This Date in College Football History

Sept. 14, 1991: San Diego State freshman Marshall Faulk replaces the injured T.C. Wright, scoring seven touchdowns en route to setting a new NCAA record for rushing in a game (386 yards). Breaking future College Football Hall of Famer Anthony Thompson's record of 377 yards rushing, Faulk and the Aztecs beat the University of the Pacific 55-34.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

CFI: THIS DATE IN HISTORY

Nov. 21, 1925: Indiana and Purdue meet for the first time with the Old Oaken Bucket Trophy on the line. The 83-season tradition continues after the historic ’25 contest. The teams tie 0-0 in this contest and share the trophy six months each for the next year. It also marks the dedication of IU’s original Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

Indiana is Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 27-24 win over Purdue, the Indiana Hoosiers (7-5) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 17.
Austin Starr nailed a 49-yard field goal with 30 seconds left as the Hoosiers won the Old Oaken Bucket for just the second time in 11 seasons.

With the win, the Hoosiers are eligible for a bowl berth for the first time since 1993. Indiana was led by Marcus Thigpen, who ran for a career-high 140 yards in front of Indiana's first home sellout of the season. Among those in attendance was Jane Hoeppner, the wife of late Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner, who passed away before the season.

"Well, that was a great win for our kids," said head coach Bill Lynch. "That's a happy locker room in there right now and it's really fun to see those kids that way. You don't don't get that opportunity very often to see a locker room with kids in there crying because they are so doggone happy. That's a neat feeling."

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Nov. 17 included:

• Louisiana-Monroe (5-6): The Warhawks forced four turnovers in upsetting Alabama, 21-14, for their first win over an SEC team since 1995.

• Western Michigan (4-7): Tim Hiller threw for 367 yards and three touchdowns as the Broncos stunned Iowa, 28-19, in Iowa City.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the third season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Select members of the FWAA board of directors decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2007 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Nov. 26.

FROM THE MIDWEST: THE BIG TEN REPORT

BY MICK MILLER
BIG TEN INSIDER


“What we do in life … echoes in eternity.”

I believe I have solved the University of Michigan’s problem. Lloyd Carr needs to step down for Russell Crowe. The two met after Crowe discovered that Carr was using his film “Cinderella Man” to motivate his team. Crowe was in Baltimore doing a film and Carr asked him to come up to the game. “The Gladiator” spoke to the Wolverines prior to their game with Notre Dame and inspired them to come out and win their duel with the Fighting Irish. Next Saturday, the vicious defense of the Nittany Lions will need be slain by the Wolverines and more epic battles were fought this weekend with the true test for some the Big Ten (8-3 this week) gladiators’ upcoming next week: the conference schedule.

Michigan: Although most are relieved by the 38-0 win over the Irish (ANY win this season, and ANY over the Irish is good), you have to think that the Wolverines really kicked a worse team while they were down. With Penn State coming into the Big House next week with a stout and active defense, freshman quarterback Ryan Mallett (subbing for the injured senior Chad Henne) may wish he were watching a movie instead. Mallett threw for three touchdowns and managed the game well for his first start. Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen wishes he could have walked out of the show. The Wolverine defense pickled Clausen all day (8 sacks) long and the ineptitude of Notre Dame’s offense this season continued like a bad sequel (they have been outscored 102-13 after three games). Michigan finally wised up and hitched the chariot to halfback Mike Hart to the tune of 35 attempts and 187 yards with two touchdowns.
Up Next: While the Wolverines await the Nittany Lions and Emperor Paterno, the Irish will face the now mighty Spartans.

Michigan State: The other battle being fought in the state of Michigan was at Spartan Stadium where the Pitt Panthers invaded East Lansing. The Spartans overcame lackadaisical play with some timely turnovers by the defense to ward of true freshman halfback LeSean McCoy and his 172 yards. McCoy scored the Panthers only touchdown on the day with a 64-yard score that tied the game at seven in the first half. Safety Otis Wiley picked off a Pitt pass and tailback Jehuu Caulcrick (73 yards rushing on the day) made it pay off, scoring his seventh touchdown on the season. Halfback Javon Ringer added 95 yards rushing while Spartan corner Travis Key returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown to give MSU back the lead at 14-7, which they never relinquished. Head coach Mark Dantonio has the Spartans winning games they use to lose and winning ugly when need be.
Up Next: Michigan State travels to Notre Dame next Saturday looking to keep the luck of the Irish on its current course.

Iowa: The Hawkeyes continue to struggle with their in-state rival, Iowa State. Cyclone place kicker Bret Culbertson kicked a school-record tying five field goals, the last with one second left from 28 yards to beat Iowa in Ames. The Hawkeyes have lost seven of their last ten against Iowa State, who was 0-2 coming into the game. Iowa simply played bad on both sides of the ball with sub-par performances by their offense and defense. Bookend defensive ends Kenny Iwebema and Bryan Mattison combined for six tackles and no sacks. Running backs Damian Sims and Albert Young combined for 100 yards, but couldn’t punch it in and had a long of 17 yards between them. Quarterback Jake Christensen was 12 of 23 for a paltry 118 yards and an 11-yard bootleg touchdown run. Cyclone quarterback Bret Meyer was 21 for 29, but for not much more, 157 yards. The win was the first for Iowa State’s head coach Gene Chizik, whose team had lost to both Kent State and Northern Iowa at home.
Up Next: The Hawkeyes have little time for feeling sorry; they travel to Wisconsin next week for their Big Ten opener against the Badgers.

Penn State: The Nittany Lions started somewhat sluggish and then punched out Buffalo from the second quarter on, 45-24. Down 3-0 after the first, Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli threw for four touchdown passes through the second and third, two to Andrew Quarless (his only receptions of the game) and closed down a valiant effort by Buffalo and their quarterback Drew Willy. The Bulls’ signal caller had a big game against a good Penn State defense, going 28 for 39 and 330 yards, a touchdown and interception. The Lion offense was simply too much for Buffalo, as Morelli opened the lead and halfbacks Rodney Kinlaw (23 carries for 129 yards, touchdown) and Austin Scott (9 for 53, a 40 yard touchdown run in the fourth) took over in the run game to break the Bulls, who outscored the Lions 21-14 in the fourth quarter.
Up Next: Penn State travels to Ann Arbor for a date with Michigan to open their Big Ten slate next Saturday.

Purdue: The Boilermakers continue to blow up opponents on offense by slicing and dicing the Chippewas to a 31-0 lead at the half, and then cruised to an easy 45-22 win in West Lafayette. Halfback Kory Sheets (21 carries, career best 144 yards) unleashed on Central Michigan with two touchdowns (17 and 7) in the first quarter, which opened up the passing game for quarterback Curtis Painter. The Boilermaker touchdown-maker continued his assault on the record books with a 29 for 39, 360 yards and three touchdown passes. Purdue mixes run and pass as good as anyone in the conference right now. Depending on their opponent, they show no preference in how to attack defenses with run or pass, which they use to set up the other. The problem they have is stopping themselves with turnovers. Down early, and the run game absent, CMU quarterback Dan LeFevour had no choice but to throw and had a nice game with 35 of 56, 364 yards and two touchdowns and an interception.
Up Next: Purdue opens the Big Ten schedule on the road against the Golden Gophers in Minnesota.


Indiana: Hoosier quarterback Kellen Lewis accounted for five touchdowns and was a one-man wrecking crew in the second half against the Zips Saturday. With Akron giving them all they wanted at 17-17 in the first, Lewis went to work. After closing the second quarter with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Ray Fisher, Lewis’ took to the run, rushing for 199 yards on the game with two, second-half touchdown runs and his third scoring pass. He finished 19 of 24 for 137 yards through the air and fueled a 24-7 second half advantage. Wide receiver Jabari Arthur (7 receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown) and quarterback counterpart Carlton Jackson (15-21, 220 yards, touchdown pass, interception, 20 rushes, 71 yards, rushing score) carried the Akron team, who fell to 1-2 on the season with consecutive losses to Big Ten teams (Ohio State last week, 20-2).
Up Next: The Hoosiers host the Fighting Illini next Saturday to open conference play.

FROM THE MIDWEST: THE BIG TEN REPORT

BY MICK MILLER
BIG TEN INSIDER

This was a big weekend for the Big Ten conference as collectively they went 10-1 -- are you listening MICHIGAN?) From blowouts to nail-biters, there was something for everyone -- except MICHIGAN fans…right Lloyd Carr? It will be a very interesting story unfolding once the conference games start, and the preview being painted is pretty exciting as well -- but not for the Wolverine faithful…right Chad Henne?

Michigan: Ugh. Is this thing getting ugly or what? Sorry Appalachian State, the Wolverines are doing their best to make your landmark win look like a skid-mark on the road to the bowl season. This team is highlighting for the country exactly how to beat them -- spread the defense out and move your quarterback. I don’t see them being much more than a .500 club the rest of the way.

“Second verse, same as the first.”

Quarterback Chad Henne played terrible, threw a momentum and drive killing interception early in the game after halfback Mike Hart started the engine running (finishing 127 yards). The defense is woeful and cannot stop a mobile quarterback in a spread offense. Oregon’s Dennis Dixon rang up 368 yards of offense, accounting for four touchdowns, exposing the Wolverine defense for the world to see in the worst Michigan defeat at home since Bo was on the beat, and first 0-2 start since 1959 and four consecutive losses for the first time in 40 years. Hart has guaranteed a win at the Big Top….oops, House, next week against Notre Dame (also 0-2). Play, don’t predict. Spartans anyone?

Michigan State: The Spartans are making Big Blue green with envy, defeating Bowling Green 28-17, as they go to 2-0 for new head coach Mark Dantonio. The Spartans allowed Bowling Green to take a 14-7 lead on a six-yard touchdown run by Falcon quarterback Tyler Sheehan after an interception by Spartan quarterback Brian Hoyer (17-29, 250 yards). A Hoyer touchdown pass to tight end Kellen Davis before the half and a five-yard touchdown run by halfback Jehuu Caulcrick gave them a 21-14 lead and they sealed the deal with a 17-yard touchdown reception by Devin Thomas (156 yards receiving). Thomas is becoming the Spartan go-to receiver in the clutch as he had a nice 42-yard reception in traffic that led to the MSU lead. The Spartan running game made the difference as both teams moved the ball through the air. The Spartans welcome the Pitt Panthers next week to East Lansing, a team they beat in ’06 (38-23).

Iowa: The Hawkeyes rebounded from a lackluster effort last week and mauled the Orange into black and blue (35-0). Defensive end Kenny Iwebema literally helped keep Syracuse off the board by blocking two field goal attempts and added a sack to bookend teammate Bryan Mattison’s three sacks from the other end spot. Iowa has not allowed a touchdown in its first two games and finally got their offense on track. Junior tight end Tony Moeaki introduced himself to the ‘Cuse (and the rest of the world) with eight receptions for 112 yards and three touchdowns, including a 52-yarder to get the rout going. Hawkeye quarterback Jake Christensen squeezed the Orange for 72 percent passing, 278 yards and four touchdowns. The Iowa defense held Syracuse to 103 yards of total offense (one yard in the first half). Iowa takes its 2-0 record into next week against in-state rival Iowa State (0-2).

Penn State: The Nittany Lions welcomed the Irish and freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen into Happy Valley and sent them home sad after a 31-10 spanking. Penn State harassed the youngster all day long with six sacks and held him to 144 yards passing with an interception. On the flipside, Anthony Morelli crashed back to Earth with a less than stellar performance (12-of-22). The Lion running game was led by Austin Scott’s 116 yards and two touchdowns. The story of the day was the Penn State defense, which held Notre Dame to zero yards rushing on the day, as most of Clausen’s connections were of the swing and short pass variety. All-Everything linebacker Dan Connor had a sack and 12 tackles for a Lion defense that carried the day. The Buffalo Bulls of the Mid-American Conference travel to Happy Valley next week.

Purdue: The artistry of Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter continues to canvas the Boilermaker record book with new standards in passing. Painter lit up Eastern Illinois for 38-of-49 passing, 348 yards and six touchdown passes (to five different receivers). The only thing to stop Purdue’s offense this day was the hour weather delay due to lightning at the half, but that didn’t prevent Painter striking throughout the second half. Eleven Boilermaker receivers caught passes, including a big rebound game for Dorien Bryant (12 receptions, 111 yards, and touchdown), the conference’s leader in receptions and yards in 2006, after he was held to two catches for 12 yards last week. The Purdue ground game kept the Eastern Illinois defense honest with 178 yards rushing and 4.7 yards per carry average and the defense held court by allowing the Panthers four yards per play on the day. Painter and the Boilermakers continue their air assault next week when Central Michigan touches down in West Lafayette.

Indiana: The Hoosiers displayed a nice balance of offense and defense in jumping out to a 31-7 halftime lead over the Broncos of Western Michigan, before holding on for a 37-27 win in Western’s first game ever hosting a Big Ten opponent. While the Indiana defense was racking up five takeaways (three fumbles, and two interceptions, both by freshman Mitchell Evans) and seven sacks, quarterback Kellen Lewis was throwing for 221 yards and three touchdowns. Hoosier defensive end Greg Middleton scooped up one of those fumbles and he returned it 44 yards for his first career score. The Broncos outscored the Hoosiers 20-6 in the second half on the strength of a 98-yard kickoff return by Brandon West and two Tim Hiller touchdown passes, as he finished with 343 yards and three touchdown passes, while West also registered 51 yards rushing and 83 receiving yards for a big all-purpose day. Indiana moves to 2-0 on the year with Akron visiting Bloomington next week.

FROM THE MIDWEST: THE BIG TEN REPORT

Mick Miller
Big Ten Insider

That bang you hear this past weekend was the kickoff of the Big Ten college football season, the launching of the Big Ten Network and the sound of a National Championship going down the tubes. The formerly fifth ranked Michigan Wolverines helped introduce Appalachian State to the world, and in rousing fashion. Fans in the “Big House” were left asking a big “how?” Let’s look at the “how”. The rest of the conference faired much better, giving them a combined 7-3 record.

MICHIGAN: The Wolverines, ranked fifth coming in, played without heart, literally. The mysterious disappearance of Heisman hopeful, tailback Mike Hart, throughout the middle portions of Saturday’s epic loss remain a mystery. A reported thigh injury that Coach Lloyd Carr claimed “stiffened up” certainly did not appear to hinder his performance as he rushed for 188 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns, including a clutch 54-yard scamper that gave Michigan the lead with just over four minutes to play. Quarterback Chad Henne (19-37, 233 yards, a touchdown pass and interception) played awful, locking in on receivers and accumulating inaccurate throws, stifling the offense throughout the afternoon. Until a desperation 46-yard completion to set up the ill-fated field goal attempt at the end of the game, Mario Manningham had mustered a mere two receptions for 20 yards. The defense simply could not solve the multiple-receiver sets of Appalachian State and quarterback Armanti Edwards, who after a momentary lull in the second half, pulled it back together with a clutch drive in the final 1:11 (no timeouts) to kick a field goal, before the defense blocked a kick to seal the deal. Senior tri-captain Shawn Crable was the lone bright spot on defense for Michigan, recording 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and 12 tackles (two for loss). The loss has shaken the foundation of the Big House and the fan’s confidence in Coach Carr as they prepare for Oregon in week two.

MICHIGAN STATE: Gang Green faired much better than Big Blue this weekend with a 55-18 dismantling of Alabama-Birmingham in East Lansing, giving new Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio a win in his debut. Dantonio is the fourth consecutive coach to win his MSU debut, with the last loss going to Nick Saban in 1995, losing to Nebraska (50-10). Michigan State unveiled a ball-control running attack that allowed tailback Jehuu Caulcrick to score four touchdowns on 10 carries (for 93 yards), helping the Spartans build a 45-3 lead in the first half. The defense held a woefully undermanned UAB team (67 scholarship players) to 226 yards of total offense. Starting quarterback Brian Hoyer was solid, going 14-of-17 for 201 yards and a 44-yard touchdown to Devin Thomas (5 receptions, 106 yards, one rush, 23 yards). The Spartans played three quarterbacks in the blowout and collectively they went 22-of-32 for 295 yards and two touchdowns without turning the ball over, and were better than 50 percent on third down conversions (8 for 13). The Spartans ride the wave into their next game against Bowling Green, with a green grin on their faces from the Michigan loss.

IOWA:The Hawkeyes had to lean on their running game in an uninspired road win over Northern Illinois in Chicago (16-3). Senior running back Albert Young rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown and back-up Damian Sims chewed up another 110 yards on 16 carries, both averaging well over six yards per attempt. Iowa was without their top receiver Dominique Douglas, who led all freshmen in the country last season with 49 receptions. Douglas was suspended by the team due to a felony charge of making $2,000 worth of purchases on credit cards that did not belong to him. The incident appeared to distract the team, evident by their 173 penalty yards (four times that of N. Illinois). They also missed him on third downs, they were just two of 14 on third down conversions. Without NFL draftee, running back Garrett Wolfe, the Huskies turned to quarterback Dan Nicholson, who despite completing 26-of-42, threw three interceptions, one from the Iowa three-yard line, killing a golden scoring opportunity with his team down 10. In his second career start (both against Northern Illinois); Hawkeye quarterback Jake Christensen threw for 133 yards (12-of-29), for a mere 4.6 yards per attempt. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, coming off his first losing campaign last season at 6-7; will have to work harder to get his team ready, as Syracuse will be in for the Hawkeye home opener.

PENN STATE: All is happy in the valley once again as head coach Joe Paterno is back pacing the sidelines and the 17th ranked Nittany Lions opened at home with a 59-0 drubbing of Florida International. A blowout in every category, the Lions rolled up 549 yards in total offense and held Florida International to a miniscule 114 yards, seven first downs all day and a minus three yards rushing on 31 attempts. Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli set a personal best with 295 yards passing on 23 of 38 throws, including a school record 231 yards in the first half and three touchdown passes. Linebacker Dan Connor forced a Golden Panther fumble at their 20, and Morelli hit Mickey Shuler with a touchdown pass making it 14-0 and the rout was on. The Nittany Lions forced six fumbles, recovering five, had seven quarterback sacks for a loss of 50 yards and kept Florida International pinned deep in their own end most of the game. Although the team did the job on the field, the day was about their legendary coach. A resounding victory at home and the return of “Joe Pa” is just what the doctor ordered as the team gets ready to host the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame on September 8.

PURDUE: The Boilermakers won a game that may resemble many of their wins this season. With a potent offense and a defense that’s a work in progress, they may have to put 30 points a game. Purdue’s record-setting quarterback Curtis Painter threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns (including an 80-yarder to tight end Dustin Keller) in a shootout with Toledo, 52-24. Five Purdue running backs averaged eight-plus yards per carry, led by Kory Sheets (11 carries for 90 yards), as the Boilermaker running game was in mid-season form. The Big Ten’s season record holder for passing yards (last year’s 3,985), Painter and his offense had their way throughout as he hit four different Purdue receivers for touchdowns. A see-saw battle in the first half led to a 28-14 halftime Boilermaker lead, but a Painter touchdown pass and a Dorien Bryant 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, shot down the Rockets at their Ohio launching pad. The Boilermakers host Eastern Illinois in their home opener this Saturday.

INDIANA: The Hoosiers pounded Indiana State in an emotion-filled game on Saturday (55-7), in their first contest without Terry Hoeppner, the Indiana head coach who was tragically lost last June to a brain tumor. A pre-game tribute, which included his family, charged the team with all the inspiration it would need to get the win for interim head coach, Bill Lynch, who lead them to their largest opening day victory in more than 60 years. Quarterback Kellen Lewis threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns and led the team with 59 yards on nine carries adding another score on the ground. With Lewis hitting his three touchdown passes in his first four passes, the Hoosiers jumped out to 21-7 lead and never looked back. While the offense was outgunning the Sycamores 516-176, the Hoosier defense held up their end with 176 yards allowed (130 passing, 46 rushing), fives sacks and two interceptions. Indiana hopes to continue to play this inspired as they travel Western Michigan to face the Broncos for a Saturday night game on the road.