A Very Special Two Part Look at Week 3

Yes, I've gone a bit retro this week in the title this week, but it has been a busy news week and with seven games to review, this needs a two parter. First, a little news: In a rather bizarre story, Northern Colorado's back up punter, Mitch Cozad, was arrested for allegedly stabbing starting punter Rafael Mendoza in the thigh and giving a contusion in the back of the head. USA Today has more of the Tonya Harding-esque details. Continuing on the police blotter theme, three South Florida players will remain suspended until October 14 following a second failed drug test. RB Ricky Ponton, DE Josh Julmiste, and WR Jackie Chambers were all suspended to start the year and the Tampa Tribune has more. Turning on the field news, North Carolina has turned to redshirt freshman Cam Sexton becomes the guy under center as the 0-2 Tar Heels try to right the ship against I-AA power house Furman. Sexton replaces Joe Dailey, who threw four interceptions in the two losses to Rutgers and Virginia Tech. The Raleigh News and Observer has more on a team that is trying to mke a bowl game and still need six more wins after this week. I'll do the other six games Brian, Charlie and special guest Joe Johnson from Corn Nation discussed in the podcast last night tomorrow, but I wanted to take a paragraph or two to talk about the Michigan-Notre Dame game in South Bend. I think all the pressure is on the road team this week. Charlie Weis and Brady Quinn silenced all of us who doubted them with that statement crushing of Penn State. I know that some of my colleagues were a bit quicker to pounce on Penn State's not so stellar game plan, but the Irish team that played last week would have beaten 99% of the teams in I-A. They were that good and progressed that much during the game. While Penn State underplayed and didn't pressure the Irish on the scoreboard, Notre Dame played with an intensity that has not been seen since the days of Lou Holtz's glory years in the early nineties. Add Ohio State's ease in beating Texas, and this Michigan fan is looking forward to 2008. Now, the Wolverines are the team that needs to make a statement. They become the team that has a massive national reputation that cannot deliver the goods. Tennessee destroyed Cal, giving them some respectability. Notre Dame gave backing to their resume by whipping Penn State. Penn State, West Virginia, and most of the SEC gave their credentials with a solid season last year, beating teams they were not supposed to. Michigan and Texas Tech are now the two most highly touted teams without a quality win the last couple years to show for it. They face the challenge of not firing on all cylinders on offense against a team that was very patient on defense. Chad Henne is playing scared, and if Notre Dame can stopthe run, they should win his game as easily as they beat Penn State. The Irish have their swagger back, while Michigan has only an embarrassing string of big game losses to show so far this century. In a game that will hopefully lead to a changing of coaches in the off-season, Notre Dame 35-7. Brady Quinn will firmly establish a duel with Troy Smith of Ohio State on who will win the Heisman. The gap between a good team, and a perceived good team is too much here. And, for once, I hope I'm wrong.