For the first time since 1975, there will be a different man roaming the sidelines on Saturday afternoons in Doak Campbell Stadium. And what he will accomplish in his first season at the helm may surprise a few people.
Bobby Bowden has relinquished the reigns of his brainchild (the Florida State Football Program) to Jimbo Fisher… and the First-year Head Coach is walking into about as ideal a situation as he can hope for.
The Seminoles return 10 of 11 starters on Offense, including Heisman contender QB Christian Ponder. Ponder (who missed the last 3 games in 2009 with a shoulder injury) had a great Junior season, throwing for 2,700 yards and 14 TDs. Most impressive was his 69% completion percentage (which was up 13% from 2008). His giant leap in decision making has Tallahassee buzzing about the Heisman Trophy along with an ACC Championship returning to Tallahassee.
Behind him, RB Jermaine Thomas returns after posting 849 yards and 9 TDs in 2009. Joining him will be youngster Chris Thompson, whose inspired play during spring practice has coaches raving about his leg drive and playmaking ability. The Seminole offensive line returns all 5 starters and will undoubtedly be the most talented group up front in the conference. Florida State’s running game will be dominant… simply put.
Out wide, Ponder will have plenty of targets to find his passes homes for. WR Jarmon Fortson has the size and speed that is drawing many comparisons to former Ohio State great, David Boston. Bert Reed brings a valuable speed and quickness to the slot position, and Taiwan Easterling is poised for a breakout performance. Due to experience, the Red Zone, an area where ‘Nole receivers often disappeared last year, will instead be an area where they flourish.
Defensively, the ‘Noles will be stacked with athletes… but for the past 5 years, those athletes have not produced cohesive, consistent units capable of stopping the likes of Florida, Georgia Tech, and even Miami. Longtime Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews has retired and replacing him will be a coach with a lineage of defensive coaching prowess… Mark Stoops (brother of Bob and Mike of Oklahoma and Arizona, respectively). On the Defensive line, keep an eye on Everett Dawkins. The LBs will be fast, but must quickly adapt to the new schemes. That group will be headed by a player with immense talent and potential, Nigel Bradham, who has yet to harness it. The defensive secondary is where they might be the most solid, highlighted by 2009 Freshman All-American CB Greg Reid. Reid has the potential to be the best Seminole player so far this millennium and his versatility will be more widely used as he will return punts, as well as play some slot WR (according to Head Coach Jimbo Fisher). He is almost sure to garner All-ACC honors.
The biggest thing that will stand in FSU’s way of an ACC Championship and BCS bowl is their schedule. It is, in my opinion, the absolute toughest schedule in the Country. Their non-conference slate, consisting of Oklahoma, BYU, and Florida, is unrivaled by any team. And with the recent improvements by North Carolina, Clemson, and Boston College, the in-conference schedule is going to be challenging as well. This is one of the toughest teams to predict an outcome for. The talent on the roster would lead me to say that this team has NO BUSINESS getting less than 10 wins… but because of the difficulty of the schedule, it wouldn’t surprise me to see them struggling to get 7 wins. We will know MUCH more about the Garnett and Gold’s 2010 prospects after their Week 2 foray to Norman, Oklahoma.
Key Returning Players:
QB Christian Ponder
WR Jarmon Fortson
RB Jermaine Thomas
OG Ronnie Hudson
OT Zerbie Sanders
LB Nigel Bradham
CB Greg Reid
Key Games:
Sept 11 - @ Oklahoma
Sept 18 - BYU
Oct 9 - @ Miami
Oct 16 - Boston College
Nov 6 - North Carolina
Nov 13 - Clemson
Nov 27 - Florida
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
#17 Penn State Nittany Lions
The man that started his Penn State coaching career 11 years before Barack Obama was born, now enters his 60th season on the sidelines in Happy Valley, PA. Another chapter will be written in the legendary career of the winningest D-1 Coach of All-Time. Will that chapter be pleasant or disappointing? The answer to that question hinges upon a few things.
The Nittany Lions enter 2010 coming off an 11-2 season, capping it with a strong Capital One Bowl win over SEC Powerhouse, LSU. To have an equally successful season or better, the first question that has to be answered is Who will play Quarterback for the Blue and White? The early favorite for the position is Sophomore QB Kevin Newsome. Newsome got playing time sparingly last year behind star QB Daryl Clark, but nothing of significance. In the spring, he held off a tough charge by fellow sophomore Matt McGloin to win the starting job heading into fall camp. But in the summer, Blue Chip 5-star recruit Robert Bolden arrives on campus. He is projected as the future of the Nittany Lions program and he will be given a chance to earn the job according to Offensive Coordinator Galen Hall. A dual threat guy, he is said to be as fast as Michael Robinson with passing skills that rival Kerry Collins… comments that have PSU fans everywhere giddy.
The Running game will by far be the best part of Penn State’s attack. Senior RB Evan Royster returns after rushing for 1,169 yards and 6 TDs. While those numbers weren’t as good as his 1,300 yards and 12 TDs from 2008… anything over 1,000 in the Big Ten is to be commended. A 3-year starter now, Royster will go into this season running behind the most veteran Offensive-Line in the Big Ten as the Nittany Lions return 4 starters up front, including 2009 All-Conference selection C Stefan Wisniewski. Backing up Royster will be Junior Stephfon Green who is capable of a few big plays himself. He will be used primarily on 3rd downs as a “change of pace” back, but could easily fill in for Royster should the injury bug strike.
A unit that was expected to be down last year (the WRs) really took most of the Big Ten by surprise. Led by Derek Moye and Graham Zug, the young crew stepped up to provide quite the weapons for Daryl Clark and this bunch should make the transition for the new starting QB easier than most expect. Chaz Powell is another guy to keep an eye on lining up as a tough cover in the slot.
Defensively, the Lions are stout (as usual) and they return 7 starters. Interestingly, with superstars Sean May and Navarro Bowman leaving for the NFL, the one position that lacks experience for Joe Pa’s crew is the LB position. But expect Linebacker-U to stick in a couple of Blue-Chip athletes and not miss a beat. Senior DT Ollie Ogbu will anchor one of the tougher Defensive Lines in America and CB D’Anton Lynn has a chance to be the best cover-corner in the nation.
This years schedule sets up well. After an early season clash with defending champion Alabama, the Nittany Lions will navigate through a schedule that should have them favored in all but 2 of their last 10 games (OSU and Iowa). A key 3-game stretch late in the season against Michigan, Northwestern, and Ohio State will let us know if Joe Pa should make plans for a BCS game or an Outback Bowl. But regardless, this team should win at a minimum 9 games… and we will undoubtedly see Joe Pa crack the 400 win mark this year (he is currently at 394).
Key Returning Players:
RB Evan Royster
WR Derek Moye
WR Graham Zug
WR Chaz Powell
C Stefan Wisniewski
DT Ollie Ogbu
CB D’Anton Lynn
S Nick Sukay
Key Games:
Sept 11 - @ Alabama
Oct 2 - @ Iowa
Oct 30 - Michigan
Nov 13 - @ Ohio State
Nov 27 - Michigan State
The Nittany Lions enter 2010 coming off an 11-2 season, capping it with a strong Capital One Bowl win over SEC Powerhouse, LSU. To have an equally successful season or better, the first question that has to be answered is Who will play Quarterback for the Blue and White? The early favorite for the position is Sophomore QB Kevin Newsome. Newsome got playing time sparingly last year behind star QB Daryl Clark, but nothing of significance. In the spring, he held off a tough charge by fellow sophomore Matt McGloin to win the starting job heading into fall camp. But in the summer, Blue Chip 5-star recruit Robert Bolden arrives on campus. He is projected as the future of the Nittany Lions program and he will be given a chance to earn the job according to Offensive Coordinator Galen Hall. A dual threat guy, he is said to be as fast as Michael Robinson with passing skills that rival Kerry Collins… comments that have PSU fans everywhere giddy.
The Running game will by far be the best part of Penn State’s attack. Senior RB Evan Royster returns after rushing for 1,169 yards and 6 TDs. While those numbers weren’t as good as his 1,300 yards and 12 TDs from 2008… anything over 1,000 in the Big Ten is to be commended. A 3-year starter now, Royster will go into this season running behind the most veteran Offensive-Line in the Big Ten as the Nittany Lions return 4 starters up front, including 2009 All-Conference selection C Stefan Wisniewski. Backing up Royster will be Junior Stephfon Green who is capable of a few big plays himself. He will be used primarily on 3rd downs as a “change of pace” back, but could easily fill in for Royster should the injury bug strike.
A unit that was expected to be down last year (the WRs) really took most of the Big Ten by surprise. Led by Derek Moye and Graham Zug, the young crew stepped up to provide quite the weapons for Daryl Clark and this bunch should make the transition for the new starting QB easier than most expect. Chaz Powell is another guy to keep an eye on lining up as a tough cover in the slot.
Defensively, the Lions are stout (as usual) and they return 7 starters. Interestingly, with superstars Sean May and Navarro Bowman leaving for the NFL, the one position that lacks experience for Joe Pa’s crew is the LB position. But expect Linebacker-U to stick in a couple of Blue-Chip athletes and not miss a beat. Senior DT Ollie Ogbu will anchor one of the tougher Defensive Lines in America and CB D’Anton Lynn has a chance to be the best cover-corner in the nation.
This years schedule sets up well. After an early season clash with defending champion Alabama, the Nittany Lions will navigate through a schedule that should have them favored in all but 2 of their last 10 games (OSU and Iowa). A key 3-game stretch late in the season against Michigan, Northwestern, and Ohio State will let us know if Joe Pa should make plans for a BCS game or an Outback Bowl. But regardless, this team should win at a minimum 9 games… and we will undoubtedly see Joe Pa crack the 400 win mark this year (he is currently at 394).
Key Returning Players:
RB Evan Royster
WR Derek Moye
WR Graham Zug
WR Chaz Powell
C Stefan Wisniewski
DT Ollie Ogbu
CB D’Anton Lynn
S Nick Sukay
Key Games:
Sept 11 - @ Alabama
Oct 2 - @ Iowa
Oct 30 - Michigan
Nov 13 - @ Ohio State
Nov 27 - Michigan State
#18 Arkansas Razorbacks
This year’s version of the 2009 Ole Miss Rebels happens to be their SEC West counterparts, the Arkansas Razorbacks. If that comparison is foreign to you, just go back and take a look at all of the Pre-Season Hype that the Rebels garnered last year, without having really done anything overly impressive. The Rebels chocked away their opportunity.
Now, that’s no knock to the 2010 Razorback squad, but the fact is this team is getting a lot of Pre-Season hype, coming off of an 8-5 season… including a dismal 3-5 record in the SEC. Do they deserve the hype? Maybe… maybe not.
The Razorbacks had a good season by their standards in 2009 (Coach Bobby Petrinos 2nd Year). Although they only had 3 SEC wins, 2 of their losses were to SEC Powers Florida and LSU, by a combined 6 points (with the LSU game going into overtime). First year Starter and former Michigan Wolverine, Ryan Mallet, led the SEC in Passing as a Redshirt Sophomore and many experts had him as one of the Top NFL QB prospects had he left early. After a quick deliberation, he decided to return for his Redshirt Junior season… and quite honestly, he is poised to have a Heisman caliber season.
The 6’6”, rocket-armed QB will have a plethora of weapons to play with. His WR corps, which many believe might be the best in the nation, is led by Juniors Greg Childs and Jarius White, who combined for 89 receptions, 1,578 yards and 12 TDs. Also returning is former USC recruit Joe Adams who has developed into arguably the best Slot WR in the SEC. Even with all the talent coming back at WR, Mallet’s best option in the passing game may very well be his Pre-Season All-American TE D.J. Williams. Williams’ 32 receptions for 411 yards and 3 TDs is 2nd best among returning SEC TEs.
Much like last year, the RB position will be handled by “committee”. Leading returning rusher Broderick Greene has the inside track to be the designated starter… but expect players like Ronnie Wingo, Knile Davis, and Dennis Johnson to get some carries as well. The problem wont be successfully running the ball, instead it will be keeping so many talented players happy with the limited amount of playing time each will be receiving.
Defensively, the Hogs return 8 of 11 starters to a defense that showed flashes of greatness in 2009. LBs Jerry Franklin and Freddy Burton will anchor the 2nd level, while the secondary will be led by Thorpe Award candidate S Elton Ford. While no player has had a standout performance or garnered All-conference honors, the collective group has the talent to be stout this year. With the Razorback offense expected to put up big numbers, this unit should be fine as long as they take a “bend but don’t break” mentality.
Interestingly enough, Arkansas most important player (behind Mallet, of course) might turn out to be place-kicker Alex Tejada. A 4th year starting Senior, Tejada was 58/59 on Extra Points last year and 16/22 on FGs (only missed 2 under 40 yards). If he can be even more consistent as a Senior, then that could be a valuable weapon in a conference that is sure to have a few games that go down to the wire.
The schedule is tough (as are all SEC schedules). The first half of the season is stacked. After 2 warm-up games to start out, they will enter a 4-game stretch that will make or break their season… playing Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M, and Auburn in consecutive games. If they come through that portion of the year sitting at 4-2 or better, then reaching 9 wins is the least they should get, with 10 being a distinct possibility.
Bobby Petrino’s strong recruiting prowess has yielded a group of athletes poised to make a run at the SEC West. If Mallet stays healthy, this team has as good a chance as any SEC squad to be representing the conference in a BCS Bowl game.
Key Returning Players:
QB Ryan Mallet
WR Greg Childs
TE DJ Williams
K Alex Tejada
RB Broderick Greene
LB Jerry Franklin
LB Freddy Burton
S Elton Ford
Key Games:
Sept 18 - @ Georgia
Sept 25 - Alabama
Oct 9 - Texas A&M
Oct 16 - Auburn
Nov 11 - @ South Carolina
Nov 27 - LSU
Now, that’s no knock to the 2010 Razorback squad, but the fact is this team is getting a lot of Pre-Season hype, coming off of an 8-5 season… including a dismal 3-5 record in the SEC. Do they deserve the hype? Maybe… maybe not.
The Razorbacks had a good season by their standards in 2009 (Coach Bobby Petrinos 2nd Year). Although they only had 3 SEC wins, 2 of their losses were to SEC Powers Florida and LSU, by a combined 6 points (with the LSU game going into overtime). First year Starter and former Michigan Wolverine, Ryan Mallet, led the SEC in Passing as a Redshirt Sophomore and many experts had him as one of the Top NFL QB prospects had he left early. After a quick deliberation, he decided to return for his Redshirt Junior season… and quite honestly, he is poised to have a Heisman caliber season.
The 6’6”, rocket-armed QB will have a plethora of weapons to play with. His WR corps, which many believe might be the best in the nation, is led by Juniors Greg Childs and Jarius White, who combined for 89 receptions, 1,578 yards and 12 TDs. Also returning is former USC recruit Joe Adams who has developed into arguably the best Slot WR in the SEC. Even with all the talent coming back at WR, Mallet’s best option in the passing game may very well be his Pre-Season All-American TE D.J. Williams. Williams’ 32 receptions for 411 yards and 3 TDs is 2nd best among returning SEC TEs.
Much like last year, the RB position will be handled by “committee”. Leading returning rusher Broderick Greene has the inside track to be the designated starter… but expect players like Ronnie Wingo, Knile Davis, and Dennis Johnson to get some carries as well. The problem wont be successfully running the ball, instead it will be keeping so many talented players happy with the limited amount of playing time each will be receiving.
Defensively, the Hogs return 8 of 11 starters to a defense that showed flashes of greatness in 2009. LBs Jerry Franklin and Freddy Burton will anchor the 2nd level, while the secondary will be led by Thorpe Award candidate S Elton Ford. While no player has had a standout performance or garnered All-conference honors, the collective group has the talent to be stout this year. With the Razorback offense expected to put up big numbers, this unit should be fine as long as they take a “bend but don’t break” mentality.
Interestingly enough, Arkansas most important player (behind Mallet, of course) might turn out to be place-kicker Alex Tejada. A 4th year starting Senior, Tejada was 58/59 on Extra Points last year and 16/22 on FGs (only missed 2 under 40 yards). If he can be even more consistent as a Senior, then that could be a valuable weapon in a conference that is sure to have a few games that go down to the wire.
The schedule is tough (as are all SEC schedules). The first half of the season is stacked. After 2 warm-up games to start out, they will enter a 4-game stretch that will make or break their season… playing Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M, and Auburn in consecutive games. If they come through that portion of the year sitting at 4-2 or better, then reaching 9 wins is the least they should get, with 10 being a distinct possibility.
Bobby Petrino’s strong recruiting prowess has yielded a group of athletes poised to make a run at the SEC West. If Mallet stays healthy, this team has as good a chance as any SEC squad to be representing the conference in a BCS Bowl game.
Key Returning Players:
QB Ryan Mallet
WR Greg Childs
TE DJ Williams
K Alex Tejada
RB Broderick Greene
LB Jerry Franklin
LB Freddy Burton
S Elton Ford
Key Games:
Sept 18 - @ Georgia
Sept 25 - Alabama
Oct 9 - Texas A&M
Oct 16 - Auburn
Nov 11 - @ South Carolina
Nov 27 - LSU
Thursday, June 10, 2010
#19 Pittsburgh Panthers
The team that many people think should win the Big East has the 2nd toughest Non-Conference Schedule in America and finishes the season with 4 straight games against teams that will likely be ranked (3 of those 4 are road games). That being said, this Panthers team could be anywhere from BCS Title contender to a mediocre 6-6 ballclub.
Let’s start with the positive. The consensus Big East Offensive Freshman of the Year, RB Dion Lewis, returns for his encore performance and Panther fans are hoping that he doesn’t skip a beat in his development. Lewis ran for 1,799 yards and 17 TDs while breaking virtually EVERY record set by Pittsburgh’s greatest RB in history, Tony Dorsett. Even Dorsett himself offered high praise for Lewis’s ability and determination. There is no question regarding Lewis’s talent. The only question is how he will play with a target on his back? As a freshman he was able to surprise lots of teams expecting Pitt to throw the ball more, but this year with the Panthers having a first-time starter at QB, expect more teams to stack 8 and even 9 defenders in the box with aspirations set on shutting Lewis down. He opens the season as the favorite to win Big East player of the year, but there’s literally A LOT of football to be played before that becomes reality.
As I alluded to previously, the Panthers will be putting a youngin’ under center. Sophomore Tino Sunseri, who is the son of former All-American Pitt LB Sal Sunseri, is the guy that will get the nod for the Panthers. He has beaten out former starter Pat Bostic and has shown in spring that he has all the tools necessary to be a successful trigger man. But now he’ll have to prove that against top-caliber athletes in a BCS conference. Most people would think that since he has Pre-Season All-American RB Dion Lewis, that the pressure would be off of him, but it’s actually quite the opposite. With the amount of attention that will be given to the Pitt running game, Sunseri is the true key to success for this football team. Sunseri is a dual-threat guy with quick feet so look for Dave Wannstedt’s staff to give him a few QB draws especially early in the season to give defenses another element to have to plan for.
Panther faithful, however, can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Sunseri will have one of the more talented groups of WRs in the nation to throw to. Highlighting said group is Jonathan Baldwin. Baldwin is ranked in the Top3 of most NFL scouts 2011 early draft list. His lanky frame, great hands, leaping ability, and silky smooth running motion are sure to make him a prized possession at the next level. But we’re talking about 2010 and for the Panthers to have success, he has got to make Sunseri look good. Joining Baldwin in this solid group will be sophomores Mike Shannahan and Cameron Saddler.
Last year the Pitt defense disappeared against Cincy while giving up 45 points in the final regular season game. But this year’s defense looks to be much more seasoned and experienced. DE Greg Romeus is an early candidate for the Chuck Bednarik award and some Pitt alumni are comparing him to the great Hugh Greene. Both starting safties return to anchor a secondary that will start all juniors and seniors, so experience is abundant.
Just looking at this team arbitrarily, you’d expect them to be in the national title hunt, but their schedule is arguably one of the toughest in the country. 3 of their non-conference games will be against Miami, Utah, and Notre Dame and they finish the season against the 4 other best teams in the Big East (Cincinnati, WVU, UConn, and USF). So while this team has the talent to win 11 games… I cant see them getting more than 9. Their game against West Virginia on November 26th should decide the Big East Champion.
Key Returning Players:
RB Dion Lewis
WR Jonathan Baldwin
DE Greg Romeus
Key Games:
Sept 2 - @ Utah
Sept 23 - Miami
Oct 9 - @ Notre Dame
Oct 23 - Rutgers
Nov 11 - @ UConn
Nov 20 - @ USF
Nov 26 - West Virginia
Dec 4 - @ Cincinnati
Let’s start with the positive. The consensus Big East Offensive Freshman of the Year, RB Dion Lewis, returns for his encore performance and Panther fans are hoping that he doesn’t skip a beat in his development. Lewis ran for 1,799 yards and 17 TDs while breaking virtually EVERY record set by Pittsburgh’s greatest RB in history, Tony Dorsett. Even Dorsett himself offered high praise for Lewis’s ability and determination. There is no question regarding Lewis’s talent. The only question is how he will play with a target on his back? As a freshman he was able to surprise lots of teams expecting Pitt to throw the ball more, but this year with the Panthers having a first-time starter at QB, expect more teams to stack 8 and even 9 defenders in the box with aspirations set on shutting Lewis down. He opens the season as the favorite to win Big East player of the year, but there’s literally A LOT of football to be played before that becomes reality.
As I alluded to previously, the Panthers will be putting a youngin’ under center. Sophomore Tino Sunseri, who is the son of former All-American Pitt LB Sal Sunseri, is the guy that will get the nod for the Panthers. He has beaten out former starter Pat Bostic and has shown in spring that he has all the tools necessary to be a successful trigger man. But now he’ll have to prove that against top-caliber athletes in a BCS conference. Most people would think that since he has Pre-Season All-American RB Dion Lewis, that the pressure would be off of him, but it’s actually quite the opposite. With the amount of attention that will be given to the Pitt running game, Sunseri is the true key to success for this football team. Sunseri is a dual-threat guy with quick feet so look for Dave Wannstedt’s staff to give him a few QB draws especially early in the season to give defenses another element to have to plan for.
Panther faithful, however, can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Sunseri will have one of the more talented groups of WRs in the nation to throw to. Highlighting said group is Jonathan Baldwin. Baldwin is ranked in the Top3 of most NFL scouts 2011 early draft list. His lanky frame, great hands, leaping ability, and silky smooth running motion are sure to make him a prized possession at the next level. But we’re talking about 2010 and for the Panthers to have success, he has got to make Sunseri look good. Joining Baldwin in this solid group will be sophomores Mike Shannahan and Cameron Saddler.
Last year the Pitt defense disappeared against Cincy while giving up 45 points in the final regular season game. But this year’s defense looks to be much more seasoned and experienced. DE Greg Romeus is an early candidate for the Chuck Bednarik award and some Pitt alumni are comparing him to the great Hugh Greene. Both starting safties return to anchor a secondary that will start all juniors and seniors, so experience is abundant.
Just looking at this team arbitrarily, you’d expect them to be in the national title hunt, but their schedule is arguably one of the toughest in the country. 3 of their non-conference games will be against Miami, Utah, and Notre Dame and they finish the season against the 4 other best teams in the Big East (Cincinnati, WVU, UConn, and USF). So while this team has the talent to win 11 games… I cant see them getting more than 9. Their game against West Virginia on November 26th should decide the Big East Champion.
Key Returning Players:
RB Dion Lewis
WR Jonathan Baldwin
DE Greg Romeus
Key Games:
Sept 2 - @ Utah
Sept 23 - Miami
Oct 9 - @ Notre Dame
Oct 23 - Rutgers
Nov 11 - @ UConn
Nov 20 - @ USF
Nov 26 - West Virginia
Dec 4 - @ Cincinnati
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Conference Expansion?
Will they or wont they? So much talk in this offseason has centered on the Big Question of Conference Expansion. The talk of “Super Conferences” and “Playoffs” and “Money” and “TV Deals” has been floating around the world of College Football for the past 4 months. Is this a good idea? Will it create more money? Will it shift the power of recruiting?
There are lots of questions… but let’s just focus on the X’s and O’s of this subject, if you will.
The last major conference expansion/realignment occurred in 2004-05 when Virginia Tech, Miami, and Boston College seceded from the Big East to joint the ACC. Prior to that, you’d have to look all the way back to the early 90’s when the SEC grabbed Arkansas and South Carolina to boost its conference membership from 10 to 12. So, why expand?
Back in 1991, under the direction and vision of Roy Kramer, the SEC decided that it would put its stock in a grand idea known as a Conference Championship Game. Up until that point, conference titles were determined strictly by records during the regular season. The idea was initially scoffed upon, considered to be too ambitious and uninteresting. Well, 18 years later, the 2009 SEC Championship game earned $14.3 million dollars in profit in a 3-day span in Atlanta, GA. The Big 12, ACC, Mid-American Conference and Conference USA have followed suit and while their revenue doesn’t match that of the SEC, “Conference Championship Weekend” (early December) has become one of the biggest money making weekends during the college football season.
So it’s no wonder that other conferences (e.g. Pac-10, Big Ten, MWC) want to add teams in order to set up a conference title matchup in December. The Big Ten, in particular is hungry to make this a reality for 1 main reason. The Big Ten regular season football schedule typically ends the week before Thanksgiving. That essentially renders the conference an afterthought as the other major conferences host their Championship games in early December.
A major point of contention that I have with the idea of a “superconference” that would house 14 or maybe even 16 football teams is simple. The University presidents and athletic directors have made it quite clear that the football season is not going to go above 12 regular season games. And with that, you only have 8 conference games. If, for example, the Big Ten grew to 16 teams, that would mean that teams would only play half the conference in any given year. Can you imagine the possibility that the Big Ten Champion might be undefeated yet they lucked out and didn’t have to play Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa, Penn State or Wisconsin in their season? How could any college football fan want a situation like that to become a possibility? 12 teams is without a doubt the highest number of teams that should even be considered.
The fantasy talk of “Super-conferences” is fun and spirited, but I am going to err on the side of practicality in this debate. So many journalists and so-called analysts are predicting this major shift and realignment, but amidst the fantasy-laden nature of these ridiculous predictions, lays the truth. And the truth is, as I alluded to earlier, the last time more than 3 teams shifted to an already established major conference was 1953. Translation - it’s simply not going to happen. There will be some minor tweaking, but nothing that will be near the monumental avalanche of change that some are predicting.
Here are the changes that I see occurring. These changes will both add to the spice of College Football by allowing the Pac-10 and Big Ten to become stronger and have a Conference Championship Game, while still keeping in tact the basic structure that is in place today. And oh by the way… Notre Dame isn’t changing anything in my prediction.
1. Missouri will move to the Big Ten.
2. The Big Ten will create 2 divisions and have a conference championship game (see below for breakdown).
3. The Big 12 will compensate by adding TCU.
4. The Big 12 will then realign the conference divisions by adding Oklahoma to the Big 12 North which will create more competition in the north, while also setting up the potential for an Oklahoma vs. Texas Big 12 Championship game every season.
5. Boise State and BYU will join the Pac-10.
a. There is 1 caveat to this one happening. If somehow the Pac-10 doesn’t offer Boise an invitation and/or the MWC can convince Boise that by joining the MWC it will become a BCS conference. If that happens, then I predict the Pac-10 might try to add Fresno St and/or Hawaii.
6. The Pac-10 will create 2 divisions and incorporate a Pac-10 Championship game (see below for breakdown).
7. East Carolina and UCF will join the Big East.
8. The MWC, WAC, and Conference USA will do some realigning and create 2 conferences from the 3, renaming 1 of the conferences the Mountain West Athletic Conference (MWAC).
Your New Conferences will look like this:
Big Ten
East
Penn St
Michigan
Michigan St
Purdue
Northwestern
Illinois
West
Ohio State
Wisconsin
Iowa
Missouri
Minnesota
Indiana
Pac-10
South
USC
California
Stanford
UCLA
Arizona
Arizona St.
North
Oregon
Oregon St.
Boise St.
BYU
Washington
Washington St.
Big 12
North
Oklahoma
Oklahoma St.
Nebraska
Kansas
Kansas St.
Iowa St.
South
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
TCU
Baylor
Colorado
There are lots of questions… but let’s just focus on the X’s and O’s of this subject, if you will.
The last major conference expansion/realignment occurred in 2004-05 when Virginia Tech, Miami, and Boston College seceded from the Big East to joint the ACC. Prior to that, you’d have to look all the way back to the early 90’s when the SEC grabbed Arkansas and South Carolina to boost its conference membership from 10 to 12. So, why expand?
Back in 1991, under the direction and vision of Roy Kramer, the SEC decided that it would put its stock in a grand idea known as a Conference Championship Game. Up until that point, conference titles were determined strictly by records during the regular season. The idea was initially scoffed upon, considered to be too ambitious and uninteresting. Well, 18 years later, the 2009 SEC Championship game earned $14.3 million dollars in profit in a 3-day span in Atlanta, GA. The Big 12, ACC, Mid-American Conference and Conference USA have followed suit and while their revenue doesn’t match that of the SEC, “Conference Championship Weekend” (early December) has become one of the biggest money making weekends during the college football season.
So it’s no wonder that other conferences (e.g. Pac-10, Big Ten, MWC) want to add teams in order to set up a conference title matchup in December. The Big Ten, in particular is hungry to make this a reality for 1 main reason. The Big Ten regular season football schedule typically ends the week before Thanksgiving. That essentially renders the conference an afterthought as the other major conferences host their Championship games in early December.
A major point of contention that I have with the idea of a “superconference” that would house 14 or maybe even 16 football teams is simple. The University presidents and athletic directors have made it quite clear that the football season is not going to go above 12 regular season games. And with that, you only have 8 conference games. If, for example, the Big Ten grew to 16 teams, that would mean that teams would only play half the conference in any given year. Can you imagine the possibility that the Big Ten Champion might be undefeated yet they lucked out and didn’t have to play Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa, Penn State or Wisconsin in their season? How could any college football fan want a situation like that to become a possibility? 12 teams is without a doubt the highest number of teams that should even be considered.
The fantasy talk of “Super-conferences” is fun and spirited, but I am going to err on the side of practicality in this debate. So many journalists and so-called analysts are predicting this major shift and realignment, but amidst the fantasy-laden nature of these ridiculous predictions, lays the truth. And the truth is, as I alluded to earlier, the last time more than 3 teams shifted to an already established major conference was 1953. Translation - it’s simply not going to happen. There will be some minor tweaking, but nothing that will be near the monumental avalanche of change that some are predicting.
Here are the changes that I see occurring. These changes will both add to the spice of College Football by allowing the Pac-10 and Big Ten to become stronger and have a Conference Championship Game, while still keeping in tact the basic structure that is in place today. And oh by the way… Notre Dame isn’t changing anything in my prediction.
1. Missouri will move to the Big Ten.
2. The Big Ten will create 2 divisions and have a conference championship game (see below for breakdown).
3. The Big 12 will compensate by adding TCU.
4. The Big 12 will then realign the conference divisions by adding Oklahoma to the Big 12 North which will create more competition in the north, while also setting up the potential for an Oklahoma vs. Texas Big 12 Championship game every season.
5. Boise State and BYU will join the Pac-10.
a. There is 1 caveat to this one happening. If somehow the Pac-10 doesn’t offer Boise an invitation and/or the MWC can convince Boise that by joining the MWC it will become a BCS conference. If that happens, then I predict the Pac-10 might try to add Fresno St and/or Hawaii.
6. The Pac-10 will create 2 divisions and incorporate a Pac-10 Championship game (see below for breakdown).
7. East Carolina and UCF will join the Big East.
8. The MWC, WAC, and Conference USA will do some realigning and create 2 conferences from the 3, renaming 1 of the conferences the Mountain West Athletic Conference (MWAC).
Your New Conferences will look like this:
Big Ten
East
Penn St
Michigan
Michigan St
Purdue
Northwestern
Illinois
West
Ohio State
Wisconsin
Iowa
Missouri
Minnesota
Indiana
Pac-10
South
USC
California
Stanford
UCLA
Arizona
Arizona St.
North
Oregon
Oregon St.
Boise St.
BYU
Washington
Washington St.
Big 12
North
Oklahoma
Oklahoma St.
Nebraska
Kansas
Kansas St.
Iowa St.
South
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
TCU
Baylor
Colorado
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
#20 Nebraska Cornhuskers
Former LSU Defensive coordinator Bo Pellini has quickly brought the Cornhusker program back to the brink of superiority. The post-Osborne Era had a tough effect on the program that once won 3 National titles in 4 years (1994, 1995, 1997). Replacing a legend is never easy as people like Frank Solich and Bill Callahan found out. But now after a somewhat surprising 2009 campaign which saw the Huskers come within 1 second of a Big 12 Championship and BCS Bowl berth, the program is primed to once again cement itself on the short-list of National Powers.
Some publications (Phil Steele, ESPN.com) have Nebraska ranked in the Top 5 or 10 of their pre-season polls. I’m not as convinced as these pundits and there is 1 simple reason. How often does a school lose a Heisman finalist to the NFL, then get better??? Regardless of Ndamakong Suh being a defensive player, the fact is that his signature is ALL over the Cornhuskers 2009 success. The same dominance on defense will be tough to come by.
The QB position is probably the one that is most in flux on the Huskers roster. Returning Senior Zac Lee had a decent 2009 season and though he lacked flashiness, he showed growth throughout. Unfortunately for him and the team, Lee missed the entire spring with an injury. During that time, backup Sophomore Cody Green was excellent, which has some people in Lincoln questioning if Lee should be handed the job back when he returns from injury this summer.
Easing the burden placed on whoever the Cornhuskers QB is, will be RBs Roy Helu Jr. and Rex Burkhead. The 2 combined for 1,500 yards and 12 TDs last season, but most expect those numbers to rise significantly as they emerge as one of the best 2-man backfields in America. WR Niles Paul provides a viable option down the field as the top returning ballcatcher. The offense should improve on last years numbers… and if they can figure out a way to solidify the QB position, then the Huskers should become one of the best offenses in the Big 12.
Everyone wants to know… who will replace Ndamokong Suh? Well that tall (and wide) order goes to DT Jared Crick, but to think that anyone can replicate what Suh did would be irresponsible. Crick was overshadowed last season and is very strong and athletic, but he wont have Suh demanding a double team block constantly, so it will be interesting to see how he responds to being “the man”.
The defensive secondary has some solid experience. Pellini was known for his strong secondary players while at LSU and CB Prince Amukamara is much in the mold of an SEC-caliber defensive back. With some strong passing games in the Big 12, consistency at that position will be key to the Cornhuskers success.
Nebraska is a team that almost everyone is looking at to be in a BCS Bowl game. With the shakiness of the QB and loss of Suh, I am one of the few skeptics. Regardless of what anybody thinks though… for a tradition rich program, stock piled with talent… anything less than a January Bowl will be a failure. Their Week 3 tilt with Jake Locker and company will give us a taste of their talent, while their Week 7 battle against the Texas Longhorns will let us know if they are a title contender. I predict a 9-3 season for the Children of the Corn.
Key Returning Players:
QB Cody Green
RB Roy Helu Jr
WR Niles Paul
DT Jared Crick
DE Pierre Allen
CB Prince Amukamara
Key Games:
Sept 18 - @ Washington
Oct 17 - Texas
Oct 23 - @ Oklahoma State
Oct 30 - Missouri
Nov 26 - Colorado
Some publications (Phil Steele, ESPN.com) have Nebraska ranked in the Top 5 or 10 of their pre-season polls. I’m not as convinced as these pundits and there is 1 simple reason. How often does a school lose a Heisman finalist to the NFL, then get better??? Regardless of Ndamakong Suh being a defensive player, the fact is that his signature is ALL over the Cornhuskers 2009 success. The same dominance on defense will be tough to come by.
The QB position is probably the one that is most in flux on the Huskers roster. Returning Senior Zac Lee had a decent 2009 season and though he lacked flashiness, he showed growth throughout. Unfortunately for him and the team, Lee missed the entire spring with an injury. During that time, backup Sophomore Cody Green was excellent, which has some people in Lincoln questioning if Lee should be handed the job back when he returns from injury this summer.
Easing the burden placed on whoever the Cornhuskers QB is, will be RBs Roy Helu Jr. and Rex Burkhead. The 2 combined for 1,500 yards and 12 TDs last season, but most expect those numbers to rise significantly as they emerge as one of the best 2-man backfields in America. WR Niles Paul provides a viable option down the field as the top returning ballcatcher. The offense should improve on last years numbers… and if they can figure out a way to solidify the QB position, then the Huskers should become one of the best offenses in the Big 12.
Everyone wants to know… who will replace Ndamokong Suh? Well that tall (and wide) order goes to DT Jared Crick, but to think that anyone can replicate what Suh did would be irresponsible. Crick was overshadowed last season and is very strong and athletic, but he wont have Suh demanding a double team block constantly, so it will be interesting to see how he responds to being “the man”.
The defensive secondary has some solid experience. Pellini was known for his strong secondary players while at LSU and CB Prince Amukamara is much in the mold of an SEC-caliber defensive back. With some strong passing games in the Big 12, consistency at that position will be key to the Cornhuskers success.
Nebraska is a team that almost everyone is looking at to be in a BCS Bowl game. With the shakiness of the QB and loss of Suh, I am one of the few skeptics. Regardless of what anybody thinks though… for a tradition rich program, stock piled with talent… anything less than a January Bowl will be a failure. Their Week 3 tilt with Jake Locker and company will give us a taste of their talent, while their Week 7 battle against the Texas Longhorns will let us know if they are a title contender. I predict a 9-3 season for the Children of the Corn.
Key Returning Players:
QB Cody Green
RB Roy Helu Jr
WR Niles Paul
DT Jared Crick
DE Pierre Allen
CB Prince Amukamara
Key Games:
Sept 18 - @ Washington
Oct 17 - Texas
Oct 23 - @ Oklahoma State
Oct 30 - Missouri
Nov 26 - Colorado
Thursday, June 3, 2010
#21 Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are coming off a great “Rebound Season”. After a poor 2008 showing which saw the Badgers finish with a lackluster 7-6 record, they rebounded in 2009 to post a 10-3 record and be a factor in the Big Ten Race. A HUGE win over Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl have some people in the Cheese State saying “2010 Big Ten Champs”, but let’s slow down for a moment and assess the possibility for that claim to become a reality.
Head Coach Bret Bilema started his Wisconsin coaching career in 2006 (replacing the legendary Barry Alvarez). And he started with a bang, going 12-1 and finishing in the Top 5 in the final AP Poll. But after lofty expectations fell short in ’07 and ’08, many were wondering if Bilema was actually the right man for the job. After a vote of confidence in the offseason leading up to 2009 from Alvarez (now Wisconsin’s AD), Bilema seems to have righted the ship.
Wisconsin brings back one of the most overlooked players in the country in RB John Clay. A strong, burly runner much in the form of his legendary predecessors like Ron Dayne and PJ Hill, Clay has the chance to become this years version of Toby Gearhart. Last season as a sophomore, he ran for 1,517 and 18 TDs, numbers that can be respected in ANY conference.
QB Scott Tolzien also returns giving the Badgers plenty of confidence and experience under center. In his first year as the starter, Tolzien threw for 2700 yards and 16 TDs in a Big Ten conference that had some quality defenses.
WR Nick Toon (who’s father is former 1st round pick and 3 time pro-bowler Al Toon) is primed for a monster Junior year. As he developed into a lanky Sophomore frame, the Junior to be had 54 catches for 805 yards. Now with all 3 skill positions having massive experience, Toon’s numbers should sky-rocket and anything short of All-Big Ten honors might be considered a disappointment.
The defense will be the “unkown” for this years team. The secondary should be strong as they return 3 of 4 starters from ’09… but its just the opposite up front in the trenches. Only 1 starter from the defensive line returns (including the key loss of DE O’Brien Shoefield), and having a strong front 4 is key for any team in a conference that’s known for its tough line-play.
One thing that bodes well for the Badgers is their schedule. For a 2nd consecutive year, the Badgers avoid playing the Nittany Lions, which is a plus. Their non-conference schedule is one of the easiest in America, as they start off with 3 of their first 4 games being against UNLV, San Jose State, and Austin Peay. Then, the month of October, more than maybe any team in the country, will Make or Break this 2010 Wisconsin season. Road Trips to Michigan State and Iowa… and a home game against the Buckeyes that month, highlight an otherwise easy schedule.
With the ease of the schedule and a solid, experienced offense, I am picking Wisconsin to pose the biggest threat to Ohio State for the Big Ten Crown. 10-2 is a distinct possibility… and 11-1 is certainly reachable. If Wisconsin can beat Ohio State at home in mid-October, then Badger fans may be able to book their flights to Pasadena after all.
Key Returning Players:
QB Scott Tolzien
RB John Clay
WR Nick Toon
OT Gabe Carimi
SS Jay Valai
LB Culmer St. Jean
Key Games:
Sept 18 - Arizona State
Oct 2 - @ Michigan State
Oct 16 - Ohio State
Oct 23 - @ Iowa
Nov 20 - @ Michigan
Nov 27 - Northwestern
Head Coach Bret Bilema started his Wisconsin coaching career in 2006 (replacing the legendary Barry Alvarez). And he started with a bang, going 12-1 and finishing in the Top 5 in the final AP Poll. But after lofty expectations fell short in ’07 and ’08, many were wondering if Bilema was actually the right man for the job. After a vote of confidence in the offseason leading up to 2009 from Alvarez (now Wisconsin’s AD), Bilema seems to have righted the ship.
Wisconsin brings back one of the most overlooked players in the country in RB John Clay. A strong, burly runner much in the form of his legendary predecessors like Ron Dayne and PJ Hill, Clay has the chance to become this years version of Toby Gearhart. Last season as a sophomore, he ran for 1,517 and 18 TDs, numbers that can be respected in ANY conference.
QB Scott Tolzien also returns giving the Badgers plenty of confidence and experience under center. In his first year as the starter, Tolzien threw for 2700 yards and 16 TDs in a Big Ten conference that had some quality defenses.
WR Nick Toon (who’s father is former 1st round pick and 3 time pro-bowler Al Toon) is primed for a monster Junior year. As he developed into a lanky Sophomore frame, the Junior to be had 54 catches for 805 yards. Now with all 3 skill positions having massive experience, Toon’s numbers should sky-rocket and anything short of All-Big Ten honors might be considered a disappointment.
The defense will be the “unkown” for this years team. The secondary should be strong as they return 3 of 4 starters from ’09… but its just the opposite up front in the trenches. Only 1 starter from the defensive line returns (including the key loss of DE O’Brien Shoefield), and having a strong front 4 is key for any team in a conference that’s known for its tough line-play.
One thing that bodes well for the Badgers is their schedule. For a 2nd consecutive year, the Badgers avoid playing the Nittany Lions, which is a plus. Their non-conference schedule is one of the easiest in America, as they start off with 3 of their first 4 games being against UNLV, San Jose State, and Austin Peay. Then, the month of October, more than maybe any team in the country, will Make or Break this 2010 Wisconsin season. Road Trips to Michigan State and Iowa… and a home game against the Buckeyes that month, highlight an otherwise easy schedule.
With the ease of the schedule and a solid, experienced offense, I am picking Wisconsin to pose the biggest threat to Ohio State for the Big Ten Crown. 10-2 is a distinct possibility… and 11-1 is certainly reachable. If Wisconsin can beat Ohio State at home in mid-October, then Badger fans may be able to book their flights to Pasadena after all.
Key Returning Players:
QB Scott Tolzien
RB John Clay
WR Nick Toon
OT Gabe Carimi
SS Jay Valai
LB Culmer St. Jean
Key Games:
Sept 18 - Arizona State
Oct 2 - @ Michigan State
Oct 16 - Ohio State
Oct 23 - @ Iowa
Nov 20 - @ Michigan
Nov 27 - Northwestern
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
2000's All Decade Team
As we transition into the 2010 College Football season, it is only right to look back on the previous decade and remember the greats that graced our fields, television sets, and hearts for the last 10 years. So I present to you the 2000’s All Decade Team:
QB Tim Tebow Florida
RB Adrian Peterson Oklahoma
RB Reggie Bush USC
WR Larry Fitzgerald Pittsburgh
WR Michael Crabtree Texas Tech
WR Braylon Edwards Michigan
TE Kellen Winslow Miami
OL Robert Gallery Iowa
OL Joe Thomas Wisconsin
OL Jake Long Michigan
OL Bryant McKinney Miami
OL Jonathan Luigs Arkansas
DE Julius Peppers North Carolina
DT Glen Dorsey LSU
DT Ndamakong Suh Nebraska
DE Terrell Suggs Arizona State
LB AJ Hawk Ohio State
LB Paul Posluzny Penn State
LB James Laurinitus Ohio State
CB Antoine Cason Arizona
S Sean Taylor Miami
S Roy Williams Oklahoma
CB Malcolm Jenkins Ohio State
K Mike Nugent Ohio State
P Daniel Sepulveda Baylor
KR/PR Brandon James Florida
All-Purpose Percy Harvin Florida
QB Tim Tebow Florida
RB Adrian Peterson Oklahoma
RB Reggie Bush USC
WR Larry Fitzgerald Pittsburgh
WR Michael Crabtree Texas Tech
WR Braylon Edwards Michigan
TE Kellen Winslow Miami
OL Robert Gallery Iowa
OL Joe Thomas Wisconsin
OL Jake Long Michigan
OL Bryant McKinney Miami
OL Jonathan Luigs Arkansas
DE Julius Peppers North Carolina
DT Glen Dorsey LSU
DT Ndamakong Suh Nebraska
DE Terrell Suggs Arizona State
LB AJ Hawk Ohio State
LB Paul Posluzny Penn State
LB James Laurinitus Ohio State
CB Antoine Cason Arizona
S Sean Taylor Miami
S Roy Williams Oklahoma
CB Malcolm Jenkins Ohio State
K Mike Nugent Ohio State
P Daniel Sepulveda Baylor
KR/PR Brandon James Florida
All-Purpose Percy Harvin Florida
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