The Rivalry, Esq.

The Rivalry Goes Corporate.

2008-08-27T17:15:00.008-04:00

Friends and faithful readers, on the eve of the 2008 season, we're thrilled to bring you up to speed on our behind-the-scenes exploits over the past six weeks.

It's official. We have a new home.

The Rivalry, Esq. is now covering college football's most esteemed conference -- the Big 10 -- for Sports Blogs Nation.

You can check out the action here.

See you on the other side.

11 Things I Want to See This Year in the Big 10, Part 2

2008-08-27T12:19:00.009-04:00

In case you missed it, here is Part 1 of the 11 Things I Want, complete with JoePa, Terrelle Pryor, and Jesus Shuttlesworth. Enjoy the rest!

#5 - I Want the Midwest to Represent in the 2008 Big 10/Pac 10 Challenge

Everyone knows how the Big 10 performs in the annual Big 10/ACC basketball challenge; it's pretty much a yearly reminder of how badly those Southern schools outclass the Midwest's best in head to head match-ups. And now that the Big 10 has entered into a de facto football "Big 10/Pac 10 Challenge," I am nervously awaiting Penn State v Oregon State, Ohio State v USC, Michigan State v California, and Purdue v Oregon.

What can the Big 10 gain in this Snow v Sun challenge? Nothing large really - only a foothold for BCS berths (OSU, PSU) and early momentum for veteran quarterbacks looking to lead their teams to 8 or 9 wins (Purdue, MSU). Most intriguing match-up here (besides the Game of the Century): Michigan State v Cali, no question. These two teams are blessed with NFL caliber talent and have solid coaching; plus they both reside in the same preseason ranking group...

Preseason Ranking	USA Today	ESPN Power	AP
MSU	41	31	35
California	32	29	28

#6 - I Want Ron Zook to Keep the Good Feelings Coming

USC put its arm around the Illini and led them to the woodshed last year in the Rose Bowl, but the fact that Illinois even made it there was a huge testament to Ron Zook, Juice Williams, and the offensive system that was installed in Champaign-Urbana. Zook has hooked up good recruiting classes (thats a top 20 class for a 2 win team, in case you're counting at home), a veteran quarterback with star quality, and a defense that Zook is high on. But Mizzou waits in the wings, as do the high hopes of Illinois fans everywhere.

#7 - I Want a Wide Receiver to get his Name in the Headlines.

For his football performance, of course. The Big 10 is not a Mecca for stud WR's in 2008 and there is a tremendously shallow pool of top level wide receivers. Mario Manningham, James Hardy, and Devon Thomas have departed and left a void for which....someone will have to fill.

The problems for Big 10 wide receivers are two fold.

The first problem for this class of hands men is the changing attitude in the Big 10. The attitude of run first, pass second does not lend itself to grooming WR's and many teams have moved in that direction. The University of Michigan provides the perfect example. Michigan ran a Pro Style offense that attracted top wide receivers like David Terrell, Braylon Edwards, and Mario Manningham. These top notch receivers knew they were going to get the ball and use their time at Michigan to improve their shot to play in the NFL. Now Michigan has moved towards a spread run attack and Manningham, who would have been the Big 10's top ranked returning wide receiver, got out of Ann Arbor as quickly as he used to run routes for the Blue and Gold.

Second, the best wide receivers according to CFN (Brian Robiskie of OSU, Andy Brodell of Iowa, Eric Decker, Jr of Minnesota, Derrick Williams of PSU, Arrelious Benn of Illinois) all play on teams that may not be able to nurture a breakout season for these talented players. Robiskie will always be the 2nd option to Heisman frontrunner Beanie Wells and the Buckeyes will probably pull him in blowout games against Youngstown St, Ohio, and Troy. Brodell plays on an Iowa team with no running game to speak of with a quarterback who spent 2007 being slammed into the grass over and over again; expect him to see double teams or a safety shading to his side. Williams is a mega-talent, but PSU's quarterback situation will hinder his stats. Decker plays for a struggling Minnesota program and will have to put up obscene numbers just to get some hype.

This leaves us with Benn, the only Big 10 WR that I could find on anyone's Preseason All American list. Everyone knows Benn's QB struggled with accuracy last year, but Juice Williams has had a year to mature and work with coaches. Plus, Benn got the ball a considerable amount regardless of William's throwing issues. Benn is the Big 10's best chance to follow in the All-American footsteps of Braylon Edwards and Charles Rogers.

#8 - I Want to Avoid a Repeat of the Monster 2007 Upsets.

Gregg Easterbrook, the ESPN Page 2 columnist, writes about how BCS schools schedule cupcake match-ups with weak teams by paying these smaller schools upwards of $500,000 to come and get killed on the BCS school's home turf. The Big 10 followed this simple formula in 2007 and the results were mind boggling. North Dakota State left the Metrodome with a 27-21 victory, the Bronco's of Western Michigan left Iowa City triumphant, and Appalachian State went straight from Ann Arbor to Los Angeles to collect its ESPY for Upset of the Year.

The Big 10 holds an advantage over these smaller schools in recruiting athletes and in program building, but three factors made these upsets possible.

Lack of preparation. The Michigan team that got outplayed by App. St looked confused by the shotgun spread and unable to make defensive changes. And let me remind you, this wasn't a bad Michigan team (they beat Illinois, Penn State, Purdue). But Lloyd didn't have the Maize & Blue ready; he paid for this mistake with his job.
2007 was a down year. Minnesota won 1 game and tradition rich schools like Purdue, Michigan State, and Iowa played below expectations. Upsets followed these under-performing teams.
The talent gap closed. Appalachian State looked a lot faster than a Michigan team well known for its top notch athletes...Western Michigan recruits looked every but as talented as the recruits Ferentz pulled in at Iowa...you get the point.

#9 - I Want More Heartwarming Stories.

The Terry Hoeppner saga made Indiana's battle to "play 13" a great story. But there was more to that than a courageous head coach's battle with cancer. Indiana doesn't have a storied football program and has mediocre results of late, so the recent success was doubly surprising. Since when does the Big 10's top quarterback reside in Bloomington (as one preseason publication dubbed Kellen Lewis)? Since when is the Hoosier crowd storming the field to celebrate a night-game victory? Hoeppner and the subsequent competitiveness of the team makes Indiana a Rivalry favorite. Let's hope Lewis's recent return from suspension lifts the Hoosiers to another Bowl game.

#10 - I Want Minnesota to Stop Embarrassing the Big 10.

One Win. North Dakota State. Worst defense in recent history. As Jon put it earlier:

"Suffice it to say (head coach) Tim Brewster enjoyed the kind of honeymoon traditionally reserved for people with chronic motion sickness who forget to pack Dramamine on a three-month cruise around Cape Horn."

2007 was a legitimately horrid year for the Golden Gophers. This program, which once featured two of the best running backs in the NFL (Marion Barber, Lawrence Maroney), should have been relegated to the MAC, English Premier League-style, after last years performance.

But the Gophers will still inhabit the Big 10 in 2008 and could be decent. Solid offensive weapons exist in veterans QB Adam Weber and WR Eric Decker, Jr, while Ted Roof comes from Duke to try and salvage some defensive respectability. An easy early season schedule should push Minnesota past their win total of 2007 easily.

#11 - If Ohio State Makes it to a Bowl Game, I Would Appreciate if they Showed Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvjpNgNnXUI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O21s-XIp_hc&feature=related

The Big 10 Network Lives!

2008-08-25T09:26:00.002-04:00

Recently, God decided to give me a pre-3rd year of law school gift. He ordained it that the Big 10 Network would somehow be beamed into my 12th floor Detroit apartment. I stumbled upon The Network one lazy morning last week when I was flipping channels during breakfast......

Graham's Thought Process

Channel 58: HSN...no
Channel 59: Fuzz...
Channel 60: History Channel...too early for that
Channel 65: Spanish Channel...wait...this isn't the Spanish Channel...this is the 1990 matchup between Michigan and Michigan State when Desmond Howard got tripped in the endzone...wait a minute, who would be showing this game...Oh yes....amen

All the supposed idiosyncrasies and Iowa Woman's lacrosse games that were supposed to plague the Big 10 Network are meaningless in my eyes. Do you want to watch an hour of the Purdue Boilermakers practicing, with full hitting and passing drills? I sure do! Do you want to watch Desmond Howard get tripped over and over, ending Michigan's national championship hopes? I sure do, even if it is for the same reason people gape at a blazing house fire.

"All the supposed idiosyncrasies and Iowa Woman's lacrosse games that were supposed to plague the Big 10 Network are meaningless in my eyes."

I think the best part of the Big 10 Network is the classic games. The other day, OSU v Arizona State '97 was on, the Jake Plummer/David Boston game. That game had everything: a Heisman contender at QB, an upstart program, the John Cooper face (the look on Cooper's face during crucial junctures of this game was Classic in itself; his face showed so much confusion, so much anger...and it was made even better that he is/was a dead ringer for Rudy Guiliani)...

And it's for these reasons that the Big 10 Network is a somewhat religious experience. I think the only real problem is the commercials, an endless loop of Big 10 school promotion. But the college football season is starting in 3 days and I am in a great mood, so I can turn these commercials into a positive for you. The Rivalry Esq brings you:

Advice From the Corny Commercials that Endlessly Loop on the Big 10 Network

Be Remarkable (Iowa)

Stay Connected (Archie Griffin and the Ohio State Alumni)

It's Your Time (Penn State)

Be Driven to Discover (Minnesota)

Defending the Indefensible

2008-08-23T12:03:00.010-04:00

By ANTHONY MOSKO

Alcoholics, pedophiles, Young Republicans, Michael Moore....all have nothing on me. I have the worst sickness of all: I am a Notre Dame fan.

And before you trip over yourself out of your OSU, Michigan or USC beanbag chair to tell me how fat Charlie Weis is, how badly Notre Dame was beaten in their last game against your team and how Notre Dame has not won a bowl game since Carlton Banks was in primetime, please understand that I’ve heard it all. I have been desensitized to the anti-Notre Dame invective that has been bandied about since the days of the Rocket.

But now that we’ve gotten to know each other (I like Notre Dame, you have a beanbag chair), I would like to try to refute (or even corroborate) popular notions about Charlie Weis and his Fighting Irish. As my good friend, classmate and co-founder of this blog, Graham Filler said to me, “Charlie Weis is a mythical figure in the blogging world.” And hopefully, I can work to dispel some myths, or maybe we can even reach a common ground.

So in no particular order, here is a list of some popular conceptions and misconceptions about Notre Dame football’s big cheese: Charlie Weis.

1. CHARLIE WEIS IS FAT

This is often a criticism leveled by individuals with no substantial argument to make (ahem, Mr. Filler). But yes, Coach Weis is both large and in charge, and he doesn’t aid any visual efforts to trim down with the way he pulls his slacks up about four inches below his chin on game day. Hadn’t I always heard that those Adidas stripes can be “slimming”?

And yes, the “Beat Notre Dame and send Charlie Back to the Chocolate Factory” shirts are amusing (and just speak volumes for how clever the t-shirt wearer is), but of course it’s more of a testament to how one feels about Notre Dame than Weis himself. Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen and Kansas’ Mark Mangino both seem to be a bit larger, though their girth hasn’t quite been the subject of ridicule to the degree of Charlie Weis. Charlie is a portly fellow; that I’ll give you. But in a profession that often comprises former football players that have let their physiques go to pot, he’s certainly not the portliest of them all.

2. CHARLIE WEIS IS ARROGANT

This typically depends on whom you ask. To Notre Dame fans (or at least to some) it’s confidence; to others, it’s bravado, hubris, arrogance, indigestion...whatever you want to call it.

Much was made of Charlie’s comments at an alumni fundraiser over the summer regarding his team’s upcoming September 13 clash with the University of Michigan, and the anticipated “excuses” the Wolverines would make in the midst of a rebuilding year. Weis reportedly finished up with a “to hell with Michigan.” Considering that Michigan will be in a rebuilding phase not dissimilar from Notre Dame’s in 2007, these comments certainly seem tasteless. Then again, if every alumni gathering for every major athletic program was mic’ed, I’m sure we’d all hear something similar. I can’t defend the “winning with thugs and hooligans” comment, as that was indeed a stupid assertion to make. Still, I feel Weis’s actions are a better reflection of what type of person he is than a few off-the-cuff remarks he made at some booster dinner.

Weis may not have as much humility as Sweater Vest, but that doesn’t necessarily make him arrogant, nor is he close to the malcontent Nick Saban is. He’s never seriously denigrated an opponent, nor made any gesture close to belittling an opposing team’s victory over the Irish. So many seem to forget that after easily the most crushing defeat of Weis’ young Notre Dame career – a 34-31 loss to #1 USC in 2005 – Weis walked into the visiting Trojans’ locker room and thanked them for a fine game and wished them the best for the remainder of the season. When asked for his opinion on the Trojans’ game-winning touchdown where running back Reggie Bush illegally shoved quarterback Matt Leinart into the end zone (a runner’s progress can’t be aided by a teammate), Weis responded that if Brady Quinn was stuck in a similar situation (Leinert had actually been stopped at the goal line), he’d hope that his teammates would have been there to push him in. And after the second-most crushing defeat in Weis’ head coaching tenure at Notre Dame – a 46-44 triple overtime loss to Navy, their first loss to the Midshipmen in 43 years – Weis made sure his players kept up with the tradition that he started two years prior by having his Fighting Irish team stand behind Navy at the conclusion of the game to sing Navy’s alma mater.

These are just a few examples, and on more than a handful of occasions, Weis has remained gracious in defeat, which is typically not a trait of arrogance.

3. CHARLIE WEIS WON WITH TYRONE WILLINGHAM'S RECRUITS

I always found this argument to be more of an indictment of Willingham’s acumen than of Weis’s. Brady Quinn was consistently running for his life as a young quarterback in Ty’s ill-managed West Coast offense, while wide receiver Jeff Samardzija rode the bench. Enter Charlie Weis, and Brady Quinn was quickly in Heisman conversations, and Samardzija became one of the most dominant receivers in college football, earning All-American status and an almost certain first round pick before ultimately opting instead for a professional career in baseball. If Charlie was indeed winning with Willingham’s recruits, then Charlie was developing them and showing them how to win in a way Ty couldn’t. But when Willingham started his first season with the Irish in 2002 at 8-0, there was nary a criticism echoed that Ty was winning with Bob Davie’s players.

4. CHARLIE WEIS CAN'T WIN THE "BIG GAME"

It’s difficult to argue that in the biggest games on the brightest stages, Weis has had his Irish prepared.

Everyone remembers the narrow loss to USC in 2005. Everyone also remembers Buckeyes Ted Ginn, Jr. and Santonio Holmes running wild in the Irish secondary in the Fiesta Bowl that same year in a 34-20 Ohio State romp. People also remember Michigan tearing apart #2 Notre Dame in South Bend, USC humiliating Notre Dame yet again in the Coliseum and the Tigers of LSU running Notre Dame off the field in the Sugar Bowl. Whenever the light seemed to shine the brightest on Weis and the Irish, they scattered for cover. The big boys of the BCS conferences always seemed to make games against the Irish look like walk-throughs against the local middle school team.

"[N]ow that we've gotten to know each other (I like Notre Dame, you have a bean bag chair), I would like to try to refute (or even corroborate) popular notions about Charlie Weis and his Fighting Irish."

But at the outset of Weis’s career at Notre Dame in 2005, each game seemed to be “the big one.” Often overlooked, Weis became the first coach in Notre Dame history to win his first two games on the road: at #24 Pittsburgh and at #3 Michigan. At the time, each could certainly be deemed as a “big game,” especially the 17-10 victory against a third-ranked Michigan team in Ann Arbor, where the Irish hadn’t won since 1993. It is also worth noting that Charlie Weis won his first nine road games at Notre Dame, spanning all of his first season and almost all of the second before a loss at USC in the final regular season game of 2006. As any ardent college football fan would attest, it’s never easy to win on an opponent’s home field.

So, all tolled, Weis has won really...um...one big game with the Irish.

5. NOTRE DAME IS A THING OF THE PAST, AND CHARLIE WEIS WON'T BRING THEM BACK

When USC split a national championship with LSU in 2003, it was USC’s first in 31 years. 2003 also marked LSU’s first national title in 45 years. Ohio State won it all in 2002, its first in 34 years (since Woody in 1968). The Texas Longhorns ended a 36-year drought when they won it all in 2005. Michigan’s split national title with Nebraska in 1997 was its first in 49 years.

Oklahoma went 3-8 just five years before winning a national title in 2000. Penn State hasn’t won a title in 22 years, but Joe Paterno is still the dean of college football.

And you get my point.

Notre Dame is approaching the 20-year anniversary of their last consensus national championship, and they last competed for a national title about 15 years ago. No doubt, Notre Dame hasn’t won with the consistency of years past, but the argument that Notre Dame will never win it all again has no rational support.

As long as Notre Dame has a national audience, a national TV contract and continues to bring in top-10 recruiting classes, they will remain relevant in the college football world. Any program with that kind of support always has a chance to win. When beating Notre Dame is no longer a headline on ESPN.com, then maybe one could argue irrelevance.

6. CHARLIE WEIS IS NO BETTER THAN TYRONE WILLINGHAM

I honestly feel this criticism will last only until 1) Notre Dame has a better season in 2008 and 2) Willingham is summarily dismissed from Washington. After three years as Notre Dame’s coach, Weis has just one more win (22-15) than his predecessor Tyrone Willingham (21-15) in the same amount of time. Willingham owns an 11-25 record as the head coach at the University of Washington.

The difference most remember is that Weis was delivered a massive contract extension just six games into his career at Notre Dame. Most shocking of all, the extension came the week following a loss (the aforementioned setback to #1 USC). Despite the loss, for whatever reason the athletic department saw this as Notre Dame finally turning the corner against an archrival that had humiliated them by a combined 93 points in three previous contests. At the time, who could blame the athletic department? Notre Dame’s offense became something to be feared and, at least, their defense wasn’t yet losing games. Further exacerbating the haste of the decision were the swirling rumors that several floundering NFL teams were looking to Weis as a possible head coaching candidate. If Charlie could turn around Notre Dame so quickly by transforming Willingham’s rejects into All-Americans, he could do something similar in the NFL, right? Not wanting him to waddle back to the professional ranks, Notre Dame slapped Weis with a fat contract extension when just a year earlier they wouldn’t even let Willingham finish out his first one. It’s arguable that the move was equal parts opportunism and foolish haste, just like the firing of Willingham.

No one’s going to confuse former Notre Dame Athletic Director Kevin White for George Patton. The dismissal of Tyrone Willingham in 2004 and the hiring of a successor was one of the most botched and humiliating procedures in the history of the University of Notre Dame, so much to the point that faculty, students, famous alumni and revered former University President Rev Edward Malloy spoke out publicly against the termination of Tyrone Willingham. Critics even went so far as to say that Willingham was the victim of a racial hit, and that blue and gold were no longer important colors to Notre Dame, but that black and white were.

The truth was, green is the most important color for Notre Dame, and I’m not talking about the green that adorns the leprechaun’s pantaloons. Feel free to make a value judgment, but Willingham showed little sign of commitment in getting Notre Dame back to prominence. Sub-par recruiting classes (which many point to the reason for Notre Dame’s poor performance in 2007), alleged increased golf outings during critical recruiting and practice periods, and categorical refusals to make adjustments on his coaching staff didn’t sit well with the athletic department (if you think coaches are the only ones who make personnel decisions, you’re officially adorable). It appeared to all the big donors that Willingham wasn’t as concerned about national titles as he was about maintaining a status quo: as long as they had semi-winning seasons, players weren’t flunking out and no one was arrested, all was well. But if that’s the case, what separates Notre Dame from Northwestern or Stanford? Notre Dame’s sea of green doesn’t grow from clover.

As far as an on-field difference between Weis and Willingham, Willingham’s Irish teams seemed to wilt commensurate with the autumn leaves, instead of buckling down for the stretch runs. In each coach’s two most successful seasons in South Bend, Willingham was 3-4 in the month of November, Charlie Weis was 7-1. Specifically, Willingham’s teams lacked any consistency from game to game, sometimes beating teams they weren’t expected to and often losing to teams they shouldn’t. Willingham’s teams never could find a rhythm throughout the season, specifically on offense. In Willingham’s final season with the Irish, they lost to Brigham Young, were destroyed by Purdue, beat Michigan and Tennessee, blew a big lead at home and lost to Boston College and were downed at home on Senior Day by Pitt.

Willingham’s last two recruiting classes weren’t even filled, with the dwindling upperclassmen in this year’s and last year’s class as evidence. He signed three offensive linemen in three years, and often his recruiting classes finished outside the top 30 nationally. Weis’s last three recruiting classes have each ranked nationally in the top 10, with his most recent being ranked at #2 by most recruiting publications. In addition, Weis took Notre Dame to two BCS bowl games, essentially paying back the university for his lofty contract. He was also the first coach to give Notre Dame back-to-back 9+ win seasons since Lou Holtz did it in 1992 and 1993. Make no mistake, a 3-9 season is inexcusable considering the talent on Notre Dame’s roster, and if Weis repeats such a season, you can expect his dismissal, but differences between Weis and Willingham’s respective horizons at Notre Dame are jarring. And it doesn’t appear Washington fans are all too thrilled with Willingham either (www.byebyety.com).

And unlike Willingham, Weis has at least made an effort to learn from his mistakes. He has ceded all play-calling duties to (*gasp*) third-year offensive coordinator Michael Haywood. In efforts to increase defensive pressure on opposing quarterbacks, Weis hired defensive lifer Jon Tenuta from Georgia Tech. And after watching his young players become physically over-matched and out-classed in games against Georgia Tech, Michigan and USC, Weis quit the NFL-run practices of minimal contact and set his players loose on each other. Weis may seem obstinate when it comes to the media, but he certainly hasn’t been averse to change on the field.

As a Notre Dame fan, I have high hopes that Weis will succeed. The fact that despite the turmoil, Weis continues to reel in consecutive Top 10 recruiting classes has many of the Irish faithful dreaming for the glory days (or at least better ones). And as far as where the blame lies in Notre Dame’s 3-9 season of 2007, Weis has repeatedly fallen on the sword, pointing the biggest finger at himself and saying simply that he was out-coached, which is in stark contrast to Willingham’s post-loss press conferences, complete with shrugging shoulders and “we just didn’t execute” ho-hums. The only problem with Weis’s wholehearted acceptance of accountability is that fans will know exactly where to point their torches if play doesn’t improve, so it’s now up to Fat Charlie the Archangel (or is he a cherub?) to take the next step forward...slacks permitting, of course.

Anthony Mosko is a special guest contributor to The Rivalry, Esq. He is a third-year law student at The University of Detroit Mercy. Please direct comments to fatony13@yahoo.com.

Triple Entendre: Penn State Centerfold

2008-08-19T13:23:00.016-04:00

It sounds like a sex toy from the future, but the Spread HD arrives in less than two weeks, and it's anything but voyeuristic.

Penn State's new affair hooks up with 2005 when the Nittany Lions came off back-to-back losing seasons to win a Big 10 Conference Title and a triple-overtime BCS Orange Bowl. That squad rode on the shoulders of Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Michael Robinson who single-handedly contributed 2,350 passing and 806 rushing yards to a No. 3 final AP ranking.

So what is the "Spread HD" and why does it have better resolution than Discovery Theater?

Don't ask Joe Paterno. The old fart refuses to fan the flames. As The Morning Call reports, he insists there's no such thing as new when it comes to college football. Joe points to a spread he ran as quarterback at Brooklyn Prep in 1944 to cement the point. But Joe High School didn't have the runs like he does today. And his son Jay is somewhat more opportunistic: "We want to go beyond the spread offense," he says, "...a running offense...throwing the ball with an NFL passing attack" (emphasis added).

If you live in Big 10 country it's hard not to be slightly intrigued at the mention of a fusion between the spread offense that's a la mode in CFB and the NFL pro-form. After all, about all we have left to brag about in the North is the number of athletes we send to the next level each year. [Actually -- let me help you out on this one before you make an ass out of yourself with your fishing buddy from Jacksonville -- the SEC led all conferences on the 2007 NFL opening day roster with 263 players in the league. The ACC placed second with 238 representatives followed by the Big 10 (234), Pac 10 (183), and Big 12 (176).] But the fact remains, we send a lot of guys to the NFL, and it's important they play what's relevant.

"It sounds like a sex toy from the future, but the Spread HD...(is) anything but voyeuristic."

As Jay Paterno describes, the "Spread HD" includes: 1. Multiple receiver sets, 2. zone reads, 3. option options, 4. rollouts, and 5. more passing than ever before.

Who will bring the cablebox antics to life? Let's start with the receivers. Derrick Williams, Deon Butler, and Jordan Norwood are the big three -- with support from Brett Brackett, Derek Moye, and Graham Zug. Add on slot capabilities from true freshman back Stephfon Green and you've got an lineup that's steep and deep.

Williams, symbolically, is the critical link to the 2005 squad -- after playing just seven games that season he was nominated to The Sporting News' Freshman All Big Ten Team. After beginning 2007 a modest 6 catches for 45 yards he lit up a 78 yard punt return touchdown against Notre Dame and finished with 55 receptions for 529 yards and three endzones. His performance in 2008 may well determine the success of the aerial variance the Lions hope to sustain.

Presumptive quarterback nominee Daryll Clark had a modest 2007 behind Anthony Morelli. That doesn't stop the speculation that he's one of the top dual-threats to watch in 2008. What's clear is that Clark is not another winged-tipped Robinson. His bruiser reputation behind center overcompensates for a lack of raw turbo, all but ensuring Penn State will have the opportunity to capitalize off soft-line coverage. His Alamo Bowl performance showcased his range, but that's not to take away from the competition. Sophomore Pat Devlin is a more than capable alternative, and the trifecta is rounded off by Senior Paul Cianciolo.

While it's not clear who will start, the finish is somewhat more determined. Watch for precision rollouts to simultaneously temper and tantalize opposing lineups. And oh yeah, there's the run too.

11 Things I Want to See This Year in the Big 10

2008-08-15T21:40:00.005-04:00

Part 1

It seems the Midwest is relatively quiet in early August. If you were to drive through the small farming town I grew up in in Mid-Michigan, even the most intense observer wouldn't see or hear a whole lot. That observer wouldn't have to stop either; I believe the town's one stoplight is a blinking yellow now.

But if you did take a quick drive up to the intersection of Meridian and Colony, you may hear the crunching of football pads and the yelling of high school football coaches. All over the flattened (thanks glaciers) Midwest, the sound of football glory rings in the ears of young combatants, coaches, and fans.

That same sound is ringing in the ears of The Rivalry. Our attempts to correctly predict the 2008 season will surely fail, so in true vainglorious fashion, here are 11 things that The Rivalry wants to see this year in the Big 10.

#1 - I want to see someone punch OSU right in the mouth.

Figuratively of course. Ohio State rules the Big 10 roost right now, just like they did last year...and the year before that. But the Buck's need a challenger to that throne or the Big 10 risks losing respect and legitimacy. Last year, the upstart Zookians successfully ran the shotgun spread right at the heart of the undefeated Buckeye's and their #1 ranked defense. Fans of the Scarlet and Gray watched in horror as Juice Williams and Rashard Mendenhall hammered the interior of the OSU defense with an 8 minute, game ending drive that shook up the BCS rankings. The Illini used this upset to springboard onto the national consciousness.

Punching the Bucks in the face will be a formidable test this year, with that #1 defense improved (check out Jon's article on Blue Ribbon's odd thoughts about the Buckeye's defense) and raring to prove they aren't too slow to beat top SEC teams. But the Rivalry doesn't want to watch a one horse race in the Big 10. The games @Madison on October 4 and @Champaign on November 15 will be the best chances for The Rivalry's #1 wish to come true.

#2 -I want Michigan State to live up to expectations.

I have talked about this before; the ingredients are mostly there for a successful Spartan season. Veteran QB, stud halfback, solid coach blah blah blah...the truth is, a strong base for success in East Lansing has been in place before, only to be shoved aside by drug problems, shocking losses, and bad coaching. The Rivalry fervently hopes that the Spartans can return some of the glory of 1965-66 to East Lansing. Michigan State's three game stretch versus OSU, UM, and Wisconsin will show whether a consistent effort can be displayed against the Big 10's powers.

But why would I, a Wolverine fan, root for the Spartans to be have a solid season? Simple: the Big 10 needs a middle of the pack team to step up. The SEC has Arkansas, the Big 12 has Kansas, the Big East has UConn and Cincinnati...These perennial 6-7 win teams have catapulted themselves over the hump of mediocrity into the national spotlight. MSU has the tradition, coaching, and veteran experience to do the same.

#3- I want Terrelle Pryor to break out in a "Sportscenter Top 10" way.

There are certain recruits that take on national appeal because of their seemingly otherworldly talents. Chris Webber, Adrian Peterson, Jesus Shuttlesworth...Pryor's high school star shone brighter than those three, plus he couldn't skip to the NFL so there was an added onus on him having to pick a college. Now he plays at the Horseshoe, backing up Todd Boeckman, and this leaves me deeply unsatisfied. He is a singular talent with Vince Youngesqe poise and speed and I want to see what he can do against Linebacker U and Brandon Graham.

#4 - I want people to stop talking about Joe Paterno retiring.

I don't care if hes 80 years old. I don't care if Greg Schiano is practicing his "JoePa was a legend, but it's a new day in Happy Valley" speech. Longevity of a head coach/coaching staff is one of the most important things a college football can have and Paterno has cornered the market on longevity (Bobby Bowden, calm down). Penn State has been a relevant and thriving football program for 40 years; in fact, JoePa should be toasting a 40th anniversary glass of champagne to his undefeated 1968 team, a team that went undefeated and was denied the national title. Paterno is the highly respected face of a program that pushes players into the NFL consistently and reinvents itself consistently (look at the offense becoming more varied and adaptable in the last 5 years, look at the 3rd ranked 2005 Nittany Lions with running QB Michael Robinson).

Blame for the undisciplined and felonious behavior of Penn State's players shouldn't lie in Paterno's lap either. No Nittany Lion player has ever thought, "Hey, my coach is so old that he has forgot to instill discipline, F*** it, lets go break down a door and assault someone." Paterno's age just isn't relevant, only his results are.

Stay tuned for Part 2...

The Pistol Formation: Is Tressel Packing Heat?

2008-08-13T18:42:00.018-04:00

[Editor's Note: For those of you who've earnestly logged on the past several days only to find the stale fragments of last week's words, we apologize. We're thrilled to announce that (like the mythical Phoenix) The Rivalry, Esq. will soon be undergoing an ambitious transformation in scope and platform. We'll have more details in the near future. Stay tuned.]

You've got to give it to him, he looks the part.

When the Big Ten Network visited Columbus last week as part of its fall camp circus tour it caught Offensive Line Coordinator Jim Bollman sporting a high-crowned Cowboy hat, rim pulled down over his eyes a la Butch Cassidy. Like any professional outlaw, the gunslinger didn't want to show his hand. Fortunately, the tape doesn't lie.

What it's shown has sparked debate from The Plain Dealer to Around the Oval. The Buckeye offense appears to be flirting with the Pistol Formation, an offspring of the shotgun and singleback offenses. Pioneered by Chris Ault for his Nevada Wolf Pack the Pistol gives ground gunpowder to an attack while maintaining the vertical extendability of the shotgun. It works like this:

The quarterback lines up approximately three yards behind the center (compared to at least five in the shotgun). The shallow set allows the running back to position himself an additional three yards behind the quarterback like in the I-Form. At direct snap the quarterback can do one of three things: 1. Hand the ball off to a running back that's already in motion, 2. Look up to pass, or 3. Execute the "option" in tandem with the running back. (For a graphical illustration, see Men of the Scarlet and Gray).

"Bollman's not planning on firing blanks."

The obvious suitability of the formation for a Buckeye Offense that arguably boasts more turf torque than any other club in the FBS has been well documented. Ideas I can't take credit for include:

1. Freezing the linebacker corps for an extra second after the snap while they wait to get a visual on the back -- until they see Beanie, they can't commit to run or pass (MotSaG)

2. Speaking of No. 28, giving the bruiser more momentum at conception since the back is already running downhill at the time he takes the hand off -- compare that to the traditional shotgun lateral transfer (The Plain Dealer)

3. The general threat of a Pryor/Wells Pistol option -- from a defensive perspective you're damned if you do, damned if you don't

4. Allowing the offensive line to play soft up front, and

5. North/South diversification provides greater opportunities to run and throw the football -- the quarterback has the visibility of the Shotgun with the versatility of the I-Form (Around the Oval).

Even Tressel himself has sung its praises: "Your back now has the ability to go both ways as opposed to being offset one way or the other," he said, before adding, "...28 gets to go downhill, and I think he's a pretty good downhill guy."

Sold? It seems like a no brainer -- which immediately makes this blogger skeptical. So, in the spirit of our taking sides approach, lets turn to the aspects that have received considerably less airtime: the conventional weaknesses of the Pistol.

First, quarterbacks under center can conceal the ball significantly better than at drop. The further away the quarterback is from the line, the easier it is for the defense to see what's going on. By this reasoning a linebacker that follows a QB's arm movements might mitigate the lauded "freezing" effect.

Second, while limiting a defense's field of view is important, running backs need to see too (huge surprise, right?). A lineup directly behind the quarterback keeps prospective lanes concealed until the back is all but committed (See All Experts). Don't buy it? Beanie Wells was candid about his difficulties adjusting. As he reported "It's hard. It takes getting used to."

Whether you like the Pistol or not likely depends on who you've seen run it. Good timing and execution? See LSU. Poor adaptability? See Syracuse.

One thing is certainly clear: Bollman's not planning on firing blanks.

Preseason Poison: Red and Black, Cardinal and Gold Top Coaches' Poll

2008-08-05T00:41:00.022-04:00

My first look at the preseason rankings came whilst running to catch a green line train into Chicago over the weekend. Tripping over the Metra station stairs, I caught a glimpse of a USA Today newspaper in a curbside rack.

It was the wide-shoulders of Knowshon Moreno that first caught my attention -- elevated over the typeface like a boxed action figure.

The coaches have spoken and the Georgia Bulldogs are the No. 1. team in the country, at least for now.

I could take a minute to reflect on the particular dangers the honor affords. Premature accolades have a strange way of distracting the otherwise focused. The athletic psyche is profoundly sensitive: The more you're told you're the best, the more you begin to believe it. The drive to overcome the odds then transforms itself into a simple manifestation of destiny -- a rightful ascension of heir to throne.

Once that mentality takes over it's not a question of if, but when a team will fail. All of the talent in the world can't make up for an inability to deal with adversity -- an impotence to adapt.

Here are The Rivalry, Esq.'s thoughts on the 2008 Preseason Top 25:

For better or worse, it's clear the coaches haven't paid much attention to other programs since the conclusion of bowl season in January. From No. 1 Georgia's perch atop the count, to No. 2 USC's consolation entry, the ringleaders were obviously influenced by shock and awe season ending performances. And rightfully so. I can't think of school colors that feel more poisonous at present than red and black, or cardinal and gold.

Still, both programs have their weaknesses: Geogria's offensive line must replace two starters. And Stafford will have a new set of targets in a young receiver corp. USC's rising star offense returns only five vets -- Sanchez will have to step up, and grow up quickly. His limited appearances in 2007 were marked with missteps. The Trojan defensive line looks like a grinning eleven year old with noticeable holes from the lost teeth of Jackson and Ellis.

A No. 2 start might be a little premature for So Cal. If Carroll can live up to his infallible reputation for swatting premiere out of conference opponents like gnats with opening matchups against Virginia and No. 3 Ohio State, you'll hear no complaints from us. (In fact, the only registered groans on record might come from the SEC crowd, when they realize the new generation of championship foe might be a faster and flashier Blockbuster).

Speaking of the Buckeyes, thank God the water Buffalos didn't wade their way to the top of the list. While Ohio State might be the most statistically formidable calculus in the bunch, they'll have to prove it to a nation of skeptics. Additionally, little press coverage has been given to a dismal two weeks in Columbus that saw both the dismissal of Eugene Clifford, the Big Red Back, and the arrest of Doug Worthington for driving under the influence. (The Rivalry, Esq. has three words for Mr. Escalade: Motion to Suppress).

The only surprise about No. 4 Oklahoma is that they probably should have been ranked higher. We suspect it's another example of coaches influenced by last season's bowl blunders. Expect post-pubescent quarterback Sam Bradford to pop more cornerbacks than pimples in the Big 12.

Because it wouldn't be a Top 5 if the SEC didn't earn at least two entries No. 5 Florida is at least as good as any team Urban Meyer has ever fielded. In fact, The Rivalry, Esq. thinks they'd Leak the 2006 National Championship squad in a scrimmage (although it's not clear what side Tebow would play for). Whatever happens to the Gators before November 1st, expect them to give Georgia a helluva sticky scare in Jacksonville when the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party turns ugly.

LSU is an ambitious pick at No. 6 after gaping losses on both sides of the ball bled into a messy spring. With a definitive lack of leadership, and a shotgun schedule, the Bayou Boys might find themselves barely cracking the Top 20 by the end of November. That said, the Tigers are the only two-time BCS national champions for a reason, and accordingly the jury's still out on this one.

No. 7 Missouri should have been ranked in the Top 6 after showing in Spring Ball they've still got their stripes, along with 3 All-Americans, their top quarterback rushers, and a favorable regular season schedule. Still, two four-year starters and trench reserves walk away from an offensive line that couldn't be more crucial to the new Tiger's success. Gary Pinkel coaches granite tough, and quarterback Chase Daniel is as thick and consistent as they come. Expect Mizzou to be the new West Virginia, at least for the next eight months.

"All the talent in the world can't make up for an inability to deal with adversity -- an impotence to adapt."

And speaking of the Mountaineers, West Virginia is a familiar favorite at No. 8. Was their disrobal of Oklahoma in last year's Fiesta Bowl an emotional campaign, or does it represent the tent-pitch smarts of Boy Scout Bill Stewart's new troop? Two things are for sure: West Virginia is the best program in the country that's never won a national championship, and they got that way on the blue-collar back of Rich Rodriguez.

If No. 9 Clemson can't run the ACC this year, they never will. It's the exact opposite for No. 10 Texas who should be just good enough to lose a close game to Oklahoma, and get passed over in favor of Missouri for a wild-card BCS pick.

No. 11 Auburn will look different than ever before with Tuberville's new marriage to a spread offense that's ever en vogue. Expect Auburn to make a few waves when they travel to Morgantown on October 23rd and upset the Mountaineers. Whether the Wisconsin of the SEC can handle their conference contenders remains to be determined. And, yes, if you're keeping track the SEC does own 1/3 of the teams in the Top 12. Huge surprise.

The last time No. 12 Wisconsin looked this good in the preseason was, well, last year -- before injuries and a lack of creativity held back P.J. Hill and Co. It's not often that teams are given a second-shot at greatness. Expect Bret Bielema to capitalize off of his block of veteran talent, core physicality, and sleeper status. It doesn't hurt that the matchup that should determine the outcome of the Big 10 will go down in Camp Randall against the stalwart Buckeyes. You better believe Bielema is praying for rain.

Kansas is a bit of an anomaly at No. 13, although we don't doubt they've earned they recognition they've gotten after last-season's full-court press and Orange Bowl juicer. The return of Todd White Wine sparks consistency from the get go, but to make it past the fifteenth minute they've have to tackle rival Mizzou and hold the Big 12 north. Truth be told, they probably shouldn't be ranked ahead of No. 14 Texas Tech. If anyone doubts the potency of that other program in the Lone Star state, ask your friend who'se dating his DVD recorder to borrow last year's matchup against Oklahoma.

Frank's lunchbox work ethic has helped No. 15 Virginia Tech to consistently show up on the national stage. To stay there, a young defense will have to adapt to their featured role in Beamer's scheme, sans last year's front seven. Tandem quarterbacks Sean Glennon and Tyrod Talor should spur an inventive merger between drop-back and option play.

Don't forget No. 16 Arizona State who, under the tutelage of Dennis Erickson should continue to challenge for rank in the upper eschelon of the Pac 10. An early visit from, and almost certain slaying at the hands of No. 1 Georgia will either inspire first-class play, or sink the encore ship.

The first non-BCS program to hang its hat in the Top 25 (thereby gaining premature favorite status to crash the BCS party) is No. 17 Brigham Young, whose name couldn't be any more misleading. Thirteen returning starters and the nation's longest winning streak (10 wins) form the vertebra of one of the most exciting offenses in college football. Still, the Cougars won't dance if they can't develop -- a second week trip to Washington, and away contests against TCU and Utah (they feel your pain, Rich) will determine if these cats have multiple wives -- um, lives.

Tennessee is a bit of a yawn at No. 18, but it's a mistake to overlook Phil Fulmer's raw achievement and returning stock. In the last five years he's seen three 10-win seasons and New Years day bowls. Last season's rebound from a Strawberry Canyon spanking by Cal to finish at the top of the SEC East is a testament to the Vol's core grit. With the loss of offensive coordinator David Cutcliff to Duke, no one is expecting the checkers to do much. Which is exactly why they might...

Still, I probably would have put No. 19 Illinois ahead of them -- that is provided Juice Williams can carry the pass.

No. 20 Oregon rounds out the Top 20. And, while they might struggle as they navigate the early season schedule (away at Purdue, home against Boise State), a step up in leadership under center might be enough to put them in the wings for the Pac 10 race, although they won't win the title.

What? South Florida at No. 21? Didn't they totally get mulled by Oregon in the Sun Bowl? 51-21 is no fun when you're trying to build a contender, but two nine-win seasons in a row means Tampa stays relevant. A veteran offense, led by quarterback Matt Grothe should keep things moving. Just don't expect a tidal surge to No. 2 in the polls.

Penn State is in a familiar position, starting the season at No. 22, and despite strong receiver, offensive line, and linebacker (you're kidding me) packages, the scariest thing in State College right now is probably the Beaver Stadium white-out crowd under the lights. If Joe Pa can coax consistency from his quarterback and replace begotten running back Austin Scott, this team should gel -- but The Rivalry, Esq. is still perplexed that many pundits have them finishing second in the Big 10.

Wake Forest, the team we're used to seeing in the "Also Receiving Votes" subscript, is in at No. 23, which is a testament to coach Jim Grobe. Quarterback Riley Skinner is the real deal, as is a defense that's strong up the middle. Expect this squad to continue to add to its 20-win mark over the past two seasons while challenging for the ACC title. And to stay in the Top 25.

At least half of The Rivalry, Esq. has no idea why No. 24 Michigan is No. 24 Michigan outside of the fact that 1. They're Michigan, and 2. They have Rich Rodriquez. Then again, when it comes to premptive valuations, these reasons are about as good as any. The architect knows the college game as well as anyone, and a new approach to strength and conditioning means this team could marry the best of Big 10 power with southern speed -- if it finds an offensive line, and a quarterback. The jury will be out on this one until at least Week 3.

The Top 25 begins and ends with Bulldogs. No. 25 Fresno State is another team that could spike the BCS punch, under the explosive aerobatics of wide receiver Marlan Moore. Easily the best of the Pat Hill era, this balanced bunch might play past December if it can at least split the out of conference gauntlet against Rutgers, Wisconsin, Toledo, and UCLA.

Bo Jackson, Meet Jeff Samardzija

2008-08-02T12:26:00.003-04:00

I always wanted Jeff Samardzija to go to the NFL; I would have loved to see how his excellent size, sticky hands, and long stride would have translated to a Pro-style offense. The 6' 5'' wide receiver was an excellent route runner of course, but his impressive catches and ability to adjust to the ball were the characteristics that separated Samardzija from other talented WR's.

But Jeff felt his future lay in baseball and who am I to argue. In 3 appearances with the Chicago Cubs, Samardzija has shown a consistent 97 mph fastball with a "nasty sinking motion," according to Cubs analyst Bob Brenly. The dual sport star has also shown the ability to strike out Major League hitters, which is a rare skill.

With all respect to Jeff's baseball success, here's a quick look back at the wide receiver's college stats at Notre Dame...and for more Jeff Samardzija information, take a look at his very interactive website, http://www.jeff-samardzija.com/index.asp

179 Receptions
2,593 Yards Receiving (Notre Dame record)
17 Touchdowns

Channeling the Crazy Spirit of John L. Smith

2008-07-31T22:14:00.007-04:00

Mark Dantonio Plays Russian Roulette With the Karma Gods

Any tried and true Michigan State Spartan football fan remembers the bad old days of John L. Smith. The much hyped former Louisville coach brought in a spirit of mountain climbing toughness to East Lansing and made a boatload of coaching mistakes. One of Smith's most egregious errors was his decision to play 4 star recruit quarterback Drew Stanton on special teams in a bowl game, a decision which of course ended up with Stanton horribly injuring his knee. Stanton was a pro-style quarterback who should have been practicing his 5 step drops and taking snaps, but Smith wanted to institute toughness in his team. Similar coaching missteps helped land Smith a pink slip out of East Lansing.

Now Coach Mark Dantonio, who as by all accounts done things the right way every since coming to Michigan State, is tempting fate by seriously discussing the possibility of playing All-World halfback Javon Ringer on Special Teams as a kick returner. And although a stud running back holds up better on special teams than a drop back QB, here is some advice for Coach Dantonio:

Please God, don't put your All-Big 10 halfback on the kick return unit. 1) Unless he is the next Devin Hester, there won't be a marked difference between Ringer and the next guy. 2) You're in perfect position to beat Michigan and possibly pull a 10 win season off. A veteran QB leads the offense and the defense should be solid. The only thing that could derail you instantly is, of course, injuries. And God knows the last thing you want to see is Ringer getting crackback blocked to the turf by some 250 lb special teams demon running full speed down the field. 3) You have made excellent decisions at every turn in East Lansing: you brought in solid players at the line positions and you didn't spout off to the media or make wild predictions...you even pulled an Elite 11 quarterback to headline your next recruiting class. Take a lesson from the missteps of John L's past and leave Ringer off the field for one extra play.

Happy August!

2008-07-31T19:01:00.005-04:00

Although it's still 5 hours away from the States, this Brit welcomes you to the month of August, and the triumphant return of college football.

In 28 days we'll replace our Chablis with draught-beer, our Polos with oversized mesh jerseys, and our summer sensibilities with super-egos.

Here's to sauce-drenched fingers, sun tan hangovers, and dry throats.

To celebrate, here's the latest update to the ESPN/ABC Network Schedule.

Part 2: It's Not Libel if You Say It

2008-07-28T21:18:00.031-04:00

What The Rivalry, Esq. really wanted to ask at media day

Interesting subplots abound in the Big 10 this year.

Is Joe Paterno alive? Is Pat Fitzgerald too young to coach? Is Rich Rodriguez married to a Border Collie?

Bret Bielema

Will this be the first time since 1981 you defeat both UM and OSU? Strike that question, let me ask something realistic.

Joe Paterno

What are you planning to do after you retire this ye -- Holy sh*t, how did you get a concealed-carry permit?

Rich Rodriguez

You're looking awfully big this year. Is it because (strength coach) Barwis is bulking you up or is it from having to pick up that huge wad of money and hand it back to West Virginia?

How long did it take you to convince your wife that a year unlimited Mystic tan package was just as good as a trip to Cabo?

Tim Brewser

Is it true you looked into the NCAA rules to see if you could "pull the goalie" by not fielding any players on defense, thus allowing you to play a few extras on offense?

Ron Zook

How do you recruit so well everywhere you go? -- Oh my -- Aren't you a handsome one, with that consummate politician's haircut and square jaw...And yes, I would like to invest in some Florida swampland.

Catch any USC games lately?

"Slow-hi-O?" Strange, you didn't feel that way when we marched through the Confederacy and burned your entire way of life to the ground. Say hi to Savannah for me, it's been a while..."
- W.T. Sherman

Pat Fitzgerald

Does it bother you when JoePa calls you "Son"?

Is it difficult to resist the temptation to sub yourself in when your linebackers are struggling?

Joe Tiller

Is it true you're leaving college football to try and make and make it as a "mature" porn star in Japan, a la Shigeo Tokundo?

Jim Tressel

During Post-Game interviews after last season's fatal loss to Illinois, you mentioned not having the technology in the coaching box to review Juice Williams' apparent first quarter fumble. Have you made an offseason trip to Sam's Club to pick up a $499.00 Zenith LCD?

Is it true that in an effort to avoid any damning remarks about your family values, you've been letting Justin Boren share a bed with you and (your wife) Ellen?

If you end up having to play Rebel Georgia for a National Championship, would you consider dressing your players up like (native Ohioian) General Sherman as a polite reminder of what happens when the South gets a little too big for its own britches?

Slow-hi-O? Strange, you didn't feel that way when we marched through the Confederacy and burned your entire way of life to the ground. Say hi to Savannah for me, it's been a while...

Fondly,
W.T. Sherman

Part 1: Big 10 Coaching Inquiries

2008-07-27T18:57:00.011-04:00

What if you could ask a Big 10 head coach anything you wanted?

The Rivalry Esq. missed Media Day (weren't invited), but that didn't stop us from scribbling on the legal pads. Suffice it to say, the big guys would have faced some serious cross-examining if one of us wasn't in England all summer.

For the sake of our dignities as pseudo journalists we've split the inquisition into two parts: serious football strategy and satire, because lets be honest, lampooning Big 10 head coaches isn't exactly difficult this year.

PART 1: SOBER, SEMI-STRATEGICAL QUESTIONS

Jim Tressel

Chris Wells carried the ball 39 times against Michigan for 222 total yards. Against LSU, he saw only half that many touches (20). His falloff in performance has been pointed to as the reason for the reduced reliance on the ground game in the Championship: he gained 119 yards off his first 10 carries, and only 30 the second 10. I think you would agree that LSU was successful outsourcing your offensive line in the second half. Simply put there weren't openings, and a power back like Beanie is significantly less effective when he has to go to the outside. What changes are you making in 2008 to the offensive line sets to ensure better opportunities for the running backs?

WR Ray Small was supposed to have a breakout season last year. He finished with a disappointing 20 receptions for 267 yards. What opportunities will he be given in 2008 to step up and shoulder some of the load from Hartline and Robiskie?

Ron Zook

Juice Williams is a great runner, but his passing accuracy was abysmal last year. How did you and your Offensive Coordinator work with him this year to make his passing more precise?

Bret Bielema

You've seen the trouble certain Big 10 opponents have had defending tight end audibles. How do you plan to use what some consider to be the best tight end tandem in the nation in Travis Beckum and Garrett Graham to diversify your offense?

It's been reported that 26 players missed some portion of spring ball due to injuries. How does that affect your efforts to establish consistency?

"What if you could ask a Big 10 Head Coach anything you wanted?"

Tim Brewster

You've had some exciting personnel changes in the off season -- perhaps most notably picking up Ted Roof as defensive coordinator. What will he bring to a squad that was last in the nation in total defense last year?

Kirk Ferentz

Much has been made of the Satterfield scandal and the university's handling of it. How have you instilled in your team a focus on football admist the clutter?

Rich Rodriguez

Michigan's returning starters are ill-suited for a spread running offense. How have you tweaked the West Virginia Spread (dive option + pitch option + QB run) to accommodate the players you inherited?

Mark Dantonio

You lost two monster playmakers to the NFL in Jehuu Caulcrick and Devin Thomas. These two fit your run-based offense perfectly, Caulcrick as the short yardage pounder and Thomas as the sticky hands home run threat who provided a change of pace. Has anyone stepped up, like Andre Anderson or Mark Dell, to take over the vacated roles?

Pat Fitzgerald

The 2005 offense put up an obscene amounts of yardage and ran the shotgun spread beautifully. What is the key in channeling that teams offensive success?

Joe Paterno

Are you open to playing two quarterbacks interchangeably, considering Daryll Clark (athlete) and Pat Devlin (passer) bring different strengths to the field?

Bill Lynch

The nations leader in sacks last year, Greg Middleton, anchors your defense. He is sure to face double teams and tight end chips this year. How will you make teams pay for spending extra time on this sackmaster?

No one is giving you a chance in hell in playing a "13th game," the term Coach Terry Hoeppner coined. What do you tell your team to inspire them to overcome these pessimistic predictions?

Joe Tiller

The lack of a strong run game has been the biggest knock on your offense. What steps are you taking to make teams respect your ability to rush the football?

(Stay tuned for Part 2)

Columbus. Ann Arbor. Can either be Title Town?

2008-07-25T09:54:00.010-04:00

It's not often that we at The Rivalry, Esq. choose to patronize the publicity vehicles ESPN.com invents on a yearly basis to stimulate the culture of off-season. I've been politely ignoring their most recent brainchild -- a comprehensive search to identify Title Town, USA -- since the contest was announced on Sports Center in the spring.

But, after it was made clear that the honor would be both vertically and horizontally integrated, extending into all levels and facets of athletics, I was intrigued. A Democratic process that pits the most polished professional sports cities against the country Friday night lights crowd -- capstoned by a traveling interview committee broadcasting from each locale is hard to pass up.

"I'm surprised, slightly humored, and fully anticipating Graham's outrage at the fact that his Wolverines are only given credit for 3 National Titles (the school claims 10), while the Buckeyes get 7 (incidentally the exact number the school claims)."

You've got to hand it to ESPN, they've put their money where their mouth is. The research, and production value of each edition is laudable, making the search (and the ultimate selection) at least as relevant as the MTV Music Video Awards.

So, in honor of Monday's grand finale, here are the broadcasts that originally aired live from two places close to our hearts: Columbus and Ann Arbor.

If the raw esteem of watching these doesn't absolutely rivet you, you might have accidentally clicked on Carson Palmers' 2007 Post-Season Highlight reel.

A few first blush observations:

1. I'm impressed that ESPN diversified the Columbus sports-scape by firmly exploring our link to Jack Nicklaus and Jesse Owens.

2. I'm surprised, slightly humored, and fully anticipating Graham's outrage at the fact that his Wolverines are only given credit for 3 National Titles in football (the school claims 10), while the Buckeyes get 7 (incidentally the exact number Ohio State claims).

So, what do you think? Do either Columbus or Ann Arbor deserve the nod?

Is Carson Palmer Nuts?

2008-07-23T18:03:00.015-04:00

Carson Palmer doesn't like Ohio State.

This week the USC alum went on the offensive during a scheduled radio appearance with KLAC Los Angeles.

"I cannot stand the Buckeyes," said the outspoken Heisman winner, "...having to live in Ohio and hear those people talk about their team...drives me absolutely nuts." (USA Today has the full transcript.)

Carson's shrink must have been on vacation in Bermuda. His press relations advisor must have been out of town. How else do you explain the errant pathological tragedy of a hero who shoots himself in the foot?

"You've got to stay faithful to the Gangsta scene. Try instead, 'Dog we're gonna go pop a cap in yo ass.' Then go pee on yourself at a humanitarian protest and order a Vegan dinner for your fake-boobed girlfriend."

Granted, I have a Karmic view of college football. I hold certain truths to be self-evident. Namely you:

1. Never criticize a marquis opponent. [I made this mistake before the 2006 National Championship Game -- heckling Florida fans that 1. You have to win all your games to be the National Champion, and 2. (After Ted Ginn gazelled the opening kickoff return for a touchdown) You've got to guard him. A broken ankle, and a blitzkrieg soon followed.]

2. Don't call the kettle black. (When you're the posterboy for one of the most obnoxious pop dynastys of the modern era, you don't assail the brethern. I defy you Carson to tell me how USC is any different than Ohio State when it comes to public patronage. If anything, the Trojans should be grateful for their revival. After all, The Rivalry, Esq. remembers when it took Jenny McCarthy in a bikini at halftime to fill the Coliseum half full. Do yourself a favor and reflect on the fact that when you committed to the Trojans, they were a 6 win team.)

3. Never, ever use the phrase "butt-whoopin" on the West Coast. (You've got to stay faithful to the Gangsta scene. Try instead, "Dog, we're gonna pop a cap in yo ass." Then go pee on yourself at a humanitarian protest and order a Vegan dinner for your fake-boobed girlfriend.)

4. Finally, don't forget where you're from. (Statistics suggest that at least 80% of the Bengals faithful are Buckeye fans. Talk about falling on your own sword).

The truth is that Carson Palmer (like Chad Johnson) is struggling with his own mortality. After a lackluster five seasons in the NFL, and more Growing Pains than ABC, he's focused on trash-talking rather than legitimately evolving as a leader.

Instead of losing sleep over the demonic youngsters up north, try focusing on the task at hand and making your team relevant.

And in the meantime watch your blind side. Apparently the Buckeyes have a few guys in the NFL that might not agree with your bearded banter.

Fair-Weather Facts: Disrobing the Blue Ribbon Bias

2008-07-19T08:08:00.021-04:00

I'm writing from a passenger train in the United Kingdom en route from Oxford to London. I'm across the pond studying comparative legal processes for the summer. If you're a regular reader of The Rivalry, Esq. you haven't noticed, because I haven't mentioned it. I'm 100 percent wired at my desk making it easy to keep up to date with the American football scene.

And the truth is, I like this temporary separation from sport because July has always been and will always be a sort of college football purgatory. With two weeks until the first snaps over the sun-scorched August grass mark the beginning of fall camp in Columbus, it's easy to get complacent.

And so, like ants on a dropped Popsicle, commentators dissect -- turning men into numbers and programs into sums.

It's a process I usually cherish -- a word tonic for the anxious fan's thirst. But lately, there's been a lack of accountability at the top.

"After initially rating the Buckeye Offense and Defense units a C and C+ respectively, Blue Ribbon changed the grades to B+ and B without explanation."

Each year in an attempt to garner publicity for its flagship college product NCAA Football 2009, EA Sports outlines their Top 25 picks for the fall. To maximize the effectiveness of the hype campaign, they spread the countdown out over a full week -- releasing ascending ranks in neat groupings of five. Like all prognostications, the selections are often more normative than empiric.

Still, I tune in every day to find out where my beloved virtual Scarlet will land.

Two weeks ago it was the 25 Toughest Stadiums. The Horseshoe placed third -- which, considering its lack of permanent lights (and therefore, night kickoffs) is respectable. But as I scanned down from the photo-realistic screenshot, I noticed EA had mistakenly listed the official capacity as 89,500. The OSU Department of Athletics reports the Shoe presently seats 102,329 -- a number that often swells to over 107,000 during marquis contests. ESPN has since corrected the feature. So no big deal, right?

That's what I thought -- until I turned to last week's offering, the Top 25. Packaged in the form of streaming video gameplay, the lifelike simulations give the fan a small preview of how the premiere matchups of 2008 will go down. What's particularly clever is the built-in equilibrium -- after we watch No. 4 USC's Joe McKnight take an outside pitch 30 yards for a touchdown against Ohio State -- Brian Robiskie returns the favor for the No. 3 Buckeyes as he sources an open field catch for an easy six against the Trojan secondary.

But for all the effort the press relations folks at EA put into editing their segments, they must have forgotten to conduct basic research on their scripts. As a result the preview for No. 5 Florida opens with the observation that "The Gators look to build off their Gator-Bowl victory last season..."

Strange. I could have sworn Florida was swamped by the Michigan Wolverines in last season's Capital One Bowl. The only thing they might want to build on from that effort is the pressure their defensive line put on Mike Hart.

Still, EA Sports makes video games. Clearly, they can't be expected to deliver at the same level as professional sports writers.

That's why I was absolutely flabbergasted when I read Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook's Ohio State Team Preview.

After spending 95 paragraphs absolutely gushing over the Buckeyes, their 18 returning starters, super-recruit Terrelle Pryor, and conference favorite status the preview proceeds to give the Scarlet a lower average than Clemson, BYU, and California, none of whom figure to crack the top 10 when the pre-season polls are released. Ohio State will easily place in the top 4.

After initially rating the Buckeye Offense and Defense units a C and C+ respectively, Blue Ribbon changed the grades to B+ and B without explanation.

Okay, call it another mistake -- but this time there's something substantively wrong with the result. Blue Ribbon writes the following about the Buckeye defense:

"The Buckeyes lose one starter and gain one starter, so the net result might be improved play overall."

Considering that last year the "same" defense (now "improved") ranked first in the nation statistically might be grounds to award them the coveted A+ (traditionally reserved for power programs like BYU). But no. As Blue Ribbon sees it, this merits a B, a lower grade than an offense returning the same number of players that ranked in the bottom 50% (62nd out of 119) of FBS teams in 2007.

Intangibles aside (Blue Ribbon actually has a separate mark for those variables) this kind of blatant intermeddling of logic and emotion is usually reserved for the Blogosphere -- not the glossy pages of a commercial almanac. It's irrational, and amateur.

That's why I'm inclined to grin when the preview writer concludes in part by noting, "The talent and depth is amazing."

Amazing? Really? On a B Average squad?

What kind of adjective will Blue Ribbon be forced to use when they write about an A+ effort?

How about capricious?

The Big 10's Most Intriguing Player Needs a Nickname

2008-07-14T22:15:00.006-04:00

Todd Boeckman does not strike the casual observer as the most intriguing player in the Big 10. But this 6' 4'', 240 lb. Buckeye quarterback will be a prime player in some of the most interesting subplots of the 2008 college football season. Can USC expose this signal caller's weaknesses to pull off a win in the "game of the year"? Will the Buckeye faithful call for Terrelle Pryor to start if the Buckeye's struggle early? With teams keying on Heisman favorite Beanie Wells, can Boeckman put up monster numbers?

But I digress...Hate OSU or love 'em, I think Todd Boeckman needs a nickname. If he is going to spend so much time in the national spotlight, announcers, critics, and fans need something to grip onto instead of a boring German sounding name. My ideas are below, feel free to post or email me (grahamfiller10@yahoo.com) with your own.

"Becks" (like David Beckham)
"Lodi Toddy, he likes to party"
"Fast Version of Ryan Mallet"
"Slow Version of Chris Leak"
"Give Me the Ball" (Beanie Wells' suggestion)

The Rivalry Classics - Little Brother and the UM-MSU Rivalry

2008-07-12T23:47:00.021-04:00

How the University of Michigan bypassed the Spartans of Michigan State on the way to being the dominant college football team in the state of Michigan

On the speed limit insulting drive on I-96 from East Lansing to Ann Arbor, an observant driver is sure to notice a few speed traps, a lot of open fields, and a green fuel truck with a white smiley face somewhere near Fowlerville. This hour long drive offers little excitement, just like the “rivalry” between the college football teams residing in the two aforementioned cities.

Since Bo Schembechler began his reign as Michigan football coach in 1969, the Wolverines have easily surpassed the Spartans as the dominant college football program in the state of Michigan. The Wolverine program has become a national brand, recognized for its indomitable winged helmet and the numerous NFL players it produces, while the Spartans have struggled with slap-happy coaches, drugged up star players, and mediocre results. Wolverine RB Mike Hart infamously compared Michigan State to an annoying little brother who struggles a lot until you push him down. The Paul Bunyan Trophy has spent so much time in Ann Arbor that I hear Paul has decided to get a nice ranch over on Stadium Drive and settle down platonically with Babe the Blue Ox.

Statistics Since 1969	MSU	UM
Record	220-218-9	360-101-8
Bowl Appearances	14	35
Head-to-Head Matchup	8-24	24-8

But the question remains: How…in the world did the University of Michigan cultivate a respected national reputation and a higher standard of football excellence than its East Lansing counterpart?

FROM DUFFY’S INGENUITY TO BO

When Duffy Daugherty took the reigns at Michigan State, he was inheriting a program that had just posted a 35-2 record over the last 4 years with Biggie Munn. The Spartans were national champions under Munn and Daugherty had high expectations. After a disappointing first season, Daugherty delivered on those expectations, carrying the Spartans to a couple of legendary seasons (’65, ’66) and consistently solid records in an increasingly competitive Big 10. Daugherty, a smart and witty coach, took the socially progressive step of recruiting top African-American athletes from the South. George Webster, Bubba Smith, and Charlie “Mad Dog” Thornhill were tremendously physical athletes from the South, all recruited by Daugherty at a time when many Southern schools were ignoring African-American athletes. Most importantly, Daugherty pulverized the Wolverines in the 1960’s, winning 70% of the rivalry games. East Lansing had the best damn college football program in the Mitten.

The Spartans began falling off at the end of the 1960’s as other schools began following Daugherty’s recruiting example and the Wolverines named a young Miami (OH) man named Bo Schembechler to be its head coach. In 1969, Schembechler took a moribund Michigan program and led them to the most famous upset in Michigan football history, a 24-12 victory over the #1 Buckeye’s. Schembechler’s media-created rivalry with Woody Hayes (they were close friends, a product of their Miami (OH) days) began a period where Michigan and Ohio State were the only two relevant programs in the Big 10, earning the Big 10 the nickname “Big 2, Little 8.”

NATIONAL EYES SHINE ON BO

Woody and Bo outshone Michigan State and every other Big 10 team during the 1970’s, a period where college football’s popularity began to rocket. As Bo’s sideline temper and powerful teams became entrenched in the national psyche, Michigan State struggled through unsuccessful no-name coaches and continued ass-thrashings by its Ann Arbor counterpart. Players like Anthony Carter and Rick Leach helped lead Michigan to a 17-3 record versus the Spartans during the 1970’s and 1980’s

A concept that a number of Michigan State fans pointed out to me was the “Bo Schembechler” effect on the Big 10. Coaches in the Big 10 began to follow Bo’s example of practicing plays over and over and playing an extremely physical style of football. The Big 10 began to look at Michigan (and Ohio State) as the Granddaddy’s of the Big 10.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GEORGE PERLES AND JOHN L. SMITH

Michigan football had a consistent coach from 1969 until the mid 1990’s in Schembechler. While Bo was building a nationally recognized program with tremendous marketing appeal (that very recognizable yellow swoosh on a blue background), the Spartans best hope became George Perles, a former Pittsburgh Steeler defensive coach brought in to recruit the Western Pennsylvania hotbed. Perles recruited studs like Percy Snow, Lorenzo White, and Andre Rison and gave Michigan State an image that fans could associate with Michigan State football. Perles won 4 out of 11 games versus Bo and returned some sizzle to the rivalry.

Contrast George Perles’ recruiting coup (Rison was a top recruit at Flint Northwestern) and general popularity…to the recent coaching reign of John L. Smith. Smith was brought from Louisville to bring excitement to the Spartans program. Smith trumpeted his fancy new offense (no fullback needed) and his motivational skill, only to be ridiculed for on-field embarrassments and off the field incidents. No one will forget the horrendous coaching in the 4^th quarter of the loss to Notre Dame in 2006; up 3 touchdowns in the 4^th quarter, Smith called risky passes instead of burning time off the clock and the Irish came back for a historic win. Smith also incurred ridicule for the perceived lack of discipline he instilled in his players and the time he slapped himself during a press conference. Needless to say, his reign is over at Michigan State.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS

The players to come out of Michigan and Michigan State have also helped build the reputation of the programs.

"Star WR Andre Rison tried to coin his own nickname (“Spiderman,” it never caught on) and then had his mansion burned down by a member of the R&B group TLC."

High profile players like Tom Brady, Charles Woodson, and Steve Hutchinson have gone on to successful and lucrative NFL careers after excelling in Ann Arbor. In comparison, four of the best Spartans to come out of East Lansing in the last 20 years have become famous for matters completely unrelated to football. OL Tony Mandarich, the “Incredible Bulk” himself, burned out of the NFL amidst allegations of steroid use and attitude problems. Star WR Andre Rison tried to coin his own nickname (“Spiderman,” it never caught on) and then had his mansion burned down by a member of the R&B group TLC. Jeff Smoker, MSU’s all-time leading passer, was suspended in 2002 for his very well known cocaine habit and flamed out in the NFL. Finally, Charles Rogers, who was a tremendous all-around athlete (I watched him score 32 points against Waverly in the Class A state title basketball game, including three dunks), missed most of his first three seasons in the NFL due to injury and drug suspensions and was recently cut by the Detroit Lions.

WHAT IT IS

The Wolverine-Spartan rivalry is at a crucial juncture. The Spartan’s have lost the last 6 games and the losses have been heart wrenching; the Spartans led deep into the 4^th quarter last year, only to lose on a late touchdown pass from Chad Henne to Mario Manningham. Even the few wins that the Spartans have pulled off in this rivalry are so clouded with controversy that Michigan fans almost refuse to recognize the validity of these Spartan victories. Watch Desmond Howard get tripped up to seal a Spartan victory (http://www.umgoblue.com/Old/HTML/Football/90/90UMMSU.htm) and watch “Clockgate,” when the East Lansing clock operator stopped the clock to allow a final play (http://youtube.com/watch?v=yoFZIBY-IVU).

But MSU head coach Mark D’Antonio has come in and made similar moves to what his mentor, Jim Tressel, did at Ohio State. D’Antonio has not made excuses (like Bobby Williams did in 2002) or made a fool of himself like John L. Smith. He has taken a business-like approach to recruiting better in Michigan and mining the rich recruiting fields of Ohio, where D’Antonio coached for years. My father attends D’Antonio’s booster club meetings and reports that D’Antonio is not a funny, humorous guy, but is a detail oriented and serious coach. Judging from the recent history of the Spartans, D’Antonio’s attitude is a welcome change.

As I’ve written before, the Spartans are favored in 2008 against the new look Wolverines. Michigan State returns a veteran quarterback and a star running back and there is no reason D’Antonio cannot make this an even rivalry. Michigan State has great facilities, an attractive campus, legendary players, and a solid coaching staff. During the fall, Saturday's revolve around Spartan football in East Lansing and the students are fervently supportive. But the stigma of being 2^nd best in the Great Lake State is a hard thing to overcome, and D’Antonio has his work cut out for him. 5 star recruit James Jacksons recent decision to attend Ohio State over his hometown (Grand Ledge/East Lansing: close enough) Spartans nicely illustrates the struggle that Michigan State has with playing second banana to Michigan and Ohio State.

Will the “little brother” in this rivalry finally grow up and make this rivalry even? Until the Spartans can win some recruiting battles and capture the Paul Bunyan Trophy, Michigan will be a state dominated by Wolverine college football.

The Rivalry - Debates on Draft

2008-07-06T16:43:00.022-04:00

Student + Athlete = Oxymoron?

Should student athletes be subjected to standard admissions criterion when applying to undergraduate institutions?

Yes. By JONATHAN FRANZ

If you're South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier, you're concerned. You're concerned that the 5-star wideout you just spent a pleasant weekend recruiting in Briny Breezes, Florida might not be a future Nobel Laureate. This might have something to do with the fact that after telling him you think he has a future at USC, he responds "But I want to play for South Carolina."

Still, after a thorough review of his high school file it's clear he'll make the NCAA cut for eligibility -- so, you offer him a scholarship and he pledges to come early.

A few months down the road you learn he was rejected, not by the NCAA, but by your own admissions department (apparently administrators frown on grade point averages that read like blood alcohol levels). Enraged, you make a phone call to the school president. But there's nothing he can do.

So, you call a press conference, slam your visor on the news desk and demand lower admissions standards or you're through.

The Southeastern Conference was listening. Last week they announced a uniform relaxation in their admissions fabric to perfectly mirror the NCAA minimum clearinghouse lows (see http://fanblogs.com/sec/007610.php). This rock-bottom approach now allows non-qualifying players probationary access to campus, where they're required to get their grades up in order to play.

Something tells me that Nick Saban, yes, the same Nick Saban who last year preemptively attacked Jim Leavitt and the South Florida Bulls for eating out of the SEC dumb recruits dumpster will rejoice the new across the board "parity."

But is this the right answer? By circumventing standard admissions requirements the SEC has effectively created a double-standard for its member institutions. To the casual observer, the message is clear: Want to go to Vandy? Pick up a football.

The end result is that critics of the cancerous cash cow they see as college sports have a whole lot more to complain about. After all, it's their honors student that just got waitlisted at Michigan while some guy with a 500 pound bench and a 1.8 G.P.A. prepares to enroll. To avoid the double-standard, I'll argue that colleges should input extraordinary athletic talent as a soft factor in their admissions formulas on the basis that kinesthetic intelligence is important to creating a diverse learning environment, just like race, sex, and life experience.

Because it's impossible to talk about this one without at least mentioning Gratz and Grutter...

Gratz v. Bollinger, and Grutter v. Bollinger are two related equal protection cases dealt with concurrently by the United States Supreme Court in 2003. Both challenged the constitutionality of a University of Michigan affirmative action admissions policy (the former, at the Undergraduate College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and the later, at the College of Law) that provided certain ethnic minorities positive consideration by virtue of their race.

The justification Michigan gave for the policy: diversity is an essential part of the learning experience.

And the Supreme Court's response: yes, and no. It's permissible they reasoned, in a small class environment like a law school (prone to scrutinizing every application), for race to be introduced as a soft factor. But, this kind of critical evaluation is more difficult in the undergraduate context, where the admissions system is an automated points index.

Now why do I bring this up? It's because some smartass (Michael Wilt) is going to try to throw Gratz in my face, arguing that the very system I'm about to propose is unconstitutional.

One of the nice things about going to law school is you learn the value of anticipation. Here, when I talk about extraordinary athletic ability, I'm not referring to an immutable characteristic -- something a person can't change -- like race or sex. Because none of these kinds of "suspect classifications," are invoked when we discuss people who run and throw better than you and I, a court charged with examining the issue would use a lower standard of review than the one invoked in Gratz. This makes the proposal all the more plausible.

Intelligence, Reframed

In his landmark 1983 text, Frames of Mind, Harvard Psychologist Howard Gardner proposed a theory of multiple intelligences. According to Gardner, and contrary to popular belief intelligence is not a single property of the human mind. By contrast, everyone is endowed with a unique set of "intelligences" which they can put to use in different ways. Gardner came up with seven: linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal, and intrapersonal.

"Want to go to Vandy? Pick up a football."

So what -- we know we're different -- what's the big deal? Well, Gardner argues that in the context of education we only truly value one: linguistics. The curator of the spoken and written word is glorified in the classroom while the physically adept are frustrated and embarrassed.

The problem with the classic model of liberal education is that our institutions aren't built to accommodate alternative abilities. If you "cant read good" in First grade, the likelihood is that you'll turn to extracurricular pursuits (say blacktop basketball) to build confidence. By the time you reach high school, the school/bad, sports/good dichotomy is far too engrained to be overcome by the words of nineteenth-century aristocrats to whom you can't relate.

Then, you get a break. You're offered a scholarship to play football at South Carolina...

Wait, Jon, I thought you were arguing that student athletes should be required to meet minimum admissions standards. This guy doesn't have a chance...

You're right. But, I'm returning to the scenario I introduced at the outset to illustrate the problem with the current justifications.

Suppose the administration bends the rules to accommodate the recruit. They're lampooned for undermining the academic integrity of the institution.

Now suppose they do the opposite, take a hard-line stance, and reject him. The majority of FBS schools suddenly don't have a prayer of getting premiere talent. (Do you honestly think Charles Woodson could have gotten into Michigan on raw GPA and test scores alone?)

It should now be clear that Universities that field competitive programs are stuck: dammed if they do, and dammed if they don't.

But, there's an easy solution.

Say what you mean to say.

Rather than avoid the subject, or hide behind NCAA minimums, institutions of higher learning should embrace the reality that the presence of kinesthetic thinkers on campus adds to the collegiate experience for everyone.

Instead of shuttering at the prospect of a double standard, University administrations should input extraordinary athletic talent as a soft factor in the undergraduate admissions formula, on the level of race, sex, and life experience. This will give kinesthetically-motivated candidates a sizable boost.

Athletes who still can't make the cut should nonetheless be permitted to enroll to play football, as Associates degree candidates; an interdisciplinary program in life management skills created by the University specifically for them, and light-loaded to last up to four years (in tune with eligibility).

It may turn out that athletes, more comfortable with the flexible approach, will find success (perhaps for the first time) in the classroom environment. Those that maintain a certain GPA as an Associates degree candidate should be accepted to transfer onto the Bachelor's track as full-time students.

Unlike the standard NCAA framework, this modified approach will: 1. Allow colleges to get the best possible athletes across a level playing field, 2. Allow athletes who leave early for the NFL to graduate with a degree, 3. Make the traditional classroom learning environment more sensitive to alternative skill sets, 4. Provide an incentive for players to reflect on their future and accept full responsibility for their classroom performance, and 5. Ensure Universities maintain credibility as storied institutions of higher learning.

NO. By GRAHAM FILLER

Kinesthetic intelligence. Grutz v. Bollinger. Institutions of higher learning. Athletic talent as a soft factor for admissions.

These fancy terms and concepts are wonderful for a law journal or small talk at a get together for college professors, but they have little to do with the real issue at hand: Should young men, woefully under qualified and unprepared for collegiate academic life, be held up to some kind of illusory academic standard when they're offered an athletic scholarship?

The answer is unequivocally and emphatically no. To say anything else is to play lip service to the tremendous hypocrisy that currently exists in the term “Student-Athlete.” Top recruits, especially football players, are signed up for one reason – and everyone knows it. So instead of 1) setting some kind of weak academic line that the occasional unlucky recruit is sideswiped by and 2) using big terms like academic integrity…let’s concentrate on integrating college athletes into the campus atmosphere and focus on getting athletes into social settings where they can grow as people and students.

Kinesthetic Intelligence…But You’ll Never See It

Jon is very much correct in saying that athletes have tremendous kinesthetic intelligence. If your brain can say “pump fake left, check off middle receiver, hot route open” in .8 seconds and your body can follow suit, you're doing something right. And of course a college campus is a stronger campus with a student body that's diverse.

"Less hypocrisy. More focus on the athlete's actual needs."

But Jon, how many male basketball and football players did you hang out with at Miami (OH)? I am guessing the number is low. Even more telling Jon; how many male basketball and football players did you consistently see at Miami (OH)? “Big School“ college athletes live a closed existence; they live together, follow a strict practice/game schedule, and when they attend class, do not traditionally use all that kinesthetic skill to bring anything special to the classroom.

All that kinesthetic energy so fondly spoke of is channeled toward one thing: becoming a better athlete and bringing athletic success to one’s alma mater. Athletes know their purpose at a school, especially the highly recruited, well known ones.

With the Purpose Known, Lip Service is Still Paid to Storied Academic Institutions

Jon would lead you to believe that athletes who don't qualify academically should be allowed into school as part of the diversification of the university and then given a special-tailored program to help them excel academically. He seems to think this is a novel concept.

Athletes are allowed in through every exception imaginable. What if that 5 star wideout has a 1.9 high school GPA and your soft cutoff is 2.0? Send that 6 foot 4 ball of energy to summer classes and get him over that minimum GPA. Then cheer like there is no tomorrow while he is jumping over DB’s from Rival U, all the while claiming your school has held up its academic integrity. Student athletes and fans deserve a little more honesty and respect from administration.

A Simple Choice

For those who enjoy picking from options, here is what I feel like the options on the table are:

1. Continue with soft admissions and tailoring every possible advantage to getting unqualified recruits in, all the while claiming you are cultivating strong student athletes and upholding academic tradition. Allow schools like Notre Dame and Stanford to claim they cannot recruit top football recruits because they have standards. Force conferences, like the SEC, to lower their admission policy to the lowest possible threshold with the obvious goal of allowing more unqualified players in – but God, don’t let the SEC mention their true intentions. Make colleges have a goal of pulling athletic high schoolers over a mythical 2.0 GPA line so a school can uphold its mythical academic tradition.

2. Drop the Standard Admission Criteria farce. Allow colleges to recruit for top notch athletes, but force colleges to do a better job integrating their student-athletes into the community. Take athletes in and take steps to make them productive members of the college campus instead of paid professionals.

Sure it’s idealistic, but at least the focus will be put on strengthening college student athletes. Jon had a wonderful idea of starting the athlete’s in a lower level program and if they excel, bump them to a full scale BA program. If my plan had a tagline, it would be: “Less Hypocrisy, More Focus on the Athlete’s Actual Needs.”

Right now, every Nick Saban and Urban Meyer is discussing how to get Token 5 Star Recruit's GPA up one more point so he can come play football at their school. Once Token's GPA hits that GPA threshold, their entire focus is going to be on making him a stud athlete. This approach is not only hypocritical, but entirely harmful. So let's take the focus off a bright line GPA approach and put the focus on making the student athlete a productive member of the collegiate system and society.

Bob Ufer Weighs in on the 2008 Michigan Wolverines

2008-07-02T20:46:00.026-04:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AEF 6edfexco

"...Under center is Wangler, he goes back, Carter has it, Carter is (inaudible), AHHHH...95 Wolverines are going in the endzone...Ufer is going out of his mind...Anthony Carter, the human torpedo...Will be heard until another 100 years of Michigan football...I've never been so happy in my 59 cotton picking years..."

Who has ever been able to describe the excitement of Michigan football better than the immortal Bob Ufer? Ufer's website calls him "enthusiastic, optimistic, loyal, and hardworking," and anyone with a pulse can tell these characteristics are correct. So with a nod towards some of the most famous Bob Ufer quotes, I want to discuss the excitement and uncertainty that surrounds the Michigan Wolverine football team of 2008.

"I Have Never Seen Anything Like This!"

Ufer's famous call on the Anthony Carter touchdown against Indiana is exactly what many fans will say when the Wolverines come out in the Rich Rod spread. Michigan's I-form / Pro-Form offense of the Lloyd Carr era has given way to the spread and this Michigan fan couldn't be happier. Michigan's offense, full of NFL talent, was halted many times in big games during 2007. The Rich Rod spread will struggle during 2008, this is sure. But Rodriguez is following the national trend of building a varied, adaptable offense, and the 2008 Michigan offense is sure to wake a few fans who have been slumbering through the 7 step drops and 2 yard dives of 2007.

"Thank You Fielding Yost!"

After Carter miraculously scored against Indiana, Ufer offered up a prayer of gratefulness to the Michigan legend. Although I am sure Ufer was caught up in the moment and some misfiring neutron in his brain channeled the Michigan coach with an 83% winning percentage, Ufer's "thank you" is a constant reminder that, dammit, UM football is still UM football, full of legends, a storied history, and top recruits.

So no matter how bad Rich Rod's spread looks right off the bat and no matter how the Utah opener goes, let's not forget that the Meeeechigan football program still pulls top 10 recruiting classes and has one of the best defenses in the Big 10, with Brandon Graham and Terrance Taylor leading the way. Also, 40 straight winning seasons is nothing to laugh about.

"They Laid Woody Hayes Away"

http://www.ufer.org/sounds.html

The simple fact that Ufer wrote a poem about burying college footballs version of Bobby Knight is enough to make any Wolverine smile. Ufer's ode to a Michigan upset over the Buckeyes is especially relevant this year. Can the Wolverine's put up a fight against a Buckeyes team primed for a national title run? Will the offense run into a Buckeye brick wall and only spring for 3 points like 2007? Will the loss of Terrelle Pryor to Columbus haunt Michigan's precarious QB situation?

"Oh They Came to Bury Michigan, But Michigan Wasn't Dead"

The 2008 schedule does not look favorably on University of Michigan football. Games against Utah, Notre Dame, Illinois, Penn State, Michigan State, and Ohio State look like possible/probable losses. The offense will be tested instantly and Notre Dame and Michigan State are licking their chops to play this untested Wolverine team and avenge some embarrassing recent defeats. The blogosphere is lighting up with early news of the Wolverine's demise.

But Bob Ufer would support the old Lee Corso adage, "not so fast my friend." The Michigan Wolverines will always be a threat thanks to their tremendous recruiting and history. So if you would, turn the volume up of an old Bob Ufer clip and allow Mr. Ufer to convince you that hope springs eternal at the corner of Main and Stadium and that the 2008 Wolverine's can rise from their premature funereal proceedings.

Rising Fog and The Top 5 Upsets of 2008

2008-07-01T15:41:00.023-04:00

"...the fog is rising."

This allegorical imagery was Emily Dickinson's last, spoken to her sister from her deathbed in 1886. If you watched the 2007 season you're no stranger to famous last words. Ask No. 18 Louisville, No. 5 Michigan, No. 2 South Florida, No. 2 USC, No. 2 California, No. 1 LSU, No. 1 Ohio State, and No. 1 Missouri about the eggshell steps modern favorites take to the championship.

Is the rise of the Davids, led by Appalachian State a sign that parity in college football has changed forever, or rather, does the famous German philosophy of destiny einman ist keinmal (what happens once may well have never happened at all) control?

The Rivalry, Esq. has laid out the cards. And on the wide, lazy stretches of open river, we see whitewater ahead.

Here are the Top 5 upsets that will define 2008, in headline form.

5. ONE AND DONE? MIGHTY MIZZOU GETS JUICED (August 30th, 2008)

Pundits and hysterics alike will reconvene at their favorite campus haunts August 30th, sunburned and hoarse from their own team's opening day matchup for the premiere edition of Saturday Night Football. Although they'll have drowned a few too many Coors Lights to see it at full resolution, 2008 will open like a Roger Moore Bond film.

There are a lot of reasons to like Missouri. They're fresh off a dynamically successful season -- punctuated by a Sports Illustrated cover, a Biblical betrayal by the BCS and a spring game that looked the first half of the UNC/Kansas Final Four.

They've returned a scary good offense. Even the defense can't knock them out of contention for a Top 5 entry ranking. And, I saved the best for last: they've got unfinished business.

Compare Illinois. They're fresh off a surprising surge -- an away upset of a No. 1, immediately followed by a catapult shot to the rose garden, free iPods, and an a colonoscopy.

They've returned a quick QB, but dropped their engine. And, I saved the best for last: The Rivalry, Esq. has already gone on record in its June 9th Big Ten Preview Series, saying "The Missouri Tigers want it more."

So why does this Schlabach in the making think the Tigers will tank? Do me a favor, go back up to the paragraph beginning with "There are a lot of reasons..." and re-read my preview of Mizzou, only this time, replace "Missouri" with "Michigan in 2007."

See it?

4. WEST VIRGINIA SLAIN BY THEIR OWN SWORD (October 23rd, 2008)

The first meeting ever between Auburn and West Virginia (also notable as the closest an SEC team will ever come to playing north of the Mason-Dixon Line), will be a parade of the old "anything you can do, I can do better" mentality.

Tommy Tuberville's new spread offense will give the Mountaineers a dose of their own medicine, and for the first time in almost a year, Morgantown residents will have a new coach to complain about.

"Einman ist keinmal (what happens once may well have never happened at all)"

3. OLD BALL COACH TEACHES CLEMSON NEW TRICKS (November 29th, 2008)

After holding off Alabama in a tit-for-tat opener, Tommy Bowden will coast Clemson through the Atlantic -- and onto the National Championship expressway. But, they'll never make it out of the state.

A visit from Steve Spurrier will haunt the Tiger faithful forever in a low scoring, defense-dominated shocker on the last Saturday of the regular season.

2. TO THE VICTORS BELONG THE SPOILS (November 22nd, 2008)

Impossible, you say?

Remember 1969.

It's the fear of every Buckeye. Dubbed by the media as "the greatest college football team of all time," the top-ranked Scarlet came into the Rivalry riding the coattails of a 22-game winning streak, and led by the legendary Woody Hayes. Their adversary was rebuilding, a proud program down on it's luck, fronted by a curious new coach: Schembechler.

Sound familiar?

The result, one of the biggest upsets in college football history and the beginning of the Ten-Year War. An unusually warm Saturday in late November will be eerily similar to that day in 1969 when the Wolverines are born again.

1. HE'S STILL GOT IT. FSU FOILS FLORIDA (November 29th, 2008)

On the same day the son suffers his greatest setback, the father will take the train to retirement on the shoulders of the greatest upset of the 2008 college football season.

The Seminoles will show they're on their way back with a defensive symphony of stops, and a last minute surge that will knock the wind out of the Gators' national championship hopes.

The Rivalry Classics - Life's a Pitch

2008-06-26T18:01:00.010-04:00

A Short History of the Option

Formations are vital in life. Whether formatting an argument for a legal brief or doing backyard landscaping, creating some kind of cohesive foundation is key. In 2008, this analogy holds true in college football, but not in the traditional sense. Offensive formations are more important than ever, but they are being skewered like never before. "Anything goes" is the philosophy in the many spread offense formations that exist. Ingenius coaches strive to go against traditional offense philosophies. Example: Up until a couple years ago, everyone knew that running effectively out of the shotgun was a challenge, much less having a run-based offense out of the shotgun. Now? Watch West Virginia (a team that runs 75% of the time) ride their shotgun offense all the way to the top of the Big East.

But 30 years ago, one formation unequivocally dominated the landscape of college football. Known simply as "The Option," the philosophy of power running and multiple threats led programs like Nebraska and Michigan to perennial success. Discussing the specifics of the option would take an entire book, so I will settle for a short history of this groundbreaking offense, including discussion of the best players to run the offense and the evolution of the option philosophy.

The option has always intrigued me. The pitching, the misdirection, the grainy footage of Mike Rozier running over and around defenders...it all pulls me in. The quickness needed for decision making? Thrilling. A typical thought bubble for an option QB:

Take the snap. Turn to fullback; is the defensive tackle too far outside the center? No. Fake the dive, sprint outside. Is the defensive end taking the RB, going for me, or hedging his bets and waiting? He's hedging his bets; keep sprinting out wide. Is the cornerback blocked? No, he's focusing on the RB. Fake the pitch and follow my blockers. (SMACK) Damn, forgot about the outside linebacker.

Longhorn Enginuity and The Big O

Creating a solid offensive formation before the 1970's was no groundbreaking feat. The Wing T and the Single Wing (created by the iconic Pop Warner, pictured on the right) offenses dominated almost every level of football. Teams concentrated on running effectively, with the running back's either receiving the snap directly from the center or the quarterback carrying out multiple fakes to each running back. Much of the offensive action was concentrated between the tackle's; spreading out a defense was left to the vaunted sweep.

When Emory Bellard, the Offensive Coordinator at University of Texas in 1968, created a version of the wishbone/option, skepticism didn't even have a chance to rear its ugly head because success came so quickly. The Longhorns overran their competition on the way to two National Championships in the next 3 years.

Naturally, all the top programs followed suit. The Oklahoma Sooners set the all time NCAA team rushing record in 1971, using a wishbone/option offensive formation. The Michigan Wolverines followed the option to a 96-16-3 record in the 1970's. This link gives a great example of Michigan running their version of the option and the overloaded wishbone. At the 1:22 mark, watch the quarterback go down the line, waiting to make his decision to pitch or run. This link also gives a great visual of how coaches still used the quarterback to block, an idea laughed at now. At the :28 mark, watch the quarterback pitch back and then dive into the line, looking for someone to hit.

I call the original version of the Option "The Big O" because of its overloading qualities. Sometimes (if penetration was cut off by the offensive line) 4 running backs would end up sprinting to the exact some place, three as blockers and one carrying the ball. But the overloading advantages were not the only quality of this formation that made it so effective. Each running back was an option on every play, making it harder for the defense to key on one threat.

The real key was the fullback though. The fullback, typically lined 2-3 yards behind the quarterback, was an option to dive on every play; as one coach commented, "The fullback’s aim point is the crack of the play side guard’s rear end." The defense had to expend 1-2 players to stop the fullback on every play. And if you couldn't stop the option, your day was over, because the fullback was going to keep coming, getting 3-7 yards on every play.

Turner Gill

The evolution of the option continued into the 1980's with the introduction of an athletic quarterback into the option offense. This new option was best exemplified by the athleticism and ingenuity of the 1983 Nebraska Cornhhuskers. Mike Rozier, the Heisman winner, headlined this team, but what will really jump out at you is the way quarterback Turner Gill is used. At the 3:02 and 3:47 marks, watch the Huckers line up in a typical option formation, only to have Gill fake option dives and pitches to the backs and throw downfield passes, normally reserved for I-Form or Pro-Form offenses. This altered option alleviated the need for three running backs in the backfield and opened up the chance for downfield passes.

Veering On

The Veer Option was just another step in the evolution of this never simple offensive formation. The Veer is by no means easy to run, but the concept is simple. Take the running back (who in the traditional option was behind the quarterback) and place him on the wing. Pre-snap, put the RB in motion and then run the typical option.

Georgia Southern, a I-AA powerhouse, put the Veer on a national level in the 1990's, and the service academies followed suit (Navy Pounding Notre Dame with the Veer, pictured to the right). And although it has never been popular at the top BCS schools, most programs instituted some of the Veer into their option formations during the heyday of the option. The magic of the Veer is that is creates great, gashing angles; the running start that the running back gets allows him to cut violently around the edge of the defense.

The Rich Rod Specialty

One can see that the option refuses to be a static offense. Just when you think you have got the concept, a new wrinkle is thrown in. This is exactly what that coaches that run the option want. Rich Rodriguez, the Michigan head coach, created an option attack from the shotgun spread. Rodriguez's offense instituted veer components, but stuck to the main idea of the option: dive option, outside/inside QB run, pitch to RB. (Watch Pat White at the :17 mark).

Defending the Formation

How does one defend this quick-hitting offense? The same way you defend any other offense: Bigger, faster athletes. The option dive is a whole lot less intimidating when teams like Miami (FL) put 300 lb. nose tackles to clog up the middle and stop the dive. And the pitch is a lot less devastating when fast cornerbacks can keep the running backs from getting to the outside.

The option has been much less popular in college football since the early 1990's. This is true for a number of reasons.

Teams began instituting huge lineman to stop the dive.
The rise of the spread passing offense.
Top QB recruits want to go play in the NFL and the NFL likes passing QB's. Top QB recruits would lean towards a program that passed more.
Modern athletes can recover quicker from a misdirecting offense than athletes in the 1970's.
The option offense is much more effective for the run.

Giving it the Ol' College Try

The programs and spirit of college football are becoming more like the NFL each year. College offenses can rival their NFL counterparts in complexity. College football recruiting is a multi-million dollar business and team facilities are 100 million dollar wonderlands. But while the professional teams sit in their spread passing offenses and I formations, many college programs choose to wind back the clock to the 1970's and allow their philosophy to be influenced by the spirits of the wishbone, the triple option, and the fullback dive. Judging by the respect given to the option by coaches like Bill Walker, Urban Meyer, and Rich Rodriguez, the option will not just exist on ESPN Classic, but continue to be a dynamic and important part of college football.

The Rivalry - Debates on Draft

2008-06-25T18:46:00.020-04:00

In the beginning The Rivalry, Esq. was about a single thing: two boorish undergraduates, sheltered and languid in their pursuit of knowledge, camped out at a college town imitation German pub: The Steinkeller.

Sometimes we would go on Thursdays, other times, Wednesdays -- sometimes once a week, other times twice or more -- and always for the same few truths: cold beer in fat mugs, and conflicting ideas about the nature of sport.

I've often cited Stanley Kubrick for the extopian idea that "If you can talk brilliantly enough about a problem, you can create the consoling illusion that it has been mastered."

This is our attempt at mastery. Two guys. One a Wolverine. The other, a Buckeye. Taking sides on some of the more relevant issues in college football. We think football is a little bit like life. (Maybe we think too much). Still, we'd like to welcome you to take the concrete stairs down to that little basement bar. The floor is sticky. The beer is cold. And the conversation is real.

Welcome to The Rivalry.

Internet Critics in the New Blogosphere: Yay or Nay?

Is it positive for College Football (and humanity in general) that everyone is a critic in the new blog/internet obsessed universe?

No. By GRAHAM FILLER.

Arguing with my friends about the merits of our favorite college sporting programs has been a large part of my life since age 7. In 5th grade, I remember arguing with Evan Beach, a die hard Michigan State fan, over which Michigan sports program was superior. We would play one on one basketball (I was Chris Webber, he was Shawn Respert) and claim program superiority when one of us reigned supreme. We even violated that old Bible passage ("don't let the sun go down on your anger"), arguing until one of us drifted off to sleep. This constant flow of verbal disagreement regarding college sporting programs was a right of passage for every sports obsessed youngster and we took these arguments seriously.

The landscape of arguing and stating one's opinion about college sports has changed drastically with the Internet, and of course, the blogosphere. Now, personal communication is no longer needed to expound on your opinion and everyone knows it. Post a comment, write a short attack post, start your own damn blog...the opportunities to spout your own opinion are endless and impossible to be curbed or policed. Do you hate Tim Tebow? Tell the world in mocking comments or on forums. Don't have any proof that Tebow is horrible? None needed. I will argue that this new "everyone's a critic" online culture is a negative for college football and college fans in general.

Real friends? Who needs real friends?

Every blogger has faced a number of rude, unenlightening comments. In the short time that I have been blogging, I have been called a "biased loser clown," to put 3 separate insults together as artfully as possible. Now insults are a dime a dozen, and anyone who has ever argued college football with a friend has endured much worse insults than the aforementioned attacks. But these insults are far different than disparaging your buddy over beers because he still argues that the Miami Hurricanes were the 2002 National Champions.

The short attacks, popularized in chat forums and on blogs, have replaced friendly, in-person arguments much more reminiscent of 10-15 years ago. These short attacks are impersonal and hold no accountability, people write them because they are too lazy to research or too impatient to cultivate relationships where coherent discourse would follow. Do you dislike a post or a disagree with a forum topic? Attack the manhood of the blog writer and then write YOUR TEAM'S NAME IN CAPS FOLLOWED BY AN EXCLAMATION MARK!

No Need for Lee Corso

The extremely critical Internet sniping at bloggers and fellow fans has made everyone an expert; this is a dangerous development. If everyone is an expert and already knows how results will turn out, who needs Kirk Herbstreit and his inside knowledge? Whoops, bad example. If everyone is an expert, who wants to read Phil Steele or listen to in-depth analysis?

"...disagree with a forum topic? Attack the manhood of the blog writer and then write YOUR TEAM'S NAME IN CAPS FOLLOWED BY AN EXCLAMATION MARK!"

After one Big East blogger named Rutgers3 read my Big East football conference preview, he quickly wrote on his forum wall that I was an idiot clown and he had the real preseason rankings for the 2008 Big East. His referred to his rankings as "stone cold locks." His picks?

WVU, SF, Rutgers, Louisville, UCONN, PITT, 'Cuse

One problem: He forgot that Cincinnati played in the conference. One other problem: He doesn't care if Cincinnati plays in the Big East; this blogger got his moment in the sun to be the "know it all" expert and he seized it, albeit idiotically. The new culture of arguing college football online has demeaned the sports analysis of educated, informed writers and made fans like Rutgers3 an expert.

Desecrating the New Sacred Soil of the Internet

Just as the football stadiums of OSU and UM have switched from old fashioned grass to a hybrid sports surface, the forum where college football fans argue and prognosticate has changed from dorms and living rooms to the Internet and Blogs. Don't get me wrong, the Internet has been a tremendous boon for everything college football. The Internet has given us Kevin Hart, Youtube highlight clips of star high school players, and year-round college football analysis. The Internet is a giant forum where information and analysis subsists positively.

But this blessing has been taken advantage of and used in a negative manner. The new college football blog culture has manifested impersonal insults and a batch of uninformed, arrogant "experts." So please, give me a beer and an opinionated college football buddy over this amalgamation of "lol ur team blows" posts and experts like Rutgers3.

Yes. By JONATHAN FRANZ.

Allow me to open my defense of what Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. called the "marketplace of ideas" by pointing out two incongruent ironies: First, I -- the poster child for big words and squeaky-clean gramatics, who always writes complete sentences, even in text messages -- am called upon to defend the LOL crowd. The ones who won't read down this far because they're too busy ROFL. Here's a message you'll understand:

STFU & ^RUP^ IJWTS IHU

(Shut the f*** up and read up please. I just want to say, I hear you.)

The second irony is an open-source blogger who tells us there's something wrong with open-source ideas.

Blogger? Member? There's no real difference

Now, I believe Graham would have us distinguish between individuals who write in paragraph form on weblogs in which they share a vested interest and orphan fans who wonder from site to site spewing the gospel of their team. By his vantage the former is permissible (if it weren't there would be no reason to do what we do here), but the later is "dangerous."

The problem is I don't think you can differentiate between the two. Why? Because they're both independent pundits who 1. Sign up to take advantage of free web-publishing services (whether hanging up their shingle on Blogger or signing up on a forum by e-mail address), 2. with the express purpose of communicating with others -- friend and foe alike, 3. united by a common enthusiasm for the game.

"Whether Whitman or WTF, expression is expression."

It seems then that the only real difference is that (at first appearance) one puts a little more time into his or her work than the other. Bloggers like us spend hours fine tuning our content. It takes a rogue member only a few seconds to tear it down, or so the argument goes.

This is unavailing for two reasons: First, members aren't trespassers (to wonder into the law of Torts for a few seconds they're invited guests -- we say invitees). If you don't want to take the heat from sniper fire commentators, lock down their ability to post on your site. Most webmasters don't do this because they enjoy the sparring. Heck, it's flattering. And we want readers.

Second, freelance member pundits are fans just like bloggers. They've simply elected to spend their free time feeding off a constellation of sites rather than marrying themselves to just one. Members spend every bit the amount of time fact checking and fine tuning their commentary as the Almighty webmasters.

No harm, no foul

Graham would have us believe that, "The landscape of arguing and stating one's opinion about college sports has changed drastically...Personal communication is no longer needed to expound on your opinion and everyone knows it"

To quote Stephen Jenkins (of Third Eye Blind acclaim): You said that I changed/well maybe I did/But even if I changed/What's wrong with it?

The Internet has ushered in a new ocean of potential in communication. While we continue to struggle with the sociology of web identity, and the limits on the freedom of anonymous speech, there's still no denying its tendency to empower the masses. The pen is the poison arrow, and with the ease of the typestroke we all have the ability to author our own gestalt.

The New Deal of Communication is overwhelmingly positive for the following reasons:

1. Speech is speech, whether shouted from the bleachers or typed on the basement PC in the company of cinder blocks.

2. There's no such thing as a decline in accountability. Has "accountability" ever mattered when you the visiting fan walk by the home team's tailgate?

3. Despite what Hillary Clinton says, "critical sniping" isn't even close to dangerous. Can anyone here honestly claim to be offended by anything ever said in response to a comment they've made on a weblog?

4. There always has been and there always will be a place for mainstream media. Bonfires need tinder, after all.

5. Finally, open-source commenting expands a community of ideas (however limited the dialect). Whether Whitman or WTF, expression is expression, and the wider the horizon the more room for exploration.

Graham appeals to the good ol' days of bar booths and cross-table banter. But if you're an Irish fan living in South Bend, it's often hard to grind ax P2P with a Trojan. The Internet allows you to do just that, in real time. If you don't like the depersonalization of the medium -- don't surf. Ditch the hyperlinks for your favorite neon sign. But if you're like me you'll borrow from the old adage and keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

After all, the bars close at 2, but the net is open all night.

Call it the best of both worlds.

The Rivalry Classics - Coach, but no Cigar

2008-06-22T19:30:00.023-04:00

Left: President John F. Kennedy enjoys a petite Corona from his fifth-row seat at the 1963 Orange Bowl.

Everyone needs a good vice. For my part, there are few things in life more endearing than watching a Thursday night football game out on the front patio of my Victorian home with a cold micro-brew, a thick cigar, and the faint tingle of ragweed and honeysuckle in the air. There's something about the milky draw of a tightly-packed blend and a straight burn that begs contemplation.

The cigar is a fixture of a lost era -- the days of sideline bowler hats, neckties, tweed blazers and real grass playing surfaces. The legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant used to pass out victory lonsdales to his Alabama teams after wins over rival Tennessee. There was even a Cigar Bowl in Tampa, Florida that featured smaller namesakes from 1946-1954 (although it can boast hosting the Florida State Seminoles in their first postseason appearance -- a 19-6 win over Wofford). And who can forget Lloyd Carr's simple, but triumphant walk into retirement after an unlikely 2007 Capital One Bowl upset of Florida The consummate professional unbuttoned his collar and headed for the team bus with a bottled water and a lit Churchill in hand. (If you'd like to share a short story with Carr, he's rumored to keep a private locker at Smoky's in Ann Arbor).

To invoke material Freud, sometimes a cigar is just that. But when it comes to coaching, perhaps these simple products of hand and sunlight can tell us something about the flavor and personality of the game. John Galsworthy's famous observation, "By the cigars they smoke, and the composers they love, ye shall know the texture of men's souls," is not lost on this fan.

What follows is a tongue-in-cheek review of four modern coaches at top ebb and their predicted smoke of choice.

Above: Rich Rod drags on a torpedo during the "Champions for Children's Hearts" celebrity golf tournament May 18th in Ann Arbor.

RICH RODRIGUEZ

Indianhead Dynamite 652 Maduro (6'' x 56)

With its dark-oily wrapper, thick ring-gauge, and orange power band, Indianhead's Dynamite has a slightly foreboding, explosive appearance just like RR's spread em' out and run em' over offense.

The hand-rolled exterior is veined and dimpled, and the cigar lights quickly and burns balanced. It's a big hotheaded smoke, thick with Appalachian mountain coal, and toasted almond. This isn't the kind of stick you light to celebrate a new birth -- but might be just right to toast the settlement of a contract dispute with your former employer.

NICK SABAN

Gurkha "His Majesty's Reserve" (HMR) (7.5'' x 52)

This royal entry holds the distinction of being the most expensive cigar in the world. At $750.00 a piece (a box of 20 is available for $14,999.95 at Cigar.com) the HMR is accessible to only a handful of elites. Fortunately, Nick Saban's paycheck at Alabama just qualifies him.

An aged Dominican-leaf is loaded with a proprietary filler blend flown in from four corners of the world. An entire bottle of Louis XIII Cognac is involved in an infusion process that rivals great triumphs in modern engineering.

Fewer than 100-boxes of HMR are released each year with Gurkha Cigars President Kaizad Hansotia exclusively responsible for their distribution. Fortunately for Nick, Hansotia is a Crimson Tide fan. There are some things money can't buy, and other things that just aren't worth the price. We know Saban isn't the former -- the later remains to be determined.

BOBBY BOWDEN

Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Natural (4 1/2'' x 46)

This perennial 10-best legend is named for the year Cuban refugee Jose Padron opened up his cigar factory in Miami. By then Bobby Bowden had already been coaching for almost a decade.

Both men have been labeled the best in their business, and this box-pressed cigar is worthy of the distinction. Filler tobacco, aged for four years, is uncannily balanced with warm pleasing hints of vanilla, wet leather, fresh-ground black pepper,

and coffee.

Each band is individually numbered and perforated in a familiar motif: garnet and gold.

Right: Bowden's office overlooking his namesake field at Doak Campbell Stadium. Check out the humidor on the right side of the desk...

JIM TRESSEL

Sabor Cubano Grand Torpedo (7'' x 54)

Those who think of Senator straightforward as having a political demeanor more akin to Ronald Reagan than the slippery-rock antics of Bill Clinton might be surprised to discover he shares one key habit of leisure with Mr. "It Depends."

As the Columbus Dispatch reported in January: "Tressel's vices appear to be few. He might sip a glass of red wine from time to time, but he's not a big drinker...He smokes the occasional cigar but is just as likely to chew on the unlit stogie as he listens to contemporary country music and mows the yard...a favorite pastime."

Tressel...really? It's true. I know first hand. The mom-and-pop cigar shop where Tress' buys his stogies happens to be my favorite study nook: Barclay Pipe & Tobacco in Upper Arlington. This hidden gem, leftover from the old Lane Avenue Mall 10 minutes from campus is a timeless retreat. Neatly framed and inconspicuously hung next to the door (so that you might miss it if you weren't looking) is an autographed extra glossy photo of Jim: "To my friends at the Barclay..." it reads plainly.

The Sabor Cubano is a natural maduro -- no fancy leaf treatments here -- that burns slow and sweet, with easy subdued notes of nutmeg and freshly cut grass, and transitions into a long, white ash. Simple and elegant like the man himself.

Editor's Note: This story has since been rebanded and featured on Rivals.com's Fanblogs site under the title "Choose Your Weapon: Cigars of the Coaching Elite." Webmaster Kevin Donahue added a few more coaches to the list. You can get the full coverage at www.fanblogs.com.

2008 Preview Series - Pac 10

2008-06-19T23:14:00.008-04:00

The Pac 10 Sings a Melancholy Tune.

The Rivalry’s music tastes vary widely; lately we've been jamming to The Arcade Fire, Talib Kweli, and Led Zeppelin. But while doing the Pac 10 Season Preview, we wrote and researched to the iconic sound of Janet Jackson’s “What Have You Done for Me Lately” and Shania Twain’s machismo-stomping “That Don’t Impress Me Much.” These two hits seemed appropriate listening material when discussing the always hyped, mostly disappointing Pac 10 football conference.

From the Nike-infused intensity in Autzen to the star-studded Trojans in Los Angeles, the Pac 10 is considered among the elite 3 football conferences in America. But The Rivalry, Esq. believes the Pac 10’s football results of 2007 are a microcosm of the overall weakness of this storied conference. USC, Oregon, California, and Arizona State were all ranked in the top 5 during the season, yet each team faced late season swoons that left USC looking like the only legitimate power.

The 2007 Pac 10 conference was a media darling before the season; the 2008 Pac 10 will fly under the radar. Oregon, Oregon State and California are all rebuilding offensively while USC and Arizona State are the only two teams ranked in most pre season Top 25’s. Many of the playmakers that made the Pac 10 so interesting have graduated or been drafted into the NFL. So while we hope the Pac 10 teams crescendo like Jimmy Page's guitar riff in "Kashmir" from their lowly ratings most experts and bloggers are predicting mediocre results.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TROJANS

Esquire Rating: 5/5

Orenthal James’ alma mater gears up for a title run.

Matt Leinart. Reggie Bush. Pete Carroll. USC is not a bad place to play football right now. But let us not forget that just 9 years ago, USC was a 5-7 last place team lacking an identity. USC, the school of Tailback U, the Perfect Day, and Marcus Allen, has taken monster steps in the last 6 years to becoming a perennial Top 5 team.

The Trojans recruit the best athletes and place them in a proven offensive and defensive scheme. The Trojans offense is traditional in comparison to teams like Florida, Ohio State, and West Virginia. Carroll runs a pro style I form that treasures one on one match-ups the minions usually win. The defense is built on man-child athletes like Sedrick Ellis, Lofa Tatupu, and Troy Polamalu. Carroll’s ra-ra spirit has made USC the cool kid in town; the sidelines are full of celebrities and former stars.

But no matter how highly rated the USC Trojans were or how badly they trounced Illinois in the Rose Bowl, USC fans were not satisfied with an 11-2 season and an end of season #3 ranking. Its title game or bust for these Trojans, as well it should be.

2008 will bring high expectations, as the Trojans talent level far outstrips Oregon or Arizona State. Even without John David Booty returning, Mark Sanchez and Mitch Mustain are both blue chippers well equipped for the starting job. USC will be stacked on defense, but Ellis will be missed. If you remember the way USC overran opposing offensive lines last year, you will understand the vital role Ellis played.

Must Win: OHIO STATE (9/13). One half of The Rivalry, Esq. believes that USC’s quarterback (whichever one starts) will be too inexperienced and the Buckeye’s have the advantage. The other half believes that USC’s athletes can overcome any QB weakness and overwhelm the immobile Todd Boeckman. Either way, this “Game of the Century” is slated to be the top college football match up of 2008.

Rivalry Comment: Fun Stat: Since Pete Carroll came to USC, the Trojans are 11-3 against Top 10 opponents.

Predicted Record: 11-1 (7-1 conference)

ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS

Esquire Rating: 3/5

10 win seasons don't make you a great team, especially in the Pac 10.

Many critics believed Dennis Erickson’s 10-3 campaign in 2007 was the beginning of the Sun Devil’s rise to national prominence. The Rivalry, Esq. wonders aloud whether the successful season of 2007 was more of a referendum on the mediocrity of the Pac 10, instead of proof that the Sun Devils have a burgeoning program. Proof lies in Arizona State’s results in its three big games vs. USC, Oregon, and Texas: loss, loss, and loss.

The 2008 Sun Devils return a great QB in Rudy Carpenter and a solid running back corps. Erickson has a national championship and adds an air of relevance to the Pac 10; he has shown offensive ingenuity wherever he has coached. Everyone expects the Sun Devils to win 8-9 games, but the big test will be how the Sun Devils play in their monster games versus Oregon, USC, and Georgia.

Must Win: OREGON (10/25). The Sun Devils were 8-0 to start 2007 and were ranked in the top 5; the thought that Arizona State was a Top 5 team was quickly dispelled. This matchup will be comprised of two very similar teams, both fighting to be the 2^nd best program in the Pac 10.

Rivalry Comment: Somewhere in my muddled research, I found that Arizona State played my alma mater Miami (OH) in the 1950 Salad Bowl. I’m sure the players had a good time tossing the football around...right.

Predicted Record: 9-3 (7-2 conference)

OREGON DUCKS

Esquire Rating: 3/5

Good times, bad times.

The above mentioned Led Zeppelin song does a pretty good job of summing up last season for the Oregon Ducks. My Michigan brethren and I will not easily forget Dennis Dixon dissecting our defense with his strong arm and quick feet. The rest of the nation will not easily forget how Dixon’s injury versus Arizona ended the Ducks national championship hopes.

With All-American’s Dixon and RB Jonathan Stewart gone, the Ducks won't shoot out of the gates offensively like in 2007. However, the defense will be solid and Oregon has no trouble attracting athletes who will make an impact on the offensive side (i.e. LaGarrette Blount, JUCO extraordinaire).

Must Win: @USC (10/4). The Duck’s need to attack whoever is at quarterback for USC. Getting pressure on Mustain or Sanchez will be paramount if Oregon is to pull off the upset.

Rivalry Comment: Oregon is an intriguing football program in The Rivalry’s eyes. Autzen Stadium has proven to be an incredible home advantage to the Ducks and Phil Knight’s donations from his Nike fortune have given Oregon some of the best athletic facilities in the nation. With those advantages, Oregon’s success of 2007 isn't entirely surprising.

Predicted Record: 9-3 (6-3 conference)

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS

Esquire Rating: 3/5

Jeff Tedford faces his biggest challenge yet.

Whenever I think of 2007 California, I think of Desean Jackson making Deon Sanders-esq plays, a blowout of a solid Tennessee team, and one of the biggest crumbles in recent history. California was a whisper away from being ranked in #1, only to lose 6 out of its last 8 games. Tedford’s QB magic wore off as QB Nate Longshore struggled mightily.

For 2008 Cali has solid linebackers and a strong defense; many experts believe that Tedford will have to depend on his defense until he can create a cohesive offensive lineup. California’s August game v Michigan State will give everyone a great look at whether the Bears have forgotten their 2-6 finish of 2007.

On the offensive side of the ball, Blue Chip QB Kevin Riley looked excellent in the Armed Forces game. He has an excellent arm and doesn’t lack mobility. Ooo, a QB Controversy for the QB magician? The Rivalry is intrigued.

Must Win: UCLA (10/25). California must beat the Bruins to prove they are not just another middle of the road Pac 10 team; around this time last year, the Bears were falling apart.

Rivalry Comment: All American Center Alex Mack is 320 pounds and can do the splits. The Rivalry vaguely remembers a Nickelodeon show called “Alex Mack” about a teenage girl. We think this coincidence is interesting, but absolutely meaningless.

On another note, The Rivalry certainly roots for California. It must be those classic jerseys, the cursive writing on the helmet, and “The Play.”

Predicted Record: 7-5 (5-4 conference)

UCLA Bruins

Esquire Rating: 2.5/5

Will the Mormon make it his mission to lead UCLA to a turnaround?

Ben Olsen, Rick Neuheisel, and Norm Chow aim to turn around this mediocre Bruin program. They each have distinct roles. Olsen needs to prove he is an All-American QB and needs to avoid injuries. Neuheisel needs to convince recruits that UCLA can be as successful as cross-town rival USC. Chow needs to add some pizzazz to an offense that has struggled since Cade McNown left in 1998.

The Bruin defense is loaded like a good baked potato. The 2007 defense was hard hitting and intense; Reggie Carter, Brigham Harwell, and Akeen Ayers are all NFL talent.

Must Win: ARIZONA (9/20). UCLA needs to let their urgency to win show in a game like this. The defense should be good enough to stifle Willie’s spread offense.

Rivalry Comment: Once every 10 to 20 years, the Bruins have an All World QB. The study Gary Beban won the Heisman in ’67, Troy Aikman won the Davey O’Brien in ‘88, and McNown almost won the Heisman in ’98. Can Olsen be the next great one?

Predicted Record: 7-5 (5-4 conference)

WASHINGTON HUSKIES

Esquire Rating: 2/5

Will Jake Locker be recruited by “Days of Our Lives”?

Washington is the last Pac 10 team not named USC to win a national title; the 1991 Huskies completed an undefeated season, easily smacking Michigan in the Rose Bowl. The 1991 Huskies played it close all year and featured future NFL bust DT Steve Entman, who dominated the college game. But the Huskies haven’t been a legitimate power since 2001 and the fans need a winning season from Willingham.

We were going to harp on the horrid nature of U-Dub’s 2007 results, but were persuaded to take a closer look. The Huskies almost beat USC and played Ohio State and Hawaii down to the wire, with an ultra talented, frosh QB. But while these glimpses may garner some optimism, Ty Willingham’s defense dispelled any thoughts that U-Dub was ready to be a .500 team. Here are the point totals given up by the Husky defense, game by game:

12, 10, 33, 44, 27, 44, 55, 48, 9, 29, 23, 42, 35 (for an average of 30 points per game allowed)

Washington’s 2008 schedule isn't any easier and the defense lost 5 impact line players to graduation. Having the dreamy Jake Locker as a soph QB will make the offensive instantly legitimate, but Locker will have to generate a lot of points to make up for a defense that has little experience and no veteran leadership.

Must Win: NOTRE DAME (10/25). Will the Golden Domers be embroiled in another losing campaign or will they furnish a tough test for Washington?

Rivalry Comment: The Rivalry, Esq. has very real memories of feeling depressed at the age of 8 while watching Washington dismantle Michigan in the ’91 Rose Bowl.

We also think Jake Locker has a name and face straight out off a soap opera. Imagine this dialogue:

Maria: Jake Locker, where have you been? I was worried sick.

Jack Locker: Maria, how dare you show up in the locker room in just a raincoat and heels?

Maria: If you won’t love me Locker, you will never inherit your father’s fortune.

Jake Locker: I only want to play ball Maria, I don’t need for your foolish charms.

(Background Music Swells)

Predicted Record: 5-7 (4-5 conference)

ARIZONA WILDCATS

Esquire Rating: 2/5

The Wildcats need to channel Teddy Bruschi’s intensity, circa 1995.

Arizona is a wonderful school with a sports program that any school would envy, however, football is not its strong suit. Even in a weak 2007 Pac 10, the Wildcats couldn't put together a cohesive team effort, and again missed out on the post season. The Wildcats best game was a win over the #2 Oregon Ducks; Willie Tuitama showed why he was the Pac 10’s 2^nd most efficient passer.

This hardwood obsessed school has often struggled to pull the concentration of its fans from basketball, beautiful co-eds, and great weather. A winning season and a star could bring those fans running. Tuitama will do his best with a veteran spread offense, but the defense is inexperienced and lost Antoine Cason, a first round NFL pick. It seems that no matter what the Wildcats have tried in the last 10 years, they have been unable to be better than mediocre. 2008 won’t be any different.

Must Win: UCLA (9/20). A low level program like Arizona has to take baby steps. Beating a mid level program like UCLA isn't a bad start.

Rivalry Comment: Somewhere in my convoluted Arizona research, I found that Arizona used to play in something called the “Border Bowl.” Classic, straight to the point, and a nice Western feel; The Rivalry petitions we bring back this wonderfully named affair.

Predicted Record: 5-7 (3-6 conference)

OREGON STATE BEAVERS

Esquire Rating: 2/5

Gutted like a Pacific Salmon.

The 2007 Beavers defeated Oregon, Utah, and a then #2 California, while RB Yancy Bernard did his best not to get overshadowed by fellow Oregonian Jonathan Stewart. Mike Riley rode his veteran team to a 9-4 record; The Rivalry is impressed that Riley showed patience and the ability to build a program. Riley has 3 consecutive winning seasons, a fact that should not go unnoticed.

2008 is a rebuilding year in the biggest sense of the word. The whole offense is gone with the slight exception of the shaky quarterbacks -- the linebacking corps is gone -- and the star kicker is in the NFL. Riley will struggle to hit .500 thanks to the graduated starters and a killer schedule, including Penn State and Hawaii.

Must Win: UCLA (8/28). Win early and build confidence for the Baby Beavers.

Rivalry Comment: Someone tell Chad Johnson, a proud Beaver alum (? – I don’t know if he graduated), to calm down in Cincinnati. There are worse things than making eight million dollars a year and having a whole city love you.

Predicted Record: 5-7 (3-6 conference)

STANFORD CARDINAL

Esquire Rating: 2/5

Has Jimmy started a renaissance in Palo Alto?

Everyone remembers the unbelievable upset of USC in Los Angeles in 2007, but no one remembers that Stanford’s offense was horrendous the entire year. In one 4 game stretch, the Cardinals scored 46 points, completely lacking the ability to explode.

The 2008 Cardinal will be short on talent as usual, but Stanford fans have a reason for celebration: the nation will be watching and paying attention, in hopes of another upset. Media attention in Palo Alto for football? That might be the biggest miracle of all.

Must Win: ARIZONA (10/11).

Rivalry Comment: Even though the bar has been lowered tremendously for getting into Bowls, Harbaugh should be commended if somehow he leads the Cardinal to a 6 win season.

Predicted Record: 5-7 (3-6 conference)

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS

Esquire Rating: 2/5

New Spread Offense might alleviate the boredom I feel in writing the Cougar’s season preview.

3 Rose Bowl appearances in 100 years or so of football isn’t exactly something to put on your resume, plus the Cougars haven’t been exciting since Ryan Leaf was slinging bullets in 1997. New coach Paul Wulff brings his I-AA spread offense to Martin Stadium to try and revitalize the Cougars. C Kenny Alfred, a Rimington Trophy candidate, will anchor the O-Line, while senior WR Brandon Gibson should continue to put up big numbers.

No matter which players and coaches I talk about, the mentality has to change at Washington State. The Cougars need a winning season soon, or Gordon Gee might come out of nowhere and try to eliminate the football program.

Must Win: OKLAHOMA STATE (08/30). The Cougar faithful would love an early season upset.

Rivalry Comment: My roommates’ grandfather is a stud Cougar player from about 50 years ago, Johnny Bley. Hats off to that family starting the flag waving tradition at every ESPN Gameday.

Predicted Record: 4-9 (2-7 conference)

2008 Preview Series - Notre Dame

2008-06-16T11:22:00.010-04:00

Like all social systems, college football has its nonconformists -- freelance bachelors that refuse to settle into the conference family tree. But unlike the silver-cuffed forty-something year old playboys of Lower Manhattan, the modern era has seen these bullish franchises become more sweaters, talcom powder, and Salina, Kansas.

Can the proud but prude class of independents restore its rebel roots?

NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Esquire Rating: 3/5

Humble pie eating contest in South Bend.

Charlie Weis' pre-season secrecy surrounding the competition for starting quarterback in 2007 had all the right stuff: A dormant legend coming off a 10 win season for the first time in a decade, back-to-back BCS bowl appearances, and a veil over its new weaponry.

As Weis quipped, "I'm not trying to sandbag anyone, but I think that going into your first game, its important that any additional ammo that you could have to help you win that one game you should use."

Unless the General thought that a field goal would be enough to take Georgia Tech, he was firing blanks. Over the next three months the Irish shuffled quarterbacks twice more, manning the worse offensive in Division 1, averaging a limp 242 yards and 16.4 points per game. The 3-9 season was perhaps the worst in the program's history.

The good news, Charlie seems to have gotten the message: less stratagem and deception, more strength and fundamentals. Nine returning players on offense, including the prematurely acclaimed Jimmy Clausen return healthy, experienced, and determined. Clausen has bulked up in the weightroom, better ensuring that blind side hits won't force him to the sidelines. Standout safety David Bruton has done the exact opposite: trading excess pounds for speed, in hopes of keeping the backfield off-limits for opposing pass-attacks.

Most importantly Weis himself has relinquished play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Hike Haywood to better see the forest for the trees -- an effort as much about player identification as management. The Rivalry, Esq. applauds this break from the Belichick school of coaching, and is confident Charlie will benefit from a slice of humble pie.

A difficult menagerie of a schedule with away matchups against Washington, Boston College, and USC will ensure the Irish have enough frequent flyer miles to cover tickets to a post-season destination, if they can earn a bid.

Must Win: MICHIGAN (Sept. 13th).

Rivalry Comment: NBC Sports: What you watch on Saturdays during ABC commercial breaks.

Predicted Finish: 8-4

Silent Energy, Invisible Legends

2008-06-12T09:43:00.013-04:00

Copyright Jason Everetts, 2008

Admist the heat, haze, and exhaust The Rivalry, Esq. recommends a lunchtime pilgrimage to the center of the college football universe. Feel the salience -- from the tall decks to the grand architraves -- of Buckeye ghosts and legends from the past.

2008 Preview Series - Big East

2008-06-11T23:16:00.009-04:00

Fluctuating programs abound in the changed Big East.

The college football winds of change have swept rapidly through the Big East's ranks, sweeping top teams off to other conferences and depositing fresh new teams to compete. The East Coast's major conference now stretches from the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico, and The Rivalry couldn't be happier. Although Miami (FL), the last National Champion from the Big East, is gone, the new teams are intriguing and located close to the best recruiting spots in America.

Will UCONN, the returning co-champ, continue its ascent to Big East power? Will Pat White help West Virgina run all over George Selvie and the best defenders the Big East has to offer? The Rivalry doesn't have a great feel for how the Big East will shake up this year, but is intrigued nonetheless.

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
Esquire Rating: 5/5

Can the Mountaineers forget their historic choke to win the Big East?

WVU and its high flying option spread were one win away from a BCS title game birth when…Pat White’s thumb and LeSean McCoy happened. The 13-9 loss to Pitt ended BCS title hopes but the subsequent 48-28 thumping of Oklahoma restored hope to the insane WVU fans. This program, thanks to the now departed Rich Rodriguez, has now become a perennial top 5 team.

But the year is 2008 and Rodriguez has departed WVU for Ann Arbor and the West Virginia State Court. Stewart inherits lightning quick Pat White, Noel Devine, and a defense that was top 10 in the nation last year. Stewart must figure out how to keep White healthy – everyone knows a quarterback gets hit a lot in an offense that runs 75% of the time. Stewart also must keep his team mentally sharp as they face six easy match ups early, followed by six consecutive challenging games versus Auburn, UCONN, Cinci, Louisville, Pitt, and USF.

Must Win: @UCONN (11/22). The UCONN student paper occasionally prints a graphic that says”…and West Virginia scores again,” an ongoing joke referring to the 66 points WVU scored on UCONN in their 2007 match up. If WVU grabs another victory versus the Huskies, a Big East title is easily attainable.

Rivalry Comment: The state’s reaction to Rich Rod leaving for Michigan speaks to the intensity of the West Virginia fans. The Rivalry loves the passion, but would advise West Virginia fans to draw the line at making fun of Rodriguez’s nephews and family members…never mind, that’s great. Keep it up WVU fans.

Predicted Finish: 10-2 (6-1)

SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS
Rating: 3/5

Warning: Bulls may be charging.

The Bulls were #2 in the nation at one time in 2007…before blowing 3 games in a row and getting blown out by the Oregon Ducks, sans Dennis Dixon. George Selvie and a surprisingly athletic QB Matt Grothe led USF onto the national stage and 2008 looks to be more of the same.

USF lost its monster DB’s to the NFL, but fortunately the Big East is not a league dominated by passing offenses. Selvie is an All-American and completely dominated games in 2007; he will be double teamed constantly this year. Thanks to a weaker Big East, USF can contend for a BCS bid.

Must Win: @CINCINNATI (11/30).

Rivalry Comment: The Rivalry wanted to give the Bulls a 4/5 rating, but couldn’t pull the trigger. Maybe it’s the lack of tradition; maybe it’s the late season swoon of 2007.

Predicted Finish: 9-3 (5-2 conference)

CONNECTICUT HUSKIES
Esquire Rating: 3/5

D1 Newbies to Big East Champs.

Residents of the state of Connecticut and its classic capitol city, Hartford, have traditionally claimed the New England Patriots as their football team of choice. Now these hedge fund managers from New Haven to Greenwich have another football option for their rooting interests: the 2007 Big East Co-Champion Connecticut Huskies. Entering Division 1 in 2000, Randy Edsall and his Huskies have now given their home state a solid football team to root for. The 2007 Huskies snuck up on disappointing Louisville and Rutgers to grab a share of the Big East title.

The 2007 Huskies boasted one of the top 20 defensive teams in the nation, putting on impressive displays against top teams like Louisville, South Florida, and Rutgers. The 2008 Huskies have an easy non-conference schedule and return their QB Tyler Lorenzen and most of their excellent defense. If the Huskies find a consistent passing offense, they can win the Big East. Kudos to Edsall for building a team that contends year in and year out.

Must Win: @LOUISVILLE (9/26). UCONN could be sitting at 7-0 versus Cincinnati, but only if they beat the Cardinals in Kentucky.

Rivalry Comment: The Rivalry thinks UCONN needs new jerseys. The home jerseys are a blue mess and the away jerseys are a mishmash of lines and stripes. Is the Rivalry’s new calling fashion?

Ugly jerseys be damned though; UCONN’s football program has the 3^rd best graduation rate of any D1 team that played in a bowl last year. (Courtesy of the Connecticut Prospectus for 2008).

Predicted Finish: 9-3 (5-2)

CINCINNATI BEARCATS

Esquire Rating: 3/5

No Mauk, no problem?

Spending four years at Miami (OH) allowed me to see Cincinnati in action every year. The Bearcats consistently trotted out talented but erratic teams good for 6 or 7 wins per year. That changed in 2007 when the Bearcats and transfer Ben Mauk won their first 6 games on their way to a 10 win season and a bowl game. Mauk was the sparkplug for the offense and the defense was 12^th in the nation in scoring defense. Brian Kelly capped the season by being named Big East Coach of the Year.

With Mauk’s attempt for another year of eligibility denied and a killer 2008 schedule that includes Hawaii and Oklahoma, the Bearcats have little chance of winning 10 games again. But Cincinnati has a solid defensive line and Brian Kelly has recruited top athletes wherever he has gone.

Must Win: MIAMI (OH) (9/20). Win the Victory Bell from their Oxford rivals and enter the Big East conference schedule with a 3-1 record.

Rivalry Comment: The Rivalry believes Cincinnati has the perfect proximity for recruiting in Southern Ohio. Cincinnati is surrounded by high school football powers Elder, St. Xavier, Moeller, and Colerain and also pulls top athletes from all around football rich Ohio.

Predicted Finish: 8-5 (4-3)

RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS

Rating: 2/5

Now that Rutgers is short their diminutive star, will they ever reclaim their 2006 form?

Rutgers was mediocre for so long (check out Terry Shea’s 11-44 record from 1996-2000) that their success in 2006 was doubly surprising. Still, Ray Rice and a solid defense gave Rutgers 3 solid years in a row.

The 2008 squad won't have Ray Rice or the best defensive players from 2007. They will however have Mike Teel, a veteran QB who has played huge games against the best teams of the Big East. Rutgers has such an easy non conference schedule makes them a shoe-in for bowl eligibility, but they don't have the firepower or experience to be a 10 win team.

Must Win: @ CINCINNATI. This is a killer match up; two teams with solid defenses and questions on offense.

Rivalry Comment: In the last three years, Rutgers has taken a huge step in bringing their program onto the national spotlight. It’s an important step to take; programs like Illinois, Mississippi State, and Oregon have made similar moves.

On a different note, Rutgers puts on one hell of a night match up in New Brunswick/Piscataway. The Rivalry loves when the lights shine on the big red R at midfield and the whole picture is framed against the dark New Jersey sky.

Predicted Finish: 7-5 (3-4)

PITTSBURGH PANTHERS

Rating: 3/5

LeSean McCoy: the next Reggie Bush...But can he do enough to save Wannstedt’s job?

The first time I watched McCoy, he was running over and through the East Lansing Spartans. After watching him lean inside and then cut so violently outside that a defender fell over, I decided I needed to look him up. Apparently some coaches should have looked him up too; McCoy ran for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2007 while the Panthers created good vibes around Coach Wannstedt.

Unfortunately, 2007 might be the last year where Wannstedt can win 5 games and call the season a success. Pittsburgh has a national championship in their past, the location and tradition to recruit top 10 classes every year. Pitt needs to ride McCoy and great wide receivers and hope that two great recruiting classes can effectively fill the lineup. The schedule will not help, with Notre Dame and Iowa appearing as non conference foes.

Must Win: @SOUTH FLORIDA (10/2). Remember that in 2007 South Florida shut down West Virginia’s vicious running attack. Oh, Pitt did the same later in the year.

Rivalry Comment: Bush, 6 ft, 205 lbs. McCoy: 5’ 11’’, 210 lbs. Bush’s highlights. McCoy’s highlights. And oooo! Is that Tony Dorsett?

Predicted Finish: 6-6 (3-4)

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

Rating: 2/5

Paging Bobby Petrino, paging Bobby Petrino; please report to the Louisville sidelines.

Louisville’s 2007 season was unspeakably bad. It seemed that every ESPN game break involved a Louisville opponent scoring touchdowns and even NFL bound Brian Brohm couldn’t stop the bleeding. The 38-35 upset to Syracuse was, at that time, called one of the greatest upsets in NCAA history.

So how will the Louisville Cardinals of 2008 respond? Hunter Caldwell is being called the top prospect of the 2009 NFL draft class even though he threw all of 14 passes. And Caldwell won’t be blessed with Urrutia and Douglas, the two star wide receivers Brohm was blessed with. On the defensive side of the ball, Ron English (formerly Michigan’s defensive coach - the Rivalry loves his gap tooth and intensity) will not be blessed with experience or overwhelming talent.

The Rivalry loves the Cardinals and knows that Louisville has the potential to be a top 25 team…but not this year.

Must Win: KANSAS ST (9/17). Dreary Old Manhattan…The Cards will run into a good Kansas State team in a notoriously tough stadium.

Rivalry Comment: The Big East’s powers are in constant fluctuation; 2 years ago, the powers were West Virginia, Louisville and Rutgers. Now? UCONN, South Florida, West Virginia, and Cincinnati.

Predicted Finish: 5-7 (2-5)

SYRACUSE ORANGE

Rating: 1/5

Maybe the Orange should change their team color to the Red, for embarrassing.

Greg Robinson just hasn’t taken steps here to mix things up. The school of Jim Brown and Donovan McNabb has fallen on a dry period; Paul Pasqauloni is no longer in Syracuse to pull top East Coast recruits. Further, the 2007 Orange had the 118^th worst offense in the NCAA.

Can the new Orange channel the spirit of Sam Cooke and bring a change to Syracuse? The Rivalry, and every other blogger, thinks this isn’t the year. To win 5 games they'll have to get production from a horrid offensive line and a defense that got overrun by the semi-decent offense 2007.

Must Win: @NORTHWESTERN (8/30). The Wildcats at home are a tough match up for the Orange, but a win will give hope.

Rivalry Comment: Syracuse Alum’s who succeeded in the NFL: Larry Csonka, Ernie Davis, Jim Brown, Ark Monk, Marvin Harrison, Dwight Freeney, Mcnabb. Yeesh.

Predicted Finish: 2-10 (0-7)

2008 Preview Series - Big 10

2008-06-09T11:47:00.023-04:00

Laced with prestige and procrastination, college's oldest Division 1 conference enters the modern era with the thick-knuckles and high-brow of Fitzgerald's last tycoon. Like a vintage port, the only conference to enjoy Association of American Universities membership status for all its institutions is thick-blooded, sweet, and slow to change.

Esteemed from the glory days, the retro-eleven boasts more national championships than any other Division 1 conference (in case you wondered, when factored using its present membership roll, the BCS collective ranks as follows: Big 10 - 27, SEC - 25, Big 12 - 19, ACC - 16 Pac 10 - 14, Big East 4. Source: College Football Data Warehouse).

That being said only 3 of its 27 championships occurred in the last thirty years. Compare that to the SEC's 8, and you begin to see the shift in parity that's substituted crisp autumn leaves and cool November snaps for sweat, julips, and electric September nights in the swamp.

Although the binding is dusty, the textbook-10 remains college football's classiest co-op. Still, marriage to rosy tradition won't help the smart league seem any less dull. To reinvent itself for the future, the north needs to re-capture its grit, consistency, and urgency from the bottom up.

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS
Esquire Rating: 1/5

Is it 2009 yet?

Those who thought it could never rain in the Metrodome got drenched in 2007 when this outdated program was bludgeoned by Bowling Green, and Florida Atlantic -- and had to rely on a short-range botched field goal attempt to get into double overtime in their lone season win against Miami (Ohio). Despite ranking 48th in total offense, the Gophers abomination of a defense placed dead last (119th) nationally -- giving up a 518 yards a game (and 3,472 yards in the air).

Suffice it to say Tim Brewster enjoyed the kind of honeymoon traditionally reserved for people with chronic motion sickness who forget to pack Dramamine on a three-month cruise around Cape Horn.

Still, despite their torturing play, Brewster managed to put together a terrific recruiting class. Incoming speed, and a move back onto campus to a new outdoor stadium set for 2009 give the Gopher-faithful cause for future optimism. Still, this won't be the year -- at least in conference. Away matchups at Ohio State, Illinois, and Wisconsin will make Minnesota long for the piss-stained protection of their home dome.

Must Win: @ BOWLING GREEN (Sept. 6th). Showing up against the Falcons will do two things, 1. Prevent the Big Ten from embarrassing itself out of conference, and 2. Give Minnesota a shot at opening the season 4-0. It's all downhill from there.

Rivalry Comment: How do you fix one of the worst defenses in NCAA history? Hire, Ted Roof, the guy who just got fired for leading Duke to a 1-11 record, and three consecutive winless seasons in the ACC. Then again, 92nd in total defense is better than 119th. (And, in all honesty The Rivalry, Esq. respects what Roof did at Georgia Tech and thinks he'll be a good fit for the Golden Gophers)

Predicted Finish: 4-8 (1-7 conference)

INDIANA HOOSIERS
Esquire Rating: 2/5

No huddle a la mode.

2007 was a pivotal and challenging year for the Hoosiers, bookended by the loss of Terry Hoeppner, and the emergence of a pulse in Bloomington. Hoeppner's final message to his team was simple and powerful: "Play 12" -- a reference to earning a bowl bid for the for the first time since 1993 (and a metaphysical challenge to live life to its fullest margin).

Inspired by Terry, the Hoosiers "defended the Rock," and earned a bid to the Insight Bowl. The Rivalry, Esq. supports the new generation of Indiana football.

In that spirit 2008 is somewhat of an encore. But this time around Bill Lynch will have to to establish spatial presence without record breaking wide receiver James Hardy. With quarterback Kellen Lewis on suspension -- it's not yet clear which IU squad we'll see -- the tight-knit family of 2007, or a new class, with balding offensive line play, week ground efforts, and uncertain leadership.

To siphon momentum and stretch opposing coverages, Lynch has installed a spread format no-huddle offense. Unlike Northwestern, which has undergone a similar transition, there's no guarantee he has the personnel to man the vogue attack. A light schedule, with no Ohio State or Michigan gives the Hoosiers every opportunity to repeat their 2007 success. But first, they need to settle the fundamentals.

Must Win: MICHIGAN STATE (Sept. 27th).

Rivalry Comment: Play 12.

Predicted Finish: 6-6 (2-6 conference)

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS
Esquire Rating: 2/5

It's all right, it's okay, you can work for us someday.

The Wildcats went into 2007 with high (for Evanston) expectations. And why not -- they were set to paint the 7th easiest schedule in the FBS purple. A fair 6-6 record resulted, but 3 losses in the final 4 games kept the bowl eligible brainiacs home for Christmas.

Still, Northwestern finished 32nd in the country in total offense (2nd in the Big Ten) -- clawing out an impressive 427 average yards a game. That offense returns largely intact, with quarterback C.J. Bacher, and wide receiver duo Eric Peterman and Ross Lane. But, the Wildcats finished 10th in the conference in scoring -- something of a disparity. To finish what they start, incoming offensive coordinator Mick McCall spent the spring installing a no-huddle offense

Increased pace and purpose could put the Wildcats in position to make a bowl run.

Must Win: SYRACUSE (Aug. 30th). Handling this inaugural out of conference matchup gives Northwestern a chance to open the season 4-0.

Rivalry Comment: To encourage home attendance get rid of the lame Wildcat sound effects at Ryan Field.

Predicted Finish: 6-6 (3-5 conference)

IOWA HAWKEYES
Esquire Rating 2/5

When it doubt, go with pink.

The last time Iowa football seemed to mean something was on the eve of their October 2006 primetime matchup with the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes. Gameday broadcast live from Iowa City and a golden sea of fans filled Kinnick stadium in hopes of an epic upset.

The Rivalry, Esq. watched from a sports bar in Charleston, WV, en route to take advantage of whitewater release season on the Gauley river. Leading 21-10 at halftime, the Buckeyes opened the second half with one of the greatest improvisational shows of athleticism of all time. Anthony Gonzalez took a pitch left at the Iowa 30-yard line, dug and pivoted with one fist in the grass, and reversed field for a touchdown sprint down the home team sidelines that buried the No. 13 Hawkeyes.

Since that night, Kirk Ferentz's squad hasn't been the same. A 2007 season littered with losses has demasculated an otherwise capable franchise. If 109th in total offense doesn't sound like the Iowa you remember, welcome to the club.

Count on 2008 to bring about better passing variances with the return of wideout Andy Brodell, and tight end Tony Moeaki -- both figures sat out 2007 with injuries. Defensive leadership, from the line back should make for a stingier squad that won't see the likes of Ohio State or Michigan.

Must Win: @ MICHIGAN STATE (Oct. 4th)

Rivalry Comment: It's always worth making special mention of one of the more flamboyant traditions in college football: Kinnick Stadium's pink visiting locker room.

See http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2174828.

The Rivalry, Esq. is entertained by this Freudian commentary on psychosexual development, and proposes that all teams go to ridiculous lengths to humble and harass opponents. For example, Penn State could concentrate Joe Paterno's flatulence and pipe it into the visiting lockers through the central air...

Predicted Finish: 7-5 (4-4 conference)

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
Esquire Rating: 3/5

Will Paterno distract or deliver number 59?

A vanilla plain 2007 for the Nittany Lions was salvaged by 6-1 record at home, and a bowl win over Texas A&M. This year, they'll have to take to the highway, with away contests at Wisconsin and Ohio State. Eight returning starters on an offense that averaged 30.3 points a game, and finished 55th nationally last year, will help -- especially the soundness of the line, garnished by the highly anticipated addition of speedy Stephfon Green at running back.

Still, the quarterback position remains up for grabs, and a defense, weakened by the loss of Linebacker U's valedictorian Sean Lee, has a long road ahead of them. The program also continues to be overshadowed by the status of Joe Paterno, and rumors in the blogisphere that Greg Schiano will be tapped to take his place.

Must Win: ILLINOIS (Sept. 27th).

Rivalry Comment: Schiano should be in State College by the new year.

Predicted Finish: 8-4 (4-4 conference)

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS
Esquire Rating: 3/5

Moustache madness continues in West Lafayette.

Joe Tiller's preparations to lead the Boilermakers through conference play a final time, should encourage reflection on the larger implications of the future of the Big 10. The beloved barons (Alverez, Carr) have relinquished their grip, leading to a new generation of young coaches more willing to play with fire and experiment with the fashions of the game. With Paterno primed to retire, and progressive principals already in-place in Ann Arbor, Evanston, Bloomington, Urbana, Minneapolis -- and soon to be West Lafayette, modernization in the Big Ten is inevitable.

So how will Tiller punctuate his final go round? First, by sustaining 07's rapid fire passing attack under quarterback Curtis Painter. Painter will miss his favorite target, Dorien Bryant who led last year's receptions with 936 yards -- but will have capable Greg Orton on the strong side. A load of tight end talent helps mitigate the dropoff in the wake of Dustin Keller.

Still, a young, injury prone line needs to develop, first to protect the pass, and second to promote a sound ground game. A damning schedule with a home matchup again Oregon, and visits to Notre Dame and Ohio State will test Tiller's capstone Boilermakers.

Must Win: OREGON (Sept. 13th).

Rivalry Comment: Is it just us or does Tiller's successor Danny Hope look a little like he might have strangled someone to death in the 1980s? The Rivalry, Esq. will have its friends over at the Bureau do a missing persons search in eastern Kentucky.

Predicted Finish: 7-5 (5-3 conference)

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
Esquire Rating: 3/5

Can the diplomat develop the Spartan attack?

Anyone who watched Ohio State play defense in 2002 believes in Mark Dantonio. Like his mentor Jim Tressel, Dantonio is cool and Ambassador-like. He's not funny (although it's often amusing when he admits it), and the The Rivalry, Esq. suspects he's a briefs man (boxers are a little too loose for his blood).

What he's doing in East Lansing is somewhat more assertive. Dantonio's first-order defense finished 2007 a respectable 31st nationally, allowing only 2,800 yards in the air. With six starters back, including defensive end Trevor Anderson (who followed Dantonio from Cincinnati) expect coverage sets to continue to siphon routes.

The return of quarterback Bryan Hoyer and power back Javon Ringer (who rushed for 1,447 yards in 07), gives the offense identity. Up and coming receiver packages complete the set.

That being said, the Big 10 isn't getting any easier and State faces a suffocating schedule with out of conference matchups against California and Notre Dame, and Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin back-to-back-to-back.

Must Win: @ CALIFORNIA (Aug. 30th).

Rivalry Comment: This is the year to kick your big brother's ass.

Predicted Finish: 8-4 (5-3 conference)

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Esquire Rating: 3/5

Riddler and the Riddle Factory

Like D.C. Comics supervillian The Riddler, Rich Rodriquez continues to mask the visage of the new Wolverines -- an elongated national question mark that's larger than any other in the leadup to 2008. Will his trademark option/spread stun the good ol' boy Big Ten, or will his players spoil the plot?

Yes and yes. Surprising backfield speed in the spring game (if you watched ESPN's coverage you didn't see it -- they edited a botched handoff and an interception together and called it a day) from Brandon Minor and Kevin Grady will be lethal in short yardage situations. Pure athletic instinct should damper their lack of sophistication -- but this corn-fed bunch still sticks out like a sore Northern thumb.

Expect Michigan to lose when they shouldn't, and win when it counts. A solid 2009 recruiting class is sure to help the hangover.

Must Win: WISCONSIN (Sept. 27th) their first conference match comes against a sure power. A win here might have the undesirable side effect of returning expectations to Ann Arbor prematurely.

Rivalry Comment: Welcome to the rivalry, Rich. Please sign on the dotted line.

Predicted Finish: 8-4 (5-3 conference)

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI
Esquire Rating: 4/5

All juice. No pulp.

2007 was a milestone year for Ron Zook and Illinois football. The Juice/Mendenhall tandem instituted ferocity into a previously complacent Illini, pulling a dramatic away upset of then No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus and barreling to the Rose Bowl when the Buckeyes were tapped to play in New Orleans. A 17-49 massacre at the doorstep of USC, exposed the squad's greatest weakness, a defense that allowed the Trojans to put up 633 total yards.

They won't happen again. 2008 welcomes a defensive front that Zook says "...has a chance to be the best I've been around in 15 years." Ends Doug Pilcher and Derek Walker will flank sack leader Will Davis to form a cohesive unit with size and mechanics. Middle linebacker Brit Miller is one the smartest in his position -- and will keep the belt tight.

That leaves the small problem of replacing Rashard Mendenhall -- that little guy with the 1,681 yard rushing season. Spring injuries stunted the growth of the incoming backs -- so its not yet clear whether Illinois will have a go to. If they can't find one, they'll be frighteningly one-dimensional in the face of Big 10 defenses more adjusted to their antics.

Their schedule is nicely spread out, giving them time to stay healthy and plan for the peaks.

Must Win: @ MISSOURI. In an unusual major power matchup this August 30th neutral site game begs to be the best of opening weekend. Both bordering rivals are Esquire 4s, and the winner will be on the way to a big season.

Rivalry Comment: If Ron Zook is looking for good bulletin board material here's a pin up: The Rivalry, Esq. thinks the Missouri Tigers want it more.

Predicted Finish: 9-3 (6-2 conference)

WISCONSIN BADGERS
Esquire Rating: 4/5

Will the Badgers become the first Adidas-sponsored team to actually win?

Wisconsin is close to becoming the new Clemson when it comes to underachieving. The 2007 squad was much acclaimed, and started 5-0 before dropping to Illinois and getting pounded by an unranked Penn State. Injuries limited bruising back P.J. Hill to an underwhelming 1,212 yard season.

2008 will see 17 starters back, including Hill, Tight End Travis Beckum, and Linebacker Jonathan Casillas. Quarterback Tyler Donovan is missing -- his consistency will need to be re-established to diversify the Badger offense and keep defenses spread out.

While Bret Bielema appears to be set on defense with 9 returning, injuries have hampered growth in Madison. With 26 players missing some portion of spring ball due to injuries, a strong showing at camp is essential to get back to game speed. A wimpy out of conference schedule should give the Badgers something to chew on.

Must Win: OHIO STATE (Oct. 4th). The Buckeyes have historically struggled at Camp Randall. This is Bielema's chance to pick up his predecessor's momentum.

Rivalry Comment: The Rivalry, Esq. will be in Madison for the festivities and reminds Wisconsin fans not to act like douches when your team happens to score a field goal in the first quarter. It's going to be a long day.

Predicted Finish: 11-1 (7-1 conference)

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
Esquire Rating: 5/5

The Yankees of college football are loathed and loaded.

Ohio State, of late, has cornered the market on seconds. Ask anyone south of the Mason-Dixon, and they'll tell you that slow-hi-o can't play with speed. They'll point to consecutive national championship losses and an 0-9 record against the SEC as affirmative proof.

But no one mentions how the Buckeyes entered 2007 with four returning starters, ranked 11th in the country, and expected to muster only a modest showing in a middle-tier bowl. Led by young talent and helped by historic late-season collapses, the Buckeyes fell backwards into the championship, where they lost to the preseason No. 1.

2008 couldn't be any different. 20 returning starters, including unofficial Heisman frontrunner Chris "Beanie" Wells who rushed for 1,609 yards last year on an injured ankle will lead a poisonous squad. (Ask former LSU safety Craig Steltz about Beanie's speed -- he saw a little when he failed to close in the open field on a 65 yard touchdown break).

A defense that loses first-round draft pick Vernon Gholston, takes comfort in the fact they return Lawrence Wilson -- the breakout defensive end who suffered a broken leg in last season's opener. Nine other defenders return to a squad that ranked first in the country statistically last year including James Laurinaitis, and Malcolm Jenkins.

Still, Quarterback Todd Boeckman displayed poor judgment late in the 2007 season -- coverage misreads led to multiple turnovers in losses to Illinois and LSU. Boeckman will have to mature to lead the Scarlet offense in 2008, a unit that ranked 62nd nationally in 07.

Must Win: @ USC (Sept. 13th). While it won't affect their bid to be the first team in the history of the Big Ten to win three consecutive outright championships, this early trip to La-la land is the one of the most anticipated games of 2008. With its national reputation on the line the Buckeyes need a Hollywood ending in the first meeting between the elites in 24 years.

Rivalry Comment: An interesting twist on the pro-form offense might develop with the selective incorporation of Scouts No. 1 overall recruit Terrelle Pryor. If the dual-threater from Jeannette, PA can shake up short yardage situations, the Leak/Tebow combo might have a new home in Columbus.

Predicted Finish: 12-0 (8-0 conference)

2008 Preview Series - SEC

2008-06-06T14:31:00.019-04:00

If the Southeastern Conference had a resume, it would list its attributes as follows:

Faster athletes than the Big 10; Crazier fans than the Big 12; Returning Heisman Winner; Home of the Defending National Champion, twice over

2007 was a fruitful year for the SEC. Not only did Darren McFadden and Tim Tebow showcase their Heisman worthy talent, but the SEC in-conference schedule accounted for three of the best college football games of the year. Remember LSU v Auburn, when Les Miles went for the end zone with 11 seconds left on the clock, instead of calling timeout and kicking the field goal…and it worked? Remember Kentucky v LSU, the three overtime barnburner that gave then #1 LSU its first loss? What about Auburn’s last second field goal to beat Florida in what I thought was the hardest hitting college football game of the year?

SEC Stands for Sexy.

2008 couldn’t possibly live up to the unbelievably exciting and fruitful 2007 year in the SEC...Could it? The cocktail filled fans of Florida and Georgia beg to disagree, as do the hopeful Bulldogs of Mississippi State. Georgia is a chic Top 3 pick, while Tebow aims to continue putting up Playstation-like statistics. So here are the previews, from first to worst:

FLORIDA GATORS
Esquire Rating: 5/5

Can Tebow and a born-again defense lead the Gators to the Promised Land?

Heisman Winner? Check. Hottest Coach in America who pioneered an offense everyone is gushing over? Check. Worst Pass Defense in the SEC? Check. Young team that choked in every big game they played? Check Check. The 2007 Gators could not live up to their lofty pre season ranking and struggled to a disappointing 9-4 record.

This year’s Gators feature a veteran defense and the most offensive talent in America. Tebow, Percy Harvin, frosh stud Chris Rainey, and transfer RB Emmanuelle Moody are sure to score, score, and score some more. Bloggers and experts alike (ha) seem to believe the defense’s experience should be a major factor in returning the Gators to their 2006 championship form (anyone remember Jarvis Moss and the Gators hammering Troy Smith play after play in the 2006 BCS title game? I certainly do).

Florida’s schedule is unbelievably…awesome. Their non-conference games include Florida State, Miami (FL), and Hawaii. Although these are high profile games, Florida is easily favored in all of them. The Gators conference schedule should help. They don't play Auburn and Georgia will be on the rocks with pressure to win at the World's Largest Cocktail Party.

Must Win: @ GEORGIA (11/1). The winner has a leg up to winning the SEC East and making an appearance in the BCS Championship.

Rivalry Comment: Has there been a higher profile athlete who has trumpeted his Christian faith and missionary activities like Tebow has?

Predicted Finish: 11-1 (7-1 conference)

GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Esquire Rating: 5/5

Will the nation’s sportswriters take their adoring eyes off Georgia long enough to cover other teams?

The 2007 Bulldogs were a dominant team at the end of the season, hammering Florida, Auburn, and Hawaii. Knowshon Moreno ran for 1,334 yards and the Bulldogs primed themselves for a 2008 championship run.

The national media jumped on the bandwagon. Naturally, by their count, Georgia has no weaknesses. The defense is solid and Matthew Stafford is experienced. Moreno is an NFL caliber halfback and the offensive line is full of veterans. See, not a single weak spot. It’s a good thing too, because a punishing schedule will test the Bulldogs.

Must Win: @ LOUISIANA STATE (10/25). Beat the Tigers and create momentum heading into the Cocktail showdown with Florida.

Rivalry Comment: Has an SEC team ever got so much media respect for beating a WAC team?

Predicted Finish: 11-1 (7-1 conference)

AUBURN TIGERS
Esquire Rating: 4/5

From I Form to the Spread.

Auburn has been pounding the ball lately and with running backs like Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown, it’s no wonder they have experienced success. But this is the SEC, and another 9-4 record will only elicit a shrug from Auburn fans.

Auburn’s new Spread offense will be a big change from the Woody Hayes-esque running form. Losing Brandon Cox will hurt, but the Tigers will be set on the O and D-line. Auburn has a stable of solid running backs and has been blessed with an easy schedule. The Tigers will be fine with a new offense and will continue their consistency.

Must Win: @ MISSISSIPPI STATE (9/13). There may be bigger games, but getting upset by Sylvester Croom would start grumbling before the Tigers hit the meat of the jungle.

Rivalry Comment: Beat Alabama!

Predicted Finish: 9-3 (5-3 conference)

LOUISIANA STATE TIGERS
Esquire Rating: 4/5

So you’re saying Ryan Perrilloux isn’t going to win 4 national titles?

2007: National Title.

2008: Uncertainty. With the QB spot wide open, the solidity of the offense will be in question. Matt Flynn, Jacob Hester, and Glenn Dorsey are all gone. Fortunately, LSU has a great play caller in Les Miles and defensive athleticism only matched by 3-4 other schools in the nation. The schedule is light (Non-Conf: Appalachian State, Troy, North Texas, Tulane) so they'll be well rested coming in to conference play/

Must Win: @Florida (10/11). The Swamp will be rocking and LSU will need to slow Tebow early; a win here gives LSU instant national credibility.

Rivalry Comment: This is an elite program with classic jerseys, Richter Scale shaking fans, and a bunch of national championships. The Rivalry, Esq. respects and enjoys LSU football.

Predicted Finish: 9-3 (5-3 conference)

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
Esquire Rating: 3/5

How will the team react to a brand new offensive coaching staff?

Tennessee generated a lot of good vibes from its 2007 performance. Erik Ainge and emerging star halfback Arian Foster weathered a 40 point blowout against Florida to come within 1 quarter of winning an SEC title.

The 2008 version of the Volunteers will be lucky to continue their success. Jonathon “Straight Outta” Crompton is a highly rated QB, but lacks big game experience. The Volunteers defense, lately famous for their defensive linemen (Reggie White, Albert Haynesworth, John Henderson, Leonard Little), haven’t been able to get to the QB lately and its scoring defense has been horrendous. These factors all lead The Rivalry, Esq. to believe Tennessee will struggle early (Georgia, Florida, Auburn, UCLA in the first 6 games) but rebound against their cake late season schedule.

Must Win: @ UCLA (9/01). If the Volunteers lose to this struggling Bruin program, the tough SEC schedule will look even more daunting.

Rivalry Comment: The Volunteers have been hit by the suspension and arrest bug. Looks like Joe Paterno needs to bring his stadium-cleaning discipline to Knoxville.

Predicted Finish: 8-4 (5-3 conference)

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
Esquire Rating: 3/5

Sylvester Croom makes his bid for sustained respectability.

Croom won't allow the Bulldogs to return to bottom-dweller status -- 2007 proved that with the development of a frosh QB in Wesley Carroll and had a hard-hitting defense. The Bulldogs 8-5 record was an unbelievably good season, good enough for at least 10 puff pieces.

The 2008 Bulldogs will have something that no bulldog team has had in years: expectations. Carroll will be improved and athletic; the defense is solid and Croom has proven he can stop the big programs from running wild on his defense. Oh yeah, the Bulldogs DON’T PLAY GEORGIA OR FLORIDA!

Must Win: AUBURN (9/13). Want to be a top SEC program? Beat the hungry Tigers.

Rivalry Comment: Croom is a media darling, and oddly enough, probably deserves the accolades. We salute him.

Predicted Finish: 8-4 (5-3)

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Esquire Rating: 3/5

Can a brilliant wide receiver group make up for Nick “I will not be coaching at Alabama” Saban?

The Rivalry, Esq. is, to say the least, not a fan of Nick Saban. The Rivalry respects consistency, honesty, and respect for the media…little of which Saban has exhibited in the last 5 years. Alabama and their nut-crazy fans deserve better. 90,000 people at a Spring Game? Let's make an early nomination for Alabama’s fans as the best in America.

The Crimson Tide of 2007 suffered offensive struggles toward the end of the year, losing to Louisiana-Monroe (huh?) and Mississippi State. That being said, Saban has a couple of huge recruiting classes under his belt, a future NFL starter in CB Rashad Johnson and a senior QB with a good grasp of the offense. WR’s DJ Hall and Julio Jones are one of the top 5 WR combo. 2008 ‘Bama, on talent alone, will win 8.

Must Win: @ AUBURN (11/29). Saban cannot afford to start a losing streak against the Tigers (ask Lloyd Carr how that works out).

Rivalry Comment: QB John Parker Wilson’s turn as the handsome star QB on MTV’s “Two-A-Days” was interesting, extravagant, and absolutely nothing like real high school life.

Predicted Finish: 8-4 (5-3 conference)

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
Esquire Rating: 3/5

Will Darth Visor fix his QB problem?

Spurrier hasn’t done anything extravagant at SC. 2007 was no different; the Gamecocks played close games, struggled on offense, and slogged their way to a 4-4 conference schedule.

Spurrier needs to get a cohesive offensive unit going for the Gamecocks if they are ever going to break into the upper echelon of the SEC. The Gamecocks have fantastic defense players returning (Jasper Brinkley) and their recruiting classes have loaded up that side of the ball. A killer end of year schedule will challenge whoever is starting at QB.

Must Win: @ ARKANSAS (11/08). Beating an ordinary Arkansas team in between Florida and Tennessee is important.

Rivalry Comment: Steve Spurrier has a great defense and an ugly offense. Karma, karma, karma.

Predicted Finish: 6-6 (3-5 conference)

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
Esquire Rating: 2/5

Arkansas Football: Where FOIA requests happen.

Darren McFadden and Felix Jones certainly made the Razorbacks one of the best teams to watch the last 3 years. But now that the outstanding duo has moved on to The League, the Razorbacks have inherited Bobby Petrino’s passing offense.

Passing is not exactly what Casey Dick, starting QB, does best. They'll have an identity problem on offense. Along with a brutal schedule, this is a rebuilding year for the Razorbacks.

Must Win: ALABAMA (9/20) Arkansas needs to win this game to show the south these Razorbacks won't going to be stuck in the mud.

Rivalry Comment: The phrase “Houston Nutt, 10-4, FOIA” should be a warning that college football is not, repeat not, all about winning.

Predicted Finish: 5-7 (2-6 conference)

KENTUCKY WILDCATS
Esquire Rating: 2/5

Thanks for flying Kentucky Wildcat Airlines. Please lower your expectations before we lift off.

Rich Brooks has made Kentucky relevant; 2007 was a solid 8 win season with a great LSU upset and a wonderful bowl win over Florida State. But losing an NFL style quarterback is going to leave a gaping hole in this Kentucky school known for its basketball love. Kentucky will win a few this year on an easy schedule, but won't strike fear in the hearts of SEC favorites like they have in the recent past.

Must Win: @ LOUISVILLE (8/31). A traditional basketball rivalry has been a relevant football game on the national level the last three years.

Rivalry Comment: It’s a big challenge for college basketball powers to be significant college football programs (Duke, UNC, Kansas, Maryland). Let’s hope Kentucky gets a few good recruiting classes in the future to keep the success they had in 06-07.

Predicted Finish: 5-7 (3-5 conference)

MISSISSIPPI REBELS
Esquire Rating: 1/5

How will the Rebels utilize their 5 star QB?

Houston Nutt takes over a program full of potential, but short on results. Jevan Snead, who was one of the top 5 high school QBs in the nation 2 years ago, will run the Rebels. As many bloggers have pointed out, this is a 4 win team with potential to be a 7 win team. The recruits have been good (Enrique Davis, Jerrell Powe) but no one is expecting big things.

Must Win: SOUTH CAROLINA (10/18). The Rebels need an upset or two to get the magical 6 win mark.

Rivalry Comment: These fans are underrated; I have seen them in action (Motor City Bowl v Marshall and Randy Moss) and they are wild.

Predicted Finish: 4-8 (1-7 conference)

VANDERBILT COMMODORES
Esquire Rating: 1/5

The only way this football team could get worse is if Gordon Gee returned to Vandy.

Vanderbilt has experienced unparalleled success in the last few years. Jay Cutler (starting Denver Broncos QB) was groomed there and they upset South Carolina last year. But they lost so many of the veterans who experienced success in 05-07 and the Commodores have not reloaded. This team will not be able to score enough to compete.

Must Win: @ MIAMI (OH) (8/28). If you enjoy spending time with wealthy, well dressed people with great academic pedigrees, this is your Mecca. There will be a football game also.

Rivalry Comment: The Vandy team needs to continue to show some grit against the traditional powers. In their 3 games versus Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky in 2007, the Commodores lost by an average of 4 points per game.

Predicted Finish: 2-10 (0-8 conference)

2008 Preview Series - ACC

2008-06-03T15:55:00.027-04:00

Regal on hardwood, the Atlantic Coast Conference has struggled in effecting a seamless transition to sod. They're the entrepreneurs of the BCS, a Janus-like collective, that have cut, copied, and pasted their membership so many times founding charters look like newspapers that get dropped on subway tracks. A 1-9 record in BCS bowl games says only one thing: they don't compete when it matters.

But they've got potential. An aching amount of it. And The Rivalry, Esq. believes in the runt of the BCS litter. It's time the ACC stops aging like 80s patio furniture, and makes waves somewhere else besides the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. 2008 may well be the beginning of a new tide for the Atlantic if they play top to bottom ball.

DUKE BLUE DEVILS
Esquire Rating: 1/5

Watching Duke compete in 2007 was sort of like watching Laurie Strobe try to escape from Michael Myers in John Carpenter's Halloween. It's amazing they averaged 20,064 in home attendance. Then again Halloween was one of the top grossing films of 1978. Duke's offense -- which ranked 117th out of 119 teams -- might as well have been scripted back then. So, let's not dwell on 1-11.

Under a new Roof, David Cutcliffe has charged his squad to drop lbs and adopt urgency with specific focus on winning battles at the line of scrimmage. Increased emphasis on mechanics behind a more physical front is almost certain to translate into better production. How much better remains to be determined.

Must Win: NAVY (Sep. 13th). Last year's contest with the Midshipmen was one of their best showings and closest losses. If the Blue Devils can hold on for four quarters they've got a shot at being 3-0 (or at least 2-1 out of the gate).

Predicted Finish: 3-9 (2-6 conference)

NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK
Esquire Rating: 2/5

The 07 Wolfpack started 1-5 before winning 4 out of their last 6 including contests against Virginia and at Miami. It's well believed that early season injuries contributed to the chameleon effect.

With 14 starters back and top playmakers expected to be healthy, expect North Carolina State to build on the offensive side of the ball. Tough out of conference matchups against South Carolina and South Florida may frustrate off-season confidence -- but there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Must Win: SOUTH FLORIDA (Sep. 27th). A win here will settle their stomach before back-to-back home contests against Boston College and Florida State.

Predicted Finish: 4-8 (3-5 conference)

MARYLAND TERRAPINS
Esquire Rating: 2/5

Maryland seemed to collect wins and losses in clusters last season resulting in a roller coaster ride to bowl eligibility.

With 16 back, including Quarterback/Wide Receiver duo Chris Turner and Darrius Heyward-Bey, the 08 squad has the opportunity to mature offensively, while at the same time leveling defensive play. An influx of talented linebackers will help drain opponents' point totals (a la Penn State).

Must Win: @ VIRGINIA (Oct. 4th). Last year the Terrapins lost a 17-18 heartbreaker. It's time to return the favor.

Predicted Finish: 5-7 (3-5 conference)

GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
Esquire Rating: 2/5

If eight starters back from 2007 doesn't sound like many, consider defensive coordinator Dave Wommack has built what ESPN calls "...one of the best defensive lines in the ACC."

Still, switching offenses is a little like clutchless shifting on a '71 Carrera -- it requires finesse. Let's hope Johnson employs President Nixon's iron-fist/velvet glove approach to diplomacy. Will Tech come out looking like an early 90s Nebraska or a standard Navy? Their schedule won't help. An early away tour at Boston College and Virginia Tech melts into a constant middle-belt that buckles at Georgia in late-November.

Must Win: @ BOSTON COLLEGE (Sept. 6th) or @ VIRGINIA TECH (Sept. 14th). Pick one. Win to break even.

Predicted Finish: 5-7 (3-5 conference)

NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
Esquire Rating 2/5

Butch Davis' will enjoy a foundation of 19 returning starters on his second run down Tobacco Road. He'll depend on this core nucleus to carry the team through a 2008 out of conference schedule that's far more demanding than it was last year.

It's for this reason that the bottom line might not look much better than 2007 (4-8), but the Tar Heels are primed to make strides in conference play. With capable receivers and good depth on the second team, the Davis restoration is in good hands and on schedule.

Must Win: @ RUTGERS (Sept. 11th). The Heels need something to take the edge off their out of conference play. This trip to Newark appears to be their best shot.

Predicted Finish: 5-7 (4-4 conference)

WAKE FOREST DEAMON DEACONS
Esquire Rating: 3/5

The deacons are specialty position central with models at tailback, tight end, and corners. But they lack center force, with a weak O-Line and nameless receiver corp. They're also missing defensive ends.

Coming off of a productive 2007, The Rivalry Esq. is prone to say 2008 looks like a rebuilding year. Luckily, their schedule is a little more forgiving.

Must Win: @ FLORIDA STATE (Sept. 20th). If they handle this, they're 4-0 out of the gate.

Predicted Finish: 7-5 (4-4 conference)

VIRGINIA CAVALIERS
Esquire Rating: 3/5

Another squad that looks like they're about to bring a sword to a gun fight, Virginia is rowdy in the defensive midfield and wimpy at mission control. To surprise the top-end of the conference they'll have to find a quarterback that can attach the ball to the Velcro hands of receivers like John Phillips and Kevin Ogletree.

If they do, they're bound to beat the 101 ranking they earned in '07 for total offense.

Must Win: @ CONNECTICUT (Sept. 13th).

Predicted Finish: 8-4 (5-3 conference)

FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
Esquire Rating: 3/5

The scandalous Seminoles are set to play two seasons. One, marked by the continued suspensions of six of their star crop -- and the other, en banc. Then again, the winningest coach of all time isn't quite ready to plop into a recliner for fried fish and Jeopardy re-runs (as evidenced by last year's spoiler at then No. 10 Boston College).

With freshman stepping up to fill tackle holes on the offensive line -- one of the most difficult places on the field to succeed green -- the 2008 squad may have problems moving the ball. Still, a defense charged by linebackers Derek Nicholson and Dekoda Watson should keep them in games.

Must Win: COLORADO (Sept. 13th). While it won't help their conference charge, a home win against a historical power would do wonders for their confidence.

Predicted Finish: 8-4 (5-3 conference)

BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES
Esquire Rating: 3/5

It's never easy to lose a first-round, Heisman caliber quarterback. Couple that with a gutted defense and the departure of two four-year veteran backs, and you've got a condemned foundation.

Still, what's left after the dust settles is a protege regiment -- a group that's broken their backs and paid their dues shoveling coal into the boilers on the Matt Ryan express. Quarterback Chris Crane has three years of apprenticeship that should inform his reads. Smart decision making all around could be the difference for the new BC. A soft schedule doesn't hurt, either.

Must Win: @ VIRGINIA TECH (Oct. 18th).

Predicted Finish: 9-3 (6-2 conference)

MIAMI HURRICANES
Esquire Rating: 3/5

I'm hard-pressed to find a program in the history of college football that's experienced as much tumult as these hardened Hurricanes. It's been a strange, sad road from 2002 to present stained by murder, malice, and farewell to a legendary post-season palace, the Orange Bowl.

But even the scars forget the wounds. Like the forlorn phoenix, the "U" will be re-born. Perhaps no coach in the country is better suited to proctor the transformation. Randy Shannon understands his players and their struggles. This ability to connect with young athletes produced the third best recruiting class in the country in 2008, despite a difficult 5-7 season.

Sooner or later that talent is bound to show up on the field.

Must Win: VIRGINIA TECH (Nov. 13th). With no Clemson on the schedule the 'Canes could blow into the ACC Championship game with a win against the Hokies.

Predicted Finish: 9-3 (7-1 conference)

VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
Esquire Rating: 4/5

Despite a comparably low returning class of eleven, the working class Hokies will punch in new talent on defense -- continuing to allow less than 300 yards a game. Frank Beamer's lunchbox ethic will continue to produce disciplined, selfless play. If they can establish a running game, Virginia Tech will be solid -- if not sensational.

Must Win: @ BOSTON COLLEGE (Oct. 18th).

Predicted Finish: 10-2 (7-1 conference)

CLEMSON TIGERS
Esquire Rating: 4/5

Tommy Bowden pretends to be oblivious about the pre-destination of his 2008 tigers. But with a weighty 17 starters returning, including a healthy Cullen Harper at quarterback, offensive production should easily surpass a lackluster 52nd finish in 2007. Still, a limited Tiger line will have to step up to provide adequate protection.

The defensive side of the ball is further solidified with the presence of freshman hegemon DaQuan Bowers at defensive end, ESPN 150's No. 1 overall recruit.

With no Virginia Tech or Miami on the schedule it's an open road to the ACC championship. If Clemson doesn't have the stripes to make it, they've got no one to blame but themselves.

Must Win: @ ALABAMA (Aug. 30th). Perhaps the toughest challenge the Tigers will face in 2008 is their trip to Tuscaloosa right off the blocks. If they can dye the Tide orange, they might trade a January 1st trip to the Orange Bowl for one a week later.

Predicted Finish: 11-1 (8-0 conference)

2008 Preview Series - Big 12

2008-06-02T13:57:00.024-04:00

We at The Rivalry, Esq. are dedicated proponents of instant gratification (and hullucinating allusions of grandeur). So, with a long, hot month remaining until the official college football preview yearbooks hit the stands, we’re taking things into our own hands.

Introducting the The Rivalry, Esq.’s 2008 Conference Preview Series. Over the coming weeks we’ll be featuring bits and bytes breakdowns of the programs that populate the college football landscape. Each installment will feature an off the cuff overview, stock assessment, and crystal ball forecast of what to expect this fall. Without further adieu...

Big 12

Ah, middle America. Still waters and sweeping alluvial plains. Gentle winds and sleeping giants. Like the July asphalt on I-70 that bisects the north and south, promise is blistering from Austin to Columbia.

After eight teams garnered bowl appearances in 2007, the conference carried back a respectable 5-3 record. Texas’ route of Arizona State in the Holiday, Missouri’s blasting of Arkansas in the Cotton, and Kansas’ vindication against Virginia Tech in the Orange punctuated a season full of surprises including an (albeit short-lived) No. 1 ranking from a team not named Oklahoma or Texas.

But the roar of the Tigers couldn’t outsound their deep disappointment at being buried in the Conference Championship Game and brushed-off by the BCS selection committee. Big-game Bob Stoops couldn’t convince the crimson and cream to show up on the national stage for the second year in a row.

If college football is really something corporate the Big 12 is the conference with the most unfinished business. Here are the players in predicted order of finish:

BAYLOR BEARS
Esquire Rating: 1/5

The Bears, under new head coach Art Briles are certain to make strides in statistical categories this fall but a schedule that's about as friendly as a brain tumor -- with out of conference matchups against Wake Forest, Washington State, and Connecticut, and blinding away games at Texas, Nebraska, and Texas Tech -- will keep the bottom line bare.

Must Win: IOWA STATE (Oct. 11). Without this mid-season pick me up Baylor might be staring down the barrel of a one-win season. (Where is Glen Mason when you need him?)

Predicted Finish: 1-11 (0-8 conference)

IOWA STATE CYCLONES
Esquire Rating: 1/5

That "other" team to go 3-9 in 2007 struggled to propel their two-stroke lawnmower engine further than 4.4 yards per play (a number that placed them last in the Big 12). The fifteen returning players (7 offense, 7 defense, 1 kicker/punter) will have their work cut out for them, sans quarterback Bret Meyer.

That said, fortune has delivered a favorable 2008 lineup with both Texas and Oklahoma off the regular season schedule, and matchups against Kansas, Nebraska, Texas A&M, and Missouri at home.

Must Win: @ BAYLOR (Oct. 11). Coming into this matchup the Cyclones will likely be 2-3. A win would right the ship before a two-game home stretch, and might give them a shot at bowl eligibility.

Predicted Finish: 4-8 (2-6 conference)

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
Esquire Rating: 2/5

A big September away win at then No. 10 Texas (and a lone loss to No. 15 Auburn) put the Wildcats in pole position to command their own destiny in 2007. They promptly called California for help and went 2-6 over their final 8 games.

The team's "Cold War" spring rations of night workouts and closed practices should better focus the 2008 squad.

Must Win: @ LOUISVILLE (Sep. 17). A win earns KSU a 4-0 start and a little momentum heading into the beginning of conference hostilities against Texas Tech on October 4th.

Predicted Finish: 7-6 (3-5 conference)

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
Esquire Rating: 2/5

When he's not blowing up in front of the national media head coach Mike Gundy isn't bad with the Xs and Os. His 7-6 mark last year is more impressive when you consider that his 07 Cowboys opened up with a nice helping of No. 2 Georgia on the road.

Sixteen returning starters, and a burgeoning defense should help carry a lighter out-of-conference load in 2008.

Must Win: @ WASHINGTON STATE (Aug. 30). A opening showdown in the Pacific Northwest will set the tempo for the entire 2008 season.

Predicted Finish: 7-6 (4-4 conference)

TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Esquire Rating: 3/5

After being about as lively as a three-day-open can of Coke in games against ranked opponents in 2007, the Aggies have a chance to get revenge on Randy Shannon when the Hurricanes visit College Station.

A new offense will help in 2008 if a receiver corps steps up to the plate.

Must Win: MIAMI (Sep. 20)

Predicted Finish: 7-6 (4-4 conference)

COLORADO BUFFALOES

Esquire Rating: 3/5

As Boulder learned in 2007 a landmark upset means little if followed by little. Cody Hawkins is sure to improve in 2008 when a running threat under super recruit Darrell Scott makes the Buffalo offense multi-dimensional.

Must Win: WEST VIRGINIA (Sept. 18). To be a national program you have to win national games. If the altitude negatively affects the gang from Morgantown, this might be the first major upset of 2008. And, it might give them a little confidence on the long-flight east to face Bobby Bowden's Seminoles the following week.

Predicted Finish: 8-5 (5-3 conference)

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
Esquire Rating: 3/5

When they're not streaking slants and burning quick outs, Texas Tech is going through the motions, and that's why they can't seem to break into the upper echelon of the conference. Still, season ending wins against Oklahoma and Virginia were impressive and have chalked expectations.

Must Win: @ KANSAS (Oct. 25th)

Predicted Finish: 9-4 (5-3 conference)

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
Esquire Rating 3/5

In case you haven't encountered the old adage "offense wins games, defense wins championships" the Pelini product in Lincoln will attempt to extoll its virtues.

Will the new Big Red last, or get chewed?

They can't do much worse. Last year's Cornhuskers went 2-6 in conference play under Bill Callahan. Its defense, finishing 112th out of 119 teams in the FBS, leaked like a bad tampon. Still, the offensive wasn't bad -- finishing ninth and putting up an average of 33.4 points a game.

Pelini will keep his quarterback, and his fingers crossed.

Must Win: VIRGINIA TECH (Sept. 27th).

Predicted Finish: 9-4 (5-3 conference)

KANSAS JAYHAWKS
Esquire Rating: 4/5

It's true that there might be nowhere to go but down for Mark Mangino's explosive Jayhawks. It's also true that The Rivalry, Esq. remains slightly skeptical about how good they really were last year.

Still, the numbers don't lie and with an average of 42.8 points a game Kansas was about the closest thing we had to a basketball, ahem, football power in 2007. And they're back a la mode with Todd Reesing and a wide-out lineup that makes Urban Meyer jealous. But the 2008 conference schedule is peppered with names they haven't seen before -- friendly programs like Oklahoma and Texas.

To turn luck into legacy the Jayhawks will have to breed physical play, specifically offensive line protection. To match last year's output Reesing has to stay cool in the pocket.

Must Win: @ OKLAHOMA (Oct. 18). The strength of the Sooner D-line alone might be enough to collapse the Jayhawk offense (think Virginia Tech at LSU last September). If Kansas can keep their pro-form intact and hang with the Stoops Spread they may get into a points race that, in a high octane matchup, can only work in their favor.

Predicted Finish: 10-3 (5-3 conference)

TEXAS LONGHORNS
Esquire Rating: 4/5

6,018 yards of total offense lit the burner for the Longhorns in 2007. Then again, an uninspired defensive unit let an average of 25.3 points spill onto the board. With the departure of (Big 12 rushing leader) Jamall Charles and Limas Sweed, Mack Brown's latest incarnation may need to develop a sound backfield and lineup of playmakers to stay near the top in a north division that will be as good as it's been in half a decade.

Nonetheless, Colt-45-McCoy is back with a solid arm and knack for coverage pickup. His leadership will be essential in guiding a young team that returns a modest 11 starters from 2007. At present acclaim new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp should revive a unit that lacked fourth quarter discipline in 2007.

As long as Mack Brown can keep his grandson off the field, these Longhorns will be big and bright in October when they face Oklahoma and Missouri back-to-back.

Must Win: OKLAHOMA (Oct. 11th). If Texas can't hold em' in the Red River Rivalry, they're dead in the water.

Predicted Finish: 10-3 (6-2 conference)

MISSOURI TIGERS

Esquire Rating: 4/5

If you take away those polite run-ins with Oklahoma, the 2007 Missouri Tigers were megatons. As it turns out -- they're not much worse for the wear. A team that finished last season fifth in total offense was fifty-ninth in total defense. Still, they managed to outscore opponents by a whopping 16.6 points on average in a catch-me-if-you-can Chase. Daniel, by the way, is back -- with a meat and potatoes kind of work ethic that makes him admirable in a Ben Roethlisberger kind of way.

The problem is they're without Tony Temple-ton. If sophomore Derrick Washington hopes to fill the void, he needs to do it without an anchored offensive line. If Missouri can't turn out a reliable ground game they'll be forced to go to the air where opposing secondaries will be loaded.

Still, the thing that favors Pinkel's Mizzou is their schedule. With no Oklahoma on the horizon these super tigers can steer clear of their conference Kryptonite -- at least until the championship (where The Rivalry Esq. is convinced Boomer Sooner will be there to spoil their fun).

Still, the 2008 Tigers will not be void of consolation. They'll land an at-large bid to a coveted BSC bowl. The first in the program's history.

Must Win: @ TEXAS (Oct. 18th).

Predicted Finish: 12-1 (8-1 conference)

OKLAHOMA SOONERS Esquire Rating: 5/5

Let's face it, this squad was dangerous when Bradford was a freshman and huddles were the norm. Now that wisdom has conspired with madness in Norman the Buckeyes of the south will circle the wagons on the Big 12. Eight returning offensive starters will brand a unit Stoops is daring to outmatch its spellbinding 42.3 points per game in 2007.

With a defense primed to poison, the Sooners are loaded in the fertile soil of the secondary. Expect fast play on both sides of the ball, disorientating drives, and curly-Q routes. This is the team to beat in the Big 12.

Must Win: TEXAS (Oct 11th).

Predicted Finish: 12-1 (8-1 conference)

Tebow to Sue "The Rivalry, Esq."

2008-05-31T00:03:00.010-04:00

Sixteen minutes after an allegedly false news report leaked on an amateur college football webblog (see below), attorneys for the University of Florida at Gainesville, Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, and the Florida chapter of Focus on the Family threatened to take action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida against the publishers of "The Rivalry, Esq."

Counsel for Tebow maintained that the "groundless" criticism of the star's private sex life, "implied to be factual, and to represent a negative image" constituted libel -- the common law tort of defamation, warranting injunctive and declarative relief.

"What these kids don't realize is that there are real consequences for the creative exposition of their online super-egos," Attorney H.E. Pennypacker, a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law said in a prepared statement. "These aren't public figures acting in a public capacity -- they're real student athletes with real feelings."

Asked to comment, co-author of "The Rivalry, Esq." Jonathan Franz said at first he wasn't concerned.

But then he realized that his first year Constitutional Law course didn't actually cover defamation. "Yeah, I sort of overlooked that detail -- we spent our whole semester on the Commerce Clause. If this were about whether Congress can regulate the local production of wheat, for example, I'd totally kick ass. Still, after checking it out on Wikipedia I'm confident they don't have a claim."

"What these kids don't realize is that there are real consequences for the creative exposition of their online super-egos...These aren't public figures acting in a public capacity --they're real student athletes with real feelings."

Franz's partner Filler was unavailable for comment -- a representative in Detroit speaking on the condition of anonymity indicated that he plans to retain Sean McGinley, a Charleston attorney famous for his role defending Rich Rodriguez in his current contract dispute with West Virginia University.

Franz, on the other hand, suggested he might look to former Attorney General of Ohio Marc Dann, who recently resigned from office amidst allegations of misconduct, immorality, and pending resolutions of impeachment.

Asked if he really thinks Dann would be willing to help, Franz replied, "I heard the guy is helping his wife sell Tupperware in Youngstown. At least this (case) might involve deposing a number of co-eds from the sunshine state. That's good clean fun."

While adamant he will not return to the practice of law, Marc Dann did indicate that he sides with his fellow Buckeye. "If the guy (Tebow) is really so sensitive about his body, he shouldn't be running around in front of millions of viewers in nylon dazzle pants. He's practically advertising the goods."

Franz said that despite the pending action The Rivalry, Esq. will continue to feature new content as planned. "The 'rivalry' is bigger than any one person. It's about a community of ideas and we're not ready to give up on that just yet."

2008-05-30T22:21:00.008-04:00

Breaking News: Tim Tebow Sets Record for Least Women Bedded as a Reigning Heisman Winner

Born Again Christian Tim Tebow, returning Heisman winner and star Florida quarterback, became the official record holder Friday for the Least Women Bedded as a Reigning Heisman Winner. Tebow set the record with an eye popping number of 0, breaking the record of .3, set by Born Again Christian, and former Florida State Seminole, Charlie Ward. Ward made out with LaChandra Foster just 2 months after his Heisman win, but cut the night short when he felt the Holy Spirit guilting him for his lustful actions.

Prognosticators were sure that Ward's record of .3 would never fall, due to the fact that possibly the greatest aphrodisiac for college hookups is when one partner has just won a Heisman Trophy. Tebow smashed the record in 2008 however, purposely failing to hook up with a single woman.

When presented with a plaque for breaking the record, Tebow was overcome with emotion."I have prayed and cried and spent many nights on my knees, attempting to overcome my sexual urges and to be pure before God. This award means much more than the Heisman to me, because it shows the strength of God manifesting itself in my platonic, pure lifestyle. John 3:37 says, "a mans physical body can be shaped easily, but a godly lifestyle is not easily attained."

"Prognosticators were sure that Ward's record of .3 would never fall, due to the fact that possibly the greatest aphrodisiac for college hookups is when one partner has just won a Heisman Trophy."

Ward could not be reached for comment because he was leading a bible study.

When told about Tebow's record breaking performance, the University of Florida's astonishingly hot co-eds credited Tebow's strength to good parenting and promised to redouble their efforts to corrupt Tebow.

The Tressel Effect

2008-05-29T15:59:00.009-04:00

Graham has rebuked me more than once for my seemingly limitless confidence in his Wolverines as reflected through past season predictions. I think I might have been the only person in the world to pick the maize and blue over then defending national champion Florida in last season's Capital One Bowl.

And yes, seated at a local pizza joint in Cambridge, MA, I even went so far as to cheer on Lloyd and the gang over a slice of pepperoni and a Sam Adams. (The Harvard kids had no idea what the hell was going on). When it was over, the man made the quiet walk from the locker room to the team bus without a necktie, his suit jacket unbuttoned, a cigar in one hand and a bottled water in the other. I'll always remember you that way Lloyd -- a classy kind of stubborn.

And so, like war lapping up against the shorelines where Princeton played (anyone who caught that Fitzgerald reference wins a sweater vest), a new era dawned in Ann Arbor. Savior or sinner, Rodriguez's mission to salvage UM (and make "Michigan Man" less of a euphemism for slow, fat, and cocky) has inspired spectators and pundits alike to weigh in. Will the great typhoon spread survive the northern winter? Will the Michigan of the past glitter with pace, prominence, and purpose?

Who cares, right? It's shiny and smells new. But, like GM's "American Revolution" ad campaign, things aren't always successful on the merits. It takes hard work to change a program, and good fortune to upset an era. So what can the Wolverine expect out of his or her big blue this fall?

The Tressel effect.

In 2001 we stole the best of Youngstown -- the new Cooper was confident, but collected. Tressel's inauguration in Columbus was marked by an implied guarantee of victory over the state up north. "I can assure you that you'll be proud of our young people -- in the classroom and in the community, and most especially, in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Michigan."

"The Harvard kids had no idea what the hell was going on"

The result? A 7-5 season with wins when it counted, and losses, well, the rest of the time (see UCLA, Wisconsin, Penn State, Illinois, and South Carolina). A razor-thin margin -- with every contest decided by a touchdown or less -- kept Buckeye fans vested.

Most importantly, on November 24th, the scarlet took a 23-0 halftime lead on the 11th ranked Wolverines burying the hatchet on their hopes of sharing the Big Ten title and playing in the Fiesta, Sugar, or Orange Bowls. Even an embarrassing Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina couldn't spoil our fun. We had a pulse.

And that, simply, is what you can expect out of this year's patchwork Wolverines.

Never before has a team been so ill-equipped athletically and positively motivated in personnel. Highlights of the spring game tell two competing stories: Michigan will error, and Michigan will fly.

Sure, your coach is about as foul-mouthed as me watching the Buckeye secondary blow goal-line coverage on tight-end audible sets against LSU, and your guys don't know where to run when the whistle blows at practice, but you'll show up soon enough.

And if 7-5 sounds a little too much like 2005 remember: good things come to those who wait.

The Ann Arbor Spread

2008-05-26T23:04:00.008-04:00

Will the Spread Offense, or whatever modification of the offense that Rich Rod chooses to run, succeed in the Big Ten? Will the 2008 version of the Rich Rod Spread fail miserably and make Michigan fans yearn for the Lloyd Carr I-Form? Hmm…

Rich Rodriguez’s move from West Virginia to the University of Michigan has made the question “How will the WVU Spread Offense translate to the UM football program” the hottest question of the 2008 college football season. So let’s break down this hot question by first looking at the theories behind the Spread Offense, then looking at the WVU spread, and then finally looking at what Michigan’s offensive situation in 2008 dictates. Maybe then some light can be shed on what the mysterious Ann Arbor Spread will look like.

The basic theories behind the spread offense involve:

Isolating one part of the field and taking defenders out of the play
Misdirecting the defense
Many different players touching the ball
Offensive sets that threaten run or pass on every play

The West Virginia team that Rodriquez led to so much success did all these things and had perfect personnel to execute. Super quick Pat White would fake the dive to Owen Schmitt (an NFL fullback), sprint out wide and either (1) run himself, (2) flip the ball to super quick Steve Slaton or Noah Devine, or (3) drop back two steps and throw. Everyone who played against Rich Rod’s Mountaineers knew the running attack was coming, and most teams couldn’t stop it anyways. The success he had was even more impressive because the majority of college offenses have turned into passing offenses.

Rodriguez has inherited a Michigan team which has been running a very conservative combination I-Form / Pro Form Offense and has wasted no time changing the atmosphere on the offensive side of the ball. Two stars, Mario Manningham and Ryan Mallett, both left because they felt they wouldn’t be featured in the Rich Rod Spread – Rodriguez shrugged his shoulders and moved on. Returning veteran offensive lineman Justin Boren left because he didn’t like running to the line of scrimmage (as many teams running the spread do) and he didn’t like the higher intensity of the coaching staff. And in the Spring Game, to no ones surprise, the Wolverines showed option (albeit with many fumbles) and showed the ability to pass off the option also.

"The 2007 Wolverines gave us a historic loss to Appalachian State and a loss to Ohio State so one-sided that Jim Tressel ran the ball Woody Hayes-style the whole 2nd half because he realized Michigan had no offensive ingenuity and/or skill to overcome a 14-0 lead."

The Wolverines are a mystery right now – no one knows how Rodriguez will tweak the offense. Will he run 75% of the time, like he did at West Virginia? Will a Michigan quarterback emerge who can balance athleticism with good decision making, as a spread quarterback must do? Will the combination of a new offense and players unfamiliar with the spread be too much for the offense to succeed?

My answer…

Who cares? The 2007 Wolverines gave us a historic loss to Appalachian State and a loss to Ohio State so one-sided that Jim Tressel ran the ball Woody Hayes-style the whole 2^nd half because he realized Michigan had no offensive ingenuity and/or skill to overcome a 14-0 lead. Rich Rodriguez and his spread offense is exactly what the University of Michigan football program needed.

Michigan needed someone/something to get the fans and media interested in the program and help people stop talking about Lloyd Carr’s inability to beat Tressel. Most importantly, Michigan needed a change on the offensive side of the ball – no Michigan fan will easily forget this typical offensive sequence from the 1999-2007 Wolverine offense:

1^st down, running play for 3 yards
2^nd down, running play for 1 yard
3^rd down, 7-step drop followed by Sack/Incompletion
4^th down, punt

Maybe the Rich Rod Spread will result in fumbles and embarrassments. But right now, the change is a chance worth taking.

2008 Pre-Season Rankings

2008-05-23T12:57:00.008-04:00

There is no such thing as a pre-season ranking.

There are predictions, ambitions, and equivocations, but no legitimate standings. That's why I find myself irritated every time ESPN Columnist Mark Schlabach, sunburnt, unshaven and recovering from a 6 day, 7 night stint at Disney World in Orlando for his 4th grade daughter's spring break, takes it upon himself to assemble a list. (Ed. I don't really know if Mark Schlabach just got back from Orlando or if he even has a daughter, but it seems like the kind of thing an off-season college football columnist would have going on).

See, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3388100

In case you didn't click on the link Ohio State is No. 1. Which means, well...nothing. Or does it?

"Rising" to the occasion of inpermanence is something the Buckeyes do better than any team in the country. Since 2005 Ohio State has been ranked No. 1 more weeks than anyone in the FBS. In fact, they've been ranked at the top more times than the next closest four teams combined. (Source: CollegeFootballPoll.com, BCS Standings).

"There is no such thing as a pre-season ranking."

But football is a game of ends, not means -- a tension that's had a strange impact on the national consciousness.

LSU enjoyed the spoils of their 2007-08 National Championship for all of 24 hours before the new cradle of rankings boiled them back to the Bayou. In their place, Almighty Georgia gained a handsome consolation for being passed over in New Orleans: the confidence of the pundits for 2008-09.

But status quo doesn't sell magazines. It doesn't tune-in viewers -- especially in the off-season. So, citing the resolution of National Signing Day and spring workouts, Schlabach stirred the pot again. "...With an extraordinary number of juniors and seniors returning" he writes, "Ohio State seems poised to become the first team in the 112-year history of the Big Ten to win three straight outright league titles."

But is that really anything we didn't know back on January 9th, when Schlabach's first "Top 25" hit the press? (Okay, one James Laurinaitis not withstanding.) To showcase spring momentum reference the landing of top-ranked dual-threatster Terelle Pryor, the "Block O" recruits, the potential for a double-headed attack, low injuries, big-game familiarity, and the general climate of optimism in Columbus.

Don't dock the SEC favorites, then quip "Georgia might be more explosive and talented than Ohio State, but the Bulldog's schedule is much tougher." Schedule? That's an immutable characteristic; something a team can't change. The last time I checked, a pre-season Top 25 wasn't a descriptive predictor of how things would shake out, rather, it's purely normative: who should walk into September with everything to lose.

If you think Georgia is more talented, put Georgia at the top. Period.

Anything else is sensationalist; chumming the saltwater for SEC sharks thirsty for blood.

Let's hope Buckeye Nation gets the memo...

2008-05-15T23:22:00.011-04:00

As Graham shows us, iconoclasm can be redeeming. Somehow he's managed to twist and pervert the sanctity of our universal stadium language, the heroic voice of Buckeye Nation, into some freak relic of the unimaginative, and, dare I say, uneducated masses. Yes Ohio fans, it's true, the Michigander doesn't like our four stadium corners approach to recognition. (Although, I will admit, the "I" section -- usually the bunch in the closed end of the Horseshoe is always a little slow to the punch. What's the deal?)

"Pry-or" - "Bor-en"

So, I suggest we get rid of the "O-H-I-O," and any variation thereof, and head in a new direction. From now on whenever a fellow Buckeye is in the vicinity and you feel the need to acknowledge your carnal spirit in a unintelligent fashion, say "Pry-or." To which they will naturally respond, "Bor-en."

Not bad, huh? And I'm confident our friends from up north will approve.

Problem solved.

Wait Wait Wait...How does one spell Ohio again?

2008-05-10T21:36:00.010-04:00

O-H-I-O!

As a Michigan football fan, I am disgusted and underwhelmed whenever I see Buckeye fans chant O-H-I-O and accompany this intellectually challenging chant with arm motions. This repetitive chant is not original or witty (i.e. when an inspired crowd cleverly mocks an opposing player). The chant is not deep and meaningful, like an English soccer crowd singing a one hundred year old drinking song. The O-H-I-O chant leads me to believe that many Ohio State fans are not very educated and truly rejoice when they realize they can spell the name of their beloved state.

"The O-H-I-O chant leads me to believe that many Ohio State fans are not very educated and truly rejoice when they realize they can spell the name of their beloved state."

However...

As a college football fan, I think the O-H-I-O chant is the kind of ritual that is as important as football game and the players themselves. The chant shows pride and tradition (however simple that tradition is). The chant breeds familiarity: if you're an OSU fan screaming O-H-I-O in the Horseshoe, you're surrounded by 100,000 of your closest friends.

It is easy to be cynical about college football. College football is a behemoth system built on the hard work of unpaid young men, work that borders on exploitation. Furthermore, the BCS system has made college football even more of a business than it ever has been. For these very reasons, the simplicity and tradition of the O-H-I-O chant makes it a vital part of college football. So next time you see fans with O-H-I-O on their lips and there arms raised, do not instinctively throw tomatoes or obscenities their way. Just appreciate the spirit and purity of thousands of people being of the same mind and sharing the same passion, college football.