Marshawn Lynch

California back Marshawn Lynch is one of our favorite football players out there right now.  Now, you might be wary if you remember back to last year and our football man-crush on LSU back Justin Vincent.  In reality, both are very similar backs.  Big red flags here, but hey, we're gonna run with this.

Basically, Lynch is everything a successful back should be, fast (well above average speed), a medium frame (5-11,200) to both be speedy yet absorb contact, knows how to run, and has great vision.  He had a stunning all-over-the-field 70 yard run against I can't remember who last year that was breathtaking.

Even better for Messr. Lynch, teammate J.J. Arrington is off to the NFL.  No more sharing carries.

Look at California's rushing output the last two seasons under Jeff Tedford: 168 yards/game in 2003 (~2352 yards) and 257 yards/game in 2004 (~3084 yards).  That means there are many yards to be absorbed by the next capable back.  And this back is more than capable.  Keep in mind the yardage year-to-year shouldn't drop much now that California has gotten a handle on Jeff Tedford's system.  That is why you saw the rise in rushing totals last year (that, and having two NFL backs on the roster).

So if you take the middle of 2400 and 3,000 yards, you have 2,800 potential yards to be gained by Cal's stable of backs.  Lynch should eat up most of those.  As of right now, it really looks like he'll easily cruise past the 2,000 yard barrier if he remains healthy.  Of course I could be wrong, just as I was on Justin Vincent.

As an aside on Vincent, I talked to one of my most trusted football friends a while back and his only explanation was that Vincent had "just lost it, whatever he had, just went away".  It certainly appears that way.  Call it football's equivalent of the Yips (see: Knoblach, Chuck).  Alley Broussard was more than happy to take over and said friend is now just as ga-ga over Broussard as he was over Vincent.  I still think Vincent can put things together, since he has such tremendous speed and frame, and went nuts against some decent run defenses towards the end of his freshman season.

Friday Heisman Blogging

Well, I've neglected to Heisman Blog in a while.  Damn.

Let's get back into the swing of things on this fine Friday, if we can.

• First up, Sports Illustrated compiled a list of its 10 best Heisman backs for 2005-

Their list:

1. Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
2. Reggie Bush, USC
3. DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
4. Michael Hart, Michigan
5. Laurence Maroney, Minnesota
6. Leon Washington, Florida State
7. LenDale White, USC
8. Gerald Riggs, Tennessee
9. Michael Bush, Louisville
10. Marshawn Lynch, California

Our thoughts:

Peterson and Bush are the most likely of the bunch to win the award, and in all likelihood are the front-runners.  Both come from programs that are winning right now, and have won many Heismans, importantly at their positions.  Don't think the Tailback-U mystique won't kick in for Bush?

We love all the candidates, they're all terrific backs in their own ways, but we have to cut through this list somehow.  Gerald Riggs won't come close.  Maroney won't unless he rips off 2,400 yards (a possibility, however slim).  White has no chance, since he's his team's third-best Heisman option.  Hart's going to end up losing carries this year to several teammates.  DeAngelo Williams is in the same boat with Maroney, and comes from a program that can't win the Heisman. 

Leon Washington plays at a school that has won collected two Heismans recently, but both were from quarterbacks and he'll also lose a lot of catches, carries and returns to teammate Lorenzo Booker, a flashier player.  Michael Bush is a looooooong shot, but Louisville could be in the title game this year and 20-25 touchdowns and 1,500 yards should go a long way towards making his case if Louisville gets that far.  Plus he's just an interesting water cooler kind of player, in that he's about 250 pounds and runs faster than most of the guys on this list.

The last player left is California's Marshawn Lynch.  We're really high on this guy.  Not so much as a Heisman candidate, but as a real star of the college game.  Straying from the Heisman path for a moment, this is a guy who conceivably could run for well over 2,000 yards this season on a program that might contend for the championship in a few unlikely scenarios.  Lost beneath the hype of recent California quarterbacks, the Bears have been a ridiculously balanced team that has utilized its rush attack in order to bludgeon foes.  I believe Cal led the Pac-10 in rushing two years in a row and is primed to make the third time a charm.  Lynch will no longer split carries, and will also be making plays as a receiver and returner.  He has superstar written all over him, the guy is just so fast and elusive, yet physical and has a decent frame to handle the 20 plus carries he'll be burdened with this season.

Anyway, I foresee legitemate Heisman chances for only three of those ten backs---Bush, Peterson and Lynch.  Running a distant fourth might be Laurence Maroney.

• Our only other Heisman thing to discuss this week is HeismanPundit's Top 10 Heisman winners list.  Very interesting and well researched, as always with Heisman Pundit.  I'll try and compile my own top recent Heisman winners list soon.  If I'm smart, I'll make like HeismanPundit and list my criteria upfront so as not to confuse the reader, thus not falling victim to the trap of many college football writers/list whores who give readers lists and little else, leaving the confused peon to try and discern what the criteria was initially based on who was on the list.  It should be the other way around.

Anyway, here's his top 10---

    10.Billy Cannon,LSU
    9.Howard 'Hopalong' Cassady, Ohio State
    8.Charlie Ward, Florida State
    7.Doug Flutie, Boston College
    6.Tony Dorsett, Pitt
    5.Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State
    4.Roger Staubach, Navy
    3.Glenn Davis, Army
    2.O.J. Simpson, USC
    1.Doak Walker, SMU

Good stuff.

P.S.

Purchasing your own brand new copy of the Phil Steele College Football Preview magazine would make for some wonderful extra credit in our homework section.

Taps gives way to Kool and the Gang

Today I officially sent my completely worn-out, been to Hell and back, hanging by its threads 2004 Phil Steele College Football Preview magazine into semi-retirement.  It was quite sad.  But we'll still visit it from time to time, as it looks forward to an active retirement, taking its daily Geritol supplement and Centrum tabs to remain useful.

But in its place we've also welcomed, to much celebration at the Resource homestead, the 2005 edition of the Phil Steele College Football preview.  I'm afraid to touch the thing, it's so clean and shiny.  Not a single page has been torn, the edges aren't frayed, and all the information is brand new.  For a little while at least.

This weekend should be fun perusing the mag.  Hey, it bills itself as the "Book The Experts Cannot Do Without".  How true.  I recommend all of you out there go ahead and make a purchase, especially those who failed to recognize its existence when its mention came to them in hushed tones (ahem, the boys at EveryDayShouldBeSaturday).  They're forgiven, though.  Especially since their pennance will cost a mere $7.95 at the newsstand.

On wide receivers

Larry Fitzgerald was overrated.

Ok, got that off my chest.  Here is why---many of the skills attributed to him simply weren't accurate.  People said he was blazing fast, that he had great hands, was the greatest at getting open, that he ran great routes, and that he was a downfield threat and could run with the ball.

Ugh.

What he was, was a guy who was fast enough, who had a great knack for making plays in the air, and had the physical size and enough catching ability to become that player.  Few guys have those such skills.  But he was given superman status, credited for being far more than he was.

If you get a chance, look at old highlights of his.  Fitz rarely if ever broke any tackles, and rarely caught the ball on the run.  Basically, he wasn't fast enough and physical enough to get very open.  He prayed on a host of terrible Big East defensive backs and even worse MAC backs.  That said, credit goes to him for doing what he did.  This isn't some rant against the guy, but I want to point out some of the mindless hype that happens and what junk is sold to the college football public.

When Fitzgerald went up against Miami's Antrel Rolle, he was held to 3 catches for I believe 24 yards.  That's less than 10 Yards/reception, when the guy averaged over 20 on the season.  Rolle is a bigger, more physical corner and flat out dominated Fitz off the line.  Most fans thought that was Rolle just getting the best of the great receiver, but in reality it was revalatory in assessing Fitz's skills.

As I said earlier, he was a uniquely skilled player who was/is at his best going in the air and bringing balls down.  It's a knack, he has a little magic to him.  But it's not like he ever ran by anyone (too slow) for a touchdown, or bulldozed defensive backs off the line (not very physical), or ever broke any tackles for long runs, or even caught balls in space (not a great route runner).  That simply wasn't his game.  But a good percentage of the national media to this day believe that, and thus much of the college football fandom does, too.

I remember discussing this topic with a friend and he told he how he reads the NFL's midseason scouting reports at places like The Sporting News to get a more realistic assessment of NFL rookies' skills.  Lo and behold, he noticed last year a blurb about how Arizona Cardinals insiders were frustrated with Fitzgerald's lack of development as a route runner, and need to bulk up.

If you were paying any attention to what he was billed as, that blurb was certain to raise all kinds of red flags.  If you had believed what was told to you, and had not come at it with an independent mind, how could you not feel like you had been lied to, sold a worthless bill of goods?  Why be duped again?

Anyway, now that my Fitzgerald rant is over, I do want to talk about a few more receivers, briefly.

First up, USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett.  He caught 13 touchdown passes last year as a true freshman.  Look for just as many this year.  Here's a guy who is much faster than Fitzgerald (thus, you actually saw him make a long touchdown catch in the Orange Bowl, outrunning a swift Oklahoma secondary), yet is also skilled at going up in the air to retrieve wayward passes.  He can run a little in space, and besides an early case of stone hands, has caught everything that came his way.  Great receiver.

But, he is no Mike Williams.  This is why comparisons get goofy.  Williams never, never, never went up in the air for balls.  For the most part, he ran a lot of shorter routes, using his physical strength to create space and then dominate the first wave of defensive backs for a bunch of screens or 5-yard catches becoming 15-yarders.  He also could run in space a bit, but wasn't much of a downfield threat.  He ran a 4.5 at the NFL combine, and for his size he's ridiculously fast, but to really be a downfield threat nowadays you have to be a burner.  I can understand comparing the statistical accomplishments of the two, but as receivers they're fairly different, as Jarrett is a much less physical, but speedier, more athletic player.

One player who I've only had brief glimpses of and think may become a great college receiver is Florida freshman David Nelson.  It sounds like Urban Meyer plans on redshirting most of his incoming freshman class, so we may have to wait a year for Nelson's appearance.  I saw him running around in the Army All-America game and thought he had great presence along the sidelines, and terrific speed for a guy his size (around 6'5").  We'll see if that brief assessment rings true, and how he'll fit into the Florida offense.

Another incoming receiver who is destined for stardom is USC freshman Patrick Turner.  The Trojans pulled him out of Tennessee, and unlike Jarrett, his comparisons to Mike Williams are warranted.  Turner is very tall (nearly 6'6"), and has great great great speed for a big receiver.  His immediate impact is likely to be far less than Williams', as he is playing behind two All-America candidates in Steve Smith and the aforementioned Jarrett, but by the end of the year it's likely he will have broken into the regular rotation and begun what should be a great career.  I was blown away by his recruiting video, in that he plays a lot like Mike Williams, overpowering defensive backs on the shorter routes.  But where he separates himself is that he has true downfield speed, something Williams lacked, as well as what appears to be sound route running skills.  Basically the sky is the limit for this kid, using what our eyes have told us.  Think Williams, but finding ways to get open not 5 yards downfield, but 20, but also having the same strength and frame.

Or I could be completely wrong on this.  Time will tell.

One last receiver of note, BYU's Todd Watkins.  We LOVE this guy.  To me, he's like a fast Larry Fitzgerald.  Watkins averaged over 20/catch last year, at around 6'3"/215.  He gets open, plays in a passing offense, and has both great leaping ability and pure speed.  He torched several teams for long touchdown catches, including USC, and also made some amazing leaping grabs, notably against Notre Dame.  Very Fitzgerald-esque, but with wheels.

Power To The Blogs/5'O clock somewhere

I'm way behind in adding some interesting new blogs to our links, but needless to say there are many out there I hadn't discovered before---many of whom are connected to sudden blog ringleader Brian at mgoblog.

Keep it up everyone, there's some great discussion going on amongst the main blogs I'm reading right now (EDSBS.com, HeismanPundit, mgoblog) and the peripheral connected blogs.  Great stuff.

Basically, there's this festive feeling going on and discussion amongst disparate groups of passionate fans.  And also someone like noted documentarian of fan behavior, Warren St. John, who runs fanopticon.

It took about a year, but I think college football blogs are reaching some kind of critical mass of intelligence and energy that's nowhere near the real-world impact of the Powerline type blogs from last year's election, but I do sense that there's a handful of really smart people providing information outside the main channels (read---going above the heads of the sometimes misguided national writers).  This is all very good.

Why I disagree with Pete

I was asked to respond why I disagreed with CFN's Pete Fiutak on his recent Tuesday Question, and  had neglected to provide reasons.  Here is why I disagree.  Please remember I singled out the bolded segments, which we will focus on below-

• Boise State won't beat Georgia

Yes they will.  It might be a blowout.  The only thing holding Boise back is if they don't believe they can win the game, much as Oregon State failed to inch out a win against LSU early last year.  That said, Boise is one of the most swaggering teams I've seen in recent memory.  They are running a ridiculously sound offensive scheme that Georgia will struggle to recognize, while they should have an easy time feeling out the Georgia offense.  The only thing Georgia has going for it in this game is home field (what SEC ever leaves the South for a big OOC matchup?) and various talent advantages.  For a long time I was a talent guy, believing talent solved everything.  It doesn't.  This game should open some eyes but it won't change minds necessarily.  If you read HeismanPundit the 'why' aspect of what I'm saying would make a lot more sense.

• Louisville can blow out everyone by 59 and it won’t get any closer than Utah did last year; it doesn’t play anyone all that great

Why not?  I've talked about this before, but Louisville has a great offensive scheme, and athletes all over the field.  They're a mini-superpower right now.  Now, they may not get any closer than Utah if the voters continue to vote out of fear rather than recognition AND a host of bigger teams remain undefeated and have a public perception edge over L'ville.  But the more Petrino's boys kick tail and hang around, the less they're at a disadvantage.  The second part of Fiutak's response is just a cheap shot.  According to most CFB writers, nobody plays anybody unless its in the SEC or Big Twelve.  Hogwash.  USC's closest games last year were against Pac-10 foes.  Boise's closest games were against foes within their own conference.  Basically, talent has found a home in the bigger conferences, but great coaching is often seeded in the more disparate ones.  Coaches running sophisticated schemes are beginning to dominate the game (USC, Louisville, Boise State, California, Florida, Utah), and when that happens the talent soon arrives.

• No one’s going unbeaten in the SEC East

Florida has a great shot at going unbeaten.  Tennessee and Georgia are more or less frauds, and the other teams are cupcakes---South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.  Florida's real challenge is getting accustomed to their new offense.  Utah took about a season and a half to really get rolling.  USC took nearly two seasons to acclimate to their offense.  California needed a year or so under Tedford.  Luckily the SEC is much less familiar with sophisticated offenses than those other teams' conferences, and thus Florida has an advantage among its Big Six peers.

RSS etc. Feeds

By request, we've added a new page for you to access the URLs of our various RSS type feeds.  We're a little RSS illiterate here at Resource, only understanding the "what's" of RSS.  So please let us know if something is in error.

Simply stop by our "Feeds" page to the left, or here is the link below-

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Okay, Pete, if you say so...

This is for posterity's sake.  From CFN's Pete Fiutak on this week's (6/12/05) "Ask CFN"

Q:
i see another potential BCS train wreck.
i think louisville is all but guaranteed to run the table.
tennessee and iowa each have a solid shot (so does purdue if they get by the hawks)
texas could as well if they beat the buckeyes. hell, so could oklahoma if they keep the streak alive.
boise state could do it again if they get by georgia (gonna be a great game) and then of course theres usc (who i dont think will go undefeated, but they could in the watered down pac 10), so we could end up with another 2004 scenario with several teams each deserving a shot at the title.
with auburn gettin bent over last year, i dont think there is anyway tennessee gets left out if theyre perfect (but by the numbers, they could be screwed if they beat an otherwise undefeated lsu team twice).
if usc runs the table, they will be wire-to-wire #1 meaning that louisville, texas, oklahoma, iowa, purdue, and boise state could all be thinking lawsuit in about 7 months. … anyway, who would you guys leave out under different scenarios? - MR

A: First of all, all these things won’t happen.

Boise State won’t beat Georgia.

Louisville can blow out everyone by 59 and it won’t get any closer than Utah did last year; it doesn’t play anyone all that great.

Iowa isn’t going to go unbeaten having to go on the road to face both Ohio State and Purdue. No one’s going unbeaten in the SEC East.

Texas isn’t likely to go unbeaten almost certain to lose either at Ohio State or against Oklahoma.

So here are your more likely issues: USC is in no matter what if it goes unbeaten. It’ll start the season number one and won’t move as long as it’s unbeaten.

Even with all its flaws this year, Oklahoma only has one really scary game (Texas) until the season finale at Texas Tech.

I’m going to keep saying Purdue has a nutty shot to go unbeaten considering its schedule with no Ohio State or Michigan.

Of course, someone else will emerge from the shadows, LSU, Miami/Florida State winner and/or Ohio State will be in the hunt until the end, and/or USC will fall throwing the whole think out of whack.

• Note the bolded items.  We have issues with these.

Blog Poll follow-up

Come to think of it, we've already established that we'll have a weekly power ranking/top teams list of our own (see here, coming soon).

In fact, we were mulling over our preseason picks today.  It's a tedious business, but we want to be thorough and thus haven't released anything yet.

You can count on at least four teams to appear, though---USC, Louisville, Florida, and Boise State.

For those out of the loop, this post is in response to mgoblog's good idea, the blog poll.

The NCAA's Swiss Army Knives

These players do it all.  They run, throw, catch, and take back both kinds of kicks.  Some even play a little defense.  And in 2005, their breadth of football skills will be one of the leading stories in all of college football.  In fact, it's very likely the Heisman Trophy winner will be amongst this group of players.

So get ahead of the curve and take stock in these prominent players, and throw in any other names that come to mind in our comments section below---

• Reggie Bush, USC
• Maurice Drew, UCLA
• Michael Bush, Louisville
• Selvin Young, Texas
• Ted Ginn, Jr., Ohio State
• Steve Breaston, Michigan

Feel free to suggest others.  We'll take a further look at this trend a little later on.

Update---here are some additions to our list:

• Skyler Green, LSU
• Lorenzo Booker/Leon Washington, Florida State
• Marshawn Lynch, California
• Miami CB/KR Devin Hester
  

GREAT group of football players, right there.  Remember how great it was to watch a few versatile guys like Rocket Ismail and Desmond Howard (a Heisman runner-up and Heisman winner)?  Then there was this decade-long drough, more or less, without anyone of that skill and recognition playing the game.

Now, that type of player is back, in great quantity and quality.

Random Thought

Lots of blogging today... just a glimpse of what the regular season will be like.

I get the feeling UCLA's Maurice Drew is the next Darren Sproles.  Both are fast enough, bowling-ball type dwarf backs.  I remember his hype coming out of fabled Concord DeLaSalle high scool, and choosing UCLA over a host of schools including powerhouse USC.

Last year he went nuts against Washington, to the tune of 26 carries, 322 yards (12.4 YPC), and 5 touchdowns.  He scored on runs of 47, 52, 58, 15, and 37 yards.  It was an unbelievable performance, and there will be many more to come, especially given that his size may force him into being a 4-year player.

Anyway, he is one of the NCAA's most versatile backs/athletes.  His backup Chris Markey, another smurf, isn't bad either.

Check out these Drew sophomore year numbers---

• Rushing-150 carries, 1007 yards (5.3 YPC), 8 TD
• Receiving-18 Rec, 252 yards (14.5 Yd/Rec) 3 TD
• Passing-1/1 for 47 yards
• Punt Returns-10 for 152 yards (15.2 Avg) and 1 TD (58 yards)
• Kick Returns-7 for 185 yards (25.4 Avg)

More on the NCAA's most gifted versatile players, coming up...

Gator Garters and Song Girl Sweaters

Was sitting at work today, thinking about... the Florida Gator cheerleaders.  It struck me that the country knows allllll about the USC Song Girls and their fun little sweaters, but not so much about the Gator girls and their garters.  What's the story behind both, I wonder?  Which is more appealing to the college football fan?

I was hoping the EDSBS.com guys (Florida fans) might respond with some information, or just general ogling.  I'm not internet friends (how weird is that concept, btw?) with any USC bloggers, but I guess if there are any Trojans out there who care to join in, the comment forum is down below.

Introducing the "Big Six Watch"

Basically, this is a non-scientific study, through observation, of the Big Six programs as determined by HeismanPundit and indirectly CollegeFootballResource (basically, we agree with what he says, and thus, are parroting the concept).

Here's the link, and as of now you can also locate it at the menubar to your left, under "Features".

FYI, the Big Six teams are USC, California, Florida, Louisville, Boise State and Utah.  2004 non head-to-head record of these six squads?  55-2.

The "Blog Poll"

Brian at mgoblog has come up with the idea of a weekly power ranking, of sorts, amongst the blogs.

I like the idea.  But I'm not so sure about disclosing one's alma mater.  I actually believe very much in transparency and the like, but given the straw man "you went to so and so, you're biased, you can't be believed on anything, especially regarding X team when you try and comment on the college football world at large, you loser" type arguments that always arise against people with unpopular opinions, I'm more than a little hesitant.  I do want to be taken seriously.  So I may abstain from this one, but also watch its progress.

If you think you want to participate, I strongly encourage you to do so, or if you don't have a college football blog, by God start one, fast!

Here's the link for more information.

We Want Links

(In best caveman voice)---ResourceAdmin crabby, want link.  Ug.

The CollegeFootballResource computer is back in action, and there are plenty of links saved in there or that we've found waiting to be added, but that's no excuse not to ask for more and more and more, in a wonderful exercise of yuppie spirit.

So we're asking you, our reader, for some links.  What college football websites, blogs, etc. are you visiting that are currently not already linked to here at Resource?  Either reply in the comment forum below, or contact us via email collegefootballresource-AT-hotmail.com. 

We appreciate your help, as it only makes us better and gives some link diversity from some of the avenues we've already exhausted.  Fire away.

SWEET

So apparently we have been added to the blogroll at fanopticon, the blog created by RammerJammerYellowHammer author Warren St. John to document the weird, wild, interesting and disturbing in fan behavior.  I have a feeling my antics will one day embarrrasingly make an appearance there.

I'm about to fall all over myself right now, though, because at the moment I happen to be reading RammerJammer and absolutely love the book.  St. John has a way of connecting with the reader through his experiences as a 'Bama fan.  We'll have a book review of RJYH up here soon---we hope.

As a bonus, our friends at EveryDayShouldBeSaturday and HeismanPundit were also added to the fanopticon blogroll.  Warren won't regret adding any of us, since I think we're individually and collectively three of the best blog voices about college football.  Yes I'm doing some horn-tooting here.

For anyone interested, be sure and order that book, make Messr. St. John a happy man with a few extra pennies in his bank account (we've done our duty, here).

How Cool

ESPN.com now has a college football photo wire that updates semi-regularly.  Be sure and take a look at some of the recent pictures.

One of our favorite offerings, however controversial the man:

USC's O.J. Simpson against Northwestern in 1968 (AP)

Internecine Big Ten Wars of Words in the blogosphere

We love this.

College Football News' "Tuesday Question" this week queried its writers with this statement---'the most overrated team going into 2005 is...'

Pete Fiutak, Wisconsin alum and otherwise head honcho at CFN, answered back with Meeeeechigan.

He may be right, but never one to back down from controversy, mgoblog fired back, mostly going after the inconsistency of the argument but also ruffling Fiu's feathers after perhaps making the thing a bit personal ("silly last name").

Well, thanks to the wonders of the internet, Fiutak answered back in mgoblog's comments section---

This blog was e-mailed over to me. You might have at least asked for my thoughts before this scathing attack on the publication. First of all, you have to understand the idea that a great record doesn't necessarily mean a team is great. Just look at teams like Boise State and past teams from mid-majors that run up records against average schedules. Most college football fans can't grasp this idea. Second, check out some of the other publications. TSN has Michigan tops in the Big Ten in every offensive category. I'd like to see other instances of "making crap up". Fiu, CFN

Anyway, there was some further discussion in the comments forum.  Good stuff.  Sounds like a lot of hay was made over a small issue, but it's good to see the parties discuss things, and for a prominent media member like Messr. Fiutak to defend himself to a critic in the blogosphere.

Update on Tuesday, June 7, 2005 at 09:51PM by CFR

PS---What happens when Boise beats Georgia and has another great bowl game against another very good team in a bowl this year?  Will they still be incapable of being seen as on par with so many big-name but overrated programs (ahem, Georgia)?

Louisville may very well have been the second best team in America last year, and snuck by Boise by the narrowest of margins in perhaps the best game of the entire bowl season.  Both squads are legit, and it's an insult to claim that they're just your run-of-the-mill mid-majors who pop up from time to time but can't make it on a national stage. 

In other words, please don't confuse them with Colorado State or  Northern Illinois, when they're really more comparable to the great BYU squads that won a national championship, beat Miami, etc.

As for Michigan, are they overrated?  Well, it's not like Michigan year-to-year really varies much.  They run the same offense and defense for the most part, substituting similar talent over time.  It's bland as oatmeal, but its good for top 10 finishes annually.  This year's squad looks a little better than most Michigan teams, and there are young offensive stars who add a little excitement and hype.  Expectations are pretty high this year, and Michigan is likely to come close to meeting them.

The Countdown

Guess what?  The 2005 college football season is right around the corner.  In the spirit of the season, we've created a countdown section.  If our dates are wrong, please let us know.

Here's the link.  You can also find it to the left just under "navigation".

Also, check out that opening weekend's slate of games.  VERY impressive.  We'll be glued to the television, although we'll take a shot at making one of the games.  Time to find some cheap fares.