Weekend Watch List: Time to wipe out bad memories

Aldo De La Garza didn't go to class.

That's all you need to know about the humiliation, embarrassment and mental demolition caused by 77-0. In College Station this week, that's how they refer to last year's Norman Conquest at Oklahoma. Just the score.

Mark Clayton and Oklahoma scored early and often in their drubbing of the Aggies last season in Norman. (Getty Images)

The Sooners were practically taking a knee in the third quarter of last year's game. Oklahoma rolled up 639 yards to Texas A&M's 54. Columnist Mike Lupica claimed Bob Stoops was running up the score without seeing the truth. The Sooners couldn't help but score. Texas A&M was that bad.

The last time something was beaten this badly, the police were called.

That's why De La Garza, an Aggies offensive lineman, didn't show his face in a classroom for a whole week after that game. Not the kind of stuff you want to admit, but it didn't seem possible that one I-A program could beat another that badly either.

That's why there is chum of emotion churning in Aggieland. A&M is trying to wipe out two embarrassments. The Aggies were obviously looking ahead to Oklahoma revenge when they lost in overtime at Baylor last week.

"The last time we lost to Baylor, I think I was in diapers," De La Garza.

So what's worse, getting your face rubbed in it or leaving red-faced?

"Sometimes when you get blown out of a game, you get blown out ..." Aggies coach Dennis Franchione said. "The losses that have stuck with me in my career have been much more like last week's loss."

What's at stake? Only the future of the free world. An A&M upset opens up the Orange Bowl for Auburn and Cal, two teams that will be stoned if the Sooners and Southern California continue to win. The Aggies can also gain control of the Big 12 South, which is another way of saying they will win the conference title. Check the pulse, if you can find one, of the Big 12 North.

The Battle for the Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award: Oh, wait. That's been settled. Mike Shula foolishly ripped Sly's name off the award Croom inspired, then backpedaled it back into place.

We're talking Alabama-Mississippi State. The game. Finally.

"Everybody is trying to make a big deal out of my going back," Croom said of his first game against his alma mater Alabama. "That there was relationship breakup between Mike and myself, that's the furthest thing from the truth. As soon as Mike and I talked, it was over. Something like that is not going to change our relationship. The game is played on the field by the players."

Which is why Croom has to be secretly wanting to beat the snot out of Shula. The job Croom should have had is Shula's. Sly's glorious return to Bear's Place has been, at best, delayed. At worst, scuttled.

It's the nation's No. 1 defense against the No. 1 grudge. If Mississippi State wins, Crooms paves the way for his return in some small way. It might never happen, but don't doubt for a second that this is the biggest game of Croom's young head coaching career.

Bear has to be watching.

This guy could have played for Miami: Call Chris Henry a punk, a thug, a loser. It's nothing he didn't hear last week at Rutgers.

The West Virginia receiver is suspended for at least the first half this week against Temple. That he might be the Big East's best player says a lot about the conference, the program and the man.

Henry freaked out last week in Piscataway. There is no other way to describe it. Twice the junior was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. On the first infraction, he posed with his arms folded after a 69-yard reception. The second violation came after he threw the ball at and kicked at a Rutgers defender.

Then he reacted by throwing an obscene gesture at the Rutgers crowd. Nice job, C.

In that limited time, Henry caught four balls for 119 yards. His 10 touchdown catches lead the Big East, which is in dire need of positive pub.

"That stuff is just stupid, man," teammate Rasheed Marshall said of Henry. "I try to talk to him all the time. Sometimes, he listens and other times, he just goes and does his own thing."

The Mountaineers don't need Henry to beat Temple. That's not the point. If the receiver is contrite enough, he might see action in the second half. But with the Big East on the clock for BCS membership in the future, it doesn't need to be known as a place where punks, thugs and losers hang out.

Don't blame us. That's the Rutgers crowd talking.

A Penn State solution: Joe Paterno's base of employment support is eroding. We have come up with a scenario that will allow the great man and coach a graceful exit.

Call it an intervention of sorts with Northwestern coming to town. President Graham Spanier needs to call in JoePa and Usher. We're not kidding. Someone of Usher's stature adds gravity to a situation that is getting out control.

Tom Usher, chairman of U.S. Steel's board of directors, would be a Paterno peer. Someone Paterno could talk to, not down to. Supposedly, a Penn State donor of equal stature. Part of the reason no one in power will even think about tapping Joe on the shoulder is because he is one of the school's biggest givers.

Well, even Alexander the Great had to think about becoming an ex-officio conqueror consultant at some point.

We're not talking about firing Joe or talking him into quitting. Just plan an exit strategy. Who would you like to see succeed you, Joe? Is 2008 too soon for you? What can we do to make your job easier?

Nothing embarrassing. No bullying. Just a way to save a crumbling program before it degrades too much.

Paterno got touchy this week when a reporter asked if he deserved to be back in 2005.

"I don't really appreciate that question, to be honest with you," JoePa said. "After 55 years, to have somebody tell me that, I don't appreciate that."

Ouch. This is getting to be like watching Willie Mays wander the outfield for the Mets.

Penn State is headed for its fourth losing season in the past five. It is 5-15 over the past two seasons and still you hear, "We're only a couple of players away from being a pretty good football team."

Shall we say, lunch with the president and Mr. Usher on Tuesday, Joe?

Referendum on the job: Or close to it. Joe's son Scott was defeated in Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District race on Tuesday.

Always Alive Conference: After 12 years of dominance by Florida State ... after expanding by three teams ... after being anointed the top conference in the sport ... the ACC is up for grabs.

Most notably, both Virginia and Virginia Tech control their own destiny after Miami was upset last week. The Cavaliers are the most intriguing. They were punked at Florida State but suddenly hold all the cards. They have Maryland and Miami at home in the next two weeks before going to Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.

Irony, thy name is Cavs and Hokies. Remember when Virginia was forced to take Virginia Tech into the league as a political football? Now it might be playing it for a BCS berth.

Cal D: How about some love for Cal's defense (playing host to Oregon). It has posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1968. It leads the Pac-10 in red-zone defense and is 14th nationally in total defense.

Memo to nation: That's how you challenge, and beat, USC, by matching its defense. Cal fell a few yards short on Oct. 9. The buzz on the West Coast is a possible rematch in the Orange. That would take losses by Auburn and Oklahoma.

Call him the comeback (to save his job) kid: No ACC team has started 1-4 and rebounded to make a bowl in the league's 52-year history.

Tommy Bowden wants to be the first (in 64 tries) to do it. The Tigers have clawed back to 4-4 by beating Utah State, Maryland and North Carolina State and now go to Miami.

"I'd eventually like to get to the stage where you got to defend the mountain instead of climb up it," Bowden said. "It's probably harder to do, to defend it. I think it's easier being the underdog."

Thug Part II: Rutgers (at Boston College) athletic director Bob Mulcahy practically tore a hamstring this week backtracking after a statement made to the campus radio station.

"(Fans) think that we're going to bring in a bunch of thugs, just to win," Mulcahy was quoted as saying on WRSU. "And that's what Virginia Tech did to get over the hump."

The teams don't play this year, mostly because Tech has scampered to the ACC. Naturally, Mulcahy got on the school's website to say he has "the greatest level of respect for Virginia Tech ..."

Last chance to knock off the Trojans: Or so it seems. This week's trip to Oregon State might be USC's last true test of the season. After that the Trojans finish with Arizona, Notre Dame and UCLA.

Arizona is offensively inept. The Notre Dame game is a rivalry in name only. UCLA isn't even a road game. Any USC fan that wants to can drive up to the Rose Bowl for the regular-season finale and be back in time for dinner.

That's why the Beavers seem to be the biggest barrier left. Well, if you consider eight victories in 68 career meetings a barrier.

"I'm not taking anything away from them," said OSU safety Sabby Piscitelli, "but we can play with them."

Trojans Part Deaux: USC is trying to become just the sixth team in Associated Press poll history to spend an entire season at No. 1. The program has been on top in 12 consecutive AP polls going back to 2003. The Trojans have been No. 1 in 57 AP polls; the record is 62 by Miami.

Shield your eyes: Nebraska goes into a Big 12 North showdown with Iowa State two for its past 25 in third-down conversions. This from a team that is favored to win the damaged division.

Watch out, Peyton: After Saturday's easy victory at Kentucky, Georgia's David Greene will pass Peyton Manning's record for career victories by a quarterback. Greene's 40th means he'll break almost every significant school passing record.

No mo' Spurrier: With the Ol' Jobless Coach out of the picture at Florida, watch for blame to be heaped on AD Jeremy Foley and president Bernie Machen. Not sure if they deserve it, but it was their charge to land Spurrier. Unless Spurrier wants to keep laying out or get back in the NFL, it's on the suits.

Gator Nation will not tolerate Spurrier being fumbled.

Hey handsome, lookin' for a date? Boise State-San Jose State is why mid-majors are sometimes compared to street walkers. They'll do anything for money.

We have heard of starting games early but this is ridiculous. To get on television, the Broncos and Spartans have agreed to move their Nov. 13 game to 9:07 a.m. PT. That's too early even for Bloody Marys. That forces fans to go to the early morning hole card -- a White Russian sprinkled over Special K.

More than you want or deserve: Since the start of 2002, South Carolina (at home against Arkansas) is 0-10 in games when it could become bowl eligible. ... At No. 4, Cal has its highest ranking since 1952. ... Oklahoma State hasn't won at Texas since 1944. ... Baylor's student president presented a foot-long piece of the goalpost torn down after the Texas A&M victory to the team on Wednesday. ... The best defensive player in the nation is Texas LB Derrick Johnson. To go along with 89 tackles (11 for loss), Johnson has perfected the "the strip," the NFL practice of ripping the ball out of an offensive player's hands. "He's as good as anybody I've ever coached," coach Mack Brown said. ... Pittsburgh hasn't lasted this long into the season without playing a ranked team since 1986. The Panthers probably get their first shot in their last game against West Virginia. ... The last time Florida missed a bowl was 1990. At 4-4, the Gators have to beat at least two out of the next three to go bowling: at Vandy this week, South Carolina, at Florida State.