The big talk in college football these days is about blowouts, running up the score, and big numbers, particularly 66 and 77.
Last week the top seven ranked teams averaged 63 points per game in winning by an average of 45 points. Top-ranked Florida State and No. 2 Nebraska each scored 77, while Colorado and Penn State each scored 66.The high numbers have caused sports columnists to write scathing articles and some college coaches to say they were "appalled" or "sickened" at the big numbers.
Not that I like the idea of anyone running up scores on others, but it seems everyone is overreacting a bit.
One of the big problems is simply football's scoring system. No other sport gives a team six points for a score like football does for a touchdown. So a lot of times football results may seem like bigger blowouts than other sports.
Does anyone make a big deal and say it's running up the score when the Braves beat the Mets 11-4?
No, but that's what Nebraska beat Arizona State by last week if you just count the touchdowns. However with seven points for a touchdown and extra point, the game was 77-28, a 49-point victory rather than a seven-run win.
Now if a coach leaves in his starters until the fourth quarter or throws passes in the final couple of minutes that's a different story. But one of the problems is that reserve players, who are fresh and trying to impress, are sometimes more effective than tired starters late in a game.
As Colorado's Rick Neuheisel said, "While you don't want to run the score up, you want to be able to send in your backup kids and tell them, `You should do exactly what you've practiced to do.' "
Michigan State coach Nick Saban, whose team was routed 50-10 by Nebraska earlier this year, understands. "The problem is the fourth tailback is as good as the first tailback. That's not Tom Osborne's fault. All you can do is put your other players in the game. You can't expect them to go in and not compete."
Perhaps the most criticized coach of all has been Florida State's Bobby Bowden. He may have gone too far in scoring points on occasion, but he's right when he says, "You just hate to go out there and lay down. I don't think the other coaches appreciate it and you hate to do that to your kids."
Look for more big numbers this week. Florida State plays I-AA Central Florida, while Nebraska meets Pacific. Even if both teams play their third strings the whole games, they may still both reach 77 again . . . or perhaps 100.
JUST WONDERING: With Utah State and BYU not playing each other on the gridiron this year and both having this week off, couldn't the two longtime rivals get together for a little scrimmage today? I'm sure a fair number of fans would be glad to watch.
PICKS: With the Cougars and the Aggies both taking it easy against BYE today, the other three local colleges will each try to improve to 2-2.
Fresno State (3-0) at Utah (1-2), 7 p.m. - The biggest surprise of the week could be that the Utes are betting-line 1-point favorites. It wouldn't shock us if the Utes won, but the explosive Bulldogs have to be favored . . . Fresno State 35-27.
Cal Poly-SLO (1-2) at Weber State (1-2), 6 p.m. - The guys from San Luis Obispo aren't really "SLO," but they shouldn't be too fast for the rising Wildcats . . . Weber 28-17.
Southern Utah (1-2) at Idaho State (2-0), 6:30 p.m. - After losing by 28 to Western State, the T-Birds have little chance against Idaho State . . . ISU 38-19.