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The best quotes I heard from Florida fans while leaving the stadium Saturday after the game:
"Urban Meyer's got some 'splaining to do."
"(Meyer) better be crying now!"
The best quotes I heard from Tennessee fans while leaving Neyland Stadium three weeks ago:
"Of all the teams in the world to lose to ........ Spurrier!!!!"
"It's great ..... to be ........ a Vanderbilt Commodore!" (sarcasm)
"I hate Spurrier ...... AHHHHHHHH!!!!"
It has been a special year so far. Now there is only the question of settling the score with an old foe - the Clemson Tigers.
Prediction:
South Carolina 31 Clemson 30
Upon reading my prediction last week that Navy would beat Notre Dame 33-0, many people thought I had finally gone off the deep end. In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that my capacity to think objectively about the game was hindered by the fact that my dad is actually a coach for the Navy football team.
As a die-hard Navy football fan, the Notre Dame game looms very large on the schedule every year, and there have actually been two games in recent years, 2002 and 2003, where Navy led Notre Dame going into the fourth quarter only to lose in the final moments.
With a few close calls every once in a while, you can see how there is reason to remain optimistic even as the "winning streak" has climbed to 42 straight games.
On Sunday, I jokingly referred to one of my friends (I do have a couple), a member of the color guard, as a "band geek." I meant absolutely nothing by it, and I was only trying to be funny.
Apparently, my comment to her was taken in an offensive manner, because you see, people in the band work very hard at what they do. They put in a great deal of time and hard work, and they are often left feeling unappreciated for their efforts.
Nobody has a better understanding of the significance that a college football marching band plays in contributing to the overall atmosphere of the game than I do. The marching band, the cheerleaders, the mascots, the tailgating, the alumni, the passion - it is all of these things that makes college football so great. It is what makes college football so much more appealing than the generic NFL.
Just so that everyone out there knows how much I love the band, here are a few interesting tidbits on the history of college football marching bands:
Notre Dame has the oldest marching band that has remained in continuous existence, having formed in 1886, and it was there for the very first Irish football game in 1887.
Purdue was the first band to form a letter "P" on the field in 1907.
Illinois is believed to be the first band to spell out actual words on the field in 1910.
Texas A&M and Florida State are generally considered the schools with the largest bands, having between 410 and 450 members.
Bands can also be very funny.
In 1986, a member of the Virginia Pep Band during the Maryland game dressed up in a striped shirt with a ball and chains attached to his leg. This was to make fun of then-Maryland governor Marvin Mandel, who was under investigation for corruption and later found guilty. The Maryland state legislature actually passed a law banning the Virginia band from playing in the state. In 1991, when Virginia played Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl, the Virginia band put on a show where they mockingly killed Elvis, enraging the Vol faithful.
Stanford was banned from having its band play in Notre Dame's stadium in 1991 after one of the drum majors dressed up as a nun. Years later, two Stanford band members urinated in the corner of the field after a postgame show.
And no one will ever forget the amazing "the band is on the field" game between Cal and Stanford in 1982. After taking the lead with only seconds left, Stanford kicked off to Cal. The Stanford band ran onto the field thinking the game was over. Several laterals later, a Cal return man bowed his way through the band and into the end zone, winning the game for Cal.
If you know anyone in the band, thank them; let them know how much we appreciate their contribution in making game day as fun and exciting as it is.
This week's games:
Michigan vs. Ohio State: Rivalry weekend is here, and this epic battle will be just as intense as ever. Ohio State's offense has been coming on strong in recent weeks.
Prediction:
OSU 28 Michigan 20
Alabama vs. Auburn: Auburn is riding high after knocking off Georgia last week, while Alabama suffered its first defeat against LSU in overtime.
Prediction:
Auburn 24 Alabama 17
USC vs. Fresno State: Fresno State might be the most explosive team outside of Notre Dame that the Trojans have faced this season.
Prediction:
USC 54 Fresno State 28
Penn State vs. Michigan State: Joe Pa will wrap up the Big Ten title with a win against the Spartans.
Prediction:
Penn State 35 Michigan State 31
Last week: 3-3
Season: 35-17
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