Knute Rockne, Bob Neyland, Kirby Smart, and...Pink Floyd?
A new "Speaking Of" article from HM Sports contributor Dave McMahon
Georgia had the big win last week when they went to Austin and took care of the top ranked Texas team by the score of 30-15. It was the third time that Kiby Smart has defeated a number one team as the Bulldogs head coach (Georgia only had one win against a number one team prior). It was also Smart’s 100th career win. It took him 117 games to reach that total which is tied for the fifth quickest in major college football history. Also with 117 were Chris Petersen and the legend, Knute Rockne.
Speaking of Knute Rockne…
Rockne was part of a group that were inducted into the first ever College Football Hall of Fame class back in 1951.
Speaking of the inaugural Hall of Fame class…
Red Grange was also part of that class. The Galloping Ghost dominated college football in the 1920s. In 1924, he and Illinois defeated Michigan 39 to 14. The icon was part of six touchdown scores (one pass, four rush and one kickoff return) in that matchup.
Last Saturday, Illinois defeated Michigan 21 to 7, exactly 100 years and one day after the Illini did its damage. This time it was Illinois quarter Luke Altmyer was one of the heroes. Altmyer is just the third Big Ten quarterback since 2000 to have 15 or more TD passes and just one interception through seven games (JT Barrett and Justin Fields are the others). The 15 TD passes this season for Altmyer is tied for the Big Ten lead.
Speaking of 15 TD passes…
Illinois’ Saturday opponent is the new number one team in the land, the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks are led by their own quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who along with Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke, are the others with 15 TD passes in the Big Ten. Gabriel also has 140 TD passes in his career. He is third all-time in FBS history. The all-time leader is former Houston quarterback, Case Keenum who ended his career with 155. Keenum was born on February 17, 1988.
Speaking of being born on February 17th …
Also, born on February 17th , but this time in 1892, was the General, Bob Neyland. The legendary Tennessee head coach finished with a 173-31-10 record. This past week, the stadium which is named after him in Knoxville was home to an incredible game as the Volunteers defeated the Crimson Tide of Alabama 24 to 17. The Vols have won two of the last three games against their long-time rival after losing 15 in a row in the series. One of the notable traditions in this series is for the coaches, players and fans of the winning team to light up a victory cigar after the game.
Speaking of “Have a Cigar”…
“Have a Cigar” was one of the most popular songs off of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here album from 1975. It was the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s ninth studio album. Their first studio album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn came out in 1967.
Speaking of 1967…
1967 is the only other season prior to this season in which Indiana started the season with a 7-0 record (now 8-0). The Hoosiers have outscored their opponent 341 to 96 this season. The Indiana men’s basketball team started last season with a 7-1 record, but it started the season prior perfect at 7-0. While football is king right now, the Hoosiers are more known for college basketball as they have won five NCAA titles.
Speaking of basketball schools…
Kansas has four NCAA Titles in men’s basketball and its football team just snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating Houston last week 42 to 14. One of the stars of the game was Cobee Bryant (yes, his parents named him after the basketball great with a different spelling). The football player Cobee Bryant had three interceptions in the game. The three tied a school record which hasn’t been done by a Jayhawk since Bill Crank did it in 1958. Bryant is tied for second with Aqib Talib in school history with 13 career interceptions.
Speaking of 13 career interceptions…
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart had 13 interceptions as a player for the Bulldogs from 1995 to 1998.