College Football Coverage
The Dirty Dozen:
12 underrated but TiVo-worthy college football matchups for 2009
Going into the college football season, there are certain games that will be on every Buffalo Wild Wings’ TV, every Las Vegas jumbotron, and every Tom, Dick, and Harry’s HD widescreen. “Cant-miss” games such as Ohio St./USC, Florida/LSU, and Texas/Oklahoma are going to be great, however there are many other games to be played in 2009 that demand attention. Watch the ESPN game-of-the-week if you must (I know I will), but set your TiVo for these less appreciated, yet very intriguing contests.
Part I: Opening-Weekend Games:
Oregon at Boise St. – Thursday, September 3rd
While this game may already be on your radar, its too good not to mention, and due to the 10pm EST start time you may have to record it anyway. As a college football fan you cannot ask for more on the first night of games. Seeing this on the schedule was like finding $20 in an old pair of jeans. This game will have a major impact on the psyche of each team, as Oregon looks to ride RB LeGarrett Blount to a BCS berth and Boise tries to continue its giant-killing ways. The return of blazing WR Titus Young will improve an already potent Bronco attack with Kellen Moore at the helm. This is a BCS-bowl worthy matchup on the first day of the season, the winner of which can feel good about their title hopes. The loser will have a steep mountain to climb to achieve their preseason goals in 2009.
Nevada at Notre Dame – Saturday, September 5th
On paper, this is one to gloss over while you find the channel Ok St/Georgia is on. However the outcome game could create huge ripples that will affect each program’s season. Do-it-all QB Colin Kaepernick along with thunder/lightning combo Vai Taua and Luke Lippencot in the backfield make the Wolf Pack a delight to watch. Notre Dame comes in with great expectations on the shoulders of a junior class with loads of talent. Led by Jimmy Clausen, this Irish team needs to win 10 games this season before he, and the rest of the program is labeled a bust. A Notre Dame win would be a solid victory and may lead to a redemption season. But if Nevada wins, it will give them a victory to springboard them into BCS-busting status while the Irish’s entire season will crumble under unmet expectations and a potential midseason firing of coach Charlie Weiss may follow.
BYU v. Oklahoma (at Arlington, TX)– Saturday, September 5th
One of the more interesting games of the year, period. There is no need to rehash the all-time type greatness of OU’s offense led by QB Sam Bradford and TE Jermaine Gresham. However in this neutral site contest, the Cougars may be able to score with the Sooners. All-WAC QB Max Hall, RB Harvey Unga and TE Dennis Pitta round out a gritty BYU offense that scored 34.3 points a game last year. Despite the skill position talent, this game will be decided on the lines. BYU boasts a strong defensive front seven, six of which are returning starters. Mountain West all-time sack leader, DE Jan Jorgensen, and the rest of the defense will try to take advantage of Oklahoma’s green offensive line and get to Bradford. If the Cougar D can disrupt OU’s juggernaut offense, a massive upset could be waiting in Arlington.
3 Conference Defining Games
California at Oregon – Saturday, September 26th
The king of the Pac-10 is still USC, however there may be a changing of the guard this season. Cal has been stocking talent for years and with arguably the nation’s most talented rusher, Jahvid Best, the time is now to make a championship run. Oregon, as discussed previously, has the running game to contend, but also can stretch the field with USC transfer, WR Jamere Holland. The winner of this matchup will still have to face Southern Cal, but will control their own conference destiny and be in good shape to dethrone the five-time champs.
Wake Forest at Clemson – Saturday, October 17th
The ACC Atlantic division may as well be a piñata, since the spoils are completely up for grabs in 2009. However with Florida St reeling from 75% of the offense graduating or being dismissed, Clemson and Wake are the teams to beat. Gutsy QB Riley Skinner leads a veteran Wake offense for the fourth straight year, but will have to keep stud Tiger DEs Ricky Sapp and DaQuan Bowers at bay. The rebuilt Deacon defense may be susceptible to Clemson’s one-two punch of RBs CJ Spiller and Jamie Harper. This game will likely determine the Atlantic champ, and earn them a ticket to Jacksonville.
LSU at Ole Miss – Saturday, November 21st
Like every year, choosing the best game in the SEC is like having to decide between a Lamborghini, a Ferrari and a Porsche: you can’t go wrong. After a disappointing 2008 campaign, LSU looks to be back at full strength and will contend for an SEC title. Their quarterback situation, last year’s Achilles heel, is more stable as Jordan Jefferson finished strong and had a good spring. The Tiger defense is always tough, but will be tested by Jevan Snead and the Rebels. If LSU truly is on the rebound and Ole Miss meets expectations, this late season contest will be for the right to play Florida in Atlanta. Which is kind of like earning a spot in a frat only to endure freshman hazing.
3 Out-of-Conference Games
W. Virginia at Auburn – Saturday, September 19th
Seeing this on the schedule brings to mind the classic C + C Music Factory song, “Things That Make You Go Hmmmm.” The Big East brings its top shelf talent to the plains of Auburn for a game that will be a measuring stick for each squad. Auburn has about as much offensive identity as the X-Men villain Mystique. They need to figure out go-to guys at almost every offensive skill position, but can rely on senior RB Ben Tate to carry the rock. Their historically stout defense will try to contain the West Virginia offense, which has run all over the Big East in recent years. Although the Mountaineers have lost their all-time greatest player, QB Pat White, junior RB Noel Devine remains. He should be able to twist, dart, and bounce around tacklers like he did in the YouTube videos that made him a legend in high school. The winner will take a quality win into conference play and position itself for a strong year.
Southern Miss at Kansas – Saturday, September 26th
Kansas starts this game with a disadvantage: Southern Miss has has had this one circled in red sharpie since the schedule came out, while the Jayhawks marked off a few games against Texas, Oklahoma, etc. The Eagles’ trio of QB Austin Davis, RB Damieon Fletcher, and WR DeAndre Brown fuel an offense that scored over 30 points a game last year. The leaky Kansas defense better tighten the screws or USM will certainly light up the scoreboard. On the other hand, KU has a few playmakers of their own. Less-heralded than his Big 12 counterparts, QB Todd Reesing’s pass attack ranked 8th in the country last year. It’s a good thing Southern Miss returns all their secondary from 2008, as they will need it to compete with Reesing and WR Dezmon Briscoe. Potential All-CUSA DT Anthony Gray mans a defensive line which will try to contain shifty Kansas RB Jake Sharp. This game is sure to have some explosive offense as Southern Miss vies for a chance to announce itself to the world, or at least get an invitation to the suddenly visible BCS-busting club.
Ga Tech at Miss St. – Saturday, October 3rd
A great game to watch while waxing your Delorian, the Back to the Future Game is sure to be interesting. Second year Ga Tech coach, Paul Johnson, runs an offense straight out of the 1930s. His triple option produced an offense that ran for 273 yards per game in 2008. A beautiful, yet brutal thing to watch, the Yellow Jackets went old school and just outmuscled teams to a surprising 9-4 record. Mississippi State, however, has brought in a shiny new toy: the spread option. Dan Mullen, an Urban Meyer protégé, takes over as the head coach of the Bulldogs and brings the offense of the future. As the offensive coordinator of Florida he ran an offense that was 4th in the nation last year, which is astounding considering the second string was usually playing the 3rd and 4th quarters. These contrasting styles will clash and may cause a ripple in the space-time continuum, but it will be fun to witness. I just hope Mullen realizes that Tim Tebow didn’t catch a ride through a wormhole over to Miss St with him.
3 In-State Conference Rivalry Games
C. Michigan at W. Michigan – Saturday, October 17th
The annual Michigan Directional All-Star game is sure to be a real treat this year. Each team boasts an NFL-caliber QB: Dan LeFevour for Central and Tim Hiller for Western. LeFevour burst on to the scene 3 years ago as a freshman and is still making plays with his arm and feet throwing for over 2,700 yards and leading the team with 592 rushing yards a year ago. The entire Chippewa scheme begins and ends with #13, so it bodes well that his top three WRs from 2008 return. Throw in the fact that Western’s defense was decimated by graduation and there is a powder keg of offense just waiting to explode here for Central. The Broncos boast a potential first day selection in Hiller who checks in at 6’5” and 230 pounds. He has prototypical size and an NFL arm to boot, which he has used to toss for over 8000 yards and 73 TDs in his career. Western will need a few WRs to show up as a few of Hiller’s former targets finished up their education, but their sturdy ground game should help until that time. This meeting could determine the MAC West champ as well as the MAC Player of the Year, depending on which QB outshines the other.
Rice at Houston – Saturday, November 7th
Houston QB Case Keenum threw for over 5000 yards last year, which is more than he will have to travel for this meeting with Rice. This inter-city rivalry is oozing with offense, as both teams were top 10 scorers a year ago. Keenum and Co. shredded opposing defenses for over 400 yards through the air and look to do more of the same as top WRs Tyrone Carrier and Patrick Edwards are back again, along with 1000 yard rusher Bryce Beal. The Cougars should light it up against a defense that was very porous last season, but returns eight starters to its 4-2-5 scheme. Rice may have a questionable defense, but makes up for it with a high-powered offense that scored 41.3 points a game last season. Star QB Chase Clement is gone but Alabama transfer Nick Fanuzzi is eligible and will compete. Fanuzzi sounds like he belongs in the Godfather, but he can shoot up opposing corners with a strong arm and good mobility. Only a few WRs return from their 4-wide spread attack, so the Owls may not be a potent as a year ago. This rivalry game will be a fun one, especially for those that like a lot of points on the scoreboard. So sit back, crack open a cold one, and enjoy two programs on the rise battle it out for the city title.
FAU at FIU – Saturday, December 5th
This isn’t the other Florida rivalry game, it’s the other-other-other-other one. Way down on the totem pole of relevance lie Florida Atlantic and Florida International Universities. Atlantic has had success and is a budding Sun Belt power, going 2-for-2 in bowl games recently. Senior QB Rusty Smith mans an offense that returns many stars from a team that beat afore-mentioned Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl last year. The main cause for concern is the offensive line which will be breaking in 4 new starters, but that might not be so bad considering coach Howard Schnellenberger broke in an entire new program only 9 years ago. International is a mirror image, returning most of the O-line and defense in addition to much of the skill positions. Utility man T. Y. Hilton can score catching, running, or returning the ball and the Owls will have to watch him on every snap. Last year this game produced over 100 total points, and this year it could do the same. It should be an exciting match against two newer teams just scratching the surface of their potential.
College Football: Impact Feshman Part Two
This is a continuation of the Impact Freshman piece posted a few weeks ago. This article will take a look at defensive players who have a chance to contribute right away in 2009. (Players are listed in alphabetical order and all rankings are taken from Rivals.com)
Part II: Defense
Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State – One viewing of his Rivals highlight tape is all you need. Burfict, who was originally committed to Southern Cal, may already be the hardest hitter on the ASU team. The Sun Devils return 2 starting LBs from last year, but Burfict, and his Terry Tate-esque hits, will find a way on the field.
William Campbell, DT, Michigan – Typically defensive and offensive lineman are not able to make an impact as freshmen because of a lack of strength. Campbell, however, got to Ann Arbor as an early enrollee and used the time to get bigger and stronger. He may not start, but look for him to get in the D-line rotation and help Michigan gain some respectability back.
Fletcher Cox, DE, Mississippi St – Cox lands on this list simply because of his freakish physical gifts. His body is college ready at 6’4” and 240lbs but he runs a 4.4 40 yard dash and ran track in high school. He has one of the quickest first steps of any DE in this class and he should be able to get on the field even quicker as the new regime at Miss. St builds their program.
Storm Klein, LB, Ohio St – Klein was not the most highly recruited guy the Buckeyes landed in 2009, but he certainly made the biggest impression this spring. Bringing a gritty attitude, Storm plays like his moniker, swallowing any ballcarier that may cross his path. Look for Klein to get in the rotation and give sturdy minutes as a freshman.
Craig Loston, S, LSU – Following in the footsteps of LaRon Landry and current stud Chad Jones, Loston looks to be the next great safety at LSU. Rated as the #1 safety in the class of 2009, he may have an opportunity to play soon after enrolling in the fall. The Tigers have slipped a bit since winning the championship in 2007, going 8-5 last year. Loston could provide a spark for a defense that has lost a number of great players to the NFL in recent years.
Larvez Mars, LB, Florida International – FIU is a very odd place for a 4-star prospect to end up, which is why he makes this list. Although undersized, the 5-11 Marz is probably already the most athletically gifted player in FIU history. The new Golden Panther should crack the starting lineup early and then crack helmets often.
Bradley McDougald, S, Kansas – The Kansas system is one reason McDougald makes this list. Although he was recruited as a safety, however his experience at WR leads to whispers of him being a 2-way player. Kansas throws the ball a-plenty and with the constant rotation of WRs, McDougald has a chance to play while he learns the details of the safety position in the mean time.
Alex Okafor, DE, Texas – Another early enrollee on the D-line. Okafor raised some eyebrows in the spring, showing quickness off the edge. If he can continue to perfect his pass rushing technique this summer, Okafor may be able to ease the loss of first-round pick Brain Orapko.
Greg Reid, CB, Florida St – One of the more inconsistent recruiting stories of 2009, Reid took a page from Benedict Arnold and decommitted from UF only to sign with FSU. He brings elite quickness and cover skills to the Gators’ archrivals and Reid will likely shut down opposing WRs while spotlighting as a return man for the Seminoles.
Josh Robinson, S, Central Florida – After losing all for starters in the secondary, UCF needs a spark in the defensive backfield. Enter Josh Robinson, one of the more highly touted recruits to ever sign with the Knights. Whether it be on defense or making a splash on special teams, look for Robinson to contribute.
Shayne Skov, LB, Stanford – Skov went undetected on many recruiting radars after a injury plagued senior season. He returned to action in the post season and had a stellar Army All-American game. He will show up on the Stanford campus and immediately compete for playing time for the Cardinal.
5 Teams to “put a buck on” in 2009
I typically don’t gamble, however sometimes there is a rare opportunity where its fun to just throw out some money just in case. My buddy Dan and I love these situations. For instance, when reading the odds for the NCAA basketball tournament, I may announce that SW Nevada A&M is 67,000,000,000:1 to win the whole thing. His response? “I’d put a buck on ‘em.” Maybe its exciting because of the chance to win 67 billion. But maybe its the fun of rooting for the long shot, the pride of “calling it” when no one else saw it coming, and yea the chance for a little payday doesn’t hurt.
I give you 5 preposterous scenarios. You choose which one is gonna bring home the bacon.
Southern Miss
Put a buck on ‘em to: finish in the top 25
This congregation of Eagles is very interesting. Larry Fedora is entering his second year as the head coach and will have plenty of tools to use, much like his days as offensive coordinator at Ok St. DeAndre Brown is the best player you’ve never heard of, a 6’6” monster at WR who caught for 1,100 yards and 12 TDs as a freshman. The former 5 star recruit will join with Southern Miss’ all time leading rusher, Damieon Fletcher, this year to form a dangerous offense. And even if Fletcher’s legal troubles don’t resolve, USM wont be hurting as true freshman RB Kendrick Hardy has SEC-caliber skills. The C-USA is certainly getting better, with teams like UCF and SMU on the rise, however I think that Southern Miss is the closest to making a breakthrough for the conference. It is not out of the realm of possibility for this team to finish 10-2 and finish ranked nationally. But make sure you let everyone know you’re on the Golden Eagle bandwagon before they travel to Kansas on Sept 26, if they win in Lawrence everyone will know they are for real.
North Carolina
Put a buck on ‘em to: win the ACC
Butch Davis has brought in the prospects, that’s for sure. In two out of his three years, Carolina’s recruiting class has been top 20. His first class, with stud DT Marvin Austen and towering WR Dwight Jones, is now maturing. Its been a moderate progression for UNC who was 4-8 in Davis’ first year but took a step in the right direction last year, going 8-4. The strength of this team may be on defense where Davis has forged a linebacking crew that makes even his former Canes look slow. Sophomore LB Zach Brown has been clocked with a sub-4.3 speed and he’s not afraid to lay the wood either. This will be a big year as the Tarheels are have built depth underneath a few standout players. They will certainly have to play at a high level with top 5 Va Tech, gritty Ga Tech and an improved Miami team in their division, but I think they can at least make the ACC title game, if not take home the hardware.
Florida Atlantic
Put a buck on ‘em to: upset a top 25 team
Hailing from the Sun Belt Conference, the Owls have quietly become a decent little team down in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Their success is underscored by the fact that this team did not even have a football program, on any level, until 2000 when 164 players attended the first ever FAU practice. For crying out loud, my high school played games in their stadium! (that is not a compliment for my high school). Now, just 9 years later, they are coming off two straight bowl wins. Its time for Ol’ Schnellenberger to kick it up a notch. They are depleted on defense, losing a player with one of my favorite names, and FAU all-time leading tackler, LB Frantz Joseph. More worrisome is that Schnelly will have to reconstruct most of the offensive line. However, veteran QB Rusty Smith will have his top 4 WRs from 2008 at his disposal and utility H-back Willie Rose (think: Chris Cooley with Def Leppard hair). They may only have a few shots at a top 25 team, as they visit Nebraska to open the season then travel to South Carolina, both of which might be ranked come game time. Even if those are not top 25 opponents, I think FAU may finish strong enough to play in a bowl against one, and that my friends, is why they are worthy of your dollar.
Duke
Put a buck on ‘em to: make a bowl
This might be the biggest long shot of them all. One can certainly understand why the team colors are black and blue. Consider: Duke has averaged 1.5 wins a year since 2000 and have endured three winless seasons in that timeframe. Going into the 2002 season, they were marinating in a 23 game losing streak. They haven’t even sniffed a bowl berth since 1994, that’s 15 straight Christmas vacations at home. However, with the new hire of David Cutcliff as head coach, the winds of change seem to be blowing. Well, it may be more of a light breeze, but in 2008 they were just 7 points away from bowl eligibility. That’s progress. Despite their woes, this team has some talent, beginning with 3-year starting QB Thaddeus Lewis. Defense is a strength of this team, which bodes well for underdog, grind-it-out wins. Add in speedy freshman RB Desmond Scott to provide a spark, and the Blue Devils may be on TV rather than watching it this winter.
TCU
Put a buck on ‘em to: win the BCS National Championship
Clearly it’s a long shot of long shots. Clearly. However, the real challenge for a team like TCU is not achieving a high preseason ranking (check) nor having the talent to go undefeated (check), but that they will be fighting the BCS bias, which hits harder than Ivan Drago. While Utah’s wins against Michigan, Oregon St, TCU and BYU weren’t good enough last year, TCU may enjoy the DEFCON-1 type concern that is sweeping the college football nation. The powers-that-be are finally aware of the near criminal treatment of smaller schools, and they may be ready to usher a non-BCS team into the championship game. TCU has games against Clemson and Virginia to prove their chops before the not-as-wimpy-as-you-think Mountain West schedule that includes BYU and Utah. Should they go undefeated, with DE Jerry Hughes leading the way, this team will get a ticket to Pasedena ahead of a 1-loss BCS team. And that’s all they can ask for is a chance. A chance to win the most improbable football championship of all time.
Impact Freshman for the 2009 College Football Season
For incoming freshmen, the fall season brings cramped dorms, introductory classes, and an orientation to big time college football. Whether you are a spectator or a player, the first game in your stadium is a memorable one. Here is a list of players that will more than likely be on the field rather than on the bench come August. (Players are listed in alphabetical order and all rankings are taken from Rivals.com)
By Alfred Fernandez
Part I: Offense
Jamal Berry, RB, Ohio St – There is no lack of talent on the Buckeyes roster, but Berry brings a special blend of speed and power to the table. Look for him to get a fair share of touches, unless QB Terelle Pryor goes all Vince Young on us and just wins a championship by himself.
Jheranie Boyd, WR, North Carolina – After losing their 2 most productive WRs to the NFL, Butch Davis has open spots on the outside. Ranked the #3 wide receiver in this 2009 class, Boyd is built much like former UNC standout, and first round pick, Hakeem Nicks. He should be able to play significant minutes for the Tarheels.
Bryce Brown, RB, Tennessee – In one of the more bizarre recruiting stories of the season, the #1 overall prospect in 2009 finally picked Tennessee, seemingly out of nowhere. There is no way Brown made this decision without guaranteed playing time… and/or a nice signing bonus. Just sayin’…
Andre Debose, WR/RB, Florida – A dynamic playmaker in high school, his experience at many positions equips Debose to play the “Percy position” at UF. Can the Gators replace #1? No. But this kid’s combination of hands, vision, and 4.4 speed will help patch up the hole Harvin left.
Tate Forcier, QB, Michigan – Sometimes injuries can be a good thing… for the backup. Forcier is an early enrollee at UM and due to injuries to those ahead of him, showed he has what it takes to run the team in spring practice. He has a very good chance to start and try to rebuild the classic powerhouse that is Michigan football.
Cody Green, QB, Nebraska – After the graduation of Joe Ganz and the mysterious decision by heir apparent Patrick Witt to transfer to Yale, the door is wide open for someone to play QB in Lincoln. Green will have to earn the job this summer, but his mobility may give him the edge to play as a true freshman.
Kendrick Hardy, RB, Southern Miss – Anytime a star player is in jail, (see: Fletcher, Damieon) it’s not a good thing. However Hardy may make Eagles fans forget their all-time leading rusher. He comes with 4-star pedigree and the Eagles fought off Tennessee to get him, so don’t think they expect him sit the bench all season.
Logan Heastie, WR, West Virginia – Gotta love the early enrollees. They have a chance to learn the system and put on bulk to prepare for the college game when Fall hits. Heastie gives the mountaineers a big (6’2”) target and has speed (4.4) to stretch the field. He has already made quite an impression in Morgantown.
Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M – The former 5-star is already the most gifted horse in the stable, and he hasn’t even practiced yet. Plus, you know he has something to prove with a name like Christine. The departed Mike Goodson never really panned out as an Aggie, but I think this Michael will.
Patrick Patterson, WR, Ole Miss – Patterson really showed his stuff in the post season, making a name for himself at the Army All-American game. Ole Miss does not have the depth as some other SEC schools, so he should be able get in the rotation and play a meaningful role as the Rebels try to live up to the hype in 2009.
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama – Truly the full package at RB. Power, elusiveness, and break away speed define the 5th ranked high school player in America. With Glen Coffey departed to the NFL, Richardson will certainly have opportunities as Nick Saban has no qualms with sharing the wealth in his backfield.
