Gundy's tirade among the best so far in 2007

Sure, we could wait for the final two months of the regular season before compiling a "Best of 2007" collection.

But the college football world has already provided enough priceless moments in the first four weeks that there's little chance they'll be topped before bowl time.

Or, by publicizing these gems now, we provide a standard for coaches, players and, yes, announcers, to try to topple.

So let's rip open these freshly sealed envelopes and hand out some awards, shall we?

Best postgame hissy fit

Despite the fact his team had just knocked off previously unbeaten Texas Tech by a 49-45 count on Saturday, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy devoted his news conference to screaming at The Oklahoman columnist Jenni Carlson.

Judging by Gundy's tirade, something about Carlson's game-day column apparently struck a nerve.

This three-minute clip -- which can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VytIZZzee0 -- seems to be safe for work.

Unless you're not allowed to have the word "puke" come out of your computer's speakers.

Most bizarre attempt at humor, non-sequitur division:

ESPN's Mike Patrick came up with an all-time clunker Saturday night, as anyone who watched the closing moments of the Georgia-Alabama game can attest.

It's overtime between two Top 25 teams. Alabama has just kicked a field goal to go up 23-20. As 92,000 Tide fans roar and Georgia prepares for its possession, which turned out to be a touchdown on the first play, Patrick blindsides analyst Todd Blackledge with this gem:

Patrick: "I have an important question."

Blackledge: "Go ahead."

Patrick: "What is Britney doing with her life?"

Enjoy Blackledge's incredulous responses here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZUB3eJOTos.

Biggest upset

Only read this category if you've been circling the planet in a rowboat for the last 25 days.

Appalachian State's win at Michigan on Sept. 1 will remain an oft-cited piece of college football lore for approximately forever.

It has been 25 years since NAIA Chaminade upset top-ranked Virginia in college basketball -- and nobody has forgotten about that.

Best surprises

Here are two reasons to fear Michigan State with first-year coach Mark Dantonio at the controls:

Not only are the Spartans 4-0, but his former team, Cincinnati, sits 4-0 and rides a seven-game winning streak that's the school's longest since 1954.

Oh, and the 24th-ranked Bearcats are in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1976.

No. 18 South Florida deserves praise for making the rankings for the first time in school annals -- at least since moving full-time to Division I-A, er, the Football Bowl Subdivision, in 2001.

Dumbest name change

If you like your language cumbersome and clumsy with a whiff of L'eau de Bureaucracy, then the NCAA's decision to change Division I-A to "Football Bowl Subdivision" and Division I-AA to "Football Championship Subdivision" has been a godsend.

As for the rest of us, see Mike Gundy's reaction above.

Craziest computer rankings

If you have a subscription to Jerry Palm's CollegeBCS.com -- and I suggest you get one if you don't -- check out Illinois' computer rankings for this week.

The Illini rank No. 18, according to Colley, and No. 19, according to Massey. The Sagarin ratings, which still employ some Bayesian bias from last year, say Illinois ranks No. 46.

But Billingsley's rankings? They show Illinois at No. 70.

I'm not saying Illinois is a top-25 team. I'm just saying someone's computer has a virus.

Do the people who run the Bowl Championship Series know about this?