December 5 Football Report

Today's memorable sight from Ada--a few flakes of snow falling gently, and the mail carrier walking by, wearing shorts.

This weekend was the time for conference championship games and some special trophies:

This year's Civil War was much closer than the 1861-1865 model. #7 Oregon overcame #13 Oregon State in a thriller 37-33 to take the Pac 10 championship, a Rose Bowl bid, and, most important, the Platypus Trophy.

Big East: This year's River City rivalry game between #5 Cincinnati and #14 Pittsburgh was a thriller, by a Cincinnati touchdown in the last two minutes. Cincinnati squeaked by Pitt 45-44. Cincy had to come from behind and avoided overtime because Pittsburgh's holder failed to handle the snap on the conversion after a fourth quarter touchdown. Cincinnati preserved an undefeated season, a Big East championship, and clinched a BCS bowl bid. They also grabbed the Paddlewheel Trophy. Will Cincinnati's Brian Kelly be the new king of South Bend?

Big 12: The defenses ruled the night when undefeated and #3 ranked Texas met Nebraska. Texas finally won by kicking a field goal as time expired to edge Nebraska 13-12. Texas will meet Alabama in the BCS Championship game.

SEC: The most anticipated game of the weekend was the matchup of #1 Florida and #2 Alabama for the SEC championship. The occasion was a sad one for Tim Tebow and other Gators, as the Tide drowned the Gators 32-13. Alabama ran the ball very effectively, and Florida could neither run the ball nor stop the run.

ACC: CJ Spiller put on a show for Clemson, scoring four touchdowns and rushing for over 230 yards, but Georgia Tech wrecked Clemson with a fourth quarter touchdown to take the ACC championship and to claim a BCS bid. Final score, 39-34 Georgia Tech.

Conference USA: East Carolina, playing at home, upset #18 Houston 38-32 to take their second consecutive conference title. Is Skip Holtz headed for greater things that East Carolina?

MAC: Central Michigan quarterback Brian Le Fevour set an NCAA record for career touchdowns en route to leading his team to a 20-10 victory over Ohio U to take the MAC crown in a championship game sponsored by Marathon Oil.

Division IAA Playoffs: William and Mary routed Southern Illinois 24-3. Appalachian State staged a big fourth quarter comeback against Richmond, and App. State scored a touchdown in the last few seconds to creep past the Spiders, 35-31.

Our Teams in Non-Rivalry Games: #24 West Virginia defeated Rutgers 24-21. In a game in which both teams were apparently defenseless, Fresno State squeaked past Illinois 53-52. (I had to check to make sure that this was not a basketball score.)

Say What? #20 Southern Cal finished an unsatisfactory season with an upset loss to Arizona 21-17. Washington astonished #20 Cal 42-10.

Next week is the United Methodist choir cantata--the Vivaldi Gloria and Army vs. Navy.