As mentioned in last week’s recap, I took this weekend off from attending a live game and tailgate. That didn’t stop me from getting into the festivities along 30A on the Redneck Riviera. With Mrs. Tailgate and #3, we hit the beach and stumbled into various establishments along 30A throughout the weekend to enjoy oysters, gumbo, libations, and of course college football. We wrapped things up with chow and suds back at the the billet on the bayou while watching the top games on TV.
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| Watching the Notre Dame game on my phone at the beach! |
Around the Country
Big Ten
Oregon vs. Penn State turned out to be a much better game than it looked for three quarters. In a whiteout at Happy Valley, the Ducks owned the Lions early, only to let their lead disappear and find themselves in overtime. The Ducks scored first in OT, and PSU QB1 Drew Allar also threw the ball to a Duck when it was his turn. Final score: Ducks 30, Nittany Lions 24.
Lincoln Riley continues to prove he is, in fact, one of the all-time “fool’s gold” hires in college football. Lincoln once again couldn’t beat a ranked team, as his Trojans lost in Champaign to the Fighting Illini and their head coach Curly Howard of Three Stooges fame.
Alabama still lives rent-free in Kirby Smart’s oversized head. As much success as he’s had at Georgia, it has not been at the expense of Bama. In a heavyweight slugfest between the hedges in Athens, Alabama once again got the best of Kirby and the Dawgs, winning 24–21. Kirby is now 1–7 against Alabama as Georgia’s head ball coach.
Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin and the Rebs knocked off Brian Kelly and his LSU Tigers in Oxford, 24–19. The bigger drama? Lane’s daughter is dating Whit Weeks, LSU’s star linebacker. Whit literally left it all out on the field Saturday.
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| Leaving all out on the field! |
Big 12
On Friday night in Tempe, the ASU Sun Devils squeaked past TCU 27–24. QB Sam Leavitt led the Sun Devils with 291 yards and two TDs. In Ames Iowa, Iowa state throttled UofA 39-14.
Upset of the Week
In Charlottesville,VA, the Wahoos knocked off 4th-ranked Florida State in a massive upset. It took two overtimes, but Virginia prevailed 46–38. Thousands of students stormed the field after the final whistle in celebration. Thee scenes are what make college football special.
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| They're streaking through the quad! |
Others
Notre Dame’s offense finally showed what it’s capable of, annihilating the Razorbacks in Fayetteville 56–13. Unfortunately, the loss cost Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman his job, as he was fired Sunday morning.
Current Group of Five front-runner Memphis traveled to Boca Raton and kicked the hoot out of the Owls, 55–25.
Bieber Award
This week’s Bieber Award goes to the institution of Oklahoma State University. Fittingly, it happens to be the alma mater of both my wife and father-in-law.
The reason for this dubious honor: the unceremonious firing of Mike Gundy. Gundy has been Oklahoma State’s head coach for over 20 years, after previously serving as an assistant—and before that, starring as QB when Mrs. Tailgate was matriculating in Stillwater. He has given more than two-thirds of his life to the school. Oh, and he’s also the winningest coach in OSU history, the man who kept the Cowboys relevant despite never having the recruiting clout of Oklahoma or Texas.
Granted, this year wasn’t off to a stellar start for the pokes. But for someone who gave so much of his life to the school, the right thing would have been to let him finish the season, then mutually part ways—maybe even offering him a role in the athletic department. Instead, the administration tossed him aside like yesterday’s news after week 4.
Gundy added plenty of trophies to the case in Stillwater by winning numerous bowl games. The one he didn’t win? The Bieber Trophy. That honor now goes to the Oklahoma State University administration. So enjoy your new hardware—and make sure you own it.
No Ginger Award This Week - need you three readers to send me worthy candidates.
I’ll be traveling back to my alma mater for Homecoming Weekend. The mighty Bobcats of Frostburg State, after winning their fourth game this weekend, will be gunning for their fifth straight victory as they take on Concord University.
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