Tuesday, October 16, 2012

More GGSM{UAB}

September 29--When 3-1 Tulsa came to Birmingham's Legion Field to face beshamemasked 0-3 UAB, the last thing they expected was to give up a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the game, but that's exactly what UAB's Austin Brown threw to Jamarcus Nelson.  UAB's next possession went closer to play--Brown was sacked on the first play and fumbled.  Two plays later, Tulsa tied the game.  But then two minutes later, UAB regained the lead with a 5-yard TD pass.  This time, Tulsa countered with two more touchdowns and took the lead.  However, a blocked punt on the first play of the second quarter gave UAB a 1st and goal at the 4, and three plays later, the game was tied again, 21-21.  Tulsa quickly got two more touchdowns and led 35-21 at the half.  It must be time for a UAB comeback!  They got a touchdown on their opening drive of the third quarter, only to surrender one just as quickly.  Backs against the wall, UAB began the fourth quarter with two touchdowns to tie the game 42-42!  And then, well, er, Brown threw an interception that set up Tulsa's go-ahead touchdown, and then his fumble with 1:29 left sealed their fate, Tulsa 49, GGSM{UAB} 42. They would keep the Golden Gopher Shame Mask for yet another week. 

October 6--UAB faced FCS Southeast Louisiana, and the Blazer got exactly what they wanted.  Their defense got things rolling with a 36-yard interception return from Marvin Burdette.  They would only allow 125 yards and 3 points.  Not to be outdone, Austin Brown followed quickly with a 53-yard TD pass to Greg Franklin, and their offense racked up 512 yards en route to a 52-3 victory.   It didn't do so much for the whole Shame Mask thing, but it does feel good.

October 13--UAB took to the road against the Houston Cougars, and again started with quick trade of first quarter touchdowns.  Houston then got three field goals, but UAB took one back just before the half to cut the lead to 16-10.  Of course, in the third quarter Houston had two touchdowns and two field goals, while UAB had a punt, two failed fourth down conversions, and a fumble.  Final score:  Houston 39, GGSM{UAB} 17.

Next up:  East Carolina.


Sunday, October 14, 2012

OSM{Tulane} 27, SMU 26

First, Tulane struggled through a couple of weeks against in-state rivals Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana-Lafayette.  At home against Monroe, the Green Wave lost 63-10.  They were outgained 553 yards to 151, thanks in large part to a team total of -9 yards rushing.  The next week in Lafayette, they lost 41-13, and were outgained 444 yards to 226.   In these two games combined QB D.J. Ponder was just 35 for 83 (42.2%) and of his 333 yards, 71 came on one pass.  He threw 5 interceptions, and he also rushed 5 times for -36 yards. 

Ponder was only playing in these games because starter Ryan Griffin was out with a shoulder injury.  Griffin returned today against SMU, going 17 of 32 for 302 yards, and his 31- and 79-yard touchdown passes led the Green Wave to a 20-3 halftime lead.    However, in the fourth quarter, the Mustangs began to rally.  A touchdown and then another touchdown gave SMU a 23-30, and then a field goal with 1:22 remaining but Tulane up against the wall.  Undaunted , Griffin quickly led Tulane down the field and fired a 16-yard touchdown strike to Robert Kelley with 0:35 seconds left.  Cairo Santos's extra point gave Tulane a 27-26 victory! 

The SMU Mustangs trotted back to DFW wearing the Original Shame Mask.