October 22, 2007 | Volume 107, Issue 16

Hi, Jinx

A shortage of qualified quarterbacks is transforming the NFL

HE'S RESILIENT and resolute, and with a last-minute drive against the Titans on Sunday, quarterback Jeff Garcia lifted his Buccaneers to 4--2. Six games in and the guy still hasn't thrown an...

WHO'S Hot

Which NFL punter has the most impact on a game?

Lost To WBO heavyweight titleholder Sultan Ibragimov in a unanimous decision in Moscow, former champ Evander Holyfield (below). At age 44 Holyfield was trying to become the second-oldest...

THE YANKEES' off-season was to begin officially on Tuesday, when the team's brass was to gather in Tampa for a week of meetings. The execs have many questions to ponder, not the least of which is...

3 Short-course world records set by U.S. swimmer Kate Ziegler last weekend: two in the 800-meter freestyle, lowering the mark to 8:08, and one in the 1,500 meters (15:32.90).

A Texas Tech fraternity was suspended for selling T-shirts with a drawing of Michael Vick hanging Texas A&M's canine mascot.

GILBERT ARENAS Wizards guard, on what feels better, hitting a buzzer-beater or having sex: "A buzzer-beater because it's harder. You can get sex every day."

Some parents say a Texas Special Olympics coach pushed kids too hard

TORY WEBER'S IDEA, like many of the best ones, came to him by accident. One day several winters ago the now 43-year-old inventor from Calgary placed his sneakers atop a heater; after lacing them...

These NFLers have just a single career catch—and it went for a TD

A Giants running back goes behind his masks

Team TBS has a rocky postseason debut

What to watch and watch for

Matthew Brown IDALOU, TEXAS > Track and Field Brown, 30, a football and track and field coach at Idalou High, won a gold medal in the discus (a meet-record 154'9") and a bronze in combined-class...

Must-See TV Dominic Bonvissuto rates each weekend's slate of NFL games.

There's still a looooong way to go before the Patriots hit 19--0

Resetting the Table See how last Saturday's upsets affected Stewart Mandel's Power Rankings.

Undefeated Ohio State and South Florida debuted at Nos. 1 and 2 in the first BCS standings. About the only certainty in this unpredictable season is that both will get knocked off. No. 4 LSU, the...

More upsets and a surprise Heisman winner could cap the most volatile season in memory

Shunned by Division I programs, Danny Woodhead went to Chadron State and rushed into the record books

The Rockies' remarkable streak will come to an end (we think); their talent base, though, is built to last

As the war in Iraq approaches its fifth anniversary, —still haunted by the death in Vietnam of his best friend and teammate—searched for a small-town high school standout killed in action. He...

Wildcat Strike Steve Johnson's touchdown catch in the third overtime enabled Kentucky to defeat top-ranked LSU, 43--37, last Saturday in Lexington, Meanwhile, giddy Oregon State players (inset)...

The NFL Where have all the fullbacks gone? • Tampa Bay—stealth playoff contender • Dr. Z's Forecast: AFC South showdown

Blocked Out

Redskins safety Sean Taylor is quietly having an outstanding season. The fourth-year vet (right) had an interception in each of his last three games, giving him four for the year, and almost had...

Strange team, the Bucs. They've careened from 5--11 in 2004 to 11--5 the next year to 4--12 in '06. Now they're 4--2 and tied for the lead in the NFC South heading into a winnable game this Sunday...

The Patriots, one of the NFL's two elite teams, survived their ordeal by fire on Sunday with a rousing victory over Dallas. Now the other one faces up to its most serious challenge when the Colts...

Ol' College Try

STANHOPE ELMORE (Millbrook, Ala.) at PRATTVILLE (Ala.), Oct. 19

TEXAS DE IS BAYOU BOUND

Still Steaming

1 Clint Bowyer just won't go away. The Chase's breakout star had another strong run last Saturday, taking second in only his fourth Lowe's start. Though he lost ground to Jeff Gordon—Bowyer is...

WITH JOCKS on The Bachelor, jocks thinking they can dance and jocks under Friday Night Lights, and Thursday-, Saturday-, Sunday- and Monday-night lights, prime-time TV has more jocks than Dick's...

But what does one good week mean for these '07 underperformers?

Read Will Carroll's analysis of the latest injury reports, every Thursday at SI.com/fantasy.

WE LIKE THE MATCH UP

QUARTERBACK

PARTY TIME The real craziness begins in March, but in October, at the season's first college hoops practices, everyone celebrates. Clockwise from top left: Kentucky's Patrick Patterson gets up for...