The college football season is two short months away and thus begins 4 months or so of the best time of the year in my mind. What makes this my favorite time of year? A team has to give all they have every game of the year for a chance to win the National Title. Last year OU, USC and LSU all had one loss and there were two 'title' games, it didn't feel right to any college football fan. Two of the three teams should have been playing in one game. We obviously need a playoff, but that's not going to happen anytime soon so let's talk about the year to come.
Here is what I am looking forward to:
First, is Mike William's going to get reinstated by the NCAA? I would love to see him back in a Trojans uniform as they face the Hokies of Virginia Tech on the 28th of August. Would the Hokies want William's in the line-up? I doubt it. The Trojans are going to be scary enough without him. They have returning quarterback Matt Leinart (just a jr. and front runner for the Heisman), six returning starters on defense and by far the best recruiting class in the country. They are deep, extremely fast and confident following last year's run.
Can LSU replace Matt Mauck? I know Mauck was not the most talented player, but he was tough and he won games. Senior Marcus Randall and/or freshman JaMarcus Russell should be able to get the job done with all the talent they have in the Bayou.
Which mid-major will step and be this year's Northern Illinois? My guess is Louisville. They have 16 returning starters plus highly touted freshman quarterback Brian Brohm. This is Stephan LeFors team this year though; Brohm is going to have to wait at least a year. The Cardinals face an October 14th showdown with the Canes in Miami. Have fun with that one. Toledo is another mid-major with promise. They have 13 returning starters and do not face Miami. Well, they face a Miami, but this one is in Ohio, not Florida. Big difference.
Can Bill Callahan turn the Nebraska Cornhuskers into a West Coast offense? The I formation was not working anymore for whatever reason (no Tom Osborne, recruiting the talent has dried up, etc). Do they have the talent to make the change? Sixty thousand 'Husker fans seemed to think so as they turned out to watch the spring game and sophomore quarterback Joe Dailey throw for 241 yards on 29 of 49 attempts. Lawrence Phillips and Tommie Frazier this team is not.
Who wins the Heisman? Can Jason White stay healthy throughout the year and make another run? Lets face it…the best player does not win this award. I know Larry Fitzgerald or Eli Manning were better players, but the best player on the best team (in mid-December) gets the award. What could Eli have done behind center for the Sooners last year? White obviously has the talent around him to make another run, but so does Leinart and David Green of Georgia. Georgia has every key member of the offense back, which will help immensely. Those are my top three. Best of the rest? Darren Sproles, rb, Kansas State; Carnell Williams, rb, Auburn; Cedric Benson, rb, Texas; Brad Smith, qb, Missouri; Kyle Orton, qb Purdue; and Anthony Davis, rb, Wisconsin. Defender with the best chance of winning? Derrick Johnson, lb, Texas.
Big 12 foes need to be ready for Derrick Johnson
How will Miami (Fla) and Virginia Tech fare in the ACC? The ACC can now make a strong case this is the top football conference, which will make it difficult for Virginia Tech after losing some key members of last years squad (Kevin Jones for one). Miami can step right in and fight with Florida State for the supremacy with their speed and talent.
Who wins the National Title? Please let us have two undefeated teams. If this happens, which is highly unlikely, Oklahoma vs USC would be my choice. The Sooners don't have the speed to keep up with the Men of Troy. January 4, 2005, Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida: USC 35, OU 21.
My Top 8 College Football Rivalries
1. Auburn vs Alabama -- Most intense intrastate college football rivalry in the nation started when both schools were still in their infancy (1893).
2. Oklahoma vs Texas -- The Red River shootout over the past four years has been dominated by the Sooners; 65-13 last year.
3. Michigan vs Ohio State -- Both teams have new quarterbacks this year which should make for an interesting, defense-dominated game.
4. Georgia vs Florida -- 'The world's largest outdoor cocktail party.'
5. Army vs Navy -- Network television shows this game no matter what. Ratings and wins/losses are thrown aside when these two meet.
6. Texas vs Texas A&M -- Game has been played 110 times with the 90-year tradition of the A&M bonfire back after the tragic killing of 12 students in 1999.
7. Florida vs Florida State -- Though Steve Spurrier isn't at UF anymore, this rivalry still boasts nationwide attention because both teams are normally ranked very high and need the win desperately.
8. USC vs UCLA -- The Battle of the Victory Bell has been played 73 times with no team dominating the series.
Honorable mention -- Cal/Stanford, 'The Big Game,' is remembered for the most chaotic ending in the history of college football. That trombone player never saw it coming...
Please give us a playoff BCS. I can die a happy man if, for just one year, I can see eight teams fight it out over three weeks for a true national champion.
3 comments:
Hey, i really enjoy reading your journals and love your writing style. I simply love reading what you have to say next. I agree with almost all of what you write in your journals because you use so many different perspectives and it is quite obivous how much you enjoy writting andd how much you know, but I have one question for you, do you think LSU can stay up in the top 5 after losing Matt Mauck?
Very good article, but I have to take exception to a few things you said. First, I really see the Florida/FSU rivalry just as high up there as the Red River Shootout. Now I know I have my biases, and you do too, but I really don't think its possible to hate anyone more than we do the Gators. However, I agree that the Iron Bowl is probably #1 because both of those programs are rich in tradition. I would give the nod to Army/Navy if either of those teams could hang with my junior high school.
My predictions for 2004: FSU beats Miami on monday night football, sept. 6th primetime (labor day). I'll be there. But, we lose an unexpected game on the road to Virginia or someone and I am left without a national championship another year. The USC trojans are very very good and they play a horrible schedule so you can pencil them into the Orange Bowl. Louisville will be very tough. Watch for Ernest Shelton (a RB transfer from FSU). But, I don't really consider them a mid-major since they are moving to the big east soon. Anyway, just my opinions.
No doubt Louisville has the potential to turn to heads this year. When I went there, the Cards were a solid team but relied heavily on their Defense and Ragone pretty much only used his receivers and tight ends. Opponents could ignore the running game (and typically doubled Deion Branch and Arnold Jackson) b/c we didnt have the players to make it effective. Finally there are RBs that have the talent to take pressure off the WRs, and let that aspect develop. LeFors, Brian Brohm, Michael Bush, JR Russell, Eric Shelton,Lionel Gates, and Greg Tinch on the same side of the ball, with a decent line? Things could get ugly for opponents... Hope they can make it happen in their last year before moving to the Big East.
Now about the rivalries... I know you think of me as biased but I wish Notre Dame was included on the list with either Michigan or USC. Since 1887, the Michigan game, generally in September makes or breaks someones season (ok ok, I know that it was more important say 10 years ago, but that doesnt mean the animosity is any less). And USC... usually the Irish and Trojans match up around Thanksgiving (always in the 2nd half of the sesaon though), and at that point one or both has the season on the line. AS soon as ND gets their feet back under them.... it will be come appreciated again. While I am still on my Irish soapbox... here's to the olden days of the Catholics vs Convicts..... I remember when ND/ Miami (FL) was THE premiere college matchup. THere is still no team I love to hate more than the Canes. (LSU is starting to get close) To this day I dont buy anything in orange b/c it is one of their colors. (Green is ok, since the Irish wear green sometimes too). That should get an honorable mention as the best "retired" rivalry.
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