The following column is written and submitted by P. Woodward. Please feel free to post questions or comments: I have stated all there is to say about Penn State Football and the Ohio State game where the Buckeyes are favored by 13 points. I thought the spread would be higher. I believe the odds makers have a great deal of respect for the Penn State Defense, especially against the run. I figured that I would take a look at some college football news and facts. HAPPY HALLIDAY.....University of Washington Senior Quarterback, Connor Halliday leads the nation in both passing yards and touchdowns. Through seven games, he has completed 292 passes for 3,344 yards and 28 touchdowns. BOYD WHERE NOT PROHIBITED........One of the most impressive wide receivers I have seen in the college ranks this season is Pittsburghs Tyler Boyd. The 62, 190-pound sophomore has 36 catches for 514 yards and five TDs through the Panthers first seven games. Last year, he set the schools freshman records for receptions with 85 and receiving yards with 1,174. LIONS ATTENDANCE.....Penn State is ranked seventh in the nation in per game attendance with an average of 99,806. The schools above them include Ohio State (1st), 106,761, Texas A&M, (2nd), 104, 298, Michigan (3rd), 104,113, LSU (4th), 101,460, Alabama (5th) 101, 315 and Tennessee (6th), 100,997. RAZORBACKS HAVE KILLER SCHEDULE......The 3-4 Arkansas Razorbacks have the toughest schedule in the country. The team has already played #5 Auburn, #4 Alabama (lost 14-13), #9 Georgia as well as Texas A&M and Texas Tech. Four of the Razorbacks remaining five games include #1 Mississippi State, #3 Mississippi, #24 LSU and Missouri. As an interesting note, this year is the 50 Anniversary of Arkansas 1964 National Championship. Two famous members of that team were Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former University of Miami and Cowboys Head Coach Jimmy Johnson. BIG DROPS FOR HAMILTON AND LEWIS......After Penn States 4-0 start, the Nits wide receivers, sophomore Geno Lewis and red shirt freshman DeSean Hamilton were ranked in the top 12 in receiving yards. Currently, Hamilton is ranked 35th and Lewis is 47th. The huge fall for both is the result of Quarterback Chrstian Hackenberg not being able to get them the ball over the last two games and the fact that the Nits have been off two of the last three weeks and that has allowed many other receivers to move ahead of them. HISTORIC HAPPENING AT HARVARD...........Harvard Stadium was the site of Janis Joplins last concert before she passed away in 1970. NEW ADDITIONS........the Big 10s two newest teams, the Maryland Terrapins and the Rutgers Scarlett Knights are both 5-2. JOKING ABOUT JOHNNY...... when former Heisman Trophy Winner Johnny Manziel (known as Johnny Football at Texas A&M) was drafted by the Cleveland Browns this past April and was unable to win the starting quarterback job, he was given a new nickname......JOHNNY BENCHED. It should be pointed out that in just two seasons with the Aggies, Manziel recorded some mind-boggling stats. He threw for 7,828 yards and 63 touchdowns and rushed for 2,169 yards and another 30 scores. TIDE TITLES........Nick Saban has led Alabama to four National Championships. He still trails the late, great Paul Bear Bryant who won six. HUSKERS HUNDRED YARD MAN.....Nebraskas Ameer Abdullah is a splendid running back. He had a fantastic 2013 season rushing for 100 or more yards in 11 games. 1 of 21........Penn States James Franklin was one of 21 new head coaches who took over college football programs this year. TEAMS THE NITS DONT PLAY........In 2014, the Nits were fortunate that they did not have #16 Nebraska (6-1), #24 Minnesota (6-1) and Wisconsin (4-2) on their schedule. RECORDS FOR RECRUITS....when you look at the current records of the high schools for which the 18, 2015 recruits play for, those teams have a total won-loss record of 89-26. Of those teams, one school is 8-0 while 11 others have just one defeat on the season. GOOGLE IT........Penn States Beaver Stadium was the first in the nation to be available on Googles street map where visitors could talk a virtual walking tour down the tunnel and onto the field. ONLY A DOZEN LOSING YEARS......Notre Dame has played 118 football seasons in its history. The Irish have recorded winning records in 106 of them. FLOWERS FOR THE UGA.......Before every Georgia football game, flowers are placed at the graves of every former UGA, the teams mascot. GENERALLY SPEAKING......Reville, the collie mascot for Texas A&M, is actually commissioned as a 5-star General. LATERAL MOVEMENT....Michigan holds the record for most laterals in a game. They had eight of them on the last play of the 2005 Alamo Bowl. GO NITS........PLAY FOR YOUR COACHES, YOUR TEAMMATES, YOUR FANS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY.......YOUR RESPECT.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 10:54:51 +0000