Photo from Google Images
Wednesday night was a night of history for my teams. I was worried about my blood pressure trying to balance a 6:05 start for the Dodgers in game 3 of the NLCS on FS1 and a 7:30 start for Coastal Carolina University football on ESPN.
The Dodgers scored 11 runs in the FIRST inning (10 runs with two outs). No team has ever scored 11 runs in the first inning of any postseason game in the history of Major League Baseball. They also made history by hitting five home runs in the first three innings. No way, the Braves could come back from that beat down. It was as if the sports Gods wanted everyone to feel good about the Dodgers and go watch the best school colors shine in prime time. (The 15-3 win keeps the Dodgers alive going into game four tonight with Kershaw on the mound.)
Move over, Clemson, Coastal Carolina University is giving the world of College Football rankings a lot to talk about! Usually, when talking about CCU being ranked it involves baseball or being a party school. As a CCU Alumni, I am proud of being ranked on both of those lists. But now, we have a new ranking to talk about; Football!
The University of Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns ranked #21 with a 3-0 record, hosted the Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers, also 3-0, on Wednesday night for a Sunbelt matchup in prime time. (A Wednesday night college football game? Not a type-o. Yes, Wednesday! Due to Hurricane Delta, the game was moved, but I’m sure COVID will somehow take the credit.) The undefeated battle in the Sunbelt and back-and-forth scoring on both sides of the ball proved why the conference is nicknamed the Funbelt. It was a fun game to watch!
The Chanticleers (pronounced SHONT-ICLEERS or SH-ON-TS) is a team full of personality. From the amazingly-awful haircuts, a fur (I’m sure it’s faux fur PETA) turnover cloak that is straight up gangster to a center who is 5’9 and plays like he is 6’3- heck this entire team plays bigger and better than anyone has ever giving them credit for. And one thing they have proven is that they are not scared to play anyone or anywhere. They’ll even play you in a Wendy’s parking lot.
Coastal recorded 414 yards on offense proving they can use their feet and their hands by rushing for 212 yards and passing for 202 yards. Look out Trevor Lawrence, Chants redshirt Freshman QB, Grayson McCall, is coming for you. On Wednesday, McCall was 17-of-24 for 202 yards and two throws in the end zone. He was only sacked once. That “Black Swarm” you keep hearing about on social media, oh that’s referring to the Coastal defense. Led by linebackers Teddy Gallagher and Silas Kelly who EACH had eight tackles!
Sophomore cornerback, Jordan Morris had a game changing interception late in the third quarter giving Coastal the ball and finding the end zone to go up 27-20. It was the only turnover in the game. With four seconds left in the game it was tied 27-27. Coastal kicker, Massimo Biscardi, drilled a 40-yard field goal right through the center and for the first time in CCU Football history, the Chanticleers beat a top 25 nationally-ranked FBS program!
If this video doesn’t make you get on the Chanticleer bandwagon, then you don’t like college football.
4-0 and our first win against a top 25 team… say less#BAM #BEL1EVE #TEALNATION pic.twitter.com/0pMdXHgfGY
— Coastal Football (@CoastalFootball) October 15, 2020
The Chants improved their season to 4-0 with the win over the Ragin’ Cajuns and 2-0 in the Sunbelt. (In the previous three seasons when they joined the Sunbelt, they only won two conference games in each of those seasons.) In the Sunbelt coach predictions, the Chants were picked to finish last in the East. Now they are in first and the only team without a loss. How’s that for a “how it started, how it’s going” post? (Mom, it’s a thing the cool kids are doing on social media.)
Chanticleer head coach, Jamey Chadwell told WRNN FM 99.5 “This is a great start for us: first time beating a top 25 team, 2-0 in the league for the first time ever, and maybe if we’re lucky we’ll be ranked this week, too. It was a great football game. We were the only show in town and it paid dividends for the people watching.”
And if you think those teal britches looked good on national TV, you should see Coastal Carolina’s home field turf. It’s the best-looking field in college football. Coastal will be on ESPNU next Saturday at noon to take on Georgia Southern.
To the AP and Coaches poll voters, it’s time to make your vote count. It’s time to #RankTheChants!