Football
Twenty Questions You Were Dying to Have Answered about College Football
By Tony GerdemanThere are now less than three months until the start of the season. But as we all know, the closer the season gets, the slower time moves. In an effort to pass the time it always helps to talk about what we might see this year.
No season comes without its various questions and these are just a few of the ones on my mind.
Depending upon their accuracy, these may or may not be predictions.
1) Can Georgia live up to the hype?
No. Georgia will always find a way to lose. Last year, they found a way to lose at home to a South Carolina team that ended up going 6-6. This year they'll find a way to lose to some team in some way. It's what they do. It's their nature. Don't try to change them. Why can't you just love them for who they are--the Rich Man's Clemson?
2) Will 2008 be as crazy as 2007?
It's mathematically impossible. We can't realistically expect a two-loss team to play for the BCS National Championship. We can't expect the #2 team to lose practically every week. And we can't expect Notre Dame to win only three games this season. Seriously.
3) Will college football's attempt to "Jimmy Clausen-proof" the game via clock rule changes work?
I don't have a real answer to this question, I just thought the idea of college football having to "Jimmy Clausen-proof" something was funny.
4) Will Tim Tebow repeat as the Heisman Trophy winner?
No. Urban Meyer has already promised the Heisman to receiver Percy Harvin. Plus, much of the Southern vote may go to Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno. Also, it is expected that Tebow's rushing touchdown numbers (23) will go way down this season with the infusion of actual running back talent in Gainesville. USC transfer Emmanuel Moody struggled some during the spring in finding his spot in this offense, but he could be the short-yardage guy that Urban Meyer needs--provided he has any interest in somebody other than his quarterback running near the goal line. Also, if Tebow loses another three games in conference, the voters should hold him accountable for it and actually hold him to the standards of the pedestal that they've put him on.
5) What should we expect from West Virginia now that Rich Rodriguez is gone?
New head coach Bill Stewart has apparently included something in the West Virginia offense that Rich Rodriguez never thought of--downfield passing! This year, we'll get to see if Pat White can throw the ball like a quarterback. If this offense is successful going down the middle of the field, it will make them even more dangerous. If a defense has to respect the middle of the field, then they won't be able to get to the corners as quickly. It is going to be fun to watch running back Noel Devine get the ball more, but the Mountaineers will need to have other running backs available to take some of the load off of Devine and White.
6) Who is taking a downturn this season?
Kansas. Most everybody is expecting Michigan to slide this year, and they will, but keep in mind that they only won nine games last season--so would seven wins this year be such a drastic drop in production? Not really. That's why I'm going with Kansas here. Last year, the Jayhawks went 12-1 thanks to tremendous quarterbacking, high-ranking defense, the number one turnover margin in the nation, and a severely average Big XII conference. This year, the quarterbacking should still be there, and most of the defense returns, but the conference is better than it was last year and you can't expect to have the best turnover ratio two years in a row.
7) Who is taking an upturn this season?
Notre Dame. Any time you have a shot to double your win total, that's saying something. Last season, one of the many huge problems with the Irish was the offense. But since Charlie Weis has fired last season's play-caller, and now has Michael Haywood calling plays, look for the Irish to have a bit more consistency on offense this year. It will also help that Jimmy Clausen has had nearly nine months to heal from the beating he took last season. Regardless of who is calling plays, the offensive line needs to step up and allow the skill on this team to make plays. And yes, there is skill on this team. Receiver Duval Kamara is a star and has tremendous hands. And there appear to be capable runners itching to be given just a bit of room to run the ball. It will also be fun to see what new defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta can do with the players he's been given. Tenuta loves to blitz, but does he have the weapons available to do it effectively?
8) Will LSU get any heat for their non-conference schedule?
What kind of stupid question is that? Seriously? Are you part-idiot, or entire-idiot? Why should LSU get any heat for scheduling home games against Appalachian State, Troy, North Texas and Tulane? Don't you people know what it's like having to go through the SEC every year? Imagine running a four-mile gauntlet through giant hammers with nails sticking out of them, but before you can get to it, you have to run through a paper banner like a high school football team. And then you have people saying, "Pfft...they only had to run through a paper banner before they got to their four-mile giant hammer gauntlet. Other teams had to run through cardboard banners before they got to their quarter-mile long hilariously-tiny hammer gauntlet!" Are you kidding me? There's no comparison! If anything, LSU should be applauded for the way they don't back down to pressure to play anybody decent.
9) Which non-BCS team is going to going BCS Bowling this year?
A lot of folks are putting Fresno State into the BCS this year, but non-conference games at Rutgers and UCLA and a home game against Wisconsin, may negate that. However, all three of those games are winnable, and if they get through them, the only thing standing in their way will be a November 28 season-closer at Boise State. The other candidate is BYU, but games at Washington, TCU, Colorado State, Air Force and Utah tell me they are not going to go undefeated. About the only other candidate would be Boise State and they break in a new quarterback and an offensive line. If I have to pick one team, I'll foolishly pick BYU.
10) Why isn't anybody talking about how weak the Pac 10 is going to be this year?
Because USC is in the Pac-10 and USC is totally awesome and any negative comments about the conference that USC is in would be frowned upon by everybody's best bud, Pete Carroll. The good news for Pete, however, is that with the Pac 10 so down this year, he's got a good chance to go through the conference schedule unbeaten--which would be just the third time in his eight seasons. And as everybody knows--as long as USC is good, the Pac-10 is good.
11) If I could travel to any game this season, which game would it be?
The World's Largest Outdoor Outlet Mall--Florida vs Georgia. Now you may think I'm crazy for not choosing Ohio State at USC, but I'm afraid of getting shot. And if you get shot at an SEC game, you generally deserve it.
12) Which unknown player will be well-known by November?
Auburn quarterback to be named later. With Auburn going to a spread offense, there are two candidates pushing to take the reigns. The first is sophomore Kodi Burns, who received significant playing time in last year's Chick-Fil-A Bowl, carrying the ball thirteen times and throwing it four. Burns is more of a runner than a thrower. New offensive coordinator Tony Franklin prefers a balanced offense, so junior college transfer Chris Todd may be the more logical choice as he is the better passer and is already familiar with the offense. Don't be surprised if both quarterbacks play, but one of them will eventually step up.
13) Who's winning the Heisman?
Ohio State running back Chris Wells. The South's vote will be split amongst Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Knowshon Moreno and whoever else steps up this season. Those folks in the Big XII region will have to decide amongst Missouri's Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford. And the West Coast doesn't really have much to offer other than USC's Joe McKnight, and he's probably not going to be a 1,000-yard running back. And then there's also the fact that Chris Wells is really, really good and will put up tremendous numbers in 2008. But as we saw with Troy Smith in 2006, a Buckeye doesn't need to put up monster numbers, just the knowledge that they could if they wanted to is sufficient. However, if Pat White gets West Virginia where Rich Rodriguez never could, it will probably be tough to deny him the Heisman, especially considering the loss of Steve Slaton in 2008.
14) Who will play for the BCS National Championship?
USC and Florida. Even if USC loses to Ohio State, that will be their only loss this season. Their conference schedule "features" road games at Oregon State, Washington State, Arizona, Stanford and UCLA. The other four Pac-10 teams come to the L.A. Coliseum. Florida, meanwhile, returns nearly everybody on offense and the players who were lost on defense will be replaced by highly-rated recruits at every position. If the Gators can find some defensive linemen that can produce amongst that group, they'll be tough to beat. Add to that a relatively soft SEC schedule, and this one is pretty easy to predict.
15) Who will be the team that everybody will say should have been in it despite their regular-season losses?
Georgia. It's the only way for media folks to justify the early hype heaped upon the Bulldogs. It's also a way for voters to justify their voting. This is all, of course, assuming USC makes it to the BCS National Championship game, because if they don't, then obviously USC would be the correct answer to this question.
16) The ACC isn't very good this year and Clemson is the clear favorite. They can't possibly blow it this year, can they?
Of course they can. With road games against Wake Forest, Boston College and Florida State, Clemson is entirely capable of losing two of those three. Although if they keep their conference losses to two, Clemson still has a shot at going to the BCS. They don't play Virginia Tech this year, so that helps them immensely. But it's still Clemson, so we'll see.
17) Is this the year Texas Tech becomes a national power?
No. They still need to become a conference power first. But that could be coming this year. The Red Raiders return ten starters on offense and they are the only team in the nation that could lose a receiver (Danny Amendola) who compiled 109 receptions for 1,245 yards and not really blink an eye. They have eight starters back on defense--including the entire defensive line. However, until the defense can stop the run (82nd in rush defense last year), they won't be taking that next step. Still, there are going to be some outrageous shootouts in the Big XII this year and Texas Tech has more than enough firepower to outlast most. Playing at Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas A&M will be their downfall, however.
18) Which freshman will have the biggest impact this season?
Colorado running back Darrell Scott. Head coach Dan Hawkins nabbed Scott out of California and don't expect him to ease the freshman into the offense. Colorado returns two sophomore running backs in Demetrius Sumler and Brian Lockridge. Sumler is the bruiser and Lockridge is the speed back. In Darrell Scott, the Buffs have both. Scott is fast and strong, and with Colorado only returning two of their five starters on the offensive line, they'll need him to exhibit his strengths. If he doesn't rush for 1,000 yards this season, it would be a disappointment. Many are expecting a LeSean McCoy-type of impact from Scott.
19) Speaking of Pitt running back LeSean McCoy, can he take Dave Wannstedt to the BCS?
That depends, does he have two tickets on him?
20) Who is the most important player to his team's success?
West Virginia quarterback Pat White. You might think the answer would be Tim Tebow, but just about anybody should be able to walk into the Gators' lineup and win nine games like Tebow did last year. Pat White is much more important to his team's success because he is a four-year starter with a new head coach in a weaker conference and he just happens to be a superb football player. If White were to go down, the Mountaineers would lose their entire identity and have to change how much their quarterback carries the ball. In this system, speed is key--and nobody else at quarterback has White's dynamic abilities.
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