Instant reaction to Week 9 developments …
1. The Saban scoreboard
The two losses unfolded eight hours and 1,700 miles apart. They had different fuel sources and plot twists. But deep in the background, there was a fascinating point of commonality between Washington’s third loss in the past four games and Arizona’s fourth consecutive defeat.
The chain reaction created by Nick Saban’s retirement has not produced equal treatment for the schools caught in the aftermath.
Saban seems to be enjoying the new chapter of his life, appearing on ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ and every commercial on television (or so it seems) since stepping down from Alabama in January.
At the other end of the reaction, San Jose State — yes, little old San Jose State — likely has few complaints with the results. (First-year coach Ken Niumatalolo has led the Spartans to five victories.)
But for the three links in the middle of the chain, there is deep discontent, soaring frustration and a noticeable amount of schadenfreude making the rounds.
Alabama’s victory over Missouri on Saturday did nothing to quell the outrage over two October losses — two! — that has engulfed Saban’s replacement, Kalen DeBoer, just two months into his first season.
Saban was Alabama’s vaccine against all the ills and pitfalls that affect college football programs in every region and on every level.
The moment he retired in January, the Crimson Tide became as vulnerable to the whims of the sport as everyone else. The loss at Vanderbilt was proof of that.
DeBoer won’t get much sympathy from Washington fans. If anything, there’s a slice of delight in Seattle as they watch him struggle while dealing with the reality of the transition to the Jedd Fisch era.
The Huskies are 4-4 overall after their second consecutive multi-touchdown loss in the Midwest.
If they learned anything from the 40-16 defeat at Iowa two weeks ago, it wasn’t apparent Saturday in the 31-17 fade at Indiana.
They trailed by two touchdowns early, then pulled within three points briefly in the third quarter. But at winning time, UW mustered little direction offensively or resistance defensively as Indiana took control.
Now, with November roadtrips to Penn State and Oregon, the Huskies have two must-win home games (against USC and UCLA) if they hope to become bowl-eligible.
That’s right, folks. October is coming to a close, and the only certainty about Washington’s postseason fate is that it’s too close to call.
2. Fall of their discontent, II
Meanwhile, schadenfreude is alive and well in Fisch’s former home.
Arizona fans are undoubtedly enjoying UW’s struggles — and relieved that basketball season is almost here — because Fisch’s replacement, Brent Brennan, hasn’t provided any reason for excitement.
The Wildcats’ 31-26 loss to West Virginia on Saturday completed a winless October that has a smattering of irate fans wondering if a coaching change might be necessary.
Arizona is decimated by injuries on defense, grasping for consistency on offense and generally drifting under the leadership of Brennan and his staff.
The fourth-quarter signs of life against West Virginia featured plenty of Tetairoa McMillan, which is always a good thing …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
