Type-casting college football games

[WSUCougar]

As college football fans, we all know 'em and love 'em. I'm sure you've got your own specials, but here are a few common ones:

The War
These are the best games, IMO. True battles of offense struggling against stout defense, a low-scoring field position tug-of-war. Usually one big play makes or breaks a team in a game like this. Scores are typically in the 17-13 range.

The Shoot-Out
These are the track meets. Who has the ball last is often the team that wins. The old WAC and Big Sky conferences used to be filled with games like this, and I think the Pac-10 probably has the most of them of the major conferences. A typical score: 41-38.

The Heartbreaker
There are exceptions, but this one is usually a game where a less-talented team puts in a courageous effort and almost knocks off a powerhouse team. Emphasis on “almost” because the more talented team frequently pulls it out somehow. Miami beating West Virginia is a recent example. Typical score: 31-28

The Pull-Away
Your team plays tough for a quarter or even a half, but then slowly but surely hope gets ground down into nothing and you lose convincingly. Typical score: 42-17.

The Blow Out
Right from the get-go this game is O-V-E-R. Typical score: 55-0

The Big Ugly
Penalties, turnovers, bone-head plays. Neither team wants to win, but somebody has to. Typical score: 24-21.

“Coug-ing It”
WSU fans are so familiar with this variety of game we have a term for it: “Coug-ing it.” This is when your team – regardless of talent disparity - races out to a huge early lead. They look wonderful, and the other team looks awful. Everything goes right. Then, either due to half-time or a big momentum shift, the other team comes roaring back to win it in heartbreak fashion. The WSU-Notre Dame game is a recent example. Typical score: 38-35.

The TCY Special
You’re up by at least two touchdowns, with around four minutes to play. You have the ball, and your o-coordinator decides to throw the ball. Zippity-zoo, INT returned for a touchdown! You fumble the kickoff, returned for a touchdown! You then fail to finish the game, because either (a) you’ve burst a blood-vessel in your forehead, or (b) the monitor is a smoldering mass of broken glass and your hand hurts too much to type anyway.
[Just kidding, of course…I love ya, Jim! TCY is one of my all-time faves. ACK! TCY2! TCY2!]