Named Rivalry and Trophy Games: Week 7

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Trophy Games:

Old Oil Can Trophy:  Fresno State – San Diego State

Legends Trophy:  Notre Dame - Stanford

Dakota Marker:  North Dakota State – South Dakota State

Red Beans and Rice Bowl:  Central Arkansas – McNeese State

Little Brass Bell:  North Central - Wheaton

I-94 Trophy:  Wisconsin – Eau Claire – Wisconsin – Stout

Tin Cup:  Gettysburg – Muhlenberg

Rhine River Cup:  Heidelberg - Otterbein

Named Rivalry Games (some with Trophies):

Third Saturday in October:  Alabama - Tennessee

Textile Bowl and Trophy:  Clemson – NC State

Battle of I-75/The Black Swamp Showdown:  Bowling Green - Toledo

Battle for the Best City:  Houston - Tulsa

100 Miles of Hate:  Middle Tennessee – Western Kentucky

Boombox Classic:  Jackson State - Southern

Anchor-Bone Classic and Trophy:  Grand Valley State – Ferris State

Division III Attendance Record

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On Saturday,  2nd ranked University Wisconsin - Whitewater scored the go ahead touchdown with just over a minute left against 5th ranked University Wisconsin - Oshkosh before a Div. III record crowd of 17,535.  This topped the crowd that watched St. Thomas at St. John's last October by about 200.  The Warhawk victory extended their home winning streak to 28 games.

Friday Night TV Games

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Friday night is always a good night to watch some football no matter the teams…..

#3 Clemson at Boston College – 7:30 ESPN

The Tigers lead the series 14-9-2, with the first game being the 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic.  Since the Eagles  joined the ACC, the series is 7-4 in favor of Clemson, as the Tigers have won the last five meetings.

The O’Rouke-McFadden Trophy, that was initiated by the Boston College Gridiron Club, features two leather helmet replicas of those used by Charlie O’Rourke of Boston College and Banks McFadden of Clemson, when they competed against each other in the 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic

SMU at Tulsa – 8:00 ESPN2

This is the 23rd game between Tulsa and SMU with the Mustangs leading the series 13-9.  SMU won eight of the first 10 meetings, but the two squads have been evenly matched the last 12 matchups, with the Golden Hurricanes coming up victorious the last two years, including a 38-28 win the last time the teams played in Tulsa.

#19 Boise State at New Mexico – 9:00 CBSSN

Both teams are looking to move to 2-0 in Mountain conference play.  The Broncos lead the all-time series 6-1, but the Lobos did win the last meeting 31-24 in Boise, just the fourth Bronco loss in the previous 100 games at home for BSU.  That Lobo win clinched their first bowl bid under Bob Davie.

Thursday Night TV Games

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For those who need to watch football tonight:

Norfolk State at #18 North Carolina A&T - 7:30 ESPNU

The Aggies of N.C. A&T lead this series 29-11, however, the series is tied 6-6 since 2002.

Temple at Memphis - 8:00 ESPN

Last year, Memphis came to Philadelphia on a downer.  Navy had ended their 15-game winning streak, and the next week Houston snapped the Tigers' 8-game road win streak.

Western Kentucky at Louisiana Tech - 8:00 CBSSN

Prior to the game in 2014, the last game between these teams was in 1973 - the Camellia Bowl, which decided the Division II Champion.  Louisiana Tech won 34-0.

 

Named Rivalry and Trophy Games: Week 6

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Trophy Games:

O’Rourke-McFadden Trophy:  Boston College - Clemson

Florida Cup:  Florida State – Miami (FL)

Floyd of Rosedale:  Iowa - Minnesota

Purdue Cannon:  Illinois – Purdue

Sgt. York Trophy:  Austin Peay – Tennessee - Martin

Named Rivalry Games (some with Trophies):

Red River Showdown for the Golden Hat:  Oklahoma - Texas

Cascade Clash and/or Border War:  Oregon - Washington

Red River Valley Showdown:  Minnesota State-Moorhead – Minnesota-Crookston

Battle for the Peach Basket:  Valdosta State – West Georgia

Coal Bowl for the Coal Miner’s Pail Trophy:  California (PA) – Indiana (PA)

Anchor-Bone Classic and Trophy:  Grand Valley State – Ferris State

Unbelievable Finishes

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I have seen some great finishes to games, as well as amazing finishes - but now I have seen two finishes back to back that combined would have to be called unbelievable.  Florida State took a one point lead over North Carolina with :23 seconds left in the game.  UNC was able to get enough yards to attempt a field goal.  Nick Weiler, who had missed his only field goal attempt and had minutes earlier missed an extra point, converted a 54-yard field goal as time expired.  Then I switched over to CBS just in time to watch Jacob Eason drive the Bulldogs to midfield.  He then threw a 47-yard TD pass to Riley Ridley for the lead with :10, and it looked like the game was over for the Vols.  But an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, (a player took off his helmet during the celebration) that was assessed on the kickoff gave the Vols a chance to throw the ball into the endzone after a decent return.  Joshua Dobbs then heaved the ball into a crowd where Jauan Jennings leapt higher than anyone else, and he held onto the ball as he hit the ground.

If you get a chance to see a replay of these games, watch them!

Wazzou Flag

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For those of you who have noticed the Washington State flag appear on ESPN's College GameDay, you will be glad to know that it has been on every show since the 2004 season.  That is 182 straight games after last week's appearance in Knoxville.  It has been accomplished not by one person (which would be very impressive), but by many alumni and friends of the university.  Maybe it should be added to my bucket list...

 

 

 

Losing Streaks

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Two long losing streaks have already ended this year, so will we see a third one end this week?

The Cheyney Wolves won their first game of the year, snapping a 43-game losing streak against their last victim and rival, Lincoln.

Last week, the McDaniel Green Terror, of the Centennial Conference, won their first game in 23 tries thanks to a game-ending GW field goal.

Might this be the week that the Austin Peay Governors end their losing streak at 19 games?  They play Murray State, who was their last victim two years ago.  They hung tough with 13th ranked Eastern Illinois last week, so we might see a breakthrough at home versus their cross-border rival.

Thursday Night TV Games

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For those diehard fans, here are three games that could be watched tonight - and one of them isn't Miami at Cincinnati over on the NFL Network:

Hampton at North Carolina A&T - 7:30 ESPNU

The Aggies of NC A&T are ranked #23 in the FCS and they are the best team in the MEAC.  They do trail in the series to the Pirates of Hampton 26-17-2

Connecticut at Houston - 8:00 ESPN

The Cougars lost their only game last year to the Huskies in late November.  I am thinking that it won't happen in 2016...

Kansas at Texas Tech - 8:30 Fox Sports 1

The Red Raiders have owned this series, as they have won 16 of 17 overall, and 12 of 13 since the Big 12 was created in 1996.   The Jayhawks only win came in 2001.

Named Rivalry and Trophy Games: Week 5 (24 of them!)

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Trophy Games:

Commander in Chief’s Trophy:  Air Force – Navy

Governor’s Victory Bell:  Minnesota – Penn State

Old Brass Spittoon:  Indiana – Michigan State

Victory Cannon and Michigan MAC Trophy:  Central Michigan – Western Michigan

Wagon Wheel Trophy:  Akron – Kent State

Governor’s Cup:  Brown – Rhode Island

Sgt. York Trophy:  Tennessee State – Tennessee Martin

Yank Townsend Trophy:  Lehigh - Yale

Edmund Orgill Trophy:  Sewanee – Rhodes

Elm City Trophy:  New Haven – Southern Connecticut State

Heritage Bell:  Delta State – Mississippi College

Niagara Cup:  Gannon – Mercyhurst

Old Musket:  Carroll – Carthage

Traveling Trophy:  Harding – Ouachita Baptist

Wagon Wheel Trophy:  Eastern New Mexico – West Texas A&M

                       

Named Rivalry Games (some with Trophies):

Border War for The Bronze Boot:  Colorado State – Wyoming

Battle of the Bricks:  Miami (Ohio) – Ohio

Battle for the Bronze Stalk Trophy:  Northern Illinois – Ball State

Shula Bowl for the Don Shula Award:  Florida Atlantic – Florida Int’l

Battle of the Piney Woods:  Sam Houston State – Stephen F. Austin

State Fair Classic:  Grambling – Prairie View A&M

26th Street Tussle for the Key to the City:  Augustana – Sioux Falls

Battle for the Wagon/Conestoga Wagon Trophy:  Dickinson – Franklin & Marshall

Purple River Rivalry:  Minnesota State – Winona State