Having been reared on doo wop and still a obsessed devotee, I remain enchanted by multitudes of One Hit Wonders.
My favorite — I thought you’d never ask — has been and shall remain forever and always, “I Love You” by The Volumes.
(Resentment Alert. The tune didn’t even make on the initial four CD set, “The Doo Wop Box.” Tsk, tsk. Omission finally rectified in “Doo Wop Box II.”)
So, as a college pigskin junkie, I surely took notice that the terminology, One Hit Wonder, was invoked not once by twice over
the weekend.
Cool breeze.
When the UCLA players got on board their cross-country flight to East Lansing to face Michigan State, there was a hand printed sheet of paper on each seat. Upon which interim head coach Tim Skipper inquired, “ARE WE A ONE HIT WONDER?”
Apparently not.
Admonition received.
Bruins 38, Sparty 13.
Many were lined up to interview breakout QB Fernando Mendoza, after he and fellow Hoosiers, cooking utensils in hand, waltzed into Autzen Stadium and broasted Oregon into Wor Sue Duck. (#219 on the Oriental House menu).
During one of those sound bites, Mendoza said, “We are not One Hit Wonders.”
So it is.
IU 30, Fried Quack 20.”
* * * * *
Which brings us to this query, which I have hinted at in the past. But am now willing to ask straight on.
Is Curt Cignetti the best coach in college pigskin today?
I know he’s the Flavor of the Month. And that there’s an inherent recency bias in the question.
But, I dunno. He’s damn good. Google him.
There’s something about how well IU plays I can’t quite pin down. But it sure is working.
* * * * *
Speaking of “best,” while Miami appears to be that in the ACC, three other schools are tied for top of the league standings after Week 7.
Georgia Tech, UVa and Duke are all 3-0.
Thanks to a simple twist of fate, neither the Ramblin’ Wreck not the Wahoos nor the Blue Devils have to face the ‘Canes during the regular slate.
But my team already with a blemish does. This Friday night.
I beseech thee, Bronconagurskius, Greek God of Pigskin, demand that ESPN upgrade its regular announcing team for this one. The CDC has yet to approve a vaccine against Andre Ware.
* * * * *
I’m a regular reader of Jerry Brewer, the former C-J sports columnist now at the Washington Post.
He is an agile wordsmith. He brings astute insight into the matters he writes about.
This past week he wrote a spot on piece about Arch Manning. How the Longhorn QB, despite his privileged upbringing, never asked for the hype surrounding him, and absolutely doesn’t deserve the invective he’s received for an underwhelming but not unusual commencement to his stint as a relatively inexperienced starter.
As I’ve written, I actually feel sorry for Manning, who seems decent and humble and level headed. The social media crap is totally too much.
So it was with great joy I watched him carve up Brent Venables’ ostensibly hot shot D in the Red River Rivalry. After falling behind 0-6, the Hook ‘Ems scored 23 straight.
* * * * *
Not that it really matters, except for the every once in awhile moments like happened here, but my process in fashioning these things is simple. I knock out a first draft, following the advice of Miss Walston, my 9th grade English dominatrix.
Just write it out. Don’t stop. Don’t correct typos or syntax. Let it flow. Then let it sit and go back for the clean up. Make the soup, let is simmer, let it sit, go back and spice as necessary.
So Sunday afternoon, I cranked out my first draft, finishing with this about the (now former) Nittany Lions coach:
If the final question for the moment is “Who saw this coming?”, a legit response would be “Nobody.”
The correct answer: Northwestern 22, Pennsylvania State 21.
The Wildcats outclawed the Nittany Pussycats in the latter’s own State College lair.
Kibble that.
So, in the space of three short win-bereft weeks, one James Franklin has rocketed to the top of the Dead Man Walking list.
The dude is toast.
I clicked “Save Draft,” and closed it out for later.
At which time, I noticed a sports news alert.
“Penn State Fires James Franklin.”
To which I exclaimed — put your hands over the kiddos ears — “HOOOOLLLLLLLLY SHIT!!!!!”
That is SEC-quality let’s move on right now.
Woweee Zowee.
University of Indiana officials, a suggestion. Have Monroe County sheriffs blockading all roads coming in and out of the county. Have gendarmes tracking all flights in and out of the airport.
My sense is Penn State be come a callin’ for your coach.
— c d kaplan
