First impressions of college football 2009

An enjoyable first weekend of college football is almost done (OK there are two games today)

Impressive wins
Alabama over Virginia Tech
Baylor at Wake Forest
Oklahoma State over Georgia
William and Mary at Virginia

Margins of victory I didn't see coming
Mizzou pounding illinois
Purdue whipping Toledo

What were the coaches thinking?
Two awful coaching decisions in the Ohio State-Navy game. Jim Tressel had a chance in the fourth quarter to take a field goal that would have put the Buckeyes up by three possessions and effectively ended the contest. Instead OSU went for it on fourth and two and took the ball out of Pryor's hands. Navy made the stop and quickly made the game VERY interesting.

Navy was impressive in getting the game back to a two point margin, wisely went for two, but then called a passing play! Navy runs a fantastic ball control triple option that gives you all kinds of choices on running plays. Why go away from your bread and butter with the game on the line?

Nice to have choices at Quarterback
Look no further than Oklahoma's new quarterback situation to understand the importance of having at least two quality options at the position. Michigan State and Michigan both have that luxury so it appears. Isn't it ironic that one of the QBs-Keith Nichol of Michigan State-is the guy that Bradford narrowly beat out for the OU starting gig two years ago? Oklahoma would certainly be 1 and o if Nichol was still on the team.

The don't read too much into it results
Ohio State's close victory over Navy- Navy is a solid college football program and they run a unique offense that is difficult to prepare for and defend. This game was never going to be a 20 point blowout. Next week is the true measuring stick for the Bucks.

Iowa's close shave against Northern Iowa- The Panthers were a 1-AA (I refuse to call it the silly name) semifinalist a year ago and beyond pumped for the chance they almost cashed in on at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa shoud be just fine and a blowout victory this coming weekend against Iowa State will be just what the doctor ordered.

Notre Dame's shutout of Nevada- The stats are impressive and the hype is back in South Bend, but let's wait and see how the next two weeks go before we give Jimmy Clausen the Heisman trophy.

Cause for major concern
Oregon's non existent offense
illinois' pathetic defense
Colorado's offense (Coach Hawkins- I think your guys should play intramurals brother)
Sam Bradford's injury

Worst non-calls or blown calls of the weekend (that I saw with my own eyes)
1) The missed facemask call in the NC State/South Carolina game cost the Wolfpack a real chance at pulling out the win.

2)An awful pass interference call against an Ole Miss DB who got shoved from behind by a Memphis wide receiver...

3) A missed helmet to helmet that should have been called against Colorado State when hitting a defenseless Colorado receiver. Not only was this call not made, but the hit resulted in a fumble and turnover. Hitting is a part of the game-I get it-but if this rule is a point of emphasis, get it right, and they should be able to review it...

Welcome back to college football
The Washington Huskies put up a fair fight against LSU, and it is good to see new energy in Seattle after a number of down years.

Pick 'em
I went 7-3 on my first weekend. (Losses by Oklahoma, illinois, and Wake Forest)