• It is just all about the fundamentals sometimes in college football. For example, there is a reason that coaches practice the tip drill with the defenses. Case in point, Michigan's initial interception of Brady Quinn in what was a definite set back for the Irish's title hopes. Prescott Burgess took a pass off of the fingers of an Irish receiver 32 yards for the opening touchdown of the game less than a minute into the action. Craig Steltz had a similar big play for LSU against Auburn stalling a Plainsmen drive. His interception did not result in any scoring for the Tigers though and LSU did not manage to defeat the other SEC Tigers.
• Speaking of fundamentals, the kicking game has been very important over the last two weeks this season. Last week, Wake Forest won on a blocked field goal against Duke. This week, after Oklahoma's Garrett Hartley had gone four for four in the game against Oregon, he was called in to kick the game winner with two seconds on the clock. And wouldn't you know, Ducks' linebacker Blair Phillips got a big paw up and blocked the kick. The win by Oregon preserves what is now a 24-1 record against non-conference opponents at Autzen Stadium under head coach Mike Belotti. The sole loss? Against Indiana - Not what you expected, I am sure, especially considering that the Hoosiers lost this week to Division 1-AA Southern Illinois, the 5th top division team to go down this season.



• To continue the kicking theme, did you catch the Florida State-Clemson game? Florida State not only blocked an extra point which they returned for two points, they also blocked a field goal in the second quarter. That one was returned for the first Seminole touchdown of the game. Let's just say there weren't a great deal of Groza Award nominees making headlines this week.
• Not to pick on Indiana, because they weren't the only team to have trouble with a Division 1-AA team this weekend. North Carolina, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, and Arizona, all struggled more than they probably should have against their purchased foes. Sure they got a win and didn't add to the list of big name losers, but they didn't impress anyone doing it. Some thought that North Carolina could at least challenge for the ACC Coastal division title this season. It is not going to happen when you struggle to beat lowly Furman.
• It's called adding insult to injury. LSU cornerback Jessie Daniels made sure he let Auburn kicker John Vaughn knew that the Tiger defense was coming after him. After Vaughn put a 26 yard field goal attempt off the left upright, missing what would have been the first score of the game, Daniels ran by him on the field...and then patted him on the helmet while celebrating the stop. Don't let it be said that LSU-Auburn isn't a fierce rivalry when a missed kick, Vaughn's 6th in two years in that game, warrants that type of reaction.



• Steve Slaton sure took out his revenge on Thursday night against Maryland. He was originally offered a scholarship by the Terrapins before Ralph Friedgen pulled it off the table, thinking he had too many running backs coming to the school already. Something tells me that Friedgen took away the wrong scholarship. Slaton had run up over 200 yards against Maryland before losing 10 on his last four carries. For comparison, Maryland's rushing game only tallied 122 yards in the game with no individual rusher gaining over 50.
• The Big Ten had better get its act together. Sure, the entire conference won during its opening week for the first time ever. The next week of the season didn't go quite as well, especially with Penn State getting blown out, and Northwestern losing to New Hampshire. Week 3 looked like it was going to be even worse. Iowa struggled through most of its game against Iowa State, even with Drew Tate back under center. Ohio State took a quarter to get rolling. Even Michigan State was down 10-0 before coming alive to beat Pittsburgh. Add into that Illinois's terrible loss to Syracuse and and the conference which many were saying would be very difficult again this season, has looked very vulnerable over the opening quarter of the season. With conference season beginning next week, we will learn a lot more about how these teams will do against one another, but right now, teams with the possibility of drawing Big Ten teams in bowls are licking their chops.
• According the game notes for the Florida - Tennessee game, Galen Hall is the only coach in University of Florida history to begin his career with four-straight wins over Tennessee, Georgia and Florida State. They are going to have to change that verb to "was" after Urban Meyer became just the second coach to pull off the feat with a very close victory on Saturday. The Florida Gators triumphed over Tennessee despite some questionable decisions by the referees, 21-20. While neither team looked very polished in the game, it was clear that Chris Leak and Meyer's squad were the team more ready for the challenge. With the victory, Florida takes the early lead in the SEC East. Both teams get a much easier game next week. Tennessee takes on the Thundering Herd of Marshall, and Florida draws another conference foe in Kentucky.



• Louisville was the sleeper pick by many to beat the West Virginia Mountaineers and take the Big East title. They sure looked like the real deal Saturday, as they took out Miami, 31-7. However, if they are going to take that title, it won't be the team that everyone expected taking the field each week to do it. It won't be Michael Bush, who broke his leg in week 1. It won't be Brian Brohm, who left Saturday's game with an injured thumb and will be out for 4 to 6 weeks. Instead, Louisville will rely on Kolby Smith, George Stripling, and Hunter Cantwell, to lead them to the title. The good news for Louisville is that over the next six weeks, they have two bye weeks. And after the second bye week? They face West Virginia on a Thursday night. Brohm could be back to lead his team against the Mountaineers, which would be a big lift for the team looking to be the spoiler.

In Case You Missed It

• Ivan Maisel was impressed with Steve Slaton and West Virginia, but with reservations.


• John Canzano felt Oregon needed to make a statement and they sure did, but it was close.


• Apparently punting is the most dangerous position OFF the field.

Ben Miraski writes for MRISports.com and is a featured blogger on FanIQ. Readers can contact Ben at bmiraski@mrisports.com