- Nebraska/Big 12 News/Notes
- A few perspectives on the state of the Big 12.
Curt McKeever: Big 12 needs to make some hay
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 - 12:09:48 am CDT
The Big 12 has put more teams (five) in the nine BCS national championship games than any other conference.
Most of the league’s current head football coaches belong either on a who’s-who list or are potential candidates for it.
When any of them ask their administrators to fulfill their wish lists, it’s merely a formality.
Thus, it might come as a surprise that the Big 12 is in need of a big comeback in 2007. But it’s true.
Last season, when the league should have been riding the crest of Texas’ 2005 national crown, it got buried beneath every big wave.
The Big 12 went 0-14 against nonconference top 25 competition. No wonder former commissioner Kevin Weiberg took a position with the Big Ten television network.
OK, so it’s not like the conference is all of a sudden going to lose its slot in the BCS. But after an 0-for season, there isn’t a coach around who would try to convince you the Big 12 is primed to supplant the Southeastern Conference as the nation’s best.
With some luck, that could change in a hurry Saturday, when Oklahoma State opens at Georgia and Kansas State goes to Auburn.
Given the stages that those two Big 12 teams appear to be at, the Cowboys figure to have the best chance of pulling off an upset. While Georgia is 17-0 at home against non-league foes under coach Mark Richt, the Bulldogs, with nine new defensive starters, should have their hands full trying to stop one of the nation’s most explosive offenses.
“Our football program is not as far along as Georgia’s — everybody’s aware of that,” third-year Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said Monday. “But we have a goal to get that far ... so what better way to find out where you stand when you’re in the process of building?”
The Cowboys wound up getting home-and-home dates with the Bulldogs after Oregon State pulled out of a series. Georgia comes to Stillwater in 2009, as part of an aggressive scheduling plan that Gundy believes will help carry his well-financed and surging program to new heights. OSU also has Washington State, Clemson and Arizona on future schedules.
“We have a plan here to try and win the Big 12 championship, and, obviously, you have to win the South first, and then you get into the championship game, which anybody can win at any time,” Gundy said. “In order for us to do that, we think that we’re going to have to play (well) late in the season on the road against very good opponents. So for the next five or six years, we’ve scheduled what people would term quality BCS opponents home-and-home, which allows us every other year to play a very tough opponent on the road in preseason.”
Kansas State is taking a similar philosophy under second-year coach Ron Prince.
Why?
First off, Prince felt that opening the season at Auburn would have a huge influence on players’ offseason focus. With that goal accomplished, the Wildcats now get to see right off the bat how far they have to come to once again be a force on the national scene.
“This is a national championship-caliber team,” Prince said of Auburn. “We think that’s exactly the kind of game we need in the development of our program, where we are right now, to become more hardened about playing these kind of opponents, because you’re going to have to beat these kind of people to win your own championship.”
Prince recalled fondly Monday the first game of his senior season at Appalachian State, when the Division I-AA Mountaineers opened at Clemson, a team ranked in the top 10.
The Tigers posted a 34-0 victory, but “that was an experience I’ll never forget,” said Prince, acknowledging that some of his Wildcats are bound to be anxious about Saturday’s opener. “We’re not joking ourselves — we know Auburn’s a terrific team. They’ve got great tradition, one of the best coaches, all those things. But at the same time, we’ve got a terrific opportunity. ... What we really want to do is show that we can play well. And if we can play well, which I expect us to, then I like our chances in the game.”
Frankly, the Big 12 needs top performances Saturday from K-State, Oklahoma State and even Baylor, which opens against TCU. The wreckage of 2006 has left the league with a damaged reputation.
- From the World Herald
Big 12 Football: Parity could rule in Big 12
BY LEE BARFKNECHT
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
We're not quite ready to predict a 2007 Big 12 football championship game between Oklahoma State and Kansas.
But after a month of talking to coaches and reviewing this league's strengths and weaknesses, such thinking might not be dismissed outright because the Big 12 looks more wide-open than ever as it enters its 12th season.
"This will be the best chance for somebody to win the league that nobody would expect," Texas coach Mack Brown said.
The reason is that the Big 12 isn't as powerful at the top, but it has more teams from the middle that are getting stronger and creeping up.
Don't look for any national title runs from the Big 12. The two powers - Texas and Oklahoma - appear to have enough significant question marks in key spots to fall a game or two short of the elite category.
At the same time, schools such as Nebraska, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Missouri and Texas Tech have improved their recruiting and become more polished with their systems to position themselves to jump into the title race.
When a league "meets in the middle" like this one appears it might this season, the overall level of play tends to suffer. But the number of close games and wild finishes should increase. That makes for excited fans and stressed-out coaches.
Here's hoping the Big 12 North can join in some of the fun. Over the past three seasons, the North has a 15-42 record in games against the South.
"Say that again?" Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops blurted out when he heard that record. "I don't know what to say about that. I just feel fortunate we've been on the good side for the most part of it."
Overall, there's little place for Big 12 football to go but up. The results can't get much uglier than those posted in 2006.
Among them:
• An 0-14 record against Top 25 teams from other conferences. Also, the league was 3-8 against other BCS schools.
• No Big 12 school finished in the final Associated Press Top 10. That had happened only once before since the AP, in 1968, began regularly including bowl games in its final poll. In 1991, Texas A&M was the top Big 12 school at No. 12. Last season, Oklahoma at No. 11 and Texas at No. 13 were the highest-ranked Big 12 schools.
• A 3-5 record in bowl games. Bowls that don't involve the national title don't mean much. But these three wins were particularly lackluster. All came against opponents that were 6-6. The margins of victory were two points, three points and three points in overtime.
Big 12 Football Rankings
NORTH DIVISION
1. Nebraska (0-0): Up next: Nevada, 2:30 p.m., ABC. When Bill Callahan was hired, the big boosters said Year Four would be a big year for the new regime. So get your various definitions of "progress" ready.
2. Missouri (0-0): Up next: Illinois in St. Louis, 2:30 p.m., ESPN2. The Tigers don't have a pushover opener. Many analysts have pegged Illinois as a breakout team. The Illini, though 2-10 in 2006, outgained opponents by 35 yards a game.
3. Kansas State (0-0): Up next: at Auburn, 6:45 p.m., ESPN. You may not like K-State coach Ron Prince, but he is the Big 12's most intriguing figure. Mr. Bold and Daring is living up to his name by scheduling Auburn as an opener.
4. Kansas (0-0): Up next: Central Michigan, 6 p.m. Todd Reesing, who was pulled out of a redshirt freshman season for three games in 2006, has ousted returning starter Kerry Meier to become KU's No. 1 quarterback.
5. Colorado (0-0): Up next: Colorado State in Denver, 11 a.m., FSN. Coach Dan Hawkins' son, Cody, takes over at quarterback as a redshirt freshman. Piecing together an offensive line to protect him has been the biggest issue.
6. Iowa State (0-0): Up next: Kent State on Thursday, 7 p.m. No one is singing "High Hopes" at the beginning of the Gene Chizik Era. This is one of perhaps only two games all this season in which the Cyclones will be favored.
SOUTH DIVISION
1. Texas (0-0): Up next: Arkansas State, 6 p.m. By game's end, check to see which number is higher - UT's points scored or players used. Look for Texas' plan to get its backup quarterback more work this season to take shape early.
2. Oklahoma (0-0): Up next: North Texas, 6 p.m., FSN. Most eyes will be on redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford, whose chance to fully lock up this job comes the next week when Miami (Fla.) comes to town.
3. Texas A&M (0-0): Up next: Montana State, 6 p.m. Recall that Montana State beat Colorado last year, then turned around and lost to Chadron State. Don't look for any upset of any kind here.
4. Oklahoma State (0-0): Up next: at Georgia, 5:45 p.m., ESPN2. A win boosts OSU into the Top 25. But what's the impact of a loss? Is it no big deal because the Cowboys are an underdog, or will it damage this young team's confidence?
5. Texas Tech (0-0): Up next: at SMU on Monday, 3 p.m., ESPN. The Red Raiders have generated less preseason hype this year than at any time since Mike Leach arrived. A dramatic improvement in defense is needed for Tech to move up in the standings.
6. Baylor (0-0): Up next: at TCU, 5 p.m., CSTV. No one envies coach Guy Morriss. He's entering the fifth year of a six-year deal, he has no contract extension and he's breaking in a new quarterback on the road against a ranked foe.
- From the Ft. Worth paper.
Big 12's success depends on overcoming its issues
By JIMMY BURCH
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The college football season begins this week, with dozens of questions gnawing at Big 12 coaches about the readiness of their teams. We've narrowed that list. What follows is a look at the 12 biggest issues facing Big 12 teams, with answers that could -- or should -- emerge in 2007:
1. Is there a national title contender in the house?
Probably not. The upper-tier teams are so balanced, with each containing at least one glaring potential flaw, that Texas coach Mack Brown invoked one of the NFL's favorite words -- parity -- when discussing the Big 12 race. Heading into his 10th season at Texas, Brown said the parity between top teams makes this year "the best chance for somebody to win the league that nobody would expect" since he's been a Big 12 coach.
2. Can the league restore some lost credibility on the national landscape?
Book it. Big 12 teams were an abysmal 0-14 in matchups against Top 25 opponents from other conferences last season. So they can't do any worse. Expect multiple victories in similar showdowns this season. If poll voters cooperate, favorable opportunities to end the skid include Texas-TCU (Sept. 8), Oklahoma-Miami (Sept. 8), Nebraska-Wake Forest (Sept. 8) and Texas A&M-Miami (Sept. 20).
3. Who wins the South Division?
Based on the checks and balances in this year's schedule, don't be surprised if Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma share the South Division title, finishing with matching conference records of 7-1. Or even 6-2. If the Aggies succumb to a difficult road schedule, expect the Texas-OU winner to rule the roost.
4. Can Missouri handle the hype as a preseason favorite in the North Division?
History screams "no." The Tigers never have finished better than 4-4 in Big 12 play in six seasons under coach Gary Pinkel. One caveat: Similar concerns dogged Texas in 2005, when a transcendent quarterback (Vince Young) lifted lots of monkeys off Brown's back, giving the coach his first conference title as well as a national crown. Mizzou quarterback Chase Daniel has the talent and intangibles to elevate Pinkel, too.
5. Which newcomer should wow fans in 2007?
Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller, a fifth-year senior who transferred from Arizona State, is capable of improving on last year's numbers posted by Zac Taylor, the league's 2006 offensive player of the year.
6. Which coach is on the hottest hot seat?
The signs point to Baylor coach Guy Morriss, who did not receive a contract extension in the off-season despite leading the Bears to their best conference record as a Big 12 member (3-5) in 2006. This is Morriss' fifth season and the Bears have yet to reach a bowl game in his tenure. Although he's clearly elevated the Baylor program, he may soon be out of time if the Bears don't go bowling, or at least finish 6-6, this season.
7. After a series of double-digit losses, how close is a North Division team to winning the Big 12 Championship Game?
Very close. It could happen this year. Easily.
8. Is starting a freshman quarterback, as Oklahoma plans to do, really that much of a dice roll for a team with Big 12 title hopes?
Without a doubt. In league history, no freshman quarterback has started and won a Big 12 title game. The youngest quarterback to do so is Nebraska's Eric Crouch, a sophomore when the Cornhuskers won the 1999 title.
9. Which team faces the toughest schedule?
Texas A&M. All four of the Aggies' road games in conference play are against 2006 bowl teams (Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas Tech). A&M also travels to Miami on Sept. 20, a game that could make or break the team's psyche in a year when the Aggies must prove their mettle as a road team to become Big 12 contenders.
10. Which team has the easiest path to bowl eligibility?
Kansas. All four of the Jayhawks' non-league games are at home, against beatable opponents. There is no crossover game against Texas or Oklahoma. Nine of 12 games will be played in Lawrence, Kan., or within a 100-mile drive of Lawrence.
11. What are the biggest areas of concern that could derail the league's primary title contenders?
Texas (secondary, offensive line), Oklahoma (quarterback, linebacker), Texas A&M (schedule, defense), Nebraska (defensive line, kicker), Missouri (handling preseason hype, defense).
12. Who are the league's top candidates for national honors?
Oklahoma State WR Adarius Bowman, Texas WR Limas Sweed, Missouri C Adam Spieker, Oklahoma G Duke Robinson, Texas DT Frank Okam and Kansas CB Aqib Talib.
- National Colleges
- Random picture of one of the better jobs in college football I would imagine.
- Emmanuel Moody decides on Florida over UNC. Watch out for Butch Davis, if he can have players like Moody deciding between UNC and top schools like Florida, watch out. What he did at Miami was a miracle, don't doubt him at UNC. Quite possibly my favorite coach going today.
RB Moody to transfer to Florida
12:58 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 28, 2007
By BRANDON GEORGE / The Dallas Morning News
bgeorge@dallasnews.com
Sophomore running back Emmanuel Moody, a former Coppell standout who was granted his release from top-ranked Southern Cal two weeks ago, will transfer to defending national champion Florida, according to Michael Chang, Moody’s uncle and father figure.
Moody chose Florida over North Carolina on Monday. He visited both schools last week. He had also shown interest in Texas and Oklahoma State.
Moody plans to start classes at Florida this week but will have to sit out the 2007 season because of NCAA Division I-A transfer rules. Moody (6-1, 205) was among 10 running backs competing for playing time this season at USC. As a freshman at USC, Moody was the team’s second-leading rusher, gaining 459 yards and scoring two touchdowns on 79 carries.
Moody, who originally orally committed to Texas as a junior at Coppell before switching to USC, could not be reached for comment.
- The top gamebreakers in the college game
West Virginia's dynamic duo among top game-breakers
This is not a Heisman Trophy preview. That's why there's no mention of USC quarterback John David Booty or Michigan running back Mike Hart. Instead, it's a look at the 10 biggest game-breakers in college football. Some of the other Heisman candidates may make a greater impact over the course of the 2007 season, but these dynamic athletes are best-equipped to swing a game's momentum with just one touch:
1. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Darren McFadden is the most versatile talent in the game today. He was in on 16 of the Razorbacks' 55 touchdowns in 2006 -- 14 as a runner, three as a passer, one as a receiver and one on a kickoff return. Sure, Florida's Percy Harvin would take him in a 40-yard sprint and Cal's DeSean Jackson would de-cleat him with an open-field juke. But there isn't a player in college football -- including Harvin and Jackson -- that can take over a game in as many capacities as McFadden. If Mom is correct about her son's intention to leave Fayetteville after this season, don't be surprised if McFadden becomes the first running back selected No. 1 overall in the NFL draft since 1995 (Ki-Jana Carter) -- he is that special.
2. Pat White, QB, West Virginia
With Ohio State's Troy Smith (Ravens) in the NFL, Pat White takes over the reins as the nation's most prolific dual-threat quarterback. As evidenced by his career rushing totals of 2,171 yards and 25 touchdowns, White has been an electrifying running threat since he took over the job as a redshirt freshman in 2005. But after studying his two seasons as a starter on film, it becomes obvious that White didn't truly master coach Rich Rodriguez's spread attack until last fall. In addition to much-improved mechanics as a passer, White shows far better patience and field vision when asked to pop back and throw. There's no telling how potent White and the Mountaineers' offense will be in 2007 if their triggerman continues to advance.
3. DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
Jackson has led the Golden Bears in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches in each of his first two seasons at Cal. Despite his scrawny frame, Jackson is equally dangerous on vertical routes and after the catch. Rare quickness is what allows Jackson to shake loose from bigger and stronger cornerbacks in coverage. He also has developed a devastating double move on out-and-up routes. However, it wasn't until he filled in for the then-injured Tim Mixon on punt returns last year when the country got a glimpse of his true game-breaking ability. Jackson finished the 2006 season as the nation's leader in punt return average (18.2) and punt return touchdowns (four). Not bad for a novice, right?
4. Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
As far as I can tell on film, Harvin gets from 0 to 60 mph faster than any other player in the country. His stats as a true freshman -- 12.4 yards per catch and 10.4 yards per carry -- support the evidence seen on the film. With some polish as a route-runner and some touches in the return game, Harvin could quickly emerge as college football's most dangerous weapon.
5. Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia
Steve Slaton makes up the other half of the nation's most electrifying backfield tandem. At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he lacks elite size and he won't break many defenders' ankles in the open field. However, Slaton's decisiveness as a runner and his ridiculous top-end speed make him a perfect fit in Rodriguez's spread offense. Slaton's encore to a breathtaking freshman season was to rush for a team-record 1,744 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2006.
6. Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan Mario Manningham doesn't have much variety to his game. He isn't a great route-runner and he doesn't show much "wiggle" after the catch. Heck, the Wolverines don't even use him in the return game and rarely hand him the ball on a reverse. But the bottom line is that no receiver in the land can touch Manningham's vertical playmaking ability. The 6-foot, 186-pound junior has deceptive speed and exceptional hand-eye coordination, which allows him to slip past defenders and track down the ball before they know what hit them. In two seasons as quarterback Chad Henne's favorite target, Manningham has taken 15 of his 65 receptions to pay dirt. That's an absurd ratio.
7. Adarius Bowman, WR, Oklahoma State After sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, the former North Carolina Tar Heel was eager to make his presence felt in Stillwater. It's safe to say the 6-4, 220-pound wideout accomplished said mission by gaining 19.7 yards per catch with 12 touchdowns as a first-year starter. Bowman's combination of size and speed is a nightmare for opposing cornerbacks, which is why defensive coordinators rarely make the mistake of leaving him alone on an island.
8. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson James Davis established himself as one of the nation's most promising young backs in 2005. Still, the Clemson coaches knew they couldn't keep the electrifying C.J. Spiller bottled up last season. When given the chance to strut his stuff early on, Spiller did not disappoint. His true coming-out party occurred versus Georgia Tech's typically stout defense, when the 190-pound true freshman showcased his breakaway speed in front of a national audience to the tune of 166 total yards and two scores. Spiller proceeded to rack up 1,415 all-purpose yards in 2006, including the best rushing yards per carry (7.3) seen in the ACC since Warrick Dunn (7.5) in 1995.
9. Anthony Alridge, RB, Houston Anthony Alridge flies under the radar because he doesn't play in one of the "big six" conferences and he recently switched from wide receiver to running back. But opposing coordinators and NFL scouts are well aware of his ability to break a game wide open. The pint-sized back finished 2006 with eight touchdowns and five carries of 50 yards or longer. He also led the nation with a mind-boggling 10.1 yards per carry. Alridge verified his game speed seen on film by blazing the 40-yard dash in 4.25 seconds for scouts this spring.
10. Juice Williams, QB, Illinois Thanks to Illinois' embarrassing lack of talented upperclassmen, coach Ron Zook was forced to throw freshman signal-caller Juice Williams to the wolves. There's no question it got ugly at times -- as witnessed by Williams' meager 39.8 completion percentage. In fact, I would argue that Juice was the rawest quarterback to start the majority of his team's games in 2006. But after catching glimpses of his extraordinary dual-threat potential, the silver lining for Zook and his staff is that most coaches in the Big Ten would trade their current starting quarterback for a chance to coach Juice Williams the next three years. Indiana's Kellen Lewis is a far more polished version at this point, but no quarterback in the conference -- and few in the nation -- compares to Juice when it comes to his game-breaking combination of athleticism and arm strength.
- And now the best game-changers on the defensive side of the ball
Virginia DE Long more than a handful for offensive linemen
Game plan-changing defenders are hard to come by. In fact, there typically are only a few per conference in a given season. But make no mistake -- offensive coordinators know one when they see one. A game-changer is a defender blessed with the rare combination of physical and mental skills to throw off the rhythm of an entire offense. Spotting such a talent is the easy part. Designing a scheme to neutralize him is the challenge.
Here's a look at the 10 defenders who cause the most game plan-changing in college football:
1. Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Long has notched just seven career sacks in three seasons, which is largely why he's overlooked on most preseason All-America teams. However, no defender requires more attention than Howie's son. Long spends most of his time lined up across from the offensive tackle's inside shoulder as defensive end in Virginia's 3-4 defensive scheme. Instead of working off the edge -- like most ends on this list -- Long's job is to maintain "gap discipline" inside. Most players at his position simply take on blockers and allow others to clean up the mess. But Long regularly performs both jobs on his own. He constantly requires at least double-team attention (usually from the guard and tackle), and Long often uses his exceptional combination of power and quickness to split the double team and penetrate the backfield. Once he does, no defensive lineman in the country gives a better effort in pursuit of the ball carrier.
2. Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Defenders who are lined up closest to the ball can blow up the play quickest. Dorsey is a case in point. No defensive tackle has a quicker first step than Dorsey, which he uses regularly to disrupt the timing of opponent's plays in the backfield. Now that former Auburn standout Ben Grubbs (Ravens) is playing on Sundays, there isn't a guard in the country with the feet to consistently handle Dorsey one-on-one. Therefore, it's up to opposing offensive coordinators to neutralize the 299-pound Dorsey with a proper game plan.
3. Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
Campbell burst onto the scene as a sophomore last season with 55 tackles, including 10½ sacks. Miami has so much depth along the defensive line that it typically rotates seven or eight linemen in and out of the game, which makes Campbell's production even more impressive. At 6-foot-8 and 282 pounds, Campbell displays a rare blend of size, speed and athletic ability. If he learns to play with more consistent leverage and continues to improve his array of pass-rush moves, Campbell will be an even bigger headache for opposing offensive coordinators in 2007.
4. James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State
Laurinaitis' nonstop motor is infectious. He plays the game with reckless abandon while also displaying assignment discipline and sound technique. Run-blockers have a hard enough time getting in position versus Laurinaitis, let alone sustaining a block once locked on. In addition to dealing with his sideline-to-sideline ability versus the run, opposing coordinators and quarterbacks must account for Laurinaitis' playmaking skills in coverage. As a first-year starter last season, Laurinaitis notched a team-best five interceptions.
5. Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
For those unfamiliar with Harvey, just watch a re-air of Florida's dismantling of Ohio State in last season's BCS title game. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound end showcased his outstanding combination of speed and athletic ability with an unforgettable three-sack performance. Tracking down Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Troy Smith from behind was the highlight. If future opponents were to ask, it's safe to say any coach on Jim Tressel's staff would recommend giving Harvey some extra game-planning attention.
6. Kenny Phillips, DS, Miami
Phillips stepped into a starting role at safety immediately as a freshman, and two years later he's primed to emerge as college football's best all-around defensive back. Despite missing three games due to injury, Phillips has accounted for 121 total tackles the past two seasons. He also led the 'Canes with four interceptions last year. Phillips' versatility is what makes him such a game-planning headache. He is big and strong enough to cheat up near the line as a fourth linebacker-type in run support. And he's also fast and athletic enough to cover the deep-middle of the field in a Cover 3 zone. In addition to his rare physical tools, Phillips is instinctive and gets early jumps on the ball by reading a quarterback's eyes. Simply put; Phillips is the complete package and must be accounted for on every play.
7. Tommy Blake, DE, TCU
Blake clocked the fastest 40-yard dash time (4.61) of senior defensive end prospects who ran for NFL scouts this spring. He uses that exceptional speed as a perimeter pass-rusher to terrorize opposing offensive tackles. Very few offensive tackles can consistently keep Blake out of the backfield one-on-one, which forces offensive coordinators to provide a lot of double-team help. Blake still finds ways to get to the quarterback (14 career sacks), but he also makes life a lot easier for linemate Chase Ortiz, who has notched 11½ career sacks at the opposite end position.
8. Justin King, CB, Penn State
King is a phenomenal athlete. He spent some time at wide receiver early in his career, and he continues to make an impact in the return game for the Nittany Lions. However, he makes this list purely due to his skills as a man-to-man cover corner. The 6-foot, 195-pound King displays exceptional fluidity in his hips for a relatively big cornerback. He can turn-and-run with the fastest receivers, and he has the strength to hold up one-on-one versus bigger wideouts. King has just one career interception, but that stat is deceiving. First, he has spent only one full season at the cornerback position after spending more of his time on offense as a freshman in 2005. Second, after studying him on film, opposing coaches spend the week of preparation pleading with their quarterbacks not to throw the ball King's way.
9. Phillip Wheeler, ILB, Georgia Tech
Vince Hall and Penn State's Dan Connor are just two examples of talented linebackers who finished the 2006 season with more tackles than Wheeler. While both players got strong consideration, Wheeler made the list ahead of them because of his versatility. In addition to his 89 total tackles as a first-year, full-time starter, Wheeler led the Yellow Jackets and finished fourth in the ACC with nine sacks. That type of playmaking ability in the passing game puts all sorts of additional pressure on opposing coaches, not to mention opposing quarterbacks, running backs and offensive linemen.
10. DeJuan Tribble, CB/KR, Boston College
Several cornerbacks in college football have more polished man-to-man cover skills. And while he can do some damage as a punt returner, he's not even the most explosive return specialist on his own team (see: Jeff Smith). But Tribble cracks this list because he sets the bar when it comes to playmakers at his position. The speedy and instinctive senior returned three of his ACC-best seven interceptions to pay dirt last season. No defender did more damage on interception returns, which is why opposing coordinators have to plan for him accordingly.
Others considered:
• Xavier Adibi, ILB, Virginia Tech
• Dan Connor, ILB, Penn State
• Bruce Davis, DE, UCLA
• Sedrick Ellis, DT, LSU
• Eric Foster, DT, Rutgers
• Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn
• Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State
• Jonathan Hefney, DS, Tennessee
• Erin Henderson, OLB, Maryland
• Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
• Dwight Lowery, DC, San Jose State
• Keith Rivers, OLB, USC
• Reggie Smith, CB, Oklahoma
• Trae Williams, DC, South Florida
- The NoTex Rant Top 25
#25 - Missouri
#24 - Hawaii
#23 - Oklahoma St.
#22 - Texas Tech
#21 - South Carolina
#20 - Boston College
#19 - Boise State
#18 - Rutgers
#17 - Cal
#16 - Ohio State
#15 - Tennessee
#14 - Michigan
#13 - TCU
#12 - Nebraska
#11 - Florida
#10 - Texas
#9 - Auburn
#8 - Oklahoma
#7 - UCLA
- #6 - Louisville
Former head coach Bobby Petrino is now with the Atlanta Falcons and one-time star Michael Bush left early, but the lofty expectations for the reigning Big East champs not only haven't changed, they've been cranked up a little more.
Louisville is thinking big again largely because of the return of quarterback Brian Brohm and his top receivers. It also helped to snag Steve Kragthorpe from Tulsa, one of the hottest young coaching stars, to quickly respond to Petrino's sudden departure to keep the machine rolling. It's easy to forget the concern when John L. Smith left and Petrino stepped in. Now there's a possibility Kragthorpe can take the program to yet another level.
Kragthorpe's teams are always smart, tough and keep mistakes to a minimum. In other words, they're well coached, and with more talent than he's ever had to work with, it'll be an interesting study to see just how solid the program is to undergo a second major coaching change.
Of course, the coaching can look a whole bunch better with someone like Brohm to rely on. One of the nation's best offenses will keep cranking out yards and points in chunks, and they'll all be needed to get through the brutal Big East. The defense, which played so well last fall, has returning talent, but has to replace six starters including three all-league performers. Fortunately, the schedule allows for a little bit of time to get everyone in the right spots.
The biggest concern will be the secondary which loses three key players, and it's asking a lot to get the same consistent offensive production, but even if the Cardinals have a few new wrinkles and aren't quite as explosive, the overall results should be the same, if not better. Even so, just keeping things rolling might be good enough for now.
What to watch for on offense: It might be a little less inventive and a tad more conservative, but no less combustible under a coach that cites the BYU teams of the 1970s as the genesis of his offensive philosophy. With Brohm at the controls and Mario Urrutia and Harry Douglas flanked to either side, the Louisville passing game will be humming once again. The balance will be there with the lightning and thunder combination of George Stripling and Anthony Allen, who should blow up under the new coaching staff. Kragthorpe, who loves using his tight ends, inherits a good one in Gary Barnidge and will likely get him more involved than Petrino did.
What to watch for on defense: If Brohm's healthy all year and the Cardinals don't win the Big East, it'll have something to do with the play of a defense that has plenty of holes to plug. Gone are premier run-stuffer, Amobi Okoye, the top two defensive backs, William Gay and Brandon Sharp, and last year's emotional leader, linebacker Nate Harris. How quickly fresh faces, such as corner Woodny Turenne, end Peanut Whitehead and tackle Earl Heyman emerge as playmakers will dictate whether Louisville can contend for more than just the Big East.
The team will be far better if ... the defense regroups on the fly. Petrino's recruiting has ensured that plenty of talent waits in the wings, and Kragthorpe has had a lot less to work with, but it's still asking a lot to improve on a porous pass defense that has to replace three starters. Granted, most of the yards came in comeback mode, but there's still a concern with high-octane offenses like Kentucky's and Utah's early on.
The Schedule: Kragthorpe's first season should be easy early and brutal late. Outside of a near-certain shootout at Kentucky, the nastier-than-it-looks home game against Utah and a road date at Cincinnati, it should be relatively smooth sailing through the first two months of the year on the way to an 8-0 record before the season really kicks in. Pitt, at West Virginia, at South Florida and Rutgers will make or break Big East title hopes, needing to win three of the final four to likely get back to the BCS. Win all four and a national title shot might be in view.
Best Offensive Player: Senior QB Brian Brohm. When Brohm opted to return for his senior season rather than test NFL waters, Louisville instantly had one of the best players in America and a viable Heisman candidate. He's a franchise player, who makes all the throws and has the head and leadership qualities usually reserved for professional quarterbacks.
Best Defensive Player: Senior LB Malik Jackson. In his first year as a starter at outside linebacker, Jackson showcased why he's the defense's most versatile all-around athlete, leading the Cards with 16 tackles for loss, nine sacks and three fumble recoveries. A disruptive force with a knack for making the big play, he's also been used as a rush end and is the team's top linebacker in pass coverage.
Key player to a successful season: Senior OT Breno Giacomini. Or redshirt freshman Jeff Adams. George Bussey will be an All-America candidate on the left side, but it'll take a huge season for either Giacomini or Adams to replace all-star Renardo Foster on the right. Adams is a 6-8, 300-pound mountain who can play defense if needed, while Giacomini is a 6-7, 300-pound athlete who moves extremely well.
The season will be a success if ... Louisville goes back to the BCS. 11-1 is also a good goal to shoot for with an upset to prevent a 9-0 start before dealing with West Virginia, South Florida and Rutgers. As long as Brohm is healthy and winging, the offense will be among the best in America. The defense won't miss a beat under Kragthorpe and should be among the best in the Big East. It's all there for another Big East title, and maybe more.
Key game: Sept. 15 at Kentucky. Of course the last month of the Big East season is all huge, but for Louisville to have the season it thinks it can have beating an improved Kentucky is a must. After winning four straight over its in-state rival, a loss could be disastrous to Kragthorpe and the new coaching staff.
2006 Fun Stats:
Third quarter scoring: Louisville 112 – Opponents 29
Third down conversions: Louisville 74 of 160 (46%) – Opponents 55 of 180 (31%)
Average yards per pass: Louisville 9.8 – Opponents 6.8
Louisville Cardinals
Team Information
Head coach: Steve Kragthorpe
1st year at Louisville
5th year overall: 29-22
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 26, Def. 27, ST 4
Lettermen Lost: 15
Ten Best Players
1. QB Brian Brohm, Sr.
2. WR Harry Douglas, Sr.
3. WR Mario Urrutia, Jr.
4. LB Malik Jackson, Sr.
5. OT George Bussey, Jr.
6. C Eric Wood, Jr.
7. PK Art Carmody, Sr.
8. DE Peanut Whitehead, Soph.
9. TE Gary Barnidge, Sr.
10. RB Anthony Allen, Soph.
2007 Schedule
Aug. 30 Murray State
Sept. 8 Middle Tennessee
Sept. 15 at Kentucky
Sept. 22 Syracuse
Sept. 29 at NC State
Oct. 6 Utah
Oct. 13 at Cincinnati
Oct. 20 at Connecticut
Oct. 27 Pitt
Nov. 8 at West Virginia
Nov. 17 at South Florida
Nov. 29 Rutgers
- #5 - Wisconsin
No matter what, if you're a Big Ten team and go 12-1 with a win over the SEC West champion in a New Year's Day bowl, you had a wildly successful season. However, the jury is still out on just how good last year's Badger team was, after blowing through a lousy schedule, not playing Ohio State, and doing next to nothing on offense in the win over Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl. Now the team has to finally get everyone's respect.
With 31 wins in three years and a 22-4 record in the last two, you'd think Wisconsin would be considered a superpower. Not quite.
This isn't a flashy team, there aren't a slew of household names on defense, and there's still a hint of overall skepticism after playing bad non-conference slate after bad non-conference slate. The only way the national perception can change is with a few wins over the big names, and a Big Ten title.
Bret Bielema proved to be a great successor to Barry Alvarez, and has a loaded team that should be one of the favorites for the conference title and a sleeper for the BCS Championship Game. Even the big personnel losses (OT Joe Thomas, QB John Stocco, LB Mark Zalewski and both starting safeties) shouldn't be too painful with good replacements ready to step in. RB P.J. Hill should be a lock for 1,500 yards behind a great offensive line, the defensive front seven should be dominant, and the kicking game might be the best in the nation.
This has been one of the nation's most talented teams over the last several years (few programs have had more players drafted over the last 10 years), and the schedule, while tougher than 2006, is certainly manageable for an elite team. There's no reason the program can't take things to yet another level and get to its first Rose Bowl since the 1999 season. Of course, that's only if Wisconsin truly is the real deal.
What to watch for on offense: The quarterback situation. The receiving corps has the talent to make the passing game shine, but there might be more running than Badger fans have seen since Brooks Bollinger was running the occasional option. Senior Tyler Donovan and Kansas State transfer Allan Evridge will battle to replace Stocco. Each can run extremely well, and each is a competent passer. The winner of the job will be the X factor in the Big Ten race.
What to watch for on defense: UW has one of the nation's best cornerback tandems. Allen Langford is solid, while speedy, big-hitting Jack Ikegwuonu is something special. The front four is loaded with a combination of size, quickness, experience and talent, and it should be better at generating pressure than it has over the last few years. That'll only make the secondary even better.
The team will be far better if ... the offensive line plays up to its reputation. It wasn't bad last season, and having a superior talent like Thomas gave it a go-to guy to work behind, but the line gave up way too many sacks and struggled against the three really good defensive fronts (Michigan, Penn State and Arkansas) it faced. A big line this good has to be able to impose its will on anyone.
The Schedule: It's far tougher than last season, but it's not a killer until late. There's a real live non-conference game to worry about, as the Badgers start the year with Washington State before breathers against UNLV and The Citadel. Four of the first five games are at home before a big landmine at Illinois the week before the trip to Penn State. Closing out at Ohio State, home vs. Michigan and at Minnesota will likely make-or-break Wisconsin's Rose Bowl dreams.
Best Offensive Player: Sophomore RB P.J. Hill. It's never fair or logical to compare a young player to the NCAA's all-time leading rusher, but in ramming his way to 1,569 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2006, Hill did a believable impression of a young Ron Dayne. At somewhere north of 240 pounds, he's big and powerful, but also surprisingly nimble and quick for a big back.
Best Defensive Player: Junior CB Jack Ikegwuonu. While still somewhat young and raw, Ikegwuonu has all the ingredients of an elite defensive back and could wind up a first-day NFL draft choice two years from now. A true lockdown corner who's only going to get better with more experience, he's a 6-1, 200-pound greyhound who's not afraid to fill the lanes and support in run defense.
Key player to a successful season: Senior QB Tyler Donovan. Everything is in place for a run at the Big Ten title, as long as there's steady quarterback play. Whether it's Donovan or Allan Evridge, the QB doesn't have to be an All-Big Ten star, but he does have to limit mistakes, connect on third-down passes, and occasionally use the tremendous receiving corps on big plays to open things up for Hill and the ground game.
The season will be a success if ... UW is in Pasadena in early January. There's too much experience to shoot for anything less. The schedule might be just tough enough to ruin any dreams of going unbeaten, but if the team is the real deal many believe it'll be, it needs to be in the hunt for the Rose Bowl going into November when the games against Ohio State and Michigan arrive.
Key game: Oct. 13 at Penn State. The Badgers have come close to owning the Nittany Lions, winning five of the last seven matchups. For each team, this game will be key to Big Ten championship hopes, and for Wisconsin, it might be the one obstacle to a 9-0 start and inclusion in national title talk.
2006 Fun Stats:
First half scoring: Wisconsin 216; Opponents 86
Kickoff return average: Wisconsin 15 yards; Opponents 20.7 yards
Time of possession: Wisconsin 33:26; Opponents 26:34
Wisconsin Badgers
Team Information
Head coach: Bret Bielema
2nd year: 12-1
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 22, Def. 23, ST 4
Lettermen Lost: 19
Ten Best Players
1. RB P.J. Hill, Soph.
2. CB Jack Ikeguonu, Jr.
3. TE Travis Beckum, Jr.
4. P Ken DeBauche, Sr.
5. LB Jonathan Casillas, Jr.
6. OG Kraig Urbik, Jr.
7. DE Matt Shaughnessy, Jr.
8. C Marcus Coleman, Sr.
9. OT Eric VandenHeuvel, Jr.
10. DT Nick Hayden, Sr.
2007 Schedule
Sept. 1 Washington State
Sept. 8 at UNLV
Sept. 15 The Citadel
Sept. 22 Iowa
Sept. 29 Michigan State
Oct. 6 at Illinois
Oct. 13 at Penn State
Oct. 20 Northern Illinois
Oct. 27 Indiana
Nov. 3 at Ohio State
Nov. 10 Michigan
Nov. 17 at Minnesota
- Mavs draft pick to play overseas this year.
Mavericks draft pick to play in Greece
With roster full, ex-Tar Heel Terry bound for Greece
04:46 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 28, 2007
By DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
Mavericks second-round draft pick Reyshawn Terry will begin his professional career in Europe.
Aris TT Bank, one of the top teams in Greece, reported on its Web site Monday that the club had signed Terry for next season.
Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks president of basketball operations, said he didn't think the deal had been finalized. But Nelson did concede that the Mavericks encouraged the former North Carolina forward to play overseas this season because the team didn't have a spot for him on the roster.
"We just have too many players under contract for this season," Nelson said.
"This way, we keep his rights and he has a better chance to make our team next season."
The Mavericks have 16 players under contract, one over the limit for the start of the regular season. The club has until Friday to decide if it will pick up the option for second-year forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu.
- Talladega Nights
- Hard as a diamond in an ice storm.......
- Earmuffs
- Jackass
- Classic
- Picks O'the day
Yesterday - 3-2
YTD - 131-111
1) Atlanta -125
2) Boston +115
3) KC -105
4) Cincinnati +145 / +105
5) Arizona -160 - Webb pitching
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