So far, 2007 has been the Year of the Upset in college football.
Look no further than Appalachian State's Sept. 1 win over Michigan, a game that instantly became known as the biggest upset in football history. Then came Syracuse-Louisville three weeks later. This past weekend, it was Stanford-USC.
And here's a thought that's been on the mind of Bill Samko, the Tufts football coach: maybe the phenomenon isn't limited to Div. I.
For the Jumbos, who will take on the Trinity Bantams Saturday, winners of 40 of their last 41, an upset mentality might be a healthy way to go. For Samko, there's no better place to turn for inspiration than Jerry Moore, the longtime coach of the Div. I-AA App. State Mountaineers.
"You know what he told his team on the Friday before that game?" Samko said. "He told them that after they won that Saturday, most of the world would be surprised, but he wouldn't be surprised."
So perhaps all it takes is a little faith. As the Jumbos know, there's never been a better time to jump out to a 4-0 start. The 3-0 Middlebury Panthers face a tough test of their own Saturday in defending champion Williams, and if Tufts and Williams both win out, the Jumbos could be all alone atop the league.
"This game will definitely tell a lot about where we're going to end up," senior quarterback Matt Russo said. "We want to win every game, and if we're 4-0, then we've done what we've set out to do. But if we lose, then we can still pick it up from there."
This team is prepared for whatever fate brings it Saturday. But Samko, for one, is all confidence.
"After we win Saturday, most of the world will be surprised," Samko said. "But I won't be."
-by Evans Clinchy
