#5 Oregon vs. #7 Kansas State
On paper, or at least in the rankings, a great match-up but having seen both these teams play a number of teams this season I had a feeling that it wasn't nearly as close as the rankings would lead you to believe.
The Ducks blasted out of the gate thanks to the human blur, DeAnthony Thomas who took the opening kick in Glendale, Arizona and streaked to the end zone, with Oregon never looking back.
The entire game was Oregon doing what it does best, play fast paced football, and see if their opponent could keep up. Kansas State could not. This was a game the Wildcats needed to slow down and they did for a while after Oregon scored their second touchdown. Then the Ducks lightning attack struck right before halftime and you had a feeling this game was over.
No one complained about me watching this game, and Mrs. Keith even put in her two cents about Oregon because she stayed up late to watch Stanford beat them and ruin their shot at a national title.
Growing weary of football, I found a new show (or at least new to me) on PBS called "Market Warriors" about professional pickers that was actually well done, informative and hooked me. It was like they took all those pawn shop/storage unit shows from cable channels and threw out all the awful acting and staged competition to make this show. Meet Miller Gaffney, a picker on the show.
The other cast members were interesting as well. I got hooked on the episode and forgot about the Fiesta Bowl for a while. Fortunately I turned back in time to see the rarest of the rare.
The One Point Safety. I had only heard whispers of such a play. And it was if the football gods whispered to me to turn off PBS and get back to ESPN to see it. I swear to you, I turned the game back on just as the play happened. Confusion at the game, confusion on the couch on Blackhawk Drive.
Then referee Ron Cherry stepped to the field and said, "On the previous play, we have an unusual ruling,"and then went on to explain the ONE POINT SAFETY! Indeed, the great white buffalo of football plays.
(I tried to include the video but Youtube is refusing to cooperate, here's the link to watch it yourself.)
What makes this play even stranger, ESPN play by play announcer Brad Nessler was also calling the only other game where a one point safety occurred, a game in 2004 between Texas and Texas A&M.
After this rarity, the game was all but over. How do you come back from that? Kansas State did not.
Oregon 35 Kansas State 17
Game Notes:
-This may have been Chip Kelly's last game coaching the Ducks. There are three NFL teams that are interested in installing Mr. Kelly's offense to their team. Maybe ESPN can stage a Lebron-like event where Kelly comes out, with three team hats on a table, and takes 30 minutes to make his decision.
-I would really like to see Alabama and Oregon play.
-Bowl swag: Fossil, you win. Gift suite presented by PAC Sports Division, Fossil watch, Ogio Mercur backpack.
As noted above, I had Oregon winning this one, seeing no chance for Kansas State's defense to contain the Ducks. I moved up to 3rd place in my bowl picks game still with the most potential points to win.
Cotton Bowl tonight, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, should be a good one.
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