College Football Report: Saturday Storylines

Saturday Storylines: Week 1

Tracking the biggest stories each week of the college football season:

Loss of Tebow floods the Swamp with mistakes for No. 4 Gators

Although Florida may have won their twenty first consecutive game Saturday against Miami (OH), it wasn’t in typical Gator fashion. The Gators, who beat previous week one walk through opponents the last three seasons by a combined score of 167-16, walked into the fourth quarter of play Saturday with just 16 total offensive yards. A game in which heralded quarterback John Brantley was suppose to work out his nerves turned into a panicky game for Gators coaches. Florida passed for 113 yards, tied in total yards – 212, gained 12 first downs, committed six penalties for 51 yards, converted on just three third down conversions and turned the ball over three times.

The Gators rush defense looked solid – Miami (OH) was one of the worst teams last season averaging 70 yds a game – but it didn’t look as dominate as past teams. The loss of defensive coordinator Charlie Strong may have a bigger impact on the Gators than the loss of Tebow.

Whatever problems the Gators had week one, they better figure them out before Saturday’s matchup against South Florida. The Bulls roster is made up of players past over by the big three of Florida and they would love nothing more than to beat an insecure Florida team in the Swamp.

(Associated Press Photo)

New coaches find success, while others find trouble in debuts

Some of college’s footballs most premiere programs walked into Saturday with new faces strolling the sidelines. Florida State’s new man Jimbo Fisher took control of a Bowden less team that was without the FSU legend for the first time since 1975. Fisher, the longtime assistant and defensive coordinator to Bowden, faced off against his Alma matter Samford, handling the Bulldogs convincingly.

The Golden Domers of Notre Dame welcomed first year head coach Brian Kelly to the sidelines with fans witnessing an Irish defense that overshadowed its offense for the first time in years. One of Kelly’s goals as he’s stated in the past was turning around what has been a porous Irish defense for years now. It looked as if he did just that against Purdue Saturday, with a 23-12 home victory.

Hollywood’s favorite coach/actor, Lane Kiffin (right), notched his first victory as USC’s head man Saturday, with a win over Hawaii. Kiffin’s offense, led by quarterback Matt Barkley, looked impressive, but the defense under the coordination of his father Monte Kiffin, looked horrendous giving up 36 points. Maybe dragging his dad around everywhere he decides to invade isn’t such a good idea. Lane, later following the game, displayed his frustration with the defense, without calling out his father.

Little known ball coach Derrick Dooley took the Tennessee sidelines for the first time after leading Louisiana Tech. Dooley, who was described as inexperienced for the job, led the Volunteers to a victory over UT Martin in convincing fashion. Vol’s fans will get to see if the move pays off any more than the hiring of Kiffin a year ago with the Volunteers welcoming Oregon next week.

Other head men finding success in their debuts were Texas Tech’s Tommy Tuberville, who came back to coaching following an off stint after his Auburn job. Tuberville beat SMU 35-27. South Florida’s Skip Holtz walked over Stony Brook week one, and will be tested against Florida in the Swamp week two. Past Texas Tech offensive coordinator Ruffin McNeal didn’t get his dream job as Tech’s head coach, but did land an East Carolina gig and a dramatic win in his first Pirates game. The Pirates won on a hail marry over Tulsa as time expired. Kentucky longtime coach in waiting, Joker Phillips, led his Wildcat tea over rival Louisville in week one. Phillips leads a Kentucky team that could surprise people in the SEC this fall.

Coaches falling in their first appearances include: Cincinnati’s Butch Jones – 28-14 loss to Fresno State. Maybe Kelly had more to do with Cincy’s offensive success than originally thought. Louisville’s Charlie Strong – 23-16 loss to Kentucky. A second half comeback falls just short. Turner Gill – 6-3 loss to North Dakota State. The man who turned around Buffalo in the MAC can’t pull off an opening day victory against an FCS opponent. The offense was nonexistent.