Thursday, October 25, 2001

Manning, Holtz head a football season full of surprises
By Andrew Bagnato
Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — It seems like it was only yesterday that the Oregon State Beavers could demand respect and some publication — Sports Illustrated, say — would give it to them.

And it was only yesterday that every player in the nation was all-conference and every team was undefeated. As Hayden Fry once said at a preseason Big Ten coaches banquet, “We’re all smiling because ain’t none of us done got beat yet.”

Midseason always brings a dose of reality to campus, and this year is no different, though midseason has come a bit later than usual because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

JASON CLARK/THE STATE (KRT) COLUMBIA, SC — South Carolina quarterback Phil Petty completes a pass to Brian Scott during the second quarter of Saturday’s 46-14 win over Vanderbilt. The 6-1 Gamecocks are one of the surprise teams this year, leading the SEC Eastern Division.

Halfway through another zany year, a review:
Team of the half-season: Anyone have a three-headed coin? It’s a toss-up among Oklahoma, UCLA and Miami. But Nebraska may have something to say on this subject Saturday.

Player of the half-season: UCLA tailback DeShaun Foster. After watching Foster romp for 301 yards in a 35-13 victory over Washington, California’s coaching staff decided to put 10 defenders on the line. It worked in the first half, with the Bears limiting Foster to 38 yards in 12 carries. But he found enough room to finish with 117 rushing yards, and he also got free for two catches for another 61 yards. He ran for two touchdowns and caught a pass for another score in UCLA's 56-17 rout.

Brightest new star: Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning. The sophomore from New Orleans has led the Rebels to a 5-1 record, including their first victory over hated Alabama in a decade. If Manning keeps flinging it the way he has so far, he might get picked ahead of brother Peyton when the Manning clan chooses up sides for backyard touch football next winter.

Coach of the half-season: Lou Holtz. The man has worked a miracle at South Carolina. Two years ago, when the Gamecocks went 0-11, it looked as if the lisping leprechaun had made a disastrous decision to return to the sidelines. But he has led South Carolina to the second bowl victory in school history and has the Gamecocks in hot pursuit of the second conference title in school history.

Honorable mention: Michigan’s Lloyd Carr, who is one bad hop away from being undefeated; Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen, who has made his alma mater respectable again; and Fresno State’s Pat Hill, who won't earn a BCS berth but did pull off profile-raising victories at Boulder and Madison.

He hated attention anyway: Kansas State has lost four straight games for the first time since 1992, and to commemorate the occasion the Wildcats football office sent out a press release: “ESPNEWS, the 24-hour news channel that is part of the ESPN family of networks, has changed its lineup of Tuesday football coaches’ news conferences. The network announced late last week that it would no longer carry Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder as part of its live broadcasts on Tuesdays.”

Biggest bust: The Big Ten. When they descended on Chicago for their August kickoff media event, Big Ten coaches dismissed reports that the once-feared conference had gone soft.

Then they charged out and went 2-5 against ranked non-conference opponents-with the victories coming over Louisville and Notre Dame.

How far has the conference slipped? After Ohio State defeated 2-5 San Diego State last weekend in Columbus, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel called it “important for the Big Ten.”

When statistics lie: Only two teams have yet to throw an interception this season.

That has been a good thing for 6-0 UCLA, but perhaps not so good for 1-5 Ohio University.

Where did they come from? Washington State (7-0), which has won one Pac-10 title since 1930, leads the nation’s toughest league.

Maryland (7-0), whose last Atlantic Coast Conference flag came in 1985, leads the ACC.

South Carolina (6-1), whose only conference title was an ACC championship in 1969, leads the Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division.

And Rice (6-1) leads the Western Athletic Conference. The Owls are off to their best start since 1949, when they finished fifth in the AP poll.

How ‘bout these? Bowls we would love to see-and could happen: Northwestern vs. Colorado in the Alamo. Pregame party at the Evanston restaurant previously known as Gary Barnett’s.

Oklahoma vs. Florida in the Cotton. Bob Stoops meets his mentor, Steve Spurrier.

Rice vs. Notre Dame in the Humanitarian. Irish fans may find convenient flights to Boise through Denver and Calgary.