Auburn, Michigan expected to win weekend games
Larry Fitzgerald is retarded.
No, not retarded as in mentally handicapped, retarded as insick, nasty and disgusting.
Insert any slang term you want to describe the Pittsburgh supersophomore receiver; he is the best player college football has seenin a long time.
Yes, numbers can be deceiving: BYU’s Ty Detmer holdsnearly every passing record; Iowa State’s Troy Davis is theonly runner to achieve back-to-back 2,000 yard rushing seasons.Certainly, they are not the best ever to play their position at thecollegiate level.
However, Fitzgerald’s ridiculous stats, 77 catches for1,467 yards and 19 touchdowns in 10 games, are even more impressivethan they initially appear. He has fought off double and triplecoverage to snag the ball in clutch situations. With everyone inthe stadium knowing the rock is coming his way, he has managed tocatch a touchdown in 15 consecutive games, an NCAA record.
Fitzgerald has made the acrobatic the status quo in Pittsburghthese days; circus style catches over three defenders aren’trare. But how did he get so good? Coaching.
Certainly, Panther head man Walt Harris is a good coach, butLarry’s success can be attributed to two future Hall-of-Famereceivers: Randy Moss and Cris Carter. While attending high schoolin Minnesota, Fitzgerald spent countless hours hanging around theViking football team because his father was a local sports writer.Recognizing the young prodigy, Carter and Moss constantly gave tipsand advice. Fitzgerald stored all the information in his head andalso in a diary.
I’d say the advice has paid off.
With the Heisman trophy ceremony just around the corner, votersare starting to take notice. Even though the odds are stackedagainst him, (no sophomore has ever won the award) he stands a goodchance at taking home the hardware.
His biggest competition is Oklahoma quarterback Jason White. Thesenior signal caller has thrown for over 3,000 yards whileconnecting on 36 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. The six toone touchdown/interception ratio is almost unheard of.
All signs point to a White victory: he is a senior; he plays forthe number one ranked team in the country; he plays quarterback.So, why then give Fitzgerald any attention? Because Jason White isa product of the system; he stands behind a huge offensive line andthrows to receivers that are open by five yards. He does not makeOU the best team; they make him a Heisman candidate.
On the other hand, Fitzgerald is the system. Panther quarterbackRod Rutherford drops back and simply heaves it to Larry, and hehauls it in.
He is the best player … period. Hopefully, the sportswriters of America will see this and give the trophy to the mostdeserving player; not the best player on the best team or the onewith the gaudy statistics.
Give it to Fitzgerald. No recount, no hanging chads. Just giveit to him.
Big Games
In this week’s installment, college football’s twobiggest rivalries are featured. However, the order of importancedepends on which side of the Mason Dixon Line you are from.
Auburn at Alabama
This rivalry is so intense that it was suspended for forty yearsbecause the schools couldn’t agree on how many players wereallowed to dress out for the game.
Auburn’s Keys to Victory
The Tigers need to get the ball to running back Carnell Williamsas much as possible. This guy is a workhorse who gets better as thegame goes on. Furthermore, if the “Cadillac,” as he ismore commonly known, has the ball in his hands, it means thatquarterback Jason Campbell does not. That is definitely a goodthing as he has thrown only nine touchdowns all year.
Alabama’s Keys to Victory
Alabama is a big, physical team that likes to run the ball andplay tough defense. However, they also have the second coming ofJoe Namath in southpaw QB Brodie Croyle. The Tide will look exploitthe poor Tiger secondary early in the game despite the fact theyhave a 1,000 yard rusher in Shaud Williams. Look for some deepballs early in an effort to stretch the Auburn defense.
Prediction: Auburn Wins 24-10
Ohio State at Michigan
The battle at the Big House certainly has national titleimplications this year. Ohio State can all but assure a spot in theNational Championship with a win, whereas the Wolverines can keeptheir dim hopes alive by protecting their home turf.
Ohio State’s Keys to Victory
Two weeks ago, no one thought this team had a chance atupsetting Michigan at home. But, with big wins against MichiganState and Purdue, many think the Buckeyes can turn the Big Houseinto “The Little House on The Prairie.”
To win, the Buckeyes will have to get a solid contribution fromthe running back tandem of Maurice Hall and Lydell Ross. If thesetwo perform well, it will take the burden off quarterback CraigKrenzel, who isn’t talented enough to win the game byhimself.
Michigan’s Keys to Victory
The formula is the same for Michigan every week; get the ball torunning back Chris Perry early and then let quarterback JohnNavarre go to work by utilizing play-action. However, theWolverines find themselves in trouble when head coach Lloyd Carrforgets this and airs it out 50 times.
Prediction: Michigan Wins 17-3
