Beginning of October... Every Sports Lover's Dream

This blog and all of my blogs are dedicated to my family, especially to my pop pop, who took me to a few games. You were always there for me and I love you forever.

Not only did this weekend bring some exciting professional and college football games but it also brought the end of the regular baseball season, MLB playoff time and the start of the NBA pre-season.

Saturday was chock-full o’ some great college games, with match-ups like Miami and Clemson, Florida and Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma. I guess it’s only appropriate to start this with the team who’s at the top of the rankings and that would be none other than Alabama’s Crimson Tide who ran all over the Gators this weekend. After starting their early demolition of Florida with a field goal the Gators came right back up the field and looked like they might score a touchdown. Instead of going for the tie on 4^th and goal, John Brantley threw an interception and let’s just say it only got worse for the Gators after that. Florida was unable to score a touchdown which made the final score 31-6. This brings Nick Saban’s record at Bama to 38-8.

The Miami Hurricanes traveled to South Carolina to face the Clemson Tigers on Saturday.  This ACC battle was a key victory for the Hurricanes who are now 3-1 (1-0 in the ACC). Jacory Harris continues to have highs and lows in each game, he’s consistently inconsistent. He threw for 205 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions and only completed 13 passes out of 33, (that’s about 39%).  He did however look better than Clemson’s QB Kyle Parker, who threw 3 interceptions and zero touchdowns. Leonard Hankerson, out of St. Thomas Aquinas, came up big in this game, catching 7 times for 147 yards (more than 71% of Miami’s total receiving yards) and 3 of Harris’ TDs. Miami’s Matt Bosher sealed the deal with a 29-yard field goal with 2:40 left in the fourth.

The Red River Rivalry, the annual game between Texas and Oklahoma was played in Oklahoma on Saturday. Sam Bradford’ replacement, Landry Jones, looked good throwing for 2 touchdowns and 236 yards. Colt McCoy’s replacement, Garrett Gilbert, continues to struggle leading the Longhorn offense. Oklahoma won this meeting, making the all time Red River record 59-41 in favor of the Longhorns.

Sunday brought the last games of regular season baseball. The Tampa Bay Rays beat Kansas City to clinch the AL East and the best record in the American League. The Yankees clinched the wild card spot to make the playoffs for the 49^th time. The Texas Rangers clinched the AL West and the Minnesota Twins clinched the AL Central. The Philadelphia Phillies clinched the NL East for the 4th straight year. The Reds clinched the NL Central and the San Francisco Giants beat the Padres to clinch the NL West. The Braves clinched the wild card and will start their playoff run against the Giants on Thursday. The Reds will travel to Philly on Thursday as well. Both AL games are on Wednesday.

NFL Sunday was full of upsets, heartbreaking losses and sloppy wins. After being up 14-0, the 49ers let the Falcons come all the way back to 14-13. On the drive to go up, Matt Ryan threw an interception to the 49ers’ Nate Clements. I thought the game was over at that point. The Falcons’ Roddy White thought differently and forced a fumble in order for the Falcons winning drive to stay alive. Matt Bryant saved the day for the second week in a row, kicking a 43-yard field goal with 2 seconds left on the clock.

The always-good Colts lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who failed to score a touchdown last week against the Eagles. Peyton Manning had his 3^rd 300+ yard game on Sunday but that wasn’t enough to the Jags. This game was close the entire time. Each score was answered with another score. In the middle of the fourth quarter Joseph Addai ran for a touchdown to bring the score to 21-21. Maurice Jones-Drew answered that with an 8 yard touchdown making it 28-21. Peyton Manning, no stranger to having to perform under pressure led his team down the field and threw a TD to Austin Collie with 48 seconds left. At that point, I think Peyton, along with the entire Colt’s team thought they were headed for over-time. Not so fast. The desperate Jaguars sloppily made it to the Colts’ 41 yard-line. With 5 seconds left Jaguars kicker, Josh Scobee kicked the field goal of his life. It flew 59 yards before crossing the uprights. Both of these AFC South teams are 2-2.

Donovan McNabb made his return to Philly on Sunday, in a Redskins jersey. Number 5 was welcomed with a standing ovation, then the game started and the cheers quickly turned to jeers. It was neither team’s best game. Michael Vick left the game in the first quarter with rib and chest injuries. Had he not been injured, this game probably would have looked a whole lot different. Donovan McNabb’s lackluster performance was enough to get him the W, and the revenge on his old team and his old coach, Andy Reid. The final was 17-12, with the Skins scoring all their points in the first half and the Eagles relying on David Akers to score half of their points. The Eagles scored a touchdown in the fourth but failed to complete the 2 point conversion that would have cut the Redskins’ lead to 3 points. I like Donovan and I’m glad he got the victory over the Eagles. These teams are 2-2 now as well.

Staying with the NFC East, the Giants beat the then 3-0 Bears on Sunday Night Football. The rain in New York was quite obvious; neither team seemed to be able to hold on to the ball. The first half was reminiscent of that Steelers-Dolphins game a few years ago (The Steelers won 3-0 in horrible weather in Miami).  At the end the Giants came up on top 17-3 and they also sacked Jay Cutler nine times (and Caleb Hanie once). Lovie Smith had to send out 2 back up QBs after Jay Cutler sustained a concussion. Todd Collins was sent to the sidelines after a blindside hit from LB Michael Boley. Caleb Hanie took the field at the end of the fourth quarter to finish the game.

Just a few more notes from Sunday: Joe Flacco and the Ravens beat their AFC North rivals, the Steelers in a game that came down to the very end. Cincinnati lost to the Browns (WHAT?????) and Detroit almost won for the fourth time this season. The Kansas City Chiefs remain the only undefeated team at 3-0, and 20 teams have lost 2 or more games.