Monday, August 29, 2011

Here We Go Loop de Loop

College Football Week One – Aggies to announce departure from Big 12
Here We Go Loop de Loop

“Here we go loop de lie
Here we go loop de loop
All on a Saturday night”

And a Thursday night, and a Saturday afternoon, etc. etc.

The wait is over.  Let the parties begin.  The college football season is here.  It doesn’t get any better than this. 

Not only does the season begin, but it begins in a big way with five-straight days of football – Thursday to Monday.  This year, the Louisville Cardinals have the honor of kicking-off the FBS season.  Louisville hosts Murray State in a 6 p.m. ET start on Thursday.  Before the night is over, 14 games involving FBS teams will have been played.

More action takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The opening weekend concludes Monday – Labor Day night – with an ACC tilt between Miami (Florida) and Maryland at College Park, Maryland.  When it’s all over, 118 of the 120 FBS teams will have played their opening games of the 2011 season.  Nevada abd UAB are the only teams not playing this weekend.  The Wolf Pack open their season the following week – September 10 – at Oregon.  UAB next week against Florida

The weekend’s two biggest games – LSU vs. Oregon and Boise State vs. Georgia – are both played on Saturday.  And wouldn’t you know it.  Both are on TV at the same time – LSU-Oregon on ABC and Boise State-Georgia on ESPN.  The games have an 8 p.m. ET start.          

Touchdown Tom and Swamp Mama kicked-off the season Saturday night, hosting their second annual college football kickoff party.  Guests included, Deb and Dieter Gum (Florida Tech fans), Patti and Larry Maggiore (Florida fans), Jane and Tom Sharpe (Florida State fans), Karlene and John Tuttle (Kentucky fans), Betty “The Duchess of Indialantic” Pappas (Georgia/North Carolina fan), Karen Vitt (Florida fan), and of course Bootsie and Rockledge Gator (Auburn/Florida fans).

Not to be outdone by Bobby Flay, Bootsie and Touchdown Tom competed in a BBQ rib throw-down at the party.  The other guests, not including respective spouses, voted on the best tasting ribs.  And wouldn’t you know it – the vote was a 5-5 tie.  Unlike college football, we had no OT to resolve the tie.  Of course Bootsie can take pleasure in knowing that Touchdown Tom learned the recipe from her.      
Rockledge Gator brought a football which everyone signed with a note, continuing a tradition that he started at last year’s party.  Thanks to Patti and Larry Maggiore, the party goers had fun playing the Florida Gators Cornhole Bean Bag Toss.  Jane Sharpe was voted the game’s MVP. 

There weren’t many rules at the party, but college football has six new rule changes that go into effect this season.  Five of the rules were passed by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Committee during the recent off-season.  A sixth rule change  was actually passed prior to last season, but the implementation of the rule was delayed for a year to give coaches and players fair warning that it was coming. 

This rule will allow officials to nullify a touchdown if any player on the offense is caught taunting opposing players or fans before the scoring player crosses a goal line.  In addition to the loss of the touchdown, the offending team will be penalized from the spot of the foul.

The five more recently passed rule changes are:

1.      If an offense commits a penalty in the last minute of a half, the penalty will include a 10-second run-off as well as the yardage.  The rule brings college football in line with the NFL, where teams are discouraged from intentional penalties to stop the clock to stretch out a potential scoring drive.

2.      Intentional grounding will be called only when no receiver is in the area of the pass.  Last season, a receiver needed a “reasonable opportunity” to make the catch.  Now, he needs only to be near where the ball lands.  This gives quarterbacks more freedom to throw away the ball.

3.      Teams can place monitors in the coaches’ booth, showing live broadcasts of the game.  Assistants will now get a better view of close calls and can better help head coaches determine whether to challenge plays. 

4.      Offensive players lined up within seven yards of the center can block below the waist anywhere on the field.  There is a caveat – backs and receivers only can block low if hitting the player straight ahead or toward the nearest sideline.  The change should protect defensive players in the middle of the field.

5.      Defenses on placekicks will be flagged if more than three defensive players gang up on a single blocker.  Similar protections already exist for the long snapper on punts and placekicks.    

Each college football season begins with a number of questions and 2011 is no exception.  But certainly by the end of the season, we’ll have our answers.  Looking around each of the conferences, I’ll pose a few questions.

In the SEC, Mark Richt has come under fire from many Georgia fans the past two seasons.  Georgia has not won an SEC championship or an East Division title since 2005.  Victories over Florida have been few and far between.  Last season ended with a 6-7 record, culminating with the 10-6 Liberty Bowl loss to UCF.  Question:  Will Mark Richt still be coaching Georgia next season?   

In the ACC, Virginia Tech has played in four of the six conference championship games, winning three of them.  Florida State has played in two of six conference championship games, winning one of them.  This year, both the Hokies and the Seminoles are heavily favored to walk through their respective divisions and meet for the championship in December.  Questions:  Can any team other than Virginia Tech win the Coastal Division, and can any team other than Florida State win the Atlantic Division in 2011?

In the Big Ten, Nebraska, a team that suffered three frustrating losses to Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma last season, along with a devastating and humiliating loss to Washington in the Holiday Bowl, plays its first season in the Big Ten.  Question:  Will the Huskers take out their frustration on the Big Ten teams in their inaugural season in the conference and play in the conference’s inaugural championship game?   

In the Big 12, it is well-known that Texas A&M has been making noise about leaving the conference to join the SEC.  Questions:  Is this Texas A&M’s last season in the Big 12?  And if it is, who will replace Texas A&M in the Big 12?

In the Big East, Dana Holgorsen replaced Bill Stewart as the coach at West Virginia one year sooner than planned, under interesting circumstances.  In general, Mountaineer fans were happy with the change and are bubbling over with excitement of a high-powered offense that Holgorsen is expected to provide.  Question:  Will Mountaineer fans still be bubbling over with excitement in December?         

In the Pac-10, Rick Neuheisel, a former UCLA quarterback, took over the Bruins’ program in 2008 with promises to return UCLA to respectability.  Neuheisel’s performance to date has been less than spectacular – 15-22 in three years.  Question:  Is this Rick Neuheisel’s swan-song season in Westwood? 

In the MWC, Boise State, who dominated the WAC the past several years, plays its inaugural season in the MWC.  Question:  Can anyone in the MWC beat Boise State in 2011?

In C-USA, no team has managed to become a BCS bowl buster like Utah and TCU from the MWC and Boise State from the WAC.  2011 has potential to be a breakout year for the conference.  Question:  Will a C-USA team become a BCS bowl buster in 2011?

In the WAC, the conference has already lost Boise State to the MWC.  And next year, the WAC loses Fresno State, Hawaii and Nevada to the MWC.  Question:  Is this the last year of any respectability for the WAC?

In the MAC, it is extremely rare that a conference team finishes the season ranked in the Top 25.  Question:  Will a MAC team crack the Top 25 in 2011?

In the Sun Belt, Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger announced that he is retiring at the end of the season.  Schnellenberger has coached Miami (Florida), Louisville, Oklahoma and FAU in his career.  Question:  Will Howard Schnellenberger’s last season coaching college football be a losing one?

Among the Independents, BYU, having left the MWC, joins Army, Navy and Notre Dame as college football’s fourth Independent.  Questions:  How will BYU fare in its first season as an Independent?  And will the Cougars be in the Big 12 Conference next year? 

We’ll come back and check on those questions in December.   

On opening weekend, it is common for so many of the big schools to play the “Little Sisters of the Poor.”  Everybody that is except Ohio State, according to OSU president E. Gordon Gee.  Let’s see, the Buckeyes are opening against Akron.  Akron is slated to be the worst team in the Mid-American Conference and one of the worst, if not the worst, teams in all of FBS football this year.

Sometimes, I think it is safer to open against a weak FBS team than it is to open against a strong FCS team.  Look what happened to Michigan four years ago when the Wolverines opened against Appalachian State.  Look what happened last year to Ole Miss and Kansas.  Ole Miss was shocked by Jacksonville State and the Jayhawks were surprised by North Dakota State.  And although it wasn’t their opener, on the second weekend of play Virginia Tech fell to James Madison. 

So I have put together my “Watch Out” list for openers this weekend – all games where an FBS school is hosting an FCS school.  But a strong FCS school at that.  There are 12 games on my “Watch Out” list.  They are Eastern Washington at Washington, Appalachian State at Virginia Tech, William & Mary at Virginia, Delaware at Navy, Montana at Utah and Northern Iowa at Iowa State.

Also, New Hampshire at Toledo, Villanova at Temple, James Madison at North Carolina, Liberty at N.C. State, Richmond at Duke and McNeese State at Kansas.  I predict that at least one of those 12 FCS teams will win this weekend – and possibly two. 

Nebraska is opening against an FCS team this weekend – Chattanooga.  But the Huskers have no chance of losing.  Speaking of Nebraska, Dan Kleinbeck and friends will be rolling out the Big Red Meat Wagon Saturday for a rocking time of tailgating prior to the Huskers’ game against Chattanooga.  Never a dull moment around the BRMW.  

“We’re havin’ a party
Everybody’s havin’ a great time
All the gang’s here and dancing
I’m looping with a baby of mine”

Speaking of bubbling over with excitement, you should see Rockledge Gator.  He can’t wait for the season to begin.  Bootsie says he’s been talking in his sleep, “Brantley to Hammond, oh my!  Brantley to Hines, oh my!  Brantley to Thompson, oh my!  Brantley to Debose, oh my!”

Touchdown Tom
August 29, 2011


Quotes of the Week

“When it comes to college football boosters, you’re better off cheating with Ted Sarniak than Nevin Shapiro.  Sarniak, the sugar daddy for Terrelle Pryor at Ohio State, doesn’t kiss and tell.  Shapiro, the convicted Ponzi schemer at the heart of the University of Miami scandal, is the type to make a secret sex tape and sell it to TMZ.  That glaring difference between Sarniak and Shapiro is why Ohio state may suffer only the collateral damage of Jim Tressel’s and Pryor’s departures and Miami is looking at a long sentence in NCAA prison,” Fox Sports writer Bruce Hooley.

“As I have indicated previously, we are working very deliberately to act in the best long-term interests of both Texas A&M and the State of Texas.  This truly is a 100-year decision,” Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin, officially notifying the Big 12 that Texas A&M is exploring the possibility of joining another conference.

“The letter received today from Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin will be addressed by the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors.  It remains our strong desire for Texas A&M to continue as a member of the Big 12 and we are working toward that end.  However, if it is decided otherwise, the Conference is poised to move aggressively with other options,” Big 12 Conference commissioner Dan Beebe.

“This is not how I intended to spend my preseason.  I wanted to spend it much more on football,” LSU coach Les Miles, after two Tiger players, including quarterback Jordan Jefferson, were arrested and suspended from school for their actions in a bar fight.

Urban Meyer of ESPN says the Gators ‘are loaded’ this year.  Translation: ‘Don’t blame me if Will Muschamp goes 7-5.’  Meyer is a great coach, but Ron Zook left Meyer a better team than Meyer left Muschamp,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.  

“Former UCF athletic director Steve Orsini, now at SMU, has informed the Big 12 that SMU is ready to join.  In related news, Bob, who plays ukulele in the local Holiday Inn house band, has informed U2 that, he too, is ready to join,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.


The 20 Hottest and Most Intriguing Games of the Opening Week …and then some

GAME OF THE WEEK:  1. Oregon vs. LSU – (Pac-12 vs. SEC) – For the sake of Tiger fans, let’s hope the LSU players don’t stop off at a bar on their way to Cowboys Stadium.  Else, Les Miles might have to put in the cheerleaders in order to have enough players.  And for the sake of Duck fans, let’s hope Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas doesn’t fall asleep on the bus on the way to Cowboys Stadium.  Else, the bus might have that funny smoke smell upon arrival, resulting in a delay of game while the police perform blood tests on the Oregon players.  Oh well, just part of the anxiety prior to the big game.  Ducks lose two in a row to the SEC – LSU 17, Oregon 14.      

RUNNER UP:  2. Boise State vs. Georgia – (MWC vs. SEC) – If the Dawgs lose this game and with South Carolina up next, Georgia could be looking at an 0-2 start.  That wouldn’t sit well with the Bulldog nation.  Mark Richt’s seat would be so hot, he couldn’t sit down.  All eyes will be on the two quarterbacks.  Boise State’s Kellen Moore was a Heisman finalist last year.  Georgia’s Aaron Murray was a real up-and-comer last year as a freshman.  Murray raised many an eyebrow, building big expectations for 2011.  The more experienced Moore against the less experienced Murray.  Yes, if Georgia loses, Richt can start packing his bags.  But the Dawgs don’t lose – Georgia 28, Boise State 25.            

REST OF THE BEST:  3. South Florida at Notre Dame – (Big East vs. Ind.) – Ahhh, sweet memories for Skip Holtz.  The South Florida coach returns to his father’s old stomping grounds.  But Holtz may be doing all the stomping when the game is over.  The visit could be frustrating.  Granted the Bulls need a big win for their resume.  But Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly needs the win too.  Kelly got off to an okay but not good start last year – his first in South Bend.  He needs to have a good season in 2011.  After all, Urban Meyer is breathing down his back.  Or is Meyer doing his breathing down a back in Columbus?  I get confused.  Both teams ended their seasons on a high note in 2010 – South Florida beat Clemson in the Meineke Car Care Bowl and Notre Dame beat Miami (Florida) in the Sun Bowl.  Only the Irish open their season on a high note in 2011 – Notre Dame 24, South Florida 17.       

4. SMU at Texas A&M – (C-USA vs. Big 12) – Former Hawaii coach June Jones is doing a good job returning SMU football to respectability.  This, his fourth year in Dallas, could be his best at SMU.  A win over the Aggies would be a feather in his cap.  Both teams should be improved in 2011.  The game offers a good quarterback duel between A&M’s Ryan Tannehill and SMU’s Kyle Padron.  But in the end, the Aggies have too much depth and too much strength – Texas A&M 31, SMU 20.

5. TCU at Baylor – (MWC vs. Big 12) – This wasn’t a contest last year.  TCU clobbered Baylor, 45-10.  But that game was in Fort Worth.  This one is in Waco.  And TCU could be a little off this year, while Baylor could be a little better.  Bears quarterback Robert Griffin definitely should be better.  He’s already good – very good.  TCU running back Ed Wesley will make it interesting for the Horned Frogs.  Bears bearly….I mean….barely win – Baylor 24, TCU 23.    

6. Miami (Florida) at Maryland – (ACC vs. ACC) – We’re not sure who may or may not be playing in this game for Miami.  Nevin Shapiro probably knows.  Things certainly are a mess down in Sha-la-la land.  In fact, Donna might have to play backup quarterback.  All I can say is Miami has dug itself into a hole and it may be a long time before the Canes come out.  Both teams are playing for first-year coaches – Al Golden at Shapiro U….I mean….Miami, and Randy Edsall at Maryland.  Yes, the same Edsall who used to be at Connecticut.  Unlike the car Edzel, this Edsall is still working.  That is as long as he wins at Maryland.  Terrapin quarterback Danny O’Brien has a field day – Maryland 24, Miami 22. 

7. Northwestern at Boston College – (Big Ten vs. ACC) – Boston College will be missing its star running back Montel Harris.  Harris is recovering from surgery and should return next week.  But that doesn’t help the Eagles’ situation any this week.  Typically, Northwestern doesn’t play well on the road.  As goes quarterback Dan Persa, so go the Wildcats.  Persa goes well – Northwestern 27, Boston College 26. 

8. East Carolina at South Carolina – (C-USA vs. SEC) – So quarterback Stephen Garcia and his quarterback coach G.A. Mangus are both back in the saddle again – back on the team after being suspended – Garcia for the fifth time.  Let’s just hope Mangus doesn’t drink too much Gatorade during the game.  I’d hate to see him urinating on the sidelines.  After all, isn’t this game on TV?  And won’t there be children in the stands? Oh that’s right.  I forgot.  Children under the age of 16 are not admitted to South Carolina football games.  Hey, East Carolina coach Ruffin McNeill lost a ton of weight during the offseason.  He needed too.  That may be the only good thing that can be said about the Pirates.  Well, they do have a pretty good quarterback in Dominique Davis.  Marcus Lattimore has a field day – South Carolina 36, East Carolina 14.

9. BYU at Ole Miss – (Ind. vs. SEC) – BYU’s first season and first game as an Independent.  The Cougars are trying to become the Mormon Notre Dame.  Let’s see:  1. Their own TV network?  Check; 2. Touchdown Jesus?  No; 3. Lots of Irish whiskey? I’m afraid not.  Well, BYU has some work to do yet.  Meanwhile, down in magnolia blossom land, things aren’t looking up for the Black Bears.  That’s right.  Remember they are the Ole Miss Black Bears now.  No more Col. Sanders.  After a hot start, Houston Nutt has fallen off a bit.  But maybe Ole Miss will surprise this year.  Ole Miss doesn’t have Irish whiskey, but they have Hotty Toddies – Ole Miss 30, BYU 28.   

10. Minnesota at USC – (Big Ten vs. Pac-12) – The Trojans are playing for pride this season.  No bowl games.  No Pac-12 championships.  No nothing.  Just playing to win every game they can with no rewards at the end.  Reggie Bush emptied the reward chest in Los Angeles.  Minnesota has a new coach – Jerry Kill.  But the Gophers aren’t going to kill anyone.  Not this season at least.  Matt Barkley has a field day – USC 33, Minnesota 13.  

11. UCLA at Houston – (Pac-12 vs. C-USA) – It was in this game last year that Houston quarterback Case Keenum was lost for the season with a knee injury.  UCLA won the game.  That was in Los Angeles.  Now it’s time for the rematch in Houston.  And Keenum is back.  He should have plenty of incentive.  UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel is on the hot seat.  He should have plenty of incentive.  Houston is supposed to be good this year, but not that good – UCLA 34, Houston 32.  

12. Marshall at West Virginia – (C-USA vs. Big East) – Marshall had this game won last year.  But the Mountaineers scored two touchdowns in the closing minutes to tie the score.  WVU went on to win in overtime.  Marshall may never again get a chance like that to beat WVU.  Currently, the two schools only have two more meetings scheduled – this year and next year.  And both are in Morgantown.  WVU has a new coach – Dana Holgorsen – and he’s big on offense.  That’s what Mountaineer fans are expecting – a lot of offense.  But WVU will have to play defense too.  Marshall coach Doc Holliday will be pulling out all stops to beat the Eers.  It won’t be a holiday for Holliday – West Virginia 34, Marshall 17.    

13. Rice at Texas – (C-USA vs. Big 12) – After last season, Texas is looking to bounce back in 2011 – at least make it to a bowl game.  These are hard times in Austin.  And the Horns lost their defensive coordinator when Will Muschamp left to take the head coach job at Florida.  So Mack Brown went out and hired Manny Diaz away from Mississippi State.  That was a good hire.  Texas had offensive problems last year.  So Brown fired his offensive coordinator and hired Boise State offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin.  That was a good hire.  Harsin will share the offensive coordinator duties with Major Applewhite.  Fortunately for Brown, Texas is opening against Rice.  That should give Brown and his staff an opportunity to see what they have without losing the game.  But the Owls won’t exactly fly away.  They’ll give the Horns a fight.  Fried Rice – Texas 33, Rice 19.          

14. Troy at Clemson – (Sun Belt vs. ACC) – Clemson wins this game, but not without a struggle.  Troy has one of the most exciting quarterbacks in college football in Corey Robinson.  If Robinson is on, he can give the Tigers fits.  Clemson coach Dabo Swinney needs a good season.  Dabo avoids the upset – Clemson 34, Troy 23.     

15. Western Michigan at Michigan – (MAC vs. Big Ten) – The Brady Hoke era begins at Michigan.  Will it last longer than the Rich Rodriguez era?  Only time will tell.  And how will quarterback Denard Robinson adapt to the new offense?  We’ll soon know.  Wolverines get off to a good start – Michigan 32, Western Michigan 16.

16. Fresno State at California – (WAC vs. Pac-12) – Cal is playing its home games in San Francisco this season, while its stadium goes through a major renovation.  The football team needs to go through a renovation of its own.  Jeff Tedford had the Bears playing so well a few years ago.  But they have fallen onto hard times recently.  Fresno State won’t be any pushover.  In fact the Bulldogs may be favored.  Cal wins, but the Bears don’t look Golden – California 26, Fresno State 25.     

17. Appalachian State at Virginia Tech – (Southern vs. ACC) – Appy State probably won’t pull off a James Madison, but the Mountaineers are the No. 1 ranked FCS team at preseason.  So the Hokies need to take heed.  They don’t want another 0-2 start.  Actually, some think Va Tech could run the table this year.  The schedule is easy with no tough ACC games on the road.  The Hokies may or may not finish 12-0, but they will start 1-0 – Virginia Tech 29, Appalachian State 14.

18. Colorado at Hawaii – (Big 12 vs. WAC) – New coach at Colorado.  Jon Embree takes over the helm in Boulder.  Hawaii on the road is not an easy contest for the first-year coach.  The Warriors are supposed to be hot this season with quarterback Bryant Moniz.  The Buffaloes are supposed to be cold this season.  But if Rodney Stewart has a good day running, he can make Colorado hot.  Stewart won’t be hot enough in Honolulu – Hawaii 40, Colorado 36.  

19. Wake Forest at Syracuse – (ACC vs. Big East) – What happened to Wake Forest?  Jim Grobe had the Deacons smelling like roses a few years ago.  Lately, they have smelled like ramp weed.  Doug Marrone has Syracuse on the up-and-up.  The Orange won a bowl game last year.  However, this could be a tougher season for the Cuse.  But Wake won’t make it tougher – Syracuse 26, Wake Forest 20.         

20. Eastern Washington at Washington – (Big Sky vs. Pac-12) – Washington is hot, coming off the Holiday Bowl victory over Nebraska.  The Huskies hope to continue that momentum into the 2011 season.  It should continue in the opener.  But Eastern Washington won the FCS national championship last year.  And the Eagles would love nothing more than to beat their big brothers from the west.  They may make it interesting.  But not interesting enough – Washington 30, Eastern Washington 16.

...AND ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON: 

21. William & Mary at Virginia – (Colonial vs. ACC) – Keep an eye on this one, because two years ago William & Mary knocked off Virginia.  And the Tribe could do it this year too.  W&M is one of the top-ranked teams in FCS.  Mike London is still building the Cavaliers.  Granted Virginia will be improved this year over last.  But how much.  This could be a good one in Charlottesville – Virginia 24, William & Mary 20.

YE OLDE STOMPING GROUNDS: 

Florida Atlantic at Florida – (Sun Belt vs. SEC) – The mystery will soon be over and we’ll know what Florida has this year.  That is if you can count Florida Atlantic as a test to determine what the Gators have – or don’t have.  But hey, as long as Florida’s center can successfully snap the ball, that’s a big improvement over last year.  This is Howard Schnellenberger’s swan-song season.  He’s retiring in December.  The Gators sing Schnellenberger a swan song – Florida 38, Florida Atlantic 10.

Chattanooga at Nebraska – (Southern vs. Big Ten) – Pardon me Herb, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?  Well, actually, Chattanooga isn’t the Choo Choo’s.  They are the Moccasins.  I’m not sure what type – the shoes or the snakes.  Regardless, Nebraska will give Chattanooga a shine and choo-choo the Moccasins home – Nebraska 48, Chattanooga 6.

Middle Tennessee at Purdue – (Sun Belt vs. Big Ten) – Most say Purdue will be lousy this year.  But some say the Boilermakers could be a surprise team.  They better watch out or they could get surprised in their opener against Middle Tennessee.  Chattanooga may not be the Choo Choo’s, but Purdue is.  And the Boilers will steam the Blue out of the Raiders – Purdue 30, Middle Tennessee 20.

Richmond at Duke – (Colonial vs. ACC) – Duke, otherwise known in football as the Devils with a blue mess on.  You would have thought that David Cutcliffe would have made better strides at Duke by now.  And maybe he has been little-by-little.  After all, the Dookies are not deemed the worst team in the ACC this year.  Wake Forest has that honor.  If quarterback Sean Renfree has a good year, the Dookies could open some eyes.  Devils maneuver the Spider’s web – Duke 25, Richmond 14.

Comment:  Three big battles in Texas on the opening week – Oregon-LSU, SMU-Texas A&M and TCU-Baylor.  Throw in the tilt in Atlanta – Boise State-Georgia – and we have ourselves quite a weekend.  Miami (Florida) at Maryland could be interesting too.  Will Marshall-West Virginia be as exciting as last year?  And there will be a Holtz back in South Bend on Saturday.  Fasten your seat belts.

AROUND FLORIDA: 

Florida State opens at home against Louisiana-Monroe….  UCF has its opener, hosting Charleston Southern….  Florida International kicks off the season entertaining North Texas…. Florida A&M starts its season at home against Fort Valley state….  Bethune-Cookman opens in Orlando against Prairie View A&M…. while Jacksonville U. has its opener on the road at The Citadel. 


Thursday’s Television Schedule – September 1

Murray State at Louisville – 6 p.m. ET – ESPNU
Mississippi State at Memphis – 8 p.m. ET – Fox Sports Network
Massachusetts at Holy Cross – 8 p.m. ET – CBS College Sports Network
UNLV at Wisconsin – 8 p.m. ET – ESPN
Kentucky vs. Western Kentucky – 9:15 p.m. ET – ESPNU


Friday’s Television Schedule – September 2

TCU at Baylor – 8 p.m. ET – ESPN


Saturday’s Television Schedule – September 3

Akron at Ohio State – 12 noon ET – ESPN
Miami (Ohio) at Missouri – 12 noon ET – Fox Sports Network
Northwestern at Boston College – 12 noon ET – ESPNU
Utah State at Auburn – 12 noon ET – ESPN2
Kent State at Alabama – 12:20 p.m. ET – SEC Game of the Week
Appalachian State at Virginia Tech – 12:30 p.m. ET – ACC Game of the Week
Delaware at Navy – 3:30 p.m. ET – CBS College Sports Network
Louisiana-Monroe at Florida State – 3:30 p.m. ET – ESPNU
Minnesota at USC – 3:30 p.m. ET – ABC/ESPN2
Western Michigan at Michigan – 3:30 p.m. ET – ABC/ESPN2
South Florida at Notre Dame – 3:30 p.m. ET – NBC
UCLA at Houston – 3:30 p.m. ET – Fox Sports Network
BYU at Ole Miss – 4:45 p.m. ET – ESPN
East Carolina vs. South Carolina – 7 p.m. ET – Fox Sports Network
Florida Atlantic at Florida – 7 p.m. ET – ESPNU
Boise State vs. Georgia – 8 p.m. ET – ESPN
LSU vs. Oregon – 8 p.m. ET – ABC
Tulsa at Oklahoma – 8 p.m. ET – FX
Louisiana Tech at Southern Miss – 10 p.m. ET – Fox Sports Network
Colorado at Hawaii – 10:15 p.m. ET – ESPN2


Sunday’s Television Schedule – September 4

Bethune-Cookman vs. Prairie View – 12 noon ET – ESPN
Marshall at West Virginia – 3:30 p.m. ET – ESPN
SMU at Texas A&M – 7:30 p.m. ET – Fox Sports Network


Monday’s Television Schedule – September 5

Miami (Florida) at Maryland – 8 p.m. ET – ESPN


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . An athletics feasibility committee at Appalachian State has recommended the school move up to the FBS level.  The Mountaineers are currently a FCS school in football.  Appalachian State won three-straight FCS national titles from 2005 to 2007….  Iona Prep (New Rochelle, NY) cornerback Justin Combs, son of rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, has received scholarship offers from Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming and UCLA….  Houston and BYU have announced they will play a home-and-home series in 2013 and 2014….  Jerry Rice, Jr., son of the former San Francisco 49ers receiver, is a walk-on sophomore at UCLA.


Extra Points

On the Internet – College Football Week now has a Website and can be found at www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com.

The 2011 college football season is here.  Gentlemen, start your quarterbacks!

Touchdown Tom


P.S.

Not directly college football related, but as the Labor Day weekend approached and college football fans were stoked for the start of another great season, the number one song in the country…

…75 years ago this week in 1936 was “Did I Remember?” by Shep Fields 

…70 years ago this week in 1941 was “Green Eyes (Aquellos Ojos Verdes)” by Jimmy Dorsey

…65 years ago this week in 1946 was “To Each His Own” by Freddy Martin

…60 years ago this week in 1951 was “Come On-a My House” by Rosemary Clooney

…55 years ago this week in 1956 was “Hound Dog/Don’t Be Cruel” by Elvis Presley

…50 years ago this week in 1961 was “Michael” by The Highwaymen

…45 years ago this week in 1966 was “Sunshine Superman” by Donovan

…40 years ago this week in 1971 was “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” by Paul & Linda McCartney

…35 years ago this week in 1976 was “You Should Be Dancing” by The Bee Gees

…30 years ago this week in 1981 was “Endless Love” by Diana Ross & Lionel Ritchie 

…25 years ago this week in 1986 was “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood

…20 years ago this week in 1991 was “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” by Bryan Adams


Not directly college football related, but on a sad comment, there were four passings of note last week – Jerry Leiber, Nick Ashford, Ross Barbour, and Mike Flanagan.

Jerry Leiber, the lyricist, who with his partner, Mike Stoller, wrote some of the most enduring classics in the history of rock ’n’ roll, including “Hound Dog,” “Yakety Yak,” “Stand By Me,” “On Broadway,” died last week in Los Angeles.  He was 78.  The cause was cardio-pulmonary failure.  Jerome Leiber was born on April 25, 1933 in Baltimore.  When he was 12, he moved to Los Angeles with his mother.  Other hits written by Leiber and Stoller include “Jailhouse Rock,” “Loving You,” “Spanish Harlem,” “Young Blood,” “Searchin’,” “Poison Ivy,” “Love Potion No. 9” and “Leader of the Pack.”

Nick Ashford, who with Valerie Simpson, his songwriting partner and later his wife, wrote some of Motown’s biggest hits like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” died last week in New York City.  He was 70.  The cause was throat cancer.  Nickolas Ashford was born on May 4, 1941 in Fairfield, South Carolina, but grew up in Willow Run, Michigan.  Ashford and Simpson also wrote “Your Precious Love” and “I’m Every Woman.”

Ross Barbour, the last surviving original member of the Four Freshmen, died last week.  He was 82.  The cause was lung cancer.  The Four Freshman were in their heyday in the 1950s.  Among their many hits was “Graduation day.”  The group formed in 1947 when they were freshmen at Butler University in Indianapolis.  Ross Edwin Barbour was born on December 31, 1928 in Columbus, Indiana.

Mike Flanagan, the Baltimore Oriole left-hander who won the 1979 Cy Young Award and who later worked as an Orioles executive, coach and broadcaster, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound last week.  He was 59.  Flanagan pitched for 15 seasons in two stints with the Orioles.  He debuted with the Orioles in 1975 and pitched for the team until August 1987 when he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.  After the 1990 season, Flanagan returned to the Orioles for two more seasons.  In October 1991, he became the last Orioles player to throw a pitch at the team’s Memorial stadium before they moved to Camden Yards.  Michael Kendall Flanagan was born on December 16, 1951 in Manchester, New Hampshire.  He pitched in college for the University of Massachusetts. 

Monday, August 22, 2011

You Can't Spell Scum Wuthout UM

College Football Week – Still preseason, but the mustard’s on the hot dog
You Can’t Spell Scum Without UM

Remember when Steve Spurrier was coaching the Gators and Florida generally always beat Tennessee.  At the end of the season, Tennessee generally got stuck with the Citrus Bowl, while the Gators went on to play in a better bowl.

It prompted Spurrier to say, “You can’t spell Citrus without UT.”

After I heard and read about the Nevin Shapiro allegations last week, regarding the University of Miami football program.  And after mentally sorting that information with all the other scandals and negative issues that have been associated with University of Miami football program for the past 30 years, I thought to myself, “You can’t spell scum without UM.”

I also thought of Miami’s new coach and I thought, “All is not golden in Miami.”

I didn’t say Al is not golden; I said all is not golden.

But right now, I have to believe that Al Golden is probably wishing he stayed at Temple instead of taking the job at Miami.

Miami has always been a strange school.  Several years ago, the school dropped its basketball program.  Not because of problems or scandals.  But because the program was a big loser financially.  No one went to the games. 

I mean, no college ever drops its basketball program.  Football, maybe, but not basketball.  Later Miami resumed its basketball program and almost no one attends the games still.

Miami almost dropped its football program too.  That was in the late 1970s just prior to Howard Schnellenberger’s arrival.  The football program was a money loser too.  But all changed after Schnellenberger came.  The program began making money – in more ways than one.  

Oh well, the latest scandal should be a boost for Florida and Florida State recruiting.  UCF and South Florida too for that matter. 

And Miami wasn’t the only football program that made the news last week.  You probably heard or read about the fight at a bar in Baton Rouge, involving some LSU players.  I figured the LSU players surely must have misunderstood coach Les Miles at practice last week.  He probably told the players he wanted them to raise the bar this year.   And they thought he meant ‘raze’ the bar.

We can never wait for the season to start, but there is never a dull moment during the off season either.

No sooner had Auburn defeated Oregon for the national championship in January and a few days later Jimmy Buffet fell off the stage while performing in Australia.  I figure at the point when Buffet fell, he must have been singing the lyrics, “wasting away again in Margaritaville.”

Connecticut was in a heap of hurt last January.  UConn booster Robert Burton, who had given the Huskies program $3 million, wanted his money back because he didn’t have a hand in selecting Connecticut’s new football coach.  Heck, I’d want my money back too if I was a booster and my school had picked Paul “Pass the Baloney” Pasqualoni.  Fortunately for UConn, the school smoothed out things with Burton. 

Urban Meyer signed a contract with ESPN and Rich Rodriguez signed a contract with CBS Sports.  Both to become college football analysts for their respective networks.  I guess that’s the equivalent of former U.S. senators and congressmen becoming lobbyist.     

The father of the wishbone formation died in February.  Emory Bellard, the coach who introduced the wishbone formation to college football, died in Georgetown, Texas.  He was 83.  Bellard was the head coach of Texas A&M (1972-1978) and Mississippi State (1979-1985).  But his biggest contribution came in 1968 when he was an assistant at Texas.  That’s when he invented the wishbone offense.  Texas won the national championship in 1969, running the wishbone and shared the title with Nebraska in 1970.  Soon after, powerhouses like Oklahoma and Alabama began running the wishbone.

During Florida’s spring practice, Gator coach Will Muschamp announced that Justin Reed and Trey Burton, who were quarterbacks in 2010, had been moved to new positions – Reed to tight end and Burton to receiver.      

Also in March, Murray Warmath, who coached Minnesota to a national championship and back-to-back Rose Bowls, died in Bloomington, Minnesota.  He was 98.  The Gophers have not won a Big Ten championship since Warmath coached them to the 1967 title.  He coached Minnesota from 1954 to 1971 and had an 87-78-7 record.  Warmath was born in Humboldt, Tennessee, and played for the Vols under Bob Neyland.  He served in the Navy in World War II and was the head coach of Mississippi State in 1952 and 1953. 

The next month, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, suspended his quarterback Stephen Garcia for the fifth time.  Think Garcia will ever get the message?  North Carolina radio play-by-play announcer Woody Durham, 69, announced his retirement, effective June 30.  Durham had been the “Voice of the Tar Heels” since 1971, calling more than 1,800 football and basketball games. 

Massachusetts, a Division I-AA (FCS) football school, announced it was stepping up to Division I-A (FBS) and would join the Mid-American Conference as a football only member.    

South Carolina quarterback coach G.A. Mangus, arrested by police for intoxication and urinating in public, was suspended by Steve Spurrier.  Wonder if Mangus learned that stunt from Garcia or vice versa. 

It just wouldn’t be the off-season without a good story out of South Carolina.  And the Palmetto state never fails us.

I have to tell you I was worried last week.  Did you hear about the person who called 911 when they couldn’t find their remote?  I thought, “Oh my gosh, Rockledge Gator.  What have you done now?”  I was relieved to learn it wasn’t Rockledge Gator, but a lady in Colorado.  Police showed up at her house and she told them she had been burglarized.  The police asked her what the thieves had taken and she said her television remote control.  Police found the remote in a kitchen drawer. 

Touchdown Tom
August 22, 2011


The Teams – 2011

Every year, I like to get my hands on all the preseason polls I can find and combine their results to create my Consensus Preseason Top 40.  This year’s consensus poll represents the average team position from 10 different polls, including those from the preseason magazines, the AP, the Coaches and four sports Web sites. 

Number 1 in this year’s Consensus Preseason Top 40 is (1) Oklahoma, followed very closely by (2) Alabama.  (3) Oregon is a distant third, followed closely by (4) LSU and (5) Boise State.  (6) Florida State, (7) Stanford, (8) Texas A&M, (9) Nebraska and (10) Oklahoma State round out the Top 10 in the consensus poll.       

The second ten is led by (11) Virginia Tech, followed by (12) Notre Dame.  (13) Arkansas and (13) TCU are tied for the 13th spot in the poll.  (15) South Carolina comes in 15th.  The bottom five in the top 20 are (16) Ohio State, (17) Wisconsin, (18) Michigan State, (19) Georgia and (20) Mississippi State.

The lower half of the poll begins with (21) West Virginia, followed by (22) Florida, (23) Penn State, (24) Missouri and (25) Arizona State.  The remainder of the top 30 include (26) Texas, (27) Miami (Florida), (28) Auburn, (29) USC and (30) Air Force.  The next five are (31) Iowa, (32) North Carolina, (33) Michigan, (34) BYU and (35) Utah.

(36) Pitt and (36) South Florida are tied at the 36th position in the poll.  The two Big East teams are followed by (38) Southern Miss, (39) UCF and (40) N.C. State to round out the top 40.  Just missing out on the Consensus Preseason Top 40 were (41) Clemson, (42) Northwestern and (43) Houston.

Eight of the 11 conferences placed teams in the consensus top 40, led by the SEC with eight teams and followed by the Big Ten with seven.  The ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 each placed five teams in the top 40.  The Big East and Mountain West had three teams each in the poll.  And there was a first – Conference USA placed two teams in the poll.  There were also two Independents in the poll – Notre Dame and BYU. 

The WAC, MAC and Sun Belt placed no teams in the top 40.  The highest-placed WAC team was Hawaii at 58.  Miami (Ohio) was the best MAC team at 67, while Troy at 77 was the highest-ranked Sun Belt team.            

So, according to the consensus poll, Oklahoma should be playing Alabama in the BCS National Championship Bowl on January 9, 2012, in New Orleans.  Then again, it could be a jinx for one or both of the teams.  Last year, Alabama and Ohio State were first and second respectively in the consensus preseason poll.  But neither played in the championship game.  Instead, it was Oregon and Auburn.  The Ducks were 10th in the poll and the Tigers were a distant 23rd at preseason.

Looking around the country at the individual conferences, we should be in store for some exciting races in each of the leagues.  For starters, the Southeastern Conference should provide us with plenty of thrills in 2011.  In the SEC West, Alabama is the odds-on favorite.  However, LSU, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Auburn won’t be giving the Tide any time to relax.  Anyone of those four teams could be breathing down Alabama’s neck all season.  LSU figures to be Bama’s biggest threat, but don’t count out Arkansas or Mississippi State.  Auburn is a bit of a mystery, but a dangerous mystery.  Only Ole Miss isn’t given much of a chance of doing anything in the SEC West.

Over in the SEC East, South Carolina has a slight edge, but in general the East is wide open between the Gamecocks, Georgia and Florida.  The Gators, however, are really kind of a mystery.  Florida could go either way – up or down.  And don’t count out Tennessee.  Derek Dooley will have the Vols competitive.  Kentucky and Vanderbilt are the bottom dwellers in the SEC East, with Kentucky the better of the two.  Alabama is the favorite to win the SEC championship.

The Atlantic Coast Conference has two teams on track to clash head-on in the conference championship game in December – Florida State and Virginia Tech, a rematch of last year’s ACC title game.  The Seminoles are the solid favorite to win the Atlantic Division of the SEC.  If anyone is going to threaten FSU in the Atlantic, it would appear to be Clemson.  Maryland, N.C. State and Boston College could pose a threat at times, but those three teams most likely will fight it out for third place in the Atlantic.  Wake Forest doesn’t appear to be a threat to anyone.

In the ACC Coastal Division, it is pretty cut-and-dried from top to bottom.  Virginia Tech is the overwhelming favorite in the Coastal.  Then comes Miami, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Duke respectively.  It’s unanimous.  No if, ands and buts about it.  We’ll see.  Florida State is the favorite to beat Virginia Tech in the conference title game.

The Big Ten Conference begins divisional play (Legends and Leaders) this year for the first time, with a conference title game at the end of the season.  Big Ten newcomer Nebraska is the general favorite to win the Legends Division of the conference.  But Michigan State has its eyes on the division title too.  The Spartans could easily spoil the Huskers’ plans.  Then it’s anybody’s guess who will finish third in the division between Iowa, Northwestern and Michigan.  None appear to be as strong as Nebraska and Michigan State, but competitive and dangerous in their own right.  Minnesota is the unanimous choice as the division’s cellar dweller.

Early on, Ohio State was the hands-down favorite to win the Leaders Division of the Big Ten.  But since Terrelle Pryor’s off-season departure Wisconsin is now the favorite to win the division.  The loss of Pryor didn’t change the Buckeyes’ position much.  Ohio State is slated to come in second.  Penn State appears to be the third-best team in the Leaders Division.  But watch out for the Nittany Lions.  They could make some noise.  Illinois and Purdue are evenly matched to compete for fourth place in the division.  However, either Illinois or Purdue could be the surprise team in the division.  Indiana is the division’s doormat.  Most think Nebraska and Wisconsin will meet in the Big Ten’s first championship game.  If they do, it will be a rematch, as the Huskers and Badgers meet October 1 in Madison.

Oklahoma is the overwhelming choice to win the scaled-down Big 12 Conference – scaled down from 12 teams to 10.  Texas A&M and Oklahoma State have their sights on the conference championship too.  Either one could surprise Oklahoma.  Missouri and Texas are thrown in a mix for fourth place in the Big 12.  After last season’s disaster, Texas is a real mystery team in 2011.  The Longhorns could go up or down. 

Texas Tech, Baylor and Kansas State, any of whom could be dangerous at times, figure to fight it out for sixth place.  Iowa State and Kansas will struggle to stay out of the basement.  Kansas appears to be the worse-off of the two.     

In the Big East Conference, West Virginia is the general favorite to take the conference title.  But Pitt and South Florida may have something to say about that.  The Panthers and Bulls will certainly make things interesting at the top.  Cincinnati is pretty much the unanimous choice to finish fourth in the Big East.  The Bearcats could be the conference’s surprise team.

Syracuse and Connecticut are locked into a battle for fifth place in the conference.  While Louisville and Rutgers will scratch and claw to stay out of the cellar.  The Cardinals appear to be the stronger of the two. 

Like the Big Ten, the Pac-12 Conference begins divisional play (North and South) in 2011, with a conference title game at the end of the season.  And what exciting play for the division titles it could be too.  In the North Division, it should be a race between Oregon and Stanford for the title, with the Ducks being slightly favored.  Then Washington and Oregon State should make it interesting for third place in the North.  And, either the Huskies or the Beavers could cause problems for Oregon and/or Stanford.  California seems destined for fifth place in the North, while Washington State is a woeful last.

The South Division is going to be a rat race between USC, Arizona State and Utah, with the Trojans being the slight favorite.  But USC will be playing for pride.  The Trojans’ probation prevents them from officially winning the division, even if they finish with the best record.  Utah is a newbie in the Pac-12 and would like to make a big impression.  ASU will be out to save Dennis Erickson’s job.  Then Arizona and UCLA appear to be tangled-up, fighting for fourth place in the South.  Their coaches are in jeopardy too.  Colorado, the other newbie, appears to be hopeless.  Right now, the odds have Oregon playing Arizona State in the inaugural conference title game, with the Ducks being favored.

The Mountain West Conference appears to be pretty clear-cut for the top four spots in the league.  Boise State is everyone’s favorite to win the MWC, followed somewhat unanimously by TCU, Air Force and San Diego State respectively.  But any three of those teams could pop a surprise on the Broncos.  Colorado State and Wyoming figure to slug it out for fifth place in the conference.  Then UNLV and New Mexico are slated to finish at the bottom – one is as bad as the other.

Conference USA could have its best season ever.  The conference may make its strongest statement on the national scene in 2011.  Two teams – Southern Miss and UCF – finished in the Consensus Preseason Top 40 and a third team – Houston – just missed making the Top 40.  And the races in C-USA’s two divisions should be donnybrooks as well.  It all makes for an exciting time in C-USA.

UCF and Southern Miss are in a dead heat to win the East Division in C-USA.  It couldn’t be any closer.  Then East Carolina, UAB and Marshall are in a near-dead heat for third place in the East.  Memphis is the only pathetic team in the division.  Meanwhile, it’s going to be a barnburner between Houston and SMU for the C-USA West Division title.  The Cougars are a slight favorite.  And Tulsa is in the mix too.  The Golden Hurricane can’t be written off.  Rice, Tulane and UTEP are not in the mix and figure to finish fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.  Oddsmakers have Houston playing either UCF or Southern Miss in the C-USA championship game. 

Hawaii is a slight favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference in 2011.  But the Warriors will have some stiff competition from Fresno State and Nevada.  Louisiana Tech appears to be locked into fourth place, as does Idaho in fifth place.  Utah State and San Jose State could make it interesting for sixth place in the WAC.  Poor New Mexico State is destined for the basement.      

In the Mid-American Conference, there is a real interesting picture shaping up in the MAC’s East Division.  Miami, Ohio, and Temple are all three capable of winning the division and it should be quite a race.  Kent State seems settled into fourth place in the East, but the Golden Flashes could be a surprise team.  Bowling Green, Buffalo and Akron are the division’s weaklings.   

Over in the MAC West Division, Toledo is the favorite.  But the Rockets will be feeling some heat from Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.  The Huskies or the Broncos could spoil the Rockets’ plans.  Central Michigan appears suited for fourth place in the West.  Then Ball State and Eastern Michigan will struggle with one another to stay out of the cellar.    

There is a real race heating up in the Sun Belt Conference between Troy and Florida International.  Troy is just barely a favorite, but either one of the two could easily win the conference.  Then Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee should make it an interesting fight for third place in the Sun Belt.  Anyone of those three could be a spoiler for Troy or FIU – but not likely. 

North Texas appears destined for sixth place in the Sun Belt, followed by Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky.  Louisiana-Lafayette is the conference doormat in 2011.

Notre Dame and BYU are the class of the four Independents, with ND the better of the two.  Army and Navy are below the Irish and Cougars, but both should be competitive in 2011.


The Running Backs – 2011

Three running backs lead the field at the start of the 2011 season.  One was a Heisman finalist last season and the other two are from the Southeastern Conference.  Oregon’s LaMichael James, a 5-9, 185, junior, finished third in the Heisman voting last year.  James rushed for 1,731 yards, averaging 5.9 yards per carry and scored 21 touchdowns in 2010.

The two SEC running backs are South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore, a 6-0, 231, sophomore, and Alabama’s Trent Richardson, a 5-11, 224, junior.  Last season, Lattimore rushed for 1,197 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and scored 17 touchdowns.  Richardson, sharing the running duties with Mark Ingram last year, rushed for 700 yards, but averaged an impressive 6.2 yards per carry.     

Just below James, Lattimore and Richardson on the marquee, but getting a lot of preseason attention in their own right are Boston College’s Montel Harris, a 5-10, 200, senior, and Texas A&M’s Cyrus Gray, a 5-10, 198, senior.  In 2010, Harris rushed for 1,243 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.  Last week, Harris underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee and will miss the Eagles’ opener on September 3.  Meanwhile, Gray rushed for 1,133 yards, scored 12 touchdowns and averaged 5.7 yards per carry.

The top five backs at preseason can’t afford to slow down any in 2011.  There are a slew of other good running backs around the country, anyone of whom could steal their thunder.  For starters, the Southeastern Conference has a few, in addition to Lattimore and Richardson.  Ole Miss welcomes back Brandon Bolden (5-11, 221, senior) and Mississippi State returns Vick Ballard (5-11, 215, senior).  Both rushed for 900-plus yards in 2010.  Bolden averaged 6.0 yards per carry and Ballard scored 19 touchdowns.

Auburn lost a lot of talent off its 2010 national championship team, but the Tigers do return Michael Dyer (5-9, 205, sophomore).  Dyer was a big contributor to Auburn’s season, rushing for 1,093 yards and averaging 6.0 yards per carry.  Florida has a double threat in its backfield with Jeff Demps (5-8, 190, senior) and Chris Rainey (5-8,, 175, senior).  Both are speedsters.

Aside from Montel Harris, the Atlantic Coast Conference doesn’t have a crew of big-name running backs at preseason.  Three to keep an eye on are Clemson’s Andre Ellington (5-10, 190, junior), Miami’s Lamar Miller (5-11, 212, sophomore) and Maryland’s Davin Meggett (5-9, 215, senior).  Last year, Ellington, Miller and Meggett all averaged 5.6 or more yards per carry.  Florida State’s Chris Thompson (5-8, 190, junior) could have a break-out season in 2011.  Thompson had 845 yards rushing, averaging 6.3 yards per carry last season.

In the Big Ten Conference, Wisconsin is loaded in the backfield with the tandem of James White (5-10, 202, sophomore) and Montee Ball (5-11, 214, junior).  Last year White rushed for 1,052 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry, while Ball had 996 yards rushing, with 18 touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Michigan State is also loaded in the backfield, led by Edwin Baker (5-9, 208, junior).  In 2010, Baker rushed for 1,201 yards, scoring 13 touchdowns, while averaging 5.8 yards per carry.  The Spartans will have additional help from Le’Veon “Rose” Bell (6-2, 237, sophomore).  Big Ten newcomer Nebraska has a threat in the backfield with Rex Burkhead (5-11, 210 junior).  Last year in the Big 12, Burkhead rushed for 912 yards. 

Other than Cyrus Gray, the Big 12 Conference isn’t showcasing a lot of running backs at preseason.  Two who could stand out are Kansas’ James Sims (6-0, 206, sophomore) and Texas Tech’s Eric Stephens (5-8, 192, junior).  Of course, everyone will be looking out for Oklahoma freshman Brandon Williams (5-11, 189). 

The two best running backs in the Big East Conference coming into 2011 are Cincinnati’s Isaiah Pead (5-11, 198, senior) and Pitt’s Ray Graham (5-9, 195, junior).  Last year, Pead rushed for 1,029 yards and averaged 6.6 yards per carry.  Meanwhile, Graham had 922 yards rushing, with 6.2 yards per carry.  Two other backs, in the Big East, with good potential are Syracuse’s Antwon Bailey (5-7, 192, senior) and Louisville’s Victor Anderson (5-10, 189, senior).     

Next to LaMichael James, the best back in the Pac-12 Conference would appear to be Chris Polk (5-11, 214, junior).  As a sophomore, Polk rushed for 1,415 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry.  Also in the Pac-12, watch out for Colorado’s Rodney Stewart (5-6, 175, senior).  Stewart had 1,318 yards rushing in 2010.

The premier back in the Mountain West Conference is San Diego State’s Ronnie Hillman (5-10, 190, sophomore).  Last season, Hillman tallied 1,532 yards rushing, with 17 touchdowns, while averaging 5.8 yards per carry.  Boise State returns a star in Doug Martin (5-9, 215, senior).  Martin totaled 1,260 yards rushing and averaged 6.3 yards per carry last year.  Two other strong rushers in the MWC are TCU’s Ed Wesley (5-9, 200, junior) and Air Force’s Asker Clark (5-8, 185, senior).  Both rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2010 and Wesley averaged 6.5 yards per carry.

Conference USA has several good running backs, led by SMU’s Zach Line (6-1, 230, junior).  Line tallied 1,494 yards rushing in 2010 for the Mustangs.  Three other strong backs in C-USA are Rice’s Sam McGuffie (6-0, 200, junior), Houston’s Bryce Beall (5-11, 209, senior) and UAB’s Pat Shed (5-9, 175, senior).  All three rushed for more than 800 yards last year.  Another threat in C-USA is UTEP’s Joe Banyard (5-11, 205, senior).        

The best back at preseason in the Western Athletic Conference had to sit out last season due to an injury.  But Utah State’s Robert Turbin (5-10, 216, junior) should be in good shape for the 2011 season.  Two more top rushers in the WAC are Fresno State’s Robert Rouse (5-7, 185, junior) and Louisiana Tech’s Lennon Creer (6-1, 215, senior).  Both rushed for more than 1,100 yards in 2010. 

The star rusher in the Mid-American Conference appears to be Toledo’s Adonis Thomas (5-10, 185, senior).  Thomas had a good year in 2010, rushing for 1,098 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.  Temple has a powerful runner in Bernard Pierce (6-0, 218, junior).  Kent State’s Jacquise Terry (6-0, 183, senior) figures to have a good season. 

The Sun Belt Conference has three outstanding rushers, led by Western Kentucky’s Bobby Rainey (5-8, 205, senior).  Rainey rushed for 1,649 yards in 2010, scoring 15 touchdowns.  The other two top backs in the Sun Belt are North Texas’ Lance Dunbar (5-9, 203, junior) and Florida Atlantic’s Alfred Morris (5-11, 222, senior).  Dunbar has 1,553 yards rushing last season.

Among the four Independents, the two best backs are Army’s Jared Hassin (6-3, 235, junior) and Navy’s Alexander Teich (6-0, 217, senior).  Hassin totaled 1,013 yards rushing last year and Teich averaged 5.9 yards per carry. 

TT’s Top Ten Favorite Running Backs at Preseason:

1.      Marcus Lattimore – South Carolina
2.      Trent Richardson – Alabama
3.      LaMichael James – Oregon
4.      Montel Harris – Boston College
5.      Chris Polk – Washington
6.      Cyrus Gray – Texas A&M
7.      Ronnie Hillman – San Diego State
8.      Ed Wesley – TCU
9.      Robert Turbin – Utah State
10.  Adonis Thomas – Toledo

And keep an eye on:

Montee Ball – Wisconsin; Edwin Baker – Michigan State; Isaiah Pead – Cincinnati; Chris Raney – Florida; James White – Wisconsin; Jeff Demps – Florida;  Asher Clark – Air Force; Bobby Rainey – Western Kentucky; Bernard Pierce – Temple, and Alfred Morris – Florida Atlantic.


The Other Positions – 2011

Among the best wide receivers in college football this season, three hail from the Big 12 Conference.  They are Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon (6-1, 211, junior), Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles (5-11, 187, senior) and Texas A&M’s Jeff Fuller (6-4, 215, senior).  The SEC has a pair of excellent receivers as well – South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffrey (6-4, 233, junior) and Arkansas’ Greg Childs (6-3, 217, senior).

The Pac-12 has two top receivers in Arizona’s Juron Criner (6-4, 210, senior) and Washington’s Jermaine Kearse (6-2, 205, senior).  Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd has a pair of good hands.  And the top wide receiver list wraps up with Florida International’s T.Y. Hilton (5-10, 183, senior), Iowa’s Marvin McNutt (6-4, 215, senior) and North Carolina’s Dwight Jones (6-4, 225, senior).

On the offensive line, two of the nation’s best centers are from the Big Ten Conference – Ohio State’s Mike Brewster (6-5, 293, senior) and Michigan’s David Molk (6-2, 288, senior).  Two more of the top snappers are from the SEC – Alabama’s William Vlachos (6-1, 294, senior) and Georgia’s Ben Jones (6-3, 316, senior).  Rounding out the top centers are Oklahoma’s Ben Habern (6-2, 291, junior), Connecticut’s Moe Petrus (6-2, 293, senior) and West Virginia’s Joe Madsen (6-4, 300, junior).

Among the best offensive guards, two are from the Pac-12 – Stanford’s David DeCastro (6-5, 310, junior) and Colorado’s Ryan Miller (6-8, 310, senior).  Two more are from the SEC – Alabama’s Barrett Jones (6-5, 311, junior) and Kentucky’s Larry Warford (6-3, 340, junior).  Texas Tech’s Lonnie Edwards (6-4, 322, junior) is a top guard.

The ACC has a pair of good offensive guards – Virginia Tech’s Jaymes Brooks (6-2, 307, senior) and Miami’s Brandon Washington (6-4, 320, junior).  And the Big Ten has a couple of top guards – Michigan State’s Joel Foreman (6-4, 310, senior) and Wisconsin’s Kevin Zeitler (6-4, 317, senior).  Last but not least, Pitt has a superior guard in Chris Jacobson (6-3, 290, senior).

Still on the offensive line, college football best tackles include Boise State’s Nate Potter (6-6, 300, senior), BYU’s Matt Reynolds (6-6, 322, senior) and Stanford’s Jonathan Martin (6-6, 304, junior).  Also high on the list is Iowa’s Riley Reiff (6-6, 300, junior).

Two of the top offensive tackles are from the Big 12 – Oklahoma State’s Levy Adcock (6-6, 322, senior) and Iowa State’s Kelechi Osemele (6-6, 354, senior).  And finally two more big-time OT’s are Georgia’s Cordy Glenn (6-5, 348, senior) and Florida State’s Andrew Datko (6-6, 311, senior).

Looking good at the tight end spot are Missouri’s Michael Egnew (6-6, 240, senior), N.C. State’s George Bryan (6-5, 265, senior) and Louisiana-Lafayette’s Ladarius Green (6-6, 230, senior).  Also, Georgia’s Orson Charles (6-3, 241, junior) and Oregon’s David Paulson (6-4, 240, senior).

On the defensive side of the ball, the best defensive ends are Boise State’s Shea McClellin (6-3, 258, senior), Marshall’s Viny Curry (6-4, 252, senior) and Northwestern’s Vince Browne (6-5, 265, senior).  Two of the top DE’s are from the ACC – North Carolina’s Quinton Coples (6-6, 285, senior) and Florida State’s Brandon Jenkins (6-3, 258, junior).

The SEC has a pair of top DE’s – South Carolina’s Devin Taylor (6-7, 248, junior) and Arkansas’ Jake Bequette (6-5, 271, senior).  And the Big East can brag about West Virginia’s Bruce Irwin (6-3, 236, senior) and Pitt’s Brandon Lindsey (6-2, 250, senior).  And finally Missouri is blessed with not one but two top defensive ends – Brad Madison (6-4, 265, junior) and Jacquies Smith (6-4, 255, senior).

The Big Ten Conference boasts three of the best defensive tackles – Nebraska’s Jared Crick (6-6, 285, senior), Ohio State’s John Simon (6-2, 270, junior) and Michigan’s Mike Martin (6-2, 299, senior).  Another top DT is Boise State’s Billy Winn (6-4, 295, senior).

Two more of the best defensive tackles are Connecticut’s Kendall Reyes (6-4, 298, senior) and Texas’ Kheeston Randall (6-5, 295, senior).  And last but not least, the top DT list includes North Carolina’s Tydreke Powell (6-3, 315, senior) and South Carolina’s Travian Robertson (6-4, 298, senior).

Two of the top linebackers this season are from the Pac-12 – Arizona State’s Vontaze Burfict (6-3, 253, junior) and Stanford’s Shayne Skov (6-3, 243, junior).  Two more good linebackers are Boston College’s Luke Kuechly (6-3, 235, junior) and Florida State’s Nigel Bradham (6-2, 240, senior).

Four of the best linebackers come from the SEC, including two from the same school – Alabama’s Dont’a Hightower (6-4, 260, senior) and Courtney Upshaw (6-2, 265, senior).  Also from the SEC are Kentucky’s Danny Trevathan (6-1, 230, senior) and Arkansas’ Jerry Franklin (6-1, 215, senior).

The remaining crop of good linebackers are Nebraska’s Levonte David (6-1, 220, senior), TCU’s Tank Carder (6-3, 237, senior), Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o (6-2, 255, junior), Miami of Florida’s Sean Spence (6-0, 224, senior) and Texas’ Keenan Robinson (6-3, 235, senior).             

Three of the top corner backs in the country hail from the ACC – Virginia Tech’s Jayron Hosley (5-10, 170, junior), Virginia’s Chase Minnifield (6-0, 185, senior) and Florida State’s Xavier Rhodes (6-2, 205, sophomore).  Two more big corner backs are West Virginia’s Keith Tandy (5-10, 200, senior) and Oregon’s Cliff Harris (5-11, 165, junior).

Two of the best corner backs are from the Big Ten – Nebraska’s Alfonzo Dennard (5-10, 205, senior) and Iowa’s Shaun Prater (5-11, 180, senior).  The SEC has a top quartet in LSU’s Morris Claiborne (6-0, 171, junior), South Carolina’s Stephon Gilmore (6-1, 194, junior), Vanderbilt’s Casey Hayward (6-0, 185, senior) and Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick (6-3, 192, junior).

The SEC has two of the best safeties and both are from Alabama – Mark Barron (6-2, 218, senior) and Robert Lester (6-2, 210, junior).  Three more good safeties are Boise State’s George Iloka (6-3, 216, senior), Oklahoma State’s Markelle Martin (6-1, 192, senior) and Miami of Florida’s Ray-Ray Armstrong (6-4, 215, junior).

Four of the top-notch safeties are from the Pac-12 – USC’s T.J. McDonald (6-3, 205, junior), Oregon’s John Boyett (5-10, 198, junior), Oregon State’s Lance Mitchell (6-2, 206, senior) and California’s Sean Cattouse (6-2, 213, senior).  One more for the top list is Notre Dame’s Harrison Smith (6-2, 214, senior).    

Among the best punters, two are from the Big 12 – Oklahoma State’s Quinn Sharp (6-1, 189, junior) and Oklahoma’s Tress Way (6-1, 221, junior).  Two more of the country’s top punters are from the SEC – Georgia’s Drew Butler (6-2, 203, senior) and Mississippi’s Tyler Campbell (6-2, 227, junior).

The Pac-12 has two star punters in California’s Bryan Anger (6-4, 203, senior) and UCLA’s Jeff Locke (6-1, 210, junior).  And one more ace punter is Rice’s Kyle Martens (6-6, 200, senior).

Three of the super placekickers are from the ACC – Duke’s Will Snyderwine (5-11, 190, senior), Boston College’s Nate Freese (6-0, 180, sophomore) and Florida State’s Dustin Hopkins (6-2, 183, junior).  And two of the top placekickers hail from the Big Ten – Purdue’s Carson Wiggs (6-0, 206, senior) and Wisconsin’s Phillip Welch (6-3, 213, senior).

Georgia has a clutch placekicker in Blair Walsh (5-10, 185, senior).  Three final excellent placekickers are Southern Mississippi’s Danny Hrapmann (5-9, 160, junior), Missouri’s Grant Ressel (6-2, 190, senior) and Notre Dame’s David Ruffer (6-1, 176, junior).    


Quotes of the Week

“This is Michigan.  There aren’t going to be any excuses.  If we don’t win the Big Ten championship, we failed them as coaches,” first-year Michigan coach Brady Hoke.

“His body language, his demeanor, his command of the team and the respect his teammates have for him.  He understands the role he is in and I think he is embracing it.  I think our team sees him doing a great job,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, on his quarterback E.J. Manuel.

“If, and I say if, we have very unique circumstances where TV bans and death penalties are warranted, then I don’t think they are off the table and I would be okay with putting those in place,” NCAA president Mark Emmert, on the Miami situation.

“Wow, the price of gold is now nearing $1,900 an ounce.  Reminds me of the price of a beer at an NBA game,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

Michael Vick tells GQ he wants to own a dog again because ‘I miss my companions.’  Did he really say companions?  Wouldn’t ‘casualties’ be a better word?” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . The Big Ten Conference announced last week that it has no plans to expand – now or in the near-term future – beyond its current 12-team membership.  However, the conference wouldn’t rule out potential expansion in the long-term future.    


Extra Points

On the Internet – College Football Week now has a Web site and can be found at www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com.


Touchdown Tom


P.S.

Not directly college football related, but on a sad comment, there was one passing of note last week – Pete Pihos.

Pete Pihos, who played on two NFL championship teams with the Philadelphia Eagles, died last week in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  He was 87.  The cause was Alzheimer’s.  Peter Louis Pihos was born on October 22, 1923 in Orlando, Florida, but grew up in Chicago.  He was an All-American end at Indiana University, served in the Army in World War II, then returned to Indiana in 1945 and won All-American honors again.  Pihos played on the Eagles teams that won the 1948 and 1949 NFL championships.  He retired from the Eagles after the 1955 season.  Pihos was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970.  After his playing days, he was an assistant coach at Tulane and a sales manager for a North Carolina construction company.