I feel like I'm being punished, but I don't know what I did wrong.

My friend Keith said this in reference to being a Steelers fan. I can't agree more.

I'm pretty sure I'm not even going to discuss the fact that Notre Dame lost to UConn. I will just mention, in passing, that UConn has only been a I-A team for about seven years. Just want to get that out there.

No screw it. Here is what I have to say. You can't let teams start thinking they can play with you. Basically, that's what ND does every single game. They start strong, and if they could just punch it in three or four times in the first half, then the Huskies would be on their knees and scared and wouldn't think they had a chance to come back.

Also, and I discussed this at length with my dad on Saturday, this is a top 5 recruiting class. Every year, Notre Dame recruits some of the top talent in the U.S. Yes, they have to read and they'll be expected to go to class and eventually graduate, and those who can't go to USC and Florida and those fine institutions. But you're still getting cream of the crop talent. And if you're such a bad coach that they look that defeated and sad and just generally NOT GOOD on the field, then just let them go playground. Let Jimmy Clausen run the team; let him call plays and say, Hey Golden, you wanna run this one? Hey Floyd, wanna run a wideout route and score a touchdown? They're obviously capable and this man is hindering their abilities.

Okay, I'm done.

I don't have much to say about the Boston College - North Carolina debacle except this: your QB can't throw five interceptions and get a win. It is pretty much statistically impossible. And if you do win, then wow your opponent must have been really really bad. Ugh.

So. Let's move on to teams that are decent and won't likely end up in the Emerald Nut Bowl.

I am no fan of teams playing patsies to warm up the season and pad the win column. I find it distasteful, even though I know that many of the teams I like do it. Still, if you're going to do it, I appreciate that it's done at the start of the year. For some reason, I think it's worse to wait until the end of the season and then suit up your #1 team with a Heisman trophy winning QB against Florida International. Yes, I'm talking about the Gators. I am also talking about #2 Alabama, which put a whooping on Chattanooga.

Seriously? I recognize the SEC is a tough conference to play in, and I recognize the guys are tired, and I further recognize that the SEC has a championship game (which I love, by the way). But I still think it's sort of crappy to prep your team for the championship game against some poor saps from FIU.

In other news, I think Oregon has run out of luck, and I think we might see a Civil War next Thursday (Dec. 3) that will blow our hair back. The Beavers are better than they've gotten credit for this season, and they traditionally enjoy nothing more than showing up and making fun of the Ducks' uniforms and beat them on a last-second field goal. And if they do, they'll go to the Rose Bowl. Anyway, either way I think it's going to be a hell of a game, particularly after Oregon only just snuck a win out against Arizona last night.

Oh man, I can't believe it's taken me this long to make fun of the LSU coach! For those of you who don't just sit home watching football all day, let me fill you in. LSU-Ole Miss. Not a game that matters really, but a decent game. And Ole Miss surprises LSU by sticking with the Tigers through the whole game. Anyway, the Rebels had the lead, 25-23, with about a minute remaining. LSU kicked the most textbook perfect onsides kick of all time and it went right into an LSU player's hands, and he got it down to the 42, and then they got down to like the 25 or so with no lie one second remaining.

So what do they do? They try to stop the clock to bring the kicking unit on the field by spiking, but spiking takes too long and the game is over and Ole Miss wins.

If you've got one second left, you have nothing to lose. Make a play for the end zone. And the LSU coach had literally no idea what to say in explanation of this bonehead play.

Here's a fun quote that I'm sure any QB would be pleased to see in the paper the next day.

"I felt like the quarterback could manage the situation. That was my mistake."

Geez, thanks for nothing, Coach.

I would discuss the Cal-Stanford game, which turned out to be a good one.

But really? I can think of no two teams I care less about than Cal and Stanford. Traditionally the only thing interesting about either school is their bands.

I'm not ready to let that tradition die.