Speaking of: Quarterbacks named Cam, Bobby Bowden and Kansas State?
by Dave McMahon
“Everything is bigger in Texas” has been more just a saying in the SEC over the last two weeks. Two weeks ago, it showcased the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs knocking out the top ranked Texas Longhorns and then last week it was Texas A&M’s turn. The Aggies faced the LSU Tigers under the lights and defeated the No. 8 team in the nation 38 to 23. Texas A&M improved to 7-1 and a perfect 5-0 conference record. It is the best conference start by the Aggies since joining the SEC in 2012. The Aggies used two quarterbacks in the game. One of them, Marcel Reed passed just twice, but ran the ball nine times with three of them going for scores. He was the first Texas A&M quarterback with three rushing touchdowns in a game since Trevor Knight in 2016.
Speaking of people whose last name is Knight…
Ted Knight was a comedic actor whose is known for such roles in playing the judge in Caddyshack as well as his time on television playing Ted Baxter in The Mary Tyler Moore Show and playing Henry Rush in Too Close for Comfort.
Speaking of rush…
One player who had a lot of success rushing the ball last week was Auburn’s Jarquez Hunter. Hunter ran the ball 23 times for 278 yards. It was the most rush yards in a game by any FBS player this season. It was the fourth most rush yards in a game in Auburn history and the most since Tre Mason in the 2013 SEC Championship against Missouri when he had 304. For the season, Mason had 23 touchdown rushes to set a school record that season. He broke the record once held by former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton who had 20.
Speaking of quarterbacks named Cam…
Cam Ward and the Miami Hurricanes took care of business against their in-state rival from Tallahassee. However, Ward had some unusual stats… for him, at least. He had 208 yards passing which was the first time that he did not throw for 300 or more this season. He also had zero touchdowns passes for the first time as well. He continued his strange game early in the fourth quarter when the quarterback caught a touchdown pass on a trick play. Miami would defeat Florida State 36 to 14. The Hurricanes improved to 8-0 while the Seminoles fell to 1-7. FSU has lost seven of its first eight games for the first time since 1974 (The ‘Noles only win that season was against Miami). The Seminoles head coach was Dan Mudra. Mudra lasted just two seasons in Tallahassee before being replaced by Bobby Bowden.
Speaking of Bobby Bowden…
The hall of fame head coach did not have a great start with Florida State in 1976. Bobby Bowden lost his first three games with Florida State before winning the fourth. His opponent was Kansas State.
Speaking of Kansas State…
Kansas State is 7-1 this season for the first time since 2014. Last week, the Wildcats defeated the Jayhawks in the Sunflower Showdown. Chris Tennant connected from 52 yards with under two minutes to play to give Kansas State the 29-27 win over Kansas. Chris Klieman is in his sixth season as the Wildcats head coach. He has a 46-25 record in his current spot. Prior to this job, he was the head coach of North Dakota State. He led the Bison to a 69-6 record and four FCS Championships.
Each of those four FCS Championships were played in the state of Texas. Also, Klieman’s first bowl win with Kansas State was in 2021. That game was also played in the state of Texas and when they won the 2022 Big XII Championship, it too was played in the state of Texas.