No. 1..............

- The NoTex Rant Top 25

#25 - Missouri
#24 - Hawaii
#23 - Oklahoma St.
#22 - Texas Tech
#21 - South Carolina
#20 - Michigan
#19 - Texas
#18 - Rutgers
#17 - Cal
#16 - Ohio State
#15 - Florida
#14 - Boston College
#13 - TCU
#12 - Nebraska
#11 - Tennessee
#10 - Boise State
#9 - Auburn
#8 - Oklahoma
#7 - UCLA
#6 - Louisville
#5 - Wisconsin
#4 - Virginia Tech
#3 - West Virginia



- #2 - USC
What's can I say that hasn't already been said? You know these dudes are good, you don't need a preview. Besides, they're going to get beat by.............




- #1 - LSU

Nick Saban might have gotten the ball rolling, but it's time to officially acknowledge that Les Miles has nudged LSU into one of the consistent elite of the elite programs, and more importantly, one with staying power.
It's easy to forget that while Saban had one mega-year in Baton Rouge, he also had a lot of merely above-average ones, with only one double-digit win season. Miles has won 11 games in each of the last two years, weathered the storm of concern over his hiring and the storm of Katrina, and has recruited well enough to keep the momentum going.

LSU has done it with speed, speed, athleticism, and more speed, with backups that have more raw talent than the starters for about 100 other teams. This year's version is no exception, and with a schedule that's far more manageable than last year's (only two road games against a 2006 bowl team, Kentucky and Alabama), an SEC title is a demand, and a national championship is certainly possible.

How loaded is LSU? It lost JaMarcus Russell, and likely will replace him with Matt Flynn, who has starter's experience, or eventually Ryan Perrilloux, the super-recruit of a few years ago with next-level skills and more running ability than Russell. The track team of NFL receivers that left is being replaced by another track team of NFL receivers, and veterans are waiting in the wings to replace the starting safeties ... who are also off to play in the big league.

Can LSU win the really big game? It proved it could at the end of last year. Is LSU able to reload rather than rebuild? A Sugar Bowl win and an 11-2 and campaign gave the answer. Can LSU win the national title under Miles? This year, anything less will be a disappointment.

What to watch for on offense: Don't expect much of a change in the offensive production with Gary Crowton, who replaces Jimbo Fisher (who left for Florida State), but that doesn't mean things won't be different. Crowton's spread offense bogged down at times at Oregon, but he's fantastic at developing quarterbacks and should use backs Keiland Williams, Jacob Hester and Alley Broussard to give the offense more balance. Expect more option use and more running from the quarterbacks than Tiger fans are used to.

What to watch for on defense: More of the same. With eight starters returning, including future NFL millionaire tackle Glenn Dorsey, the nation's No. 3 defense of last year should be every bit as dominant. Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini will keep the D aggressive, the sacks will come in bunches, and the front seven will be a brick wall to run on.

The team will be far better if ... the penalties are reduced. The Tigers weren't killed by the errors, but there were just enough, 83 on the season, to be annoying. They were mostly the ticky-tack, five-yard variety, but it is one of the few areas that could use improvement.

The Schedule: The schedule last year had four brutal road games and eight manageable home dates. This season, the scheduling gods are much kinder, with the five away games at Mississippi State, Kentucky, Tulane, Alabama and Ole Miss. Any team that thinks it can win the national title should be able to get through those five without much of a problem. The early home game with Virginia Tech should be as good as any BCS matchup in January, while the showdown with Florida will be as good as whatever the national title game turns out to be. Missing Georgia and Tennessee from the East is a plus.

Best Offensive Player: Sophomore OT Ciron Black. A 314-pound rock on the left side, he turned in a great freshman season and has been a top pro prospect from day one. With potentially four returning starters up front, the line should be a strength in time as long as Black plays as expected.

Best Defensive Player: Senior DT Glenn Dorsey. An almost-certain first-round pick had he left early, and a possible top-15 selection, the 300-pound All-American will be the anchor of one of the best lines in America. He missed spring ball with a leg injury but is expected to be more than fine by the time the season starts. As long as he keeps his weight in check, he'll be a sure-fire All-American.

Key player to a successful season: Senior WR Early Doucet. Is this the year he puts it all together and becomes the superstar, All-America-caliber target everyone's been waiting for? The speed is peerless and he has decent size; now he has to be consistent as a number one, instead of as a second or third option behind Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis.

The season will be a success if ... LSU plays for the national title. The defense will be among the five best in the nation, the offense will be more than fine no matter who's at quarterback, and the schedule is tailor-made for a title. Of course, if all goes well there will be an SEC championship game first, and the Tigers will be more than happy to worry about that when the time comes.

Key game: Oct. 20 vs. Auburn. LSU can afford a loss to someone like Florida or even Virginia Tech (but not both) and can still get to the national championship (since those two games are relatively early on the slate). However, winning the West might be tough if Auburn wins in Death Valley for the first time since 1999.

2006 Fun Stats

First half scoring: LSU 240; Opponents 87

Fourth down conversions: LSU 13-17 (76%); Opponents 8-20 (40%)

Fumbles: LSU 22 (lost 12); Opponents 21 (lost 5)

LSU Tigers
Team Information
Head coach: Les Miles
2nd year: 11-2
6th year overall: 39-23
Lettermen Returning: 38
Off. 24, Def. 20, ST 2
Lettermen Lost: 21

Ten Best Players
1. DT Glenn Dorsey, Sr.
2. DE Tyler Jackson, Jr.
3. CB Chevis Jackson, Sr.
4. LB Ali Highsmith, Sr.
5. OT Ciron Black, Soph.
6. WR Early Doucet, Sr.
7. RB Keiland Williams, Soph.
8. QB Matt Flynn, Sr.
9. G Will Arnold, Sr.
10. WR Brandon LaFell, Soph.

2007 Schedule
Aug. 30 at Mississippi St
Sept. 8 Virginia Tech
Sept. 15 Middle Tennessee
Sept. 22 South Carolina
Sept. 29 at Tulane
Oct. 6 Florida
Oct. 13 at Kentucky
Oct. 20 Auburn
Nov. 3 at Alabama
Nov. 10 Louisiana Tech
Nov. 17 at Ole Miss
Nov. 24 Arkansas




- Observations from LSU-Miss St.

- Even in the worst atmosphere in the SEC (Miss St) you can still get a feel of what deep south, SEC football is all about. Female students in sun dresses, little girls in cheerleading outfits, dudes in white dress shirts, ball caps, and school color ties, etc. There's nothing like it.

- Tell me again why people are obsessed with the NFL. Last night, I got that needle stuck in my veins. There is nothing like college football. And that was a very mediocre matchup, but still had all the ingredients in it to show you why it's such a great, passionate, unique game/event.

- Glenn Dorsey, DT for LSU, is a stud. You have to respect any player that is top 10 in the draft and stays for his senior year.

- There was actually a white guy on LSU's defense, and in the secondary at that! And even made some plays.

- Further proof of my opinion that SEC football is far superior. Notice how Mississippi State's D-line was actually doing good against LSU? Against the #2 team in the nation, a consensus pick for the BCS championship, and they looked really good against LSU's line. And the defense as a whole played pretty well, although the score doesn't show how much LSU struggled on offense.
They're a bottom feeder in the SEC, but I guarantee would be a 6-6 team in the Big 10, ACC, Big 12 North, and Big East.

- Craig James good, Chris Fowler good, Doug Flutie bad.

- HD good.

- Anyone else excited to hear Ron Franklin's voice Saturday night live from Auburn, AL? SEC football on Saturday nights have to include Ron Franklin, it's a must.




- Speaking of......My all-time favorite announcers/teams.

1) Keith Jackson/Bob Griese - back in the early 90's, before ABC/ESPN got coverage happy, there was about half of the telecasts you see now. And Keith Jackson was younger and covered the whole country for ABC. And if Jackson and Griese were at your game that Saturday, it was bar none the game of the week. Just classic. Much like if Bob Costas or Al Michaels were at your game about 15 years ago, that was the way this announcing team was.

Favorite memory was the build up and anticipation/announcing performance of the 1994 #2 Colorado vs. #3 Nebraska in Lincoln. Still have it on tape and still watch it. "There's an old Roger Miller lyric, you can't roller skate through a buffalo herd, well Nebraska certainly intends to find out." Cue the classic ABC music, a shot of the sea of red, and Jackson continuing, "ABC Sports presents, the Big 8 showdown, Nebraska and Colorado." Chills.

Jackson and Griese have fallen off considerably due to age. Jackson more than Griese. Jackson I just laugh at now, he's at an age where senility is the name of his game, and consequently, he no longer hides the fact that he's a PAC-10 homer. Just re-watch the USC-Texas Rose Bowl or any other PAC-10 vs. outsider game he's calling, it's ridiculous.

2) Ron Franklin - Whether college basketball, where he's equally as good and legendary, or SEC night football, the guy is just greatness. As if SEC night football needs anything else to make it better, Franklin takes it to another level. Add in his old partner, Mike Gottfried, a well-spoken, talented color guy who has great insight on SEC football due to his coaching history in the conference, and you have a terrific team.

3) Brad Nessler - Love the voice, love the pairing with Griese. He's my new favorite ABC college football/basketball guy.

4) Vin Scully - Just started hearing him in the past year, but just watch one Dodgers game in the Chavez Ravine and you'll have Viagra pants for 3 hours.

5) Joe Morgan/Jon Miller - Another staple of an event much like Ron Franklin, Sunday Night baseball is taken to another level hearing these guys. No nonsense, great analysis, and never make themselves the story.

6) Joe Buck - Not Tim McCarver, don't like that guy. Joe Buck also has that aura about him. If he's announcing, it's the Fall, it's the baseball playoffs, it's Yankee Stadium, and it's greatness.

7) Mike Breen - Relative newcomer to my list, as I've just discovered him through the NBA playoffs on ABC. Very good, lets game come to him, and doesn't try to be headline.

8) Ralph Strangis/Razor - Funny, informative, and witty.

9) Gary Thorne - Great hockey announcer. Lets game come to him. I remember when Dallas beat Colorado in Game 7 of 1999 Western Finals, he just shut up for the last 1:30 and let the crowd take over in Reunion Arena as Dallas clinched.

10) Josh Lewin/Tom Grieve - Lewin's great. Very funny guy. Grieve provides perfect color.




- Worst Announcers

1) Musburger - Is there any doubt? He's been around forever (just watch ESPN classic from the 70's to the 2000's). His penchant for grabbing a unique name/story/situation and running with it is the main complaint. A few examples - "The Major," "Colt McCoooooooooy," Michael Bishop, and his love affair for hyping up underdogs in the games he calls. For also ruining a great event by yelling "Ricky breaks free and runs to the hall of fame!" during the 1998 Texas-Texas A&M game. Yelled throughout the whole record breaking run. And of course, all the drinking game catch phrases that are a beating.

2) John Madden - Please don't explain things to me like I'm a 40 year old soccer mom. The king of the obvious.

3) Lee Corso - Just a senile old prick. Everyone knows about his interfacing with BaD Radio, that pretty much sums this A-hole up. Has taken his bits and now shoves them down your throat every Saturday. Needs to be gone.

4) Chris Berman - Has become a shell of his former self. Hasn't come up with his own material or spoken anything new in the past 10 years. A complete tool.

5) Stuart Scott - Oh man. Won't even get into him.





- Nebraska News/Notes

- 1 day until the 2007 Ass Kicking Tour begins.........You heard it here first, Sam Keller for Heisman.




- Some notes heading into Saturday's game



The Quiet Man, Marlon Lucky
And other observations heading Into Saturday's game vs Nevada

Marlon Lucky is a man of a lot football moves and few words for the tape recorder.

How's it going, he's asked.

“Good,” he answers.

And his week in practice?

“Great.”

Nebraska's junior running back, who persevered through a difficult offseason and a mild concussion in fall camp to start Saturday's game against Nevada, is patient, polite and unusually brief in response to questions.

In other words, he has an excellent poker face for the media.

He's made personal goals, but doesn't want to make them public. When he's asked about what kind of game he'd like to play against the Wolf Pack, he gives one of his standard answers: “Whatever comes, comes.”

Lucky dropped only a few hints Wednesday in an interview. He believes he'll be used more as a receiver. He thinks he's a “step faster” after NU's summer conditioning program.

“When I run I don't want anybody to tackle from the back,” he said. “It's like being caught by a dog.”

And when he watched tape of himself from last year, he saw too many plays in which he was tackled near or just behind the line of scrimmage.

“I needed to pick up my legs,” Lucky said. “Run through more tackles. Pick up my legs and keep them moving. That's the one thing I had to work on most.”

So Lucky did the classic ropes drill more this summer than he ever had.

He seems to relish his role as a receiver as much carrying the ball; Lucky said he could get “five carries” on Saturday and be satisfied if had a bunch of receiving yards. And, of course, if the Huskers won.

But expect more – much more than just five totes for Lucky. Unless he gets hurt.

Senior tight end JB Phillips wasn't trying to cough up the gameplan during Tuesday's press conference, but he did provide a peek into NU's mindset for Saturday.

It would seem to feature a lot of gut-busting between the hashmarks.

“We all know (NU Head Coach) Callahan by now,” Phillips said. “He likes to line us up, see what we're made of and make us earn our scholarships. I'm sure we'll line up and run at them.”

And just maybe a little “razzle dazzle,” Phillips said.

Bank on this: Nebraska will throw when it must and run when it can.

And don't expect Callahan to be shy about using freshmen backs Quentin Castille and Roy Helu. They've not only had good fall camps – because of injuries to Glenn and Lucky, they've been unusually involved in camp, too.

Sometimes, expectations are difficult to bear. They were for Lucky during his freshman season.

And some kids just love them.

Either way, Nebraska's becoming more like the Southern California model each day.

- Callahan, quarterback Sam Keller and Lucky all made reference this week to Nevada's performance in the MPC Computers Bowl – a 21-20 loss to Miami - as an indication of just how talented the Wolf Pack are.

“If you look at their success in that particular game, it's impressive,” Callahan said. “If you look at the way 'Reno' matched up with Miami, it's awfully impressive.”

That's accurate – Nevada played hard, notched 23 first downs, and took Miami to the wire - but a little misleading.

At 7-6, this was one of the Hurricanes' worst teams in 30 years; it was the team that got Larry Coker fired. It was a team that had to rally for a 20-15 win at Duke, which finished last season 0-12. The only signature “Hurricane moment” was that giant brawl against a crosstown cupcake.

It was a team playing in Boise, Idaho, in 31-degree temperature.

Miami, in Boise. That's like Nixon in Hanoi.

Baggage. You can't trust the performances of teams with it, or the performances of their opponents.

At any rate, Nevada was a better team last year. It must invade Lincoln with a quarterback getting his first career start. Its top running back carried the ball two times for zero yards in the bowl game. It has to play without its starting center and best linebacker. It has to face a Nebraska defense that is easily Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove's fastest, most athletic unit.

- Speaking of Miami, at least someone related to Nebraska gleaned a positive from the Canes' 37-14 victory over NU in the Rose Bowl.

Sophomore safety Larry Asante, who earned a Blackshirt Tuesday and is rumored (how would we really know, since practice is closed) to be one of the team's signature hitters/tacklers, watched that game. To most Husker fans, that's akin to viewing “The Godfather Part III,” but it helped Asante decide he wanted to play in Lincoln.

Say huh?

Yep. ABC must have run a little feature on the Blackshirt tradition, and Asante was hooked.

“I wanted to somehow, some way be a part of that,” Asante said. “I think I was 14 years old – I was in eighth grade at the time. Watching that game, it was something I wanted to be a part of...

“Nebraska's always been on my mind.”

- Well, the Big 12 North's off to a great start.

Iowa State dropped its opener 23-14 to Kent State. Right now, Northern Iowa's looking like the only “W” on the Cyclones' slate. Enjoy it, Ames.

Don't be too entirely optimistic about the Big 12 in general this weekend. The league should be happy to win 7 of its 12 games this week.

Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech should all win pretty comfortably. Missouri might give up 28 points to Illinois, but it could score 63, too. Expect a five-hour game inside the Edward Jones Dome Saturday.

But Baylor's getting buried at Texas Christian. Kansas State has long odds at Auburn. Oklahoma State has a better chance at Georgia, but the Pokes haven't won a significant road game since beating Oklahoma in 2001. Who knows what kind of team Colorado will field against Colorado State. Same goes for Kansas against a Central Michigan squad that many believe will win the MAC conference.

- Ball State, Nebraska's cool-down workout after the USC game, lost 14-13 to Miami (Ohio) Thursday on a final-minute touchdown run. Here's a writeup of it; sounds like Ball State outplayed the Red Hawks, but lost in the “intangibles” column.

- Statepaper's a little late to the party, but Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm's winning the Heisman. He'll have 40 touchdowns, his team might not lose and, most importantly, ESPN/ABC/Disney will pump his campaign because the Cards are prominently featured on the Mouse Network this year. Just you watch how Sports Mickey pulls the strings.

Not that Brohm wouldn't deserve it; unless he gets hurt, he's the No. 1 pick of the Atlanta Falcons in the 2008 NFL Draft. It's simply that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden will play half his games on CBS. And Sports Mickey only appreciates storylines that involve the games on the Mouse Network. Brohm, along with Rutgers, is ESPN's ticket to finally recalibrate must-see college football to Thursday nights. It's already been done with college basketball.

Heisman voters are ripe to give the award to someone from a non-elite school. McFadden will have to drop 2,000 rushing yards on the nation to have a chance. Bank it.

- And finally...rumor is Nebraska's changed the music for the Tunnel Walk. The new song, called “Husker Beat,” is produced by Nebraska artist Mike Bohuslavsky. He goes by MikeyBo. The song was played on an Omaha radio station earlier this week, and polls are showing up all over Internet message boards about its sound.

It's a fusion of hip-hop, horror music, the old “Sirius” song, and actor Tobin Bell, who played Jigsaw in the “Saw” series. It's his voice that says “Let the game begin” in the first 20 seconds of the song. NU officials have confirmed the song has somehow been changed; we'll see Saturday if it's same exact song in the link.

And here that link. It's to Bohuslavsky's MySpace Web site, so if you have to, click on “Husker Beat” to hear the song. Remember, it's MySpace. Not always the best language in the some of the friend comments.

Nebraskans do not tend to appreciate trivial, cosmetic changes too much. (Or drastic, monumental ones, for that matter.) Remember the demise of Herbie I, and the rise of Lil' Red?

Remember the 2002 uniforms, featuring the red gussets that looked like the Kevin Spacey character from “Seven” had cut his pound of flesh out of every Husker?


- Picks O'the Weekend

Yesterday - 2-4
YTD - 138-125

1) Boston College -6 - At home, BC returns everyone, a good QB, and Wake will get exposed this year.
2) Nebraska -21 - Nebraska will come out firing this year.
3) Auburn -13.5 - Kansas St. may not break double digits.
4) Oklahoma St. +6.5 - Georgia is always overrated, and Oklahoma St.'s offense will explode between the hedges.
5) Miami/Marshall Under 48 - Miami can't score on offense and their defense is bad ass.
6) Missouri -4.5 - The team picked to win their division is only a 4.5 point favorite vs. a horrible team like Illinois?
7) West Virginia -23.5 - That directional Michigan school doesn't stand a chance.
8) Virginia Tech -27.5 - Absolutely rolls East Carolina and probably shuts them out.