Check out this run, simply incredible. This kid gets better every game:


Yikes. Not even a facemask will stop 24K.

After the run, ESPN commentator says,

"Let me tell you something.. You are witnessing one of next years Heisman frontrunners early. Right now. He's auditioning. All he's got to do is come back to the University of Central Florida, UCF, and he's going to be on everybody's Heisman list. There's no way you can deny that young man of that."

I can't describe what's taking place out in East Orlando. I know I keep writing about it, but man.. The Texas game was fun, but you could tell there wasn't that sense of ownership fans have over an on campus stadium. Each week the game day experience has gotten better and better. This past Saturday was the first game where the atmosphere truly eclipsed most other college games that I've attended. And I mean that as in, anywhere. Not just UCF. There's something to loading up 44,000+ in a giant steel drum that bounces and sways in response to crowd participation. It's like watching a game in RFK up in DC, only without the risk of hepatitis and a stolen wallet. When the school gets around to adding another 20,000 seats to that place, it's going to be simply incredible. Very good things in UCF's future.

As far as the BCS debacle, well.. Told ya so, as did just about every other big football fan this year. All I can hope for is that this brings about a +1 system. I see that as at least a step towards a real life playoff. There are 7 teams right now that could make a reasonable argument for being in the NC game. Playoffs would give them all a chance (I see 8 as the magic number using rankings, 16 if a selection committee/conference champions are used). Playoffs work for every other level of football, and it'd be no different for D1a. In fact, it'd probably turn into the craziest sporting event of the year and generate more money than anything currently possible under the current bowl structure. More excitement, more money and a true national championship. Stop stalling, already.

Speaking of bowls, and back to UCF, we purchased our liberty bowl tickets and will be attending the game in Memphis, TN on December 29th against Mississippi State. If you're looking to attend, I'd buy tickets ASAP through UCF's ticket office -- 407-823-1000. MSU has reportedly sold 13,000 tickets in just under a day.

Go knights.

Thank you Marshall.

The Herds win over ECU puts UCF in the drivers seat for C-USA. *If* we can win out, we'll be hosting the C-USA championship game here in Orlando, FL at the brand new Brighthouse Networks Stadium. What a crazy way to open up the new facilities.

It's also Nov. 14th, a very emotional day for Marshall. Say a prayer for `em.

Kevin Smith is about to top 2,000 yards on the season rushing. He'll be only the 11th person to do so in college football history, and the first in the State of Florida (ever). With all the talk of McFadden, 24k has done this relatively under the radar while facing better rushing defenses (look it up, I'm not kidding or exaggerating). It's likely Kevin goes pro after this season. Take advantage of him being in Orlando and go check him out at the UTEP game Nov. 24th, or god willing, at the C-USA champ game (noon game, dec 1st I think?) Backs like this one are few and far between.

Man, yesterday was amazing. We were on campus for 12 hours tailgating and I have the sunburn to prove it. After morning mimosas with Screws and company, the parade set the stage. After the parade, there was a basketball game, then I believe a soccer game (that I didn't see), and then the marshall game. To have it all on UCF's campus, all on the north side that didn't even exist 3 years ago, was simply incredible. The administration over in east orlando has done a hell of a job, and the Knights are bowl eligible (6-3). Keep it up.

I've avoided saying much about USF since they dismantled UCF four weeks back. At three losses in a row though, I'm required. What the hell, bulls? At first, I was impressed with USF's almost-comeback last night. Then, I started reading things the fans are saying about the game. USF fans managed to piss off the entire nation with their arrogance while winning, and now they're pissing off everyone with their poor sportsmanship after losing. Learn to win, learn to lose. Can't say it's completely unexpected when The Jim is in charge over there though. Jim Leavitt has officially come off the hinges after swallowing his face with his lower lip against Rutgers. Last night, his team had 8 turnovers, the players ran out on to the field to cuss out the refs and his own players started fighting with each other on the sideline. Afterwards, he had the audacity to pin things on a possible blown call. Not to mention cry. You heard me. The man cried. At least he showed up to talk with the media this time (Which, you know, is his job, and one that he and his players have a reputation for not doing. That's going to hurt grothe's heisman hopes way more than his 4 picks.)

USF is a team that has two convincing wins this year -- UNC and UCF. Every other game has been questionable calls and turnovers. Basic statistics tells you that its going to balance out, and thats exactly whats happening. Bad calls go both ways. When you peak under the covers of the program itself, The Jim has a roster of 50% NCAA special exceptions (according to ESPN's outside the lines. It means it took lawyers to get them into school, and that Saban was right.), with most of the players being two and three star talent. That's not a likely formula to win the Big East, let alone a National Championship. What it will do though is make a competitive program with tons of off the field issues. Either you survive it and start recruiting legit kids, or it implodes and gets everyone fired. The jury is still out on what the outcome will be right now. And yeah, I get it. I'm a UCF fan. It must be jealousy. The kicker, of course, is that the entire sports world is now arriving at similar conclusions. I guess jealousy runs rampant. Stay classy, Tampa.

Ohio State over Wisconsin. I know everyone's doubting the big 10 (with reason), but OSU looks stronger each week. The biggest rivalry in the college game looms big. Michigan has been playing the way everyone expected them to play pre-app state implosion, and I believe they're playing up in the big house. Michigan had a hell of a rally yesterday over Michigan State.

Tough loss for ASU, but Oregon looks good. Real good. If I had a ballot, they'd pass LSU this week. LSU continues to play risky, and I'm wondering when it's going to bite them. And no, I don't believe that its because the SEC is "just that good." Not this year, friends.

NC State beat Miami.. you know what that means..... go knights!

FSU beat Boston College. I was disappointed to see their streak come to a close, but can't say that I was terribly surprised. BC's team GPA is just way to high... ;)

UConn beat Rutgers. I really though Rutgers would pull this one off. It's good to see a cinderella team still alive though.

And is it time to put Kansas in the top 5 yet?

Virginia Tech beats Georgia Tech while wearing GT uniforms. Well done!

ECU at Memphis next week. If Memphis can pull off the upset, UCF will be in the drivers seat for C-USA East with a shot at the Liberty Bowl. Not bad for a team that was 4-7 last year. Big win over Southern Miss tonight on the road for the knights. Tulsa last week, USM this week -- its amazing the things that can happen when you don't turn the ball over 5+ times.

Funny thing though, I believe the Papa John's Bowl is a Big East team vs. C-USA's #4 (off the top of my head). If UCF drops another game, and USF drops another game, we could be looking at a bowl matchup. I know, I know.. That'd be nuts after USF manhandled UCF for four quarters. The thing is, the Big East only has three bowl tie-ins. USF and the bowl committee might not have a ton of wiggle room. Of course, that means UCF is C-USA #4, and well, that would suck. Soo..

UF lost to UGA. Gotta love them dawgs.

Ohio State finally looked like a #1 team on the road against Penn State. Maybe, just maybe, we'll get some stability.

How about Matt Ryan? That's what I call a Heisman performance.

Arizona State over Cal, but it's Oregon who's looking like they're for real. Great match up ahead of us next week.

Man.. Best year of football ever.

ECU stomped UCF in greenville and won by two touchdowns. It wasn't quite a "rout," which was the headline the Sentinel ran with, but it certainly was convincing. UCF had 5 turnovers in the third quarter. You can't do that on the road against a team that was a popular pre-season pick to win our division (along with USM). It's easy to look at ECU's record and write them off, but with injuries and suspensions, last night was the first real game they've had with close to everyone on the field. My guess is ECU wins out. For our sake, let's hope they lose one more and we find a way to win the rest of our conference games. My expectation for UCF at the beginning of the season was to be bowl eligible. I stand by that. Three more wins knights, four for good measure.

You know who else had 5 turnovers? USC. All is right in the world when the media darling finally drops a game. To Stanford no less. Prior to the game, Jim Harbaugh, the coach for Stanford, called this year's USC the greatest college football team of all time. Stupid fantasy time zone and their cute little conference. Maybe they've been sleeping through noon kickoffs.

Cal on the other hand, might be the real deal. After the shakeups yesterday (when they had a bye week), where do you put them? #2, #3? #1 is obvious, of course. Good teams find ways to win, and LSU did that over a young gator team. The question there is what to do with UF. Do you keep a 2 loss gator team in the top 10? Being that they were already #9, I'd say that's a giant negative. Certainly top 15 though. At least until the South Carolina game.

Ohio State over Purdue. Finally, normalcy in college football.

Illinois over Wisconsin. Sorry Greg. That Ron Zook sure can coach, though.

Did anyone actually watch the USF game? I highly doubt it and I bet the polls will reflect it. FAU had the game in hand until a couple of Big East ref's blew a call on a fumble recovery. FAU punts the ball, two USF players run into each other and fumble. FAU recovers right outside the endzone, Big Easy ref's call interference on FAU. ESPNU announcers, who I believe were borrowed from the local high school press box, acknowledge the error and then immediately go back to blowing smoke up USF's ass. Sooner or later, someone's going to expose this team. For the Big East's sake, they better hope it's not in a bowl game blowout.

Rice over Southern Miss. Memphis over Marshall. Utah over Louisville (hah!). Tennessee over the Dawgs. OK over Texas. Kansas over Kansas State. South Carolina over Kentucky. Maryland over Ga. Tech (go terps).

I'm not a big ND fan. Actually, I despise ND. Talking National Championships, when was the last time ND was relevant? Yet every year, sports writers from around the nation talk about how ND is back and whatever other nonsense they can dream up. ND is now 0-4. "Rah! Rah! For Notre Dame," indeed. Someone yesterday told me that Touchdown Jesus has been renamed to Field Goal Jesus. I guess you have take what you can get...

What happens when a top 10 offense and a bottom 10 defense clash against one of the worst teams in the country? Louisville loses to Syracuse in a squeaker.

How `bout them bulls? USF is another team that I don't care much for, but they sure did throttle UNC. I don't think USF has beaten anyone ranked above #50 by Sagarin yet this year though. Lots of folks are questioning their top 25 ranking, wondering if it really is deserved. I actually think that it is. Grothe is simply incredible and Mike Ford has shown tons of potential. Next week against WV should be a great game.

Miami walked all over Texas A&M. Makes you wonder if OK is just that good, or if A&M was just that overrated. Kyle Wright is playing the way he knows how, so Miami may be on the verge of getting their act together. Randy Shannon is going to get them turned around in a hurry.

Speaking of Oklahoma. My god. That is all.

Florida showed some vulnerability against Ole' Miss. Either that, or they simply started to fall asleep in the third. I didn't see the game, but looking at the box score, that's probably about right.

I know some folks who were big on Alabama's team this year. I'm just not buying it and think it's another case of a storied program everyone wants to return to the prime time, but isn't quite there yet. Losing to UGA makes me feel a tad bit vindicated in that assessment. I wouldn't be surprised if they finish with 4, maybe 5 loses this year. A winning year, and something to be proud of, but certainly not the Alabama of old. We'll see.

And finally, UCF. Yesterday was a tremendous day out in east Orlando. Every kink that I noticed with the stadium against Texas was rectified. Water aplenty, perfect traffic flow, polite fans and most importantly, a big win. UCF has a long way to go until they're in the national limelight, but I'll tell ya, George O'leary is building the program up right over there. The foundation they've laid looks to be really strong. As far as the team, Kevin Smith broke 100 yards rushing in the 2nd quarter, and then pretty much sat the rest of the way. It was 42-0 by halftime. JuCo transfer and backup quarterback Mike Greco played for the first time in the 2nd. 11 for 12, 151 yards, 77 yards rushing on 10 carries. All he was missing was a jump-shot pass into the end zone. I like this guy, and I really like the idea of teams having to prepare for both Greco and Israel. Bring on the dual-qb threat, and bring on Week Five football!