I couldn’t be happier. The rain outside around Cleveland’s a nice touch too. This morning I was entertaining the possibility of cutting the grass today, but since then mother nature’s dictated I shelf that. No problem. There’s not too many things I enjoy doing more than watching College Football all day and all night long on Saturdays. I suppose I’m a degenerate in that regard.
With the Buckeyes now looking towards week two – and The U - after thumping Marshall on Thursday, the games I will be keeping an eye on and why - through effective use of the remote control - are noted below.
3:30 Games:
UConn at Michigan (ABC): Let’s go Huskies, huh? Rich Rod has managed to get himself on the hot seat in week one this season, and that’s impressive. If he loses, his seat will be scorching, and it will be hilarious to watch the reaction from Wolverine Nation. Part of me wants to watch the train-wreck that will ensue as a result of a UConn win here. The other part wants Ole Rich to coach up north for the next decade. But even that part can’t entice me to root for Michigan in any capacity. So I won’t root, just watch. And UConn can absolutely win this game.
Purdue at Notre Dame (NBC): Interested to see the new look Brian Kelly led Irish make their debut today here in less than an hour. He came to South Bend with the expectations of improving an already efficient offense, and he’ll break in a new QB today in a quest to do just that. Dayne Crist will get the start under center for the Irish, and the two QB’s before Crist – Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen – were both NFL draft picks. No pressure kid.
Other 3:30 Games include Texas at Rice (ESPN), UCLA at Kansas State (ESPN2).
At 7:45 Oregon State is at TCU (ESPN), but the game I’ll be watching then starts 15 minutes later when the Butch Davis led UNC Tarheels - in a show me year - square off against LSU on ABC at 8pm.
I’m rooting for Butch in this one. I’m not really mad at him for anything Browns related, and I’d be glad to see an SEC team who beat the Bucks once upon a time go down here. An interesting note on this one is that if things do start off and continue to go badly for Les Miles – and Rich Rod – it could be Miles on the sidelines next season for the school in Ann Arbor.
10 pm game:
Cincinnati at Fresno State (ESPN2): I’ll be watching this one as long as I a.) don’t fall asleep at halftime, or, b.) go out anywhere tonight. Don’t think I’m heading out tonight and I am anxious to see Cincy in year one of the Butch Jones era. They went from a program that seemed poised to make a run at becoming a perennial power to now a team the nation has seemingly forgotten about with the departure of Kelly. I gotta think they still have some horses though, and it’ll be interesting to see how they do tonight against a Fresno State team that is always tough.
Around Ohio…besides the Bucks (and Cincy):
Miami (Ohio) vs. Florida: This game is in progress at the time of this post with a score of 27-12 Gators in the fourth quarter. I know Tebow’s gone, but Florida is still ranked #4 in the country. Respectable showing by the Redhawks today. Fact is, if they cashed in a couple of those FG’s for six it could’ve been real interesting.
Akron: The Zips will square off against the Syracuse Orangemen, sans Greg Paulus, to open InfoCision Stadium at 6pm today. I’d watch it, and the game will be televised on ESPN 3 (Micheal Reghi and Jerod Cherry on the call) however I don’t have ESPN 3.
Syracuse won last season when the two teams met 28-14, and Akron won in 2008. Its the first time the Cuse have been to the AKR, and good for Akron to have a Big East team who they should be able to compete with open up they’re new stadium.
Willoughby South grad Patrick Nicely will get the start under center for the Zips, and the sophomore will try to build on a freshman season that saw him throw for 1,349 yards and 6 TD’s.
Toledo: The Rockets were able to get Arizona to play them at home to open their season last night, and they were able to fill the stands with almost 26,000 people. Bad news is they got smashed 41-2. Rough start.
Kent State: Opened season with a 41-10 win over Murray State on Thursday. Spencer Keith threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Golden Flashes to the win.
Ohio U: Opens against Wofford tonight at 7pm. The game is in Athens.
