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November 25, 2009

Much to be thankful for in college football

By John Lindsay

In the spirit of today's impending gluttony, here's our annual moment to give thanks around college football.

Courageous duo

Thanks to the courage shown by two members of the college football community. Boston College senior linebacker Mark Herzlich, a legit NFL first-round prospect who pondered leaving early for the NFL last spring, faced every athlete's greatest fear when he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer (Ewing's sarcoma) in May.

Following aggressive radiation and chemotherapy treatments, his body is now said to be virtually cancer-free and he may return to the field next season.

Sadly, Stefanie Spielman, wife of former Ohio State All-American and ESPN analyst Chris Spielman, died last Friday after battling breast cancer for 11 years. You might remember how Spielman, an underutilized, class act amid so much of the nonsense ESPN dishes out, took a hiatus from his NFL career back in 1998 when Stefanie was diagnosed to comfort her with her treatments.

Chris Spielman showed real perspective at the time. "People say, 'It's a great thing that you're doing.' I always say it would be a terrible thing if I didn't."

Through the years, the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at Ohio State has raised more than $6 million for research on the disease.

Rise of Temple

Thanks to living long enough to type the following words: the seventh-longest active winning streak in the nation belongs to Temple. The Owls' 9-game streak (the first time Temple has ever won nine straight games in a season) puts them into a showdown tomorrow at Ohio with the winner heading off to the MAC Championship Game.

Yes, this is the same Temple team that has averaged eight losses per year with only two winning seasons since the Owls' last bowl trip in 1979 and was a combined 13-57 the last six years coming into this season.

Can there be an easier choice than Al Golden as coach of the year, win or lose in Athens? No matter how crooked the BCS is or how many calls officials miss, stories like the 2009 Temple Owls are why college football remains such a phenomenal sport.

Offensive diversity

Thanks to Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson hammering home that his option attack will work at the highest level of the sport. The seventh-ranked Yellow Jackets are second in the nation at 314 yards rushing per game, up 40 yards a game from last year. And at 36 points per game (up 11 ppg from last year), Tech is 11th nationally in scoring.

And yes, we know Nevada's "pistol" offense has rolled up a staggering 373 yards a game on the ground to top the nation. The problem, Wolf Pack fans, is that six of UN's opponents (UNLV, Utah State, Hawaii, San Jose State, Fresno State and New Mexico State) all happen to rank 102nd or worse nationally against the run. Tech has played only two such teams (Vanderbilt and Florida State).

Eager Beavers

Thanks to the brotherly love of No. 16 Oregon State's Rodgers' brothers, sophomore running back Jacquizz and junior receiver James. Both listed at just 5-7 and around 190 pounds, all these two have done is account for 30 of OSU's 43 touchdowns with the elusive Jacquizz ranking second in the Pac-10 with 1,313 yards rushing (8th nationally) while leading the Pac-10 with 20 TDs (third in the nation). James' 77 catches (9 TDs) lead the Pac-10.

"They're amazing athletes," USC coach Pete Carroll told the Los Angeles Times.

Like most athletic brothers, the Rodgers stuck together growing up in Houston — and not always by choice.

"We couldn't play on different teams because we were real competitive and it might end up in a fight," James said.

Here's hoping the Rodgers duo brings that edge to the Dec. 3 Civil War showdown at No. 10 Oregon where a win would deliver the Beavers' first Rose Bowl since 1965.

Thanks to the intuitive mayhem of Virginia Tech senior LB Cody Grimm for leading the nation with seven forced fumbles, our favorite stat and the ultimate play for any defensive player.

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