More problems in the Big 12 last week and trouble in the Big Ten West. Is a total USC implosion coming?
Dumpster Fires of the Week: Week Three
1. Texas punting
Losing by a touchdown isn’t usually worthy of a Dumpster Fire. But Charlie Strong gets a nod for the downright puzzling move of punting late in the fourth quarter while down seven.
Even though Texas was on its own 20, at best the Longhorns would have gotten the ball back with no touchdowns and less than a minute to score a touchdown. Not to mention, California had shredded the Texas defense all game. Of course, it didn’t even matter, as Cal sealed the game with a touchdown run.
As Herm Edwards would say, “You play to win the game!” Strong seemed like he was trying not to lose.
2. Oklahoma’s defense
OU got completely worked by a more talented, better prepared Ohio State team. Yet, perhaps the most puzzling issue for Sooner fans was the effectiveness of the OSU running game, especially after OU shut down Houston on the ground. The Buckeyes worked MIke Stoops’ defense play after play. If that wasn’t bad enough, Ohio St. attacked the right cornerback spot for OU for four touchdowns against three different CBs.
The Norman Regional Med Center burn unit had to have been running out of beds.
3. Iowa’s athletic department
Seriously, whose idea was it to schedule a game against North Dakota State? We know athletic director Gary Barta doesn’t have it out for Kirk Ferentz – he just signed the Iowa coach to a contract extension.
Predictably, the Bison showed up in Iowa City and did what they do: play excellent football on both sides of the ball and pull off an upset. Power 5 ADs, just stop the madness.
4. Illinois
New coach, same result. The Lovie Smith era is starting to look like the Illinois football that Dumpster Fire fans recognize.
Western Michigan continued its dominance over the Big Ten by smashing the Fighting Ilini in Champaign.
It could be worse, Lovie. You could still be coaching the Bears.
5. USC’s terrible start
You can add USC to the list of powerhouse programs struggling in 2016, along with Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Ole Miss. Unlike the other three, the Trojans might be heading for a total implosion.
USC looked lost against and Alabama, then quit. Against Stanford, USC got smashed again by the more physical Cardinal. This time, it sure looked like the Men of Troy quit from the opening kickoff.
Elite recruits are leaving the program. Rumors are getting increasingly bizarre. I’m not sure Clay Helton is going to survive year one.
Maybe changing to Helton’s favored QB will jump start the Trojans’ season.
-Atlantasooner