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1. A mighty Duck
After a few hours of trick-or-treating, we sat down and watched a bunch of guys masquerading as Pete Carroll’s vaunted Trojans last Saturday as they were torn apart by Oregon, 47-20. But the really scary sight was Jeremiah Masoli. Scary good, that is. The Ducks quarterback runs an offense based on speed and deception. The 5-foot-11-inch, 220-pound Masoli (he looks like a sawed-off linebacker) is a master at faking handoffs and pump-faking throws before taking off himself or delivering tight spirals. Masoli completed 19 of 31 passes for 222 yards and a score, and rushed for another 164 yards and a touchdown against Southern Cal. The scariest thing? Oregon coach Chip Kelly says his offense runs slower in games than it does in practice.2. Step right up
Interesting story in the Idaho Statesman this week. It seems Boise State is having a little trouble finding opponents. The school best known for its blue turf and its slaying of football Goliaths has the big boys running scared. According to Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson, Boise State has been turned down by at least 10 major schools as it tries to fill out its 2011 schedule. The Broncos aren’t even asking for a home-and-home; they’re willing to travel without asking the opponent to come to Idaho the following season. It’s time for somebody to step up. Perhaps some BCS school (Florida and Boston College, are you listening?) can stop scheduling early-season cupcakes and invite the Broncos.3. Carry on, Navy
The annual Navy-Notre Dame game will give many fans their first look at the Midshipmen’s triple-option offense. Coach Ken Niumatalolo makes no bones that his team will run the ball on first down, second down, and third down. In fact, Navy (6-3) upset Wake Forest last month without attempting a single pass. Leading the offense, which has seven players with at least 100 yards rushing, is quarterback Ricky Dobbs, who missed the Wake Forest game with a knee injury. He has a team-high 170 carries for 584 yards and 16 TDs. Vince Murray has 135 carries for 638 yards. Marcus Curry (393 yards) and Alexander Teich (266) also can push the pile.4. Knowing their limits
Apparently, Rich Rodriguez’s Wolverines haven’t practiced enough. What a roller coaster ride it’s been in Michigan this season. The Wolverines opened the season under a dark cloud after several current and former players complained that coaches exceeded time limits on practices and workouts. Rodriguez denied the claims and rallied his team, which stormed out of the gates with four straight wins. The euphoria has given way to desperation because Michigan has lost four of five (the win was a 63-6 blowout of Delaware State). The latest blow was a 38-13 pounding at Illinois last week. The Wolverines need one win to become bowl-eligible, but it won’t be easy as the final three games are against Purdue, Wisconsin, and Ohio State.
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