Afterbirth (Week 1)

You know... the stuff that just kind of falls out when the party's over.

Quickies

I didn’t put the Illinois vs Missouri game on my picks for Week 1, but I should have. I admit it, I was a slacker. Going into the game, I had a hard time deciding which team to pick. In retrospect, when in doubt, always pick against the team that is coached by Ron Zook.

Is Alabama that good? Or is Clemson that bad? Alabama’s defense held the Tigers to 188 total yards, including – get this – 0 net yards rushing, while the Tide ran very well behind a mammoth offensive line. QB John Parker Wilson looked calm and relatively efficient (22 of 30 for 180 yards and two TD’s), and the Tide held the ball for more than 41 minutes. Seriously, is that the best that the ACC has to offer?

Tennessee should be ashamed of themselves for playing vanilla defense in the second half against UCLA, and making Kevin Craft look like Johnny Unitas. They should have attacked the young quarterback fiercely, repeatedly, and not let him get hot and build his confidence. Even I know that.

Isn't That Special?

How ironic that the team known, above all else, for special teams play, was victimized by a special teams breakdown. East Carolina blocked a Virginia Tech punt with 1:52 left in the game and returned it for a touchdown to seal the victory in one of the weekend's big upsets.

The Two Utes

Other than the Vols and the Bruins, the best game on TV was Utah's win over Michigan. Why didn't I have the stones to pick the Utes? And can anyone say "Utes" without thinking of this moment from My Cousin Vinny?

My Crystal Ball Says...

...that I know what will happen in this week's key games. Always remember that I'm right, and your team sucks.

Hawaii @ #5 Florida
At the end of last season, even with Colt Brennan and their top 4 receiver, the Warriors couldn’t keep up with Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Do you really think that, without those players and with a new coach, they can keep up with Florida in the Swamp?

#17 Virginia Tech vs East Carolina (Charlotte)
Virgina Tech won 17-7 last year in Blacksburg, and this year’s team is only a shell of its former ACC championship self. It should be another very interesting game, but I’m not sure the Pirates will have enough to pull off the upset.

Utah @ #24 Michigan
This game reminds me of the Virginia Tech/East Carolina game. There’s a part of me that thinks Utah can win, but the rest of me had a hard time imagining the Wolverines losing this one at home – despite having a new coach and a re-tooled offense.

#21 Oregon @ Washington
Despite having the worst possible luck at the QB position, losing potential Heisman winner Dennis Dixon to a knee injury late last year, and then losing this year’s projected starter Nate Costa just before the start of the season, Oregon looks better than Washington.

#18 Tennessee @ UCLA
First year coach Rick Neuheisel has some work to do at UCLA, but I think they’ll be better than expected. I still think Tennessee should be able to handle them, and they’ll certainly want to avoid a repeat of last year’s West coast embarrassment at Cal.

#24 Alabama vs #9 Clemson (Atlanta)
I’m not really sure why Clemson has gotten so much hype this year. I think they may be the best team in a lousy league. And look for Alabama to be much improved in the second year under Nick Saban.

This season has already gotten off to an interesting start.

LOTS of people had Miami (of Ohio) beating Vandy, but the Commodores pulled it off, on the road no less. NC State and South Carolina looked pretty lousy on Thursday night, but, in the end, the Gamecocks were less lousy. I think the ACC is going to be only slightly better than a good high school league this fall. And who wasn't surprised when Stanford recovered a late goal line fumble and held on to beat the Beavers (ok, I always snicker when I say that) of Oregon State?

Leave off the "S"

Here's a fun thing to do when you have time to kill. I usually do this while sitting at my favorite pub, which means I usually end up racking my brain and scribbling names on a cocktail napkin.

Of the 119 Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football teams, there are twelve teams whose team name does NOT end in "S." Can you name them?

When you give up, scroll down...















Stanford (Cardinal)

Notre Dame (Fighting Irish)

Syracuse (Orangemen)

Illinois (Fighting Illini)

Tulane (Green Wave)

North Texas (Mean Green)

Alabama (Crimson Tide)

Marshall (Thundering Herd)

Navy (Midshipmen)

N.C. State (Wolfpack)

Nevada (Wolfpack)

Tulsa (Golden Hurricane)

Something to Get You Pumped

When I see things like this, I am sooooooooooooo ready for Saturday. Heck, I'm ready for Thursday (NC State and South Carolina, among others). Pop a beer and then watch this video. Better yet, have a shot of Patron and then watch this video...

It's Here!

It’s almost here. Can you feel it? College Football 2008! I mean, obviously, it’s MY blog and I can write about the technological advances in the art of sharpening figure skating blades if I want to. But there’s nothing like college football, and there’s nothing like the feeling of anticipation when the first game is just around the corner. I’ll admit the Olympics were more than just a pleasant distraction. I actually enjoyed it when I watched. Occasionally, I even looked forward to it. But, somewhere, in the back of my head, I knew I was just killing time. Until… now!

Sometime this week, if I actually have my act together, I will post my predictions for some of this weekend’s more interesting games. In the meantime, I suggest you take a look at this...



Have you heard of the A-11 Offense? According to the website, it is an “innovative offense blending aspects of the spread option, west coast and run & shoot. Your team can use the A-11 as a ‘package’ to supplement your own offense and feature up to eleven players as potential threats, and even two quarterbacks in the shotgun.”
It sounds like a gimmick. It even looks like a gimmick. Watch video HERE

What do you think? Can this work at the major college level?