Saturday November 29th will be really weird as a Vol fan

I realize few will read this but I think the following is almost more therapeutic for me than anything else.  Tomorrow/today depending on your time zone will be the last time that Coach Fulmer takes the field as Head Coach of the Tennessee Volunteers.  As an alum and rapid UT fan the whole thing just feels wrong.  I concede I am one of the people who thought it was time for a change and still think UT made the right move for the long term future of the program by deciding to make a change.  But it just doesn't seem like it should be this way.  For a man who gave so much to his players and to the University, it just sucks.  It's a shame that this is the season that will be Fulmer's last.  A season that began with such promise quickly fell apart and the cracks that had been appearing in the program became gaping holes.  Like many in the world of sports, Fulmer held on a little too long.  His run in the late 90's of 45 - 5 is something that few teams are able to do in the SEC and really put Tennessee on the map as a national power.  Ever since the beginning of the decade though the SEC landscape has changed and Fulmer has struggled to adapt.  The once recruiting fertile ground of the Southeast has dried up as Urban Meyer, Mark Richt, and Nick Saban were keeping top players close to home.  These new coaches always gave Fulmer fits but he always had the domination of Alabama in his back pocket.  In the last couple of years that has also disappeared and with it the Ace up Fulmer's sleeve.  

To Fulmer's credit the man always rallied with his back to the wall.  Just when you thought things were going to fall apart, the team would pull an upset and the critics would go quiet again.  I remember thinking after last season that it would be a perfect time for Fulmer to ride off into a Smokey Mountain sunset.  It was painfully obvious that Florida and Alabama had passed us but in typical Fulmer fashion we somehow ended up in Atlanta as SEC East champs.  To make it even crazier we almost pulled one of the bigger upsets in SEC title game history by knocking off eventual National Champion LSU.  We rallied to end the season with a nice win over Wisconsin and the stage was set for Fulmer to move on.  Instead he came back and made a disastrous hire in Dave Clawson to run the offense.  To be perfectly honest, if Fulmer goes a different direction with that hire things may have never gotten this far.  So here we are now running the second winningest coach in school history out of town.  I know Fulmer has made his enemies around CFB over the years but it's the nature of the business.  Through it all though the man has been fiercely loyal to his players and to the University of Tennessee.  

None of this feels right though in the back of my mind I just don't know how it could have gone any different.  I truly hope that this season does not affect his legacy.  With over 150 wins, 5 SEC title appearances with 2 titles, and last but not least a national title the man left his mark on Tennessee.  I would love to be at the game tomorrow and I hope that Neyland is packed and rocking tomorrow.  Fulmer deserves to go out on a high note and I hope the fans send him out well.  

Coach, thanks for the memories.  Thanks for 1998.  Thanks for "Pounding the Rock" in Gainesville and an end around in Miami.  Thanks for 35 first quarter points against Arkansas and 52 total against Georgia.  Thanks for 45 - 14 over Michigan and 38 - 7 over A&M.  Thanks for Eric Berry.  Thanks for all you've done for Tennessee.  

Week 13 top 25

1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Oklahoma
4. Texas
5. Utah
6. Penn State
7. Boise State
8. Texas Tech
9. Southern Cal
10. Ohio State
11. Oklahoma State
12. Ball State
13. Missouri
14. Georgia
15. TCU
16. Cincinnati
17. Oregon State
18. Boston college
19. Florida State
20. Oregon
21. Georgia Tech
22. Northwestern
23. BYU
24. West Virginia
25. Mississippi
Iowa 20,
Pittsburgh 19,
Michigan State 12,
Tulsa 8,
Western Michigan 4,
Central Michigan 3,
Nebraska 2,
Houston 1

Week 12 Top 25

1. Texas Tech 394
2. Alabama 386
3. Florida 360
4. Texas 345
5. Oklahoma 334
6. Utah 300
7. Southern Cal 299
8. Boise State 292
9. Penn State 285
10. Oklahoma State 230
11. BYU 204
12. Missouri 202
13. Ohio State 201
14. Georgia 199
15. Michigan State 175
16. Ball State 174
17. Cincinnati 134
18. Oregon State 127
19. Pittsburgh 124
20. TCU 78
21. Miami 64
22. North Carolina 49
23. Oregon 47
24. Maryland 41
25. Northwestern 36

Others receiving votes: Boston college 31 Florida State 28 LSU 25 Georgia Tech 15 Central Michigan 5 West Virginia 4 Western Michigan 4 Tulsa 3 Iowa 2 Connecticut 2

Week 11 Top 25

1. Texas Tech
2. Alabama
3. Florida
4. Texas
5. Oklahoma
6. Southern Cal
7. Penn State
8. Utah
9. Boise State
10. Missouri
11. Ohio State
12. Georgia
13. Ball State
14. Oklahoma State
15. Michigan State
16. North Carolina
17. BYU
18. Florida State
19. TCU
20. Tulsa
21. LSU
22. Cal
23. Oregon
24. South Carolina
25. Virginia Tech

others receiving votes West Virginia 12, Miami 11, Maryland 8, Oregon State 6, Western Michigan 2, South Florida 2, Army 1, Wake Forest 1,

Week 10 Top 25

1. Penn State
2. Alabama
3. Texas Tech
4. Florida
5. Texas
6. Oklahoma
7. Southern Cal
8. Oklahoma State
9. Utah
10. Boise State
11. TCU
12. Ohio State
13. Missouri
14. Georgia
15. LSU
16. Ball State
17. Michigan State
18. West Virginia
19. Georgia Tech
20. BYU
21. North Carolina
22. Cal
23. Florida State
24. Maryland
25. Tulsa

Others receiving votes Minnesota 12, Oregon 8, Pittsburgh 8 Kansas 7, Miami 5, Notre Dame 1,

Wekk 9 Top 25

1. Texas
2. Penn State
3. Alabama
4. Texas Tech
5. Oklahoma
6. Florida
7. Oklahoma State
8. Georgia
9. Southern Cal
10. Boise State
11. Utah
12. TCU
13. Florida State
14. Tulsa
15. Ball State
16. Missouri
17. Minnesota
18. Ohio State
19. BYU
20. North Carolina
21. Michigan State
22. LSU
23. Virginia Tech
24. Maryland
25. Cal

Others receiving votes South Florida 22, West Virginia 15, West Virginia 15, Kansas 10, Virginia 8, Miami 5, Boston College 3, Louisville 3, Georgia Tech 1

And so it begins...

Coaching victim #1 has been announced and five years late it turns out to be Tommy Bowden. Clemson has always had talent and they always manage to find ways to lose games. It finally caught up to Bowden as Clemson entered this season with higher expectations than ever in his tenure as coach. The early season blowout loss to Bama put the writing on the wall and losses to Maryland and Wake Forest were the final nails in the coffin. By making this move first Clemson does put themselves in the best position to find a top of the line replacement. With other top programs (Tennessee and Auburn) potentially looking for new coaches this might be a huge advantage. Ultimately this will cost Clemson a ton of money as Bowden signed a huge extension prior to this season. It appears they should have let him go to Arky and started fresh. There are some definite top candidates out there this year and the market will be very competitive.

Week 7 Games of the Week

It's nut cutting time in college football. Out of conference fluff has ended, and most teams had an easy opening week of conference play last week. But now, the first of about three Separation Saturdays is upon us. The Big XII and SEC picture will be shaped this week, with somebody left scrambling to stay in the NC hunt (or in Florida's case, a loss eliminates them). So let's look into the crystal football and see how things play out this week.

ACC
Clemson at # 20 Wake Forest (-2.5): While I was never high on Clemson, the fact remains they still have a shot at winning the ACC and getting to a BCS bowl. If they lose tonight however, that dream is all but over. The Tigers can't afford to fall into a 1-2 hole in ACC play. This game will most likely decide the ACC Atlantic division. Clemson's plan is simple: feed Spiller and Davis. But they have no always executed that plan effectively with shaky O-Line play. Wake's run D is #15 in the nation so it's been solid, and is good enough to make Clemson pass. And this is where the game will be won or lost. The Wake pass D has been spotty so expect Clemson QB Cullen Harper to make enough plays to keep Wake off balance. Plus the Clemson D is second in the ACC in total D, so expect them to give a Wake team that only averages 27 points a game a few problems. Clemson 24, Wake Forest 20

Big XII
#6 Texas vs. #1 Oklahoma (-7) at Dallas: This is the most anticipated Red River Shootout since 2002. Both teams come in crushing the competition at a pace of 35.8 points per game, both teams have outstanding quarterback play, and both teams are hungry to stay in the Big XII and national title chase. The winner of this game has played in 10 of the 12 Big XII title games, and appeared 3 of the last 5 BCS title games. In other words, the stakes are high. So who wins? On paper OU has more talent. Quarterback Sam Bradford has an abundance of weapons at his disposal including RB DeMarco Murray, WRs Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson, and TE Jermaine Gresham. The defense, particularly in the secondary, has been stronger than even most OU fans expected. Under DC Will Mushchamp, the same can be said about the Longhorn D. They are leading the nation in sacks, and DL Brian Orakpo is 3rd nationally in sack. Offensively, Colt McCoy is have a Heisman worthy season. He is 4th in the nation in passing efficiency, and is Texas' leading rusher. The biggest advantage between the teams appears in the air. The Horns pass defence ranks 100 nationally, and they have not seen anything near the passing attack OU provides. Expect Sam Bradford to have a big day, and the Sooners to stay atop the polls. OU 35, TX 24

Big East
Rutgers (+7.5) at Cincinnati: Slow weekend in the Big East, but their weekend will come. Only intrigue here is will Cincy win it's conference opener to set up some key matchups against UCONN, USF, and WVU in the next 3 weeks? Expect the Bearcats to stay focused on this matchup, and beat a Rutgers team that is hurting in all aspects. CB Mike Mickens and the Cincinnati D will cause QB Mike Teel and Rutgers all kinds of problems. Cincinnati 30, Rutgers 14

Big Ten
#21 Michigan State (-1.5) at #23 Northwestern: I know everybody is all excited about Penn State at Wisconsin, but at this point MSU at NW has more impact on the Big 10 race. Both teams are undefeated in conference, so more is on the line in this one. NW has been surprisingly stingy on defense, giving up only 12 points per game. The Spartans have been good defensively as well, giving up 16 per game but have struggled against the better passing teams on their schedule (Cal and Indiana). This where Northwestern QB CJ Bacher can make or break this game. If he limits his turnovers, he gives his team a very good chance to win. The Wildcat D is good enough to at least contain Spartan RB Javon Ringer. He's going to get 40 touches no matter what, but if they limit his yards per touch they have a good shot because Brian Hoyer has not shown much through the air. So can Bacher throw the ball to the guys in the purple jerseys? I'm going to say he can, and the NW spread is effective enough to get a close home win. NW 23, MSU 21

Pac 10
Arizona (-7) at Stanford: Another game with slightly more importance that the game most are excited about (Arizona State at USC). Both teams have two conference wins (AZ 2-0; Stanford 2-1). A Cardinal upset puts the Pac 10 in chaos with a bunch of 1 loss teams; a 'Zona win puts the Wildcats in the driver's seat. I don't expect the upset here. Matter of fact, I think Mike Stoops is finally making his mark on the Wildcat program and has his team in a position to expect to win. Arizona QB Willie Tuitama is playing like a senior quarterback should, and the Arizon D has been stingy (15.2 PPG). The Cardinal D on the other hand is horrendous (27.7 PPG), and the offense isn't lighting it up either (23 PPG). The 'Cats roll, setting up a big matchup versus Cal (the other Pac undefeated team; idle this week) next week. Arizona 35, Stanford 17

SEC
#4 LSU (+6) at #12 Florida: Hate, thy name is LSU/Florida. As if there wasn't enough bad blood between these teams after last year (remember the Tebow cell phone incident) we now have LSU planning to take Tebow out. Ahhh, nothing like ESSSSSS EEEEEEE SSSEEEEEEE football. The Tigers will rely on the strong running game led by Charles Scott (133 YPG, 6TDs) to take the pressure of QB Jarrett Lee. Expect the Gators to load the box to apply pressure on the run game and Lee. Well all know about the Gators "O" led by Tebow and Percy Harvin, but the key will be the Gators D. The Gators D is third in the nation in turnover margin, and only gives up 11 points per game. If the Gator D plays up to snuff, don't expect Jarrett Lee to pass his second big road test. Florida 24 LSU 17

Mid Major
TCU (-15.5) at Colorado State: Two undefeated teams in MWC play look to stay in the race with Utah and BYU. The Horned Frogs bring the nations #1 defense to Hughes Stadium, and they'll need it against a pass happy Rams attack. The Rams however give up 30 points a game and TCU averages 246 yards rushing per game. So expect the Rams passing game to be a moot point, as TCU will keep them off the field and stuff them when necessary. TCU 31, CSU 14

Week 7 Top 25

1. Oklahoma
2. Missouri
3. Alabama
4. Penn State
4. LSU
6. Texas
7. Texas Tech
8. BYU
9. Southern Cal
10. Oklahoma State
11. Vanderbilt
12. Florida
13. Georgia
14. Utah
15. Boise State
16. Ohio State
17. Kansas
18. Virginia Tech
19. North Carolina
20. Wake Forest
21. Michigan State
22. Tulsa
23. Northwestern
24. Ball State
25. Illinois

Games of the Week, Week 6

Let's take a look at each "Game of the Week" in each BCS conference, and the best mid major game, and see how this national championship picture will continue to shape itself.

ACC
Florida State (+2) at Miami: Remember when this was the game of the year, with all sorts of NC implications on the line? Now it's just a battle of two teams hoping to get back in the wide open ACC race. Miami has shown flashes on offense behind QB Robert Marve, but not near enough consistency. FSU should be 4-0 as the defense has been fantastic and downright dominant at times. A 7 turnover performance against Wake is all holding the Noles back at this point. I'll take the better D in a game with so many QB questions. FSU 17 Miami 10

Big XII
#7 Texas Tech (-7) at Kansas State: Conference opener week in the Big XII, and strange things can happen. Especially with the big week in Big XII play coming up next week. Will teams be looking ahead? TTech has played absolutely nobody and while KSU isn't exactly the example of elite OOC scheduling, they did manage to squeeze in a BCS foe (38-29 loss to LVille). But at least TTech stopped some people, as KSU couldn't even do that against cupcake city. Still, TTech just tends to play poorly in these types of games, in North venues. Expect an upset and a ton of points. KSU 43 TTech 38

Big East
The best game the BE had to offer already happened, as Pitt upset South Florida at home. But since I didn't get anything up early enough Thursday Rutgers at West Virginia (-13.5) seems to be what's left. Both teams have struggled after losing key players from last year's teams, and in the case of WVU a coach to boot. The Rutgers pass offense has been way too interception prone, and the run game is simply not good enough to take the pressure off. WVU is at home and they have Pat White. Expect WVU to be ready to roll for the conference opener. WVU 35 Rutgers 20

Big Ten
#14 Ohio State (-1) at #18 Wisconsin: After blowing a 19 point lead in Ann Arbor last week, the Badgers have to be feeling a bit disappointed. The Wolverine D turned up the heat in the second half and held PJ Hill to 70 yards rushing, and the Wisconsin passing game couldn't step up. Ohio State on the other hand appears to be finding it's groove behind freshman QB Terrell Pryor and the return of RB Beanie Wells. I expect the OSU D to keep Hill and the Wisconsin O in check much like Michigan was able to (for a half anyway), and get the victory in Camp Randall. OSU 28 Wisconsin 17

Pac 10
#23 Oregon (+16) at #8 USC: Despite being down to 4th string QB Justin Roper, the Ducks have been explosive on offense managing 47 points and 532 yards per game. The Trojans are reeling after being dominated at the line of scrimmage (on both sides of the ball) by Oregon State just 8 days ago, and the run game looks inconsistent. The Trojan defense in still capable of stopping anybody, but has been susceptible to good spread offenses in recent years. Of note, USC is 10-5 in their last 15 Pac 10 games. It appears the fear factor may be wearing off in Southern California. I don't expect the Ducks to win, but they'll make in interesting. USC 31 UO 27

SEC
#13 Auburn (-4) at #19 Vanderbilt: Yep you read that right, the best game in the SEC this week involves Lionel Richie's former band. Vandy sits atop the SEC East with a 2-0 record, and a playmaking QB in Chris Nickson. But don't be fooled, Vandy has been outgained in 3 of the 4 games they have played. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, I guess. As for Auburn, where to begin. My pre-season #3 team is lost on "O" and still unsettled at QB after 4 games. But they can pretty much get a stop whenever, which doesn't spell good news for a young vandy O-Line. Auburn 23 Vandy 9

Mid Major
Rice at Tulsa (-15.5): A Conference USA battle against two of the highest scoring teams in the country. Lost in all the BYU and Utah hype is a Tulsa team that is quietly 4-0 and can score on anybody. This Tulsa team just may be the last mid major standing when the BCS bids are passed out. Quarterback David Johnson has already accounted for 20 TDs and leads the nation in passer rating. Rice has a deadly QB-WR combo themselves, with QB Chase Clement tossing the rock to WR Jarrett Dillard. Dillard has caught 10 of Clements' 14 TD passes this season. Expect a real barn burner in this one with Tulsa staying on the BCS path. Tulsa 52 Rice 44

Upset Alert
#3 Mizzou (-10.5) at Nebraska: You may want to keep your eye on this one. Mizzou hasn't won at NU in over 30 years, and the Huskers are coming off a home loss to VaTech. So expect NU to be pretty pumped up to make a statement after blowing a chance to do so last week. Mizzou hasn't seen anything resembling a defense all year, and while NU isn't the 1985 Bears they have better athletes than anything Mizzou has faced and a coach in Bo Pelini that has stopped a few people in his day. It's been a loooong time since Mizzou played a team with a pulse (Illinois where they gave up 42 points), and they're coming off a bye so expect some dulness from the Tigers. This just looks like the perfect storm for another top 25 team to drop. NU 41 MU 31

The impact of last weekend...

What a weekend in college football. We'll see the ripple effects of last weekend throughout the rest of the season. A USC loss kicked things off and a dismantling of Georgia wrapped things up. In between all that happening a number of Top 10 teams fell as well.

Teams who benefited the most:

1) Alabama and LSU - The game in Baton Rogue between these two rivals looms large as the winner will be poised for a shot at a national title if they can remain unbeaten in conference. Even the loser of this game will still have a shot if no one goes undefeated this year. It's not inconceivable that a one loss SEC team end up in the big game.

2) Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri - A regular season triangle of games sets up a Big 12 title game in Kansas City. Texas plays both opponents but OU and Missouri dodge each other on the regular season slate this year. The OU/Texas winner will likely see Missouri in Kansas City with the winner of that game likley moving on the national title game as well.

3) USC - Ironically, USC losing first might have helped them. The Trojans will have a shot to play their way back in it, especially with the other struggles in the Top 10. If some other teams struggle then they could move back up.

The biggest loser of the weekend was by far Georgia. Voters will have a hard time erasing the memories of a 31 - 0 deficit at home out of their heads. It will take a miracle at this point for UGA to move back into serious conversations involving the national title game.

Coaching Shake Ups:

1) Syracuse - All signs are pointing that Greg Robinson is gone with Lane Kiffin's name being tossed around.

2) Washington - It looks like Willingham is out as well and Kiffin's name is being linked to this one also.

3) Tennessee - Fulmer won't be fired but he might resign at the end of this year. No names really tied to this one yet.

Top Coaching Candidates:

Bronco Mendenhall - BYU HC
Randy Edsell - UConn HC
Ron English - Louisville DC
Lane Kiffin - Former USC OC
Kevin Stelle - FSU Staff

Week 6 Top 25

1. Oklahoma (18)
2. Alabama
3. LSU
4. Penn State
5. Texas
6. Missouri
7. BYU
8. Texas Tech
9. South Florida
10. Southern Cal
11. Utah
12. Georgia
13. Florida
14. Auburn
15. Ohio State
16. Oklahoma State
17. Connecticut
18. Kansas
19. Vanderbilt
20. Boise State
21. Wisconsin
22. Oregon
22. Northwestern
24. Ball State
25. Kentucky

Others receiving votes: Tulsa 40, Michigan State 21, Wake Forest 16, Maryland 14, Arizona 8, Boston College 5, North Carolina 3, Cal 2, Notre Dame 1

And we have our first major stumble of the season

It was has long since become a trend, USC has gone on the road and stumbled in conference to a vastly inferior team. USC was outplayed, out hustled, and over matched last night by a struggling Oregon State team. Pete Carroll continues to be one of the best big game coaches in college football but his lack of ability to keep USC focused throughout the entire season is a problem. College's post-season system doesn't allow for slip ups and you don't play in the big games unless you win the small ones.

The team lacked fire from the get go falling behind 21 - 0 during the first half. The offense was tentative and the line play on both sides of the ball was a disappointment. It wasn't until they were down by 3 touchdowns that USC began to stretch OSU down the field. USC appeared ready to tie the game when they got the ball back early in the 4th quarter, but a resiliant OSU defense was able to keep them out of the endzone. Oregon State controlled field position and kept USC pinned down deep in their own end. A late USC touchdown gave them the opportunity to win the game if they recovered the onside kick but it wasn't in the cards last night.

So what happens now? UGA has lost ground in the Top 25 polls a couple times this year after winning games. Ohio State dropped to #14 after their loss 2 weeks ago to USC. In my opinion, USC has to drop out of the Top 10. A loss to an unranked team that got embarrassed by Penn State must carry some weight. We'll see how the media responds to this one. USC is regarded as one of the media darlings and that will definitely help them after this one. With some powerhouses in the SEC and Big 12 this year, USC's National title hopes look to be all but gone. Despite this loss, USC should still win the Pac 10 and be headed back to the Rose Bowl again.

Big game in the SEC this week

CBS has to be kicking itself for passing on the Georgia vs Alabama game this week and letting their rivals have the game after choosing to go with Tennessee and Auburn. Alabama and Georgia both enter this game with something to prove. Alabama has for years been trying to become an elite program again and a win over the Bulldogs would go a long way to letting everyone in college football know that Alabama was back. Georgia, despite their recent success, is still fighting the image that they are not truly one of CFB's top programs. In recent seasons setbacks against WVU and Tennessee have gone a long way to establishing that reputation.

To be completely honest, this looks like a trap game for Georgia. The program has everything to lose and not a ton to gain in this one which is generally a bad place for Georgia. Over the years Mark Richt has found ways to lose these games and keep Georgia from being firmly entrenched in the national title discussion. A win would help the program but Alabama is still ahead of schedule and one year removed from a rough season. A loss on the other hand knocks them out of the national title hunt and cements the Richt legacy of struggling in big games.

Alabama has been playing lights out this year. Their offensive line has been dominating games and providing Wilson the time he needs to pick defenses apart. Saban always focuses on defense and the Tide appear to be greatly improved on defense this season. The Georgia offense has not been running on all cylinders yet this season and if UGA is going to win they need the offense to step up.

Georgia will look to control the clock and dictate the tempo of this game. Stafford must protect the football and not give Alabama any easy touchdowns. Like his coach, Stafford has had mixed success on the big stages. You can't argue his arm strength but his decision making still gets him in trouble. In the end, I like Bama to pull off the upset in this one. It will be close and it will be a punishing game but Bama should come out on top.

Final Score: Alabama 17 Georgia 14

Week 5 Top 25 Poll

1. Southern Cal (9)
2. Oklahoma (3)
3. Missouri
4. LSU
5. Georgia
6. Florida
6. Penn State
8. Texas
9. Alabama
10. Wisconsin
11. BYU
12. Wake Forest
13. South Florida
14. Texas Tech
15. Boise State
16. Auburn
17. Utah
18. Colorado
19. Ohio State
20. TCU
21. Vanderbilt
22. Nebraska
23. Oklahoma State
24. Ball State
25. Clemson

Others receiving votes: East Carolina 24, Kansas 19, Connecticut 16, Oregon 16, Tulsa 16, Illinois 15, Kentucky 4, Miami 4, Michigan State 1

Week 4 Sunday Morning Thoughts

All right, I got my lamenting out of the way.  On to the week that was....

1) LSU makes a statement this week by going on the road and winning a big game over Auburn.  In a game that had much more offense than I expected it would (which I will be paying for this week by the way) LSU proved it can win a big road game with a young QB.  As this team continues to mature, watch out.  They still have some big games on the schedule and the SEC title game in Atlanta is always an extra hurdle but LSU established themselves as a team deserving of being in the national title hunt.  

2) Missouri struggled some this weekend and coach Pinkel is hoping it's due to Missouri looking ahead to Big 12 play.  The sloppy play let Buffalo hang around but Chase Daniel continued adding to his Heisman resume with another amazing performance.  In what appears to be a competitive Big 12, Missouri will need to make sure they don't perform like this against more talented competition or the end result might be a little different. 

3) The Pac 1 + 9 rears it's ugly head for the second week in a row.  With USC having the week off, the remaining PAC 10 teams were in full display this weekend.  ASU falls to Georgia in a game that was never competitive and Boise State knocked off Oregon in Eugene.  Throw in a 21 point loss by UCLA to Arizona and Stanford having to rally to beat San Jose State and it was another rough week for the PAC 10.  No other team appears to be even be on the same continent as USC right now and it could impact the Trojans national title chances.  At this point, there are teams in the SEC and the Big 12 who could go undefeated with tougher schedules.  The BCS formula will again cause a huge mess if that is the case.  

4) The Mid-Major BSC effort took a stumble this week as East Carolina lost to a banged up NC State team.  The previous wins over WVU and VT had already taken a hit with both schools struggling but the signs were on the wall last week when ECU struggled to beat Tulane.  Boise State and Utah both seem to be the two best candidates and a late season matchup between those two is looming large at this point.  

It's a Sad Day for a UT alum

I have to apologize if I seem out of this week as for the second consecutive year I've had to watch my beloved Vols get embarrassed on national TV by Florida.  With Auburn next week and Georgia and Alabama looming on the horizon it won't get any easier in Knoxville.  Barring a miracle and UT discovering some sense of offensive stability this might be Fulmer's last year in Knoxville.  Ten years removed from a national title is a long time in college football and as each day passes UT becomes less relevant in the SEC and nationally.  I've been saying for years that the writing was on the wall with this program.  UT has won the SEC East three times since 2000 yet not won the SEC since 1998.  In UT's defense they were only favored in one of those 3 games yet Tennessee fans don't view an SEC East title as the goal for a season.  Even when UT has won the East it has generally been because of other teams knocking off Florida or UGA.  Those SEC East titles have gotten Fulmer an extension through 2014 and have put everyone in an awkward position.  Fulmer is an alum of the school and did lead the program to a national title.  You can't question his passion for UT.  The biggest question about the coaching change at the program is who will be the new coach.  Looking around the college football landscape I don't see any coach that jumps out at me that I would like to coach UT who would actually leave their program to do it.  My ideal candidate would be Jim Grobe but I don't see him going anywhere.  The luster has come off Skip Holtz after struggling to beat Tulane and falling to NC State yesterday.  The rest of the season will be interesting as UT will likely struggle to break .500 for the second time in the last 4 seasons.  Wow, there's something I never thought I would be typing.  

Poll #1

Here's our first poll of the season. We haven't polled since the pre-season because we like to wait a few weeks, and see what teams are made of. It can be argued the out of conference schedules of most teams still don't tell us much, but at least holding our poll back a few weeks allows us to see the teams play.

I missed you guys last week as this little thing called Hurricane Ike swept through my home. All is well, and I'll be back on the scene with picks and insight this Thursday.

1. Southern Cal
2. Oklahoma
3. Missouri
4. LSU
5. Florida
6. Georgia
7. Penn State
8. Texas
9. Wisconsin
10. BYU
11. East Carolina
11. Alabama
13. Oregon
13. South Florida
15. Texas Tech
16. Ohio State
17. Auburn
18. Wake Forest
19. Utah
20. Kansas
21. Oklahoma State
22. Vanderbilt
23. TCU
24. Florida State
25. North Carolina

Others receiving votes: Nebraska 23, Boise State 23, Illinois 20, West Virginia 18, Air Force 18, Connecticut 13, Kentucky 3, Iowa 3, Indiana 2

Week 3 Sunday Morning Thoughts

Wow, is USC that good or OSU that bad?  The Trojans started a little slow but quickly turned up the volume as they cruised to an easy win.  Tressel once known as one of the best big game coaches in the land is now treading dangerously close to Bob Stoops territory.  For the third consecutive time, OSU has looked completely unprepared and overmatched in a big game.  Beanie Wells playing changes the game some but he wasn't good for 33 points so that turned out to be a non-factor.  Boeckman is not the answer at QB and Tressel would be best to look long term and go with Pryor.  OSU can still win the Big 10 with him at QB and the experience he would gain this year would serve him and the program well.  

As for USC, they appear to be running on all cylinders.  At this point, I see no major cracks in them on either side of the ball and as long as they stay focused (an annual issue for USC) then they will be playing for the Crystal ball come January.  

Oklahoma and Missouri appear to be the two most likely candidates to be joining them in the National Title game.  Both teams offenses are nothing short of remarkable and while OU has a better defense, both have the offensive firepower to outscore anyone.  

Georgia is a fraud and I still think the same about Florida.  Both are solid teams but the grind of their schedules will wear on them and keep them from playing in the big game.  The SEC's best chance for a National Title contender is the team no one is talking about, the LSU Tigers.  Outside of quarterback, LSU is on the same level of talent as USC.  With all those playmakers, the QB (whoever it ends up being) will just need to let others make plays and manage the game.  The LSU defense is phenomenal and will keep every game close.  

Your Top 4 teams to this point are USC, Oklahoma, Missouri, and LSU.  At this point, I don't see anyone making a serious run at those teams but they will all be playing with targets on their backs.  Should make for some great games in the coming weeks as everyone moves into their conference schedules.  

Week 2 Sunday Thoughts

This past weekend's slate of games looked dull but Saturday turned out to be an exciting day.  Washington and BYU, Ole Miss and Wake Forest, ECU and WVU, and Miami and Florida.  

Since I've already talked about the Wash/BYU game, I want to start with Ole Miss and Wake Forest.  Jim Grobe is one of the best, if not the best coaches in America but he came very close to costing Wake the game about midway through the 4th quarter.  Down by 1, Wake Forest scored a TD to go up by 5 points.  Grobe chose to kick the PAT instead of going for 2 and putting his team up by 7.  You have to go for 2 at this point as being up by 5 or 6 does you no good.  A touchdown by Ole Miss still beats you and you have to kick a FG to win either way.  Sure enough, Ole Miss drove down the field and scored a TD with 1:02 left on the clock.  Riley Skinner led Wake down the field and talented kicker Sam Swank drilled a 47 yarder to win it, but he should have kicking for the win or OT instead of a win or a loss.  Grobe did realize his mistake and acknowledged after the game, "I was really down, my heart kind of sunk."  As for the game, Wake appears to be the clear cut team to beat in the ACC and Ole Miss is headed the right direction under the leadership of Houston Nutt.

East Carolina continues their winning ways and they didn't need any drama to get it done this time.  This game was never really in doubt and it appears that Bill Russell is in way over his head at WVU.  ECU controlled the clock and shut down Pat White and the WVU offense.  People are already wondering how much longer Skip Holtz will remain in Greenville.  His dad was known as a job hopper and if it runs in the family then this might be Skip's last year at ECU.  

In what has been a rough start to the year for the ACC, they did have a few bright spots this weekend.  Wake held serve at home and Miami did the same as well.  The final score of 26 - 3 is misleading as the game was much closer than that.  Randy Shannon's defense did a great job of containing the potent UF offense, but they just don't have the horses to run with Florida for a full game yet.  If Miami continues to play defense like that and the young QB's develop, Miami might start getting re-established in the conference.  

The officials are not to blame for Washington's loss

First and foremost let's go ahead and talk about the end of the BYU and Washington game.  Washington surprised me and hung with BYU eventually scoring what should have been the tying touchdown with 2 second left.  Locker turned towards his teammates, threw the ball in the air, and celebrated.  Nothing he did was to taunt BYU, he simply wanted to celebrate a huge play in the game.  Locker's problem is that the NCAA rule book specifically addresses what he did.  Rule 9, Section 2, Article 1 clearly prohibits throwing the ball into the air after a touchdown.  My problem is with the rule, not the officials.  These officials, who were PAC 10 by the way in a non-conference game, interpreted the rule correctly and should not face ridicule.  However, this is a ridiculous rule and should be changed.  Every year the NCAA seems to try and take a little bit more fun out of the game.  Any intelligent person can see the difference in celebration and taunting/rubbing it in.  College football officials are being paid good money and it's a problem if the NCAA does not think they are capable of making this judgement decision.

Let's jump back to the game.  Even after the penalty, Washington was moved back to the 17 yard line which sets up the kicker for a 34 yard kick.  Obviously a kick from 19 is easier but college kickers not named Daniel Lincoln are generally good from that distance.  Washington's ensuing PAT chance was blocked by what looked like 3 or 4 players from BYU and that happens whether it's a 19 or a 34 yard kick.  If he pulled it and it would have been good from closer than Washington would be sitting on better ground to contest this, but that was not the case.  The Washington offensive line collapsed on the kick and that is why they lost the game by one.  This game was decided on the field, not by the officials. 

Is it time for Spurrier to hang it up?

Last night Steve Spurrier and his Gamecocks fell to Vanderbilt for the second year in a row. After an impressive win to start the season, this was not what the Old Ball Coach was expecting out of his team as they started conference play. Since taking over in Columbia, Spurrier is 22 - 17 which is not what the school was expecting when they brought him back to the college ranks. His Fun'N'Gun offense has never materialized at South Carolina because he has not been able to recruit the kind of players to fit his system. Everyone knew that Spurrier would have some work ahead of him to make South Carolina relevant in the SEC, however most experts were expecting more by this point. Despite Tennessee being down, South Carolina has yet to finish in the top 3 in the SEC East and the early season loss to Vanderbilt will make that difficult this year.

The magic just isn't there this time around and I wonder how long he will try to force it. Spurrier is an avid golfer and one of the reasons he chose South Carolina was the proximity to great golf courses. At this point in his career money is not an issue as he has always been one of the game's highest paid coaches. Each day that passes jeopardizes the legacy he established for himself at Duke and Florida. His track record of rebuilding teams has historically been strong but the pieces have yet to come together at South Carolina. It is important to note that while Spurrier was trying his hand at the NFL, the conference changed. Georgia, LSU, and Auburn all made strides while Spurrier was gone and Meyer has led the Gators to a National title since Spurrier has been back. Defense are quicker and the passing game has changed as well. Spurrier has tried to run the ball more but it's not who he is. It has gotten so bad that Spurrier actually reliquenshed control of the offense to his son, something I never thought I would see. When you watch him during a game now, it sometimes feels like he is mailing it in. The passion and expression that were Spurrier trademarks just aren't there anymore. Spurrier is ultra competitive and extremely arrogant so deep down he probably doesn't want to walk away from this until he turns South Carolina around.

Spurrier and the school are both in a tough position. Spurrier's ego makes it hard for him to resign and how in the world could South Carolina justify to its fans the firing of Spurrier. Unless South Carolina bounces back and makes some major strides this year, it might be time for Spurrier to meet with school officials and find some way to make a transition work for everyone. As a Tennessee fan, I've always had mixed feelings about Spurrier. He has always been the guy you love to hate, but the day he left Florida the rivalry just didn't feel the same anymore. As scared I was of the day he took over a part of me was excited about what he would bring back to the conference. At this point it's been a disappointment and Spurrier and South Carolina continue to be an afterthought in a crowded SEC hierarchy. Stay tuned as this story will probably continue to develop as the season progresses.

Week 2 Games of the Week

Week 1 is in the books. 3-5 against the spread ain't gonna buy momma new shoes. But these things happen. It was a good week 1 of college football. We saw some of the same: Dave Wannstedt and Tommy Bowden still can't coach, Tennessee is content with 10 years of futility, USC raped an out of conference opponent. We were welcomed to the Rick Neuheisel era at UCLA, saw "the process" at Alabama come to fruition, and got to watch a lot of BCS powers feast on I-AA opponents. Week 2 will see more of that last part, but I digress. On to the games that wet my week 2 pallet.

Miami (+21.5) at Florida: Not even a little Gator bulletin board material will help the Canes. The Miami D will try to keep the Canes in it, but the O will provide little to no support. Expect Urban, Tebow, and company to lay the wood to their rival. Gators 48, Canes 17.

Cincinnati at Oklahoma (-21.5): Cincy comes into Norman with an experienced defense (9 returning starters) and a spread attack similar to the West Virginia attack that gave the Sooners fits in the Fiesta Bowl. Still coming to Norman is no easy task for visiting teams, as the Stoops Troops are 56-2 in Norman under Stoops, including a streak of 21 in a row. I am taking the Bearcats, but barely. I think the line is just about right here so I see this game going a point or two either way, but the outcome the same: A comfortable Sooner victory. OU 41, Cincy 23.

Ole Miss at Wake Forest (-8) : ACC versus SEC, again. But this time the ACC will win one for the conference. Expect Riley Skinner and the Deacons to protect home field against Ole Miss. Side note: Wake Forest is the only ranked ACC team, the first time in the conferences history it only has one team ranked in the poll. Wake 35, Ole Miss 23.

BYU at Washington (+9.5): My gut feeling says take the 9.5 point home dog. But after getting embarrassed in Oregon last week it's tough to like Huskies. With that said quarterback Jake Locker is a stud and the Huskies should be motivated to prove they aren't the same old Huskies. BYU is looking to play BCS buster and a win here keeps that dream alive. BYU 31, Washington 27.

Houston (+16) at Oklahoma State: My upset alert for week. The Cougars aren't afraid of playing BCS opponents and have been very competitive more times than not. Head coach Kevin Sumlin comes to UH from Oklahoma, so I expect he'll have his team especially psyched to go against OSU. Plus, UH just may be the best team in C-USA once it's all said and done. Mike "I'm a man" Gundy had his Cowboys looking good at Washington State last week. Quarterback Zac Robinson will lead a high powered offense but it is yet to be seen if the defense can stop anybody (Washington State does not qualify as "anybody"). Houston 31, Oklahoma State 27.

My Initial Sunday Morning Thoughts

Teams that Impressed me the Most:
1) Alabama - At this point it's tough to tell whether Bama is that good or Clemson is that bad but they dismantled a team I thought was Top 10 coming into the season. The defense was suffocating and the offense was very balanced. Wilson made a couple bad throws but he kept his composure and managed the game well. This game will definitely get the attention of other teams around the SEC.

2) Missouri - Illinois was looking for revenge coming into this game but Missouri was having none of that. Missouri's defense needs to improve but the offense was amazing all night. This looks like a Top 10, maybe Top 5 team, and with that schedule an undefeated regular season is not a huge stretch. Keep an eye on the injury to star playmaker Jeremy Maclin. With a couple cupcakes on the schedule look for his playing time to be limited in the coming weeks.

3) Southern Cal - Virginia is not a top team by any means but USC deserves credit for actually scheduling a team with a pulse in Week 1. Southern Cal dominated from the opening kickoff and showcased the caliber of talent on this team. Sanchez appeared to have no lingering affects from his knee injury but he also never really got hit either. McKnight is as good as advertised and the defense is stout. With 2 weeks to prepare for OSU, they will be tough to beat in the Coliseum when the Buckeyes come to town.

Teams that Should be Embarrassed:
1) Virginia Tech - Beamer Ball gets the tables turned on it when a blocked punt for a TD results in Tech losing their opener. Poor offense, poor defense, Tech was bad across the board. Wake Forest appears to be the class of the conference at this point after Clemson and Tech losses this weekend.

2) Clemson - Their is too much talent on this team for that kind of result. I question the coaching staff for never working to establish the run and for having a true freshman in the game at RB early on with Davis and Spiller on the team. If Bowden doesn't right the ship fast, then this will be the beginning of the end of his tenure in Death Valley.

3) Miss State, UNC, and Arkansas - Miss St. lost to La. Tech, UNC did everything they could to lose to McNeese State, and Arkansas struggled with Western Illinois. I know the gap has narrowed in college football but this is inexcusable. Reigning SEC coach of the year Slyvester Groom undid a lot of the ground he gained last year with this one. UNC has yet to turn the corner with Butch Davis and they need to be improving quicker than this. Petrino's debut was almost soured by a 1-AA team and Nutt left more talent than that in Fayetteville.

4) Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio State, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Arizona State, South Florida, and Penn State - No excuse for playing the caliber of team these teams played to start the season. Of note Oklahoma played a 1-AA team that won 2 games last season and Texas Tech's "improved" defense gave up 17 second quarter points to Eastern Washington.

I'd include Pitt on this list but they had no business being ranked in the Top 25 to begin with. The long weekend means we aren't done with Week 1 just yet and we still have some great games on tap.

New World Order of College Football

After last season I think it is evident that college football finally has some parity to it that can save it from itself. In this money grubbing world of no playoffs, it looks bad when you have this "any given saturday" scenario playing out every week and the bcs bowls basically prove nothing. I love it. No longer can 1AA's be completely overlooked. No longer can teams like Stanford and LA Monroe be given no chance in games against major opponents. I hope that this is a trend and not a blip in the history of CFB. If anything can get us to a playoff it is upsets, upsets, upsets. The more the merrier, even if it is against a team I like or have "wagered" on. The ends would definitely justify the means. So now more than ever if you are a playoff proponent you need to root for the underdog whenever possible. They (the powers that be in CFB) can't ignore them forever.

Week 1 is here...

Finally GAMETIME!!! I know everybody is pumped. Here's a look at how some games from Week 1 will turn out.

Thursay, August 28
Oregon State (-3) at Stanford: Opening against a conference foe, on the road no less, can be a tricky thing. Unless of course, you get to play Stanford. I expect Harbaugh will have his boys ready to play. Stanford will start Tavita Pritchard of "2007 USC upset" fame at quarterback; and the D can't be any worse than last year can it?. But Oregon State returns a D that was top 10 in the country last year in Total D. And two expereinced QBs to choose from. Oregon State 31 Stanford 20.

NCState (+14) at South Carolina: I don't think USC is very good, but I think NC State is worse. After a summer of figuring out who will be the QB, NC State felt RFr Russell Wilson was a better option over returning starter Daniel Evans. Yikes!! USC ended the 2007 season with a 5 game losing streak, so expect Spurrier to run it up in the home opener. The ' Cocks will have a little more experience to work with, as junior QB Timmy Beeceher will be locked in to Kevin McKinley (77 catches in 2007) all night. 'Cocks 31, Wolves 14

Wake Forest (-12) at Baylor: This game has a chance to be more interesting than people think. The Bears return 9 on offense, including QB Blake Szymanski (2844 yards, 22 TDs). New head coach Art Briles ran a similar spread at Houston, as Baylor did last year. So don't expect many glitches. Wake returns QB Riley Skinner, who could emerge as the best QB in the ACC this year. Expect a few points to be put on the board in this one. Wake 38, Bears 30

Saturday, August 30
Michigan State at Cal (-5): Sparty will put up some points behind senior Bryan Hoyer, and the D is led by LB Greg Jones. MSU also returns RB Javon Ringer (1447 yards, 6 TDs in 2007) Cal sophomore Kevin Riley bumped 2 year starter Nate Longshore of the QB duties. Probably a good thing for the Bears. But with the losses of DeSean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins, and Justin Forsett it may not matter who is playing QB. Cal also returns one of the better LB cores in the country, but it won't be enough. I'm taking the road upset. Sparty 35, Tree hugging Bears 24

Utah (+3.5) at Michigan: Let the Rich Rodriguez era begin! Everybody in Ann Arbor will be pumped to see a new offense on the field for the Wolverines. And on this day, it's going to suck. But the D will be one of the better in the Big 10, if not the country. Expect the Wolverine D to keep the Utes in check, and the O to find a way to make just enough plays. Michigan 24, Utah 21.

Missouri (-9) versus Illinois at St.Louis: Last season Mizzou ran up a big lead, only to see the Illini get back in the game, but eventually held on. I know Missouri has all the hype behind QB Chase Daniel and WR Jeremy Maclin. But Illinois remembers last year's game and will be looking to build upon last season' Rose Bowl appearance. Expect the Illini to pull the upset behind Juice Williams' legs and Arrelious Benn's playmaking. Illinois 30, Mizzou 28

Alabama versus Clemson (-4.5) at Atlanta: Another OOC neutral site, made for TV matchup...another upset. As I said in my pre-season write up, I ain't buying Clemson. And Tommy Bowden, simply put, sucks. If his last name was Smith he wouldn't have a job. I expect BAMA under Saban to make a nice leap in year two, much like his team did at LSU. They probably aren't going to the Sugar Bowl, but you get the point. Expect a Julio Jones coming out party in this one. Alabama 28 Clemson 20

Monday, September 1
Tennessee (-7) at UCLA: Tennessee will come out West for the second straight year, and expect a better showing than last season at Cal. The Jonathan Crompton era will take center stage finally (Wasn't Ainge in school longer than Jason White??) and S Eric Berry will make plays on D. As for UCLA, they have no QB thanks to an atrocious O-Line. Good grief, they couldn't even block in practice. They have no shot in an actual game. Expect this one to get ugly. Tennessee 35, UCLA 13.

The end of the Who Beat Who Argument

The 2007/2008 football season provided an interesting opportunity to once and for all put the Who Beat Who argument to an end courtesy of a certain early season football game. So here goes my demonstration why this argument never works....

During last season, Liberty beat Tusculum, who beat Catawba, who beat Carson Newman, who beat Tennessee-Chattanooga, who beat Georgia Southern, who beat Wofford, who beat Appalachian State, who beat Michigan, who beat Florida, who beat Tennessee, who beat Georgia, who beat Oklahoma State, who beat Kansas State, who beat Colorado, who beat Oklahoma, who beat Missouri, who beat Arkansas, who beat South Carolina, who beat Kentucky, who beat LSU.

There you have it. A D-2 school could have beaten LSU for the national championship last year. I could have wound around D-1AA and D-2 some more and even back up into D-1 but I think the illustration is complete enough. Remember this the next time you start to say...."Yeah but that team lost to...."

Pre-Season Top 25

1) Oklahoma (5)

2) Southern Cal (1)

3) Georgia (5)

4) Ohio State (1)

5) Florida (1)

6) Missouri

7) West Virginia

8) LSU

9) Texas

10) Auburn

11) Wisconsin

12) Clemson

13) Arizona State

14) BYU

15) Texas Tech

16) Tennessee

17) Kansas

18) Virginia Tech

19) Penn State

20) Oregon

21) Illinois

22) South Florida

23) Pittsburgh

24) Cal

25) Wake Forest

Others receiving votes: Utah 24, Fresno State 21, Boston College 16, Virginia 13, South Carolina 13, Rutgers 12, South Carolina 11, Boise State 7, Michigan 6, Florida State 6, Texas A&M 4, UCLA 4, UConn 4, Michigan State 3, Maryland 1

CFB Paradise Pre-season radio show

Listen Live Saturday, August 9, 2008 from 10 am - 12 pm CST as we broadcast live from Danville, Illinois. We'll dissect out pre-season top 25 (to be posted later today) as well as discuss the latest CFB issues and make our conference and BCS predictions.

To listen:

- Go to www.1490wdan.com

- Click on "Listen LIVE On-line"

We'll also have downloadable link up later, Saturday afternoon.

Josh Jarboe better stick to his day job

University of Oklahoma freshman Josh Jarboe, considered a top 10 WR prospect, continues to makes waves. Unfortunately, these waves continue to be off the field. If you will recall, Jarboe was highly recruited out of Georgia's Cedar Grove High School. However he almost never made it Oklahoma's campus after his arrest for felony gun possession. The charges were eventually reduced to misdemeanors, and Jarboe was given two years probation and ordered to complete 80 hours of community service.

One would think after such hassles, Jarboe would not be recording videos about shooting people. On top of being a horrible rap( I must admit however, the "meat up on her grill" line made me chuckle), it does nothing to give me any confidence he learned anything through this legal process nor will make the most out of his second chance. Yeah, yeah I understand it's just a stupid rap (VERY stupid) and we all should probably have something better to do than dissect every move an 18 year old kid makes. But when he makes such moves for everybody to see you just have to wonder if the kid "gets it". At this point, it appears he doesn't.

I wish Josh the best and want to see him succeed on the football field. But more importantly, I want to see signs that Josh will succeed in life. I understand the gangster rap mentality is a part of the culture of a lot of today's kids. And despite the blame hip hop gets for a lot of problems in America, most kids just listen to the music and view it as entertainment and nothing more. And I don't expect Jarboe to stop listening to rap, or rapping, or whatever else after what happened. But I do expect Jarboe to be smarter about the things he does, and how he portrays himself. He should realize he is LUCKY not to be in jail, and rapping about the things that almost landed him in jail IN PUBLIC and RECORDING them is just not very bright. I understand he's 18 and immature, and perhaps eventually he will "get it". But damn, if almost going to jail doesn't help you "get it", doesn't make you understand you need to carry yourself differently and make better decisions, I'm not sure what can.

Update: Jarboe dismissed from team

Can the Triple Option still work in Major Conference Football?

With Paul Johnson set to start his first season at a BCS school, many are wondering how the triple option will translate to that level of competition. Many older fans remember the days when Oklahoma and Nebraska dominated college football by mercilessly running the ball down the throats of their opponents with the option. Nebraska is the program that held on to it the longest but it died out at the BCS level when Solich was fired after the 2003 season. Since then it is a system that continues to hang on at the service academies and in lower divisions of football.

College football has changed a lot in the time since the triple option was last used at the top levels of the game. Defenses are now faster and defensive game plans are now more sophisticated. Despite these changes though, programs are still able to use the principles of the triple option to achieve success. At the end of the day, coaches want to get their players in position to make plays and the triple option can be very effective at doing that.

Wake Forest has risen from the depths of the ACC by using a misdirection based offense. Navy was able to achieve success with the triple option against BCS level competition as recently as two seasons ago. Urban Meyer uses the spread which has its roots in the option to great success and a national title at Florida. I remember Air Force using mis-direction to come within a point of beating Tennessee in Knoxville a couple years ago as well. These coaches have used the principles of the option to put their players in position to succeed and it has worked.

The option not only forces defenses to react to what the offense is doing but it can negate the speed advantages that defenses sometimes have. Additionally it allows you to control the clock and keep the other teams offense off the field. So few teams run the option anymore that it is tough for opponents to prepare against it. Obviously teams have specific play books but by and large most teams use standard formations from week to week. An option team popping up on the schedule in the middle of the season is a nightmare for opposing coaches. Adding top quality athletes into that mix makes it a very dangerous offense. It is for this reason that I think the option can work at Georgia Tech. Johnson will have access to running backs that he would have never been able to speak with at Navy. There are a number of running high school quarterbacks whose skill set will not translate well to many Division 1 programs. When Johnson finds the next Tommie Harris, the offense will really get going.

Though I see many positives with this offense, there are a couple of places where Georgia Tech could struggle. Quarterbacks in the option are generally not the best passers and if a team is able to stop the run it can completely shut the offense down. Another stumbling block is the way it changes recruiting. Top high school athletes want to attend a school where they can showcase their skills for NFL scouts. While the option is conducive for running backs to do this, it is not the same for wide receivers and quarterbacks. Georgia Tech will struggle to get talented wide receivers, especially with Mark Richt and Georgia right down the road in Athens. This problem is somewhat alleviated for quarterbacks because rarely do top high school option quarterbacks get recruited to play QB by top D-1 programs. Generally these players are recruited and converted to another position. Georgia Tech will have the ability to offer these kids the chance to continue at quarterback which will help them land some talent at that position.

The triple option returning to major college football has me a little more excited than normal entering this season. Though I think it will work for Georgia Tech, I doubt it will lead them to a national title. However, with the state of the ACC right now there is no reason it can't lead them to a conference title. The offense is just so hard to prepare for and Johnson will have top atheltes at the skill positions making the option work.

Rule Changes for the 2008 - 2009 Year

The NCAA recently revealed some of the rule changes agreed upon by the coaches this year. You might notice a college game feels a little bit more like an NFL game this year and it won't be for the money that college guys make this time. New rules include:

• 5 Yard Penalty for Horse Collar Tackle: This is a rule that the NFL previously added and one that I support. Defensive players can no longer grab an offensive player by the back neck of his jersey on a tackle. Purely a rule aimed at increasing player safety, my only complaint is that I would like to see it be at least a 10 yard penalty.
• New Clock Rules: Here is the other spot where you feel like you are watching an NFL game.
  
• 40 Second Play Clock: In most cases the play clock will now be set to 40 seconds and will begin running at the conclusion of the previous play.
  
• 25 Second Play Clock: The traditional 25 second play clock will only be used after timeouts, injuries, and penalties.
  
• Out of bounds Restart: In most cases the game clock will restart once the ball is placed on the field instead of when the ball is snapped. The only exceptions to this rule are in the last 2 minutes of the halves when it will start on the snap.
• Instant Replay Additions: A couple of new plays are now available for review:
• Fumble after whistle: Replay officials will now have the ability to replay these calls
• FG Kicks: Replay officials will now be able to review cases of above or below the crossbar as well as inside or outside the uprights.
  
• Coaches Challenge: Coaches will now receive 1 additional challenge if their first one is successful. It's important to note that every play is still reviewed though but coaches do still have the option to challenge.
  
• Automatic 15 Yard Face Mask Penalty: Gone are the days of referees having to make a judgment on the intent of the face mask penalty. This rule surprised me as I didn't think it was that hard of a determination. With players flying all over the place, incidental face mask penalties are bound to occur. In these such cases, there is no reason for it to be a 15 yard penalty. This rule feels like overkill to me.
  

All in all, I'm happy with the changes. I would make a few small changes but I don't think the new rules will severely change the flow of a game. I still wish the NCAA would address down by contact as players should be able to advance if they fall and have not been touched.

Michigan's streak will not die in 2008

Rich Rodriguez leaving West Virginia for Michigan was a cluster of lawsuits, rumors, and contractual disputes. After months of going back and forth over a buyout clause, Rodriguez agreed to pay the $4 million owed to West Virginia.

Now that all the off field drama is behind us, it's time to start thinking about how well UM will fare in 2008. Michigan holds the current mark for consecutive bowl appearances. They are at 33 straight bowl appearances, and Michigan fans hope it doesn't end anytime soon. So will it? Nope, the streak won't end. Expect Michigan to be playing in December, regardless of the changes Rodriguez will bring to the table. I have few ideas why UM will fare well in 2008.

1. New blood: Lloyd Carr's time at Michigan was up, and truthfully it was probably up 3 years ago. But it really is not just about Lloyd Carr, after all he won an NC at Michigan in 1997 and won at least a share of the Big 10 title, five times. His record in his 13 seasons was 121-40 (.751), so it isn't like Lloyd was a flop. He was just a Michigan man, and Michigan needed to get away from that mold. Programs that refuse to break the mold tend to get stale. There is a fine line between keeping tradition alive, and refusing to evolve. Michigan was on the wrong side of that line, and the program needed to be shook up. Enter Rodriguez. New ideas, attitude, and renewed since of change is exactly what Michigan needed.

2. Shaun King: Everybody keeps talking about how Rodriguez's spread offense is a bad for the Michigan quarterbacks. Apparently it will be such a bad fit, Ryan Mallet transferred to Arkansas before even giving it a chance. Rodriguez needs a mobile QB to make his system work, I keep hearing. But I recall in 1998 a guy named Shaun King ran the spread under Rich Rodriguez, when the coach was the OC at Tulane. In1998, King set NCAA single season passing efficiency record (183.3), threw for 3232 yards and tossed 36 touchdowns. Sure King also rushed for over 500 yards, so even in King's huge passing season running the football was required. But it ain't like Rodriguez is running the wishbone, either. My point, there is an opportunity to pass and pass well in Rodriguez's spread system. Methinks Rodriguez is smart enough to put the Pat White plays to rest, and dust off the old Tulane playbook to adjust to his personnel.

3. Strong defense: New DC Scott Shafer will have plenty to work with talent and experience, wise. The Wolverines return 7 starters from a defense that was 24th in the nation and 3rd in the Big 10 in Total Defense. The Wolverines were particularly strong against the pass (8th nationally in pass defense, 2nd in Big 10). They return a strong secondary, led by 5th year senior CB Morgan Trent and 2007 Freshman All American CB Donovan Warren. Although run defense was the Wolverines achilles heel, expect an improved D Line to be strong, led by Second Team All Big 1o senior tackle Terrance Taylor and 5th year senior DT Will Johnson. Junior DE Brandon Graham (8.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles in 2007) and 5th year senior DE Tim Jamison (5.5 sacks in 2007) make up a formidable duo on the edge. The linebacking core is the weakest link, but even it returns 5 lettermen. Even Ray Guy Award candidate punter Zoltan Mesko returns, to help the defense with field position. If they stay healthy, Michigan will have the best defense in the Big 10 not in Columbus, OH.

I'm counting on these three things to carry the team until an offense returning only three starters can find its niche. Despite the lack of experience on offense, there are some pieces. Junior running backs Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown have the talent and speed to excel in a spread offense. Junior WR Greg Matthews (39, 366 YDs, 3 TDs) appears ready to step up after being in the shadows of Adrian Arrington and Mario Manningham. Sophomore Stephen Schilling, a Freshman All American in 2007, appears to be the next great Wolverine lineman. So whoever wins the quarterbacking job won't be working with a bare cupboard. He'll have a few weapons aroung him that should make life a little easier.

With all this said, I expect the Wolverine's 2008 season to go something like this.

UTAH - I expect the Wolverine D to carry an offense that will find a way to make just enough plays in it's home opener. 24-20, W
MIAMI OH - Expect the offense to play better after getting it's feet wet. 31-13, W
@ Notre Dame - I ain't buying the hype that Notre Dame has improved that much. I mean really, did you see how much they sucked last year? It wasn't even respectable "there is hope at the end of the tunnel" suckiness, it was flat out "why are you guys even playing" suckiness. Michigan eeks out a road win. 17-14, W
WISCONSIN - Wisky is simply better, expect some struggles. 13-28, L
ILLINOIS - Back to back home losses will end the honeymoon from the 3-0 start. 20-34, L
TOLEDO - Michigan rolls and we see some signs of the scoring you expect from a spread offense. 42-17, W
@ Penn State - And all that "O" we just saw the previous week won't fare so well against the Wolverine's first taste of a quality road opponent. 14-24, L
MICHIGAN STATE - The Wolverines handle Sparty at home (had this been on the road I'd be on the other side of this). 24-20, W
@ Purdue - By this point in the season, Purdue will be playing like Purdue again. 35-20, W
@ Minnesota - The Little Brown Jug will stay in Ann Arbor. 30-20, W
NORTHWESTERN - Dub-ya. 41-17, W
@ Ohio State - New coach, same result (for now anyway): Michigan will be on the wrong side of this one. 21-38, L

So there you have it, 8-4 and 4-4 in the Big 10. The streak lives on....

Joe Pa losing his grip?

I personally have never cared too much about the whole "Is Joe Paterno too old?" debate that has dominated message boards, water coolers, and bar room talk of college football fans not even associated with Penn State. Frankly, Penn State can do whatever they want with the guy as far as I'm concerned. But his recent interview on ESPN's Outside the Lines got me thinking maybe his time has passed. It isn't so much his players have been in a lot of trouble lately (although the numbers since 2002 are staggering). Sure since 2002 46 Penn State football players have faced 163 criminal charges, according to an ESPN analysis of Pennsylvania court records and reports. Twenty-seven players have been convicted of or have pleaded guilty to a combined 45 counts*. But hey we all hit a rough patch, right? What got me was his answers in the interview. Such gems as "They're very aggressive kids or they wouldn't be guys who can compete in front of 110,000 people." Gee, I guess somebody should tell Northwestern to get a little more crunk. A few terroristic threats and they too can achieve middle of the road Big 10 team status. Shouldn't we all aim so high. I also found it interesting he referred to this as a "witch hunt", just completely blowing this off as is ESPN has nothing better to do. Most troubling was the accusation that Joe Pa and/or somebody from the athletic department stepped in and helped get the kids out of trouble.

But hey, ridiculous excuses aside, it just seemed Joe Pa was not concerned. Watching the interview reminded of 60 year old parent who had an "accident" late in life and is stuck raising their 12 year old kid. We all grew up with somebody whose parent-to-child age ratio was a bit out of whack. And didn't it always seem their kid was a prick? I mean seriously, at that age in life, parents are just too old to put up with Little Johnny's crap and are thinking about retiring to Florida as soon as Little Johnny turns 18 and Little Johnny knows this; and in turn Little Johnny is generally a spoiled prick. That's what I think is happening at Penn State. Joe Pa just doesn't have the energy to police all these "aggressive" guys like he used to. And it doesn't help that these kids are getting slaps on the wrist as punishments. I mean really, suspended for summer school? Damn, no sociology for you this summer young man! Oh, but you can still practice. Take that!

Now don't get me wrong, I understand a coach can't keep his eye on 95 kids at once. There is definitely some self accountability lacking. But if the kids realize Joe Pa just doesn't want to deal with any of this, as his actions in the interview suggested, they aren't exactly going to fall in line, either. And if he doesn't want to deal with the types of things head coaches have to deal with, and thinks he can just live in a fantasy world coaching until he drops, he does need to step down. Do himself, Penn State, and these players a favor. Because getting punishments reduced, claiming everybody is just out to get you, and acting like nothing is wrong, isn't helping anybody.

Approx. 32 days and counting.....

College Football is almost here. And well, in about a week teams will start practicing again, so it will BE here!!! Woo-hoo!!! How did we make it through yet another spring and summer?!?!?!?! Well, we did and we're back for year two at CFB Paradise. Year one was our first year blogging, and we are looking to get better in year two.

I guess for starters, let's see if we did what we said we'd do: Be just as accurate as the "experts" (such as Desmond Howard, for example). Last June, I posted my pre-season top 10. Like pretty much everybody, I never saw a 2 loss team winning he BCS championship, much less even getting to the game. Either way, I was a helluva lot sharper then Desmond has ever been. So once again, I will attempt to tell you who are the top 10 teams in America, and what their record will be (possible conference championship and bowl game not included in predictions), and even who they will lose to. And once again, I only evaluate 10 teams because 25 teams don't have a shot at the NC, so why worry about the other 15?

Drumroll please....

10. Virginia Tech: A team I'm higher on that most people. My motto: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Year in and year out Frank Beamer's ball club is just consistent. In an ACC where they return as champs, and so many questions surrounding the rest of the league, I refuse to hop on the Clemson bandwagon. I'll stick with what I know from I'll get from VaTech: Solid run game, hard hitting D, and "special" special teams. Last year inconsistency at QB hurt the Hokies. But expect Sr. Sean Glennon to be more settled this year, with sophomore Tyrod Taylor supplying an occasional change of pace. The Hokies also return 4 starters on the O-Line. Defensively the Hokies are lead by 2nd team All American CB Victor "Macho" Harris (5 INTs) and DE Orion Martin (10.5 tackles for loss in 2007). The Hokies biggest question marks, ironically enough considering my grand proclamation earlier, will be at the RB position. Expect junior Kenny Lewis (206 yards, 4 TDs in 2007) to be the likely starter. Key games: Home versus Ga Tech, @ Nebraska, @ Florida State. Predicted record: 10-2, losses @ Nebraska, @ Florida State.

9. Florida: The Gators return Heisman winning QB Tim Tebow, whose 57 total touchdowns set a D-1 record (yes I know they changed the name, but I am stubborn in my ways). USC transfer Emmanuel Moody and his 5.8 yard per carry average is now eligible, so that should help shoulder some of the rushing load Tebow dealt with last year. The always dangerous Percy Harvin returns at receiver (858 yards, 7 TDs, 9.6 yards per carry) and the O-Line returns 8 players from last year's two deep. Basically, the Gators should score a lot of points. But will they stop anybody? In 2007 the Gators were 41st in the nation in total D, and 46th in the nation in points allowed. And what was looking to be a vastly improved unit in 2008, has already seen safety Dorian Munroe and defensive back John Curtis gone for the 2008 season because of serious knee injuries. Linebacker Brandon Spikes, a second team All American in 2007, should anchor the front 7 but the back 4 are hurting badly in experience and depth. A managble schedule should help ease the Gators' pains, however. Key games: @ Tennessee, home versus LSU, Georgia @ Jacksonville. Predicted record: 10-2, losses versus UGA, South Carolina.

8. Georgia: The Bulldogs return vitually intact from last season's 11-2 Sugar Bowl winning teams. Sophomore Knowshon Moreno burst on the scene to the tune of 1334 yards and 14 TDs as a freshman. The defense returns 7 starters, including leading tackler Dannell Ellerbe (93 tackles, 12 for loss) and First Team All SEC DT Gino Atkins. The unit also returns both CBs, juniors Asher Allen (Second team All SEC) and Prince Miller. The reason I am not as high on the Dawgs as most everybody else is beacuse I am not as high on QB Matthew Stafford as most everybody else. I am not sure at what point a career 54.5 completion percentage and a career 26-23 TD/INT ratio makes one a great QB. UGA is alot weaker at this position in my opinion than most think, and the reason they will not meet the lofty #1 rankings many have placed on them. Key games: @ LSU, Florida in Jacksonville, @ Auburn. Predicted record: 10-2, losses @ LSU, @ Auburn

7. Missouri: The Tigers return 15 starters from the best team in school history. They will be lead by Heisman Trophy candidate QB Chase Daniel. The senior threw for over 4000 yards and 33 TDs in 2007. His top target will be sophomore WR Jeremy Maclin, who was the Big XII co-offensive freshman of the year in 2007 and amassed the 5th highest total of all purpose yards in a single season, in NCAA history. Second team All American S Will Moore (8 INTs) and First Team All Big XII LB Sean Weatherspoon (130 tackles) will lead the Tigers on D. Mizzou's biggest concern will be replacing 1,000 yard rusher Tony Temple. A challenging schedule awaits the Tigers, but at least nemsis Oklahoma is not on the slate (barring a Big XII championship game rematch). Key games: Versus Illinois in St. Louis, @ Nebraska, @ Texas, versus Kansas in Kansas City. Predicted record: 10-2, losses @ Nebraska, @ Texas.

6. Texas: I'm also higher on the Horns that alot of people I've talked to. While the Horns do have a tough schedule, I feel they are capable of managing it better than most expect. I'm a big beleiver in strong QB play and the Horns have that. Although junior Colt McCoy tossed 18 INTS during a "sophomore slump" in 2007, he also accounted for 26 TDs (22 passing;4 rushing) and 3303 yards through the air. The Horns also incoporated him in the run game, as he is the team's top returning rusher with 492 yards in 2007. The O-Line should be deeper (and better) this year, led by senior First Team All Big XII selectin Cedric Dockery. The defense returns 6 players that were named All Big 12, lead by first team selection DL Brian Orakpo. And with Quan Cosby returning kicks, the Horns have a real game changer on special teams. If sophomore RB Vondrell McGee (8 TDs in 2007), can become a consistent running threat expect the Horns to be really good. But whether they are really good, or just good, they'll win their usual 10 games. Key games: Home versus Arkansas, versus OU in Dallas, home versus Missouri, @ Texas Tech, @ Kansas. Predicted record: 10-2, losses to OU and @ Kansas..

5. West Virginia: Led by two time Big East Offensive Player of the Year Pat White (my Heisman pick) the Mountaineers will be in the BCS hunt once again. Sophomore RB Noel Devine (8.6 yards per carry) will get even more touches with the departure of Steve Slaton; sucks for the rest of the Big East. The OLine returns First-Team All American Ryan Stanchek and First Team All Big East selection Greg Isdaner. The defense has some rebuilding to do, but top returning tacklers LB Reed Williams and LB Morrty Ivy should steady the unit. The biggest question for the Mountaineers is how the team will adjust to Bill Stewart on a full time basis. Key games: @ Colorado, versus Rutgers, versus Auburn, versus South Florida. Predicted record: 10-2, losses versus Auburn, @ Pitt.

4. Ohio State: The Buckeyes have been to back to back NC games, and I expect them to be in BCS mix once again. Though unimpressive at times, QB Todd Boekman did manage to put up a very respectable 2379 yards and 25 touchdowns. At his disposal, Boekman will have his top target Brian Robiskie (935 yards, 11 TDs) returning, along with junior All American RB Chris "Beanie" Wells. In 2007, Wells rushed for over 1600 yards and added 15 TDs. Expect him to be in New York this December. All American tackle Alex Boone will anchor an always stout Buckeye line. Statistically, Ohio State had the best defense in the nation last year. The unit returns First Team All American LB James Laurenatis. But Buckeye nation is just as happy, if not happier, that CB Malcolm Jenkins chose to return to school. Jenkins will anchor a secondary that only surrendered 150 yards per game in the air in 2007. If the Bucks can get by USC, a trip to Miami is very likely. Key games: @ USC, @ Wisconsin, @ Illinois, versus Michigan). Predicted record: 10-2, losses @ USC, @ Wisconsin.

3. Auburn: I'm giving the War Eag...err, Tigers..a lot of love. I think they will ultimately win the SEC West (they get LSU @ home), and their East slate is favorable (Tennessee and UGA @ home, @ Vanderbilt). With that said, considering my fetish for strong QB play, the Tigers do not have that and that may cost them a few games in the always tough SEC. But I like what I have seen and heard, so far. Sophomore Kodi Burns will be the man, and with the hire of new OC Tony Franklin, the Tigers plan to run a spread attack to take advantage of Burns' skills. If that pans out, Auburn will be awfully good. The offensive line returns all 5 starters from a year ago, led by Tyronne Green; and a trio of talented rushers return to the Plains. Junior Ben Tate led the team with 903 yards rushing and 8 TDs in 2007, but the Tigers also boast senior Brad Lester (530 yards) and sophomore WR Mario Fannin (5.3 yards per carry, 5 TDs). Burns will also have a big time target in Rod Smith (52 catches, 5 TDs) to help ease him in. The defense returns DE Antonio Coleman (8.5 sacks) and the entire 2 deep at LB. Safety Zac Ethridge (65 tacles, 5 PBUs) leads 3 returning starters in the secondary. Key games: Home versus LSU, @ West Virginia, Home versus Georgia, @ Alabama). Predicted record: 11-1 , loss @ Ole Miss.

2. Southern California: Defensively, USC is as good as anybody in the country. Linebackers Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga are the best duo in America. Throw in safeties Taylor Mays and Kevin Ellison and you have the best back 7 in America. The front 4 are in a bit of transition, but All Pac 10 D Lineman Everson Griffin and Fili Maola should ease the loss on All American Cedric Ellis. Offensively, the Trojans struggled through injury early in the 2007 season but found their stride later in the year. The problem: They struggled while John David Booty was out and found their stride once he returned. With Booty gone the QB controls will go back to junior Mark Sanchez, who started 3 games last year in Booty's absence. Sanchez showed flashes, but was turnover prone. Second team All American Jeff Byers will provide leadership for a young O-Line that will clear the way for Stefon Johnson (6.9 yards per carry) and sophomore Joe McKnight. WRs Patrick Turner (569 yards, 3 TDs) and Vidal Hazelton (50 receptions, 4 TDs) will lead the receiving corps. The Trojans schedule sets up very well for them, with their toughest road test @ Oregon State. Key games: Versus USC, @ Oregon State, versus Arizona State, @ UCLA. Predicted record: 12-0

1. Oklahoma: Strong QB play? Check. Strong running game? Check. Strong O and D Line play? Check. Throw in an experienced secondary and LB core, and you have the ingredients for a BCS title contender. On paper, the Sooners have more talent than anybody in the Big XII and can hold their own against anybody in the country. Sophomore QB Sam Bradford returns after a 36TD/8 INT season in which he led the nation in passing efficiency. Sophomore RB DeMarco Murray (764 yards, 13 TDs) showed his explosiveness before a late season knee injury, and junior RB Chris Brown (611 yards, 9 TDs) returns after a 3rd team All Big XII campaign. Protecting Bradford and opening holes for Murray and company will be an experieced O-Line that returns 7 players from the 2 deep, and All Americans Duke Robinson and Phil Loadholt. The Sooners D Line returns Big XII sack leader Auston English (9.5 sacks) and All Big XII tackles Gerald McCoy and DeMarcus Granger. Third Team All American S Nic Harris will lead the Sooners secondary. Incosistency on the road was OUs achilles heel in 2007, and with the annual Red River Shootout being in Dallas the Sooners actually play more conference games away from Norman than in Norman (4 road, 3 home, 1 neutral). If the Sooners find their road mojo, they'll be in Miami in January. Key games: Versus Texas in Dallas, versus Kansas, @ Texas A&M, versus Texas Tech. Predicted record: 12-0

So there you have it. A few safe picks, a few "get out of here" picks. Let the trash talk begin.

Predicted 2008 Conference Champions:
ACC: Virginia Tech
Big East: West Virginia
Big Ten: Ohio State
Big Twelve: Oklahoma
Pac 10: USC
SEC: Auburn

4 teams on the cusp of the top 10: LSU, Wisconsin, Kansas, BYU

4 teams not in anybody's top 25 to watch: Nebraska, GaTech, UCLA, Colorado

4 teams getting way too much love: Clemson, Illinois, Texas Tech, Arizona State