Let’s pay attention to everyone’s schedule.
Boise State remained at No. 3 but lost ground in the Associated Press poll. The price of Virginia Tech’s home loss to James Madison was Boise State losing all seven first-place votes it picked up after beating the Hokies last Monday.
Wonder if voters will put the same kind of scrutiny to Alabama later this season when the Crimson Tide hosts Georgia State, a start-up program led by former Crimson Tide coach Bill Curry.
Georgia State lost Saturday to NAIA Lambuth, which has 653 students, many of whom are on the football team.
*When will coaches learn the perils of putting the outcomes of games in the hands of first-year freshmen?
Marshall coach Doc Holliday, a rookie himself, suffered the crushing consequences Friday night. Holding a 21-6 lead over archrival West Virginia, and needing only a field goal to clinch victory, freshman running back Tron Martinez was allowed to fumble at the opponent’s 4-yard line. West Virginia marched 96 yards for a score, then 98, sent the game to over time and won.
Why was Martinez in?
“He’s had a hell of a camp,” Holliday said.
*Matt Barkley vs. Aaron Corp. Barkley is a super sophomore on his way to great things for USC, but that will never change the rotten way Corp lost his starting job last summer before transferring to Richmond.
Ironically, Corp and Barkley faced Virginia in consecutive weeks. Corp, playing for an FCS school with four new offensive linemen, amassed 333 total yards in a 34-13 loss. Corp completed 18 for 32 passes for 182 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per completion. He also ran three times for 23 yards. Barkley’s offense totaled 329 yards against Virginia. He completed 20 of 35 passes for 202 yards, with two touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per completion. He also had three carries for 1 yard.
*Oregon looks scary good. The Ducks overcame a slow start in Knoxville to pummel Tennessee 48-13 at Neyland Stadium. In two games, Oregon has scored 120 points in 120 minutes, with Portland State next on the schedule. Oregon’s slow start against Tennessee might be blamed on coach Chip Kelly’s early-game daydreaming.
“I mean this place is impressive,” he said afterward. “I tell my players all the time, ‘Don’t look at the stadium,’ but I was looking at the stadium.”
Oregon’s No. 6 ranking in the coaches’ poll is the school’s highest this early.
*Michigan sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson has been the most impressive player — by far — through two weekends. The question is whether Robinson can take the pounding. He already has carried the ball a nation-leading 41 times. “He’s a great player,” Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o, also a great player, said after Michigan’s 28-24 win in South Bend.
Robinson passed for 244 yards and rushed for 258. Cautionary note: Michigan started 4-0 last year before losing seven of its last eight.
*To think last spring people were plotting to break up the Big 12. The conference is 21-3 through two weeks. Compare and contrast: Big Ten (17-4), Pac-10 (14-5), SEC (18-6), ACC (15-8), Big East (10-6).
*Comeback team of the week award: Kansas, which followed its brutal 6-3 opening loss to North Dakota State with a brilliant win over Georgia Tech.
*You almost saw this coming. Jacksonville State, which scored an opening week win at Mississippi, had to rally Saturday to beat Chattanooga 21-17.
cdufresne@tribune.com
