Live Game Blog: First Quarter

ESPN pregame guys all say Oregon "has too many weapons." We'll see.

Mike Patrick and Craig James doing the game. They're okay. But the first thing out of James mouth is "distractions off the field." Old news.

Vols are running through the T, a tradition since Doug Dickey coached there in the sixties.

A great tradition, six national championships and a rabid crowd, versus the most innovative team in college football.

Is it just me or does Derek Dooley look like Lane Kiffin's serious, smarter brother, the one who got straight A's and had a paper route?

UO to kick.


And Beard booms it six yards deep, no return. Nice to have that back. Solis didn't have a big leg.


Ugly beginning. UT busts a run on the left side for 31.

The Vols look like Ohio State on this first possession. We're back to bend but don't break.

Good pursuit, and a stuff.

And another one. Kenny Rowe shoots down the line for a TFL.

3rd and 15, draw play, the first-year quarterback and first year coach go conservative.

And UT gets a lift with a long field goal. 3-0. They don't look intimidated. Ducks better be ready to play. All the poor-mouthing all week lulled us a little, it appears.

The shutout streak is over at one.

Really important to answer with a drive. You don't want to give an underdog team with a great crowd energy and hope.

Energy and hope, meet Kenjon Barner. He runs the kickoff back to the 40 but gets stripped.

20 on the end around. This is feeling like a Boise State debacle in the making.

Ducks dearly need to settle themselves.

Simms throws long and wild.

A run for nothing. Dooley very conservative early.

Oku spins out of four tackles on a screen but held short, another conservative call.

Field goal hooks in, 6-0.

Oregon needs to score next, or this could be a brutal night.

Lightning warning. Both teams sent into the lockerroom. This is a bolt of luck for the Ducks. Kelly will get a chance to regroup them and make adjustments.

Michigan beats Notre Dame 28-24 to go to 2-0, the Irish 1-1. Rodriguez working to regain the confidence of the Michigan faithful. Denard Robinson looking like the real deal.

Syracuse up early 7-0 on the Huskies. The Cougs trail Montana State 3-0.

Bama an early TD pass on Penn State for a 7-0 lead. The Nittany Lions have a true freshman at quarterback, starting on the road for the first time. You think we've got problems.

Upon further review, all the pregame talk from Tennessee was about Oregon's speed, how are we gonna match up with their speed. Aw shucks. They look faster so far. They've broken off a couple of plus-20 runs. Disastrous to fumble away your first possession, especially after getting it out to the 45. That added momentum to momentum, and more than any other, college football is a momentum game.

Syracuse adds a field goal, 10-0. Jake Locker for Heisman? 2-5 so far.

Montana State is putting a Tennessee on WSU, ahead early 6-0.

Anyone know what the rule is if they can't continue? Has that ever happened? Do they suspend it, reschedule it, or does it have to go five innings to be counted a game? The tv guys haven't said.

Forecast says the storm warning wonn't pass until 7:45 Knoxville time.

Delays like this are hardest on the linemen, the big guys. Hard to get a big body loosened up twice, especially guys like Kaiser who are nursing injuries.

Think the Tennessee crowd won't be louder and more enthused with another 45 minutes to get their game on in the lobby and concourse? It's a stadium vendor's dream.

McElroy throws another Td for Alabama, up 14-0 on Penn State. JoePa, though a legend, needs to retire. He's no longer coaching any more.

The Huskies get a field goal and trail 10-3 at home, 2nd quarter.

I think the Duck game was suspended with 7:41 to go in the first. I think Chip Kelly would call this a teachable moment.

Ducks were in one another lightning game I remember, 2005 against Cal in Autzen stadium. Similar scenario in that the delay helped the Ducks settle down with two young quarterbacks. They rallied for a win with Brady Leaf leading a late drive.