By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service

Doubt the Mid-American Conference? Never.

Not after Marshall pushed Tennessee in Knoxville.

Not after Akron gained 534 yards and scared Wisconsin in Madison.

Not after Northern Illinois shocked Maryland the first week.

And certainly not after Bowling Green blew past No. 16 Purdue in West Lafayette Saturday.

Does anyone here detect a trend?

"They were looking at us like some small little MAC team who couldn't do anything," said Charles Sharon, whose 32-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-14 gave Bowling Green a 27-26 win. "We just came in here and put it on those boys."

It's not that surprising. MAC teams cause trouble all the time, but the pest reading this year has been especially high. MAC teams don't show up in the fancy stadiums just for the paycheck anymore.

"We're not delighted to come down here and play close," said Marshall coach Bob Pruett after the near-miss at Tennessee. "That's not any thrill to us."

"I told them before the game, you don't always get what you want in life," said Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon, "but usually, you get what you expect.

"Nobody else gave us the chance of a snowball in hell."

That did not include his son, by the way. A student at ... Purdue.

"I know who he was rooting for," Brandon said. "He ain't biting the hand that feeds him."

The upset ringleader was senior quarterback Josh Harris, largely ignored by the Big Ten during recruiting, who threw for 357 yards against Purdue.

"A lot of guys in here were never recruited by Big Ten teams and that puts a little bit of a chip on our shoulders," Harris said. "And that's OK. It gives us an edge to show we can compete with these guys."

Coming attractions

•  Notre Dame at Michigan. Irish looked wobbly against Washington State, Michigan impressive in two mismatches. This will help show what is real and what is not.

• Penn State at Nebraska. Frank Solich could use a win to keep making Husker fans forget last season. Joe Paterno could use a win to make Nittany Lion fans forget last Saturday's loss to Boston College.

Quote of the weekend

"I knew I was in trouble when the guy kept saying, 'The Huskies are doing this and the Huskies are doing that.' I've never heard the head official talk about the opponent with their nicknames." - Indiana coach Gerry DiNardo, unhappy that Pac-10 officials were used in the Hoosiers' 38-13 loss at Washington.

Stat of the week

In losing to Georgia Tech and USC, Auburn's offense has allowed 13 sacks, punted 18 times, rushed for only 83 yards in 74 carries, and scored no touchdowns.

Thumbs of the week

• Up to Bob Stoops. Headphones made of brass. Fake punt at Alabama latest reason to call him hottest coach in college game.

• Up to Chris Perry. Michigan tailback already has 416 yards rushing. Big game against Notre Dame will be official announcement of his Heisman candidacy.

• Up to Brock Berlin. New Miami quarterback rallies Hurricanes from 33-10 to beat Florida, leads last drive with leg cramps. OK, you can stay.

• Down to Arizona. This won't help membership in John Mackovic fan club. Wildcats lose 59-13 to LSU, for worst home defeat since 1958.

• Sideways to Florida. Glass half full: Gators nearly win in the Orange Bowl, despite being 14 1/2-point underdogs, the largest gap for Florida since 1988. Glass half empty: They were up by 23.