Oct 3, 2008

It’s October.

Yep, it’s true.

Check your "Quotable Woody Hayes" daily flip calendar if you wish, but I assure you, today is October 3. Which means we are already more than five weeks into college football season.

Pretty amazing, is it not?

I think so.

What’s more amazing is the following—this lengthy list of things we have yet to see in college football 2008.

1. We have yet to see a Big 12 team play another Big 12 team. I mean, wondering why all those Big 12 team are so highly ranked? Simple: They haven’t played anybody.

2. We have yet to see one player distinguish themselves as this year’s Suzuki Heisman Trophy Candidate. Tim Tebow won’t win it. Beanie Wells, my preseason pick, has almost no chance. Knowshon Moreno’s prospects took a hit when Georgia got hammered by ‘Bama last week. Which leaves us with a whole slew of Big 12 quarterbacks (Daniel, Bradford, McCoy, etc.), Michigan State tailback Javon Ringer, and UConn tailback Donald Brown. What?

3. We have yet to see Florida justify their preseason ranking.

4. We have yet to see Auburn justify their preseason ranking.

5. We have yet to see Wisconsin justify their preseason ranking.

6. We have yet to see anyone justify preseason rankings. Really, shouldn’t we just hold off on those things until October?

7. We have yet to see Bobby Bowden offer any indication that he’s got Florida State pointed in the right direction: The Seminoles look pretty sad right now.

8. We have yet to hear anyone of relevance call for Joe Paterno to step down. Win enough games, folks, and ain’t nobody care how old you are. Just ask John Gagliardi.

9. We have yet to see Ohio State play its best game. I am on record with the following—until proven otherwise, Ohio State is the Big Ten’s best team. With Terrelle Pryor and Beanie Wells in the same backfield, that team is serious trouble.

10. We have yet to see any defender tackle Terrelle Pryor in the open field. OK, maybe that’s a stretch. But have you seen this kid in space? It’s ridiculous. Six-foot-six, 220 pounds, and faster than anyone on the field. He’s like Tebow. Except a whole lot better. And faster. Mid-Atlantic Speed.

11. We have yet to see Vanderbilt or Northwestern lose a game. For all we know both the Commodores and Wildcats could absolutely fall apart down the stretch and finish below .500. But for now, let us call these teams’ great starts what they are: Remarkable. And admirable.

12. We have yet to see Clemson be anything but the same old Clemson. Back in July I picked Clemson to play for the national championship against Ohio State. Man, I am a moron.

13. We have yet to see a team play any better than the Alabama Crimson Tide. Once again, folks, say what you will about Nick Saban, but that man can coach. He’s turned the Tide into the SEC’s best team in less than two years.

14. We have yet to see anything cooler than the White Out at Penn State. Sorry, it’s true. And I am not alone in that sentiment.

15. Finally … we have yet to see the best of what college football 2008 will have to offer.

So sit back. Grab a fine craft beer from your neighborhood brewery (buy local!). Whip up some Ro*Tel salsa (thanks, Big Ten Network).

Get comfortable.

And enjoy.

 

Out And About: News And Notes You May Have Missed

• Your Editor’s Note: This week brings us a unique situation, folks. Typically Your Editor creates TCFA as follows: 1. Scour the nation’s newspapers between Monday through Wednesday, completely avoiding ESPN in the process; 2. Pick 10 or so stories worth investigating further on Wednesday evening; 3. Collect those stories in a single file and, over precisely two German beers at Bridgewater’s Pub at Philadelphia's 30th Street Station on Thursday evening, jot down a few notes about them; 4. Hop on the 5:28 R7 Regional Rail to Chestnut Hill East and, during the 32-minute ride home, write the bulk of TCFA. It's a tried-and-true process. Well, this week, there’s a problem: The file with my collection of stories has been lost, somewhere, somehow. So, as I sit here attempting to write, watching North Philadelphia fly by, I am left to write without a net. But I'm taking it as a challenge. A writing exercise, if you will. That being said, what follows (at least, most of it) is "TCFA Unfiltered"—Your Editor’s most basic thoughts on the current state of college football, the games to come this weekend, and more. In other words, yes, we’re gonna be short on facts this week. And heavy on, well, perception. But hey, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

• In Your Editor’s Not-So-Humble Opinion, there is no more intriguing game this weekend than the showdown between the sagging Wisconsin Badgers and the rising (unfortunately) Ohio State Buckeyes. As I have said repeatedly in recent days, both here on TCFA and elsewhere, I still believe the Buckeyes have to be considered the favorites in the Big Ten. Now, does that mean I think the Bucks are the same team they were in 2007? No. Are they as explosive as they were in 2006 (Ted Ginn, Troy Smith, Anthony Gonzalez, Antonio Pittman, and Beanie Wells playing backup tailback)? No. But the fact is, they’ve got a whole bunch of very experienced, very talented, very Ohian football players. These guys are accustomed to winning football games. And that’s what I expect them to do in the weeks to come, starting this week up in Madison, even though freshman Terrelle Pryor will walk into Camp Randall having never experienced anything like this in his life. The kid has been unflappable, yes. But he’s in for a rude awakening. Madison ain’t suburban Pittsburgh, Terrelle. Strap on that helmet real tight.

• Michigan-Illinois. Please tell me, who among you are confident enough to make a prediction in this one? Because I’m not. Here we have two of the most befuddling teams in the country: An Illinois team that, though extremely talented on offense (find me a more athletic quarterback than Juice Williams; find me a bigger, badder wideout than Aurrelious Benn), is clearly incapable of stopping anyone of substance on defense (Penn State tore through these guys at will last week; as did Missouri); and a Michigan team that, despite remaining mostly terrible on offense (though they’ve shown flashes, folks), is, at times, really good of defense (they might have the best front 7 in the Big Ten). So what we have is strength against strength; weakness against weakness; and Ron Zook against Rich Rodriguez. So which horse you gonna hitch your wagon to? My gut tells me RichRod.

Quick Hits: Straight And To The Point

• I would be remiss if I did not note here the passing of the great Paul Newman, actor, humanitarian, businessman, racing enthusiast. I am no movie buff, folks, but I know this much: Pretty much every film Newman starred in is worth watching. Cool Hand Luke. The Hustler. The Color of Money. And most especially Nobody’s Fool and Empire Falls. Newman was a longtime supporter of one of Your Editor’s favorite novelists, Richard Russo, and his film adaptations of Russo’s work are most definitely worth watching. Of course, it goes without saying that the novels are worth reading, too. My favorites, in order: 1. Empire Falls; 2. Straight Man; 3. Nobody’s Fool. Please read them.

• I would also be remiss if I did not mention at least once in this space that Cleveland Indians pitcher Cliff Lee just turned in one of the greatest seasons in Major League Baseball history. If there is any writer out there who does not put Lee atop his Cy Young Award ballot, well, then that writer is moron. If Lee pitched for the Yankees, Cubs or Red Sox, ESPN would have built a statue for him by now.

• Missouri’s trip to Nebraska this weekend is trickier than you might think. Here’s why: The Huskers are in the Tigers’ heads. In college football, the mental aspect of the game cannot be underestimated. These are 18- to 22-year-old kids, after all, and their confidence can be shaken easily. See: Penn State's struggles against Michigan. See: Georgia's struggles against Florida. See: Texas' struggles against Oklahoma. I could go on and on. And Missouri hasn’t won at Lincoln in 30 years. Yes, 30. So if Nebraska gets an early score this week, well, don’t be surprised if the Tigers start to look a little shaky—and lose.

• One thing must be said about Terrelle Pryor: He's got to stop worrying about what ESPN says. The kid this week went on somewhat of a rant about ESPN analyst Mark May, as well as The Worldwide Leader in general. Said Pryor: “People like Mark May, he said ‘Let’s see how he plays on the big stage.' And we’re going to see next week. The media, ESPN people, sit there and talk stuff on our team and say we’re dead. We’ll find out this week coming up who’s dead. We’re out to show the world something, and we’re going to.” My advice, Terrelle: Just play football. And watch only the Big Ten Network. And eat only Ro*Tel salsa products.

• In case you were wondering, and in case you were planning on watching the Penn State-Purdue game on Saturday (noon, ESPN), you’ll want to know the following information: Lavarro Bowman wears No. 18. Enjoy.

• Speaking of Lavarro Bowman, you may be interested to know that Lavarro currently ranks No. 4 in the Big Ten in total tackles. This is relevant because Lavarro has only been a starter for two games.

• ESPN college football analyst Beano Cook is not only a national treasure, but also a living encyclopedia about our beloved game of intercollegiate football. And this week during his weekly podcast with ESPN senior writer Ivan Maisel, Beano proved that once again, when he shared a fact that I don’t think anybody outside of South Bend was aware of. Wondering what that fact was? Well, here you go: This weekend marks the 100th anniversary of possibly the greatest fight song ever written, “The Notre Dame Victory March.” Can you imagine America without this song, folks? I can’t. Although, to be fair, I am an Irish Catholic.

• Speaking of Catholicism, I have no idea what to make of Notre Dame right now.

• Speaking of fight songs ... has anyone noticed that there are no good ones in the SEC, but a whole bunch of good ones up here in Big Ten country? Northern Musical Speed, I guess. Some examples: "Hail to the Victors"; "Fight The Team"; "The Nittany Lion"; "On Wisconsin." And in the South? Nada. But I guess they have the intro song for College GameDay.

• Can you name the nation’s leading rusher, folks? I bet you can’t. His name is Donald Brown. He plays for UConn. And he’s really good. But if this kid wants a shot at the Suzuki Heisman, he better show up for work this week against North Carolina. Because given how bad the Big East is this year, this might be the biggest stage he plays on all year. And man, that is sad.

• Lavarro.