McMurphy’s Law on Jay Norvell, Nick Saban & More

Colorado State head coach, Jay Norvell, has been a part of the football coaching world since 1986. Over the past 38 years, Norvell has served as an assistant coach at various levels, including FBS, FCS, and the NFL. He has been a head coach for the past seven years and has experienced countless situations on the field. However, on Saturday night in Fort Collins, Norvell witnessed something he had never seen before.

With just 4:02 remaining in the game, Colorado State found themselves trailing by a score of 30-10. It seemed like an impossible task to come back and win. But somehow, someway, Colorado State pulled off a remarkable comeback and won the game 31-30 on a final-play Hail Mary.

“I’ve never been part of a game like that,” Norvell said. “Everything started going our way at the end, and it just kept going. There were about 15-20 plays in the final four minutes that all had to happen exactly as they did for us to win. I’ve never seen a game flip like that.”

In recent weeks, college football fans have been treated to several comebacks and upsets that have left them in awe. From Baylor’s comeback against UCF to Stanford’s rally against Colorado, and now Colorado State’s stunning victory over Boise State, it seems like anything can happen in college football.

But why have we seen so many improbable comebacks recently? It’s hard to say. Maybe it’s the unpredictability of the game or the resilience of the players. Regardless of the reason, these games have provided plenty of excitement for fans.

During Colorado State’s comeback, Norvell’s players were drawing up plays on the fly. They believed in themselves and their ability to win. Norvell understands the odds of coming back from a three-touchdown deficit with just four minutes left in the game, but his players never gave up.

After the game, Norvell received a text message that stood out among the rest. It was from Jerry Glanville, an 82-year-old former NFL coach. Glanville had never reached out to Norvell before, but after witnessing the team’s effort in their loss to Colorado, he had to commend them.

“My wife told me Jerry Glanville is trying to get a hold of you,” Norvell shared. Glanville told him, “Your kids played their hearts out. I saw how your kids were running and hitting. I was impressed by that.”

Since that first call, Norvell and Glanville have stayed in touch after every game. Glanville has become a mentor to Norvell, offering advice and encouragement along the way.

In other college football news, Alabama and Tennessee are set to face off in their annual rivalry game, the Third Saturday in October. Last year, Tennessee pulled off a thrilling victory over the Crimson Tide, and they’re hoping to repeat that success this year.

Additionally, a list of public university athletic programs that generated the most revenue in the 2022 fiscal year was released. Interestingly, only five of the top 17 schools on the list have won a College Football Playoff title since 2014. Money doesn’t guarantee success in college football.

In terms of upcoming matchups, one can’t help but dream about a potential bowl game between UCF and Colorado, where both teams can commiserate over blowing substantial leads in recent games. And while that dream may not come true, there’s hope for a matchup between Nebraska and Kansas in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. These former Big 8 rivals haven’t played since 2010, and fans are eager to see them face off once again.

Lastly, the Pac-12 continues to dominate the TV ratings. For the fourth time in seven weeks, a Pac-12 game was the most-watched college football game of the week. Despite the conference’s uncertain future, fans are tuning in to watch these games.

In terms of betting, a few teams remain undefeated against the spread, including Oklahoma, Penn State, and UNLV. However, Oregon nearly achieved perfection but pushed last week against Washington. On the other hand, Vanderbilt finally covered a game as a 32.5-point underdog, leaving no teams without a cover this season.

College football continues to provide thrilling moments and surprising outcomes, leaving fans and bettors on the edge of their seats each week. The unpredictability of the game is part of what makes it so special.

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Alex Martin

Alex Martin is your guide to the global phenomenon of football. With a focus on international leagues and tournaments, he provides match commentary, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of football.