Posted on 09/03/2009 12:26:58 AM PDT by GOP_Raider
Hello and welcome to the maiden voyage of the 2009 college football season here on the FR College Football Ping List. Since we have some newcomers to the list, I thought now would be as good of a time as any to show everyone how the thread works and the kind of merriment the thread entails.
Every week, I select the most compelling games and write down pertinent observations on each game (or, failing that, throw in a joke or two and you can sit there and pretend like what I just wrote was funny). Since I can't comment on every single game, I do feature the totality of the top 25 and if there are other games outside of the top 25 that I think might catch your observing interest, I'll comment on those games as well. In addition to that, a few of the FReepers on the ping list have asked me to feature their respective schools each week. (That and if I don't feature Texas Tech every single week, there will be outrage and calls for my head from Lubbock to San Angelo.) You'll see their name and team in lights each week as I try to give some thoughtful analysis to your beloved institution of higher learning.
So this week, we get to know our teams and in some cases, our opponents. The opening week for some teams quite often has them matched up with what some people might say are "inferior" counterparts. While you may have to wait a few weeks for your team to play a team that's "up to snuff" (if you'll pardon the expression), others have what may be the biggest game of their entire season right off the bat. So Week 1 is not all blowouts and the consumption of watered down beer, although I do the latter nearly every weekend. And now, the games of note for this, the first week of the 2009 season:
South Carolina vs. North Carolina State (Tonight, 7:00 pm) Wait a minute, wasn't this the first game of last season, too? Is this going to be the FR version of "Groundhog Day?" Maybe I should just find what I wrote about this game last year and see if it really is. (Come on, you know me better than that.) Anyway, so I'm doing my reading for week 1 and I noticed that a) Steve Spurrier is in his 5th year at South Carolina, and b) has an overall record of 28-22 in cash and prizes. Maybe it's me, but didn't most of us expect a little more from a Steve Spurrier coached squad? The particular USC in question will face the same Wolfpack team they shut out in Columbia last year. The operative question for NC State has to be can they figure out a way to contend in the ACC this season? I don't see why not, as it seems like everyone else is--well, except Duke.
Utah State vs. UTAH (Tonight 9:00 pm) Okay, before I begin the rest of this in-depth analysis, let me assure you that I think this year's Utes will not be prominently featured each week for the entire season and I only featured them each week last season because they were ranked, I swear. This year, there's a very unlikely possibility that the Utes will still remain ranked after a few weeks of action---for starters, there's replacing the winningest QB in school history (Brian Johnson) and far and away the most clutch kicker and punter in school history (Louie Sakoda). Then there's the losses of Brice McCain, Darrell Mack, Freddie Brown, Paul Kruger, Robert Conley, and one has to wonder what coaches and writers must have been thinking ranking this team in the middle of the top 25. Let us also try to forget that there's a likely possibility that true freshman (yes, you read that correctly) Jordan Wynn will start at QB for this one and I think 2009 will more than likely not be a reprise of the year 2008. This will be the last time that the Utes take on our little brothers from Logan for a while, as the series takes a two year hiatus.
Oregon vs. Boise State (Tonight 10:15 pm) Any real hopes the Broncos have of making this a remarkable season ride on this opening tilt against the Ducks. Kellen Moore and a very potent offense lead the charge against a UO squad that brings back QB Jeremiah Masoli and...hey, let me ask you something. These two teams played each other in Eugene last season, with the Broncos winning 37-32. What most fans around here take from that game (certainly the UO fans I've met in recent months) were two personal foul penalties committed by Boise State, the second of which lead to the ejection of Broncos safety Jeron Johnson. Yes, I do have visual evidence at my disposal so you can decide for yourselves whether the penalties, the scorn, and even the ejection were justified. Getting back to the game at hand, here's a very interesting tidbit of info you might want to take a look at: the last time the Broncos lost a non-bowl game at home was before 9/11 (Wazzu back in 2001). BSU simply doesn't lose games at home. So perhaps you know where I'm going with this...
Navy vs. Ohio State (High Noon) I know what you're thinking and I can also take a pretty educated guess at the question you may be asking about the Buckeyes this year. You're probably going to ask me "so what SEC or Big 12 school will the Buckeyes lose to in their respective BCS bowl game this year?" Okay, fine. But let's try to stay on point here and not sleep on the Midshipmen. As I chronicled throughout much of last season, I'm a sucker for a good option attack, and The United States Naval Academy executes an attack of the wishbone variety that's a pain for opposing defenses. What the Midshipmen have up their sleeve this season is anybody's guess, but the Buckeyes would, at least in theory, set themselves up well for next week's showdown against USC in the Horseshoe. That and you have to be drawn a little bit to a team that has a defensive end named Thaddeus Gibson. I want to be named Thaddeus Gibson when I grow up.
San Jose State vs. USC (3:30 pm) In a "make or break" kind of opening week for the WAC, this is one where the WAC school is more than likely to "break". So if you were expecting another Appalachian State kind of game in this one, you might want to look elsewhere. I suppose the primary question for the Men of Troy has to be who will be the successor to Mark Sanchez at the quarterback position. Anymore, the question might be better rephrased as "which player currently on the depth chart will be a key player on your fantasy football team in a few years?" Remember, it never hurts to look ahead in fantasy football. Oh, and it also never hurts to not draft as many players from your favorite team on your fantasy team. (Don't laugh, it's not funny.)
Georgia vs. Oklahoma State (3:30 pm) Here we have a game featuring two schools that are "good, but not quite there yet". And by "there", I mean that both of them have that one particular maple bar left to bake between them and the full baker's dozen. (Yeah, that's a crummy week 1 metaphor, I apologize). The Bulldogs will no longer have the services of Matthew Stafford and Knowshown Moreno, but will UGA have the weaponry to contain, if not flat out stop, Zac Robinson, Dez Bryant, and the totality of the Cowpoke offense? Or perhaps more accurately, have the offense to keep up if it devolves into a track meet? Not to take anything away from the Longhorns or the Sooners here, but are the Cowboys really capable of winning the Big XII South or are they going to be the piece of toast next to your eggs and hash browns? (I better stop with the very mediocre food analogies before somebody gets seriously hurt.)
Nevada vs. Notre Dame (3:30 pm) Lou Holtz seems to think that the Fighting Irish will return to their rightful place in the college football pecking order and get to the BCS Championship Game this year. Why, we're not entirely sure, but that's neither here nor there. The Irish do bring back an offense that finally won a bowl game last season, but in the opener they'll face Nevada and Colin Kaepernick, the best quarterback you've probably never heard of. So after we've all seen the now infamous Lou Holtz prediction video over at ESPN, the question I'll now field is this: is this the year that Notre Dame returns to it's "rightful" place atop the college football world or are we more likely to see the beginning of the end of the coaching tenure of Charlie Weis?
Missouri vs. Illinois (3:40 pm) From the states that brought you Cubs/Cardinals and corruption that would put some African countries to shame, they now bring you the Tigers and Fighting Illini. We know by now what the Tigers are capable of doing--or what they were capable of doing last year with the likes of Chase Daniel and Jeremy Macklin. (I also still haven't let go of the fact that I thought Daniel would win the Heisman. I also collected pogs in middle school, too. So nobody's perfect.) But how good will the Illini be? Good enough to win 10 games and challenge for the Big 10 title? Good enough to beat Mizzou with QB Juice Williams and the senior leadership--I would have to assume--that entails?
(for Palmetto) Middle Tennessee State vs. Clemson (6:00 pm) Look, I know it's not nearly as sexy as playing Alabama was to start off last season, but you have to look on the bright side. (as an eternal pessimist, I have to tell myself that every day). This year will start off much, much better than last year. My question to the Clemson faithful has to be are they looking ahead to next Thursday when they make the road trip to the ATL (as the kids say) and Georgia Tech?
Charleston Southern vs. Florida (7:00 pm) If I may take a minute or so here I'd like to come clean with something. As I research the individual games each week, I have a tendency to get a little cocky. Watching games and highlights, looking at stat sheets, I'm sure I know pretty much everything there is to know about the great game of college football. And then I ran into this game, which I said "Charleston Southern, who the hell is that? I mean, how the hell am I supposed to comment on a school I didn't even know had a football program until today?" Well, thanks to the Ministry of Truth that is Wikipedia, I was able to find out who this magically mysterious Charleston Southern actually is. Charleston Southern is known as the Buccaneers, play in the FCS's Big South Conference, and deeply offends liberals with a motto that reads "promoting academic excellence in a Christian environment". We'll have to see just how Christian it is to be a sacrificial lamb to the #1 team in all the land.
(for Biggirl and Man50D) UConn vs. Ohio (7:00 pm) Consider this "the calm before the storm" for the Huskies. Having to take on the Bobcats of THE University of Ohio (doesn't really have the same ring to it, does it?), the Huskies will also take on Baylor, Pitt, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame, all on the road. That having been said, UConn has a fair share of talent to replace, chief among them was 2,000 yard rusher Donald Brown. Will the Huskies make it to yet another bowl game?
byU vs. Oklahoma (7:00 pm) Some of you may think that I unfairly pick on the Cougars, and by and large, you would be right. I've been asked to describe the Coug fan base to people who aren't completely immersed in this rivalry like I am and I think it's best to cite anecdotal evidence instead. This offseason for example, the Cougars cancelled their spring football game. Who does that? For some real testicular fortitude, try pulling that one off in Norman. Or Tuscaloosa. Or Athens. For another one that hopefully explains itself, take a look at this, featuring current Coug QB Max Hall, current TE Dennis Pitta, and (thankfully) former WR Austin Collie. Yes, that's our rival, our snotty, dorky looking rival.
If that isn't enough, the Coug fan base now thinks they will outdo all of the mid-majors and somehow beat the Sooners and get to the BCS title game. I mean, they have a senior QB and all (and to be somewhat fair, this is a team that traditionally does well with a senior leader at that position), so clearly that's no match for the likes of Sam Bradford, Jermaine Gresham, and a Sooner squad that was certainly good enough to make a game of it last season against Florida. So what better way to christen the brand new Texas Stadium than to watch the Cougars lose in front of most of these kinda sorta United States?
(for sean327) New Mexico vs. Texas A&M (7:00 pm) You know, Rocky Long deserves a lot of credit. Maybe he didn't have the kind of season that Dennis Franchione had back in 1997 which got the Lobos the Mountain Division title in the old 16 team WAC. But I think there's some potential with the new guy, Mike Locksley. My guess is though that the Lobos would really like a quarterback that's not named Donovan Porterie. This week, they'll travel to College Station to take on Mike Sherman and the Texas Aggies. A lot of you (and I do mean a lot of you) on this fine thread and ping list like to take your shots at The Texas A&M University, but I will say this: the Ags have always been very good about scheduling home and home series with schools from the Mountain West. They've taken to the road in the past against Wyoming, UTAH and last year against these same Lobos.
Louisiana-Monroe vs. Texas (7:00 pm) Many of you who aren't as familiar with the entire Football Bowl Subdivision as I may not be at all familiar with the glory that is Louisiana-Monroe. ULM used to be known as the Indians, but according to liberals, that's mean to Indians, so a few years ago they dropped the nickname and went with the Warhawks. Hey, that reminds me, if you were an "Indian", wouldn't it offend you more that things aren't being named after you anymore? Like it matters, using the word "war" will probably offend another set of liberals, so it'll probably have to be changed yet again. Anyway, the Longhorns have the proud distinction of a 13-0 record against members of the Sun Belt Conference.
(for our FR TTU Contingent) North Dakota vs. Texas Tech (7:00 pm) While I'm on the subject of "Indian" names in the college game, North Dakota has one of their own, the Fighting Sioux. Or they will until they start to retire it next month. At any rate, Tech isn't quite starting from scratch, it just might seem that way with the fact that Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree are both gone. But leave it to one Pete Fiutak, who writes for the website College Football News who wrote in his preview of the Red Raiders "Graham Harrell might be gone along with Michael Crabtree, so Texas Tech will switch to a wishbone option offense and scrap the high-octane passing attack." I'm thinking "dude, is Mike Leach out of his mind?" So I'm writing emails, sending FReepmail to WhyisaTexasgirlinPA wondering what the hell is going on...and then I realized I forgot a pretty key sentence after that: "yeah, right." So in other words, I fell for it.
Alabama vs. Virginia Tech (8:00 pm) Much is being made about the Hokies not having the services of RB Darren Evans, who is out for the year with a torn ACL. Perhaps this is for good reason, too. Ye have heard it hath been said that Bama is getting overlooked a little bit, thanks in part to Ole Miss in that division (more on the Rebels in a second). Keep this in mind about Bama though: such luminaries as Julio Jones, Terrence Cody, Javier Arenas, Mark Ingram, and Rolando McClain are all back this season. That having been said, one has to ignore the Tide at their own peril. As for Va Tech, they ought to be the odds-on favorite to win the ACC yet again. I say this given the fact that the ACC is in the midst of the Parity Era. Recently you've had your Clemson era (much of the 1980s), your Florida State era (the 90s) and now the Parity Era. Can an ACC school really contend for the big huge Waterford crystal trophy and that big huge opague trophy from Sears? That might be asking a little much right now.
Maryland vs. Cal (10:00 pm) One of the teams in the Pac 10 serving as the heir to USC's perennial throne is Da Cal Bears, lead by all-Milky Way RB Jahvid Best. The last time Da Cal Bears were riding this high was my very first year as your humble FR College Football Correspondent, 2007. Having just beaten Oregon in Eugene, they were 5-0 and ranked really, really high and then they lose in inexplicable fashion to Oregon State at home. They would wind up losing six of their next seven and went to the Armed Forces Bowl. They'll face a Terrapin squad that has needless to say been inconsistent. The Terps did however beat Cal last year in College Park, which was a much needed win after losing to Middle Tennessee State the week before.
LSU vs. Washington (10:30 pm) While Cal is tabbed as an heir apparent in the PAC, Washington is...not. I never thought I'd live long enough to see the Huskies go winless for an entire season. One can only hope that the only byU quarterback I never wanted to see holding a clipboard for 10 seasons or become a 9-5 working stiff like you and me can bring them back to...well, more wins than zero. The Bayou Bengals on the other hand had some major issues at the QB position and had moments last year where they looked plain bad (the Georgia game was one, the first half of the Troy game was another). And from the perspective of this amateur talking head, it still doesn't seem right to me to think of "U-Dub" as a "gimme" on anyone's schedule. (By the way, LSU is 12-3 all time against Pac-10 opponents).
Ole Miss vs. Memphis (Sunday, 3:30 pm) Is it okay if I'm not completely sold on the Rebels, is that 2009 college football equivalent of a social faux pas? Yes, I know they bring back Greg Hardy, Jevan Snead, and Dexter McCluster, they beat Texas Tech and Florida last year (the latter in Gainesville, no less), and there's no reason why they can't be 5-0 going into the Alabama game this year. But is this team really good enough to win the SEC West? Supposedly, the Tigers have a tendency to hang tough against the Rebels, and Memphis did play in the inagural St. Petersburg Bowl last year against South Florida.
Colorado State vs. Colorado (Sunday, 7:00 pm) Here is this year's Rocky Mountain Showdown, with this year's game being played at the non-neutral site of Boulder. Two main questions that I have and I've got one for both combatants. Is CU going to become relevant in the Big XII North again? (and as a follow up, how short of a leash does Dan Hawkins have right now?) What about the Rams and do they have enough talent and playmakers on the defensive side of the ball (I say this being fully aware of the fact that CSU narrowly lost to TCU in a very low scoring 13-7 game last year)? The Buffaloes do have a pretty big stranglehold on the all-time series, but in catchy songs that your long time athletic director penned which mock regional rivals old and new the Rams are a spotless 1-0.
Cincinnati vs. Rutgers (Monday, 4:00 pm) The Bearcats begin their Big East title defense against the Scarlet Knights, and while it may not be a spirited title defense--the Bearcat D might need some work if they're going to have another run at it this year--this isn't a bad opening game for them. True, I say that now and I'm more than prepared to eat crow if The State University of New Jersey has a terrible season. But it has to be reassuring to see Bearcat head coach Brian Kelly sign a multi year extension to stay in Cincy.
(for Bat_Chemist) Miami vs. Florida State (Monday, 8:00 pm) When the current amalgamation of the ACC was formed, wasn't the conventional wisdom that these two teams would be the two teams that made it to the ACC Title Game every year? Certainly the 'Canes at the very least, who all of the sudden have been playing bowl games in December instead of January. "The U" still has a ton of underclassmen, but the 'Noles could probably benefit from an improved passing game (I know, it's not exactly a league where it's plentiful. Sort of the anti-Big 12 if you will). If FSU looks to return to being the FSU we've all come to know and love, this would be a good place to start, with a W against a Hurricane squad trying to crawl before it can walk in their own right.
So there you have it. I'm going to go to sleep and get ready for the big trip to Salt Lake City tomorrow. Enjoy your games this opening weekend wherever they happen to be.
What you and your brother might not have seen was that before any of this happened, there was a bit of a situation between several Oregon players themselves! I’d have to go back to see but I’m going to assume Blount was in that group too - then he kept walking and the attack happened on the BSU player - then the prissy dancing backwards like he was taunting anyone to come after him....then the rest that you’ve seen. I watched it all live last night - the announcers were stunned and it just seemed like the train wreck would never end....
Thanks for the link Drango - way to go PAC-10 - I think the right decision.
The Big Ten Network tomorrow has (for most people) Akron-Penn State at 12 noon est and Northern Illinois-Wisconsin at 7pm est. The Ohio State-Navy game is on ESPN at 12 noon. If ya got nothing better to do on sunday morning you can watch the Purdue-Toledo game at 9AM EST.
We are fastly approaching the hour of Noon in the East. Here in about 15 minutes, we’ll get started.
Games of note in the Top 25
Ohio State/Navy
Penn State/Akron
Iowa/Northern Iowa
Georgia Tech/Jacksonville State
My apologies for not including the Nittany Lions in the games that I previewed this week. I do promise you that won’t be the case every week.
This should clinch an undefeated season for USC (to me, Oregon was a much bigger threat to them than Ohio State).
Combine that with an undefeated Texas or Oklahoma (Red River Shootout winner), and a possibly undefeated Florida (who avoid Alabama and Ole Miss until a possible conference title game).
I would love to see 3 undefeated teams from major conferences (and Boise State) turn the BCS on its ear.
Looking at the schedules, Penn State and Purdue (or Penn State and Wisconsin) could go undefeated since they don’t play each other.
I would laugh, since I think their formula for choosing conference champions is “the team that didn’t win it last”, sending Purdue to a BCS game.
Yes, I know the season just started. :)
I missed the pregame intros for the Buckeye game. Did ESPN show the crowd reaction to Navy coming onto the field? It wouldn’t surprise me at all if ESPN decided to throw that down the memory hole.
I didn’t see anything bad. Good start for OSU agsint Navy. 6-0 now with the PAT coming up.
TD Penn State! and TD Buckeyes!
Both have 7-0 leads at this point.
At this point in the year, I’m still going with the conventional wisdom that Penn St./Ohio St. in Happy Valley will decide the Big 10 title. I do agree with your earlier post that we could have as many as 3 unbeaten teams this season.
By the way, Greg Paulus had the first snap of his college football career fly about 10 feet over his head.
GO USC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big time fans here!
I’m a little miffed at ESPN right now, so I probably thought they would censor something like that.
Since I’m at my brother’s new place, I should be watching the OSU game. Instead, he wants to watch Kentucky/Miami (OH) on ESPNU. Was I adopted?
While I’m at it, a few of the commentators at ESPN have said concerning the LeGarrette Blount situation that there was a racial undertone to it (Desmond Howard was among the first to mention this). And you wonder why I don’t watch ESPN unless they actually air a game.
Navy has a pretty solid first drive. The option attack which all of the service academies run it seems is an absolute pain to defend, as I know from my experience with Air Force in the MWC.
LOL. I’m miffed at ESPCN too, but not over college ball.
I’ve been counting down the days since the end of last season....could hardly wait for the season to start! Got the beer iced down, the shrimp ready to boil, a tenderloin on the grill for steak sandwiches and gumbo in the pot slowly cooking!!!! Roll Tide! (BTW, today is historic in Mobile, the University of South Alabama - go Jags - is playing their very first ever football game.....just hope one day they’re good enough to play an SEC team....)
Sounds great to me.
Ever since Disney took over the Worldwide Leader is when things started to get more overtly political, and leftist kind of political at that.
Pryor is playing well today. Buckeyes are driving...
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