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The Bottom Ten/NCAA Week 12
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
The race for the coveted Bottom Ten medal stand claimed another casualty as Rice - Rice! - notched its first victory of the season, plummeting the Owls from their number two perch. They're still in the survey, of course, and with two weeks left anything could happen, except maybe a Western Kentucky victory, but a loss this late in the season is not how B-10 titles are constructed.
The pressure to get to the B-10 medal stand is so great that we've had the first coaching change as Nevada - Loss Vegas, not satisfied with only 15 wins and zero (0) B-10 medal stand appearances in five seasons, let Mike Sanford go.
This week's mess:
1. Western Kentucky (0-10; lost to UL-Monroe 21-18)
Mitigating Factors: Hilltoppers show character of B-10 champion, blowing two (2) leads in extending Nation's Longest Losing Streak (NLLS) to 18 games…WKU petitioning NCAA for moral victory designation after leading in fourth quarter for first time in 2009…WKU proving old adage that 'defense wins championships', ranking Dead Last in Scoring Defense (42.2 ppg) and Next To Dead Last in Total Defense (506.5 ypg)
North By Northwest: Due to obscure B-10 bylaw prohibiting B-10 champion from winning other B-10 awards, Western Kentucky could be ineligible for Rand McNally Trophy, given to worst Compass Point school in NCAA.
Next Loss: at Florida Atlantic
2. New Mexico (0-10; lost to BYU 24-19)
Mitigating Factors: With Rice victory and Eastern Michigan joining other MAC bottom feeders in one combined, Lobos soar into runner-up spot, standing by waiting for Western Kentucky to stumble with nation's second best 14-game losing streak…If they can lose out, Lobos can ensure third winless campaign in school history, joining revered 1987, 1968 squads.
Don't Count Your Losses Before They Hatch: With winnable game against 3-7 Colorado State this week, Lobos trying to avoid looking ahead to Bottom Ten glory with automatic, season ending loss at TCU.
Next Loss: Colorado State
3. Mid-American Conference
Mitigating Factors: Once-proud conference has three teams - Eastern Michigan, Ball State and Miami, Ohio - that are each threatening to earn B-10 medal stand honors with combined 2-29 records…Pending B-10 executive board approval, MAC will steal treasured B-10 "Conference of Champions" designation away from Sun Belt Conference, despite Sun Belt's worse .170 non-conference win percentage.
Numbers Racket: Seven (7) of 13 (13) conference teams have losing overall records, and four have two or fewer wins.
4. Washington State (1-9; lost to UCLA 43-7)
Mitigating Factors: Cougars get off to their usual quick start, getting intercepted on first three possessions of game…Offense also manages a fumble and a safety and still manages to punt six times…Cougars muster just seven (7) first downs, 76-yards rushing and are 1 for 11 on third down conversions...By avoiding winning their last two games, Cougars can finish with consecutive seasons of two or fewer wins for first time since 1969-70.
Oh, What Might Have Been: Despite win, which derailed B-10 title hopes, Cougars have lost seven (7) straight and can contend for Tostitos Plaque - issued to team with the longest losing streak in a season that actually includes a win - by losing out.
Next Loss: Oregon State
5. Rice (1-9; defeated Tulane 28-20)
Mitigating Factors: Owls, not to mention B-10 pollsters, still wondering what in the hell happened after Owls blow usually safe 14-0 deficit and earning first win of season…Owls win despite getting only 13 first downs, having the ball for only 24 minutes and going 1 for 12 on third down conversions.
When All The Laughter Died In Victory: Win completely devastating, ruining B-10 title hopes, and probably medal stand chances as well, though starting season with nine straight losses could give Owls share of Tostitos Plaque, given to team with longest losing streak in a season that actually includes a win.
Next Loss: UTEP
6. North Texas (2-8, lost to Florida International 35-28)
Mitigating Factors: Leading 28-14 at half, Not So Mean Green rebounds for strong second half, with interception, fumble and blocked punt all leading to FIU touchdowns, as UNT blows double-digit lead in a loss for fourth time in 2009…UNT benefiting from strength of schedule bonus points, as wins have come against Western Kentucky and Ball State, who are a combined 1-19 this season.
The Defense Rests: North Texas has scored at least 21 points in a game and lost six (6) times in 2009.
Next Loss: Army
7. Vanderbilt (2-9; lost to Kentucky 24-13)
Mitigating Factors: Commodores recover from 13-10 halftime lead exploding for zero (0) points, 31 yards of total offense in second half…With athletic department now being run by student affairs department, Commodores completely run aground in second half as Glee Club takes over on offense, punting on all five possessions, with four of those drives going only three play.
Return To Glory: Outlook for Commodores finishing with two or fewer wins for the 25th time in school history - and the fourth time this century - good as Vanderbilt has beaten Volunteers only twice since 1975.
Next Loss: at Tennessee
8. College of Cardinals: Notre Dame, Anna Maria College (6-13; ND: lost to Pitt 27-22; AM: DNP)
Mitigating Factors: Trailing 27-9, Irish call on Holy Spirit assistance to rally for two touchdowns against Panthers, but even Divine Intervention can't over come key, late fumble by QB Jimmy Clausen in second straight loss…First year AMCats leave lots of room for improvement, failing to pass 1,000 yard mark in both Team Rushing and Team Passing and getting outscored 169-0 in first quarter.
What The Hell's Going On Here? Eleven of 17 Irish wins last three years have come against teams that either have finished, or can finish, season with .500 or worse records.
Next Loss: ND: UConn; AM: Season over
9. Army (4-6; defeated VMI 22-17)
Mitigating Factors: Despite fourth win, Black Knights of Confusion remain ranked, getting bonus points for needing fourth quarter touchdown to beat two-win, I-AA VMI…Army wins despite giving up season's best 328 yards rushing…State supported VMI hampered by new federal legislation requiring state service academies to have pregame meal of Marlboro Lights, case of Old Milwaukee, before playing federal service academies.
And The Army Goes Rolling Along: Despite already clinching Sgt. Bilko Trophy - symbolic of service academy lousiness - and beating opponents that are a combined 5-35, Army needs to lose to North Texas to have any hope of earning final B-10 ranking.
Next Loss: at North Texas
10. Michigan (5-6; lost to Wisconsin 45-24)
Mitigating Factors: Wolverines four game losing steak not too impressive, but pollsters refuse to miss out on opportunity to rank Notre Dame and Michigan in same B-10 survey…Michigan now guaranteed consecutive non-winning seasons for the first time since 1962-63…Former, now dead, coach Bo Schembechler trying to send blocking schemes to current staff from great beyond as offense manages just 71-yards rushing, averaging 2.2 yards per carry…Wolverines have lost six out of seven…
Coach, U-Haul On Line Two: Wolverines, who first played football in during the Benjamin Harrison Administration, have lost at least four straight games in consecutive seasons for the first time ever.
Next Loss: Ohio State
This Week's Clash of the Titans: Army at North Texas
These Aren't Going To Be Any Good Either: Entire MAC schedule
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