The Long Offseason: GGSM{UAB}

UAB will have to wait until next fall to try to get rid of that Shame Mask.  It is an unfortunate way to end the season, losing to a team wearing the Shame Mask.  UAB struggled early in the season, losing their first six, including a 49-10 loss to Tulane, the other team that would end the season with a Shame Mask.  A field goal with 40 seconds left game them a two point win over UCF for their first victory of the season, but then they lost their next two games by a combined score of 115-27.  However, they then won a game over the not impressive Memphis Tigers before doing something practically unthinkable--they upset 20th ranked Southern Miss.   A field goal put them up 37-34 with three minutes left, and twice Southern Miss crossed midfield, but twice the Blazer defense held firm to give Southern Miss only their second loss of the season.  Apparently they let this win go to their heads because in their next game, they gave FAU their only win of the season.

Exciting news for Shame Mask fans!  Both Shame Masks now reside on the heads of C-USA teams!  Could they finally meet up next season?  We can only wait with bated breath.

GGSM{FAU} 38, UAB 35

November 26--FAU wore the Golden Gopher Shame Mask into their game against UAB with an 0-10 record on the season.  That doesn't guarantee an unexciting game, however.  FAU's Treon Howard returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown just two minutes into the game.   UAB mounted successful touchdown drives in the first quarter and early in the second to lead 14-7.  Then FAU's Alfred Morris got going.  The senior running back carried the ball 38 times for 198 yards and four touchdowns.  Not too shabby for the nation's 24th leading rusher.  The last one put the Owls up 38-28 with 1:38 left.  UAB rallied to score a touchdown with 33 seconds remaining, but the onside kick attempt went out of bounds to seal FAU's first win of the season. 

This win assured their head coach Howard Schnellenberger would not have his first losing season.  After a few years in the late 90s as a bond trader, the coach who built the University of Miami into a powerhouse returned to Miami to tackle a new challenge--start the FAU football program from scratch in 2001.  In August, he announced he would retire at the end of the season.  This season notwithstanding, I think his work building the team could be considered a modest success.  In just his third season, he led the Owls to an 11-3 season, losing in the I-AA semifinals, and then in his second and third seasons in the Bowl Subdivision, he won two bowl games.  And perhaps more importantly, this win assured he would not have to wear the Shame Mask into retirement.

The Long Offseason: OSM{Tulane}

November 19--Tulane wrapped up its conference season with a trip to Rice.  In a game without much offense, Rice slowly built a 13-0 lead until Tulane finally broke through with a touchown early in the fourth quarter, but Rice countered with a touchdown of their own to win 19-7.   The odd thing that stands out to me from the box score was that each team used two different punters.  These four punters combined to punt 14 times.

November 26--The loss at Rice was Tulane's ninth straight loss after a 2-1 start.  Apart from the game against Syracuse, in which they lost on a last second field goal, they lost all of these games by at least 14 points.  Now, most teams after reaching a record of 2-10 would be putting their pads away until spring practice.  Tulane, however, to advantage of the NCAA's rules quirk that allows a team to play an extra regular season game if they play one of those games at the University of Hawaii.  So, without being close to being bowl elligible, Tulane took a Thanksgiving trip to the islands.  They were not destracted by the lush scenery and held their own against the Warriors in the first half.  The even got a third quarter safety, which allows scores points in my book, and a touchdown early in the fourth quarter cut Hawaii's lead to only 28-23.  However, their defense gave up another touchdown that they could not recover from.  But they got to enjoy a season ending trip to Hawaii.

GGSM{Troy}

November 12--North Texas came into Troy knowing what it's like to have worn the Shame Mask, and they don't like it.  The Mean Green took an early lead, but then the Trojans fought back.  Two second quarter touchdowns gave them a 21-17 lead, but then they surrendered a touchdown with 0:42 left in the first half.  Troy regained the lead with a third quarter touchdown, but they missed the extra point.  At the start of the fourth quarter, however, they fell apart, and allowed North Texas two touchdowns in less than 20 seconds.  After a 46-yard North Texas touchdown pass, and Troy's Corey Robinson threw an incomplete pass and then was sacked and lost a fumble to set up a 6-yard North Texas touchdown run on the next play.  Troy rebounded with a 16-play touchdown drive to cut the lead to 38-33, but North Texas chewed up the clock with a 13-play drive consuming 7:28 and turning it over on downs giving Troy the ball with only 0:15 seconds to cover 74 yards.

November 19--Here's something you want when you are wearing a Shame Mask:  A team with a 12-game losing streak comes to visit.  That's exactly what Troy got in Florida Atlantic.  FAU allowed a game-winning field goal as the clock expired to Louisiana-Lafayette, but they had lost every other game by at least two touchdowns.  Also, the nation's worst offense was just what Troy's 114th ranked defense needed.  Both teams started sluggishly, but then Troy turned it on late in the second quarter and never looked back.  They beat the Owls 34-7.

OSM{Tulane}

October 29--Tulane led 10-7 over East Carolina in the second quarter, but they couldn't hang on. The Pirates rallied to win 34-13.

November 5--SMU stormed out of the gate and took a 31-0 lead over the Green Wave. Tulane bounced back by returning a fumble for a touchdown on the first play of the second half, and twice they cut the lead to 14 in the third quarter, but SMU held on and won 42-24.

November 10--Tulane held the undefeated Houston's highest scoring offense in the nation scoreless in the first quarter. And they held the nation's leading passer Case Keenum to one of his worst games of the season. His 22 completions and 29 attempts were both season lows, and his 325 yards were the third lowest. He only threw for three touchdowns, which is less than half of his 7.5 average in his last two games. Not too shabby, I guess. What was the end result? Houston still won 73-10. This time the nation's best passing and scoring team did it on the ground. Charles Sims carried just 10 times, but he gained 207 yards thanks to 72- and 56-yard touchdown runs. Oh, and Houston had two 70+ yard punt returns for touchdowns. This was Tulane's last home game of the season. They still have trips to Rice and Hawaii left to try to dislodge that Shame Mask.

GGSM{Troy}

October 25--Traditional Sun Belt powerhower Troy went down to Miami to face traditional Sun Belt doormat Florida International, but this time the tables were turned, and it was Troy wearing the Shame Mask. Old habbits die hard, though, and Troy jumped out to a 7-0 first quarter lead, and they led 7-3 at the half. However, FIU's QB Wesley Carroll connected on 76- and 42-yard touchdown passes early in the third quarter gave them the lead. Troy didn't fold things up and go home after surrendering their lead. No, they rallied for a touchdown of their own, and they didn't even let the failed PAT stop them. A minute later, they returned a fumble for a touchdown to take a 20-17 lead at the end of the third quarter. Unfortunately, they gave up a tying field goal in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime. Troy missed a field goal to start the overtime, but FIU's was true to seal the 23-20 victory.

November 5--Apart from the second quarter, the Troy-Navy game was pretty even. However, there was that little matter off the second quarter. Troy had four rushes for 8 yards, two passes for 9 yards, but lost 10 on a sack (not counting the 13-yard pass on the final play of the half), and three punts. Navy started the second with a 48-yard touchdown pass, and then rushed 21 times for 172 yards and three more touchdowns to take a 35-0 halftime lead. They held on to win 42-14.

Next up for Troy: North Texas

OSM{Memphis}

Argh, I have to be quick.

October 8--Memphis went to Rice, and they lost 28-6. Maybe they'll appreciate me omitting the details?

October 15--East Carolina came to Memphis and quickly found themselves trailing 10-0 after their quarterback Dominque Davis fumbled and Memphis recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Davis bounced back, though, going 28-37 for 307 yards and three touchdowns plus a rushing touchdown as East Carolina took control in the second half and won 35-17.

October 22--Memphis went down to New Orleans to face Tulane, and things started well for them. They led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and 14-10 at the half. Tulane took a 17-14 lead early in the third quarter, but then Memphis's Bobby McCain returned and interception 79 yards for a touchdown. The PAT was blocked, and then the PAT after Taylor Reed's 1-yard rushing touchdown four minutes later was missed, but still, these 12 points plus a fourth quarter field goal were enough to get a nice 33-17 conference victory for the Tigers. Congratulations!

GGSM{LA-Monroe}

Again, more shame on me. It wasn't simply that I lagged behind this time. No! I ignored wins by both beshamemasked teams!

October 8--Arkansas State came to Monroe with a winning record, but this didn't stop the Warhawks. Perhaps they were nervous on their opening drive, which resulted in a fumble. Eleven plays later, Arkansas State's Frankie Jackson punched it in for a 3-yard touchdown. However, LA-Monroe's Luther Ambrose returned the following kickoff 51 yards, and then on the next play, Cody Wells threw at 41-yard touchdown to Brent Leonard to tie the game. In the second quarter, LA-Monroe turned two Arkansas State turnovers into two field goals, but then they gave one back after an interception of their own at the end of the first half. Still, they lead 13-10 going into the locker room. The third quarter started by trading punts, but then Arkansas State's Aaron Munoz blocked one of those punts and returned 25 yards for a touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, Arkansas State then followed an interception with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Frampton, who broke his own school record with 13 catches. LA-Monroe tried valiantly to rally. After an interception, they drove down the field and Brent Leonard caught another touchdown pass, but the failed two-point conversion left them trailing 24-19. Arkansas State promptly threw another interception with 2:02 left. LA-Monroe got a couple of quick passes, but on 4th and 17 at the Arkansas State 34, a pass fell incomplete with 18 seconds left to seal the loss.

October 15--LA-Monroe next took a trip to Troy, who have been Sun Belt co-champs each year since 2006 but who are struggling this year. After a scoreless first quarter, each team got a field goal in the second quarter. Troy started the second half with a touchdown, but then LA-Monroe kicked it into gear. The followed with a touchdown of their own, but a failed two-point conversion left them trailing 10-9. After holding Troy to three plays that lost 7 yards and a punt, LA-Monroe's next drive also resulted in a touchdown with a failed two-point conversion. Troy fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and LA-Monroe capitalized two plays later with a touchdown and after kicking the extra point, they took a 22-10 lead into the fourth quarter. A touchdown and a safety quickly followed, and then after an interception, LA-Monroe sealed their victory with a six-and-a-half minute touchdown, and the Warhawks held on for an impressive 38-10 victory. Congratulations!

OSM{Memphis}

September 17--OSM{Memphis} 27, Austin Peay 6. Memphis hosted I-AA Austin Peay, and after a scoreless first quarter, they went on to win 27-6.

September 24--SMU 42, OSM{Memphis} 0. It's really tough to win when you are outrushed 162 yards to -14. SMU's Zack Line had three 1-yard TD runs in the first half. And then SMU QB J.J. McDermott threw for 357 yards compared to Memphis's Taylor Reed's 153.

October 1--MTSU 38, OSM{Memphis} 31. Oh no! Memphis jumped out to a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter. MTSU crawled their way back thanks to two TD catches by Malcolm Beyah, and the fourth quarter tied 17-17. That's when the fun began. Reed led the Tigers on an 11-play, 71-yard TD drive capped by a 2-yard TD run from Billy Foster. However, two plays later, MTSU's D.D. Kyles scampered 59 yards for a tying touchdown. MTSU then took the for the first time after an 8-play drive ended when MTSU's William Pratcher rushed for 11 yards and then fumbled the ball forward where his teammate Malcolm Beyah recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. Is Memphis going to take this? No! Taylor Reed catches fire, completing five straight passes for 79 yards, culminating with a 23-yard game tying TD to Keiwone Malone. But, this left MTSU 1:41 left on the clock. Now, an ill-timed lateral and an illegal block on the kickoff put the Blue Raiders 94 yards away, and then a rush for no gain and a fumble had Memphis hoping for overtime. But then a 14-yard rush, a 17-yard pass, and a 23-yard pass set up Logan Kilgore's 33-yard TD pass to Anthony Amos with just 11 seconds left to give MTSU their first win of the season.

Up next: 1-3 Rice. Memphis is 114th in both points scored and points allowed. Rice is 96th and 117th. Woohoo!

GGSM{LA-Monroe}

Argh, I'm a couple of weeks behind again. Let's do the lightning round.

September 17--TCU 38, GGSM{LA-Monroe} 17. The Warhawks weren't initmitated coming into the under renovation Amon Carter Stadium, home of the 23rd ranked TCU. LA-Monroe kicked a field goal on their opening drive. They quickly gave up a 68-yard touchdown pass, but then they bounced back with a touchdown of their own, a 22-yard pass from Kolton Browning to Brent Leonard, to regain the lead 10-7. Again they couldn't hold that lead, when TCU scored on their next drive, but once more, Browning led the Warhawks down the field, capping the drive with a 37-yard touchdown strike to Tavarese Maye. Thus, LA-Monroe led 17-14 at the end of the first quarter. Not too shabby. TCU took the lead again with a second quarter, but in the final minute of the first half, LA-Monroe's R.J. Young sacked TCU QB Casey Pachall and recovered his fumble at the TCU 32 with 10 seconds left. Unfortunately, LA-Monroe could only miss a 43-yard field goal with this. TCU then returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown, and never looked back.

September 24--Iowa 45, GGSM{LA-Monroe} 17. LA-Monroe fell victim to Kinnick Stadium's pink visitors locker room and let Iowa jump out to a 28-3 lead at halftime. The Warhawks had a week off to prepare for their next opponent: Arkansas State.

OSM{Arkansas State} 47, Memphis 3

September 10--Congratulations, Arkansas State! The Red Wolves won quite convincingly against the Memphis Tigers, who it appears are more worthy of that Shame Mask. Arkansas State outgained Memphis 611 yards to 187. Starting QB Ryan Aplin was 19 of 21, but still managed to throw an interception against his 3 TDs and 274 yards. His backup was 10 of 12 for 101 yards and a TD. Not too shabby. It's been 11 months since we last saw Memphis here at the Shame Mask Central, and unfortunately, the Tigers have lost 11 straight since that win. San Jose State has lost its last 12, and so on that front the Tigers are safe. And they do have the Governors of Austin Peay coming down for a visit next week. This I-AA team lost 72-10 to Cincinnati in their only game of the season so far. Party on Beale Street? We'll see.

GGSM{LA-Monroe} 35, Grambling State 7

September 10--Louisiana-Monroe invited Grambling State over for a football game, and they got what they wanted, a convincing win over a I-AA team. They will try to use this momentum to dislodge that Shame Mask next week at TCU.