Nice To See She Has Moved On

I have just learned that my first celebrity crush is now married and just gave birth to her first child. Now while most boys my age had the Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, Jenny McCarthy crushes, I went for someone not as well known and much more my age. It happened during the summer of 1996 and the Atlanta Olympics. My first crush was Dominique Moceanu.

Now most people may have thought it was funny or cute, but looking back on the “crush” it was more like psychotic. I should really question the friendship of anyone who let me do the things I did during this phase of my life. I hope I was at least able to entertain everyone who watched from a distance as this “crush” developed.

It all started while reading the Sports Illustrated Summer Olympic preview while riding to the Outer Banks with my second family, the Ingrams. I saw a picture of and fell in love, or something like that. I then proceeded to cut out and collect every picture I could obtain of her, eventually creating a shrine on my bedroom wall. It didn’t stop there, I wrote her fans letters, bought her book (even read it), went to see the touring gymnastics show at the Civic Arena and dragged my best friends Ross with me (talk about a good friend) and I even asked her to my schools homecoming dance. This whole thing lasted for about 6-8 months before I called it off.

It obviously didn’t work out for the two of us and we decided to go our separate ways, which is why it was nice to see that she has moved on in her life and has started a family. Congratulations Dominique!

Guest Ranter

Expat Pittsburgher

I was born in Pittsburgh on a cold day in 1973, I left on a cold day in 1977, with a brief four year, ok it was four and a half, return to attend the MIGHTY University of Pittsburgh. On the D.C. Metro train home from the Penguins last minute (literally) victory over the Washington Capitals, Tolkin’s line from the Hobbit, kept ringing in my head: “Wherever you go, there you are.” By there, I am convinced he meant Pittsburgh.

Since 1977 I have been a Virginian, I consider Virginia my home – except for tax purposes: PA is tax free for active duty military! I celebrate Lee/Jackson day, for those of you north of the Mason–Dixon that is Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, I like grits, cornbread used to chew a can of Copenhagen a day (married a damn Yankee and had to stop) and like NASCAR. By any northerner’s definition, I am a southerner.

Except when I am around other Pittsburghers. For those of you like me who have left, you will understand this, and have lived it. For those of you still in the Gateway City, I feel a loving affection for you seemingly incurable ability NOT to understand.

Pittsburghers are a unique breed, they have the confidence of a thoroughbred racehorse, innocence to a three year-old and a fanatical devotion to all things black and gold that would rival a Berlin party rally in 1936!

For those of us that left, road games are our connection back to that mystical wonderland. On the train into D.C. this morning, my wife commented that there were more Penguin shirts than Capital shirts…. This was only the beginning. The “Let’s go Pens,” chant started in the subway station and carried itself all the way to the upper decks of the Verizon Center. When “The Kid” got his first goal in the second, the place went nuts; you would have thought it was Lemieux to Jagr to Lemieux in 1992 in the Civic Arena! Speaking of Jagr…. Nobody from Pittsburgh had to ask, “Why is that guy wearing a Penguin #68 jersey, with the “r” replaced by “off”?“ We all just understand… In his own house a chant of “Ovie-rated” rang out, or the terrible towels that flooded the building…. Was I surprised to hear the Steeler Polka being sung? Nope, nor was I surprised when complete strangers joined in and the whole block was singing it…. Again, this is at a Penguin ROAD game!

The great or sad, I cannot decide, thing is… this happens everywhere: San Diego, LA, Houston… and it is every sport: Football, Baseball, Hockey…. Heck even a Pitt baseball game in South Carolina!

For those of you that left, can you count the times you had a Pirate hat or shirt on, and walked past another, in Lowe’s, the grocery store, wherever, and exchanged a brief, painful, knowing look with that person that spoke volumes? Or sat at the gate in any airport in the world, with a flight terminating in Pittsburgh…like a US Embassy…sovereign Pittsburgh real estate!

The bottom line is, no matter where you go, there you are. Hmm Haa!

-Pete Reitmeyer

My Imaginary Sit Down with Terrelle Pryor

All The Pressure of Being #1

Super athlete and #1 rated high school football player in the country by just about every possible scouting agency Terrelle Pryor has certainly enjoyed the spotlight placed on him this football season. The quarterback from Jeannette has drawn favorable comparisons to former Texas star Vince Young and has been recruited by nearly every school in the country. During this process Pryor has made some interesting statements, actions and decisions that make you wonder about the huge pressure and demands placed on an 18 year old kid.

First, let me say that I in no way would ever like to be in these kids shoes as they get pulled in every direction by reporters, coaches, fans and anyone else just trying to get a piece of the next big thing.

What I have realized most by watching the “Pryor-Mania” storm through Western Pennsylvania this season is that these kids are out on an island with no one to help. The main thing that these kids need is proper guidance. Based on what I have seen from watching Terrelle this season is he either not getting much or not listening to the advice and guidance that he does get. Towards the end of the recruiting process he grabbed Charlie Batch and asked for his help with the process, but unfortunately the damage was already done. Even the great person that Charlie Batch is, who has probably done more in the area than any other Pittsburgh Steeler in terms of giving back, is fighting an uphill battle in this recruiting battle.

I am not saying any of this or criticizing Pryor because he has no interest in going to play football for my beloved Pitt Panther. As a matter of fact, I agree with him not wanting to go to Pitt, despite his father, who is a lifelong Panthers fans’ wishes. With the huge media hype that has surrounded Pryor over the past 12 months I think it is best that he go elsewhere for the next part of his life. I also have almost no faith in the Panthers offensive coaching staff being able to use his incredible athletic ability to its fullest extent. It is little things like that though that I feel Pryor hasn’t closely examined during his recruiting process. Based on some of his comments and decisions thus far, I am right.

Let’s look at a few things here regarding his recruiting. First, Pryor should be looking for coaches that have coached a QB in the past with his type of ability. With a player with that much talent it doesn’t make much sense to play in Pro-Style offense. So, the coaches you look for are coaches that either already run a spread style running offense or a find a coach that is dynamic and versatile enough to change his style to fit the style of a player like Pryor.

SCHOOLS/COACHES THAT FIT THAT MOLD:

Florida - Urban Meyer is an offensive genius and if it wasn’t for Tim Tebow still having two more years of eligibility you would have to believe the Gators would have been right there in the Pryor sweepstakes.

Oregon - Look no further than what Dennis Dixon did this past season for the Ducks.

Texas – Uh, Vince Young…He turned out pretty good under those coaches.

West Virginia – Oh wait, Rodriguez went north to…

Michigan – The man who basically invented this current style of spread offense back in his days at Glenville State College and built the Mountaineers high powered attack no in the Big house has to be enticing.

Ohio State – They win, they play a spread offense and they produce NFL players; three of the things that Pryor should be looking for in his college choice.

LSU – See Ohio State (but they win more, and against Ohio State).

I mention these schools primarily because these school are also ones that have peaked the interest of Pryor throughout the recruiting process with the likes of Tennessee, Duke, Pitt and Penn State.

Pryor has also said he wants to play in front of big crowds, exit Duke and Pitt.

Tennessee was of interest due to offensive coordinator David Cutliff who took the head-coaching job at Duke, hence the interest there. The odd thing about that is that Cutliff is best known for coaching lead-footed quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning and Erik Ainge. He never coached anyone with any mobility, which makes you wonder what attracted Pryor to him in the first place.

Moving on to the rest of the candidates.

Now that I have narrowed down the list of schools in contention for Pryor over the next 3+ years, I will be his much need guidance as he makes the biggest decision of his life.

First things first, pick a sport. Everyone knows that you are an All-State basketball player and you could probably go and play just about anywhere you want on the hardwood as well, but in this day and age you can’t be a star on both teams, that ended about 15 years ago with Charlie Ward. Now if you want to play hoops in college it is quite simple, go to Pitt (what, you thought I’d give up on that possibility?). Since you want to play football, lets move on.

Lets breakdown the schools and coaches that you have been considering or have mentioned in this process.

PENN STATE:
Great, legendary coach, but he and his coaches are too old school for you to develop into the player you are capable of with your talents. Penn State is a school where quarterbacks go to play defense, and with the 100 yard INT return in the state semi-final game JoePa was licking his chops. Honestly though, the offensive guru’s up there had Michael Robinson playing behind Zach Mills for three years. A Zach Mills who digressed every year there. When Michael Robinson FINALLY got a chance all he did was win Big Ten player of the Year and take the team to the Orange Bowl.

On the bright side, if you went to State College and JoePa let you play hoops, you would immediately become the best player in a Penn State uniform to ever play at the Bryce Jordan Center.

OREGON:
Look at what Dennis Dixon did running Mike Bellotti’s high-powered spread offense. Plus, he was a senior as was the youngest son, Brady, of the prolific quarterback family, the Leafs’. The starting spot this fall is all but yours if you head west. Plus, can you say, “FREE NIKE GEAR!?”

LSU:
Guess what winning the National Title gets you, a chance at the top high school player in the country. It also doesn’t hurt to have the offensive coordinator and QB coach that recruited and coached Dennis Dixon at Oregon before leaving for LSU. Who wouldn’t want to play ball in the best conference in the nation, for the only team to win multiple BCS titles?

PITT: (Told you I wasn’t giving up hope)
The talent in the recent recruiting class has to have at least gotten you to look in Pitt’s direction, right? How else do you explain meeting with Coach Wannestedt two weekends ago? Plus, living in Pittsburgh you should know how us yinzers never forget our heroes. Look at a typical Pitt football season; they honor Dorsett, Ditka and Marino at least once every season. If you won at Pitt you would be bigger than all of them. Let’s for one-minute think about the possibility of Cavanaugh actually being able to use you to the maximum of your ability. Think about the weapons you would have over the next few years to work with. Shady McCoy in the backfield plus a huge, fast target at WR in Jonathan Baldwin, scary!

Okay, now for the big boys, the favorites, the front of the pack, the leaders in the clubhouse to win your services in college, Michigan and the Ohio State University.

MICHIGAN:
Michigan was not on the radar at all until December 16th, when Rich Rodriguez broke the news to the nation he was leaving West Virginia to take the Michigan job through Terrelle Pryor. Personally, someone that tells a high school recruit before he tells his players this kind of information doesn’t register real high on my moral scale, but that is for another blog. The bottom line is Rodriguez and this offense is a winner, it has been everywhere he has taken it. Rodriguez has also emptied the cupboard of quarterbacks in Ann Arbor trying to get you there, so you know you will be the starter from day one as a Wolverine. The problem is he will never win the big game with the gimmick offense and defense that he runs, which means he will never win the National Championship. Which also means he may be run out of Michigan before you are finished there.

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY:
Never doubt the recruiting power of the sweater vest. Jim Tressel has produced a Heisman winner and the best regular season in D1 football the past two seasons. Which means with you or without you he is going to win. You may be the missing link though to winning the big prize which has avoided the Buckeyes the past two January’s. As for talent surrounding you, Ohio State is in the process of putting together another Top 5 recruiting class, once again getting the best players money can buy.

When it all comes down to it, since you seem set on one of these two schools, I think the best choice for you is Ohio State. Good Luck in Columbus!

Things That Make You Go HMMMM

When the New York Giants travel to Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, NY on Sunday it will be the first time that the team from New York actually plays a game in the state of New York in 2,933 days.

The last time the Giants played in New York was December 12, 1999 when they defeated the Bills 19-17.

Through 4 Weeks of College Football, my thoughts

After four weeks of the football season, I think is about the right time to put value to the rankings that we have seen in magazines and newspaper since July. I think it is a shame that teams get penalized in the final rankings because some schmo didn’t think highly enough about a team when he saw them in shoulder pads and shorts, and is too stubborn to change his mind once he actually sees them play and realizes he was wrong.

I refuse to be one of those types, so here is what I have learned in the first 4 weeks of the college football season and how I would rank the top 30:

*A good coach with a well-disciplined team that can execute is far better than a bunch of under-achieving 5-star recruits (see Appalachian State)
*USC and LSU are BY FAR the 2 best teams in the country.
*There will be no Boise State Cinderella story in the BCS this year. TCU was a huge disappointment and Hawaii plays nobody and surely will not have a strong enough schedule to get an at-large selection.
*The SEC is overrated this year. This year they have 1 great team, 1 really good team and about 6 or 7 solid teams. I still think it is the best conference, but for the first time in a long time, 4 others could make a case (everyone except the ACC).
*The ACC is terrible. So how did that transition into a “football power” conference go? Boston College is the only ones pulling their weight. Can you imagine if they had not gotten VT and Miami too, Clemson would be the only team in the Top 25+5. What happened to the rest of the ACC powers from before the merge?
*Defense wins championships. Just ask Louisville (628 yards of total offense and 555 yards passing) and Texas Tech (718 total and 646 passing) both who lost after putting up these offensive numbers.
*Notre Dame is REALLY bad, and I LOVE it!!!!
*Joe Paterno needs to finally retire. Watching him be out-coached as badly as he did on Saturday was like watch Superman in a wheelchair, those things just should not happen.

1. USC (3-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Washington State 47-14
Next Game: 9-29 @ Washington

2. LSU (4-0)-
Last Week: Won vs South Carolina 28-16
Next Game: 9-29 @ Tulane

3. OKLAHOMA (4-0)-
Last Week: Won @ Tulsa 62-21
Next Game: 9-29 @ Colorado

4. FLORIDA (4-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Ole Miss 30-24
Next Game: 9-29 vs Auburn

5. WEST VIRGINIA (4-0)-
Last Week: Won vs East Carolina 48-7
Next Game: 9-28 @ #14 South Florida

6. WISCONSIN (4-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Iowa 17-13
Next Game: 9-29 vs #23 Michigan State

7. CALIFORNIA (4-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Arizona 45-27
Next Game: 9-29 @ #10 Oregon

8. TEXAS (4-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Rice 58-14
Next Game: 9-29 vs Kansas State

9. RUTGERS (3-0)-
Last Week: OFF
Next Game: 9-29 vs Maryland

10. OREGON (4-0)-
Last Week: Won @ Stanford 55-21
Next Game: 9-29 vs #7 California

11. BOSTON COLLEGE (4-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Army 37-17
Next Game: 9-29 vs Massachusetts

12. THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY (4-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Northwestern 58-7
Next Game: 9-29 @ Minnesota

13. CLEMSON (4-0)-
Last Week: Won @ NC State 42-20
Next Game: 9-29 @ Georgia Tech

14. SOUTH FLORIDA (3-0)-
Last Week: Won vs North Carolina
Next Game: 9-28 vs # 5 West Virginia

15. KENTUCKY (4-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Arkansas 42-29
Next Game: 9-29 vs Florida Atlantic

16. SOUTH CAROLINA (3-1)-
Last Week: Lost @ LSU 28-16
Next Game: 9-29 vs Mississippi State

17. GEORGIA (3-1)-
Last Week: Won @ Alabama 26-23 (OT)
Next Game: 9-29 vs Mississippi

18. MISSOURI (4-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Illinois State 38-17
Next Game: 10-6 vs #22 Nebraska

19. VIRGINIA TECH (3-1)-
Last Week: Won vs William & Mary 44-3
Next Game: 9-29 vs North Carolina

20. PENN STATE (3-1)-
Last Week: Lost @ Michigan 14-9
Next Game: 9-29 @ Illinois

21. ALABAMA (3-1)-
Last Week: Lost vs Georgia 26-23 (OT)
Next Game: 9-29 @ Florida State

22. NEBRASKA (3-1)-
Last Week: Won vs Ball State 41-40
Next Game: 9-29 vs Iowa State

23. MICHIGAN STATE (4-0)-
Last Week: Won @ Notre Dame 31-14
Next Game: 9-29 @ #6 Wisconsin

24. ARIZONA STATE (4-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Oregon State 44-32
Next Game: 9-29 @ Stanford

25. CINCINNATI (4-0)-
Last Week: Won vs Marshall 40-14
Next Game: 9-29 @ San Diego State

NEXT 5:
26. Hawaii (4-0)- I refuse to have them in the Top 25 until they beat someone.
27. Purdue (4-0)- Irish fans, can you say “0-5?”
28. Miami FL (3-1)- Which Miami team will show up this week?
29. Michigan (2-2)- 2 losses and ranked? Last week was the real Michigan team.
30. UCLA (3-1)- What happened against Utah?

PENN STATE - NOTRE DAME GAME

My Trip Across Enemy Lines

Well, I did it, and if we are going to be honest here, I actually enjoyed it too. Now maybe it was the fact that I was able to go to a college football game free of charge. Or, maybe it was because I was with some great people and at some fun tailgate parties, the exact reason I cannot explain, but what I do know is that I actually enjoyed my Saturday afternoon in State College, Pennsylvania.

What may be worse than going to Penn State this weekend and enjoying it was the fact that I was actually cheering. Not just, hoping they would win, but I actually found myself clapping after scoring plays and defensive stands. Now, I insist that I was not cheering for Penn State, I was more cheering against Charlie Weis and Notre Dame and for the spread of 17.5 to be covered by Penn State, so I was not ever technically cheering for Penn State.

Okay, let’s relive the day.

The day started WAY too earlier as I awoke and prepared to go to Ross and Ashley’s place to be on the road by 8:00am. We left at 8:25 and again at roughly 8:40 after Ross circled around for a bit due to the Parkway being closed. After a surprisingly quick ride up to Happy Valley, which was filled with fun conversation, a call from Pete telling me how disappointed he was in me and a stop at Giant Eagle, we pulled into the parking lot, which, any other place in the world would be called an open grass field. I exited the car and almost immediately, someone commented on the white shirt that I chose to wear for the “White Out,” that Penn State was encouraging for tonight’s game. Penn State Steve had two rules when he offered me a ticket: Wear a white shirt and don’t root for Notre Dame, so I thought my Tyler Palko jersey was completely appropriate. As I walked through the open pastures to meet Steve at his tailgate, I heard many more comments about the shirt. Just think how harsh the comments would be if Penn State cared about Pitt.

After hanging out with Steve at his tailgate, we moved on to the next tailgate to meet Mr. Jeffrey Brancolini and his crew at a tailgate that was conveniently only one lot away. The reception I got at this tailgate was much better, as I had the older crowd actually boo me, and remember Penn State fans don’t even care about Pitt.

After receiving a text message from Jeremiah stating that LeSean McCoy had scored three touchdowns in his first four carries for Pitt, I became much more comfortable wearing my Pitt jersey knowing that a repeat of the Appalachian State-Michigan game would not happen at Heinz Field. Feeling more relaxed and comfortable, I decided to play a little Cornhole, and Team Pitt (myself and Adam Henry, another Pitt fan) defeated Team Penn State handily, 21-6. After a little while longer Ross and Ashley decided to walk back towards campus and see some sites. I decided tailgate number three was still awaiting my presence so I made my way over to the party bus that we had originally planned on riding up.

Dan, the host of this tailgate, was awaiting my arrival, but he was it. That tailgate was probably the harshest about the Palko jersey. One gentleman told me that I was not welcome on the bus, and another told me to leave the tailgate entirely (both jokingly…I think). Good thing Penn State fans don’t care about Pitt. Actually, that tailgate was full of fun people, good food and lots of cold beverages. All and all, it was a good time, but all good things must come to an end as kickoff approached, and I actually would be bringing myself to walking into Beaver Stadium to watch my two most hated teams.

I met back with Steve and changed my shirt, to a Penn State t-shirt that my uncle had given me to wear. It did not say PENN STATE or NITTANY LIONS anywhere on the shirt, so I was okay with wearing it. We made our way to the stadium and our seats and unfortunately, everyone I talked to was nicer than the person before. At this point, I was kind of struggling because I felt like, at some point, I would want to get into the game, and Penn State was actually winning me over.

We arrived at our seats as the Blue Band was finishing up their pre-game routine (they were really good, Pitt should try to schedule them in the future) and the team was about to take the field.

JUST A FEW OBSERVATIONS AT THIS POINT:
*Beaver Stadium is really big.
*Everyone was wearing white, and I do mean EVERYONE.
*For the first time ever that I have seen, the Notre Dame fan section was basically non-existent. *Penn State either is in denial or celebrates some odd years around the top of the stadium. Last time I checked Texas won the National Championship in 2005.

Okay on to the game. This game set offenses back at least 20 years. JoePa felt right at home. Both teams either have the greatest defensive units to ever set foot on the gridiron or completely incompetent offenses; I am going with the latter, although the Penn State defense was good. In the first half the two teams combined for four turnovers, one missed field goal, two defensive or special teams touchdowns and nine punts, including one on each of the last six Notre Dame possessions. As halftime came around, I was safe, not once had I cheered for either team. I was half way home.

The second half started with a Penn State scoring drive. Not so fast, the high paced offense led by Anthony Morelli kicked a field goal after gaining 7 yards on 3 plays. It was really disappointing to see so many gifted athletes on the field at the same time being held back by two quarterbacks in which it was obvious the coaching staffs had no real confidence that they could lead their given team.

The fourth quarter came along, and I actually was into the game and cheering. Penn State was up 24-10 (read 14 points) and all I needed was one more touchdown to cover the spread, and the Lions were driving. After Austin Scott scored to give Penn State a 21 point lead, they nearly gave back that fast. Penn State, whose defense had not given up more than 12 yards on a drive since Notre Dame’s opening drive, all of the sudden got soft on me, and I saw a second straight week of coaching decisions by JoePa reminding me of the reasons I have always known deep down why I hate the old man. Fortunately, Jimmy Clausen fixed that by throwing an interception with just over 6 minutes remaining sealing the deal. Game over, Charlie Weis and Notre Dame lose and Penn State covers the 17.5. Everybody’s a winner!

Overall, I had a great time for the game. I will say one thing about Penn State; the people there sure do know how to plan a football game and all the days’ activities around it.

POST-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
*The stadium and atmosphere was absolutely electric from the moment the game began until the last seconds ticked off the clock.
*I loved how non-commercialized the event was. Being at Pitt games, you get used to sitting on your hands and at every timeout a commercial being played on the jumbo-tron. Not here, no jumbo-tron, no commercials, just the band playing upbeat, CURRENT music to keep the fans and students into the game. Pitt could learn a thing or 500 from taking in just one football event at Beaver Stadium (I called it an event, because all day the feel was that you were in for much more than a game).
*The “S” in the student section is really cool.
*WE ARE…PENN STATE is still the dumbest cheer in college sports. Are you not sure? Are you reminding each other what school you have dumped thousands of dollars into? I just cannot under stand that one, sorry.

What, did you really think I would end with high praise of Penn State?

2007 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

It is time for my favorite sporting season of the year - COLLEGE football season!! I love March Madness and college hoops, but college football has the week in and week out hype and excitement that is not quite matched until March Madness. So, without any more delay, being that we are now one day from opening kickoff, here is my college football preview. Included are my preseason TOP 25, my Heisman finalists and winner, as well as predictions sure to go wrong. Let’s get started!

1. Southern Cal
TEAM STRENGTHS:
With all the Heisman winners and high-powered offensive weapons we have seen in years past at USC, people tend to forget that Pete Carroll is a defensive minded coach. These people will be reminded of this early and often throughout the 2007 season. The defense will return 10 of 11 starters from a stellar squad last season. That defense ranked 11th in the nation allowing just 15.2 ppg, and never allowed more than 26 (Oregon State scored 33, but 1 touchdown came on a punt return). They also were the ninth best in the country against the run, holding teams to just 91.1 yards per game. With this talented group on the field (one preseason publication had as many as 7 of the 11 starters in their top three All-American teams), the young offense will not be pressured to put up big points, as it has been able to do in recent years.
TEAM WEAKNESSES:
Hold your breath with this one, but the skill positions are “weak” this season at USC. However, I hesitate to use the term weak when referring to this group of players. Although the Trojans are replacing both starting wide receivers, as well as their starting running back and fullback from last year, these players are hardly pushovers. The expected starters as WR are Patrick Turner and Vidal Hazelton. Turner was ranked the #2 overall recruit and #1 WR in 2005, and Hazelton, the #7 overall and #2 WR in 2006. The running back position is much of the same, with nine players competing for the starting job as camp opened this fall. Sophomore Emmanuel Moody, who gained 459 yards for the Trojans last year, announced last week that he is transferring from USC, which leaves the starting job race to really just three names. Chaucey Washington is the front-runner to win the starting job, as he ran for 744 yards last season, but sophomore Stafon Johnson and heralded freshman Joe McKnight expect to see a lot of action as well. McKnight, who was last years #1 overall recruit in the country, is already drawing comparisons to former USC running back and Heisman winner Reggie Bush.
SCHEDULE:
USC plays four teams in this year’s preseason top 25: Sept. 15th @ Nebraska, Nov. 3rd vs Oregon State, Nov. 10th @ Cal, Dec. 1st vs UCLA. Although the trip to Lincoln to face Nebraska in a night game would be most teams’ most difficult challenge, it is not for USC. I give Pete Carroll a ton of credit for going out and playing a good non-conference schedule year in and year out, regardless of home or away. Programs and coaches could learn from this. USC plays only one home non-conference game this season.
TOUGHEST GAME:
The game @ Cal could very well determine the Pac-10 champion this season. This Cal team is as good as any non-USC team that the Pac-10 has seen in recent years.
PREDICTION SURE TO GO WRONG:
USC is by far the most talented team in the country, but that ever-growing target on their back just keeps getting bigger and bigger every game. I think they will drop a game this year, but like Florida last year, they will bounce back and go on to win the National Championship.

2. LSU
TEAM STRENGTHS:
Defense, defense and more defense. This defense might be even better than the one in Los Angeles. Although LSU lost two key members of the last year’s defense to the NFL in LaRon Landry and Chase Pittman, they still return eight starters from a defense that has quickly gained a reputation as one of the fiercest and fastest in the nation. That defense, led by DE Tyson Jackson and DT Glenn Dorsey, ranked in the top four in the nation last year in points per game (12.6, 4th), passing yards per game (145.7, 3rd) and total defense (242.8, 3rd).
TEAM WEAKNESSES:
The biggest question mark for LSU is who is going to fill the shoes of #1 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, JaMarcus Russell. The two leading candidates are sophomore Ryan Perrilloux and senior Matt Flynn. The two combined have one start, albeit a dandy by Flynn in the 2005 Peach Bowl, which earned him game MVP honors.
SCHEDULE:
The Tigers have a very favorable schedule this season. LSU does play five games against top 25 teams, but all five are at home, including the non-conference showdown with #11 Virginia Tech.
TOUGHEST GAME:
With South Carolina, Auburn, Arkansas and defending champions Florida all traveling to Death Valley to play, the toughest game on the schedule might be away from home. The trip to Tuscaloosa to square off with former Tiger leader Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide has a game of drama and high tension written all over it.
PREDICTION SURE TO GO WRONG:
Nobody gets through the SEC undefeated anymore. The talent is just too deep week in and week out. I like LSU to be tripped up by Alabama after coming off of a big win versus Auburn. That one loss will keep them from playing for the national title.

3. West Virginia
TEAM STRENGTHS:
SPEED!!! This off-season WVU had new FieldTurf installed at Milan Puskar Stadium, going with the theory that newer turf means faster turf. This is not a good sign for Big East defenses if that theory proves true. QB Pat White and RB Steve Slaton are two of the most gifted athletes and dangerous runners in the country. Now, put them together in the same backfield and YIKES!!! It’s tough enough for teams to slow down one star runner, but the Mountaineers have White, who already owns the Big East career rushing record after two seasons (remember both Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb played in the Big East) and Slaton, who last year set the school’s single season rushing record. With both averaging over seven yards a carry, it puts defenses in a tough spot. Pick your poison, but beware, both could kill you!
TEAM WEAKNESSES:
Teams were able to throw at will last year against the Mountaineers, who allowed 243.3 ypg through the air, ranking 109th in the nation. There are two reasons for that stat, though. One, WVU scored early and often in games last year, forcing teams to pass while playing from behind. The second reason is the personnel. However, the Mountaineers return four of five starters in their defensive backfield in the unique 3-3-5 scheme played by Rich Rodriguez. That should help considerably, but then again, teams figure to be behind early and often again this year, too.
SCHEDULE:
West Virginia’s schedule is nearly identical to that played last year by the Mountaineers. Just replace directional Washington early on last year with directional Michigan as the home opener this year. WVU does play two BCS conference teams outside of league play, but Maryland and Mississippi State are not exactly powerhouse programs. Plus, the Mountaineers get Louisville at home this year in a game, that will most likely be under the lights in Morgantown, where NOBODY wins.
TOUGHEST GAME:
The obvious choices are the other two Big East front-runners, Louisville and a trip to Rutgers, but I am going a different direction with this one. That direction is south, as in South Florida. The Bulls beat WVU last year in Morgantown and have the fast, aggressive style of defense needed to slow down the Mountaineer’s rushing attack. Throw that on top of the game being played in the September heat in Tampa, and we should have a wild one.
PREDICTION SURE TO GO WRONG:
West Virginia will remember the loss to USF last year and send a message to the rest of the country with an overwhelming performance at Raymond James Stadium as the Rich Rod puts an extra touchdown or two on the scoreboard for emphasis. I think the Mountaineers run the table and end up in the national championship game against USC. Do you remember that USC defense that I mentioned earlier? The West Virginia offense finally finds a defense that can handle them and loses to the Trojans.

4. Texas
TEAM STRENGTHS:
The big boys up front on the defensive line will run the show this year in Austin. The Longhorns gave up just 61.2 ypg on the ground last year, good enough for third best in the nation. Wide bodies DT Frank Okam (6-5, 320) along with fellow DT Derek Lokey are both back to anchor the line again this season. Both of these players are coming off injuries that led to the late season collapse last year with UT losing their final two regular season games. The Longhorns gave up just 551 yard on the ground their first 11 games, but Texas A&M ran for 244 in the season finale. If these two come back strong this season, it could lead to a long season for backs across Big XII country.
TEAM WEAKNESSES:
The offensive line has to be a big concern for Mack Brown and Co. this year. They lose three starters from last year’s unit, which struggled mightily running the ball last year. Also, the team must be able to keep All-Everything QB Colt McCoy healthy (talk about a perfect name for a Texas kid playing QB). McCoy took a beating in his first year in D1 and by the end of the year, it showed. McCoy got hurt early on against Kansas State, and Texas lost. He was also not full strength against archrival Aggies, and it showed when he threw three interceptions as the Aggies pulled off the upset. If the O-line gels and keeps McCoy healthy, the offense could be firing on all cylinders with wideouts Limas Sweed and Billy Pittman back and big-time runner Jamaal Charles ready to carry the load this season after having to split carries with Selvin Young last year.
SCHEDULE:
Texas probably has the easiest schedule of any of the Top 5 teams. They play no conference games against other BCS teams and get both Nebraska and Oklahoma in Texas; Oklahoma in Dallas for the annual Red River Shootout. Non-conference foes Arkansas State, Central Florida and Rice will not scare anyone, but do not overlook TCU. They could be this year’s Boise State, and definitely will not be a walkover early on the schedule.
TOUGHEST GAME:
Year in and year out, no matter who is good or who is having a down year, the day after Thanksgiving is always the biggest game on the schedule for both Texas and Texas A&M. This year is no different, but with it being in College Station, following a year when the Aggies went to Austin to knock off the Longhorns, this game could be even more interesting than usual, especially if the Big XII South title is on the line.
PREDICTION SURE TO GO WRONG:
This is a talented, but very young Texas team. They may still be one year away. With only 13 starters returning, the second fewest in the Big XII South, this team will struggle early on. TCU in week 2 will be a battle most would not expect, but UT will prevail. I see two possible losses on the schedule in Oklahoma and A&M, but since both are rivalry games, it is tough to pick a winner. I think it will be a second straight year of missing out in the Big XII title game for Texas.

5. Florida
TEAM STRENGTHS:
Urban Meyer, simply put. Probably the best offensive mind in college football and also arguably the best recruiter in the game give Florida faithful the comfort of knowing that even though they have just six returning starters from the national championship team there will always be hope.
TEAM WEAKNESSES:
Inexperience at nearly every position will force the gators to learn in a hurry. With only SS Tony Joiner returning from the defensive starting line-up in the BCS title game just eight months ago, the defense will be a work in progress all season. There is plenty of talent, but nobody is proven to fill-in for the like of Jarvis Moss, Reggie Nelson and Brandon Siler, all who have moved on to the NFL. The inexperience does not just show on defense for the Gators either, with Tim Tebow under center, who threw just 33 times last year. Tebow is also the teams leading returning rusher, followed closely by WR Percy Harvin. Are you starting to understand the whole inexperience factor?
SCHEDULE:
Florida plays in the SEC where there are no easy games, okay well maybe the Mississippi duo, but for the most part every game is a challenge. This year the Gators get two weeks to grow before they jump into that SEC schedule with Tennessee coming to town, and that could be one of the easier games considering that it is at least at The Swamp. Florida has a brutal three game stretch in October against LSU, Kentucky and Georgia, none of which are home games. Thor in a trip to Columbia, South Carolina to visit the “Ole Ball Coach” and this may be the toughest schedule of any of the preseason top 25.
TOUGHEST GAME:
With Tennessee, Auburn and Florida State all @ Ben Hill Griffin Stadium the Gators need to worry about the road games this year. None of those road games will be as tough as the first real road challenge at Death Valley against LSU on October 6th. That game could make those youngsters grow up very fast.
PREDICTIONS SURE TO GO WRONG:
Billy Donovan was able to defend his title for the Gators, Meyer will not. The schedule is just too tough this year and the SEC East is too good. If this young unit can get through this year with just one or two losses, it would be a huge success, and it would give everyone a quick glimpse of what could come in 2008.

6. Wisconsin
OVERVIEW: Led by sophomore running back PJ Hill expect second year coach Bret Bielema to continue to put up points like he did last season. The Badgers averaged 29.2 points per game and return nine starters from that offensive unit. The defense will not be your typical Big Ten defense, but the offense should put up enough points that is should not matter much.
SCHEDULE: The trip to Happy Valley is the only real challenge the Badger face until November when they run into Ohio State and Michigan in back-to-back weeks. They start the season against Pac-10 bottom feeder Washington State.

7. Oklahoma
OVERVIEW: The athletes are in Norman for a big season; they just need to find a quarterback to spread the ball around. Freshman Sam Bradford has won that starting spot, and if he can get the offense moving the defense will do its part as it always seems to do under Bob Stoops.
SCHEDULE: OU misses Nebraska this year and has an easy non-conference schedule minus the Miami (FL) game week 2. That puts all the emphasis on the Big XII schedule, which is also pretty favorable for the Sooners, getting A&M, Missouri and Oklahoma State all at home

8. Michigan
OVERVIEW: Michigan returns their top four offensive players in Heisman possible RB Mike Hart, QB Chad Henne, WR Mario Manningham and sure fire first rounder OT Jake Long. The defense however could use some retooling after replacing five of the front seven that made the Wolverines to tough last year.
SCHEDULE: Michigan has a brutal first month of the season with games versus Oregon, Notre Dame and Penn State in consecutive weeks, luckily for fans of the Big Blue all of those games are at home. The Wolverines also get archrival Ohio State in the Big House this year to end the season.

9. Cal
OVERVIEW: Nate Longshore is the next in the long list of talented quarterbacks that coach Jeff Tedford has produced while at Cal. In his first year as a starter, Longshore passed for over 3,000 yards and threw 24 touchdown passes. Expect Longshore and explosive WR DeSean Jackson to do more of the same this season.
SCHEDULE: Cal has a very favorable schedule with three of their toughest games at home. It starts in week 1 as the Golden Bears welcome Tennessee, who beat-up Cal badly in the opener last year 35-18. Cal also gets Oregon State and USC in Berkeley this year.

10. Louisville
OVERVIEW: Brian Brohm is back and so is maybe the best WR Corp. in the nation with Mario Urrutia and Harry Douglas. Throw in a wide-open offense by new head coach Steve Kragthorpe and the Cardinals should be a dangerous and exciting team to watch again this year.
SCHEDULE: Louisville goes on the road for two non-conference games against BCS conference teams Kentucky and N.C State. The Cardinals also have to travel to West Virginia and South Florida in a brutal three game stretch to end the season, which also includes the season finale versus Rutgers.

11. Virginia Tech
OVERVIEW: Okay, I am going to be the bad guy here and say that I think Virginia Tech is overrated in most preseason polls that I have seen. I realize that it will be an emotional season, a very inspirational season, and a way that the Hokie nation can come together after the killings in Blacksburg last April, but this team is not a top 5-6 or even 10 team. They return eight players from a spectacular defense, and eight from a very sub par offense. An offense that failed to rank in the to 80 in the nation in passing, rushing or total offense.
SCHEDULE: Luckily the Hokie nation will be able to celebrate early in the season at Lane Stadium against the powers that Frank Beamer has scheduled like East Carolina, Ohio U and William & Mary. Unfortunately, they also have to travel to LSU early on. That will be a wake up call. What do you think; do the Hokies get the ball past the 50 against LSU?

12. Rutgers
OVERVIEW: The Scarlet Knights will not sneak up on people this year, but they will still be a force to be reckoned with. Head coach Greg Schiano has built a nice program in New Jersey, but that was with no expectations. It will be interesting to see what he can do to follow up last year’s surprising success. It will not hurt having Heisman candidate Ray Rice to give the ball to20-30 times a game.
SCHEDULE: Rutgers has some cakewalks early on and play only four road games this season. They also get West Virginia at home on a Thursday night for a revenge game that knocked the Scarlet Knights from a BCS bowl last season.

13. Georgia
OVERVIEW: After a disappointing year last year Mark Richt will be back near the top of the SEC again this year. He is returning seven players on an offense that struggled at time last year, but one of them is QB Matthew Stafford. Stafford won out the starting spot last year as a true freshman and looks to be a team leader in his second year. The defense will have to replace DB Tony Taylor and seven other starters from last year’s team. Taylor led the team in both tackles and interceptions a year ago.
SCHEDULE: Give Richt and the Georgia AD credit, they go out and start with Oklahoma State the first game of the season with a showdown against South Carolina in week 2. We will learn a lot about the Bulldogs and what kind of leadership Stafford can display early on this season.

14. The Ohio State University
OVERVIEW: What do you get when you lose a Heisman winning QB, a running back that rushed for 14 touchdowns and a pair of receivers that combined for 110 catches, 1,515 yards and 17 touchdowns? A young team, but an extremely talented young team the way that Jim Tressel recruits. James Laurinaitis, will be the best LB in the conference for a second straight year as he anchors the defense. Todd Boeckman, who has threw three passes last year will take over the offense.
SCHEDULE: Luckily for Boeckman the Buckeyes play absolutely nobody in the non-conference. They do play at Washington, so I guess you can give them credit for scheduling a BCS conference team. I hope that after the other three non-conference games with Akron, Kent State and Youngstown State Governor Ted Strickland will present Tressel with a state championship trophy, otherwise why are they playing these teams.

15. UCLA
OVERVIEW: Beating USC in last year’s finale opened the eyes to many people who thought that Los Angeles was a one team city. Karl Dorrell has turned that program around and looks to continue that momentum forward into 2007. The Bruins return 21 of 22 starters from last year’s team and could do some damage out west. It is a shame that nobody notices them.
SCHEDULE: A three game stretch midway through the schedule could tell us a lot about the Bruins. A trip to Oregon State then home games with Notre Dame and Cal could either have the Bruins eyeing a showdown with USC for the Pac-10 title or licking there wounds as they try to regroup against the likes of Washington State and Arizona.

16. Nebraska
OVERVIEW: Sam Keller, an Arizona State transfer, finally gives Bill Callahan his stud quarterback to run his West Coast passing offense that he has lacked the first few years in Lincoln. Keller averaged over 270 ypg and threw for 20 touchdowns in his last season as a Sun Devil.
SCHEDULE: Nebraska wants to make a statement to the nation that they are back in week 3 against USC. They also luck out by missing Oklahoma this year, but to make a mark on the Big XII they will have to win their two big road games in October. The first is at Missouri and the second is in Austin versus the Longhorns.

17. Missouri
OVERVIEW: When Mr. Versatility Brad Smith left Missouri after four years of running the show as quarterback panic set in throughout the Show Me State. In comes sophomore Chase Daniels who set school records in his first year as a starter in touchdown (28), passing years (3,527) and total yards (3,906). Daniels returns this year with a slew of talent around him including fellow backfield mate Tony Temple who rushed for 1,063 yards last year.
SCHEDULE: Starting the season at Illinois and Mississippi seems like a nice way to begin, but Ron Zook has been turning things around for the Illini so the Tigers need to be careful with that one. The home showdown with Nebraska Oct 6th is expected to produce the Big XII North winner.

18. Auburn
OVERVIEW: Auburn returns seven starters on a defense that ranked 7th in the nation last year in points allowed. That defense will have to be the leaders again as the offense does not have much to get excited about, then again when was the last time the Auburn offense was a fun offense to watch. Yet, they still keep winning.
SCHEDULE: The first four games of the season are home, with BCS conference foes Kansas State and South Florida in weeks one and two. I am not expecting much from K-State but the USF game could be interesting. Auburn has a brutal SEC schedule, going on the road against Florida, LSU, Arkansas and Georgia.

19. Penn State
OVERVIEW: One thing is for sure; JoePa has some offensive weapons in Happy Valley this year. Two things are not for sure though. Number one, can Anthony Morelli distribute the ball to all the athletes? Number two, will a offensive line that was bad last year and lost two starters from that team give him time to distribute the ball? The defense will be the typical Penn State defense, great linebackers that lead a bend but don’t break squad.
SCHEDULE: Unquestionably the worst schedule of any of the top 25 teams. First, they do not have a road game (Penn State playing at Temple doesn’t count as a road game, sorry). Second, look at the teams they are playing non-conference: Notre Dame (great rivalry that should have never ended, Penn State has a lot of those), Temple (good to see Joe scheduling the state-rivals), Florida International and Buffalo. Here is how bad those last three teams are, Temple is the best of the bunch. CBS Sportsline ranks the top 119 and these teams rank 116 (Temple), 118 (Buffalo) and 119 (FIU). Do not worry Penn State fans, next year you will get to see Coastal Carolina and Arkansas State. No wonder Paterno is the second winningest coach in history.

20. Tennessee
OVERVIEW: QB Erik Ainge returns for his senior season in Knoxville and has a bunch of options when it comes to spreading the ball around. The RB duo of Arian Foster and LaMarcus Coker are as dangerous as you will find and the young wide receivers are exciting playmakers. The defense will be solid again, led by FS Jonathan Hefney who had five picks last year.
SCHEDULE: The first game of the season will tell us a lot about both Cal and the Vols. Tennessee won big last year when these two teams met, but this year it will be played on the west coast and things could be different this time around. In the SEC, the Vols miss both LSU and Auburn and get Georgia, South Carolina and Arkansas all at Neyland Stadium.

21. Arkansas
OVERVIEW: Arkansas does not have a very solid quarterback this year, but I do not think many Razorback fans will worry much, because what they do have is Darren McFadden. Darren McFadden did it all for the Razorbacks last year. He ran for 1,647 yards and 14 touchdowns. He threw nine times last year, completing seven of them, three of which went for touchdowns. He also is the key part to the Arkansas “wildcat” offense, which features him behind center in shotgun formation and fellow running back Felix Jones either as a wide receiver in motion or in the backfield. This duo ran for over 2,800 yards last year.
SCHEDULE: The non-conference is garbage, with North Texas, Troy, FIU and Chattanooga (okay, this one is even worse than Penn State). The Razorbacks miss Florida this year, but have enough other difficult road games to make up for it. They travel to Alabama, Tennessee and LSU this year.

22. Texas A&M
OVERVIEW: The Aggies smash mouth style will be back again this year as the Aggies return eight starters from an offense that rushed for over 200 ypg. The Thunder and Lightening rushing attack is led by man-child Jorvorskie Lane (6-0, 263) who scored 19 touchdowns last year, with Mike Goodson as the lightening. Goodson ran for nearly 7 yards every time he touched the ball as a freshman last season.
SCHEDULE: The game at Miami (FL) will tell us a lot about the Aggies before they begin Big XII play. The schedule gets tough towards the end with four games in a five games stretch are away from College Station. Follow that stretch with a welcome home gift: The Texas Longhorns.

23. Hawaii
OVERVIEW: This is plain and simple; Hawaii will score a lot. So much that it does not matter that the defense is atrocious. The Warriors ranked first in every passing category created last year with Colt Brennan leading the way by throwing 40 times a game. This team is fun to watch and will win a lot of games, but they will get embarrassed if they are this year’s Boise State and play one of the big dogs in a bowl game.
SCHEDULE: First things first, the WAC is nothing compared to the BCS conferences. That being said Hawaii plays, nobody all year. They should go undefeated, but let us all hope that the strength of schedule factor keeps them out of the BCS, because that game could get ugly when they actually have to play someone that has talent, can score, but can also play defense.

24. Oregon State
OVERVIEW: Can you remember last year when Oregon State shocked USC? That was a preview to this year’s team. 15 starters return from that team including Yvenson Bernard who rushed for 1,307 last year. The defense returns their entire line backing corp. and both starting corners. If sophomore Shane Canfield can lead the offense, this team could be shocking teams as they did last year on a weekly basis.
SCHEDULE: The Beavers open with a challenge against Utah, then travel across the country to Cincinnati. OSU also has USC and Cal on the road this year. The game on Sept 29th versus UCLA should determine the third dog in the Pac-10 championship race.

25. South Carolina
OVERVIEW: Steve Spurrier with a senior quarterback whom he has groomed for a few years, that is a scary vision for defenses in the SEC. The Brinkley twins, Jasper and Casper (not even I could make that up) will lead a veteran group on defense that returns seven players.
SCHEDULE: THE SEC schedule makers were not kind to Spurrier and Co. The Gamecocks play road games at Georgia, LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas. They do however miss Auburn and get Florida at home. USC came within a blocked extra point from beating the gator in The Swamp last year, you can bet they are looking for revenge this time around.

FIVE OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH FOR IN 2007:
Georgia Tech- How can they be good after losing Calvin Johnson? Well, they also lost erratic QB Reggie Ball, addition by subtraction.
TCU- The best defense you don’t know about…YET.
Alabama- Two words: Nick Saban
South Florida- Getting the leftovers from the Big 3 in Florida is starting to pay off.
Miami (FL)- Randy Shannon has the player to turn that program around quickly.

MORE PREDICTIONS SURE TO GO WRONG:
ACC Champion: Virginia Tech is another down season in the ACC
Big East Champion: West Virginia, handling both Louisville and Rutgers with ease this season
Big Ten Champion: Wisconsin will edge out Michigan
Big XII Champion: Best team will be Texas, but Oklahoma will win the championship game
Pac-10 Champion: Everyone wants to see someone else, but it just is not going to happen, USC
SEC Champion: LSU wins the championship, but is still left out of the title game.

Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs Cal
Fiesta Bowl: Louisville vs Texas
Orange Bowl: Florida vs Virginia Tech
Sugar Bowl: LSU vs Oklahoma
National Championship Game: USC vs West Virginia
National Champion: USC
Heisman Trophy winner: Steve Slaton, RB, WVU