College Football Week 1 – Quarterbacks start your engines!
This Magic Moment ….

So different

It’s different all right. Here are the rules changes for the 2014 college football season:

1. Removal of the yardage penalty upon overturn of the player disqualification. When the Instant Replay Official reverses the disqualification of a player charged with a targeting foul and the foul was not accompanied by another personal foul, the 15-yard penalty is not enforced.

2. Games without instant replay: halftime video review. If a player is disqualified in the first half, at the option of the conference or by pre-game mutual agreement of the teams in the inter-conference game, during the intermission between halves the referee will be provided a video of the play in question for his review in the official’s private secure location. The referee will review the video to determine whether the disqualification is reversed. The decision of the referee is final.

3. Low hits on passers. When an offensive player is in a passing posture with one or both feet on the ground, no defensive player rushing unabated shall hit him forcibly at the knee area or below. The defensive player also may not initiate a roll or lunge and forcibly hit this opponent in the knee area or below. Note: (1) It is not a foul if the offensive player is a runner not in a passing posture. (2) It is not a foul if the defender grabs or wraps this opponent in an attempt to make a conventional tackle. (3) It is not a foul if the defender is not rushing unabated or is blocked or fouled into this opponent.

Good change. It was ridiculous last year when, upon review, the ref ruled that the targeting wasn’t a flagrant/personal foul, but the 15-yard penalty still stood.


and so new

And yes, it’s so new. We have a four-team playoff this season.

Also, Louisville begins its first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Maryland and Rutgers play their first season in the Big Ten Conference. East Carolina, Tulane and Tulsa are new members of the American Athletic Conference.

Old Dominion and Western Kentucky debut in Conference USA. And Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Idaho and New Mexico State compete for the first time in the Sun Belt Conference.

And believe it or not, we have four new bowl games.


Was like any other

There are no changes to the Big 12, Pac-12, SEC, MAC and MWC Conferences.


Until the ref’s whistle blew

Yeah, when the Texas A&M-South Carolina game kicks off Thursday evening, you can forget the past. This is a new season.


Sweeter than wine

I sure hope Bootsie and Rockledge Gator don’t drink too much wine at the Arkansas-Auburn game Saturday afternoon.


Softer than the summer night

I had fun this summer watching the Paul Finebaum show on TV. One evening, a Crimson Tide fan called Paul to express his concerns and anxiety about rookie Alabama quarterback Jacob Coker in the Tide’s first game. Paul responded, “Hell, what are you worried about. Alabama could start Larry Coker at quarterback and still beat West Virginia.”

I hope Dana Holgorsen was watching that night. That comment should be posted in the West Virginia locker room.


Everything I want I have

I’ve got plenty of cold pizza, chili dogs and beer for Saturday morning’s breakfast.


Nothing else can be so right

Well, I’ll wait until the end of the season before I comment on that one.


This magic moment
While the game is on the line
Will last forever
Forever ’til the end of time

Forever ’til the end of time comes on January 12, 2015. That’s when the national championship game will be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In the four-team playoff, the two semifinal games will be played on January 1 in the Rose and Sugar Bowls.

The thirteen-member selection committee for the four-team playoff consists of chairman Jeff Long (Arkansas athletic director); Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin athletic director and former Wisconsin coach); Mike Gould (a retired three-star general in the Air Force, former Air Force football player and former superintendent of the Air Force Academy); Pat Haden (USC athletic director and former USC quarterback); Tom Jernstedt (former NCAA director and Oregon football player), and Oliver Luck (West Virginia athletic director and former WVU quarterback).

Also Archie Manning (former Ole Miss quarterback); Tom Osborne (former Nebraska coach); Dan Radakovich (Clemson athletic director); Condoleezza Rice (Stanford professor and former U.S. Secretary of State); Mike Tranghese (former Big East Conference commissioner); Steve Wieberg (former USA Today sports writer), and Tyrone Willingham (former Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington coach and Michigan State quarterback).

Every Tuesday, beginning on October 28, the selection committee will release its Top 25. The Top 4 teams in the December 9 Top 25 poll will compete in the playoff, with No. 1 meeting No. 4 and No. 2 playing No. 3 in the semifinals.

The best thing about college football – every game during the season is a playoff game. Every game counts.

Florida State and Alabama are the preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams respectively and favored to play for the national championship. But there are a lot of analysts out there who think that this season’s national title game could be a repeat of last season – Auburn vs. Florida State. Yeah, a number of pundits think Auburn has the right ingredients to make it back to the championship game. Stay tuned!

As mentioned earlier, there are four new bowl games this year – 39 in all. I know what you are thinking: “That’s all we need – another bowl game.” The debut bowls will be played in Montgomery (Alabama), Miami, Boca Raton and Nassau (Bahamas). Montgomery, Alabama? Are you kidding me? Going to Montgomery is not a reward for a winning season. It’s punishment.

In case you missed it, two FCS teams got a head start on everyone else over the weekend. On the red carpet in Cheney, Washington, Eastern Washington beat Sam Houston State, 56-35, Saturday afternoon. Eastern Washington at Washington on September 6 could be interesting.

For the big boys, it all begins Thursday evening with Texas A&M at South Carolina and runs five-straight days, ending on Monday night with Miami (Florida) at Louisville. Five days in a row of college football!

Let the playoff begin!

Oh magic moment!

Touchdown Tom
August 25, 2014
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

(My apologies to Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman the composers of “This Magic Moment.” The song was recorded first by Ben E. King and The Drifters who took it to No. 16 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1960. It was later recorded by Jay and The Americans who took it to No. 6 on the Billboard chart in 1969.)


Quotes of the Week

“The Demon Deacon looks like Abe Lincoln and Lee Corso had a baby together,” Late Night show host Jimmy Kimmel.

“I know for a fact he will win the Heisman,” Auburn backup quarterback Jeremy Johnson, on teammate and quarterback Nick Marshall.

“If not for the defending national champion Seminoles and their No. 1 preseason ranking heading into the 2014 season, the state of Florida would be nothing more than Mississippi with more people and less chickens running around in our front yards,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi, on the sad state of football in Florida.

The Gators? What does it tell you when eight wins would be considered enough to save Will Muschamp’s job? Former coach Ron Zook got fired for eight-win seasons,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

Good grief, former Miami coach Larry Coker got fired for better seasons than Al Golden is currently choreographing,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“Thank goodness for Steve Spurrier and Les Miles. None of the other coaches in the SEC are any fun,” Rockledge Gator.


Touchdown Tom’s Predictions for
Opening Weekend’s 15 Biggest and Most Intriguing Games.…and then some

GAME OF THE WEEK: 1. Clemson at Georgia – (ACC vs. SEC) (TV: ESPN, 5:30 p.m. ET, Saturday) – These two teams met last year in their season opener. It was a big game. Both quarterbacks – Tajh Boyd (Clemson) and Aaron Murray (Georgia) – were returning starters. Clemson won in a thriller, 38-35. The teams meet again this year in their opening game. It’s a big game. Neither quarterback – Cole Stoudt (Clemson) and Hutson Mason (Georgia) – is a returning starter. But Mason does have a couple games under his belt. And Georgia has some horses in the backfield. The Dawgs win in a thriller – Georgia 28, Clemson 24.

RUNNER UP: 2. Wisconsin vs. LSU – (Big Ten vs. SEC) (TV: ESPN, 9 p.m. ET, Saturday, NRG Stadium, Houston) – Wisconsin comes in under second-year coach Gary Andersen. LSU enters the game under veteran coach Les Miles. Both teams are starting new quarterbacks. Wisconsin has a Heisman candidate – Melvin Gordon – in its backfield. LSU has some studs on defense. The Badgers are favored to win the Big Ten West Division. The Tigers are picked to come in third in the SEC West Division. But third place in the SEC West is better than first place in the Big Ten West – LSU 27, Wisconsin 20.

REST OF THE BEST: 3. Texas A&M at South Carolina – (SEC vs. SEC) (TV: SECN, 6 p.m. ET, Thursday) – The Gamecocks often have a tendency to play sloppy in their opening games. Playing sloppy in this year’s opener could be dangerous. Granted, Johnny Manziel is no longer with the Aggies, but Kevin Sumlin has been recruiting well. And one assumes the Aggies will play defense this year. The “Head Ball Coach” has been up to his ol’ tricks again – dissing his opponent. On Texas A&M: “They haven’t played the bigger teams.” Gamecocks win sloppy – South Carolina 26, Texas A&M 19.

4. Florida State vs. Oklahoma State – (ACC vs. Big 12) (TV: ABC, 8 p.m. ET, Saturday, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas) – The defending national champions are heavily favored. This will be one of those rare times when the Indians beat the Cowboys. It never happened that way in the movies. I’m just wondering if the crab legs taste as good in Arlington as they do in Tallahassee. Noles turn AT&T Stadium into a crab shack – Florida State 33, Oklahoma State 15.

5. Boise State vs. Ole Miss – (MWC vs. SEC) (TV: ESPN, 8 p.m. ET, Thursday, Georgia Dome, Atlanta) – There was a time when Boise State used to come east and beat up on some pretty good teams – Virginia Tech, Georgia. But this ain’t Chris Petersen’s Boise State anymore. Meanwhile Bo Wallace and Ole Miss have a lot to prove this year. The Rebel Bears win their first case – Ole Miss 30, Boise State 15.

6. Miami (Florida) at Louisville – (ACC vs. ACC) (TV: ESPN, 8 p.m. ET, Monday) – Bobby Petrino is proof that you can go home again. Who would have ever thought that Louisville would invite him back? But how many football games he wins will determine how long he can stay. Has anyone checked to see when volleyball season begins at Louisville? Al Golden isn’t banned from the volleyball games at Miami. But he will be banned from the school if he doesn’t start winning more games. Cardinals are happy chirpers in their ACC debut – Louisville 27, Miami 24.

7. Ohio State vs. Navy – (Big Ten vs. Ind.) (TV: CBSSN, 12 noon ET, Saturday, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore) – Urban Meyer starts his second season with the Buckeyes. With the loss of Braxton Miller, this game may be closer than originally thought. Then again, it may not. Ohio State recruits well – very well. We don’t need no Braxton Miller – Ohio State 28, Navy 19.

8. West Virginia vs. Alabama – (Big 12 vs. SEC) (TV: ABC/ESPN2, 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Georgia Dome, Atlanta) – Alabama fans leave at the end of the third quarter when the Tide is winning big. WVU fans leave at the end of the third quarter when the Mountaineers are losing big. Something tells me the Georgia Dome will be empty in the fourth quarter. Dana Holgorsen enters the season on the hot seat and the scheduling gods weren’t kind to him. Either I’m dumb or I’m being kind to WVU – Alabama 28, West Virginia 14.

9. Arkansas at Auburn – (SEC vs. SEC) (TV: SECN, 4 p.m. ET, Saturday) – Bret Bielema has only been at Arkansas one season and already he is on the hot seat. The Hogs were 3-9 last year, losing their last nine games after a 3-0 start. They are about to lose their 10th-straight game. Last year, Auburn won its last nine games, before losing to Florida State in the national championship. Tiger fans are expecting another run for the national title. Why not? Nick Marshall is back. And the defense should be better. Bootsie and Rockledge Gator will be at the game. We allow them to cheer for Auburn every now and then – as long as they don’t overdo it. Aubie steps on the Pigs’ feet – Auburn 30, Arkansas 18.

10. Fresno State at USC – (MWC vs. Pac-12) (TV: Fox, 7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday) – A new regime takes over in Troy. Former Washington coach Steve Sarkisian has been hired to lead the Trojans. He’ll have his hands full in the opener. Fresno State loves to get after the Trojans. But the Bulldogs don’t have the jowls to do it this year. The Sarkisian way – USC 34, Fresno State 19.

11. UCF vs. Penn State – (AAC vs. Big Ten) (TV: ESPN2, 8:30 a.m. ET, Saturday, Croke Park Stadium, Dublin, Ireland) – This game is scheduled to be played in Dublin, but it may end up being played in the good ol’ USA. Neither team may get a chance to fly to Ireland. It all depends on Iceland’s Bardarbunga volcano. If Bardarbunga decides to blow its top, the volcano could disrupt the air traffic between the U.S. and Europe. The two teams aren’t scheduled to fly out until Tuesday evening. Even worse is the thought that the two teams could get stuck in Ireland. If Bardarbunga erupts later in the week, Penn State and UCF may not be able to return to the U.S. And the Nittany Lions have a game against Akron on September 6. More reason the game could end up in the U.S. UCF has a new quarterback and Penn State has a new coach – James Franklin. The Knights stepped into the big time last year, beating Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl. But this is a new year. Nittany go Bragh – Penn State 24, UCF 20.

12. UCLA at Virginia – (Pac-12 vs. ACC) (TV: ESPN, 12 noon ET, Saturday) – Jim Mora has done wonders in Westwood. He has put the Bruins on the map again. Of course it didn’t hurt having quarterback Brett Hundley. Hundley – a Heisman contender – brings his show east to demonstrate his talents. The Bruins are likely the first nail in Mike London’s coffin this season. The Bruins cover London in fog – UCLA 30, Virginia 20.

13. Utah State at Tennessee – (MWC vs. SEC) (TV: SECN, 7 p.m. ET, Sunday) – This should be a no brainer for the Vols, but the Aggies are a feisty bunch. They have a nifty quarterback in Chuckie Keeton. In his second season in Knoxville, Butch Jones needs to improve on last year’s 5-7 record. Chances are he will. Jones needs to get the Vols in a bowl. The Vols melt Chuckie’s cheese – Tennessee 33, Utah State 22.

14. UTSA at Houston – (C-USA vs. AAC) (TV: ESPNU, 9 p.m. ET, Friday) – This should be a fun game to watch. UTSA is an up-and-coming team. Former Miami coach Larry Coker has done a good job developing the program in San Antonio. The Roadrunners are picked to win the C-USA West Division. Houston is a contender for the AAC crown. The Cougars have an upstart quarterback in John O’Korn. Cougars escape by a whisker – Houston 32, UTSA 30.

15. Rutgers vs. Washington State – (Big Ten vs. Pac-12) (TV: FS1, 10 p.m. ET, Thursday, CenturyLink Stadium, Seattle) – Mike Leech is making improvements in Pullman. In his second season last year, he coached the Cougars to a bowl game. They should be better this year. Rutgers is like a cat chasing its tail. The Scarlet Knights aren’t sure where they are going – round-and-round, up or down. But probably down. The Cougars outpoint the Knights – Washington State 36, Rutgers 28.


…AND ONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

16. BYU at Connecticut – (Ind. vs. AAC) (TV: ESPN, 7 p.m. ET, Friday) – The Cougars should be awesome on offense in 2014 with Taysom Hill at quarterback and Jamaal Williams at running back. That’s a powerful duo. A non-Power 5 Independent, BYU may struggle to maintain its football legacy. But the Cougars shouldn’t struggle against UConn. The Huskies are under their third coach in five years. Huskies can’t get out of the dog house – BYU 34, Connecticut 25.


YE OLDE STOMPING GROUNDS:

Idaho at Florida – (Sun Belt vs. SEC) (TV: ESPNU, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday) – This is the make or break season for Will Muschamp in Gainesville. Eight wins and it’s probably a make. Less than eight wins and it’s a break. Muschamp has a hot new offensive coordinator – Kurt Roper. Roper performed wonders at Duke. As long as Muschamp keeps his mouth shut, Roper should perform wonders at Florida. Muschamp knows defense. But he doesn’t know doodley-poop about offense. Florida needs to keep Muschamp gagged when the Gators have the ball. Albert handles the Vandals – Florida 49, Idaho 7.

Florida Atlantic at Nebraska – (C-USA vs. Big Ten) (TV: BTN, 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday) – Are you kidding me? Nebraska is opening against the school that fired Bo Pelini’s brother last year. Granted, Carl Pelini was getting high with a little help from his friends. And I’m not talking about alcohol. But still, Bo has to be pissed. Not at his brother, but at FAU. After all, Bo likes to get a little help from his friends too. No mercy from Bo and the Huskers – Nebraska 56, Florida Atlantic 0.

Elon at Duke – (Colonial vs. ACC) (TV: None, 6 p.m. ET, Saturday) – Ding-dong, Elon calling. There was a time when the Dookies would open against a team like Elon and either lose or barely win. But this ain’t your grandmother’s Dookie team anymore. Your grandfather’s either. This is David Cutcliffe’s Dookies. They’re good. Avon…..I mean…..Elon gets its bell rung – Duke 31, Elon 9.

Western Michigan at Purdue – (MAC vs. Big Ten) (TV: ESPNU, 12 noon ET, Saturday) – Some say this could be Purdue coach Darrell Hazell’s last year in West Lafayette. Last year? He’s only been there one year. Hazell must have made one heck of an impression last year. Well, the Boilers were just 1-11 in 2013. The one win was against Indiana State – and only by six points. Thank goodness Southern Illinois is on the schedule or this might be the Boilers only win in 2014. Boilers break the Broncos – Purdue 27, Western Michigan 22.

North Texas at Texas – (C-USA vs. Big 12) (TV: LN, 8 p.m. ET, Saturday) – The Charlie Strong era begins in Austin. It took Mack Brown eight seasons to win the national championship at Texas. Then it took him eight more seasons to get fired. Strong should be happy with 16 seasons at Texas. He’ll be ready to retire then. But he’ll need a national championship to last that long – and maybe sooner than eight seasons. No problem in his debut. Bevo takes the Mean out of the Green – Texas 37, North Texas 12.


ELSEWHERE AROUND FLORIDA:

Western Carolina at South Florida – (Southern vs. AAC) (TV: None, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday) .... Bethune-Cookman at Florida International – (MEAC vs. C-USA) (TV: None, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday) .... Florida A&M at Jackson State – (MEAC vs. SWAC) (TV: None, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday).

Jacksonville U. at SE Louisiana – (Pioneer vs. Southland) (TV: None, 8 p.m. ET, Saturday) .... Stetson at Warner – (Pioneer vs. Ind.) (TV: None, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday) .... Florida Tech opens next week.


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Former Texas running back Joe Bergeron has enrolled at Texas A&M-Commerce after being dismissed from Texas for undisclosed rules violations in July. Texas A&M-Commerce is a division II school…. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has named sophomore Patrick Towles the starting quarterback for the Wildcats this season…. Louisville coach Bobby Petrino has selected sophomore Will Gardner as the Cardinal’s starting quarterback.

Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay announced the school may drop football…. The Florida Atlantic board of trustees has voted to name the FAU stadium’s playing surface Howard Schnellenberger Field, honoring the man who coached FAU for the first 11 years of the program’s existence…. Sophomore Chad Voytik has been named the starting quarterback for Pitt when the Panthers open their season August 30 against Delaware.

True freshman Brad Kaaya has been named the starting quarterback at Miami (Florida)…. Texas Tech transfer Michael Brewer has been named the starting quarterback at Virginia Tech…. Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen has chosen Tanner McEvoy the starting quarterback for the Badgers…. Sophomore Patton Robinette has won the starting quarterback job at Vanderbilt….. Sophomore Jeff Lindquist has been named the starting quarterback at Washington.

Touchdown Tom
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


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…

…70 years ago this week in 1944 was “Swinging on a Star” by Bing Crosby

…65 years ago this week in 1949 was “Some Enchanted Evening” by Perry Como

…60 years ago this week in 1954 was “Sh-Boom” by The Crew-Cuts

…55 years ago this week in 1959 was “The Three Bells” by The Browns

…50 years ago this week in 1964 was “Where Did Our Love Go” by The Supremes

…45 years ago this week in 1969 was “Honky Tonk Women” by The Rolling Stones

…40 years ago this week in 1974 was “(You’re) Having My Baby” by Paul Anka and Odia Coates

…35 years ago this week in 1979 was “My Sharona” by The Knack

…30 years ago this week in 1984 was “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker, Jr.

…25 years ago this week in 1989 was “Right Here Waiting” by Richard Marx

…20 years ago this week in 1994 was “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories


Not directly college football related, but on a sad comment, there were four passings of note last week – Jim Jeffords, Jerry Lumpe, Don Pardo and Richard Attenborough.

Jim Jeffords, the former senator from Vermont who, in 2001, after a quarter-century as a moderate Republican lawmaker, declared himself an independent, died last week. He was 80. James Merrill Jeffords was born on May 11, 1934, in Rutland, Vermont. He graduated from Yale.

Jerry Lumpe, who played the infield for the New York Yankees in two World Series in the 1950s and was later an All-Star second baseman with the Detroit Tigers, died last week in Springfield, Missouri. He was 81. Lumpe was named to the All-Star team in 1964. Jerry Dean Lumpe was born on June 22, 1933, in Lincoln, Missouri. He was a basketball star in high school. Lumpe played basketball for Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University) in 1952 and 1953 when the school won the NAIA national championship. He played 12 seasons in major league baseball before retiring after the 1967 season.

Don Pardo, the long-time announcer for “Saturday Night Live,” died last week in Tucson, Arizona. He was 96. Pardo was with “SNL” for 38 seasons, beginning with its first episode in October 1975. For many years, he had been the announcer on “The Price Is Right” and “Jeopardy.” Dominick George Pardo was born on February 22, 1918, in Westfield, Massachusetts. Pardo’s career began in radio in 1944 and continued on television through to the end of “SNL’s” most recent season in May.

Richard Attenborough, who after a distinguished acting career reinvented himself to become the internationally acclaimed director of the movie “Gandhi” and other films, died on Sunday. He was 90. In London, he was the original detective in Agatha Christie’s play “The Mousetrap.” He found a trans-Atlantic audience when he appeared with Steve McQueen in the 1963 film “The Great Escape.” He was the British officer who masterminded the escape plan. Other movies included “The Flight of the Phoenix” (1965), “The Sand Pebbles” (1966), also with McQueen, “Doctor Dolittle” (1967), “Young Winston” (1972) and “A Bridge Too Far” (1977). He directed “Gandhi” in 1982. Richard Samuel Attenborough was born in Cambridge, England, on August 29, 1923.

College Football Week – Preseason 2: Are we there yet?
Interesting and fun times during the
offseason: Coordinators, the ‘Saban Rule’
and Bootsie pulls a Rockledge Gator

Well, while we sit here and wait for the season to start…..are we there yet?.....it’s a good time to take a look at some of the interesting, fun and crazy things that happened during the long offseason.  Some sad times too.

No sooner had Florida State won the national championship, beating Auburn in the championship bowl, when the coordinators grabbed the spotlight – the headlines.  Yeah, Florida State was still celebrating, basking in their glory when the coordinators up and stole the Seminoles' show.  I’m talking about the offensive and defensive coordinators.    

It began when Lane “Little Kiffy” Kiffin was named the new offensive coordinator at Alabama.  The Tide’s OC – Doug Nussmeier – had left Tuscaloosa for Michigan, as in the Wolverines.  If that wasn’t enough, Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham – the Evil Dawg – announced he was going to Louisville.  Well, Georgia up and grabbed Florida State’s defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.  The same Jeremy Pruitt who had been Alabama’s defensive backs coach in 2012.  Does that mean Georgia is going to win the national championship this year?

And there’s more.  The two fat guys are back.  Former Kansas coach Mark Mangino was named the offensive coordinator at Iowa State, while former Maryland coach Ralph “The Fridge” Friedgen was named the offensive coordinator at Rutgers.  I guess they got tired of hangin’ out at Duncan Donuts…..or was it the Cheesecake Factory?  Maybe it was in Charlie Weis’ backyard.

And there’s more.  But let’s go back to the start and take things one step at a time. 

Where did it all begin?  First, just two days after Florida State won the national championship, Michigan coach Brady Hoke, under pressure himself, fired his offensive coordinator Al Borges.  The very next day, Hoke hired Doug Nussmeier away from Alabama.  Nussmeier had been the Tide’s OC since 2012.  Prior to that, he was the offensive coordinator at Washington and Fresno State.  In college, Nussmeier quarterbacked Idaho under John L. Smith.     

Four days after Nussmeier was hired away by Michigan, Nick Saban announced that Lane Kiffin would be the new offensive coordinator at Alabama.  Kiffin had been fired by USC after only five games into the 2013 season.  Now, mark October 25 on your calendar.  That’s the day Alabama plays Tennessee in Knoxville.  Tell me that’s not going to be fun.  I can see the signs now.

Kiffin, by the way, was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1975.  That’s when his father – Monte – was the defensive coordinator for the Huskers.  Kiffin played college ball – quarterback – at Fresno State.
On the same day Kiffin was hired at Alabama, new Louisville coach Bobby Petrino announced that Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was the new DC for the Cardinals.  Grantham had been Mark Richt’s defensive coordinator since 2010.  Grantham, by the way, was born in Pulaski, Virginia.

Georgia, in turn, hired Florida State’s defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt to replace Grantham.  Just the year before, Jimbo Fisher hired Pruitt away from Alabama where he had been a defensive backs coach for five seasons – since 2007.  Pruitt coached on four national championship teams – three at Alabama and one at Florida State.

Then there are the horizontally-inclined guys.  On February 1, Rutgers hired former Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen as its new offensive coordinator.  The Terrapins had fired Friedgen after the 2010 season.  He had coached the Terps for 10 years – since 2001.  Friedgen, a graduate of Maryland, had previously been an offensive coordinator with the San Diego Chargers, Georgia Tech and several other schools.

Later, Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads announced the hiring of former Kansas coach Mark Mangino as the Cyclones new offensive coordinator.  Mangino coached Kansas from 2002 to 2009 when he was fired.  Prior to that, he was Bob Stoops offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.

Two coaches who both served as defensive coordinators at Texas last season surfaced with new DC jobs.  First, Manny Diaz, who was fired by Texas coach Mack Brown after two games into the season last year was named the new defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech.  Diaz had been a real up-and-comer in college coaching, establishing a name for himself at Mississippi State where he was the defensive coordinator prior to Texas. 

Mack Brown replaced Diaz with Greg Robinson.  But Robinson lost his defensive coordinator job in Austin when Brown was fired at the end of the season.  Robinson was later named the new DC at San Jose State.  He is a former head coach at Syracuse and a former defensive coordinator at Michigan and for several NFL teams.   

This whole thing began at Alabama and now we are back at Alabama when in February Nick Saban was talking about adding 10 seconds to the 30-second clock to give defenses more time to substitute.  The 30-second play clock would become a 40-second play clock between plays.  Under the proposed rule, offenses would be penalized five yards if they snapped the ball with 30 or more seconds showing on the clock. 

Saban and other coaches were proposing this change to the NCAA rules committee.  South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier dubbed it the “Saban Rule.”  Actually, Arkansas coach Bret Bielema was a stronger proponent of the change than Saban.  ESPN polled all 128 FBS coaches and reported that only 23 were in favor of the change.     

In March, the NCAA withdrew the proposed 40-second clock rule from consideration.  The proposal was dropped because there was so much negative feedback to the rule from the majority of coaches.  Steve Spurrier, however, continued to make comments about Nick Saban.  Over the summer, when asked if Saban was the best coach in college football, Spurrier responded, “Well…..he’s the best recruiter in college football.”

Also in March, Bootsie was in Birmingham visiting her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.  Rockledge Gator stayed home to mind the fort in Florida.  With that scenario in mind, you are probably wondering what did Rockledge Gator do now.  But this time, the shoe was on the other foot.
On a Sunday morning in Birmingham, with her children and grandchildren at church, Bootsie stayed at the house to cook.  While cooking, she inadvertently set off the smoke alarm.  The smoke alarm, in turn, inadvertently brought a fire truck and four firemen to the house.  Yes, it sounds more like something Rockledge Gator would do, but he was 575 miles away this time.  But Rockledge Gator is thinking maybe it wasn’t so inadvertent after all.  It turns out the four firemen were young, well-chiseled and “easy on the eye,” according to Bootsie. 

There were a number of passings during the offseason, including Tom Gola, Pete Seeger, Shirley Temple Black, Sid Caesar and Earl Morrall to mention a few.  Tom Gola, 81, was a virtual folk hero in Philadelphia for his basketball exploits there in high school, college and the pros in the 1950s.  He led LaSalle to the NIT championship in 1952 and the NCAA championship in 1954.  He played for the Philadelphia Warriors when they won the NBA championship in 1956.

Pete Seeger, 94, was the singer-songwriter who spearheaded the American folk revival.  Sid Caesar, 91, pioneered live television series.  He and Imagine Coco helped to make my 1950s.  Meanwhile, Earl Morrall, 79, was best known as the backup quarterback who helped lead the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins to Super Bowls in the 1960s and 1970s.  He was an All-American quarterback at Michigan State.  Morrall led Michigan State to a 9-1 season, capped by a victory over UCLA in the 1956 Rose Bowl.  He quarterbacked the Colts to a 13-1 season after Johnny Unitas was injured, and the Dolphins to an undefeated season in 1972 after Bob Griese was injured.
           
Speaking of football, well the other football – but I like it too – a group of my friends who work with the Space Coast U14 Boys soccer team here in Brevard County are busy raising money to help with the team’s travel this season.  They are selling bags of pasta as a fund raising project.  The pasta is an ideal gift for your college football friends.  The bags are labeled with the logo of a specific college.  You can order the college (pasta) of your choice.  Check it out at this Website:

www.funpastafundraising.com/shop/space-coast-u14-boys-travel
  
I may have to order some with the Texas Tech logo for Swamp Mama.  She was mad last week because I failed to mention or talk about Kliff Kingsbury in Preseason 1.  He’s easy on her eyes.  She’s got it bad. 

And I tell you, I’m worried about Bootsie and Rockledge Gator.  Lately, the two of them have been spending so much time in Georgia and Alabama I’m not real sure but what they aren’t traitors.  First Rockledge Gator sent me a picture of a Bulldog eating a Gator.  Can you imagine?  Then Bootsie sends me a picture of her holding a frilly Auburn sign.  Of all things. 

Are we there yet?

Touchdown Tom
August 18, 2014
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


Quotes of the Week

“I know you lie in recruiting a bunch and that’s just part of it,” West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen, on the realities of recruiting. 

“It’s time to move on.  You know it, I know it, your kid’s goldfish knows it.  Everybody knows it except Tebow.  He’s still working out like a maniac, consulting a passing guru in Los Angeles and campaigning for another NFL shot.  For your own good Tim, let it go.  There’s a much brighter future being yourself than trying to be the next Seth Lobato,” Orlando Sentinel columnist David Whitley.

“We are more talented on offense than we have ever been since I have been at Florida, Gator coach Will Muschamp, on his 2014 offense.

“We are a brotherhood that is not defined by cultural and personal differences, but rather an individual’s commitment to the Sun Devil way.  Chip is a fifth-year senior and a Scholar Baller, a graduate and a master’s student.  His commitment to service is unmatched and it is clear he is on his way to leading a successful life after his playing career, a goal that I have for every student-athlete.  Diversity and acceptance are two of the pillars of our program, and he has full support from his teammates and the coaching staff,” Arizona State coach Todd Graham, on ASU offensive lineman Edward “Chip” Sarafin who announced last week that he is gay.

“I do now.  I didn’t at the time.  I honestly took great pride in Wake Forest.  I had some really good friends there.  I trusted some people there.  I thought Wake was a little different than other schools.  I really, at the time, thought we were going to get a bigger commitment in terms of facilities and support for the program that never really materialized.  We loved all 13 years we were in Winston-Salem, but I’m not real happy with the way things ended,” former Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe, on his decision not to accept the Nebraska job offer in 2007.  Grobe was fired by Wake Forest at the end of last season. 


The Running Backs – 2014

From 1972 to 1983, running backs ruled.  For 12-straight years (1972-83), a running back won the Heisman Trophy.  But since 1983, only seven backs have won the Heisman.  The last RB to win was Alabama’s Mark Ingram in 2009.  Prior to Ingram, you have to go all the way back to 1999 to find a running back winning the trophy.  That was Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne.

Entering the 2014 season, seven running backs stand out from the others in the preseason laurels – three from the SEC, three from the Big Ten and one from the ACC.  The top 2 among the seven are Georgia junior Todd Gurley (6-1, 232) and Wisconsin junior Melvin Gordon (6-1, 207).

Last year, in an injury-plagued season, Gurley averaged 6.0 yards-per-carry, rushing for a total of 989 yards.  The Georgia back averaged 99 yards-per-game and scored 10 touchdowns.  Meanwhile, Gordon rushed for 1,609 yards in 2013 and scored 12 touchdowns.  The Badger running back averaged 124 yards-per-game and 7.8 yards-per-carry.

Gurley and Gordon are the preseason front runners, but three other backs aren’t far behind – Alabama junior T. J. Yeldon (6-2, 218), Nebraska senior Ameer Abdullah (5-9, 195) and South Carolina junior Mike Davis (5-9, 216).

Yeldon scored 14 touchdowns last season, averaging 103 yards-per-game.  He racked up a total of 1,235 yards, averaging 6.0 yards-per-carry.  Abdullah amassed a total of 1,690 yards on the season, averaging 6.0 yards per carry.  The Husker back averaged 130 yards-per-game and scored nine touchdowns.  Davis averaged 5.8 yards-per-carry, rushing for a total of 1,183 yards on the season.  He scored 11 touchdowns and averaged 99 yards-per-game.

Also receiving a lot of recognition at preseason are Miami (Florida) junior Duke Johnson (5-9, 206) and Michigan State senior Jeremy Langford (6-0, 205).  Johnson suffered from an injury-shortened season in 2013 but still managed 920 yards rushing, scoring six touchdowns.  He averaged 115 yards-per-game and 6.3 yards-per-carry.  Langford was the touchdown king, scoring 18 TDs while averaging 102 yards-per-game.  The Spartan back rushed for 1,422 yards total and averaged 4.9 yards-per-carry.
    
The SEC and the Big Ten are the strongest conferences at the running back position in 2014.  The two conferences are loaded.  In addition to Todd Gurley, T.J. Yeldon and Mike Davis, several other RBs will make the scene in the SEC.

For starters, Georgia and Alabama have no concerns whenever they give Gurley and Yeldon a rest.  The Dawgs remain a threat with junior Kenith Marshall (5-11, 219) as do the Tide with sophomore Derrick Henry (6-3, 238).  Arkansas has a dual threat in sophomore Alex Collins (5-11, 206) and junior Jonathan Williams (6-0, 223).  Between them, Collins and Williams rushed for more than 1,900 yards last year.

Florida has a new offense this season and hopefully senior Mack Brown (5-11, 215) and junior Matt Jones (6-2, 226) will be playing like new.  Both were hampered with injuries in 2013.      
Meanwhile, in the Big Ten, Melvin Gordon, Ameer Abdullah and Jeremy Langford will have their share of competition in the conference.  Indiana junior Tevin Coleman (6-1, 210) averaged 106 yards-per-game last year, including 7.3 yards-per-carry, while Minnesota senior David Cobb (5-11, 225) rushed for more than 1,200 yards in 2013.

Three other Big Ten backs to keep an eye on in 2014 are Iowa senior Mark Weisman (6-0, 236), Illinois junior Josh Ferguson (5-10, 195) and Northwestern senior Venric Mark (5-8, 175).  Weisman rushed for 975 yards in 2013 and Ferguson averaged 5.5 yards-per-carry.

Duke Johnson may be the marquee running back in the ACC, but close on his heels is Florida State senior Karlos Williams (6-1, 219).  When he got the ball, Williams averaged 8.0 yards-per-carry in 2013.

Three other notable backs in the ACC are Virginia senior Kevin Parks (5-8, 205), NC State junior Shadrach Thornton (6-1, 207) and Louisville senior Dominique Brown (6-2, 216).  Last year, Parks rushed for more than 1,000 yards and Brown averaged 5.1 yards-per-carry. 

Baylor sophomore Shock Linwood (5-8, 200) leads the list of Big 12 running backs, coming into the 2014 season.  In 2013, Linwood averaged 6.9 yards-per-carry.  Texas has a dual threat in senior Malcolm Brown (6-0, 228) and junior Johnathan Gray (5-11, 210).  Together, Brown and Gray rushed for almost 1,700 yards in 2013. 

Also, in the Big 12, keep an eye on Oklahoma State senior Desmond Roland (6-2, 210) and Iowa State senior Aaron Wimberly (5-9, 174).  Roland rushed for 811 yards last season.   West Virginia has a cadre of backs anyone of whom could prove interesting in 2014.  They are senior Dreamius Smith (5-11, 224), junior Andrew Buie (5-9, 190), junior Dustin Garrison (5-8, 185) and sophomore Rushel Shell (6-0, 215).

In the Pac-12, Oregon has two dangerous running backs – junior Byron Marshall (5-10, 201) and sophomore Thomas Tyner (5-11, 211).  Combined, they rushed for more than 1,700 yards in 2013 and both Marshall and Tyner averaged 6.2 yards-per-carry last year. 

Two other strong running backs in the Pac-12 are Arizona State junior D.J. Foster (5-11, 203) and USC junior Javorius Allen (6-1, 220).  Allen averaged 5.8 yards-per-carry last year.  Meanwhile, Oregon State junior Storm Woods (6-0, 211) hopes to make some noise in 2014.  

The AAC has three running backs of note, entering the 2014 season.  They are Connecticut senior Lyle McCombs (5-8, 171), UCF senior William Stanback (5-11, 221) and Memphis senior Brandon Hayes (5-8, 198). 

Two backs lead the MWC at preseason.  They are Boise State junior Jay Ajayi (6-0. 216) and San Diego State sophomore Donnel Pumphrey (5-9, 170).  In 2013, Ajayi tallied 1,425 yards, averaging 110 yards-per-game and 5.7 yards-per-carry.  As a freshman, Pumphrey averaged 6.0 yards-per-carry.  

The MAC has its share of good running backs.  The top two appear to be Bowling Green junior Travis Greene (5-10, 181) and Ball State senior Jahwan Edwards 5-10, 219).  Last year, Greene averaged 5.7 yards-per-carry and 114 yards-per-game, rushing for a total of 1,594 yards.  Edwards rushed for more than 1,100 yards, averaging 101 yards-per-game.

Three other good backs in the MAC are Akron senior Jawon Chisholm (6-1, 206), Kent State senior Trayion Durham (6-1, 248) and Miami (Ohio) junior Spencer Treadwell (5-10, 202).  Chisholm rushed for 869 yards in 2013.

Louisiana Tech junior Kenneth Dixon (5-10, 222) and UAB sophomore Jordan Howard (6-1, 228) headline C-USA, entering the 2014 season.  Last season Dixon rushed for 917 yards and Howard rushed for 881 yards.  Both backs averaged 6.1 yards-per-carry.

The Sun Belt is led by Louisiana-Lafayette senior Alonzo Harris (6-1, 216).  Harris rushed for 942 yards in 2013.  

Among the Independents, the marquee running back is BYU junior Jamaal Williams (6-0, 200).  Last year, Williams rushed for 1,233 yards, averaging 5.7 yards-per-carry and 103 yards-per-game.  Army has two dangerous backs in senior Terry Baggett 6-1, 200) and senior Larry Dixon (6-0, 238). 

Baggett averaged 103 yards-per-game in 2013, rushing for 1,113 yards and averaging 7.9 yards-per-carry.  Dixon averaged 6.4 yards-per-carry.  


TT’s Top Ten Favorite Running Backs at Preseason:

1. Todd Gurley – Georgia
2. Melvin Gordon – Wisconsin
3. Jeremy Langford – Michigan State
4. Ameer Abdullah – Nebraska
5. Mike Davis – South Carolina
6. T.J. Yeldon – Alabama
7. Duke Johnson – Miami (Florida)
8. Byron Marshall – Oregon
9. Jamaal Williams – BYU
10. Keith Marshall – Georgia


And keep an eye on:

Tevin Coleman – Indiana; Jahwan Edwards – Ball State; David Cobb – Minnesota; Jawon Chisholm – Akron; Josh Ferguson – Illinois; Shock Linwood – Baylor, and Jay Ajayi – Boise State.


The Other Positions – 2014

Wide Receivers

In today’s game, many consider the wide receiver to be the best and most popular position in football.  This year, the ACC, Pac-12 and Big Ten have some of the best wide receivers.  The ACC is led by Florida State senior Rashad Greene (6-0, 178), Pitt sophomore Tyler Boyd (6-2, 185) and Duke senior Jamison Crowder (5-9, 175).

The Pac-12 counters with USC junior Nelson Agholor (6-0, 185), Arizona State junior Jaelen Strong (6-3, 212) and Stanford senior Ty Montgomery (6-2, 215).  While the Big Ten offers Maryland junior Stefon Diggs (6-0, 195), Nebraska senior Kenny Bell (6-1, 185) and Michigan junior Devin Funchess (6-5, 230).

Wide receiver strength in the SEC comes from Alabama junior Amari Cooper (6-1, 204) and Ole Miss sophomore Laquon Treadwell (6-2, 224).  Among the best in the Big 12 are Baylor senior Antwan Goodley (5-10, 225) and Kansas State senior Tyler Lockett (5-11, 175).  Outside the Power Five conference, the best wide receiver appears to be Boise State senior Matt Miller (6-3, 220).      


Tight Ends

The SEC leads the way in 2014 in the tight end department.  Headlining the SEC are Auburn senior C.J. Uzomah (6-4, 264), Ole Miss sophomore Evan Engram (6-3, 217 and Alabama sophomore O.J. Howard (6-2, 240).
 
The ACC and Big Ten each have a pair of fine tight ends.  In the ACC, they are Florida State senior Nick O’Leary (6-3, 244) and Duke senior Braxton Deaver (6-5, 240).  The Big Ten counters with Ohio State senior Jeff Heuerman (6-5, 255) and Rutgers junior Tyler Kroft (6-6, 240).

The best in the Big 12 appears to be Iowa State senior E.J. Bibbs (6-3, 261), while Pac-12 has USC senior Randall Telfer (6-4, 250).  Among the Independents, Notre Dame has a quality tight end in senior Ben Koyack (6-5, 261).


Centers

The SEC and the Pac-12 provide us with some of the best centers in the country.  In the SEC, they are Auburn senior Reese Dusmukes (6-3, 295), Alabama junior Ryan Kelly (6-5, 290) and Georgia senior David Andrews (6-2, 295).  In the Pac-12, the best centers are Oregon senior Hroniss Grasu (6-3, 297), Oregon State junior Isaac Seumalo (6-4, 295) and USC junior Max Tuerk (6-6, 285).

The Big Ten has two outstanding centers in Michigan State junior Jack Allen (6-1, 300) and Northwestern senior Brandon Vitabile (6-3, 300).  The Big 12 has a fine center in Kansas State senior B.J. Finney (6-4, 303).


Offensive Guards

The ACC appears to lead the way with some of the best offensive guards.  They are Florida State senior Tre Jackson (6-4, 339), Georgia Tech senior Shaq Mason (6-1, 311) and Duke senior Laken Tomlinson (6-3, 320).  Also in the ACC are Florida State senior Josue Matias (6-6, 331), Louisville senior Jake Smith (6-4, 312) and North Carolina junior Landon Turner (6-4, 320).

The SEC is well represented with South Carolina senior A.J. Cann (6-4, 318), Auburn sophomore Alex Kozan (6-4, 300) and Alabama senior Arie Kouandjio (6-5, 315).  The Big 12 has a fine pair of guards in Kansas State junior Cody Whitehair (6-4, 309) and West Virginia senior Quinton Spain (6-5, 342).  The Pac-12 has a star in UCLA senior Malcolm Bunche (6-7, 327).  


Offensive Tackles

Among the best offensive tackles, the SEC dominates.  The conference is led by Texas A&M senior Cedric Ogbuehi (6-5, 300), LSU senior Lael Collins (6-5, 315) and Ole Miss sophomore Laremy Tunsil (6-5, 315).  Also, South Carolina senior Corey Robinson (6-8, 348) and Florida junior D.J. Humphries (6-5, 285).

The Big 12 has a pair of good tackles in Oklahoma senior Darryl Williams (6-6, 328) and Baylor junior Spencer Drango (6-5, 315).  From the ACC, there is Florida State senior Cameron Erving (6-6, 302).  The Pac-12 has Stanford junior Andrus Peat (6-7, 312), and the Big Ten offers Iowa senior Brandon Scherff (6-5, 320).  The best offensive tackle outside the Power Five is from the AAC.  He is Cincinnati senior Eric Lefeld (6-6, 309).


Defensive Ends

The nation’s best defensive ends are from the Big Ten and the Big 12.  The Big Ten provides Michigan State junior Shilique Calhoun (6-4, 257), Nebraska junior Randy Gregory (6-6, 245) and two Ohio State players – sophomore Joey Bosa (6-5, 285) and junior Noah Spence (6-3, 252).

Meanwhile, the Big 12 has Texas senior Cedric Reed (6-6, 271), Oklahoma junior Charles Tapper (6-4, 273), Kansas State senior Ryan Mueller (6-4, 245) and TCU sophomore Devonte Fields (6-4, 240).  The SEC has three top defensive ends – Florida junior Dante Fowler (6-3, 266), Alabama sophomore A’Shawn Robinson (6-4, 320) and Arkansas senior Trey Flowers (6-4, 267).

The remaining best DEs are from the ACC – Clemson senior Vic Beasley (6-2, 235) and Florida State junior Mario Edwards (6-3, 294), and the Pac-12 – Washington senior Hau’oli Kikaha (6-3, 250) and Stanford senior Henry Anderson (6-6, 278).   


Defensive Tackles

The SEC has some great defensive tackles – Mississippi State sophomore Chris Jones (6-5, 300), Ole Miss sophomore Robert Nkemdiche (6-4, 277), Alabama senior Brandon Ivory (6-4, 310) and Auburn junior Montravius Adams (6-4, 306). 

The Pac-12 has two great defensive tackles – USC junior Leonard Williams (6-5, 290) and Washington senior Danny Shelton (6-1, 327).  Also, the Big Ten with Ohio State senior Michael Bennett (6-2, 288) and Iowa senior Carl Davis (6-5, 315).

The Big 12 comes in with TCU senior Chucky Hunter (6-1, 300) and Texas junior Malcom Brown (6-4, 320).  From the ACC are Virginia Tech senior Luther Maddy (6-1, 291) and Clemson senior Grady Jarrett (6-1, 295).  Outside the Power Five, the best defensive tackle is Rice junior Christian Covington (6-3, 295).


  
Linebackers

The SEC and PAC-12 are loaded with good linebackers.  In the SEC are Tennessee senior A.J. Johnson (6-2, 242), Georgia sophomore Leonard Floyd (6-4, 220), Georgia senior Ramik Wilson (6-2, 232) and Alabama senior Trey DePriest (6-2, 245).  Also, Ole Miss senior Serderius Bryant (5-9, 218), Mississippi State junior Benardrick McKinney (6-5, 245) and Georgia junior Jordan Jenkins (6-3, 246).

Meanwhile, the Pac-12 counters with UCLA sophomore Myles Jack (6-1, 230), Stanford senior A.J. Tarpley (6-2, 238) and Washington junior Shaq Thompson (6-2, 225).  Also, USC senior Hayes Pullard (6-1, 230), UCLA senior Eric Kendricks (6-0, 230) and Oregon senior Derrick Malone (6-2, 220).

The Big 12 has three fine linebackers – Oklahoma junior Eric Striker (6-2, 242), Baylor senior Bryce Hager (6-2, 235) and Kansas senior Ben Heeney (6-0, 230).  The ACC contributes Miami (Florida) senior Denzel Perryman (6-0, 242) and Louisville senior Lorenzo Mauldin (6-4, 243).

The Big Ten’s lone linebacker on the best list is Michigan senior Jake Ryan (6-3, 235).  Among the Independents, Notre Dame has a dandy in sophomore Jaylon Smith (6-2, 230).  The AAC has two good ones in Temple junior Tyler Matakevich (6-1, 230) and UCF senior Terrance Plummer (6-1, 241).  And finally, the MWC has a top notch linebacker in Utah State junior Kyler Fackrell (6-5, 245).  


Cornerbacks

The ACC comes in with some of the best cornerbacks – Virginia Tech sophomore Kendall Fuller (5-11, 195), Florida State junior P.J. Williams (6-0, 196), Louisville senior Charles Gaines (5-11, 174) and Florida State junior Ronald Darby (5-11, 188). 

The SEC and Pac-12 each have three top cornerbacks.  In the SEC are Florida sophomore Vernon Hargreaves (5-11, 192), Texas A&M senior Deshazor Everett (6-0, 188) and LSU sophomore Tre’Davious White (5-11, 177).  The Pac-12 answers with Oregon senior Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (5-10, 195), Washington junior Marcus Peters (6-0, 198) and Stanford junior Alex Carter (6-0, 200).

The Big Ten’s best are Michigan junior Blake Countess (5-10, 183) and Michigan State junior Trae Waynes (6-1, 183).  The Big 12 has Texas senior Quandre Diggs (5-10, 204).  From the AAC is a good cornerback in Tulane junior Lorenzo Doss (5-11, 175).


Safeties

The SEC and ACC are the front runners with quality safeties.  From the SEC are Ole Miss senior Cody Prewitt (6-2, 212), Alabama junior Landon Collins (6-0, 215) and LSU junior Jalen Mills (6-1, 189).  The ACC counters with Florida State sophomore Jalen Ramsey (6-1, 198), Virginia senior Anthony Harris (6-1, 190) and Duke junior Jeremy Cash (6-2, 210).

The Big 12 and Pac-12 each have two top safeties.  In the Big 12 are TCU senior Sam Carter (6-1, 215) and West Virginia junior Karl Joseph (5-10, 194).  The Pac-12 answers with USC sophomore Su’a Cravens (6-1, 215) and Stanford senior Jordan Richards (5-11, 208).

The Big Ten has Michigan State senior Kurtis Drummond (6-1, 200).  The MWC has an outstanding safety in Fresno State senior Derron Smith (5-11, 200).  The AAC has a winner in UCF senior Clayton Geathers (6-2, 208). 


Kickers

The AAC has the most placekickers on the marquee list with two – South Florida senior Marvin Kloss 6-0, 196) and Memphis sophomore Jake Elliott (5-10, 160).  The best in the ACC is Florida State sophomore Robert Aguayo (6-1, 209).  The top kickers in the Pac-12 and SEC are Oklahoma senior Michael Hunnicutt (6-1, 178) and Georgia junior Marshall Morgan (6-3, 200) respectively.

The Big Ten is represented with Maryland junior Brad Craddock (6-1, 180), while the Pac-12 offers Utah sophomore Andy Phillips (5-11, 210).  The MAC has a sharp kicker in Toledo senior Jeremiah Detmer (5-8, 120).  The MWC has a good one with Colorado State senior Jared Roberts (6-12, 205).


Punters

The Big Ten, Big 12, ACC and Sun Belt each have two of the best punters in the country.  From the Big Ten are Ohio State sophomore Cameron Johnston (6-0, 195) and Michigan State senior Mike Sadler (6-0, 170).  The Big 12 answers with Baylor senior Spencer Roth (6-5, 220) and West Virginia junior Nick O’Toole (6-3, 215).

The ACC offers Duke junior Will Monday (6-4, 210) and North Carolina senior Tommy Hibbard (5-10, 190).  From the Sun Belt are Louisiana-Monroe senior Justin Manton (6-2, 200) and Idaho sophomore Austin Rehkow (6-3, 202).  The SEC has Texas A&M junior Drew Kaser (6-3, 205).  And finally, the Pac-12 makes the list with Utah junior Tom Hackett (6-0, 187).


The Teams – 2014

It should come as no surprise that Florida State and Alabama are the No. 1 and No. 2 teams respectively in Touchdown Tom’s annual preseason poll.  Every year, I gather and average together as many legitimate preseason polls as I can find to come up with my Consensus Top 40.  This year’s Consensus Top 40 is the result of merging 11 different polls, including those of the preseason magazines, various sports websites and the USA Today Coaches and Associated Press polls.

As mentioned (1) Florida State and (2) Alabama are the top two teams in this year’s Consensus Top 40.  The Seminoles were first in 10 of the 11 polls.  Alabama was ranked second in 8 of the polls.  The remainder of the top 10 are (3) Oregon, (4) Oklahoma, (5) Ohio State, (6) Auburn, (7) UCLA, (8) Baylor, (9) Georgia and (10) South Carolina. 

Oklahoma beat out Florida State for No. 1 in one of the polls.  Oregon was second in two of the polls, while Ohio State was second in one poll.  Auburn’s highest ranking was third (in one poll).  UCLA also was third in one poll.  No one else in the top 10 placed higher than seventh.

The second ten starts with a tie (11) Stanford, (11) Michigan State, (13) LSU, (14) USC, (15) Wisconsin, (16) Notre Dame, (17) Clemson, (18) Ole Miss, (19) Texas and (20) Texas A&M.  Stanford was ranked sixth in one poll, as was Michigan State in another poll.  No one else in the second 10 was ranked higher than 11th. 

The rest of the top 25 are (21) Florida, (22) North Carolina and a three-way tie at (23) Kansas State, (23) Nebraska and (23) Washington.  Filling out the top 30 are (26) Arizona State, (27) Michigan, (28) Mississippi State, (29) Louisville and (30) Iowa.

The final 10 of the Top 40 are tied at (31) Miami (Florida), (31) UCF, (33) TCU, (34) Virginia Tech, (35) BYU, (36) Oklahoma State, (37) Marshall, (38) Missouri, (39) Duke and (40) Boise State.  Just missing the Top 40 were Texas Tech and Oregon State at 41 and 42 respectively. 

The SEC placed 10 of its 14 teams (71.4%) in the Top 40 (4 in the top 10), followed by the ACC with 7 of its 14 teams (50%) and the Big 12, Big 10 and Pac-12 with six teams each.  The Big Ten only placed 42.9% of its teams in the Top 40.  

There were two Independents ranked in the Top 40 – Notre Dame and BYU.  The AAC (UCF), C-USA (Marshall) and the MWC (Boise State) were the only non-Power Five conferences to place teams in the Top 40.  The highest ranked MAC and Sun Belt teams were Bowling Green at 53 and Louisiana-Lafayette at 60 respectively.

Last year, (1) Alabama and (2) Ohio State were the top two teams in my Consensus Top 40.  However, Florida State and Auburn finished first and second at the end of the season.  In last year’s Consensus Top 40 at preseason, Florida State was ranked 10th and Auburn was – would you believe – 46th.  So don’t feel concerned if your team isn’t in the Top 40.  


In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Redshirt freshman Pete DiNovo of Tarpon Springs, Florida, has been named the starting quarterback for UCF when the Knights open their season August 30 against Penn State in Dublin, Ireland.  DiNovo beat out three other candidates….  Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin named sophomore Kenny Hill as the starting quarterback for the Aggies.  Hill is from Southlake, Texas. 

TCU and California have agreed to a home-and-home series in 2020 and 2021.  The Horned Frogs will host the first game….  True freshman John Wolford has been named the starting quarterback for Wake Forest.  Wolford is out of Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Florida….  Ohio State has added UNLV to its 2017 schedule and Oregon State to its 2018 slate.  Both games will be played in Columbus. 

Former Texas quarterback Vince Young has been hired by the University of Texas to be part of the school’s Division of Diversity and Community Engagement program.  Young will serve as a development officer for the program, raising money to help first-generation and low-income students….  California and North Carolina have agreed to a home-and-home series for 2017 and 2018.  The Tar Heels will host the first game. 

Touchdown Tomwww.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


P.S.

Not directly college football related, but on a sad comment, there were two passings of note last week – Robin Williams, Ed Nelson and Lauren Bacall.

Robin Williams, the comedian who evolved into the surprisingly nuanced Academy Award-winning actor, imbuing his performances with wild inventiveness and a kind of manic energy, died last week at his home in Tiburon, California.  He was 63.  Robin McLaurin Williams was born in Chicago on July 21, 1951, and was raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Marin County in California.  He studied acting at the Julliard School. 

Ed Nelson, a prolific actor who became a familiar face to American television audiences over 40 years, notably as a star of the prime-time soap opera “Peyton Place,” died last week in Greensboro, North Carolina.  He was 85.  He also appeared in scores of other popular television shows, including “Have Gun – Will Travel,” “Bat Masterson,” “Gunsmoke,” “Rawhide,” “The Rifleman,” “The Detectives,” “The Untouchables,” “The Fugitive,” “The FBI,” “The Rockford Files” and “Quincy, M.E.”  Edwin Stafford Nelson was born on December 21, 1928, in New Orleans.  He graduated from Tulane University. 

Lauren Bacall, the actress whose provocative glamour elevated her to stardom in Hollywood’s golden age and whose lasting mystique put her on a plateau in American culture that few stars reach, died last week.  She was 89.  Lauren Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske in New York City on September 16, 1924.  Bacall, with a single “l” was her mother’s maiden name.  Lauren added the second “l” when she went to Hollywood.  Movie director/producer Howard Hawks gave her the name Lauren.  But her family and close friends called her Betty throughout her life.  Bogart always called her Baby.

College Football Week – Preseason 1: Anticipation
Problems, problems, problems…

…all day long

Will Muschamp

Will my problems work out right or wrong?

Dana Holgorsen

The fans don’t like anything I do
My AD seems to feel the same way too

Several coaches enter the 2014 season with a pink slip dangling over their heads.  But none will be pinker than the slips dangling – not over the heads – but in the faces of Florida’s Will Muschamp and West Virginia’s Dana Holgorsen.  It’s a do or die season for the two coaches who ironically enter the season coming off identical 4-8 records in 2013. 

Muschamp, starting his fourth season at Florida, went 7-6 in his first year with the Gators.  That’s when he picked up the nickname “Will Mustake.” Of course I contended it was a mistake to begin with hiring a Georgia man to coach the Gators.  Even Georgia learned that mistake several years ago when it hired Ray Goof…..I mean…..Goff.  Georgia may never hire one of its own to coach the Dawgs again.

The next season, 2012, the Gators were 11-2.  The lone loss to Georgia during the regular season was almost forgotten until Florida lost to Louisville, 33-23, in the Sugar Bowl – a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicates.  The Sugar Bowl loss left a bitter taste in the mouth of Gator fans.  Regardless, Muschamp shucked the “Mustake” nickname.

Last year, the Gators started off pretty decent, going 4-1 in their first five games.  Then the problems set in – Florida lost its remaining seven games, including another loss to Georgia – Muschamp’s third – and an embarrassing loss to Georgia Southern.  What did I say about hiring a Georgia man?  Meanwhile, Muschamp became “Mustake” again. 

Since finishing the regular season at 11-1 in 2012, Muschamp has only won four of his last 13 games.  His overall record at Florida is 22-16.

Worries, worries pile up on my head
Woe is me, I should have stayed in bed
Can’t get the wins, my record ain’t been so good
My coaching life just ain’t swingin’ like it should

Meanwhile, in Morgantown, the curtains could be coming down on Holgorsen.  Starting his fourth season with the Mountaineers, Holgorsen began pretty hot.  Then he got real hot before he quickly cooled off.  He cooled off so fast, he was practically frozen – and the fans were singing “Let Him Go.”

In Holgorsen’s first year – 2011 – West Virginia finished the regular season 9-3 with a Big East championship and an invite to the Orange Bowl.  In the Miami Classic, the Mountaineers crushed Clemson, 70-33, finishing the overall season at 10-3.

The next season, WVU shot out to a 5-0 start.  But there was a good and a bad to the 5-0.  The offense was amazing, the defense was…..well…..the defense, there wasn’t a defense.  Included in the five wins was a 70-63 victory over Baylor and a 48-45 win over Texas.  West Virginia’s defense gave up 175 points in its first five games.

After the Texas game, the problems set in for Holgorsen and the Mountaineers.  WVU lost six of its remaining eight games, including a 38-14 loss to Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl.  What began as a hot season ended at 7-6.

Last year the picture got worse.  West Virginia had no offense and the defense wasn’t much better than the previous season.  The Mountaineers got off to a halfway decent start at 3-2, although they struggled to beat William & Mary, 24-17.  But that was it for the halfway decency.  WVU lost six of its remaining seven games to finish at 4-8.

Since starting out at 15-3, Holgorsen is 6-14 in his last 20 games.  His overall record at West Virginia is 21-17.

So, needless to say, the pressure is on Muschamp and Holgorsen as they begin the 2014 season.  And with the pressure comes a big PROBLEM for both coaches – the schedule. 

Problems, problems, problems
They’re all on account-a my losin’ like I do
Problems, problems, problems
They won’t be solved until I’m winning true
But for now, all I ever hear is boo

Florida plays the preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams – Florida State and Alabama.  And both games are on the road.  Add to that three more preseason top 15 teams – Georgia, South Carolina and LSU.  An improving and potentially dangerous Tennessee on the road and a tough Missouri at home add to the difficulties.  And Vanderbilt on the road.  You can’t take Vandy for granted anymore.

The West Virginia schedule isn’t any kinder to Holgorsen.  The Mountaineers open against Alabama.  The Crimson Tide are followed by Towson (runner-up in the FCS national championship game last year), Maryland (on the road) and No. 3 Oklahoma.  That’s a pretty tough opening four-game stretch.  In all, WVU plays eight teams ranked in the preseason top 40, six of those teams in the top 20.

So, what does Muschamp and Holgorsen have to do to keep their jobs?

Take a message to Jeremy.  Muschamp has to win eight games in 2014.  And it would sure help if one of those eight wins is over Georgia.  He can survive with a 7-5 regular season, coupled with a bowl win to make it 8-5.  Or he can survive with an 8-4 regular season, even if Florida loses its bowl game to finish 8-5.  Eight wins with a loss to Georgia could be shaky.  Eight wins with a win over Georgia and Muschamp’s safe for another year in Gainesville.

All I have to do is dream.  Holgorsen, on the other hand, needs seven wins.  Seven wins says the Mountaineers are back in a bowl game.  He can finish 6-6 and get a bowl win to make the season 7-6.  Or he can finish 7-5 and lose the bowl game to finish 7-6.  Anything less than seven wins and Holgorsen is history.

Problems, problems, problems all day long

Misery loves company.  Muschamp and Holgorsen aren’t the only coaches sweating bullets this season.  They are likely the top 2 on the list, but right behind them are Virginia’s Mike London (18-31, 4 seasons), Kansas’ Charlie Weis (4-20, 2 seasons), Hawaii’s Norm Chow (4-20, 2 seasons), Illinois’ Tim Beckman (6-18, 2 seasons) and Indiana’s Kevin Wilson (10-26, 3 seasons).  A winning season in 2014 is a must for these five coaches, else they will be gone.

When will I be loved?  Five more coaches are on the bubble in 2014.  A losing season could send them packing.  It could boil down to how bad the losing season is.  These coaches are Maryland’s Randy Edsall (13-24, 3 seasons), Iowa State’s Paul Rhoads (27-36, 5 seasons), Central Michigan’s Dan Enos (19-30, 4 seasons), UNLV’s Bobby Hauck (13-38, 4 seasons) and Memphis’ Justin Fuente (7-17, 2 seasons).

Bird dog.  Then there are six coaches…..well, you just don’t know, for sure.  They could be in trouble.  Then again, they may not be.  Michigan’s Brady Hoke (26-13, 3 seasons) hasn’t exactly set the Maize on fire in Ann Arbor.  And he hasn’t exactly beaten Ohio State either.  But he has come close.  He got real close last year.

Nebraska’s Bo Pelini (58-24, 6 seasons) has a bigger problem with his mouth than he does with winning football games.  If he is not back in 2015, then it could well be because of something he says.  Pelini is not one to mince words.  He has a following in Lincoln.  But he also has some enemies. 
 
Minnesota’s Jerry Kill (17-31, 3 seasons) could be wearing out his welcome in Minneapolis.  Granted Kill has had some medical issues.  But eventually, the fans want to win.  Utah’s Kyle Whittingham (76-39, 9 seasons) hasn’t performed too well since the Utes have been in the Pac-12.  The hospitality mat could be pulled out from under his feet.

Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson (48-32, 6 seasons) has been up and down with the Yellow Jackets.  He’s mostly been down against Georgia.  He may be on the short end of a stick.  And finally, Tulsa’s Bill Blankenship (22-17, 3 seasons) started out hot, but somebody threw water on his fire.

Yeah, come December and several of the above coaches will be crying in the rain.  So sad.

On a separate, but not totally unrelated note, the Princeton Review comes out with its Top 20 Party School list this time every year.  I say “not totally unrelated” because I think football games have a little something to do with the partying.  This year it looks like the Big Ten is the top conference on the list – placing four schools in the Top 20.  Three schools from the SEC made the list, followed by two each from the ACC, Mid-American and Patriot.  The Big 12, Pac-12 and C-USA each had one school on the list.

The 2014 Princeton Review Top 20 Party Schools are: 1. Syracuse; 2. Iowa; 3. UC Santa Barbara; 4. West Virginia; 5. Illinois; 6. Lehigh; 7. Penn State; 8. Wisconsin; 9. Bucknell; 10. Florida; 11. Miami (Ohio); 12. Florida State; 13. Ohio U; 14. DePauw; 15. Georgia; 16 Ole Miss; 17. Tulane; 18. Vermont; 19. Oregon; 20. Delaware.

And my apologies to the Everly Brothers for modifying their 1958/59 hit song “Problems” that peaked at No. 2 on the pop charts. 

Touchdown Tom
August 11, 2014
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com



Quotes of the Off Season (from January to August)

“It’s a shame, but Vanderbilt will continue to be a stepping stone for coaches, a second rate program in the SEC and stuck in mediocrity,” former Vanderbilt quarterback Jordan Rodgers.

“Don’t talk to me about Al Golden and whatever that D-coordinator’s name is.  Let me tell you what I’ve learned in the 19 years of being around the NFL.  Don’t hire someone you can’t fire.  That’s the golden rule.  The D-coordinator is killing my school.  That looks like no Miami defense in the history of our school, even when Schnellenberger was getting it started,” former Miami player Warren Sapp, on the Canes defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio.

“I also have a real issue with Golden interviewing for the head coaching job at Penn State.  If you are in Coral Gables at ‘The U,’ there should be no desire to relocate to Happy Valley,” former Miami player Warren Sapp, on Hurricanes’ coach Al Golden.

“I played with gay players at Alabama,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney.

“Did you see where both the Bucks and the Jaguars said they are interested in drafting Blake Bortles?  In related news, Bortles just petitioned the NCAA to return to UCF for his senior season,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.
“Question: Who hates Dwight Howard more – Lakers fans or Magic fans?,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“First they sent us Celine Dion and Justin Bieber.  Now they have beaten our hockey team too,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi, after the U.S. lost to the Canadian hockey team in the Olympics.

“At the Olympics, the Russian men’s hockey team was eliminated by Finland.  An hour later, the Russian men’s hockey team was eliminated by Putin,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“I think he’s an arrogant little prick,” former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer on Johnny Manziel. 

“I’ll tell you something: Richard Petty is a man and Danica Patrick is a woman, but Danica has bigger balls than Richard ever did,” GoDaddy Chairman Bob Parsons.

“The whole thing smells of guys in the legal profession looking for a fee,” Texas athletic director Steve Patterson, on the Northwestern football players wanting to unionize.

“I have no idea why he would want to go to the Lakers.  He has more NBA players at Kentucky than the Lakers have.  It would be a step down for him,” former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, on rumors of Kentucky coach John Calipari going to the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Everybody is kicking us in the ass, and it’s fair.  We have a loyal fan base, and they’re upset, and I don’t blame ’em.  I’m upset too.  To me it’s fair – very fair – that we’re being questioned on what we’re doing and how we’re doing it.  We all realize that 4-8 is unacceptable,” Florida coach Will Muschamp, at a speaking engagement in May.

“A new study proves that women love men in uniform.  You know, unless it’s a Mets uniform,” David Letterman.

 “How can you tell if a Mississippi State fan is on vacation in Orlando?  He’s the one trying to take his fishing pole into Sea World,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“Thanks to all the brave men who stormed the beaches 70 years ago and proved Germany hadn’t played anybody yet,” Sports Illustrated writer Andy Staples, on the anniversary of D-Day.

“Hey, did you see that online video of Jameis Winston completing a Hail Mary pass to himself?  In related news up in Gainesville, Gator quarterbacks were caught on video throwing interceptions to themselves,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“Nike made me a new line of apparel for this season.  See this shirt?  It’s bulletproof,” Florida coach Will Muschamp at the SEC Media Days.

“I really think he has to beat Georgia.  That is where I would look first,” ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum, on what Florida coach Will Muschamp needs to do this season to keep his job.

“Coming soon to the SEC Network: A commercial showing Nick Saban singing “How Great Thou Art” while bowing before a statue of himself,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“For the sake of the NFL it is necessary, Mr. Goodell, for you to now resign as its commissioner,” ESPN’s Keith Olbermann, criticizing the NFL leader for not giving the Ravens’ Ray Rice a harsher punishment.

“Playing East Carolina is maybe a little bit better than playing one of those bottom-tier Big Ten teams,” South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier in defense of the Gamecocks’ game against East Carolina.

“People in the northeast just don’t get college football,” ESPN sports talk radio host Colin Cowherd.

“Mark my word, Alabama will lose at Tennessee.  It’s a trap game,” ESPN sports talk radio host Colin Cowherd.

“It’s no longer about education.  We’ve sold out to the cameras over there and TV has made its way, and I don’t fault TV.  I don’t fault whoever broadcasts games.  They have to make a living and that’s what they do, but athletics – that’s it.  It sold out.  I think we’ve lost sight of what college athletics is all about,” Kansas State coach Bill Snyder.

“Everybody is building Taj Mahals.  I think it sends a message. Young people today, I think, are more susceptible to the downside of that message, and that it’s not about education.  We’re saying it is, but it’s really about the glitz and the glitter.  I think sometimes values get distorted that way.  I hate to think a young guy would make a decision about where he’s going to get an education based on what a building looks like,” Kansas State coach Bill Snyder.

“It’s official: The Power Five conferences now have the autonomy to offer their athlete-students all the inducements and perks they want.  The only difference between now and before is it’s going to be legal,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“Speaking of autonomy, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder says college football has ‘sold out’ to the almighty dollar.  This, of course, comes only a few months after Snyder signed a five-year contract extension worth 15 million of those almighty dollars,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi.

“When it comes to college football, the South has no equal, because the Southeastern Conference has no equal.  Find me a conference with a better commissioner, better players, better head coaches, better staffs, better game-day atmospheres, better looking coeds – better anything,” ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum.

“When the four-team playoff kicks in this season, Nick Saban will figure out a way to win one of those, too.  Give him enough time and he’d win ‘American Idol,’ the Iditarod and the North Dakota gubernatorial race.  He could coach a lingerie football team to the Big Ten championship,” ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum.



The Quarterbacks – 2014

For the second-straight season, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner returns to quarterback his team.  Last year it was Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, who won the Heisman as a freshman in 2012.  This year it is Florida State’s Jameis Winston, who won the Heisman last season, also as a freshman.

Manziel, like the others before him who won the Heisman as an underclassman quarterback – Navy’s Roger Staubach, BYU’s Ty Detmer, Oklahoma’s Jason White, USC’s Matt Leinart, Florida’s Tim Tebow and Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, failed to repeat as the Heisman winner.  Will Winston suffer the same fate?  Will he be hit with the Heisman jinx after winning the trophy in 2013?

Whether Winston (6-4, 235) wins the Heisman Trophy or not in 2014, he definitely enters the season as the top-rated quarterback in the country.  Last season, Winston passed for 4,057 yards and threw 40 touchdown passes, leading Florida State to an undefeated season (14-0) and the national championship.  He completed 67% of his passes and averaged 290 yards-a-game, passing. 

Six other quarterbacks enter the season in the top echelon.  Right behind Winston is Oregon junior Marcus Mariota (6-4, 215).  A threat at both passing and running, last year Mariota passed for 3,665 yards and rushed for 715 yards, leading the Ducks to an 11-2 record, including a 30-7 Alamo Bowl win over Texas.  He averaged 282 yards-per-game passing, throwing for 31 touchdowns, while completing 64% of his tosses.

Also competing with Winston and Mariota for preseason laurels are Baylor senior Bryce Petty (6-3, 230) and Ohio State senior Braxton Miller (6-2, 215).  Petty would like to pick up where Robert Griffin III left off in Waco, winning the Heisman Trophy.  He has a shot.  In 2013, Petty threw for 4,200 yards, averaging 323 yards per game, guiding Baylor to an 11-2 record.  He threw 32 touchdown passes and connected on 62% of his throws.      

Meanwhile, Miller racked up yardage on the ground and through the air for the Buckeyes in 2013.  He passed for 2,094 yards and rushed for another 1,068 yards, directing Ohio State to a 12-2 record.  Passing, Miller averaged 175 yards-per-game, threw 24 touchdown passes, while completing 64% of his lobs.

Another quarterback rushing for 1,068 yards last season was Auburn senior Nick Marshall (6-1, 210).  A talented athlete, Marshall led Auburn to a 12-2 record, including the SEC championship.  He threw 14 touchdown passes, connecting on 59% of his throws.

Last but not least among the top seven quarterbacks at preseason are UCLA junior Brett Hundley (6-3, 227) and Oregon State senior Sean Mannion 6-5, 220), both from the Pac-12.  Hundley passed for 3,071 yards last year, averaging 236 yards-per-game.  He completed 67% of his lobs and threw 24 touchdown passes.  Hundley was no slouch on the ground either, rushing for 748 yards.  The Bruins finished the season at 10-3, including a 42-12 drubbing of Virginia Tech in the Sun Bowl.

Of the top seven quarterbacks, Mannion threw for the most yards in 2013, compiling 4,662 yards through the air.  He averaged 359 yards-per-game and threw 37 touchdown passes.  Connecting on 66% of his tosses, Mannion guided Oregon State to a 7-6 record, including a 38-23 Hawaii Bowl win over Boise State.

Looking around the country, there are a number of other quarterbacks who should make a scene in 2014.  The biggest scene may come out of the Pac-12 Conference.  The Pac-12 is loaded with quarterback experience.  Beginning with Marcus Mariota, Brett Hundley and Sean Mannion, it continues with Stanford junior Kevin Hogan (6-4, 228), Washington State senior Connor Halliday (6-4, 197), Arizona State senior Taylor Kelly (6-2, 211), USC junior Cody Kessler (6-1, 215) and California sophomore Jared Goff (6-4, 195).

Hogan (2,630 yards) and Kessler (2,968 yards) were fourth and fifth respectively in passing efficiency in the Pac-12 last year.  Between them, Halliday (4,597 yards) and Kelly (3,635 yards) threw 62 touchdown passes in 2013.  Meanwhile, Goff passed for 3,508 yards, averaging 292 yards-per-game, as a freshman.

In the SEC, a number of quarterbacks will give Nick Marshall a run for his money.  Foremost is Ole Miss senior Bo Wallace (6-4, 203), Missouri sophomore Maty Mauk (6-0, 200) and Mississippi State junior Dak Prescott (6-2, 235).  Wallace threw for 3,346 yards last season, while Mauk filled in brilliantly for the injured James Franklin.

Two up-and-coming quarterbacks with lots of potential in the SEC are South Carolina senior Dylan Thompson (6-3, 219) and Georgia senior Hutson Mason (6-3, 202).  Both filled in admirably at times last season.  Meanwhile in Gainesville, Florida is expecting big things from junior Jeff Driskel (6-4, 239).  Driskel suffered a season-ending leg injury against Tennessee in 2013.  Backing up Driskel are two interesting quarterbacks with potential – freshman Will Grier (6-2, 190) and sophomore Skyler Mornhinweg (6-2, 214).      

The Big 12 has several quarterbacks who hope to share the marquee with Bryce Petty.  Among the group are Kansas State senior Jake Waters (6-1, 210), Texas Tech sophomore Davis Webb (6-4, 195), Oklahoma sophomore Trevor Knight (6-1, 196) and Oklahoma State junior J.W. Walsh (6-2, 205).  Waters was second in passing efficiency in the Big 12 last year, while Webb passed for 272 yards-per-game.  Knight came on strong in Oklahoma’s 45-31 Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. 

Two other quarterbacks to keep an eye on in the Big 12 are Texas junior David Ash (6-3, 227) and West Virginia senior Clint Trickett (6-2, 175).  If Trickett can stay injury free, he could help the Mountaineers rebound in 2014.

Braxton Miller may be garnering most of the attention at preseason in the Big Ten, but a number of other quarterbacks in the conference could grab the spotlight before the season is over.  They include Penn State sophomore Christian Hackenberg (6-4, 220), Michigan State junior Connor Cook (6-4, 219) and Michigan senior Devin Gardner (6-4, 218). Hackenberg and Gardiner both passed for more than 2,900 yards last year, averaging 246 yards-per-game.  Cook led the Spartans to a 13-1 record, the Big Ten championship and a 24-20 Rose Bowl win over Stanford last season. 

Three others to keep an eye on in the Big Ten are Rutgers senior Gary Nova (6-2, 220), Northwestern senior Trevor Siemian (6-3, 210) and Wisconsin junior Joel Stave (6-5, 225).  But Stave may have to fight off teammate Tanner McEvoy (6-6, 223, junior) to keep his starting job.      

The ACC may have the best quarterback in the country – Jameis Winston – but other than Winston there isn’t a whole lot of excitement at the quarterback position in the ACC at preseason.  Two with the best credentials are North Carolina junior Marquise Williams (6-2, 215), Duke senior Anthony Boone (6-0, 225).  Two others to keep an eye on in the ACC are both Florida transfers – Boston College senior Tyler Murphy (6-2, 214) and NC State junior Jacoby Brissett (6-4, 236).

The AAC has three quarterbacks worth shouting about.  They are East Carolina senior Shane Carden (6-2, 221), Houston sophomore John O’Korn (6-4, 205) and Cincinnati sophomore Gunner Kiel (6-4, 208).  In 2013, Carden passed for 4,139 yards, averaging 318 yards-per-game.  He threw for 33 touchdowns and completed 71% of his passes. 

O’Korn passed for 3,117 yards, throwing 28 touchdown passes.  Kiel is the Notre Dame transfer who was one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks out of high school.

The MWC has four quarterbacks of interest at preseason.  Leading the quartet is Utah state senior Chuckie Keeton (6-2, 200).  Keeton led the MWC in passing efficiency last year.  Keeton is followed by Nevada senior Cody Fajardo (6-2, 215) and Colorado State sophomore Garrett Grayson (6-2, 220).  Fajardo completed 68% of his passes last year, throwing for 2,668 yards and averaging 269 yards-per-game.  As a freshman, Grayson passed for 3,696 yards and averaged 264 yards-per-game.  Keep an eye on UNLV junior Nick Sherry (6-5, 235).

The MAC has three impressive quarterbacks.  They are Bowling Green junior Matt Johnson (6-0, 215), Akron junior Kyle Pohl (6-3, 213) and Buffalo junior Joe Licata (6-2, 226).  Johnson led Bowling Green to a 10-3 record and the MAC championship last season, passing for 3,467 yards and averaging 247 yards-per-game.  He was first in the MAC in passing efficiency.  Pohl was a leader in Akron’s rebuilding transition in 2013, leading the Zips to three-straight wins and four out of five to end the season.  Licata threw for 2,824 yards and 24 touchdowns. 

C-USA has two of the country’s most exciting quarterbacks in Marshall senior Rakeem Cato (6-0, 181) and Old Dominion senior Taylor Heinicke (6-1, 210).  Cato led Marshall to a 10-4 record in 2013, including a 31-20 Military Bowl win over Maryland.  He passed for 3,916 yards with 39 touchdown passes, averaging 279 yards-per-game.  Heinicke threw for 4,022 yards and averaged 335 yards-per-game, including 33 touchdown passes.  He completed 70% of his passes.  Also, keep an eye on Southern Miss sophomore Nick Mullens (6-1, 188).

The sole marquee quarterback in the Sun Belt Conference is Louisiana-Lafayette senior Terrance Broadway (6-2, 211).  Last year, Broadway passed for 2,419 yards and 19 touchdowns, leading ULL to a 9-4 record and a 24-21 New Orleans Bowl win over Tulane.        

Among the Independents, three quarterbacks stand out – BYU junior Taysom Hill (6-2, 221), Navy junior Keenan Reynolds (5-11, 195) and Notre Dame senior Everett Golson (6-0, 200).  Last season, Reynolds rushed for 1,346 yards, averaging 4.5 yards-per-carry.  He ran for 31 touchdowns.  Reynolds also passed for 1,057 yards.  Hill threw for 2,938 yards in 2013.  Golson returns to the Notre Dame squad after sitting out the 2013 season for disciplinary reasons. 


TT’s Top Ten Favorite Quarterbacks at Preseason:

1. Marcus Mariota – Oregon
2. Bryce Petty – Baylor
3. Sean Mannion – Oregon State
4. Brett Hundley – UCLA
5. Nick Marshall – Auburn
6. Braxton Miller – Ohio State
7. Jameis Winston – Florida State
8. Christian Hackenberg – Penn State
9. Rakeem Cato – Marshall
10. Taylor Heinicke – Old Dominion


And keep an eye on:

Shane Carden – East Carolina; Chuckie Keeton – Utah State; Connor Cook – Michigan State; Kevin Hogan – Stanford; Cody Fajardo – Nevada; Jake Waters – Kansas State; Matt Johnson – Bowling Green; Anthony Boone – Duke; Kyle Pohl – Akron; Taysom Hill – BYU; Keenan Reynolds – Navy; Bo Wallace – Ole Miss, and John O’Korn – Houston.



The New Coaches – 2014

Twenty FBS schools will begin the 2014 football season with new head coaches, including such football luminaries as Penn State, Texas and USC.  Thirteen of the new coaches were current head coaches, moving up to a higher profile school.  Three were offensive coordinators and two were defensive coordinators.  One was an associate head coach and one is returning to football after a year’s absence.

Former Vanderbilt coach James Franklin is the top cat (or is that top lion) at Penn State, after Bill O’Brien left Happy Valley to coach the Houston Texans of the NFL.  Franklin at one time was the “head-coach-in-waiting” at Maryland before he took the head coaching job at Vanderbilt in 2011.  Vanderbilt, in turn, hired Stanford’s defensive coordinator Derek Mason.

Texas grabbed the limelight when the Longhorns dumped Mack Brown and hired Louisville coach Charlie Strong.  After years as a defensive coordinator at South Carolina and Florida, Strong became Louisville’s head coach in 2010.

Louisville, in turn, decided it’s déjà vu all over again, hiring Bobby Petrino, who previously coached the Cardinals for four seasons from 2003 to 2006.  The motor cycle ridin’, volleyball poppin’ Petrino was most recently the head coach at Western Kentucky.  Western Kentucky, in turn, elevated its offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm to the head coaching position.

After dumping Lane Kiffin early in the season and deciding not to keep interim coach Ed Orgeron, USC hired Washington coach Steve Sarkisian.  Sarkisian is a former assistant coach at USC and had been the head coach at Washington since 2009.  Washington, in turn, went next door and grabbed Boise State coach Chris Petersen.  Boise State rebounded, hiring Arkansas State head coach Bryan Harsin.  Harsin played quarterback at Boise State and was an offensive coordinator at the school before he became Arkansas State’s head coach in 2013.

Arkansas State, in turn, hired North Carolina offensive coordinator Blake Anderson.  Anderson is a former offensive coordinator at Southern Miss.  Since we mentioned North Carolina, Wake Forest dumped head coach Jim Grobe, after 13 years, and hired Bowling Green head coach Dave Clawson.  The Demon Deacons continued their faith in MAC coaches.  Grobe was hired away from Ohio U. in 2001.  Bowling Green, in turn, hired Eastern Illinois head coach Dino Babers.

After five years, Army sent Rich Ellerson and his caissons rolling along and hired Georgia Southern head coach Jeff Monken.  If you can’t beat them, join them.  Navy had success hiring a coach from Georgia Southern in 2002 – Paul Johnson.  Georgia Southern, in turn, hired Sam Houston State head coach Willie Fritz.

Connecticut, tired of Paul “Pass the Baloney” Pasqualoni, went out and hired Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco as its new coach.  The erosion of the Notre Dame coaching staff continued when Miami (Ohio) hired Chuck Martin, the Irish’s defensive coordinator, as its new head coach. 

After Carl Pelini took his trip on a magic carpet ride, Florida Atlantic fired Pelini and hired Charlie Partridge.  Partridge was the associate head coach at Arkansas.  Wyoming fired Dave Christensen and hired North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl.  Also going for existing head coaches, UAB hired Jacksonville State coach Bill Clark and Eastern Michigan hired Drake coach Chris Creighton. 

In Amherst, UMass went back to the playbook and hired Mark Whipple.  Whipple was previously the head coach at Massachusetts from 1998 to 2003 when he left to become an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Whipple returns to coaching after being fired from the Cleveland Browns at the end of the 2012 season.  He was the quarterbacks coach with the Browns.         



In the Huddle

Elsewhere around college football . . . Georgia and Notre Dame will play a home-and-home football series, with the Bulldogs traveling to South Bend in 2017 and the Irish traveling to Athens in 2019….  Former California athletic director Sandy Barbour has been hired as the new AD at Penn State….  Alabama and USC will meet on September 3, 2016 in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas….  The Big Ten is looking at Yankee Stadium as a venue for some of its future conference games.

Tennessee and West Virginia will open the 2018 season at Bank America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina….  Former Texas coach Mack Brown will serve as a studio analyst for college football games on ABC this fall….  West Virginia and NC State will play a home-and-home series in 2018 and 2019…. Former North Carolina and Miami coach Butch Davis will serve as a studio analyst for college football games on ESPN2 this fall….  Cincinnati and Indiana will play a home-and-home series in 2021 and 2022.

Former Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt will serve as a studio analyst for college football games on Fox Sports this fall….  Florida and Texas are in preliminary talks for a future home-and-home series between the two schools….  West Virginia and Virginia Tech will open the 2017 season at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland….  Auburn and Clemson has agreed to a home-and-home series to be played in 2016 and 2017.  Auburn will host the first game….  Maryland and Northern Illinois have agreed to a home-and-home series to be played in 2020 and 2021.  Maryland will host the first game.   
Touchdown Tom
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com



P.S.
Not directly college football related, but as the summer was winding down and college football fans were anticipating the start of another exciting season, the number one song in the country…

…70 years ago this week in 1944 was “Swinging on a Star” by Bing Crosby

…65 years ago this week in 1949 was “Some Enchanted Evening” by Perry Como

…60 years ago this week in 1954 was “Sh-Boom” by The Crew-Cuts

…55 years ago this week in 1959 was “A Big Hunk o’ Love” by Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires

…50 years ago this week in 1964 was “A Hard Day’s Night” by The Beatles

…45 years ago this week in 1969 was “In the Year 2525” by Zager and Evans

…40 years ago this week in 1974 was “Feel Like Makin’ Love” by Roberta Flack

…35 years ago this week in 1979 was “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer

…30 years ago this week in 1984 was “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker, Jr.

…25 years ago this week in 1989 was “Batdance” by Prince

…20 years ago this week in 1994 was “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories


Not directly college football related, but on a sad comment, there were two passings of note last week – James Brady and Pete Van Wieren.

James Brady, the White House press secretary who was wounded in an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, died last week.  He was 73.  James Scott Brady was born on August 29, 1940, in Centralia, Illinois.  He graduated from the University of Illinois.

Pete Van Wieren, the last surviving member of the broadcast team that carried Atlanta Braves games throughout the nation on Ted Turner’s “Superstation,” died last week in Atlanta.  He was 69.  Van Wieren spent 33 years with the Braves before retiring in 2008, shortly after the death of his longtime partner Skip Caray.  Pete Van Wieren was born on October 7, 1944, in Rochester, New York.  He attended Cornell University.