Upsets

I watched alot of the Alabama v. South Carolina game last week. South Carolina was in charge in that game. Alabama made a good effort towards the end, but the fact of the matter is that it was never their game to lose. It was all USC. On paper, USC had no business knocking off the juggernaut Crimson Tide. But that’s why they play the games isn’t it. It’s a game of inches where the difference between the number one team and the number nineteen team is not as big as we all think it is. There are very few unwinnable games in Division I college football.

Coach Saban admitted that he didn’t think that they were the best team in the country. He agreed they were the best last year, but at this point in the 2010 he doesn’t beleive that his team has proved a thing. I agree with him. But we all know that, at this point in the season, much of the top ten is based on last year’s performances. This is the point in the season where we really see what teams are made of. There are two components in action here. Number One: Most teams have not already played three nationally ranked teams. For most schools October is where they start to get to the meat on their schedule. TCU for example has played only one game that was even really contested. That was Oregon State in their opener. Number Two: Teams that have not developed a personality will either do so now or struggle all year. This is the stretch where they define their season. Maintain momentum from September or turn around a losing stretch. After an unexpected performance last week, we are all hoping that BYU is in the “turn this around” category. 

In 1991 BYU knocked off number one ranked Miami. It was a win that few expected. Granted, BYU boasted a Heisman Trophy winner on that squad and the team turned out to be very good. But that game was a defining moment for Ty Detmer and that team. This weekend could be a watershed moment for Jake Heaps.

In 1985 UTEP won a single conference game in the WAC. It was against the defending national champion BYU Cougars. UTEP finished that year 1-10. You can’t tell me that BYU beating TCU this weekend is a bigger stretch than UTEP beating BYU in 1985. BYU has been on both ends of this thing.

Michigan vs. Appalachian State 2007. That win surpised more people than BYU over TCU would this weekend. My point is that any team can win any weekend if they come to play.

Last week I thought the Cougs had a slim chance to win the game. But they did exactly what they needed to do and they got it done. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is why they play the games. Every team has to believe they can win any game. The gap in talent and ability at the Division I level is not as big as we all think it is. BYU has proven that they can do what they need to do in crucial moments. They just need to do it consistently. They are starting to show what they are made of. This is the perfect time to get it firing on all cylinders.

Go Cougs!

-Matt