Between The Hashes Week 5: Bodyslams, Rally Fox and more
Each week, the college football team here at SI will delve into the fun, the weird and the wacky of college football with a series called Between The Hashes. It’s a way to decompress from the madness of the week, and to find a few things that you might have missed.
Take a deep breath, do some calisthenics and get ready. We won't be seeing any more "bad weeks." From here on out, it's a big batch of good games until we roll into bowl season. Some teams we thought were contenders already have two losses (shoutout to South Carolina!) and some teams we didn't think worthy of attention (Mississippi State is ranked No. 12 after Week 5) are charging ahead. And of course there are our playoff contenders who seem to be the same.
Along with all those narratives and upsets and what ifs, we have the tailgates, the mascots and the signs. And isn't that what's more important anyway? You could be ranked No. 12 or No. 120, but if you're not having fun, what's the point? Here are some of Week 5's more off-kilter moments.
It's a Selfiebration!
Look, I want college football players to be able to celebrate more than anything. The NCAA can't have it both ways. If they're amateurs, they shouldn't be expected to act like professionals. Let them have fun. Let them dance and act like college kids. So seeing Stefon Diggs pull his teammates together during Maryland's win over Indiana on Saturday was refreshing. Would I like for him to have snapped an actual selfie with a real phone? Yes. But baby steps. Baby steps.
Fork Carving
The Bruins pulled a prank on Arizona State, carving UCLA into the Sun Devils' fork at midfield. It bothered Arizona State so much that personnel quickly rushed to paint over it and then put a person in place to keep UCLA from engaging at any more shenanigans. After seeing what the Bruins were able to do to the Sun Devils in their 62-27 win on Thursday night, maybe those letters should stick around until Arizona State can get some revenge
Honestly, Who Kicks a Shoe?
I've seen a lot of bad stunts pulled in football games. But there's something so purely malicious when you go and do something like kick someone's shoe. Bush league move from Oklahoma State's Brandon Sheperd, but one that still will get a chuckle out of me as long as I'm not the one being pranked.
Creepy Fan(s) Alert
It is fun to wear costumes and dress up and support your team. Doing so to get on television is quite alright as well. But just know the power you hold in your hand if you decide to dress up and scare everyone. You are human nightmare fuel, the killer of dreams, the one who embeds frowns into our otherwise joyful enterprise.
This Week in Field Storming
If you storm the field, you run the risk of being tackled and bodyslammed by a former NFL player who also hunts wild boar. Just keep that in mind the next time you've had a few and you're thinking about doing something extremely foolish. This fan learned the hard way, as Ohio State assistant strength coach Anthony Schlegel demonstrated with authority.
Our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land also set the whole thing to music. It's beautiful.
Quote of the Week
This one comes from the broadcast booth, as we were just getting into the riveting and exciting Iowa-Purdue contest.
I'm not sure it was meant to sound as harsh as it did (hey, I'm a baseball fan, I get tired of the putdowns too), but I'm also not saying I wouldn't wear a Big Ten shirt with this quote plastered on the front.
The Uga I – Uga VIII Memorial Mascot of the Week
This week's award goes to Rally Fox. Last seen helping Texas Tech in Lubbock, Rally Fox goes all over Texas trying to help out teams in need. While even Rally Fox couldn't help SMU (which lost 56-0 to TCU on Saturday), it is always there, staying vigilant and ready to pounce on the next chance to play hero.
The Ricky Dobbs All-Stars
As a general refresher, each week we will highlight some of the best statlines of the week, in honor of former Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs
- UCLA QB Brett Hundley: 355 pass yards, 72 rush yards, 5 total TD vs. Arizona State
- UCLA DB Ishmael Adams: 95-yard interception TD, 100-yard kickoff return TD vs. Arizona State
- Old Dominion WR Antonio Vaughan: 7 catches, 105 yards, 3 TD vs. MTSU
- Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon: 181 yards, 2 TD vs. USF
- Georgia RB Todd Gurley: 208 rush yards, 30 receiving yards, 2 TD vs. Tennessee
- Rutgers WR Leonte Carroo: 7 catches, 140 yards, 3 TD vs. Tulane
- Cal QB Jared Goff: 449 yards, 7 TD vs. Colorado
- Buffalo RB Anthone Taylor: 222 yards, 3 TD vs. Miami (OH)
- Colorado WR Nelson Spruce: 19 catches, 176 yards, 3 TD vs. Cal
- Cincinnati WR Chris Moore: 3 catches, 221 yards, 3 TD vs. Ohio State
- NebraskaAmeer Abdullah: 208 yards, 3 TD vs. Illinois
- Clemson QB Deshaun Watson: 435 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT vs. North Carolina
