Campus Heroes [Week 8]
Anyone want to stay at #1? Alabama? No. Oklahoma? No. Well, now the Auburn Tigers have a shot to maybe stay atop for more than one week. A few upsets here and there, AP and BCS Polls don't match much, and one player made his name known throughout the college football world. There were a lot of great team efforts that out shinned some individuals performances. So, lets get on to this week's Campus Heroes (and of course Campus Zeros to follow shortly after.)
Campus Hereos
5. Syracuse Orange D/ST: The offense... nothing to write home about, in fact some stats looked like they were taken from just the first quarter. But, it doesn't matter because the Orange's D and special teams were enough to knockoff then #20 West Virginia. On defense, there was constant pressure on the QB which ended in five sacks and three interceptions! AND on special teams Syracuse PK, Ross Krautman, hit all four field goals and punter, Rob Long (yes, that's his real name), averaged a astounding 51 yards-per-punt and pinned the Mountaineers inside their 20 twice. Most astounding? Syracuse got votes in both the AP and USA Today FOOTBALL, not basketball, FOOTBALL polls!
4. TCU Horned Frogs RB, Ed Wesley: The Frogs ran all over the once ranked Air Force Fighting Falcons for 377 yards on the ground. 209 of those yards were complements of sophomore running back Ed Wesley. Averaging a mind blowing 7.5ypc Wesley was a big part in the 38-7 thumping on Air Force. Almost more impressively, TCU QB Andy Dalton had the longest run on the day for 47yds. Either way, this TCU team can adjust to whomever they are playing, they can either load up in heavy formations and run, run, run or let Andy Dalton pick apart a team's secondary.
3. Iowa State Cyclones D/ST: Another great team effort here! I have two questions... why was Texas ranked again? And why are Iowa State the Cyclones but they have a cardinal on their helmet? I digress, Texas was at home looking to get their season back on track back the Cyclones/Cardinals would have NO part in that as their defense smothered the Longhorns' offense. They tallied five tackles for loss, four sacks, 3 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery... unreal. And for the last time ever you will see the Godfather of Sports give props to punters twice in one blog... but (yes, this to is his real name) Kirby Van Der Kamp had nine punts averaging 46.6 yards-per-punt BUT more importantly had Texas start behind their 20yd line four times.
2. Missouri Tigers Off/Def/ST/Coaching: It would have been easy for me to give the #2 slot to a receiver or QB Blaine Gabbert but this week was a great week for combined team efforts! On the offensive side WR Jerrell Jackson stood out in this game snagging nine receptions for 139yds and 1TD. On the defensive side DE/LB Aldon Smith had big time 58yd interception return that set up an eventual 1-yard touchdown scamper by RB De'Vion Moore. Special teams stud was Gahn McGaffie who took the opening kickoff for a 85yd touchdown, what a way to start the game! Finally, great college teams have to have a great head coach and Gary Pinkel is one of the best. His Tigers' amazing effort beating #1 Oklahoma reflects upon him and his coaching abilities.
1. Auburn Tigers' QB, Cameron Newton: Even during a week of great team efforts Newton's individual achievements put him a notch above the rest. This is Newton's third appearance at #1 in Campus Heroes and was my pre-season pick for Heisman. Really, he was more like a running back in Auburn's 24-17 win over LSU as he ran for 218yds and 2TD. This guy is the real deal, and if his Tigers keep playing like this around him they will be a hard team to stop. And no small feat as his running back Michael Dyer ran for 100yds on his own... the Tigers ended 440 rushing yards!
Honorable Mentions:
Georgia RB, Washaun Ealey: 28car, 157yds, 5TD, 5.6ypc (44-31 W)
Baylor QB, Robert Griffin III: 26/38, 404yds, 4TD, 1INT (47-42 W)
Western Michigan QB, Alex Carder: 17/24, 372yds, 5TD (55-10 W)
Western Michigan WR, Juan Nunez: 6rec, 192yds, 3TD (55-10 W)
South Florida QB, B.J. Daniels: 13/16, 286yds, 2TD, 9car, 35yds, 2TD (38-30 W)
Campus Hereos
5. Syracuse Orange D/ST: The offense... nothing to write home about, in fact some stats looked like they were taken from just the first quarter. But, it doesn't matter because the Orange's D and special teams were enough to knockoff then #20 West Virginia. On defense, there was constant pressure on the QB which ended in five sacks and three interceptions! AND on special teams Syracuse PK, Ross Krautman, hit all four field goals and punter, Rob Long (yes, that's his real name), averaged a astounding 51 yards-per-punt and pinned the Mountaineers inside their 20 twice. Most astounding? Syracuse got votes in both the AP and USA Today FOOTBALL, not basketball, FOOTBALL polls!
4. TCU Horned Frogs RB, Ed Wesley: The Frogs ran all over the once ranked Air Force Fighting Falcons for 377 yards on the ground. 209 of those yards were complements of sophomore running back Ed Wesley. Averaging a mind blowing 7.5ypc Wesley was a big part in the 38-7 thumping on Air Force. Almost more impressively, TCU QB Andy Dalton had the longest run on the day for 47yds. Either way, this TCU team can adjust to whomever they are playing, they can either load up in heavy formations and run, run, run or let Andy Dalton pick apart a team's secondary.
3. Iowa State Cyclones D/ST: Another great team effort here! I have two questions... why was Texas ranked again? And why are Iowa State the Cyclones but they have a cardinal on their helmet? I digress, Texas was at home looking to get their season back on track back the Cyclones/Cardinals would have NO part in that as their defense smothered the Longhorns' offense. They tallied five tackles for loss, four sacks, 3 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery... unreal. And for the last time ever you will see the Godfather of Sports give props to punters twice in one blog... but (yes, this to is his real name) Kirby Van Der Kamp had nine punts averaging 46.6 yards-per-punt BUT more importantly had Texas start behind their 20yd line four times.
2. Missouri Tigers Off/Def/ST/Coaching: It would have been easy for me to give the #2 slot to a receiver or QB Blaine Gabbert but this week was a great week for combined team efforts! On the offensive side WR Jerrell Jackson stood out in this game snagging nine receptions for 139yds and 1TD. On the defensive side DE/LB Aldon Smith had big time 58yd interception return that set up an eventual 1-yard touchdown scamper by RB De'Vion Moore. Special teams stud was Gahn McGaffie who took the opening kickoff for a 85yd touchdown, what a way to start the game! Finally, great college teams have to have a great head coach and Gary Pinkel is one of the best. His Tigers' amazing effort beating #1 Oklahoma reflects upon him and his coaching abilities.
1. Auburn Tigers' QB, Cameron Newton: Even during a week of great team efforts Newton's individual achievements put him a notch above the rest. This is Newton's third appearance at #1 in Campus Heroes and was my pre-season pick for Heisman. Really, he was more like a running back in Auburn's 24-17 win over LSU as he ran for 218yds and 2TD. This guy is the real deal, and if his Tigers keep playing like this around him they will be a hard team to stop. And no small feat as his running back Michael Dyer ran for 100yds on his own... the Tigers ended 440 rushing yards!
Honorable Mentions:
Georgia RB, Washaun Ealey: 28car, 157yds, 5TD, 5.6ypc (44-31 W)
Baylor QB, Robert Griffin III: 26/38, 404yds, 4TD, 1INT (47-42 W)
Western Michigan QB, Alex Carder: 17/24, 372yds, 5TD (55-10 W)
Western Michigan WR, Juan Nunez: 6rec, 192yds, 3TD (55-10 W)
South Florida QB, B.J. Daniels: 13/16, 286yds, 2TD, 9car, 35yds, 2TD (38-30 W)
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