Saban, whose calm contrasts sharply with McAfee’s energy, but the pairing works surprisingly well. For revitalizing GameDay, Mr. McAfee is awarded the badass Ginger Award. Keep doing your thing, dude!

Next Up

I’ll be heading back to the West Coast before the weekend, with a plan to catch Boise State playing at San Jose State on Saturday, if I get the hall pass. Until then, happy tailgating!