Quick Kicks

Heisman watch

Ron Dayne, Wisconsin: Eighty-eight yards against Michigan was understandable, even respectable. But 80 yards against Minnesota?

Peter Warrick, Florida State: A week ago, many considered Warrick the frontrunner. Now, many consider him a felon. Truth is he’s not a felon, he just faces felony charges for accepting a 90% discount at a clothing store. FSU coach Bobby Bowden has said Warrick will play if he’s not convicted. Downtown Athletic Club rules say he’s eligible for the award for as long as he goes without a conviction.

Drew Brees, Purdue: Funny thing: play Michigan, drop out of the race; play Ohio State, get back in it. It worked for Ron Dayne and worked, somewhat, for Brees. He completed 24 of 39 passes for 205 yards but was held without a touchdown pass for the first time in 19 games.

Shaun Alexander, Alabama: The Crimson Tide did not play Saturday. Alexander, who caught plenty of attention with his performance against Florida last week, can gain plenty more notice before the end of October: Mississippi next week, then the traditional Third Saturday showdown (on Oct. 23, which is actually the fourth Saturday) against Tennessee.

Joe Hamilton, Georgia Tech: He fumbled twice and threw two interceptions but also completed 14 of 26 for 273 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, he gained 77 yards on 14 carries. Hamilton’s play in big games on TV put him in the race. He had his worst game Saturday, but two factors still help. 1) He won. 2) It wasn’t on TV.

Heisman Trivia: Which year had the biggest voting landslide?

Union wins again

Mount Union beat Heidelberg 66-0 Saturday night, its 47th straight victory to match college football’s longest winning streak set by Oklahoma during the 1950s.

Before Mount Union began its run, no team came within 10 games of Oklahoma’s record in the four decades since it was set under coach Bud Wilkinson. The Sooners were unbeaten in 47 consecutive games between 1953-57 until losing to Notre Dame 7-0 in 1957.

How good is Marshall?

The first Bowl Championship Series rankings aren’t out yet, but the Los Angeles Times did the math and discovered that Marshall and Virginia Tech are currently 1-2.

Marshall gets to show its stuff Thursday on ESPN when the Thundering Herd takes on Toledo.

Mississippi burning

Marshall may be the pride of West Virginia, but everyone’s the pride of Mississippi.

No. 14 Mississippi State scored two touchdowns in the waning minutes to defeat Auburn and the Bulldogs have reached 6-0 for the first time since World War II.

Mississippi, No. 25 in the ESPN-USA Today poll, is 5-1 for the first time since 1990. The Rebels have played a soft schedule but have a victory over Auburn to their credit. Their loss was a 37-34 overtime shootout with Vanderbilt.

Southern Mississippi knocked off previously undefeated East Carolina on Saturday. The Golden Eagles’ 3-2 record might be deceiving to those who don’t realize that the losses were to Nebraska and Texas A&M on back-to-back road games.

Division I-A stars 300 yards passing

Kenny Kelly, Miami: 370 (3TDs)

Major Applewhite, Texas: 338 (3TDs)

Josh Heupel, Oklahoma: 311 (2TDs)

Kevin Feterik, BYU: 414 (4TDs)

Bill Burke, Michigan St.: 400 (2TDs)

Corey Paus, UCLA: 332 (2TDs)

A.J. Feeley, Oregon: 313 (2TDs)

Walt Church, EMich: 312 (1TD)

Tim Lester, WMich: 303 (3TDs)

200 yards rushing

LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU: 300

Levron Williams, Indiana: 241 (0TDs)

Demario Brown, Utah State: 225 (2TDs)

Eric Flowers, CMich.: 219 (4TDs)

Hodges Mitchell, Texas: 204 (1TD)

180 yards receiving Plaxico Burress, Mich. St.: 255 (1TD)

Kelly Campbell, Ga.Tech: 203 (2TDs)

Danny Farmer, UCLA: 196 (2TDs)

Santana Moss, Miami: 180 (0TDs)

Trivia answer: 1968. Southern California running back O.J. Simpson had a 1,750 point margin over Purdue running back Leroy Keyes.