The beginning of the college football season is always full of mistakes as teams continue to prepare for the upcoming season. But the games do count and the big loser yesterday was Pittsburgh, who blew a big opportunity for a nice early win. The Panthers did not deserve to win, mind you, but they could have easily escaped Rice-Eccles Stadium with a victory as they drove from midfield in the game's late moments, down three points. But questionable play-calling doomed the drive that ended on a made field goal by Dan Hutchins--the third attempt with this ridiculous icing the kicker crap that deludes the end of games these days. He actually missed the second one but Utah coach Kyle Whittingham had called timeout for a second time, hopefully learning a lesson for future games. Do it once and then let the kid kick. In overtime we enjoyed a pure college moment as true freshman Brian Blechen--who played quarterback and linebacker in high school last year--picked off new Pitt QB Tino Sunseri. Blechen turns 19 at the end of the month. The Utes then sliced through a demoralized Panther defense to end the game on a chip-shot field goal by the always-reliable Joe Phillips.
That was the big game of day one, but Ohio State opened in fine fashion with a rout of Marshall, South Carolina looked impressive in blowing out a Southern Miss team that spent way too much time yelling at each other and the young USC secondary was exposed by a game Hawaii squad. With so many top quarterbacks remaining on the Trojans schedule, Monte Kiffin will have to continue to force feed those kids. And the way QB Matt Barkley and WR Ronald Johnson carved up the Warriors defense did not bode well for Boise State QB Kellen Moore's Heisman chances as they exposed the WAC defenses that Moore faces for what they are--substandard. Of course Moore can eliminate some doubt with his performance this weekend against Virginia Tech.
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