Week 12 - Chaos Continues

For the second time this season, I made my way down to "The Gulag" at San Jose State. The Spartans were hosting one of my beloved teams in my polygamy of fandom: the Boise State Broncos. Boise State is led by All-American and Heisman candidate Ashton Jeanty, who currently leads the nation in rushing yards.

Joining me for our pregame soiree were several of the Dons of Danville, a DruBaca sighting along with part of his Dru Crew, and we were even graced by an appearance by the Yeti in the tailgate lot.

When you lose a bet to an Eagles Fan, Yeti and Crazy George and the classy pre game parking lot soiree attendees.

For the first time in perhaps forever, the newly redesigned Spartan Stadium (aka The Gulag) was sold out. However, in their infinite wisdom during the redesign, they reduced seating by about 13,000, leaving the total capacity at just 21,000. In fact, the price of the ticket was 3 x higher than I have ever paid at a SJSU game.

Despite Boise State being favored by 14 points, San Jose State came out of the locker room ready to play. It was evident this team spends a lot of time perfecting their tackling. For the first half, they effectively bottled up All-American Ashton Jeanty and went toe-to-toe offensively with Boise State. San Jose State’s own All-American, Nick Nash, who leads the nation in receiving yards, put on quite a show with some acrobatic catches.

Jeanty takes a handoff, the harvest moon over San Jose and the Gulag on display.

Through almost three quarters, the teams traded blows until Jeanty broke free for a 36-yard touchdown, giving Boise State the lead for good. The game remained competitive until Boise stopped San Jose State on a critical fourth down, preventing them from cutting the lead to seven. Boise finished the game with a pick-six for a final score of 42-21. Jeanty finished with 159 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Nash had nine grabs and a touchdown.

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Around the Country
In the SEC, down in the Swamp, the Florida Gators handed LSU an upset defeat, eliminating LSU’s playoff hopes. In Athens, Georgia, the Dawgs held off the Tennessee Volunteers 31-17 in the ABC Game of the Week.

In Big 12 action, a mediocre Kansas squad upset previously undefeated BYU 17-13 bringing more chaos to the playoff picture. A surging Colorado Buffaloes team forcibly dismantled a free-falling Utah squad at Folsom Field, 49-24 (say that five times fast).

#3 and her wing girl taking in their last home Buffaloes game.

In the Big Ten, No. 1 Oregon squeaked past lowly Wisconsin 16-13. Meanwhile, in ACC action, Louisville traveled to The Farm at Stanford and left with their red tails between their talons, losing to the Cardinal 38-35. A couple of boneheaded defensive plays by Louisville gifted Stanford the upset.

In FCS play, No. 2 Montana State edged out No. 4 UC Davis 30-28 in a thriller.

The Donnelly Boys at Navy Tailgate

 Members of the SJSU 1990 Raisin Bowl Champions

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Bieber Award
This week’s Bieber goes to yet another "I'm taking my ball and going home" quitter. At the start of the season, Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos was on fire, playing exceptionally well. Over the past month and a half, however, a mix of injuries and subpar play led to him being benched two games ago. When informed he’d no longer be the starter, he promptly quit the team and entered the mythical transfer portal.

Boston College superfans were so thrilled to see him go that they threw a celebration party for his backup, now the new starter. It’s another example of this generation expecting the world on a silver platter. When adversity strikes, what will they do? In Castellanos’ case, the answer is clear: celebrate with his new Bieber hardware!

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Ginger Award
This week’s Ginger Award recipient shall remain nameless to preserve HIPAA medical privacy laws. Let’s just say one of our crew was on a hospital gurney in the ER less than 18 hours before the tailgate. When he heard  we were going to tailgate and go to the Boise State/San Jose State game, akin to a European soccer flopper, he made a miraculous recovery, joined our group, and even took charge. He picked up the chow, drove the bus, and bought the tickets (OK, we reimbursed him, but it makes for a better story). Here’s to you, unnamed tailgate bro!

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Next Up
I’m headed back to the Palace on the Prairie in Norman, Oklahoma, to watch the Sooners take on the mighty Crimson Tide from Alabama.

Happy tailgating!

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!

Week 10 - Mountain Strong

Just five weeks ago, Hurricane Helene unleashed damage of biblical proportions on the mountain region of Western North Carolina. Some communities still lack electricity and running water. Yet, the people of the region are among the most resilient and hearty in the country. Despite the devastation, destruction, and loss of life, they continue to face each day with strength and optimism.

King Street in Boone on 9/27/24

Nearly a year ago, my high school crew and I decided our annual boys’ trip would be to Appalachian State in Boone, North Carolina. But after Hurricane Helene, the school had to shut down for several weeks, casting doubt on whether they’d play another home game this season. The Boone community and Appalachian State staff worked incredibly hard to restore the school and football program, and this past weekend, six of us, high school classmates from Seneca Valley High many moons ago, made the trek to Boone for a memorable football weekend.

The hurricane’s impact was evident around Boone, with piles of debris in driveways and businesses and signs of flood damage as high as 20 feet up in trees. We rented an amazing cabin with a stream running through the property, where the aftermath of the hurricane was clear.

On our way into Boone Friday, we stopped in Blowing Rock for a beer and pizza lunch to kick off the weekend. This beautiful town off the Blue Ridge Parkway offered stunning views of mountain and valley mosaics. After stocking up on provisions, we settled into the cabin, retelling the same old tales we share every year—and yet they never get old. Like good boys, we made sure to go to bed early as instructed by our wives. Technically 2 AM is early…..very early.

Saturday morning, we loaded up my buddy Tony’s van—a cross between an Amazon delivery van and the Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo. We were all a bit wary about driving through a college town looking like a group of senior citizens in a kidnapper van! However, it was perfectly equipped for a tailgate, with a refrigerator stocked with beer and food. We parked in town, set up a Spartan tailgate, and enjoyed some amazing chicken salad, cold beers and southern rock before heading to the game with a 2:30 p.m kick off.

Top - Student tailgate rager, the boys tailgating and the Scooby Doo Kidnapper Van

Appalachian State first hit the national scene nearly two decades ago when, as an FCS team, they upset Michigan in the Big House. Now a Division I-A team in the Sun Belt Conference, they were hosting conference rival Old Dominion University. Neither team has had a stellar season, but this would be my first game at Appalachian State—a new venue checked off the list.

Legends of the Fall

The Mountaineers play in Kidd Brewer Stadium, one of the most picturesque settings in the country, nestled among rolling hills and trees. We swapped our original sun facing seats for ones in the shade as the action began, with both teams appearing evenly matched. App State was led by quarterback Joey Aguilar from Antioch, California, whom I saw play two years ago at Diablo Valley College. Aguilar got the Mountaineers on the board first with a 23-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kaedin Robinson. Old Dominion answered quickly, scoring 17 straight points. With just three minutes left in the half, Aguilar threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Stroman, leaving Old Dominion up 17-14 at halftime.

Picturesque Kidd Brewer Stadium AKA The Rock

Aguilar opened the third quarter with a short touchdown pass, putting the Mountaineers on top 21-17. They held the lead, adding another touchdown in the fourth quarter while Old Dominion scored only one more field goal. The crowd went wild as the Mountaineers claimed a 28-20 victory in a closely contested game.

After the game, we headed back into town for some wings and pub food, then returned to the cabin to watch more football and share a few laughs. Appalachian State quickly became one of my top college football weekend experiences in my 20 year DFT quest.

Around the Country

Several notable upsets over the weekend shook up playoff contenders. In the ACC, Louisville traveled to Death Valley and knocked off Clemson, thier first loss since week 1 against UGA. Staying in the ACC, SMU defeated undefeated Pittsburgh 48-25, damaging Pitt’s shot at an ACC Championship and potential playoff spot. Texas Tech upset previously undefeated Iowa State in the Big 12, hurting their playoff chances. In the SEC, Texas A&M suffered a 44-20 loss to South Carolina in one of the weekend’s bigger upsets. Georgia came alive in the second half against Florida to secure a 34-20 win in a storied rivalry matchup. In Group of Five action, Army remained undefeated, beating service rival Air Force 20-3 without their star quarterback, Bryson Daly. And in a heavyweight battle, Penn State hosted Ohio State in Happy Valley. Once again, Coach James Franklin couldn’t get past Ohio State, losing 20-13.

Bieber Award

While there are many contenders each week, this week’s Bieber Award goes to someone who probably isn’t the kind of person you’d want your daughter bringing home. During Louisiana Monroe’s game against Marshall, offensive line coach Cameron Blankenship became so incensed over a player’s performance that he was seen shoving him on the field before other players intervened. Blankenship is in his first year at Louisiana Monroe, and this incident might be his last. It’s unacceptable for a coach to throw hands on a player, especially mid-game. Although the school says he’ll face disciplinary action, Blankenship can start enjoying his new Bieber hardware while awaiting his fate. Honorable mention goes to the dork who tried to get under Jason Kelce's skin at Penn State on Saturday. "You don't tug on Superman's cape.".......

Ginger Award

This week’s Ginger Award goes to the people of North Carolina’s mountain region. They truly are mountain strong. With minimal outside assistance, these folks have banded together to rebuild their communities, relying on each other instead of outside help. They embody resilience, and it was inspiring to see how upbeat everyone was despite the hurricane’s recent devastation. Boone’s people were extraordinarily friendly and happy, and I want to give them a shoutout for their resilient spirit. Here’s to you, Boone, you are this week’s Ginger winner.

Next Up

I may or may not attend a game this coming weekend. If I do, West Florida State in Pensacola, FL—a successful Division II program—might be the destination. Otherwise, I’ll rest up for the final stretch of the regular season.

Happy Tailgating!

 

Week 9 recap- The Final Buff Clap

With #3 nearing her graduation this coming spring, this past weekend marked my final Family Weekend in Boulder, Colorado. It may also have been my last time participating in the Buff Clap, the stadium ritual performed between the 3rd and 4th quarters of a Buffaloes game.

I was joined by Mrs. Tailgate, #1, #2, and my two sons-in-law to celebrate #3’s final Family Weekend at the University of Colorado. On Friday night, we met up with friends at an outdoor brewery and later visited a speakeasy off Pearl Street in downtown Boulder—a perfect warm-up for the following game day in Boulder.

Around town in Boulder

The Buffaloes, led by Coach Deion "Prime" Sanders and his son QB1 Shedeur, faced off against the Cincinnati Bearcats in a Big 12 matchup. The only downside? An 8:15 PM kickoff. Our pregame festivities started around 4:00 at a house known as The Chateau on the Hill. Classic collegiate tailgate games with red cups and ping-pong balls kept us entertained for hours with family and friends.

The Tailgate Family

Pre gaming at the Chateau

As for the game, the Buffaloes took an early lead, thanks to multiple touchdown passes and a rushing score from Shedeur. one touchdown was even called back for taunting. The Bearcats, despite a spirited effort just couldn’t keep up with the the talented skill position players on the CU squad. The Buffaloes won 34-23, notching their sixth win of the season and becoming bowl-eligible. While this is just one milestone, Coach Prime has bigger ambitions, eyeing a Big 12 championship and a potential College Football Playoff spot. As of this writing, the Buffaloes have broken into the Top 25, now ranked at #23—their first appearance in a while.

Perhaps my final visit to Folsom Field

Around The Country
ESPN College Gameday traveled to Bloomington, Indiana, for the first time, celebrating Indiana University’s rise to football prominence with an 7-0 record. Bloomington even declared October 26th "Lee Corso Day." The Hoosiers defeated reigning national champs Washington to secure their eighth victory of the season. If you ask head coach Kurt Cignetti, he “just wins, Google it.”

In other Big Ten action, Ohio State narrowly edged out Nebraska in Columbus, where Coach Ryan Day was spotted fuming on the sidelines and was suspected of kicking a dog again. Down in the SEC, Alabama got back on track with a 34-0 rout of Mizzou. Texas A&M, backed by their eccentric Yell Leaders, might be the hottest team in the SEC right now, winning against LSU by 15 points.

In the ACC, Miami claimed bragging rights in the Sunshine State, beating Florida State and having previously defeated Florida, solidifying them as state champs. In a nail-biter in Durham, SMU squeaked by Duke with a one-point win, 28-27. Out in the Big 12, Kansas State held off in-state rival Kansas in Manhattan. Notre Dame dominated Navy, winning 51-14 in their most impressive game of the year. Friday night saw Boise State take down UNLV in a clash of two of the strongest Group of Five teams, with Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty leading Boise to a 29-24 victory in Las Vegas.

Bieber Award
This week's Bieber Award combines comedy and tragedy. During ESPN College Gameday’s weekly contest, a randomly selected student can win $100,000 by making a 30-yard field goal, cheered on by Pat McAfee. Most students miss the kick, but twice this season, someone has nailed it. However, Saturday’s contestant injured himself during warm-ups in an attempt that left him sliding to the ground in pain, turning him into an instant meme: "6 AM drinking has its hazards." Unable to kick, a replacement stepped in—only to miss the kick as well. Instead of a celebratory $100,000, this student may now be facing medical bills for ACL surgery. On the bright side, he’s also won this week’s Bieber Award.

Ginger Award
In a world where NIL money dominates, it’s refreshing to find a true team-first, country first athlete. Jacksonville State’s QB Tyler Huff exemplifies this spirit. Huff, who transferred from FCS powerhouse Furman, is also a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. Watching Wednesday night’s game, it was clear that LT Huff’s military discipline translates well on the field. We wish him all the best in both his football and military careers. Keep leading with honor, LT!

Next Up
I’ll head to hurricane stricken Boone, NC, with my high school buddies for our annual outing. The Appalachian State Mountaineers will host Old Dominion in a Sun Belt showdown in the hurricane-battered town.

Happy Tailgating!

 Week 8 Recap: “The Third Week in October”

As I mentioned in last week’s recap, I finally took a weekend off from attending a game. Not that I wasn’t tempted to go to the Sacramento State vs. Weber State game on Saturday night, but instead, I indoctrinated my grandsons into a full day of watching college football on TV while enjoying Mrs. Tailgate’s famous chili.

A Shameless PSA: If you're heading to any college or NFL games this year and want to pregame properly, consider using Tailgate Connect® to take care of you. Use the code DFT24 for a discount.

Our Texas Tailgate greeters!

Around the Country: In the Big Ten, Illinois took the field in retro 1920s uniforms, complete with leather helmets, for their matchup against reigning national champion Michigan. Not only did Illinois pull off a victory, but they trolled Michigan by playing their song Mr. Brightside in the stadium as the win became inevitable. It pains me to see Lincoln Riley and USC lose once again, this time to my home state Maryland Terrapins. That must’ve been a long flight from DC back to Los Angeles for Riley.

Red Grange running over Michigan?

Meanwhile, Indiana is having its best season ever, led by cocky coach Kurt Cignetti and transfer quarterback Kurtis Rourke. The Hoosiers absolutely dismantled the up-and-coming Nebraska Cornhuskers 56-7 in Bloomington. Indiana remains undefeated and should crack the Top 10 this week. ESPN College Gameday will be in Bloomington this Saturday morning.

In the SEC, Alabama traveled to Tennessee for the annual "Cigar Game" and came away with another loss in the inhospitable state of Tennessee. Teenage Tennessee fans awkwardly tried to light cigars as part of the victory celebration in the stadium. Over in Austin,TX,  Georgia thoroughly dominated the first half against Texas, going into the locker room with a 23-0 lead. Texas rallied in the third quarter, putting a couple of touchdowns on the board, but despite a controversial overturned call that led to students throwing bottles onto the field, Georgia comfortably prevailed. And yes, I still maintain that Coach Kirby Smart has the most punchable face in college football.

Deep in the hair of Texas......

In the ACC, Miami and Louisville put on a scoring clinic, but Miami ultimately emerged victorious, staying unbeaten. Clemson added another win to their tally with a victory over Virginia in Death Valley, SC.

Big 12 Action: Iowa State hung on in a thriller to beat UCF 38-35. There was some serious Bieber-worthy action in that game, as a player pulled a DeSean Jackson, dropping the ball intentionally before crossing the goal line. Down in the desert, the Sanders family and the Colorado Buffaloes took down Arizona easily, improving to 5-2 and staying in the Big 12 title chase.

Both Army and Navy continued their dominance, each moving to 7-0 on the season. In FCS action, North Dakota State recaptured its past glory, knocking off reigning champs South Dakota State in the Fargodome. Honestly, both of these teams could beat half of the FBS schools.

Bieber Award: In a week full of Bieber-worthy moments—like Tennessee fans struggling with cigars, Texas fans throwing garbage onto the field, and referees making wrong calls—one incident stood out. During the USF vs. UAB game, two members of the USF squad got into a verbal altercation. As they were being separated, USF player Dinnellson Exume decided to go the extra mile and lay hands into his teammate's face. After some pushing and shoving, Exume was led away by his teammates. While I get being frustrated when you’re losing to UAB, fighting with your own teammate mid-game is Bieber-level behavior of the highest order. Exume, whether you were suspended or kicked off the team, take solace in your new bling—this week’s Bieber trophy.

Ginger Award: Wisconsin strength coach Brady Collins vowed that if the Badgers beat Northwestern, he would jump into Lake Michigan. With the water temperature hovering around the mid-50s, Collins made good on his promise after Wisconsin's 23-3 victory. He and some of the team headed straight to the lake to watch him get a frigid baptism. It’s refreshing to see someone follow through on an outrageous promise—unlike the dog crap man at Florida State, who is still missing in action. Congrats, Coach Collins, on earning this week’s badass Ginger Award!

Next Week: My final game at CU Boulder for Parents' Weekend. Mrs. Tailgate, #1, #2, and both sons-in-law will be in tow, likely governing my activities for the weekend.

Happy Tailgating!

Week 7 Recap - Games of the Year

As often happens in my weekend plans, I had to call a few audibles. The original plan was to attend James Madison University’s Thursday night game against Coastal Carolina, complete with some tailgating. Saturday was supposed to take me to the University of Pittsburgh for their game against Cal. However, fate had other plans. My train from New York to Maryland broke down for three hours, so by the time I arrived at my brother's house in Maryland, we barely made it to the JMU game right after kickoff. I’ll get to the game in a moment. Then, on Friday, I came down with a bug, which forced me to cancel my Pittsburgh trip and instead opt for a low-key Division III game near my brother’s house on Saturday.

The last time I visited James Madison University was during my freshman year of college when we played them in rugby. I don’t remember much about that game, but I do recall one of my high school buddies offering up his dorm room for me and a teammate to crash in. Let’s just say it was a mistake—his room was likely condemned after that weekend. Fast forward to today: walking into the stadium, we were blown away by the scene. The stands were nearly full, and it was a white-out. The student section was electric, and ESPN was there to broadcast the game live.

James Madison recently elevated its program from D1AA to D1A and is a member of the Sun Belt Conference. They have done remarkably well at the hihest level of college football and have already built a winning tradition. Unfortunately, the game wasn’t much of a contest. JMU dominated from the start, with their offense running like a well-oiled machine and capitalizing on Coastal’s mistakes. By halftime, JMU was up 29-7.

Festive Bridgeforth Stadium at James Madison University

After a spirited halftime show from JMU’s massive marching band, the students began streaming out of the stadium. By the end of the third quarter, only about 10% of the student section remained. JMU tacked on 10 more points in the second half, while Coastal remained scoreless. Final score: 39-7, in favor of the Dukes.

On Saturday, we attended Division 3 McDaniel College’s game against Muhlenberg College in Westminster, Maryland. McDaniel boasts one of the most unique tailgating setups in the country despite being a small school with only 3,000 students. As you’ll see in the photos, cars pull right up to the field—nestled in a natural bowl—and fans tailgate while watching the game from their cars and tents. They’ve been featured in multiple publications as one of the top 25 tailgates in the country. It was a picturesque early fall afternoon in Maryland with blue skies. However, the campus must’ve been on fall break because there were no students, no band, and no cheerleaders. The game itself was free to attend.

The unique game day experience at McDaniel College with my brothers and nephew.

For me, the highlights of the game were that Muhlenberg had a player named Tommy Donnelly (same as my nephew) and their 6'5" receiver, who dominated the game and looked like he could easily play for a Division I team. Muhlenberg cruised to a 31-7 victory.

Around the Country
In what many are calling the best day of football this season, epic battles played out across the nation. Penn State took on USC in the LA Coliseum in a rematch of the 2017 Rose Bowl, and once again, it was a thriller. The game ended in regulation with a score of 30-30, sending it into overtime. USC faltered in OT, failing to convert, while Penn State nailed a field goal to win 33-30. Lincoln Riley was, as usual, a bit edgy in the post-game presser.

The South Carolina Gamecocks nearly pulled off a monumental upset, falling to Alabama by just two points in Tuscaloosa. In the ABC Game of the Week, Oregon edged Ohio State 32-31. Ohio State QB Will Howard had a massive blunder by running out the clock instead of downing the ball for a field goal attempt. Meanwhile, in Boulder, Deion’s Buffs made a valiant comeback but still lost by three points to Kansas State, 31-28.

In one of the most exciting games of the season, LSU defeated Ole Miss 29-26 in double overtime. Florida also pushed their rival Tennessee to overtime, but ultimately fell 23-17. Illinois needed overtime to beat a struggling Purdue squad, 50-49, in a barn burner.In the game I was supposed to attend, Pitt edged Cal 17-15 to remain unbeaten on the season. In the Group of Five, Army continued its unbeaten streak, moving to 6-0 by demolishing UAB. For the first time in what feels like forever, both Army and Navy are ranked in the Top 25, each undefeated. And in FCS action, rogue reporter DruBaca reports that his alma mater, Cal Poly, is awful and that their coach needs to be fired.

UNR Tailgaters before the big win over Oregon State

Bieber Award
This week’s Bieber could’ve easily gone to my brother Brian for two offenses: first, forgetting to tell us that his wife had packed us a “tailgate in a cooler” with all kinds of goodies until we were already on our way home from the game on Thursday night. And second, offering to cook me breakfast on Sunday but not extending the offer to his wife, who was sitting right next to me. However, since Brian already won a Bieber earlier this year, I’ll let him off the hook. Instead, this week’s Bieber goes to Kirby Smart, the UGA coach with one of the worst haircuts in the country and an extremely punchable face. During Georgia’s closer-than-expected game against Mississippi State, Smart was caught on camera shoving the Mississippi State quarterback after he ran out of bounds. Was it a mistake? Some will say he was not aware of his actions. I say no way. I’ve watched the video a dozen times—it was egregious. He should face repercussions for assaulting a minor. As someone on my Mount Rushmore of most hated coaches, it gives me great pleasure to award him this week’s infamous Bieber Award.

Ginger Award
Nothing “badass” jumps out this week, so the Ginger gets put back in the cupboard.

Next Week
I’m taking a long-overdue weekend off to hang with my family at the West Coast headquarters. In two weeks, I will be back in Boulder for my final family weekend not only for CU, but my last one as a parent forever.

Happy Tailgating!

Week 6 Recap: Upset Saturday

Did I Stay or Did I Go Now?

 As I mentioned last week, I was considering taking a break to get some rest and recovery this weekend. By Friday morning, however, I was itching to attend another game. So, I made the decision not to go to Gainesville but to head to Tallahassee to watch Clemson take on Florida State. In past years, this might have been billed as the ACC matchup of the year, as both teams have enjoyed long periods of success (with a few off years for FSU). This season, Clemson had one loss but was improving, while Florida State was struggling. I was joined by one of my college roommates, Skinny Gallagher, and his lovely wife, who live in Tallahassee.

We popped in and out of several tailgates, spending the most time at the DFNS tailgate, where we enjoyed Guthrie’s chicken tenders and cold Yuengling beer. What’s that? How much did I pay for my ticket to the game? $0, once again. I play the waiting game, and usually, good things happen. 

Tailgating and the Doak

Once inside the stadium (my third time at Doak Campbell), I noticed significant construction underway. The upper half of the west side of the stadium was devoid of seats due to ongoing renovations, part of a massive transformation that’s set to be completed before next season. The fans were fired up, and the Tomahawk Chop and chant were in full force. Chief Osceola threw the spear into the middle of the field before kickoff to a thunderous roar. As for the action on the field, the game was never in doubt. Clemson jumped out to an early lead and maintained control throughout all four quarters, despite Florida State’s attempts to narrow the gap. In my humble opinion, Clemson is good this year, but not one of their best teams (though they do it right, according to my friend Jack). Meanwhile, Florida State just isn’t very good. Although the game didn’t bring the same excitement I had witnessed at previous weekends’ matchups, I give FSU fans props for sticking with their team and staying for most of the game, even when it was clear they wouldn’t come away with the win. Clemson took the W behind an improved QB1, Cade Klubnik, and a stingy defense, with a final score of 29-13. 

Action inside the Doak

Upsets Around the Country Let’s start with the action in Bryan-College Station, Texas. Missouri, ranked No. 9 in the country, traveled to take on Texas A&M. While they were a slight underdog according to the oddsmakers, many expected Missouri to win. However, if you bet on Missouri, you’re not happy today, as they were waxed by the Aggies, 41-10, bringing their rabid fans back down to earth.

 In Seattle, in a rematch of last year’s national championship, the mighty Michigan Wolverines fell to the Huskies of Washington, 27-17. Dixon Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas, was rocking last night after the Hogs knocked off No. 4 Tennessee in a monumental upset. In Minneapolis, the Trojans from USC were knocked down by the Minnesota Gophers, 24-17. 

Two mild upsets also took place: SMU clipped the wings of the Louisville Cardinals in Louisville, and Boston College fell to the Wahoos of Virginia in Charlottesville. However, the biggest upset of all happened in Nashville, where Vanderbilt knocked off Alabama for the first time since 1984. In celebration, students carried the goalpost three miles from campus, down Broadway, and threw it into the Cumberland River. That’s just what you do in Nashville—or maybe throw chairs off rooftop bars for grins. I wouldn’t want to be Kaelan DeBoar today in Tuscaloosa. 

In other action, both Army and Navy remained perfect on the season, going 5-0 and defeating their respective combatants. In the late game featured on ABC, Miami once again slipped by an opponent they were supposed to beat—allegedly with the help of their friends in black and white stripes. ESPN College GameDay was in Berkeley for the first time ever, where it was reported there was a certain haze and smell in the air that had never been experienced at an ESPN GameDay before. In D2 action, the mighty Bobcats from Frostburg State improved to 5-0 by mauling West Virginia Wesleyan. 

Top L -clockwise - Mahoney's cheering on the U, Ziesings at the Blue, Andy Reid at Penn State, Buckleys at South Carolina

Bieber Award - In a week with good behavior and no Darwinism events, we have no awardee for the first time in a while. 

Ginger Award - This week’s Ginger Award goes to my buddy, Chris Desimone, one of the Dons of Danville. Last week, while Hurricane Helene was trashing the Southeast, Chris was the only one of my crew from California who made it in for the Alabama-Georgia game. As if that feat wasn’t impressive enough, I received a FaceTime from him yesterday morning, and he was at ESPN College GameDay in Berkeley at 7:00 a.m.! Mind you, if you’ve ever seen Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield, Chris was a dead ringer for Rodney, looking like the oldest student in the crowd. He even took a page out of my book, crashing a GameDay hospitality tent and rubbing elbows with some big names. When interviewed by local news and asked why he was there, Chris said he thought he was at an ANTIFA rally and was promised free donuts for participating. At Chris’s advanced age, he didn’t stick around for the night game but instead went home and took successive power naps throughout the day. Regardless, I’m proud he showed up to represent and teach the young kids how to stay vigorous. Next time I’m back in Cali, Chris, I’ll personally present you with your very own Ginger Award. Congratulations, old friend. 

"You my boy Blue"

Next Up - On Thursday night, I’ll head to Harrisonburg, VA, to watch the undefeated, “Group of Five” darling, James Madison, host Coastal Carolina. On Saturday, I’ll make my way to the Rust Belt city of Pittsburgh to watch the Pitt Panthers take on the Cal Bears. Happy Tailgating!