SAN ANTONIO — What do we know after the first full week of college football? Well, we know that Florida State has massive issues.
But enough about that... this is the Great State of Texas!
Let’s start with the hometown UTSA Roadrunners. And what’s that old saying? A win is a win is a win is a win is a win.
Well it certainly was over not-so-mighty Kennesaw State, whom the Roadrunners beat 28-16. Underwhelming? Yes it was, and by Head coach Jeff Traylor’s own words on Monday: "I’m glad I have a fan base that expects more."
"I’m glad I have a team that expects more," he went on to say. "I’m glad I have a coaching staff that expects more. And I think everybody knows their head coach expects more, as well."
True and honest words spoken by the man at the helm of Roadrunner football.
And now comes a South Texas September Super Bowl of sorts. The ‘Runners will make a quick trip to San Marcos this weekend to play at Texas State. And the Bobcats, well, they want this one all kinds of bad.
You know how we joked during the Spurs' Tim Duncan championship years that the Dallas Mavericks of that era were always our little brothers to the north? That’s essentially what Bobcat football has been to UTSA football in their brief rivalry history.
But new Bobcats Head coach G.J. Kinne, a Traylor protégé, will have his bunch mentally and physically ready for this one. And simply, because first and foremost: the Bobcats are better. UFCU Stadium (formerly Bobcat Stadium) should be close to if not at full capacity for the Saturday afternoon showdown. Can’t wait!
Week 1 was basically an afternoon walk in the park for the Texas Longhorns, who put a beatdown on Colorado State.
I found the first quarter broadcast in-game interview with Rams Head coach Jay Norvell somewhat amusing, because the game was still scoreless and he probably thought they were, at some measure, "in it"?
No, they weren’t; 52-0 was the final score. The ‘Horns scored three second-quarter touchdowns and led 31-0 at the half. Quinn Ewers finished 20-of-27 for 260 yards and three TD passes. The Texas rush attack piled up 190 yards even after losing their top two backs during fall camp.
Looks like those questions were answered, at least through one week. And now, as Texas often does (and give AD Chris Del Conte the credit) they’re off to play one of the big dogs: Michigan this weekend, in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines didn’t rewrite any record books in their opener against Fresno State; 30-10 was the final score at The Big House after they led only 10-3 at the half, and only 13-3 after three quarters.
But if we know anything about this type of game, one legendary program against the other, throw everything out the kitchen sink and get ready for one of the Power Five backyard brawls. Really curious to see how this one plays out.
Full disclosure that Notre Dame has one heckuva secondary, and a great defense overall. But in the house that Johnny Manziel... well, maybe not built, but recently upgraded with star power, it was again the quarterback play that the Aggies didn’t have to try and challenge the Irish late at Kyle Field in Mike Elko’s Aggieland head coaching debut.
I heard ESPN analyst Louis Riddick say Monday night after the BC-Florida State game that he was in College Station last season and asked him, after looking at Aggies football on the field: How do these guys lose with every play looking like prototypical NFL players? Well, that’s where Elko’s coaching might pay the dividends that Jimbo Fisher could not.
Where has that guy been by the way? Laying very low apparently. But when you get paid that kind of cash to not coach, I’d lay low and enjoy the good life, too.
The Aggies have an opportunity to now win maybe three straight. Home games with McNeese and Bowling Green bookend an SEC road game at Florida. The Gators looked terrible in their season opener against the Miami Hurricanes, and might just be a disaster in progress, but we’ll see in the next few weeks how bad they are or better they can be.
Elsewhere around the Big 12, it was a nice 34-27 road win for TCU at Stanford late Saturday night. Baylor performed as expected, beating Tarleton State, 45-3. And those Houston Cougars... oh boy, what an embarrassing home loss to UNLV, by 20. UH fans are already screaming for basketball season.
Can’t blame them for that.
