September In The Reaerview Mirror

 

To say the least it has been a strange opening month of college football 2020. Let’s begin with the alleged postponement of the season by four of the conferences, including the Big ten and PAC 12 (more on this later). Those that did kick off starting Labor Day weekend have played in front of empty seats or at best 25% capacity. Little to no tailgating nationwide and games being cancelled mid to late week when teams come down with sick players or a number of whom have been in contact with sick people. We have seen a number of star players opt out for the season and then some boomerang back on bended knee. And yes, “Lil Man” Tate Martell has transferred once again because he seems relegated to being a third stringer wherever he goes and he has daddy issues.

So where are we now? Well at this point last year I had already been to six college games, 3 High School and 1 NFL. This year, big goose eggs so far. Most Saturdays have been spent at DFT World HQ with a few select diehards watching games, having adult beverages and partaking in my new bad habit of smoking cigars at the firepit. The SEC finally got off the mat this past weekend for their conference only schedule. The ACC, Big 12, American Athletic Conference, Sun Belt Conference, Conference USA and a few Independents have been playing sporadically since Labor Day. Just this past week the Big Ten, PAC 12, Mountain West and MAC conferences all announced they would start up on varying dates beginning on 10/24 with six – eight in conference games only.

This week – We saw my beloved Oklahoma Sooners throw one up to an inferior team in Kansas State as they are prone to do each year. However, this Sooner team is just too young and inexperienced this year to challenge for a coveted spot in the college football playoffs. Last year’s champ the LSU Tigers saw their dreams die on their home turf of Tiger Stadium as they were upset by Mike “The Pirate” Leach and his Mississippi State Bulldogs. In Lubbock, TX, the Texas Tech Red Raiders took the Texas Longhorns into OT before ultimately succumbing to them, after the teams scored a combined 119 points. The Miami Hurricanes now led by QB D’erik King put a shellacking on the dysfunctional Florida State CrimiNoles in what was the ABC game of the week. Alabama rolled over Mizou and Baylor delivered a severe blow to Les Miles and the basketball school from Lawrence, KS. The undermanned VA Tech Hokies defended their palace in Blacksburg against the invading Wolf Pack from NC State. It was actually a good old-fashioned ass kicking is what it was.

Young Cristian Luciano(R) enjoying his first Baylor game

 

Son of Army buddy Buck Oxendine on a recruiting trip to my Alma Matter, Frostburg State

Bieber – None other than Little Man Tate Martell. Tate first burst onto the scene three years ago on Netflix’s acclaimed documentary QB1 as the brash, cocky quarterback at high school powerhouse Bishop Gorman from Las Vegas. After high school he went to play for Urban Meyer at Ohio State. He redshirted his first year, didn’t sniff the turf his second year and did the hardship transfer his third year to Miami who had a bad QB situation. Surely he would step in and play and be the cause de celeb in South Beach, right?  Wrong he rode pine last year and was relegated to third string to start the season this year. So once again our protagonist does a stage left exit from Miami to destination unknown. I can only think that his Dad was in his ear giving him all this good advice he has been getting. Along with the good advice, he gets September’s Bieber hardware. Props to the Martell clan.

Oompha Loompa Martell

 Ginger - Graduate transfer QB KJ Costello who was mediocre at best at Stanford, made the jump to Stark Vegas, MS this year to play for the aforementioned Mike “The Pirate Leach, also in his first year there. KJ in his first SEC game walks into one of the most formidable stadiums in the country, home of the reigning National Champions the LSU Tigers. What does he do? He light’s up a young but athletic Tiger Defense for an SEC record 623 yards while leading his Bulldogs to an epic upset. It was rumored that the Pirate, also known as a QB whisperer, had been whispering his shallow musings into KJ’s ears the past month. The results speak for themselves. For this badass feat, KJ Costello is the winner of September’s Ginger award.

LSU does not want more cowbell!

 Next up - There is talk that a few of us may go to Columbia, MO on the weekend of 10/17 to witness the Mizou Tigers battle the Commodores of Vanderbilt. This is unconfirmed at this point though. A big part of me feels that I will be cheating the schools that I visit for the fist time if I go this year and not during a normal year. Nonetheless, I am getting stir crazy and really need to get my fix in.

Happy Homegating!