HBCU's are feeling black and blue this weekend. It was the unofficial annual Cumberland Classic for Savannah State, Bethune-Cookman, FAMU and Delaware State. FYI, Cumberland University was the victim of an infamous 222-0 alley mugging at the hands of Georgia Tech in 1916. These aren't muggings anymore. Fortunately, these four programs were given hefty paychecks to become sparring partners–actually, make that speed punching bags– for the weekend.
In a weekend devoid of top-25 showdowns, these money games defined Week 4's cupcake schedule. The quartet were outscored 258 to 13 by Ohio State, Miami, Florida State and North Dakota State.
Wait, that last name isn't congruent with the rest. That's because the Bisons of Fargo, North Dakota aren't even an FBS program. The two-time defending FCS champions are used to being a thorn in the sides of the FBS. Their first win of the season came against Kansas State on the road in their own "money game".
Kenny Guiton tied the Buckeyes single-game record for touchdown passes with six. Ohio State drew criticism for dotting the I on their win by going for it on a fourth down and four from the FAMU 33-yard line while they led 55-0. Miami was much more gracious and agreed to a 12-minute fourth quarter when they led 77-7. It was painful to watch and no one could blame you if you didn't. College football schedule makers, do better. We understand that these "money games" finance these less profitable athletic departments, but do you have to play them all on the same weekend? Thankfully, next week, the matchups improve considerably.
Man on Fire Award: Who caught fire in Week 3?
It's been an uphill climb for Jeremy Hill back to good graces at LSU so running on a flat surface has turned him into one of the most unstoppable downhill runners in the nation. Sometimes it seemed as If Jeremy Hill was running by himself against Auburn. As the rain saturated the Tiger Stadium turf, Les Miles put the ball in Hill’s hands early and often. The rain may have affected the playing surface and grip for skill position players on borth sides of the ball, yet Hill ran like a man on fire through the rain. It didn’t take too long for Hill to reach the end zone.
Hill began this season facing an uphill battle. He didn’t have to conquer injury or competition in the backfield. Hill was being forced to confront his own personal shortcomings. Already on probation as a result of an improper sexual relationship with a 14-year-old at his high school, Hill nearly threw it all away after clocking a man in the head during a bar fight in April.
When Hill was reinstated in August, Miles faced plenty of backlash for letting Miles off easy. Especially with Ryan Perrilloux, Jordan Jefferson and Tyrann Mathieu’s legal troubles in LSU’s rear view mirror. Mind you, this was before SI.com went into Matlock-mode investigating his tenure as Oklahoma State head coach.
Hill owed Miles a debt of gratitude. On Saturday night against Auburn, the matchup was never in doubt thanks to Jeremy Hill violent running style.
His first two carries resulted in a 49-yard end zone romp and a 10-yard touchdown. Twenty-three carries and 183 yards later, Hill had helped reassert LSU as a threat to Alabama’s SEC dominance, thrust himself permanently back atop the LSU depth chart and possibly into the crowded Heisman race.
