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.