Feast or Famine: Who would have thought?

September 9th, 2009 by Adam Mankuta

The first week of the season is always the most bizarre in terms of finding the games next star, picking up the next waiver wire guy who will lead you to a title, and most importantly to ask yourself; Who would have thought that?

So without further adieu, here is the list of ‘Who would have thought that’ for the opening week of the 2009 College Football season.

Who would have thought that…

… William & Mary (yes that William & Mary) would have a win against a BCS school in 2009 before Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Oregon, Georgia and Wake Forest? What this means is that Virginia, who lost by 12 points to the Tribe, are in real trouble… especially their defense who allowed 19 pts to the offense, while their offense could only muster two scores. Might be the year to play everyone against Virginia, while benching or cutting their entire offense.

Cal Bear's Jahvid Best rushed for 137 yards on 10 carries and scored two touchdowns for a win against Terrapins (photo courtesy Icon SMI)

… the debate over the Pac-10’s, let alone the nation’s best back may be determined before Jahvid Best ever took the field? Thanks to Mr. Blount, Best took center stage in that debate by scoring twice and rushing for well over 100 yards against Maryland. If you drafted Blount, that is a terrible break. If you drafted Best, just imagine what he can do in a close game. Wow.

… Ricky Dobbs, the option QB at Navy, would toss 2 more touchdown passes during Week 1 then Jeremiah Masoli, Rusty Smith, Juice Williams, Colin Kaepernick, Stephen Garcia, Trevor Vittatoe, and Dan LeFevour COMBINED?

… Taylor Potts would throw 3 picks in his debut as the Texas Tech full-time starter, while Graham Harrell, the Red Raiders Heisman Finalist, threw 9 ALL of last season?

… Aaron Opelt of Toledo would lead the nation in passing yards after Week One?

… Jonathan Crompton, the Tennessee QB would throw 5 TD passes in the opener, which is one more then he through during all of 2008?

… there is another Tim Tebow out there who actually blew Mr. Heisman’s performance out of the water! That would be Joe Webb of UAB, who rushed for 194 yards and 2 TD (Tebow had 1 yard rushing and 1 TD). While Webb threw for 221 yards and 2 scores, Tebow threw for only 188 and 1 TD?

Shawnbrey McNeal, SMU (photo courtesy Icon SMI)

… Shawnbrey McNeal of SMU (courtesy Icon SMI) rushed for 158 yards in the Mustangs opener, while their leading rusher in 2008 Andre McKinney rushed for 190 yards during the ENTIRE 2008 season?

… Arizona State would be the #1 defense in terms of yards against after Week 1 as they held Idaho State to 37 yards? Where did they rank in 2008? 44^th, as opponents averaged 335 yards against them?

… Air Force, a team that didn’t score more than 41 points in 2008, would score 72 in their opener?

And finally…

… not one, but two players would debut with 15 catches (Freddie Barnes of Bowling Green & Stephen Williams of Toledo), however the guy that leads the nation in yards (189) and TD’s (3), only caught 4 passes? That would be Michael Floyd of Notre Dame.

And with all of these unimaginable occurrences happening within the first weekend of the season, one must wonder what the next chapter holds. With a matchup of two maligned programs next week between Notre Dame and Michigan, one pitting 2 National Title contenders in USC & OSU, and with megapowers Florida, Texas, Cal, Oklahoma and Alabama all playing their own favorite cupcakes, there will surely be more amazing moments and statistics that make the game of Fantasy College Football change every week.

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