Seven college football secrets for 2007

ESPN.com ^ | 10 August 2007 | Mark Schlabach

[GOP_Raider]

College football coaches tend to be a paranoid bunch. With the proliferation of the Internet and, more specifically, fan message boards, there aren't many secrets in college football anymore.

Even Frank Beamer, this journalist's last hope for open access, has gone to the dark side. He closed Virginia Tech's practices during preseason camp after suggesting that someone might have tipped off Georgia as to what plays the Hokies were going to run in last season's Chick-fil-A Bowl.

In a clandestine effort, we've enlisted our sources from coast to coast to uncover a few of college football's secrets heading into the 2007 season:

1. Darren McFadden is the best QB at Arkansas

It's no secret that Darren McFadden is one of the most explosive players in college football. He ran for 117.6 yards per game while sharing carries with Felix Jones last season. The SEC hasn't seen a tailback as complete as McFadden since Bo Jackson was carrying the load at Auburn.

But McFadden also might be the best quarterback at Arkansas, which is why opponents will see more of him behind center this season. Even after offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn bolted for Tulsa after only one season on Houston Nutt's staff, the Razorbacks are expanding their "Wildcat" package (now called "Wildhog") to take advantage of McFadden's versatility.

Opposing defenses also figure to see Jones working at quarterback, or even sophomore Michael Smith, who might be as explosive as Jones and McFadden. Just think Navy's triple option with better athletes.

[Nate505]

Easily in the postseason.

I love college football. The tradition, rivalries, and the use of the option (and other non-traditional playcalling) is great. The Fiesta Bowl last year might have been my favorite football game ever from a non-rooting standpoint, on any level. But it has quite possibly the worst postseason in all of sports on any level. And let me rephrase, not college football, but Division 1 college football. The other divisions grew a brain and adpoted a playoff. The current system is the ultimate screwjob to any non-big conference school.

[GOP_Raider]

I think there is a certain sort of romanticism with the college game that appeals to fans. E.g.: I love minor league baseball...well, because I’m a nerd, but even though pitchers and hitters in Single A don’t have the talent that players in AA or Triple A, let alone the Major League level have, there’s always that “hey, I saw that guy when he was in Single A Boise and couldn’t hit a fastball with a 2 x 4” story I can tell people in passing.

(That and it’s a really fun way to take three hours of your day and just get absoutely drunk. :) ).

Oh, that reminds me, I got a question for you. I’ll FReepmail you.

[Terpfen]

Your FReepmail has been replied to.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying college football is completely bad. I’m saying that the NFL is far and away better football, especially how there are always one or two teams that come out of nowhere to rack up wins and make a deep playoff run. The BCS is a joke.

(One of those teams that pop up out of nowhere this year? Detroit.)