1. On the ESPNU College Football podcast on Tuesday, I asked Tom Luginbill, our Senior National Recruiting Analyst, to name the head coaches who are the best in the living room, the guys who do the best job of convincing mama to give them her baby. Luginbill went with Dabo Swinney of Clemson, Les Miles of LSU and, in somewhat of a surprise, Jim Mora of UCLA. I say surprise because Swinney and Miles have many years in college football. Mora, an NFL longtimer, has not quite two years.
2. Duke coach David Cutcliffe knows something about teaching quarterbacks. And the essence of teaching is to break down the information into easily understood portions. In discussing his current quarterbacks, Anthony Boone and Brandon Connette, at his press conference this week, Cutcliffe said, “Every play we run at quarterback, the most important thing about the play is that we have possession of the ball when the play ends. Period. You can’t give that lip service.” Everyone understands that.
3. As Saturday night games go, seeing undefeated No. 15 Northern Illinois and its outstanding quarterback, Jordan Lynch, play once-beaten Ball State would be a treat. As a Wednesday night game, it doesn’t get any better. The winner will be the first 10-game winner in the FBS. A victory also will boost the Huskies in their attempt to overtake No. 14 Fresno State in the race for a BCS bid. The Cardinals have gotten to 9-1 by outscoring people. It’s hard to imagine they can do that on the road against an offense led by Lynch.
