Shockin Upsets Continue

by JIMMIE McDOWELL
In the third week of the 2007 college football campaign shockers continue to transpire the defeat by UCLA at the hands of the Universityof Utah in Salt Lake City, the near defeat of the University of Texas in Orlando, Auburn's loss to Mississippi State, and Louisville's setback in Lexington against fast-improving University of Kentucky garnered much of the spotlight.
Sylvester Croom, on the hot seat at Mississippi State, turned in one of the best coaching jobs of the week in the Maroons' invasion of Auburn. The former University of Alabama standout had to enjoy this sweet victory, a year after beating his alma mater in Tuscaloosa. Suddenly, Sly might become an early entry in the SEC Coach of the Year competition.
It takes four years, more likely five, for a new coach to get his program moving. Sly's arch-rival Ed Orgeron would agree. Ole Miss' resounding loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville looks quite grim with defending national champion Florida invading Oxford this weekend. The Rebels then invade Athens to play Georgia. The Rebs do play Alabama and LSU at home but must make massive improvement to even think about winning against these high-powered foes.
Alabama won a thriller in the final moments against a good Arkansas team and the Tide appears ready to be a serious contender in the West, LSU's leading challenger in that division.
On the national level Michigan is still unbeaten in the Big Ten and the one-sided win over Notre Dame has to revive Wolverines dreams of a Conference title. Ohio State looked very good beating the University of Washington. Northwestern's defeat at the hands of Duke was a shocker, too.
In this third year at Notre Dame Charlie Weis' recruiting does not look so good. He had been discussed as a possible next coach of the New York Giants where he got his start in Pro Football.Remember when Golden Boy Paul Hornung urged his alma mater to lower the entrance requirements and was fired. I was in the press box a couple of years later when Hornung returned from the playing field where he had watched the University of Southern California warm up. He was asked how did the Trojans look.
Hornung said for every big player Notre Dame had USC had five.Every school must concentrate more on speed to blend with size. Florida really proved it by overwhelming Ohio State in last year's national championship game.
Loyal Ole Miss rooter Mitch Lavinghouze attended his 402nd consecutive game watching the Rebs perform. TheNashville trip was a long ride home. Going into the Florida game Buck Howell decided to not make the trip to Oxford and had a hernia operation.
There is genuine concern about the Rebels' poor defensive performance. Major recruiting of high school and junior college standouts who can qualify academically is a must if Ed Orgeron's tour of duty is going to be a success.
Southern Mississippi scored an important victory in Greenville S.C. over East Carolina State, avenging an overtime loss in Hattiesburg in 2006. The Eagles now travel to Boise to play rugged Boise State, coming off with an imposing victory over Joe Glenn's Wyoming Cowboys.
Southern playing three road games in a row is tough. A huge weekend shapes up Oct. 12-13 in Hattiesburg when USM celebrates Homecoming against SMU. Not only will Jim Carmody, Reggie Collier and Company have a reunion, but so will the great 1952-53-54 Southerners. Quarterback Billy Jarrell does a masterful job keeping in tough with his teammates, which includes one of College Football's all-time one-two punches Hugh Lauirin Pepper and Bucky McElroy and the great end Stonewall Jackson Brumfield, all in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
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