With the seismic shifts in college football since last season, yesterday marked the dawn of a new era. For the first time in decades, Nick Saban was absent from the sidelines. Jim Harbaugh, too, has moved on to the NFL. Coaches have swapped teams at a dizzying rate, leaving even the most dedicated fans scratching their heads at the sight of familiar faces in unfamiliar places. The transfer portal and NIL deals have been in high gear, making it a challenge to keep track of who’s suiting up for your favorite team. We’ve also entered the brave new world of a 12-team College Football Playoff. If you’re curious about how it all works, I’ve got you covered!
Where was DFT?: A Spartan Tailgate
This year, I missed out on my annual Labor Day trifecta with my college buddy Tubby. Instead, we were stationed at our West Coast headquarters, where we managed to attend the Thursday night game at San Jose State. The tailgate was as Spartan as it gets—lifting the back gate of my friend’s car, drinking beer, eating sandwiches, and laughing, all while using red Solo cups for unorthodox purposes before heading into the game. San Jose State faced off against FCS powerhouse Sacramento State. The game started slow under new head coach and former Navy Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo, but by the second half, San Jose State’s size and speed overwhelmed the smaller Hornet squad. Wide receiver Nick Nash was the star, with 10 receptions, 2 touchdown catches, and even one touchdown pass. The Spartans cruised to a 42-24 victory.
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| A spartan tailgate indeed with the two Daves. |
Around the Country: Week 1 Recap
Week 1 brought some surprising matchups amid the expected cupcake beatdowns. In Atlanta, Georgia, the Bulldogs proved too much for Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers. Swinney’s refusal to engage with the transfer portal was evident as his team couldn’t keep up with Georgia’s talent. In College Station, Texas, Notre Dame scraped out an ugly win over Texas A&M, 23-13, behind new quarterback and Duke transfer Riley Leonard. He faced off against his former coach, Mike Elko, now leading Texas A&M.
Down in Gainesville, the Florida Gators and Coach Billy Napier were embarrassed by the Miami Hurricanes, led by QB1 Cam Ward, a transfer from Washington State. Rumors are swirling about Napier’s tenure at Florida. In Statesboro, Georgia, the Boise State Broncos outlasted the Georgia Southern Eagles in an offensive shootout, winning 56-45, thanks to All-American running back Ashton Jeanty’s 267 yards and six touchdowns. Penn State traveled to Morgantown, where they dispatched a feisty West Virginia team 34-12 after a lengthy weather delay.
Reigning FCS champion South Dakota State was knocked off by Big 12 power Oklahoma State, 44-20, in Stillwater. Finally, LSU and USC squared off Sunday evening in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. I consider this the Benedict Arnld or Traitor Bowl as both coaches left my two favorite teams for roles at LSU and USC. 🙂USC led by a stellar QB and WR combo of MIller Moss to Kyron Hudson piled up yards on the Tiger defense and pulled out a win with less than 10 seconds to go.
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| My view on Saturday |
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| Mrs. Tailgate's famous wings |
The Bieber Award: A Stadium “Renovation” Gone Wrong
We had several worthy contenders this week, starting with our old friend Drubaca, who pulled a Chaz from Wedding Crashers by crashing a celebration of life tailgate at the San Jose State game. Drubaca was spotted in the wild, eating their food and drinking their beer—classic!
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| You idiot! |
Another strong candidate goes to the University of Minnesota. In an epic blunder, they shot off fireworks after their kicker missed the potential game-winning field goal, resulting in a loss during their home opener. Talk about adding insult to injury!
However, the top honors go to San Jose State and anyone involved in the design of their stadium renovation. The San Jose State game on Thursday gave me a firsthand look at the end result of a five-year so-called stadium renovation. I have been to several dozen games at San Jose State during my years in the Bay Area. I saw several of the construction phases live going back ro 2019. It’s almost impossible to describe what they’ve done—or to understand who approved this design. They replaced the east side of the stadium, once lined with thousands of seats, with what looks like a Soviet-era, gray, monolithic warehouse. The top of this eyesore features a set of suites, while the area below is nothing but grass, leading down to the field. The entire side of the field is devoid of seating, creating an odd and ugly visual that’s more fitting for an end zone—if it should exist at all. I’m pretty sure the design company behind this is either known for making Lego toys for kids or imprisoning dissenters behind the Iron Curtain. Regardless, San Jose State may now have one of the most unusual and unattractive stadium designs in the country, earning them this week’s Bieber Award.
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| Soviet style gulag renovation |
The Ginger Award: A New Tradition at Oklahoma
The late, great Toby Keith, who passed away in February, was born just 15 miles from the University of Oklahoma campus. He was a frequent presence on the OU sidelines and a massive fan of the Sooners. To honor him, Oklahoma has started a new tradition between the third and fourth quarters of home games, playing Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” as fans sing along with phone flashlights in the air. I’ve heard from those who were there that the experience was chilling, with goosebumps all around. Toby was one of a kind—a great humanitarian and a genuinely good person who will be missed. This new tradition is a badass way to keep his legacy alive.
Click here for the tribute
Next Up: A Doubleheader in South Florida
Next Saturday, I’m off to South Florida for a doubleheader. The day starts with a breakfast tailgate at Florida Atlantic University, where they’ll host the Army Black Knights for a noon game. Afterward, I’ll head one hour south to Florida International University as they take on Central Michigan University in a 6:00 PM evening game. FIU will be a new stadium for me, and I’m looking forward to the experience.
Happy tailgating!
Awesome blog Danny. I agree with your Bieber Award selection. What were they thinking??
ReplyDeleteI think that was the issue, they just weren't thinking!
ReplyDeleteI think they were trying mimic the CU field house. Unfortunately, Igor the architect was raised in the Eastern Bloc.
ReplyDelete