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| Thursday, August 29 Updated: August 30, 9:17 PM ET The Big House, the big games and big WRs By Chris Fowler Special to ESPN.com |
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Inside the Big House. The final 90 minutes before opening day kickoff. Michigan and Washington in a rematch of last year's wild game, a battle of teams that will battle for Rose Bowl bids. The band marches in, along with 108,000 football-starved fans. Players combat the inevitable butterflies as the moment they've envisioned throughout winter weight room sessions and sweltering two-a-days approaches. I guess you could say I'm a little excited/pumped/stoked/geeked about the first full Saturday of football, not to mention our first GameDay show. That's a scene I've imagined maybe 50 times the last couple of weeks. But then, if you've clicked to this column you probably understand. And you'll have to excuse the shameless plug. It won't be the last in this column.
Furry Creatures
Michigan was embarrassed by its lack of a physical running game. They've vowed to change that. B.J. Askew and Chris Perry equal about 465 pounds of backfield muscle. Minus a proven playmaker on the edge for the first time in years, UM's plan is to get nasty up front. The matchup to watch is Washington's long, lean WR Reggie Williams and Michigan CB Marlin Jackson, a stud as a true freshman last year. Williams has been covered by some great corners (Philip Buchanon of Miami, Quentin Jammer of Texas, and Marcus Truffant of Washington State) in his short career. He's not a 4.2 guy in the 40, but his height and long stride are trouble for even top-shelf DBs. Jackson spent the offseason (when he wasn't rehabbing a wrist injured in a pickup hoops game) dwelling on the Citrus Bowl scorching UM's secondary got from Tennessee. They helped make Donte' Stallworth a first rounder. It was humbling. And Jackson is not easily humbled. He has a Charles Woodson-like bravado and competitive fire. He's not Woodson, but he's a future pro. Now, a challenge similar to the Citrus from Cody Pickett (who won't force things like he did too often last year) and Williams, plus speedster Paul Arnold and newly committed Charles Frederick. Jackson and Co. better hope the excellent D-line can get in Pickett's grill. In Seattle, the Huskies would be the pick. But they were a dreadful road team last year and have to find stronger leadership when home teams apply the heat. UW got steamrolled 149-44 in three regular season road losses. "We were in shock," says Rick Neuheisel. For UW to have a good year, they'd better toughen up on hostile ground: they visit USC, Oregon, and Washington State (perhaps the toughest three Pac-10 opponents) all on the road.
Three Teams I'm Rooting For Sorry, but in our trailer this season, I'll be rooting for the following three teams. Call me a sentimental softie now that I've just slipped quietly into the dreaded 4-oh.
The program in question has to pay when major violations take place. But I feel for the current Tide guys. They had nothing to do with Albert Means and Memphis high school coaches and sleazy boosters. The came to Alabama to continue a championship legacy. Over the years, I've listened to Crimson Tide players express the immense pride they feel about putting on the Alabama uniform. For the current group, entire college careers have been spent under the cloud of allegations, investigations, and sanctions. They deserve better, and I give them credit for showing great chemistry as they get ready for a season in which they can't play for the SEC title or a bowl game. Dennis Franchione is one of the few coaches good enough to hack this kind of a challenge. If they stay together, the Tide can enjoy a 10-3 season. But they'd better show up Saturday, because Sunbelt champ Middle Tennessee State is much better than it sounds and has no fear of the SEC.
Plus, it has been a difficult summer for many in Penn State's family. Offensive coordinator Fran Ganter lost his wife and Joe Paterno's brother George also passed away following a heart attack. George did color on Penn State's radio broadcasts. It was a little weird to hear a voice almost identical to Joe's providing analysis and even questioning PSU's strategy in the middle of a game. George was a friend. I'll miss talking with him. Joe hates nothing more than sharing personal feelings with folks, but I know it's been tough on him to lose a brother. It's a reminder of mortality for a guy who seems to endure timelessly. I'm rooting for him this fall.
Good for the Game Check out some of the opponents SEC schools face in the first two weeks alone: Miami, Oklahoma, USC, Oregon, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Louisville and Virginia! And the remarkable thing? SEC teams will face all those teams except Miami and Clemson on the road. Can I get an amen? The SEC's non-conference record will slip this year, but for good reason. And for the good of college football fans everywhere. Oh, and the only SEC teams that don't face one of the above foes in the first two weeks: Tennessee, Arkansas, and Ole Miss. The Vols play Miami in November, of course, and don't have to apologize for the schedule one bit. The non-league slates for Arkansas and Ole Miss are a little Ole School soft. But hey, the Rebels at least visit Texas Tech.
Well-Intended Bad Idea Besides, margins are closely considered by pollsters just as they have always been. And rightfully so. Florida State's escape against Iowa State dropped it two spots. Should surviving with a tackle at the one yard line be viewed the same way as a three-TD romp? Of course not. Humans know better. Now computers are being denied data like final margins because we're afraid they won't be able to grasp the nuances that contributed to those scores. Of course they can't. They're computers. But if you are including computers in the BCS formula, and asking them to produce objective lists of the most worthy teams, how can you improve the process by giving them incomplete data. It just makes sense that the more complete the data you plug in, the better the information you get back. Math geeks agree. Besides, most of these formulas gave a team very little credit for truly running up scores. Diminishing returns for any margin beyond 21 points kicked in. Few coaches ever got this. If you thought the computer ratings spit out some curious rankings before, wait until you see what is produced this season. Plus, I think there's a real chance no I-A team remains perfect this season. A choice between about five or six once-beaten teams for Tempe would be fun, huh?
Memo to "Bama Dave"
Colorado-Colorado State CU will expect to smashmouth the Rams, who wilted in the Virginia heat and surrendered 221 rushing yards. But I doubt it'll be that easy. The Buffs' O-line is nicked up and not yet meshing like Barnett hopes they will. Even CU's backs can't run wild without those big holes on the counter plays. The Buffs will not duplicate last year's ground game. But Craig Ochs has been so sharp (18-of-20 in the final scrimmage) and the WR corps is much deeper and better, so Plan B (which was lacking in the Tostitos Feista flop) will be effective. CU's defense will be much improved, but the green secondary will certainly suffer early growing pains.
Clemson-Georgia
Mississippi State-Oregon
I just don't think the resurgence will start in spiffy remodeled Autzen Stadium. Joey Harrington says that new guy Jason Fife is "more talented" than he is. Fife certainly has a ton of skill around him. If he is anything but a total stiff, the Ducks will score points without trying. State's once-proud crew slipped to 10th in passing efficiency defense last season. The 'Dogs scored 95 points the last three games and lost two of them! The defense needs to recover its old relentless attitude or Joe Lee Dunn's rep will take a further licking. The question I've got is can a MSU staff that includes "Rocky, Curley and Sparky" coach serious football? Sounds like canine sidekicks in a new Disney feature. Maybe you prefer the legal firm-sounding last names: Felker, Hallman and Woods. C'mon, a little humor, as Mr. Corso says.
The Vertical Game
The best of the best, 6-3 and up: What's scary is that all of these guys have established, talented QBs to pitch it to them. I foresee even more completions, yards and TD passes than last year's record-breaking totals.
Next level:
Receivers with roundball skills, too: Gotta go now. Hope you'll join us on the season premier of GameDay Saturday at 10:30 eastern/7:30 pacific. We'll get a Big House tour from Bo Schembechler, Michigan memories narrated by Charles Woodson, Rick Neuheisel will wear a wireless mic during warm-ups, Kirk's visit with Chris Simms and reports on the debuts of Ty Willingham and Ron Zook. Wow, an extended shameless plug! Chris Fowler is the host of ESPN College GameDay and will contribute a weekly column to ESPN.com |
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