Let me start by saying, in terms of an absolutely wild weekend of football, college football week two was much better than week one. There were more upsets, more close calls, and more excitement. Which is why I want to focus on two games in particular: Michigan versus Army and Maryland versus Syracuse.
Army’s Last Gambit
As a fellow writer has mentioned in his article, few games are more rivalry filled, have more pomp and circumstance, and more ability to draw in a crowd than any other than the Army/Navy game near the end of the season. But when I say #7 Michigan beat Army by only a field goal in double overtime, you know something went wrong. This game showed me that the academy teams should be taken more seriously. I mean Army’s defense looked great. Forcing three turnovers in the 1st half and generally keeping Michigan’s offense in check. Michigan would not be denied however, getting three turnovers of their own to drag Army’s defense back on the field.
(Photo: John T. Greilick, Detroit News)
Here’s the Kicker
By all accounts Army should have won that game. However it was not to be. With a brand new recruit kicking for the first time EVER, from 50+ yards out, in front of a 3-star general no less! I call that pressure of the highest order. What the hell was going on in the Army camp? “Hey kid, we need you to kick this 50 yard field goal to win the game, also the general is here and if you miss, you’ll be dropped,” the coach (probably). Honestly, he didn’t do that bad of a job. He had plenty of distance missing only a few yards to the right. Now that would have been one hell of an upset! Gut wrenching.
Maryland’s Weird Domination
I have previously reported that Maryland is on warning concerning their responsibility in the death of freshman football player Jordan McNair. I thought that this was going to be a rework year for them. It seemed as though they may not be able to field a team that was worth anything due to all the chaos at the top of their organization. Man, was I wrong?! Under the new coach Michael Locksley they look like a force to be reckoned with. Scoring early and often in the 1st quarter, the Terps blew through the Oranges’ defense like the Turks did to Constantinople in 1453 (it’s history, look it up). Javon Leake (#20) and Anthony McFarland Jr. (#5) had a pair of touchdowns each, while QB Josh Jackson (#17) threw for 296 yards and 3 TDs. His only blemish was an interception.
Maryland’s Year
Could this by Maryland’s year? Could this be the year where they are finally recognized as a team that can inflict some damage? How did they beat ranked Syracuse so systematically? I have no idea. Maryland probably won’t be able to compete with the giants of college football (Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, etc.), but it is promising. For a school that’s considered as a back-water to the Big 10, Maryland has showed for the past two weeks that they will be a substantial opponent.
Let’s hope week three can live up to week two of the college football season.
