College Confidential

Short shower nothing new to TCU

Two hours before TCU and BYU meet here in Provo, Utah a 10 minute rain shower has pelted the field at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The skies are partly cloudy with spots on of sun dotting the mountains with the temperature in the 60s.
The Horned Frogs (6-0, 2-0 Mountain West Conference) have played two games in rainstorms at Clemson and at home against SMU, and then in an icy 17-degree environment against Air Force in Colorado.

The Frogs and BYU (6-1, 3-0) get started at 6:30 tonight. The winner takes the driver's seat for the MWC title. And the Frogs need a win to keep their chances for BSC bowl berth alive. TCU is ranked No. 8 in the BSC rankings; BYU is ranked No. 16.

Oklahoma tight end Gresham won't play against BYU

Oklahoma All-America tight end Jermaine Gresham will miss Saturday's season-opening game against BYU because of a knee injury that could have further consequences.

Coach Bob Stoops acknowledged Thursday afternoon that Gresham suffered cartilage damage in his right knee this week and was being evaluated further. Stoops said Gresham, team doctors and the training staff are considering options "that could have a bearing on his return."

Gresham, who did not enter last spring's NFL Draft in order to return for his senior season, is a key player in the Sooners' offense. He caught 66 passes for 950 yards and scored 14 touchdowns as a junior.

Apparently, Gresham's loss will not affect cross-trained tight end Brody Eldridge's move to center. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said Flower Mound sophomore James Hanna and sophomore Trent Ratterree will head Saturday's TE depth chart.

--Mike Jones.

 

Another look at the end of BYU-Washington

Excessive celebration? You be the judge here.
Someone's already posted footage from the end of today's BYU-Washington game (sorry it's off some guy's TV, but hey, it's not too bad a picture). Personally I think it's a tough call to make, especially so late in the game (could you imagine that in a BCS bowl game?). According to an Associated Press report, referee Larry Farina said that by rule, officials are required to give a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and that it's not a judgment call.
Oh, and enjoy the extra commentary from the budding Keith Jackson who posted this video. I thought it was amusing. And no, it wasn't me. -Trae Thompson

Countdown talk: No.16 BYU

Quick take: Do I think BYU's talented? Yes. Do I think they can be the BCS darlings of 2008? No. There's hardly anyone back on defense, this team needs to learn how to start a season well and I also agree with a wise man who pointed out that UCLA will definitely have their Sept.13 showdown circled. The Cougars beat them 17-16 in last year's Las Vegas Bowl. This team just has too many hurdles to clear before I'll get into discussions about the BCS.
My player to watch: QB Max Hall (6-1, 201). The former Arizona State transfer got his chance, and he shined. Hall completed 298-of-496 passes with only 12 interceptions for 3,848 yards and 26 touchdowns. His average of 296 yards per game led the Mountain West Conference.

-Trae Thompson

Not sold on Cougars

With all the preseason magazines and previews out, you often see early bowl projections and what teams are so-called "sleepers." One of those popular picks is BYU, which some believe could reach a BCS game. The Cougars are 17th in the USA Today preseason coaches' poll, and ranked 14th by Athlon.
One publication is tapping the brakes, though, on the BYU hype machine.
Pro Football Weekly/CollegeFootballNews.com has BYU ranked 21st. Their projected bowl?
The Armed Forces Bowl here in Fort Worth.

--Trae Thompson

Aztecs advance

San Diego State (31-27) scored its only run in the bottom of the seventh, and hung on for a 1-0 victory over BYU (22-36) in an elimination game in the Mountain West Conference tournament today at Lupton Stadium.
A great pitchers duel took place between Aztecs starter Nate Solow and BYU's Blake Torgerson. Solow (6-7), who went 8 2/3 innings, allowed four hits and one walk while striking out six. At one point, he retired 12 straight batters. Torgerson (6-5) gave up one earned run, two walks and six hits in eight innings, retiring nine straight into the seventh. -Trae

Safe by a mile

Wow, we've got some controversy.
San Diego State had runners on first and second when Brandon Decker hit a hard shot to Cougars third baseman Steve Parker, who played the ball beautifully then turned to make a tough throw to first. Decker had already reached first, but the ump called him out to end the inning. This was a no-brainer. He was safe. Tony Gwynn came out to protest, to no avail.
Still scoreless.... -Trae

Nightcap

About to start the fourth here between Utah and BYU. The Utes lead 3-0, and scored two runs in the top of the third when Dustin Hennis hit a monster two-run shot over the trees in right field. -Trae Thompson