Small towns stole college football Saturday, plus 8 other fun things from Week 8

Small towns stole Week 8 in college football, and it could not have been more perfect.

College GameDay in Pullman was everything you’d expect it to be, and it was a long time coming. After having Ol’ Crimson on the broadcast for more than 200 straight weeks, it was Wazzu’s turn to have the rest of college football bring their flags to their turf. But it was still all about Ol’ Crimson.

There was a goddamn canopy of them on Saturday morning:

Oregon’s Duck, whom I prefer to call “Puddles,” is one of the most recognizable mascot heads that Lee Corso has worn in the show’s history. Saturday, even he couldn’t go with the Ducks, and instead placed that cougar head upon his dome:

The Cougs finished their spotlight day hours later with a win over Oregon and a field-storming.

And it wasn’t just Pullman that had a big day in the spotlight. In another small town to the east, Purdue smacked Ohio State in West Lafayette. A lot of people thought Purdue could challenge the Buckeyes, and the Boilermakers showed why from start to finish in their 49-20 win, also complete with a field-storming.

Most importantly, Purdue pulled off the upset in front of Tyler Trent, a Purdue student with terminal cancer. The student section had a planned “cancer sucks” chant in honor of Trent before the game:

He also predicted the game somewhat correctly. He was fair to the Buckeyes and said the score would be 24-17 in Purdue’s favor, but the Boilermakers had much more in mind. It’s now the third embarrassing loss Ohio State has had in as many years. Yikes!

Michigan and Michigan State have provided us with some good moments the past few years. Saturday, the petty was out in full force as Michigan disrespected Michigan State’s logo before and after the game.

Before, Devin Jones scraped his foot across the logo like a dog who just pinched one off:

After the Michigan won the game 21-7, the Wolverines celebrated as a group on the logo:

There was a big hoopla about it between the two head coaches, which you can read about here. However, your basic takeaway should be that rivalries in college football never die out and know no limits.

This will be remembered the next time these two teams meet up next season, and we’ll be hoping for more shenanigans.

Alabama steamrolled Tennessee, which was the least surprising thing that happened on Saturday. More importantly, this meant that Butch Jones, former Tennessee head coach turned Alabama offensive analyst, got to celebrate his new team ripping his old team a new one.

First, he got a Gatorade bath:

Then, he lit a cigar:

The meaning behind it? Well, Alabama players wanted to finally get to participate in this rivalry’s cigar tradition:

“We kind of joke with him about the whole situation,” Tide running back Josh Jacobs told reporters leading up to the game. ”He’s never, you know what I’m saying, smoked a cigar before. We’re trying to make that a goal of his.”

Roll Tide.

Just watch Ed Orgeron bathe himself with this water bottle before consuming the contents of it:

Majestic. I’m just going to let that one speak for itself, because nothing I can say will do it justice, and you’re sure as hell going to watch it at least five times. Of course LSU won.

Captured before Mississippi State-LSU: a strength coach headbutting a player, whilst not wearing a helmet. Very Owen Schmitt of him:

Spencer Hall’s evidence as to whether or not this is a strength coach is spot on:

1. no neck

2. beard

3. on sideline manhandling and yelling at people bigger than he is without fear

4. shaved head

5. HEADBUTTING PEOPLE WITH HELMETS WHILE HE HIMSELF IS NEITHER A PLAYER NOR SOMEONE WITH A HELMET

6. seems like he lifts weights a lot

7. works for the football team? <—— kind of an assumption here, and not at all proven!

Regardless, you probably shouldn’t headbutt people without a helmet on! Or at all!

It didn’t last too long, but we had our first true Snow Game of 2018, and our participants were Illinois and Wisconsin:

Things got bad enough for just long enough that Illinois’ white uniforms acted as a bit of a camouflage in the white stuff:

And of course, it ain’t a snow game without a good blooper:

It obviously didn’t help too much, as the Illini lost 49-20. But playing football in The Elements is always a grab, especially for the Old Head fan in your family.

Maryland, down 16-0 late in the third quarter on the road at Iowa, allowed their man in motion to collide with backup quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome, causing THIS madness:

Here it is from up close:

Iowa was already going to handle this one easily, but it wouldn’t be a complete game without a Very Maryland Play.

Sports are better when interrupted by wild animals, and we weren’t let down on Saturday. Here’s a squirrel that found the end zone as many times as the Spartans did:

Michigan 21, Michigan State 7, Squirrel 6 (extra point pending).

The Spartans had a rough Saturday. But this was one heckuva play by their punter, Tyler Hunt:

It wasn’t just the catch, either. Hunt booted this one for 60 yards before it landed out of bounds at Michigan’s 18-yard line.

Listen, I don’t want to say this guy is the best receiver at Michigan State since Plaxico Burress or Charles Rogers. But he might be.