David Fales stared into the teeth of the nation's seventh-ranked defense and felt nothing but a Zen-like calm.
San Jose State endured a few turbulent weeks after former coach Mike MacIntyre left for Colorado. It was nothing compared to how far the 24th-ranked Spartans had come in just a few years.
Two seasons ago, the notion of San Jose State playing in a bowl game was ludicrous. Four games into the year, a bowl destination for Bowling Green seemed a winter fantasy.
Ryan Burbrink knew that time was running out on his dream of playing college football.
A week ago, Pittsburgh was tougher than Virginia Tech. Logan Thomas wasn't going to let it happen again. Instead of ducking out of bounds at the end of an otherwise irrelevant 3-yard run in the second quarter, the Hokies' junior quarterback lowered his shoulder and barreled over Bowling Green defensive end Charlie Walker.
Bowling Green's offense couldn't find a rhythm and quarterback Matt Schilz spent more time scrambling than finding receivers.
West Virginia running back Dustin Garrison couldn't have imagined this.
You don't need a diploma from the University of Richmond to realize the Arizona Cardinals did not want Tim Hightower anymore. The year after he arrived, they drafted another running back in the first round. Two years later, they drafted one in the second.
Michigan wide receiver Darryl Stonum is glad coach Rich Rodriguez didn't give up on him after he was sentenced for drunken driving and spent three days in jail in June for violating terms of his probation.
