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Bar Chat

10/31/2022

World Series 1-1

Add-on posted early Wed. a.m.

World Series

The $330 million man came through for Philadelphia last night in the rain-delayed Game 3.  Bryce Harper blasted a two-run homer in the bottom of the first off Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr., and the Phils would go on to hit a record-tying five homers off McCullers on the way to a 7-0 win and a 2-1 Series lead.

After homering, in the bottom of the second, Harper offered some advice to Alec Bohm before Bohm blasted a home run of his own, Brandon Marsh then following with another shot, 4-0, and then in the fifth, Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins went back-to-back for the 7-0 lead which the Phillies pen preserved after starter Ranger Suarez went five scoreless.

Philadelphia is 6-0 at Citizens Bank Park this postseason, which doesn’t bode well for a Houston team looking to somehow win one of the next two to get the series back home.

As for whether Harper saw that McCullers was tipping his pitches, and the advice to Bohm, the superstar said: “I think that’s just general conversation.  Trying to get as much information as we can from each other.”

Heh heh. 

College Football

We had the release of the first College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday, which will now be every Tuesday through Nov. 29, and then the final poll, Sun. Dec. 4, after all the conference championships.

Never make too much of the first poll, especially with Georgia-Tennessee, Michigan-Ohio State, and the SEC title game among the huge contests coming up.

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I wrote the above before the release of the poll and it confirmed everything we all knew…don’t make too much of it.

1. Tennessee 8-0
2. Ohio State 8-0
3. Georgia 8-0
4. Clemson 8-0
5. Michigan 8-0
6. Alabama 7-1
7. TCU 8-0
8. Oregon 7-1
9. USC 7-1
10. LSU 6-2
11. Ole Miss 8-1
12. UCLA 7-1
13. Kansas State 6-2
14. Utah 6-2
15. Penn State 6-2
16. Illinois 7-1
17. North Carolina 7-1
18. Oklahoma State 6-2
19. Tulane 7-1
20. Syracuse 6-2
21. Wake Forest 6-2
22. North Carolina State 22
23. Oregon State 6-2…Beaverware out of control in sports drawer
24. Texas 5-3
25. UCF 6-2

Here's what we know.  The SEC will get two teams in the playoffs, the winner of Ohio State-Michigan is in, and Clemson or TCU.

Of course this can all change in the blink of an eye, and it will.

North Carolina, at 17, can make a massive move by season’s end if it runs the table and beats Clemson in the ACC title game, for example.

And the eventual Pac-12 champ, Oregon, USC, or UCLA, is not out of the picture just yet, though Utah can really muck things up for the conference.

For now, enjoy Tennessee-Georgia, Alabama-LSU…and for ACC fans, Wake-N.C. State and Clemson-Notre Dame.

--Auburn fired Bryan Harsin Monday following a 41-27 home loss to Arkansas on Saturday that dropped the Tigers’ record to 3-5, and Harsin 9-12 in his brief tenure.  He is owed $15.3 million, which will be paid in full over time.  His predecessor, Gus Malzahn, just two years ago, received a $21.7 million buyout.

Auburn is a good job if you can get it, but powerful donors have undue influence on presidents and ADs.

--One of the Michigan football players attacked by Michigan State after Saturday’s rivalry game in Ann Arbor is planning to press charges after he was allegedly struck in the face with a helmet.

The father of Wolverines defensive back Gemon Green told ESPN the family expects to take legal action “on those involved” after video showed a Michigan State player hitting his son with a helmet.  Green’s father said the helmet also struck his son in the back and shoulder.

Video from the tunnel after Michigan’s 29-7 win also showed Spartans players attacking defensive back Ja’den McBurrows.

Michigan State suspended four players – Tank Brown, Khary Crump, Angelo Grose and Zion Young.

Spartans coach Mel Tucker pointed to MSU’s “football core values” including “integrity, discipline, unselfishness, toughness, and accountability” in announcing the suspensions, calling videos of the incidents “disturbing electronic evidence.”

“Right now we have an ongoing police investigation,” Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters on Monday.  “What happened in the tunnel was egregious. Sickening to watch the videos, the ones that are on social media right now, and also the ABC tunnel cam that’s at a higher elevation that shows much more of what took place.  As I said, those are sickening to watch.

“There needs to be accountability. There needs to be a full, thorough, timely investigation. I can’t imagine this will not result in criminal charges. The videos are bad, and it’s clear what transpired.  It seems very open-and-shut. As they say, watch the tape.”

The president of Michigan State, Samuel Stanley, said Sunday in a statement: “I’m extremely saddened by this incident and the unacceptable behavior depicted by members of our football program.  On behalf of Michigan State University, my heartfelt apology to the University of Michigan and the student-athletes who were injured.”

Try student-thugs.

Tuesday, MSU suspended four more players, making it eight.

If I were the Big Ten, I’d rule all Michigan State sports programs this academic year ineligible for conference championships.

So like the hoops team wouldn’t qualify for the Big Ten Championship tournament.

Like I said Sunday, unless the Big Ten does something, or the MSU athletics department, the hoops games between the two schools could be very ugly with students getting involved.

NFL

--Cleveland had a big win over Cincinnati (4-4) Monday night, 32-13, breaking a four-game losing streak and moving to 3-5.  It was the eight win in nine meetings against their in-state rivals.

The Browns’ Jacoby Brissett (17/22, 278, 1-0, 133.7) outplayed Joe Burrow (25/35, 232, 2-1, 96.4), though Burrow and Cincy were missing stud receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

Nick Chubb did his thing for Cleveland, 23 carries, 101 yards, and two touchdowns, while his sidekick, Kareem Hunt, had 72 yards from scrimmage.

The Browns, in playing their most complete game of the season, also sacked Burrow five times.

So it’s not too late for the Browns to become playoff relevant.

--Jets fans have been patient with Zach Wilson, but there will be calls for promoting Mike White (who coach Robert Salah elevated to No. 2 over Joe Flacco before Sunday’s game, saying the move is permanent.  “We need to know what we have in Mike.”)

Wilson, simply, is a jerk.  After throwing three godawful interceptions against the Patriots, Zach talked of how it is “boring” to throw it out of bounds.  He did admit after, “Sometimes you go there and you wonder, ‘Why did I just do that?”

NFL insider Peter King:

“On three straight possessions straddling the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth, trailing 16-10 to the hated Patriots.  First possession: ugly pick thrown to Devin McCourty.  Second possession: really ugly pick thrown/telegraphed lazily to Devin McCourty. Third possession: incomplete, incomplete, incomplete, incomplete, ball turned over on downs, 8:49 left in the game, New England up 22-10.  The reason the Jets lost a 13th straight game to the team every Jet fans loves to hate is on one person: Zach Wilson.”

Salah said Wilson must learn to understand that “boring” can be good – meaning taking a checkdown or throwing it away.

If Wilson plays poorly Sunday at home against the Bills, calls for Mike White will fill the air.

--Baltimore picked up Bears linebacker Roquan Smith on Monday, right before the NFL trade deadline.  The Ravens are sending Chicago a second- and a fifth-round pick in 2023 for Smith, who leads the NFL with 83 tackles.

An awesome pickup for the Ravens in getting the two-time second-team All-Pro.

Smith was playing out the final year of his rookie contract and he hadn’t been able to reach an extension with management during the offseason.  In August he publicly demanded a trade after contract talks broke down.

Chicago had just traded defensive end (and Smith buddy) Robert Quinn to the Eagles for a fourth-round pick.

--I need to go back to late Sunday and note the greatness of Christian McCaffrey, the new 49er who became the 11th player in NFL history* with a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in one game, as San Francisco beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-14.

*Just the fourth since 1970.

McCaffrey threw a 34-yard TD pass in the first half.  He caught a 9-yard TD pass from Jimmy Garoppolo in the third quarter and then put the Niners (4-4) in control with a TD run early in the fourth.

McCaffrey had 94 yards rushing, 55 receiving on eight receptions, and the TD pass.

The Super Bowl champion Rams are 3-4.

--On his SiriusXM show “Let’s Go!” with Jim Gray on Monday, Tom Brady talked candidly about his split with Gisele.

“There’s a lot of professionals in life that go through things that they deal with at work and they deal with at home,” Brady said.  “And obviously the good news is it’s a very amicable situation and I’m really focused on two things: taking care of my family and certainly my children, secondly doing the best job I can to win football games.  So, that’s what professionals do.  You focus at work when it’s time to work and then when you come home you focus on the priorities that are at home.  All you can do is the best you can do. That’s what I’ll continue to do as long as I’m working and as long as I’m being a dad.”

As a follow-up, he was asked about compartmentalizing the two.

“I think that’s what being a professional is,” Brady continued.  “I’ve dealt with a lot of challenging situations on and off the field in 23 years, and a lot of it does play out in front of a lot of people.  I think the interesting thing for a football player or athlete in general is we’re not actors even though we’re on TV.  That is our real self out there.  We’re just trying to do our best.  That’s how people have really gotten to know me over the years, by being on TV.  That is an authentic self that is out there to compete with my teammates every day, and you’re giving all you can to the team.

“We all have unique challenges in life. We’re all humans.  We do the best we can do. I have incredible parents, that have always taught me the right way to do things.  I want to be a great father to my children, and always do things the right way as well. …I want to always be able to hold my head high on and off the field, and I’m gonna try to do that as long as I’m here.”

NBA

--Mike Lupica / New York Daily News

“Kyrie Irving said he is not going to stand down and does not believe he did anything wrong in promoting an antisemitic film on his social media accounts. This despite Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai and the NBA both releasing statements condemning Irving’s decision.

“It was a little over sixteen months ago when the toe of Kevin Durant’s sneaker was on the line at the end of Game 6 against the Bucks, and the Nets were that close to going to the Eastern Conference finals, and maybe to a title after that.  Now, this soon, they have become the traveling circus of the NBA, with Kyrie Irving acting the head clown.  Somebody should explain to Joe Tsai, the owner of the Nets, that this is what can happen when you’ve got the wrong stars running the show. Everybody can end up looking like clowns.

“Now they are all stuck with each other, unless Tsai has finally had enough with Irving, who has somehow turned being a basketball star into a sideline as he works full-time looking to set dumpster fires on social media, as if the guy is having some kind of allergic reaction to a vaccine shot he never received.

“He sabotaged one Nets season because of his anti-vaxx stance.  Now he seems bound and determined to do the same to this one, as he tweets out old theories from a bedbug like Alex Jones and directs millions of his social media followers to a movie that is anti-just-about-everything civil and decent and humane called “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.”

“He’s the one who needs to wake up and realize once and for all that he’s not the deep thinker that he likes to think he is.  Or as real as he likes to think he is.  That’s what Kanye West called Kyrie the other day: Real.  Yeah.  A real horse’s ass….

“This is the player, along with Durant, to whom Tsai, a rich and powerful and very smart guy, turned over the Brooklyn Nets….

“This isn’t a free speech issue. It’s about Irving acting like this kind of ill-informed meathead, by even tweeting out a link to a hate-filled movie like that, in a world where a guy in a full Nazi outfit walks into a bar in lower Manhattan, and the meathead armies of the right make jokes about the husband of the Speaker of the House being beaten into brain surgery with a hammer.  Maybe Kyrie Irving did leave Duke way, way too soon.

“So Irving is cheered on by the likes of Kanye West, which ought to tell him plenty, and tries to blame the media for his problems, and continues to be the face and the voice of the Nets.  Until he is somebody else’s problem….

“You make the world smarter, or dumber.  Time for Kyrie to finally pick a side.  Unless he already has.”

So Tuesday, the Nets fired head coach Steve Nash after the 2-5 start, Nash having gone 94-67 since taking over in 2020.  Jacque Vaughn will be the interim coach, a position he held when the Nets canned Kenny Atkinson.

And then we learned the Nets are looking to hire former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka.

Udoka is currently suspended for the entire 2022-23 season by the Celtics due to a violation of team policies.  Udoka was reportedly in a relationship with a team staffer.

The Celtics granted the Nets permission to speak to Udoka.

GM Sean Marks, who many feel should have been fired himself, said the organization is discussing an appropriate course of action for disciplining Irving.

In a game Tuesday night, the Nets (2-6) fell to the Bulls in Brooklyn, 108-99, as Irving was horrendous, 2-of-12, 0-for-6 from three.

Charles Barkley weighed in on TNT last night after the announcement Nash was fired.

“This is all on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons.  Steve Nash is a scapegoat,” Barkley said.  “This thing was never going to work when [Irving] said we don’t need a coach.”

Barkley added that the team was good during its 2021 playoff run that ultimately resulted in a second-round loss to the Bucks.  He asserted that the criticism of Nash only started after that run.

“Nobody was talking about how bad of a coach Steve Nash was three years ago,” he said. “All of the sudden these guys start acting like fools and jackasses and now Steve Nash can’t coach.”

Barkley added NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been far too slow to deal with Irving’s latest incident.

“I think he should have suspended him,” Barkley said.  “I think Adam should have suspended him.  First of all, Adam is Jewish – you can’t take my $40 million and insult my religion.  You gonna insult me, you have the right, but I have the right to say, ‘You can’t take my $40 million and insult my religion.’  I think the NBA, they made a mistake.  We’ve suspended people and fined people who have made homophobic slurs.  And that was the right thing to do.  If you insult the Black community, you should be suspended or fined heavily.”

Golf Balls

--Eamon Lynch / Golfweek

“Edward Bernays was considered the godfather of American propaganda, the dark art politely referred to in corporate circles as public relations and marketing.  During a lengthy career – he died at age 103 – Bernays successfully sold women on the idea that smoking was preferable to eating and that Lucky Strikes were to be brandished as feminist ‘torches of freedom’ (while privately imploring his wife to quit). Later, he leveraged manufactured populism and credulous journalists to warn of a communist threat in Guatemala, eventually helping engineer a CIA-backed coup that installed a dictator more friendly to the interests of another client, United Fruit Company….

“Decades later, the tools in a propagandist’s Pandora’s Box remain largely unchanged. The contriving of phony public support may be more technologically advanced, but access-hungry stenographers and rote messengers can be had for a few riyal.  Well, not quite that cheaply, at least not for LIV Golf.  And yet the Saudi-backed circuit’s attempt to simulate buzz for its season finale at Donald Trump’s Doral Resort in Florida was executed with a predictable clumsiness that belies its budget.  The more money Greg Norman spends, the less Crown Prince MBS seems to get in return.

“Friday brought a deluge of social media posts by players declaring their happiness, excitement, gratitude and amazement at LIV’s growth and game-changing impact. Their dispatches bore all the spontaneity and authenticity of hostage tapes, albeit from willing and well-compensated captives.

“ ‘What an amazing year it’s been.  Game-changing,’ wrote Sergio Garcia.

“ ‘Incredible to see LIV grow the sport,’ added Louis Oosthuizen.

“ ‘This was an amazing year and can’t wait for the next years to come.  I’m super honored to be part of Fireballs.’  That from Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra.  Fireballs refers to his team and not to the missiles his employer has been raining upon Yemeni civilians since the Spaniard was 14 years old.

“ ‘I am so proud and honored to be part of the Niblicks,’ said Bubba Watson, referring to the team that owns him for which he hasn’t actually played due to injury. ‘It’s been an amazing year.  Five months ago to where we are today – LIV Golf is taking off.  Yeah, I said it.  LIV Golf is taking off.’

“ ‘Making the jump into a start up product like LIV and seeing it grow so much, so quickly has been exciting and rewarding to be part of,’ wrote Graeme McDowell.  His followers seemed unconvinced.  ‘Are they literally standing over you with the sabre when ‘you’ write this crap?’ one replied.

“Thus golfers are rendered bots, peddling en masse a narrative of success achieved and traction gained, despite scant supporting evidence that LIV is in fact ‘taking off.’

“The worldwide viewing audience for LIV events is often comparable to the number of Super Bowl viewers who might die of natural causes before the halftime show, and that in turn is a multiple of the number of spectators on site.  Tickets to the game-changing event that’s growing the sport this weekend in Miami were being sold – or, more accurately, were available – for $4 on the secondary market.  There’s no TV deal, despite LIV negotiating to buy time on Fox Sports for its product, and no major sponsors eager to don a hazmat suit and climb aboard the Good Ship Shark. Those touting LIV as a rousing success are paid by LIV, or aspire to be. Beyond that congregation, believers are harder to come by.

“A day may arrive when LIV becomes the success that its paid endorsers and would-be bootlickers claim it already is.  But for now, the only storyline it has is money.  That grants LIV staying power – so long as it suits the whims of its isolated, mercurial benefactor – but sports fans tend not to grant allegiance to cash-centric enterprises (Jay Monahan would be advised to note that this is as true of Fed Ex Cup payouts as it is of LIV purses).

“This weekend’s conclusion of the LIV season won’t herald an interval in the accompanying theatrics.  Expect rumors of fresh defections, more threats of litigation, increased bluster, more frequent claims of conspiracies.  But there will also be a steady drumbeat for a deal to end the rancor. It won’t emanate only from those with no stomach for a fight and who want an exit ramp to easy street, but also from industry figures who sense an opportunity to suction Saudi money and who need to position their avarice as an act of conciliation for the good of the sport.

“Beware the approaching troupe of ethical acrobats who try to convince us that long-term commerce can’t be hostage to short-term concerns, like bonesaw murders and rights abuses.  They represent the final push of Saudi propaganda, outwardly respectable moral ciphers whose aim is to exhaust doubters and critics to a point where accommodations can be reached and checks cashed. A long winter lies ahead.”

For the record, I didn’t watch any of the eight LIV events one single second online.  There was literally zero reason to do so.

Next year, LIV will have a 14-event schedule including nine stops in the U.S. and five overseas, and all the while the LIV golfers, who claimed they wanted a reduced schedule so they could spend more time with their families and on their charitable causes, will bitch and moan that they can’t play the PGA Tour’s top events.

--Going back to last weekend’s PGA Tour event at Port Royal in Bermuda, Caleb Surratt, an 18-year-old freshman at Tennessee earned an exemption into the tournament by virtue of coming in first in the newly created Elite Amateur Cup, a seven-event summer-long series of top national amateur tournaments.

He then shot a first-round 71 and needed to go low on Friday to make the cut.  So Surratt shot 64 to make the cut with a shot to spare.

Saturday was a wee bit different.  Surratt shot an 85, including a 12 on the par-4 14th (four penalty strokes).  He then recovered for a 65 in the fourth round and a T65 finish.

According to the tour, the 21-shot swing was the largest by any player in a PGA Tour event from Round 2 to Round 3 since John Daly went 63-86 in 2012 at the Shriners Children’s Open.

Stuff

--Reminder, Saturday at around 5:40 p.m. ET is the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Flightline.  Johnny Mac sent me his final workout and this horse is freakin’ awesome.

--And Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series finale at Phoenix is being held…Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain.

Whit W. reminded me to look at Chastain’s final lap in last Sunday’s race at Martinsville to secure his spot in the final four and as the announcers said, Chastain’s move was straight out of a video game.  Spectacular.

This one will be wrapping up roughly 5:30-5:45 p.m. ET in terms of catching the last 20 laps or so, as I set your TV schedule for you.

--Yippee…my Tottenham Spurs moved on to the Champions League knockout phase, the Round of 16, with a stirring 2-1 win over Marseille yesterday on a Pierre-Emile Hojberg tally in the 95th minute.

Next Bar Chat, Sunday p.m.

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Add-on posted up top by noon, Wed.

[Posted Sunday p.m.]

NFL Hall of Fame Quiz: Name the school where each of these HOFers went to. Steve Atwater, Dave Casper, Curley Culp, Charles Haley, Charlie Joiner, Sonny Jurgensen, Leroy Kelly.  Answer below.

World Series

What a start…Game 1 Friday night in Houston…Justin Verlander on the mound for the Astros.

Yes, the future Hall of Famer and probable 2022 A.L. Cy Young Award winner who is 15-5, 3.05 ERA, in the ALDS and ALCS, lifetime, but entered Friday, 0-6, 5.68, in seven World Series starts.

Early on, however, Verlander was sharp and Houston jumped off to a 5-0 start off Aaron Nola as Kyle Tucker, he of the under-the-radar 107-RBI season, blasted two home runs (4 RBI) to give the ‘Stros the lead after three innings.  Game over.

Until it wasn’t.  Philadelphia tied it up at 5-5 in the fifth with some clutch hitting and Verlander was gone….five innings, 5 earned, Series ERA up to 6.07.  ‘Tis a mystery.

“We’re down five, we faced adversity, and we did what we always do,” said Philadelphia right fielder Nick Castellanos after the game.  “Just found a way to pass the baton and keep something going.”

And so the Phillies would go on to win it 6-5 in 10 innings on catcher J.T. Realmuto’s home run, becoming just the sixth team in World Series history to overcome a five-run deficit.

Castellanos, who had a poor regular season in his first year of a five-year, $100 million contract, taking heat all year from the Philly faithful, saved the game in the ninth inning with a sliding catch before Realmuto became the first catcher to hit an extra-inning homer in a World Series game since Carlton Fisk in 1976.

I also have to add that aside from the Philly bullpen shutting out the Astros over the last 5 2/3 innings, David Robertson, a late-season acquisition whom the Mets desperately needed, closed things out in the bottom of the tenth against the heart of the Astros’ order.

Houston won 106 games during the regular season, Philadelphia 87…but it was 1-0 Philly.

And then Saturday, Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena, and Yordan Alvarez opened the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back-to-back doubles off Zack Wheeler on just four pitches*, 2-0 Houston in the blink of the eye, Alex Bregman hit a 2-run homer off Wheeler in the fifth to make it 5-0, and this time the Astros held on 5-2, to even things up at 1-1.

*The first time in World Series history that a team opened up a game with three consecutive extra-base hits.

Wheeler entered the game with a 1.78 ERA this postseason, and a 1.34 ERA dating back to his last seven starts since coming off the injured list.  And then he was ambushed.

For Houston, Framber Valdez was solid, 6 1/3, one run, 9 Ks.

Games 3, 4 and 5 are in Philadelphia, starting Monday night.

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--MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the handwriting appears to be on the wall and that the Oakland A’s are headed to Las Vegas, Manfred telling Sirius XM that he’s no longer optimistic the team can remain in Oakland.

The A’s and Oakland have been in discussions regarding a new stadium for years, but there’s never been any real progress concerning a new development (Howard Terminal) and making a stadium part of the project.

The team’s lease at the Coliseum ends after the 2024 season.

Manfred was a little more optimistic Tampa Bay will remain in St. Petersburg.

--Tony Clark, executive director of the MLB Players Association, strongly voiced his disappointment Friday that the World Series did not have a single American-born Black player on either team for the first time since 1950.  Yikes.

“This is an issue that has been front and center for a long time.  It’s not a new issue.  I will continue to remain a glass half-full guy to suggest we can make improvements going forward.

“But it is truly unfortunate that any Black player who may be watching these games is not going to see someone that looks like them. As a result, they may make a decision against continuing to keep playing our great game and move to something else.  That is disappointing, and disheartening.”

It is.

Black players represented only 6.8% of the opening-day rosters this year, with 11 of the 30 teams having no more than one Black player.  [Bob Nightengale / USA TODAY]

--Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said in an interview that he plans to keep Aaron Boone as his manager.

Boone had agreed last October to a three-year deal with a team option for 2025.

This is a dumb move.

It’s also assumed GM Brian Cashman will get a new contract, his current one expiring tomorrow.

Steinbrenner declined to address the pending free agency of outfielder Aaron Judge.

--The Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright, 41, announced he is returning for one more season, his 19th, after hinting earlier he might retire.  He was just fine this season…a 3.71 ERA in 32 starts.

Wainwright is 195-117, 3.38, for his career and getting to 200 wins will be a key if he is to have any kind of shot at the Hall of Fame…way down the road.

College Football Review

[Comments posted prior to release of new AP Poll]

I’ll address the elephant in the room down below…but for now, this week was all about ensuring we set things up for the biggie, next week, Tennessee at Georgia.

So with 5 Clemson and 6 Alabama idle….

No. 1 Georgia (8-0) handled Florida (4-4) 42-20.

2 Ohio State (8-0) struggled early against 13 Penn State (6-2) at Happy Valley, trailing 14-13 at the half, and leading just 16-14 after three.

Penn State then took an early fourth quarter lead, 21-16, before C.J. Stroud and Co. went on a 28-3 run and won it 44-31, the Nittany Lions with a meaningless late score.

Stroud finished 26/33, 354, 1-0, Marvin Harrison Jr. with another big game, 10 receptions, 185 yards.  Sean Clifford threw three interceptions for Penn State.

PSU coach James Franklin is now 1-8 vs. Ohio State and 3-6 against Michigan.

3 Tennessee (8-0) rolled over 19 Kentucky (5-3) 44-6, Heisman candidate Hendon Hooker with three touchdown passes and one rushing.

4 Michigan (8-0) stays very much in the CFP conversation with a 29-7 win over Michigan State (3-5), Blake Corum with another 177 yards rushing, but the story was after the game, when as many as 10 MSU players assaulted two Michigan players in the tunnel, one supposedly suffering a broken nose. 

Police have launched an investigation, according to the Detroit News.

This is outrageous, and just imagine the tensions at the first Michigan-Michigan State basketball game this season.  It could get very, very ugly.

7 TCU (8-0) beat West Virginia (3-5) on the road.

8 Oregon (7-1) continued to roll after their season-opening loss to Georgia, defeating Cal (3-5) 42-24, as Bo Nix passed for 412 yards and three scores.

9 Oklahoma State (6-2) suffered a brutal 48-0 loss at the hands of 22 Kansas State (6-2), as the Cowboys’ hopes for the Big 12 title and a possible New Year’s Six bowl berth are officially extinguished.  The Wildcats outgained OSU 495-217!

10 USC (7-1) held on for a 45-37 win at Arizona (3-5), as Caleb Williams threw for 411 yards and five touchdowns.

In other games…

12 UCLA (7-1) should crack the top ten again after a 38-13 win over Stanford (3-5) as running back Zach Charbonnet rumbled for 198 yards and three touchdowns, while catching five passes for another 61.

15 Ole Miss (8-1) beat Texas A&M (3-5) 31-28 at College Station.  That’s your $100 million coach, Jimbo Fisher, 3-5.

Notre Dame (5-3) had a nice road win at 16 Syracuse (6-2) 41-24, the Orange still smarting from their tough loss at Clemson last weekend.  Mark R.’s Fighting Irish rushed for 246 yards, eclipsing the 200-yard mark for a fourth time in five games.

17 Illinois (7-1) continues to carve out one of the 2 or 3 best stories in all of college football, 26-9 winners at Nebraska (3-5), as the Four Seasons’ Tommy DeVito was near perfect, 20/22, 179, 2-0.

So much for the Cincinnati-Tulane matchup down the road for the Group of Five, New Year’s Six* bowl berth.  UCF (6-2) said, ‘Not so fast, Sheriff!’ as it edged the Bearcats (6-2) 25-21.

UCF is at Tulane in two weeks.

*Boise State, 6-2, 5-0 Mountain West, is still kind of in the New Year’s Six conversation.

21 North Carolina (7-1) is going to move up bigly after a 42-24 win over Pitt (4-4), UNC QB Drake Maye a cool 34/44, 388, 5-0 for the Tar Heels.

25 South Carolina’s stay in the Top 25 will be a brief one, as they suffered a bad loss at home to Missouri (4-4) 23-10, the Gamecocks falling to 5-3.

In games meaningful only to their alumni…..

Minnesota (5-3) humiliated Rutgers (4-4) 31-0, holding the Scarlet Knights to just seven first downs and 134 yards of offense.  Mohamed Ibrahim had 159 yards rushing and three TDs for the Golden Gophers.

UConn is 4-5! after a 13-3 win over Boston College (2-6).  The Eagles committed five turnovers.

Johnny Mac’s Coastal Carolina (7-1) is on top in the Sun Belt Eastern Division with a 24-13 win at Marshall (4-4).

Pete M.’s Colgate Red Raiders (3-5) defeated Bucknell (1-7) 13-7.

And in a huge one, Fordham (6-2) fell to undefeated Holy Cross (8-0) 53-52 in overtime, the Crusaders converting on the winning 2-point conversion.

So about that elephant in the room, Wake Forest.  Wished you hadn’t asked.

I was out of pocket much of yesterday afternoon at an annual golf event held at the local par-3 with high school friends, and I saw Wake took a 14-13 lead at the half as we played our back nine.

Then during post-round beers in the parking lot (illegal), I told the boys, gotta get home (which is literally one minute away).  Wake had fallen behind 20-14.

I walked in the door for 27-14 and it’s then that the rest of the historic shitshow unfolded…the Demon Deacons committing six turnovers in the third quarter, as Louisville scored an astounding 35 points for a 48-14 lead, the Cardinals (5-3) going on to win 48-21.

Our star quarterback, Sam Hartman, was responsible for the six TOs in the third, three interceptions and three strip-sack fumbles, as our offensive line was steamrolled.

It was a 15-minute blitzkrieg the likes of which haven’t been seen in the sport in ages.

Louisville ended up forcing eight turnovers, two returned for touchdowns, all in the second half, and had eight sacks.  The Cardinals didn’t need any heroics from quarterback Malik Cunningham, who is capable of them.

The Deacs had committed just five turnovers in their first seven games!

Again, it’s not the like the Wake ‘D’ sucked…the O-Line and our quarterback sucked.  Sucked like no one has ever seen before.  And this from a No. 10 team (tied with USC in the last poll).

According to ESPN, Wake was the first team in at least 15 years to commit eight turnovers in a half, and the 35-point third quarter tied a record for the most points in a quarter against an AP Top 10-ranked team.

Coach Dave Clawson called the game a “disaster.”  Wake should plummet to about No. 21.

But Wake fans have seen this before…Sam Hartman choking in the clutch.

2020…Duke Mayo Bowl vs. Wisconsin…Wake loses 42-28 as Hartman throws four interceptions.

2021…ACC Conference Championship vs. Pitt…Wake loses 45-21 as Hartman throws four interceptions.

And now Wake (6-2) travels to North Carolina State (6-2, 5-0 at home), always a tough place to play for the Deacs.

What Wake fans are tired of is Clawson talking about how he wants championships, not just teams good enough to go to bowl games year after year, but when we’ve had a chance to do just that, step up to elite status, our quarterback, and the rest of the team, have fallen woefully short.

So we’ll see who shows up next Saturday in Raleigh, let alone the following three weeks against North Carolina, Syracuse and Duke.  I’d take 9-3 in a heartbeat.

And now…the new AP Poll!

1. Georgia (30) 8-0…1528 points
T-2. Tennessee (18) 8-0…1500
T-2. Ohio State (15) 8-0…1500
4. Michigan 8-0
5. Clemson 8-0
6. Alabama 7-1
7. TCU 8-0
8. Oregon 7-1
9. USC 7-1
10. UCLA 7-1
11. Ole Miss 8-1
12. Utah 6-2
13. Kansas State 6-2
14. Illinois 7-1
15. LSU 6-2
16. Penn State 6-2
17. North Carolina 7-1
18. Oklahoma State 6-2
19. Tulane 7-1
20. Wake Forest 6-2…down 10
21. North Carolina State 6-2
22. Syracuse 6-2
23. Liberty 7-1
24. Oregon State 6-2…ironically, I have Beaverware on today!  First ranking since 2013
25. UCF 6-2

Aside from Tennessee at Georgia, next weekend we have Alabama at LSU in another huge contest in terms of the CFP.

And Clemson at Notre Dame could now be interesting, with ND playing better.

Speaking of the CFP, the first rankings come out Tuesday!

--We note the passing of legendary Georgia coach, Vince Dooley, who passed away Friday peacefully at his home in Athens, age 90.

Dooley was hospitalized this month for what was described as a mild case of Covid, but he pronounced himself fully recovered and ready to attend the regular book-signing session at the campus bookstore before an Oct. 15 game against Vanderbilt.

Dooley had a career record of 201-77-10 while coaching the Bulldogs from 1964 to 1988, a stretch that included six SEC titles, 20 bowl games and just one losing season, which is remarkable.

He is the fourth-winningest coach in SEC history, trailing only Bear Bryant, Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier.

“Vince Dooley was one of my favorite people in the world,” Saban said.  “Vince represented the University of Georgia and all of college football with tremendous integrity and class as both a coach and athletics director.”

Dooley was AD at Georgia from 1979 until 2004 and the field at Sanford Stadium was dedicated in his honor during the 2019 football season.

But Dooley’s greatest run of success came during the three seasons he had Herschel Walker at running back, when the Bulldogs went 33-3, won three straight SEC titles, captured their first undisputed national title and nearly won another.

Walker rushed for 5,259 yards, a 5.3 avg., in 33 regular season games.

Walker tweeted Friday: “Thank you Coach Dooley, for being one of the greatest men I have ever known.  You mean more to me than you’ll ever know.”

Vince’s younger brother, Bill, was a successful head coach at North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.  Son Derek Dooley held the top jobs at both Louisiana Tech and Tennessee.

NFL

--All week in these parts, Jets fans were talking about finally having a decent team and beating the hated Patriots at MetLife Stadium.

And it was 10-6, New York, when the Jets had a pick-six on New England QB Mac Jones to make it 17-6 and we were on our way.

Until we weren’t.  The Jets’ John Franklin-Myers was called for roughing the passer, which had nothing to do with Jones’ throw, the TD was negated, and before you knew it, New England had scored 16 straight, 22-10, on the way to a 22-17 victory, the Jets with a late touchdown that proved to be meaningless when we didn’t recover the onsides kick.

But aside from the momentum killer of the Franklin-Myers penalty that really wasn’t, Jets QB Zach Wilson was playing solidly, and having analyst Charles Davis singing his praises, though literally after Davis’ comment Wilson threw the first of three ugly interceptions and until the final two minutes, the Jets had gone scoreless in the second half.

Forget that Wilson threw for 355 yards, in the end he took a giant step backwards, which is hugely depressing for us fans.

Thirteen straight for the Pats (4-4) over the Jets (5-3).  I asked Johnny Mac to send the sword, because, coupled with Wake Forest’s loss, time to commit hari-kari.

But I just remembered I have a rabbit in the freezer and I need to figure out how to cook that before I off myself. [Really, a rabbit…courtesy of Wild Forks Foods.  I had alligator last week.]

--Miami is 5-3 after a 31-27 come-from-behind win over the Lions (1-6) in Detroit, Tua with a terrific game, 29/36, 382, 3-0…his dynamic receiving duo of Tyreek Hill (12-188-0) and Jaylen Waddle (8-106-2) once again shining.

Detroit was up 27-17 at the half and was then held scoreless.  Poor Lions fans.  They really deserve better.

But, once again, I can’t help but note that Summit’s Michael Badgley, getting his second start with Detroit, was 2-for-2 on field goals, 3-for-3 extra points and is now 8-of-8 FGs in three games with two different teams this season.  Good for him.  Like I’ve said, the 27-year-old is going to keep working, with someone, season to season.  He’s the ultimate relief kicker.

--Dallas is 6-2 after a 49-29 win over Chicago (3-5), as Tony Pollard rushed for 131 yards on just 14 carries and three touchdowns, Ezekiel Elliott out with a knee issue.

But the Dallas ‘D’ gave up 240 yards rushing to the Bears, so that’s concerning if you’re a Cowboys fan.

--But when it comes to the NFC East, Philadelphia is now 7-0 after a 35-13 win over the rather pathetic Steelers (2-6), as the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts threw for four touchdowns.

--The Vikings are a shocking 6-1 after a 34-26 win over the disappointing Cardinals (3-5), Kirk Cousins 24/36, 232, 2-0, 103.0 for Minnesota, running back Dalvin Cook with 111 yards on the ground and a score.

--No, I didn’t care about some of the early games, like the Broncos (3-5) beating the Jags (2-6) in London.  Though Jags fan (one of 42) Steve G. said he was in J’Ville this week and picked up an Artis Gilmore signed jersey (Steve a grad of the school from that era).  Now that’s cool.

--And just now, the Giants (6-2) lost to the surprising Seahawks (5-3) in Seattle, 27-13. 

It was 10-7, Seattle, after the first half, with the Seahawks outgaining the Giants 108-63!  That was it.

But in the second half, the Giants took the opening kick eight minutes, 56 seconds, for the tying field goal, 10-10.

And then the Giants’ Richie James happened.  This kid, with the incredibly stupid freakin’ haircut, James thinking he looks cool, fumbled two punts that literally were the difference makers.

That’s it.  One guy, one ‘L.’

--Gisele Bundchen filed for divorce Friday after she and Tom reached a settlement to end their marriage and Brady will not contest it, according to TMZ.

“In recent days, my wife and I finalized our divorce from one another after 13 years of marriage,” Brady said in a statement he shared on Instagram.  “We arrive at this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together.

“We are blessed with beautiful* and wonderful children who will continue to be the center of our world in every way.  We will continue to work together as parents to always ensure they receive the love and attention they deserve,” he added.

*Nice gene pool.

This was a day after Brady’s Tampa Bay Bucs (3-5) fell at home to Baltimore (5-3), as the Ravens rushed for 204 of their 231 yards on the ground in the second half.

Brady thus lost this third straight for the first time since 2002.

One breakout star for the Ravens was tight end Isaiah Likely, six receptions, 71 yards and a TD.

Likely, out of Coastal Carolina, was highly-touted by Johnny Mac his senior year and the kid will become a star.

But back to Brady and Gisele, a big reason why she left him is she has long been concerned about all the hits her husband was taking and the accumulating effects that we all know about now.

To wit, Brady set a record for sacks Thursday…as in he has been sacked a record 556 times, which really isn’t that many in 23 years.  He’s always had good offensive lines and he knows how to get rid of it before getting hit.

But 556 sacks is 556 sacks….it’s a lot, let alone all the other times he has taken a hit.

NBA

--Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai said Friday he is disappointed that Kyrie Irving appears to support a film “based on a book full of antisemitic disinformation.”

Irving posted a link for the film “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” on Twitter on Thursday.  The synopsis on Amazon said the film “uncovers the true identity of the Children of Israel.”

Tsai and the Nets acted quickly to the latest trouble stirred up by Kyrie, who has previously supported the idea of the Earth being flat and last month shared an old clip from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

“I want to sit down and make sure he understands this is hurtful to all of us, and as a man of faith, it is wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion,” Tsai wrote on Twitter regarding Irving.

The Nets issued a similar statement from the team.

So then after another loss Saturday night, 125-116 to the Pacers in Brooklyn, with the fans serenading the Nets with boos as the team fell to 1-5, Irving, in postgame comments, defended his posts.

“I’m not going to stand down on anything that I believe in,” he said.  “I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone.  I have a whole army around me.”

“I’m not here to be divisive,” Kyrie added.  “What I post does not mean that I support everything that’s being said or everything that’s being done or I’m campaigning for everything.”

What a freakin’ jerk.

--This is going to be an ugly NBA season, I’ve concluded.  One saving grace would be if the Knicks can remain competitive, because the league desperately needs this team to do well in terms of exposure, excitement…you get it.

But it’s an ugly start when you have the other team that needs to shine for the good of the game, the Lakers, off to an 0-5 start.  They are hosting the Nuggets late tonight.

Otherwise, the season is about Victor Wembanyama, the wunderkind 7-foot-2 budding superstar out of France.

Who is going to tank to improve their chances at getting this franchise changer?*  At first it was thought the Spurs were a shoo-in for worst record this season, but San Antonio is off to a 4-2 start.

So this might be the most interesting item to follow all season, which isn’t exactly saying much.

*The teams with the three worst regular-season records will each have a 14 percent chance of winning the lottery, and the team with the worst record will receive no worse than the fifth pick.

Golf Balls

--At this week’s PGA Tour fall series event, the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, Seamus Power and Ben Griffin were tied heading into the final round, two shots ahead of Kevin Yu and Aaron Baddeley.

Baddeley, a Monday qualifier, hasn’t won since 2016.

And Ireland’s Power won it, his second win…he’s a solid player coming into his own.  Cool guy.

Griffin, a North Carolina grad, had his best finish, T-3.  Thomas Detry of Belgium was second.

But on Tuesday, Grayson Murray and his caddie, Douglas Schwimer, were riding scooters in the parish of Paget enroute to their hotel, when as Murray was turning a bend, he collided with a car coming the opposite direction.

In an interview with Golfweek, Murray said he was knocked unconscious and does not remember being transported to the hospital.  He said he did not break any bones but received 50 stitches, 25 of which were on his face.

Murray said “the helmet saved me.”

He added: “It’s nobody’s fault.  Riding on the opposite side of the road is already confusing and the roads in Bermuda are narrow and sketchy.”

This story hit close to home.  It was over 50 years ago that my next-door neighbor Steve G.’s mother had a bad accident in Bermuda while on a scooter, and my mother, Nurse Vicki, greatly helped in Fran’s rehab back home.

Forever after, I have told those heading to Bermuda to never, ever ride the scooters, that are very popular, but incredibly dangerous, as Grayson Murray and his caddie learned.  [The caddie skidded off the road and avoided serious injury.]

It’s just not worth it.  Trust me.

I’m actually against riding bicycles on roads these days.  I’ve heard of too many serious injuries just in my area.

--The Wall Street Journal reported the other day that the Justice Department’s antitrust investigation into professional golf includes the powerhouse bodies Augusta National Golf Club and the United States Golf Association, in addition to the PGA Tour, according to sources.

LIV Golf is pursuing an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour, with LIV arguing that the Tour has acted illegally in suspending LIV players from its events.  The PGA Tour has countersued, alleging that LIV harmed the Tour by interfering in its deals with golfers.

Augusta National has featured prominently in LIV’s complaint against the Tour, as LIV accuses the Tour of leaning on the famed club to pressure players against joining LIV.

Augusta National representatives, the complaint says, threatened to disinvite players from the Masters if they joined LIV.  The club’s chairman Fred Ridley personally instructed a number of participants in last year’s Masters to not sign on with LIV, it added.

The PGA Tour, in court documents, has denied pressuring Augusta National to do its bidding.

--Meanwhile, at LIV’s final event this week, held at Donald Trump’s course at Doral, Trump said the R&A “wanted” the Open Championship to return to his property at Turnberry for the first time since 2009.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers, in an interview with Golf Digest’s John Huggan at a big amateur event in Thailand, said: “There are no plans to stage any of our championships at Turnberry and will not do so in the foreseeable future.   We will not return until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself, and we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances.”

Slumbers said he is frustrated the topic keeps coming up because, “We set our position in January 2021, and it is unchanged.”

As to the LIV golfers playing in the Open Championship next year, Slumbers said, “We’ll go public in January/February with what we are going to do… But if you want a guide, go back to what I said in July.  We’re not banning anyone… What we will do is ensure that there are appropriate pathways and ways to qualify.  I’m looking forward to seeing Cam Smith tee-up around 9:40 a.m. on the first day of the Open next year.”

So there’s your answer.  If they qualify, and Cam Smith sure does as defending champion, they’ll be there.  The issue, though, is going to continue to be the Official World Golf Ranking points.  I would expect the other majors to accept LIV golfers who qualify, including Phil Mickelson at Augusta as a past champion.

NASCAR

The Championship Four is set for next week’s finale, as Christopher Bell won the final Round of 8 race at Martinsville today.

So it’s Bell (first appearance in the Championship Four), Chase Elliott (2020 Cup champ), Joey Logano (2018 champ) and Ross Chastain (first appearance).

Intriguing.  I’ll remind you in the midweek Add-on, but, seriously, it’s worth trying to catch the last few moments of next week’s race.  Whoever finishes highest among these four wins it.

Premier League

In games this weekend….

Man City beat Leicester 1-0; Tottenham got a big road win over Bournemouth, 3-2; Brighton whipped slumping Chelsea, 4-1; Newcastle showed again it’s for real, 4-0 over Aston Villa; Leeds beat Liverpool, 2-1, as the troubles continue for Jurgen Klopp and Co.

And, today, Arsenal destroyed Nottingham Forest, 5-0, while Man U defeated West Ham, 1-0.

Standings….Played 12/13 of 38….Points

1. Arsenal…12 – 31
2. Man City…12 – 29
3. Tottenham…13 – 26
4. Newcastle…13 – 24
5. Man U…12 – 23
6. Chelsea…12 – 21
9. Liverpool…12 – 16 ….yikes

Stuff

--Jerry Lee Lewis passed away at the age of 87.  His agent described him as “perhaps the last true, great icon of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll.”

In a statement, Lewis’ publicist Zach Farnum summed it up: “He was there at the beginning, with Elvis, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, and the rest, and watched them fade away one by one till it was him alone to bear witness, and sing of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll.”

Very true.

Lewis passed away at his home in Desoto County, Mississippi, with his seventh wife, Judith, by his side.

Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones led the tributes to Lewis, tweeting: “R.I.P. JLL the Killer – What a man.”

“God bless Jerry Lee Lewis, peace and love to all his family,” said Beatles drummer Ringo Starr.

Elton John, who says his love of the piano was influenced by Lewis, wrote on his Instagram page: “Without Jerry Lee Lewis, I wouldn’t have become who I am today. He was groundbreaking and exciting, and he pulverized the piano.

“A brilliant singer too.  Thank you for your trailblazing inspiration and all the rock ‘n’ roll memories,” he added, sharing a photograph of the two of them sitting together.

The Telegraph’s Neil McCormick described Lewis as “the most dangerous man in rock ‘n’ roll… he was a gun-toting, fire-starting ball of trouble.  He was also the most authentic rocker who ever lived.”

“Controversy dogged Lewis most of his life, a reputation for drunkenness, drug addiction, womanizing and worse,” he noted.

Born in 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana, Lewis later moved to Memphis, where he found work as a studio musician for Sun Studios.

He made his performing debut when he was 14 and developed his love of boogie-woogie and blues by sneaking into a Ferriday nightclub that featured the era’s best blues musicians.

But Lewis married his cousin when he was 22.  One of the problems, of a few, was that Myra Gale Brown was only 13, though she claimed to be 20 on the marriage license and the controversy brought Lewis’ career to a halt.

In 1976, Lewis ended up in jail in Memphis, after he was found brandishing a pistol and demanding to see Elvis outside Graceland.

Earlier that year, Lewis had accidentally shot his bass player, Norman ‘Butch’ Owens, in the chest.  Playing with a loaded .357 Magnum, Lewis had reportedly been trying to shoot and hit a Coke bottle.

Owens was badly injured but survived, later suing his boss, and winning $125,000 in damages.

Along with his big three top ten hits from 1957 and 1958…Whole Lot of Shakin’ Goin’ On, Great Balls of Fire, and Breathless, there was High School Confidential and What’d I’d Say.

But it was his stage antics, such as playing standing up and even lighting the occasional piano on fire, that really helped set him apart.

Lewis suffered from various illnesses and injuries in the final years of his life, with doctors telling him they should have taken him decades ago, Zach Farnum said.

He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s first class in 1986.

In 1989, he sang his songs for the movie Great Balls of Fire! in which Dennis Quaid portrayed him while Winona Ryder played Myra.

Lewis’ last album was a gospel record with his cousin, lifetime televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, who had preached against his music when they were younger.  I totally forgot the Swaggart connection.  Before his scandal, I used to love watching him on weekends.

--“Saturday Night Live” alum Chris Redd suffered a bloody wound when he was sucker-punched by a stranger outside a Greenwich Village comedy club.

“They really bashed the poor guy,” said a witness.

A stranger wearing some type of security uniform ran up and struck the 37-year-old stand-up comedian in the face as he exited a car outside the Comedy Cellar around 9:40 p.m. Wednesday.  Another man was with the assailant but didn’t touch Redd.

A source close to Redd told TMZ that he was hit with a pair of brass knuckles.

Redd suffered two black eyes and a deep gash across his nose.  He was hospitalized and released.

Brought to you by the New York City Dept. of Tourism. 

Top 3 songs for the week 10/27/62: #1 “Monster Mash” (Bobby “Boris” Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers)  #2 “He’s A Rebel” (The Crystals)  #3 “Do You Love Me” (The Contours)…and…#4 “Only Love Can Break A Heart” (Gene Pitney)  #5 “Sherry” (The 4 Seasons)  #6 “All Alone Am I” (Brenda Lee)  #7 “Patches” (Dickey Lee)  #8 “Ramblin’ Rose” (Nat King Cole)  #9 “Gina” (Johnny Mathis)  #10 “I Remember You” (Frank Ifield…interesting tune…B week…)

NFL Hall of Fame Quiz Answer: Steve Atwater (Arkansas), Dave Casper (Notre Dame), Curley Culp (Arizona State), Charles Haley (James Madison), Charlie Joiner (Grambling), Sonny Jurgensen (Duke), Leroy Kelly (Morgan State).

Add-on up top by noon, Wed.  The First CFP Rankings.

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