ShareThisIf there's an extraordinary demand for psychiatric services in South Bend, Ind. this week, it's understandable.
Who could blame Notre Dame football players and fans for seeking counseling after the devastating gridiron events of the past two Saturdays?
In back-to-back games, Notre Dame racked up more than 500 yards of offense, turned the ball over five times and suffered a stunning loss.
Despite last Saturday's turnovers, the Irish were still in great position to turn out the Big House lights on Michigan. They led 31-28 with just 23 seconds remaining and Michigan with the ball at its 20-yard line.
But Jeremy Gallon got open on a pass play covering 64 yards to the Irish 16, and then Michigan's sensational quarterback Denard Robinson hit Roy Roundtree in the end zone on the next play for the game-winning touchdown with two seconds left.
It was the second Michigan TD in the final 1:12, igniting Wolverine euphoria and sticking a dagger into the heart of Notre Dame nation.
The tormenting question for Notre Dame now is how to recover from an 0-2 start, with a home game against No. 15 Michigan State looming Saturday.
The Irish can ill afford any turnovers against the Spartans and their sharp-shooting senior quarterback Kirk Cousins, who's 34-of-43 passing (79.1 percent) for 405 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in lopsided victories over Youngstown State and Florida Atlantic.
To beat Sparty, Notre Dame's secondary will have to step up its game, and its offense will have to somehow cure the turnover plague.
Take away even just two or three in losses to South Florida and Michigan, and the Irish win both games going away.
Notre Dame did intercept Robinson three times, and he completed only 11 of 24 passes, but those completions accounted for 338 yards and four touchdowns.
Robinson is the only quarterback in the country who could throw three interceptions in a game and still have his Heisman stock rise.
The game's best improvisational quarterback, he truly is that outstanding. Robinson rushed for 108 yards on 16 carries against Notre Dame. Michigan does not win the game without him.
The distress meter in not-so Happy Valley hasn't approached the level of anxiety in South Bend, but frustration over the two-headed quarterback monster created by Penn State's coaches has taken fans to wits' end.
Sophomore Rob Bolden and junior Matt McGloin each played about half of last season; this season they've been splitting time. In between, there was spring football and summer practice. Yet heading into last Saturday's game against then No. 3 Alabama, coaches still hadn't decided who should be the full-time quarterback.
After Penn State's 27-11 loss to the Tide, it should be -- it better be -- apparent. Bolden was 11-of-29 passing for 144 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. McGloin was 1-of-10 for zero yards and no interceptions. Bolden also rushed for 25 yards, including a two-point conversion, and led both Penn State scoring drives. McGloin did nothing to help move the offense.
If Bolden is not the Penn State quarterback from here on out, The Unbalanced Line, a Penn State alumnus and longtime ardent supporter of 84-year-old coach Joe Paterno, shudders to think of what the consequences might be.
As for Alabama, AJ McCarron put to rest any remaining quarterback questions with a practically flawless performance against Penn State: 19-of-31 for 163 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
The Tide's defense is scary good, making another unbeaten season definitely possible. Alabama faces its two toughest remaining opponents -- No. 14 Arkansas and No. 3 LSU -- at home.
History says it's too early to look ahead to the BCS title game.
But The Unbalanced Line will buck history and project the winner of that Bama-LSU game to play for the national championship against the winner of Saturday night's clash between No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 5 Florida State in Tallahassee.
The Sooners and 'Noles each return 16 starters. Oklahoma finished 12-2 and No. 6 in the final 2010 Associated Press rankings; Florida State 10-4 and No. 17.
Oklahoma has one of the country's two best quarterbacks in Landry Jones, arguably the best receiver in Ryan Broyles, and a linebacking corps and secondary that rival Alabama's top-rated units.
Last season, Jones completed 30-of-40 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns in a 47-17 rout of the 'Noles.
Same teams, different venue: FSU's distress level rises in Tallahassee -- Oklahoma, 34-20.
No. 11 Nebraska meets Washington (2-0) Saturday in a different venue for the third time in the past year. Washington reversed an early-season, 56-21 loss to Nebraska last year in Seattle by shutting down the Huskers, 19-7, in the Holiday Bowl.
So keep an eye on the distress meter in Lincoln; it could get dicey for the home team.
(Contact John Tucker at jtucker@unionleader.com)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
columnUNBALANCED LINEMust credit New Hampshire Union Leader
