Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Brady Quinn and Jeff Samardzija added another chapter to Notre Dame's storied history. This great finish kept alive the Bowl Championship Series hopes of the 10th-ranked Fighting Irish.
Quinn, under pressure all day by a relentless UCLA defense, completed three straight passes in the final 62 seconds, capped by a 45-yard TD pass to Samardzija, to lead the Irish to a 20-17 come-from-behind victory over the Bruins on Saturday. The victory was the third time the Irish (6-1) won with a touchdown in the final 30 seconds. In 1992, Rick Mirer threw a four-yard TD pass to Detroit native Jerome Bettis and a two-point conversion with 20 seconds left for a 17-16 victory over Penn State in snowy conditions.
Despite the fact the Irish didn't play well until the end, coach Charlie Weis was happy.
"I'm not going to feel miserable about this win, I promise you," Weis said. "You want to be miserable, fine. I'm going to be happy."
Coaching advice
What encouraging words did Texas coach Mack Brown give sophomore walk-on kicker Ryan Bailey before he nailed the winning kick against Nebraska?
"You're the luckiest guy in the world," Brown told Bailey. "You've got a chance to be Dusty Magnum on your first kick."
In case you forgot, Magnum kicked the winning field goal against Michigan in the Rose Bowl in 2005.
Close call
Looks like the Miami Hurricanes haven't put last week's brawl against Florida International behind them. The Hurricanes needed a last-second interception at the goal line to stop Duke, 20-15. Yes, we're talking about football, not hoops.
The Hurricanes, the most-penalized team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, were flagged 12 times for 120 yards. "We definitely had the refs against us. I think that was pretty evident," Miami QB Kyle Wright said.
Things have gotten so bad in Miami that the 'Canes are blaming the refs for a close call with 0-7 Duke.
Appropriate attire
After his Cardinals defeated Syracuse, Louisville running back Kolby Smith sported a T-shirt that had the word "Gamebreaker" printed on the back.
Smith rushed for a career-high 165 yards and two touchdowns, the second on a 31-yard run with less than two minutes left that iced the game.
Heisman watch
• Troy Smith (Ohio State, QB, Sr.): Smith continued his assault on the Big Ten, tossing four touchdown passes. The numbers (21 TDs, 2 INTs), the team ranking (No. 1) and the highlights have the Buckeyes' leader in firm control of the Heisman race.
• Steve Slaton (West Virginia, RB, So.): Slaton continues to put up nice numbers, racking up 128 yards and a touchdown in a win over Connecticut on Friday. However, sharing the backfield with a running quarterback (Pat White) and age biases (voters usually vote for upperclassmen) should keep Slaton from winning.
• Brady Quinn (Notre Dame, QB, Sr.): Quinn threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns, including the winning TD with 27 seconds left, to beat UCLA. The numbers are there (1,938 yards, 18 TDs and just four INTs), and so is the hype that comes with quarterbacking at Notre Dame.
• Garrett Wolfe (Northern Illinois, RB, Sr.): He probably cost himself a realistic shot at the Heisman, gaining 56 yards on 17 carries against Temple. Wolfe needed a big day to keep people interested in a MAC candidate.
• Michael Hart (Michigan, RB, Jr.): Hart delivered a huge second half (99 yards and two touchdowns) to keep Michigan undefeated. With 1,032 rushing yards and eight TDs for a national title contender, Hart is worthy of Heisman talk.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061022/SPORTS06/610220646/1054&template=printart
Quinn, under pressure all day by a relentless UCLA defense, completed three straight passes in the final 62 seconds, capped by a 45-yard TD pass to Samardzija, to lead the Irish to a 20-17 come-from-behind victory over the Bruins on Saturday. The victory was the third time the Irish (6-1) won with a touchdown in the final 30 seconds. In 1992, Rick Mirer threw a four-yard TD pass to Detroit native Jerome Bettis and a two-point conversion with 20 seconds left for a 17-16 victory over Penn State in snowy conditions.
Despite the fact the Irish didn't play well until the end, coach Charlie Weis was happy.
"I'm not going to feel miserable about this win, I promise you," Weis said. "You want to be miserable, fine. I'm going to be happy."
Coaching advice
What encouraging words did Texas coach Mack Brown give sophomore walk-on kicker Ryan Bailey before he nailed the winning kick against Nebraska?
"You're the luckiest guy in the world," Brown told Bailey. "You've got a chance to be Dusty Magnum on your first kick."
In case you forgot, Magnum kicked the winning field goal against Michigan in the Rose Bowl in 2005.
Close call
Looks like the Miami Hurricanes haven't put last week's brawl against Florida International behind them. The Hurricanes needed a last-second interception at the goal line to stop Duke, 20-15. Yes, we're talking about football, not hoops.
The Hurricanes, the most-penalized team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, were flagged 12 times for 120 yards. "We definitely had the refs against us. I think that was pretty evident," Miami QB Kyle Wright said.
Things have gotten so bad in Miami that the 'Canes are blaming the refs for a close call with 0-7 Duke.
Appropriate attire
After his Cardinals defeated Syracuse, Louisville running back Kolby Smith sported a T-shirt that had the word "Gamebreaker" printed on the back.
Smith rushed for a career-high 165 yards and two touchdowns, the second on a 31-yard run with less than two minutes left that iced the game.
Heisman watch
• Troy Smith (Ohio State, QB, Sr.): Smith continued his assault on the Big Ten, tossing four touchdown passes. The numbers (21 TDs, 2 INTs), the team ranking (No. 1) and the highlights have the Buckeyes' leader in firm control of the Heisman race.
• Steve Slaton (West Virginia, RB, So.): Slaton continues to put up nice numbers, racking up 128 yards and a touchdown in a win over Connecticut on Friday. However, sharing the backfield with a running quarterback (Pat White) and age biases (voters usually vote for upperclassmen) should keep Slaton from winning.
• Brady Quinn (Notre Dame, QB, Sr.): Quinn threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns, including the winning TD with 27 seconds left, to beat UCLA. The numbers are there (1,938 yards, 18 TDs and just four INTs), and so is the hype that comes with quarterbacking at Notre Dame.
• Garrett Wolfe (Northern Illinois, RB, Sr.): He probably cost himself a realistic shot at the Heisman, gaining 56 yards on 17 carries against Temple. Wolfe needed a big day to keep people interested in a MAC candidate.
• Michael Hart (Michigan, RB, Jr.): Hart delivered a huge second half (99 yards and two touchdowns) to keep Michigan undefeated. With 1,032 rushing yards and eight TDs for a national title contender, Hart is worthy of Heisman talk.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061022/SPORTS06/610220646/1054&template=printart