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.

Would Peyton Manning ever own a shirt like this???

- This guy is unbelievable. Shirt he wore on Best Damn Sports Show last night.






- And now on to the Nebraska 2007 Schedule Analysis




Game 1 - Nevada - W
- Their star LB is suspended, their best O-lineman will not play, and they have a first time starter at QB. Not good.
Score - 44-9

Game 2 - at Wake Forest - W
- The first test of the young season, on the road, against the ACC champion. Wake has a tough game at Boston College the week before and will likely be reeling from that ass-whipping. This team was a tad lucky last year and a little overrated. It will be close through much of the game, as most road games vs. decent teams are.

In the past I'd be worried, but with a veteran QB, a really good O-line, some bangers at RB, and a much improved defense, I see Neb controlling 4th quarters a lot better this season than last.
Score - 28-17

Game 3 - USC - L
As much as I would love to put a W on there, I have to be somewhat realistic/objective on this one. I don't see a shootout or a blowout. I see a game that is actually close and well defensed. I see Nebraska with a chance to win it in the 4th. But ultimately I see the offense sputtering a bit against that defense, and the defense not being able to stop USC running the ball late in the game as they're trying to run out the clock, much like last year's game.
Score - 14-22

Game 4 - Ball St. - W
An absolute load releaser following possibly the hardest fought, most exhausting game of the year. They unleash the fury on poor Ball St.
Score - 56-17

Game 5 - Iowa St - W
No looking ahead to Missouri here. ISU has a new coach and will be out of their league in Lincoln. Nebraska rolls again and gets ready for the conference showdown.
Score - 38-6

Game 6 - at Missouri - W
It has to happen at some point, right? Nebraska has been out-athleted and out-big play'ed the past 2 times they have played in Columbia. Here's the deal however, Missouri had a guy named Brad Smith each time. If anyone knows anything about Nebraska, it's that athletic QB's give them absolute fits. (see: Brett Meyer, Ell Roberson, Michael Bishop, Corby Jones, Brad Smith, Vince Young, etc).

Chase Daniel, while very good and somewhat athletic, doesn't resemble any of these guys. Like I detailed earlier, with a veteran QB, a great O-line, yard eating RB's, and a very good defense, I feel better about road games and 4th quarter execution this season. Nebraska gets it done, and Missouri is still Missouri.
Score - 37-27

Game 7 - Oklahoma St. - W
A barn burner. Remember Nebraska-Missouri 1997? When one momentum boosting TD was answered right away by the other team, for 4 full quarters and an overtime? This will be the closest thing to that game.
Both defenses will be rendered useless. But give me the edge to Nebraska for 2 reasons - home field and defense.
Nebraska's largely senior citizen fan base will have their catheders filled to the brim with nervous piss and sh*t.
Score - 41-37

Game 8 - Texas A&M - W
Nebraska has a history of success and Jedi powers over A&M. It's at home. Fran will creep back into the corner like Fonzi in the Waterboy. I just can't let myself predict that Nebraska will lose to A&M at home. Just can't.
Score - 30-17

Game 9 - at Texas - L
I know Texas is overrated by my account. I know Nebraska can exploit all of their weaknesses. I know Nebraska is due to beat these guys. But it doesn't matter, Texas has control over Nebraska. As good as this team will be playing at this point, it won't matter. I'll be in the stands to watch another heartbreaker.
Score - 26-29

Game 10 - at Kansas - W
Kansas has a ton of "sleeper" hype this year. Nebraska has struggled mightily in the past few years against these guys. But this is a different team this year.
Score - 36-23

Game 11 - Kansas St. - W
Not even close. Freeman turns the ball over 3 times. I know athletic QB's give Nebraska fits, but they have to have something around them. Nebraska is hopefully lingering around the top 10 at this point and no way Kansas State beats them at home.
Score - 45-17

Game 12 - at Colorado - W
I think Colorado will improve on their 2-11, 6 TD season of 2006. But Nebraska is playing at a different level right now.
Score - 31-10

Big 12 Championship - Oklahoma - W
Nebraska is 5-0 lifetime in the Alamodome. Tough as nails game that's for sure. Almost as hard fought as the USC game.
Score - 21-19

Holiday Bowl - Cal - ????
I have no clue. Let's just stick with the 11-2 regular season prediction.

- 11-2 going into a BCS bowl is unbelievable progress for Callahan.
Momentum is building..........




- The Reno paper advises Nevada fans on Lincoln

Nevada fans who attend the Wolf Pack’s Saturday season opener at Nebraska should sit close together inside the Cornhuskers’ Memorial Stadium, where they’ll form a tiny island of blue in a giant sea of red.

Don’t be intimidated. This is one of the great road trips in sports.

With a rich tradition that includes five national championships, 11 unbeaten seasons, three Heisman Trophy winners and 282 (and counting) straight home-game sellout crowds, Nebraska is routinely ranked among the country’s best dozen or so places to watch college football.

A lot of Pack backers will check it out. About 1,000 are going.
“That’s fantastic,” said Lou Mary Webb, one of four co-owners of Barry’s Bar & Grill, a popular pre- and post-game hangout a couple blocks from the stadium in downtown Lincoln, Neb.

“We’re glad to have you guys come out here.”
She means it.

Nebraska fans want their team to beat your team, which, given the Huskers’ 127-7 home record since 1986, happens a lot. But they’ll buy you a beer before and after.

“Nebraska fans are very nice,” said Reno Fire Chief Paul Wagner, who’s been one since the 1950s. “They’re very knowledgeable. They are very nice to visiting people.”
Wagner, who grew up in Omaha, Neb., will make the trip.
“I’m going to be wearing a Big Red shirt and a Wolf Pack hat,” said Wagner, whose first game at Memorial Stadium almost a half-century ago was a Nebraska victory against arch-rival Oklahoma. “I’m sure I will get some grief from my family.”
Here’s something you need to know about Nebraska. It’s where the words “Big” and “Red,” when used together, are always capitalized.

Wagner plans on being at Barry’s before the Pack-Husker game. So do many hundreds of others.

Barry’s has a front and back. In front, where the floor is made of wood from an old high school basketball court, there’s room for 285. The rear, which is called the “Outback,” is 10,000 square feet and holds 675. More if they stand shoulder to shoulder.

“On game day you can have a heart attack in there and not hit the floor,” said Steve Smith, a Lincoln resident, Nebraska graduate, former Reno Gazette-Journal reporter and author of “Forever Red,” a 176 page book about his life as a Husker fan.
Here’s what Smith says on page 143:

“If there’s one thing Lincoln has buckets and buckets of, it’s atmosphere, tradition and general pigskin character. Some if it is unique, some of it is hokey, some of it is inspiring, some of it is worthy of a good eye-rolling. But all of it, in at least one small way, gets your Big Red blood pumping.”

Pack fans can expect to be outnumbered at Barry’s, which should help prepare them for nearby Memorial Stadium, where capacity, with recent renovations, has been raised to 81,067. There hasn’t been an empty seat since 1962. On game day, the stadium becomes the third-largest city in the state.
“The experience is unique,” Wagner said. “The way Nebraska brings the team out with the ‘Tunnel Walk.’ The hairs on the back of your neck stand up if you’re a Nebraska fan. If you’re not, it’s still good.”

The Huskers are Nebraska’s statewide religion, which comes with its own scripture, composed in the 1920s by university philosophy professor Hartley Burr Alexander and chiseled in stone on a stadium entrance:

“Not the victory but the action; not the goal but the game; in the deed the glory.”
Amen.

“You’ll see people wearing T-shirts with that written on it,” Smith, who grew up in Rosalie, a town of 200 in the state’s northeast corner, said. “It’s something Nebraskans have adopted as their Bible verse. You’ll see shirts with that, or, ones with ‘In the drink the glory.’”

But Husker glory has faded just a bit since the team won three national championships and compiled a 49-2 record during a four-year span from 1994 to 1997. Nebraska experienced a losing season, its first since 1961, in 2004, going 5-6. The Huskers were 9-5 last year.

“Generally, people are thinking things are on the upswing,” Smith said.

Despite the state’s mostly rural landscape and reputation, Nebraska football is something of an urban experience. Lincoln is the state capital with a population of 241,167. The campus and stadium are next to downtown. There are hotels, shops, restaurants and, at night, clubs with live music.

One of those is the Sidetrack Tavern, where the Sidetrack Band has been entertaining football fans for years.

“If you like salty language and funny songs,” Smith said. “It’s not a family-friendly environment. If you’re into something a little raunchy, cheap beer and sticky floors. You can sing along with the Sidetrack Band. It’s an experience.”

So is Misty’s Restaurant & Lounge in a neighborhood called “Havelock” on the northeast edge of Lincoln.

“We should be at the top of the list,” said Reynold McMeen, one of four Misty’s co-owners. “Our roots with Husker football go (way) back.”

On a Friday night before a Saturday game, you might see a Nebraska family eating thick prime rib at Misty’s, with a young son dressed in his pee wee football uniform, complete with shoulder pads, munching away, helmet sitting nearby. Adults walk past the little lad, patting him on the head approvingly. A future Husker.

But the evening’s highlight is the appearance by a room-size portion of the Nebraska marching band, complete with cheerleaders, blasting out the school fight song. For Husker football fans, that’s dinner music.

Visitors, even ones wearing blue, will be welcome, as they will be just about everywhere.

“We like to think that Nebraska fans are great to people from out of town,” Webb said. “The first game is always one of the fun ones. You guys will get a grand welcome when you get here.”

********************
WHY IT’S HOT: Nebraska is recognized as one of the great “scenes” in college football. Rated 13th by Sports Illustrated for “best college football weekend,” fourth for best college stadium, sixth by cbssports.com. The fact that Nebraska has won five national championships, including three in the 1990s, has nothing to do with it.

PLACE TO BE FRIDAY NIGHT: Misty’s Restaurant & Lounge, the original one on the outskirts of Lincoln, not the second location downtown. The Cornhusker marching band performs. 63rd and Havelock Ave. Phone, (402) 466-8424. Web site, mistyslincoln.com.

PLACE TO BE SATURDAY BEFORE THE GAME: Barry’s Bar & Grill, with its 10,000 square foot “Outback,” with wall size television screen. 235 N. 9th St. Telephone, (402) 476-6511

BE SURE TO BUY: If you can find one, a Nebraska cap that says “Bugeaters,” the school’s nickname before Cornhuskers. The story goes that, in the late 19th century, Nebraska experienced a severe drought, turning the state to dust. A New York writer, reporting on the situation, said, “There’s nothing to eat out here but bugs.”

INSTEAD OF BUGS, BE SURE TO EAT: A Runza, you can find them everywhere. It’s a type of sandwich, with ground beef, cabbage, onions and spices stuffed into a roll. “It’s a Nebraska delicacy,” says Chad Hartley, Nevada football spokesman and Nebraska native. “A real gut bomb.”

CHAD’S DRIVING TIP: If you’re staying in Omaha, Nebraska’s largest city, 58 miles east of Lincoln on Interstate 80, the trip to the game can be a long one. “Give yourself plenty of time to get to Lincoln,” Hartley says. “On a normal day, it takes 45 minutes to an hour. On a game day, it could take two and a half hours.”

PREGAME MOMENT: The Husker “Tunnel Walk.” Heavy metal rock music booms from the stadium public address system as the football team leaves its locker room and marches through a tunnel toward the field, jumping, shaking fists and pounding one another on the shoulder pads the whole way. The procession is shown live on the stadium’s giant video screens as 81,000 fans roar with every step

MESSAGE FROM LINCOLN: “We like to think that Nebraska fans are great to people from out of town. The first game is always one of the fun ones. You guys will get a grand welcome when you get here,” Lou Mary Webb, co-owner, Barry’s Bar & Grill

MORE INFORMATION: For what to see, where to go and what to do, try this Web site, darthhusker.com/guide.htm




- Go Big 12. Chip Brown details........

Big 12 eyes a return to the top

09:23 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 29, 2007
By CHIP BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
chipbrown@dallasnews.com

The last four years, the Big 12 has been a two-team league: Oklahoma and Texas.

While both are getting a lot of preseason praise from voters, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and Texas coach Mack Brown sound markedly different about their teams.

Stoops will have a quarterback lacking real college experience. But that doesn't faze him. He sounds more than ready to defend his team's conference title and strive for more.

"We've won four Big 12 championships with four different quarterbacks," Stoops said. "No one gave Nate Hybl a chance [in 2002], or Jason White on two rebuilt knees [in 2004]. Last year, we had a guy [Paul Thompson] who hadn't taken a snap in a year. This is nothing new for us. In fact, our guys feel better about things going into this season than they did going into last season."

Ask Stoops about having to replace most of his front seven on defense and he snorts, "We have guys who can be every bit as good or better than the guys we've had."

Brown, on the other hand, has maybe the best sophomore quarterback in the country in Colt McCoy. Brown has what he calls "the best collective group of receivers since we've been here" and one of the best defensive lines in the nation. But he is trying to temper expectations about his squad.

When asked if his team is top-five heading into the season, Brown said, "To me, we've got way too many question marks. I like the way we finished [against Iowa]. But none of us were proud of the two games before the bowl game. To me, we can potentially win all the games, but we also can be very average."

OU and UT appear to face one significant nonconference hurdle before meeting each other Oct. 6 in the Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma will face one of the best defenses in the country when Miami heads to Norman on Sept. 8. That same day, Texas also will face one of the best defenses in the country when TCU plays in Austin.


Nowhere to go but up
The way people are talking about Southern Cal this season, you'd think ESPN was about to start another series with Kirk Herbstreit and Mark May sitting in a candlelit Superdome comparing the Trojans' destructive capability to the Cowboys of the 1990s, Bill Russell's Celtics or global warming.

The Men of Troy have Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback John David Booty, a speedy, veteran defense and eight scholarship running backs most other programs would give their luxury suites for.

So can the Big 12 get into the Bowl Championship Series conversation in 2007 after playing for the national championship five times from 2000 to 2005? Last year's effort was so messy that even Oklahoma and Texas couldn't rescue what became the worst football season in the league's 11 years.

For the first time, no Big 12 team finished in the top 10 of the final Associated Press poll. The league also finished with a low of two teams in the final Top 25 – Oklahoma at No. 11 and Texas at No. 13.

The Big 12 went 0-14 against ranked teams from other conferences. The last of those losses came in the Fiesta Bowl, as OU helped Boise State enjoy a storybook finish to the season.

By then, Texas had already crashed as a double-digit favorite against Kansas State and Texas A&M. Nebraska had been undone by questionable coaching decisions in a Cotton Bowl loss to Auburn. And Dennis Franchione and the Aggies were searching for their self-esteem after a 35-point whacking by Cal in the Holiday Bowl.

The Big 12 has never fared particularly well in the postseason – in only four of its 11 years has the conference enjoyed a winning bowl record. But lately, Texas and Oklahoma had helped mask the league's lack of depth by contending for the national title.

Last season was especially bad, as the conference went 3-5 with the only victories coming from Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State against 6-6 teams Iowa, Minnesota and Alabama. A two-team league


Searching for depth
The Big 12 had nine bowl-eligible teams in 2006, but which outside of Texas and Oklahoma is ready to make noise nationally?

Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione says "we're right there" with Oklahoma and Texas after beating the Longhorns in 2006 and a 17-16 loss to OU in College Station last year.

But A&M, which went 5-0 on the road during the regular season one year ago, has to play away from home this season against Miami, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri.

"I think you could have a better team and not a better record," said Franchione, whose Aggies finished 9-4 last season.

Oklahoma State has a loaded offense but hasn't had a winning conference record in two seasons under coach Mike Gundy.

Nebraska won the Big 12 North last season and will have Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Keller stepping in for Zac Taylor, the Big 12 offensive player of the year in 2006. But the Big Red loses much of its front seven on defense and has nonconference games at defending ACC champion Wake Forest and home against Southern Cal.

Missouri, the media's preseason pick to win the Big 12 North, may have one of the best offenses in the league. But the Tigers have never finished strong in six previous seasons under Gary Pinkel. Mizzou is 3-10 in the final month of the season the last three years and gave up a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead to Oregon State in a Sun Bowl loss last season.

"If you want to get respect, you have to win at a higher level," Pinkel said. "We have not done that. So that's what we have to do."


North must rise again
Most conference power rankings at the end of 2006 put the Big 12 sixth behind the SEC, Big East, Pac-10, ACC and Big Ten.

For that to change, the Big 12 North must rise again, specifically Nebraska, which won three national titles in the 1990s and played for another in 2001.

"If you look at our first three years, we've been right on schedule, right on track," said coach Bill Callahan, who inherited a 10-3 team and went 5-6, 8-4 and 9-5 in his first three seasons. "It's the challenge this year to maintain and improve that."

The North Division is 15-42 against the South the last three seasons. Even though three coaches in the North are in their first or second years, Callahan is the only one to post a winning record in conference play.

"Sometimes, you get a division that's a little stronger than the other," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "We'll see what happens."

Kansas State, a national power under former coach Bill Snyder, was the last North team to win a Big 12 title (2003). The Wildcats appeared to make big strides under first-year coach Ron Prince in 2006.

Prince inherited a 4-7 team, beat Oklahoma State and Texas en route to a 7-6 record after losing to Rutgers in the Texas Bowl.

But the off-season has been an adventure. Prince had to replace four assistants for a variety of reasons. Prince's star, 6-6 sophomore quarterback, Josh Freeman (left), has been in a rut since lighting up Texas in a 45-42 victory in November.

The next week, Freeman suffered six turnovers in a loss to Kansas and then two interceptions and three sacks in the 37-10 bowl loss. Then, at the start of fall camp, Freeman missed two practices after ballooning to 265 pounds over the summer and flunked Prince's physical fitness test twice.


Still a year away?
Whether the Big 12 is worthy of making a run for the BCS national title game at the Superdome this season will be dictated by its young quarterbacks.

The conference had six signal-callers who led their teams to bowls as freshmen or sophomores last season: Texas' Colt McCoy, Texas A&M's Stephen McGee, Texas Tech's Graham Harrell of Ennis, Missouri's Chase Daniel of Southlake Carroll, Oklahoma State's Bobby Reid and Josh Freeman at Kansas State.

This season, OU, Colorado, Baylor and Kansas will start quarterbacks with less than a full season of starting experience.

Only Iowa State senior Bret Meyer has more than two seasons worth of starts in the league. Nebraska's Sam Keller played in 19 games at Arizona State from 2003 to 2005, throwing for 3,018 yards and 26 TDs with only 11 interceptions. But he started only eight games.

Oklahoma's quarterback battle – redshirt freshman Sam Bradford beat out freshman Keith Nichol and junior Joey Halzle – will be among the most scrutinized in the country. OU has tons of talent on offense to help a first-time starter. But the last time OU went with a young QB (Rhett Bomar), the Sooners went 8-4 in 2005.

"I think we're going to see a better Big 12 this year," Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione said. "You don't have to think very long to come up with this, but Colt McCoy, Stephen McGee, Chase Daniel, Graham Harrell, Bobby Reid and Josh Freeman all got a year of experience under their belt.

"We all know the impact of experienced quarterbacks on a league, and I think we'll see that this year."


Young guns
The Big 12 had six quarterbacks who led their teams to bowls as freshmen or sophomores last season:

Colt McCoy, Texas, So.: NCAA freshman record-tying 29 TD passes in 2006

Stephen McGee, Texas A&M, Jr.: Only two INTs in 287 pass attempts last season

Graham Harrell, Texas Tech, Jr.: Third-best sophomore season in NCAA history (4,555 pass yards)

Chase Daniel, Missouri, Jr.: Broke MU season marks for passing yards (3,527) and TD passes (28)

Bobby Reid, Oklahoma St., Jr.: 24 TD passes with 11 INTs; ran for 500 yds and five TDs in '06

Josh Freeman, Kansas St., So.: Six TD passes with 15 INTs, but beat UT and went 4-4 as starter


Make or break
Here's a look at some of the Big 12's biggest nonconference games in 2007:

Sept. 1: Oklahoma St. at Georgia

Sept. 1: Kansas St. at Auburn

Sept. 8: Miami at Oklahoma

Sept. 8: TCU at Texas

Sept. 8: Colorado at Arizona St.

Sept. 8: Nebraska at Wake Forest

Sept. 15: Florida St. at Colorado

Sept. 15: USC at Nebraska

Sept. 20: Texas A&M at Miami


Going 0-fer
The Big 12 went 0-14 against ranked, nonconference opponents in 2006. Here's a look:

REGULAR SEASON (0-9)

Sept. 3:

No. 22 TCU 17, Baylor 7

Sept. 9:

No. 1 Ohio State 24, No. 2 Texas 7

Sept. 16:

No. 16 Iowa 27, Iowa State 17

No. 18 Oregon 34, No. 15 Oklahoma 33

No. 20 TCU 12, No. 24 Texas Tech 3

No. 22 Arizona St. 21, Colorado 3

No. 4 USC 28, Nebraska 10

Sept. 23:

No. 8 Louisville 24, Kansas State 6

No. 9 Georgia 14, Colorado 13

BOWL SEASON (0-5)

Dec. 28:

No. 20 California 45, No. 21 Texas A&M 10

No. 16 Rutgers 37, Kansas State 10

Dec. 29:

No. 24 Oregon St. 39, Missouri 38

Jan. 1

No. 10 Auburn 17, No. 22 Nebraska 14

No. 9 Boise St. 43, No. 7 Oklahoma 42 (OT)



- Let's get this party started........

LSU vs. Mississippi St. tonight kicks it all off tonight




- Picks O'the day

Yesterday - 3-6
YTD - 136-121

MLB
1) KC +135
2) Boston +145
3) NY Mets -115

NCAA
1) LSU -17.5
2) Oregon St. -6.5
3) Oregon St./Utah OVER 52.5

College Preview 2007

Here we go..........


- Conference Power Rankings



1) SEC - is there any question here? Now that Kentucky, Vandy, and South Carolina are creeping close to Top 25 respectability, Alabama has a top flight coach, and Arkansas has Superman in its backfield, the level of play in the SEC is becoming absurdly high. Check out this lineup of teams that should finish in the top 25:

LSU
Auburn
Georgia
Florida
Arkansas
Alabama
Kentucky
Tennessee
South Carolina

That's no BS, 9 teams could/should finish in the top 25 at the end of the year. Unreal.

2) PAC-10 - Go ahead and bash it because of style of play, certain stereotypes, biases, etc, but it could have Cal, UCLA, and USC all finish in the top 10 at the end of the year. Those 3 teams could cannabilize each other and keep someone from playing in the BCS Championship. Add in Oregon St. (which returns tons of starters), Dennis Erickson's Arizona St. squad that sports a top QB, and you have a stout conference. Not as deep as the SEC, but still good.

3) Big 12 - Texas and Oklahoma remain the class, but Oklahoma St., Missouri, Texas A&M, and Nebraska are all on the cusp of joining them. Facility upgrades, great coaching, and improved recruiting have them breathing down the neck of the Big 2. There also might be the best collection of QB's in the land in this conference. I truly believe the games this year could resemble PAC-10 type shootouts, the offenses/QB's are that good.

4) Big East/Big 10 - I hate the Big 10, basically the Big 2 (Ohio St./Michigan), the step brother who's pretty decent (Wisconsin), and a bunch of spares. Yes, Penn St. has high hopes this year, but the rest is just a bunch of crap. And the bowl record and performance against speedier teams is just terrible.
The Big East is equally as top heavy, with Louisville and West Virginia to go along with a bunch of crap. Hate both of these conferences.

5) ACC - Another mediocre conference, no real title contenders outside of Virginia Tech. Miami can't score, Duke is the worst program in D-1, Florida St. is always overrated, BC maxes out at 10 wins each year, and Clemson/NC State never live up to expectations although each have top talent. If Miami and Florida St. can get good again, if Butch Davis can resurrect UNC (were they ever alive to begin with?), if Clemson/NC State can ever realize expectations, and if Va. Tech can keep up their high level, they could take a big jump up the rankings. Too many ifs.



- Most Underrated Teams

This could also double as my sleeper bet teams. Notice the absence of Oklahoma St. If everyone's talking about them, they are no longer underrated. They seem to be everyone's sleeper pick.



1) Boston College - I know I just bashed their conference, but this team is stacked, relative to the other teams in the ACC. Outside of Virginia Tech, there are no other threats to them. They retain all of their skill players on offense, including the best QB in the ACC, and have 9 starters back on defense. Only roadblocks I see are the road games to Clemson, Maryland, and Virginia Tech. Win 2 of 3, and you're looking at an 11 win team. Even 1 of 3 can get you 10 wins if they take care of business at home.

2) Oregon St. - Overlooked by many due to UCLA, CAL, and USC. But this team returns everyone, including the best WR in the PAC-10, and won 8 of its last 9 last year (including the USC upset). Has a tough home stadium as well. The schedule is tough as nails, at USC, at CAL, at Arizona St. But I can see them sneaking out of any of those places with wins, there are no tough environments within those 3, outside of maybe Arizona St. (if they happen to be winning that year).

3) Alabama - Give me a top coach with a kick ass attitude, 9 starters back on offense, an attacking style of defense, and a huge home field advantage, and I'll give you my SEC sleeper team. Kentucky or Vandy could go here, but they're on everyone's radar. Give me Bama.

4) Virginia - 10 starters back on offense, 9 on defense, a good coach, an athletic, playmaking QB, tons of redshirt freshman getting mixed in, and a schedule with no BC or Florida St, and this adds up to a potential 9-10 win team. Check out the first 7 games:
at Wyoming, Duke, at UNC, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, at Middle Tenn State, Connecticut.



- Most overrated teams.



1) Texas - 3 NFL offensive lineman are gone. 3 NFL defensive backs are gone from one of the worst pass defenses in 2006. Genius D-Coordinator Gene Chizik is gone. A lot of off-season arrests. No yard eater at RB. 3 WR's with nagging injuries. This team will disappoint big time. Look at the list of QB's/coaches that can't wait to expose this secondary - Bob Stoops, Bobby Reid, Steven McGee, Bill Callahan/Sam Keller, Mike Leach/Graham Harrell. Mark it down, they'll lose 3 of those 5 games.

2) Michigan - First off, they play in the Big 10. 2nd, they lost 8 starters on a defense that was exposed against good teams. And 3rd, Mike Hart and Chad Henne are 2 of the most overrated offensive talents in the nation. And they're 0-3 against Ohio St. and in bowl games in the past 3 years.

3) Oklahoma St. - How can a team with such offensive firepower be overrated? Because the defense is that bad. You can score all you want, but when it's all said and done, can you control the clock and stop offenses when it counts? The answer will be no for these guys in 2007.

4) Florida - Tim Tebow will get exposed and won't be able to move chains and be a pocket passer. The defense lost everyone. They play in the SEC. They may be good in a few years, but not top 10 this year. Not with that schedule.

5) Arkansas - I had them last year as a sleeper, back when McFadden was a relative unknown (at least unknown as far as Heisman hype goes). But this year they are rated based solely on #5 in the backfield. They aren't picked to set the world on fire, but they are still picked to be top 15, which won't happen (top 25 is more realistic). They are Batman and Robin (McFadden and Felix Jones) surrounded by trash.


Top Offenses


1) West Virginia - best running combo in the nation.
2) Oklahoma St. - Best triplets in the nation.
3) Cal - Longshore, Forsett, and Jackson form a very good trio.
4) USC - Great QB and RB, decent WR.
5) Hawaii/Texas Tech


Top Defenses


1) USC - just ridiculous
2) Virginia Tech
3) LSU - expect that September 8 showdown with Virginia Tech to be under 20 pts combined.
4) Miami - Yes, Miami.
5) UCLA - All can sh*t on lightning and tons of NFL prospects


- Heisman Rankings


1) McFadden
2) John David Booty
3) Pat White/Steve Slaton
4) PJ Hill - Wisconsin
5) Brian Brohm

On edge of list
- Steven McGee - if they start ripping off wins, he'll jump
- Sam Keller - if he kicks ass like I think he will, and/or if he beats USC, he's in top 5.
- DeSean Jackson - CAL - pure excitement and scoring versatility
- Colt Brennan - Will put up the numbers and wins to get him in
- Chase Daniel - like Keller and McGee, could jump if his team starts hot and picks up big wins.
- Andre Woodson - Kentucky
- Ian Johnson - Boise St.



- Conference predictions

- SEC
East Champ - Tennessee
West Champ - LSU
SEC Champ - LSU

- PAC 10
Champ - USC

- Big 12
North Champ - Nebraska
South Champ - Oklahoma
Big 12 Champ - Nebraska (Nebraska is 5-0 in the Alamodome)

- Big 10
Champ - Wisconsin

- ACC
Coastal Champ - Virginia Tech
Atlantic Champ - Boston College
ACC Champ - Virginia Tech

- Big East
Champ - West Virginia

BCS Champ - LSU




- Updated NoTex Rant Top 25

- Changes in bold

#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

They had their chances. Four or five of them could've left old Blacksburg for the NFL and its riches.
Xavier Adibi would have been a first-day pick. Branden Ore had potential to be taken in the top 100. Vince Hall. Eddie Royal. All of them could have declared and gone pro to make plenty of money. All of them leaving could have put the Hokies in a tough spot.

But Adibi, a quick and mean inside linebacker; Ore, a prolific running back who scored 16 times; Hall, the team's leading tackler; and Royal, a dangerous wideout/return man, have all returned for at least another season. And that means VT has the chance to build on a 10-win season that featured a squandered opportunity against Georgia in the Peach Bowl, and a defensive effort that keyed a six-game winning streak to close the season. During that stretch, Tech allowed just 29 points.

Now, with 16 returning starters and scads of impressive reserves back in the fold, the Hokies should have the ACC's best team, top defense and be a legitimate contender to play for the national title. As for the national scene, a Sept. 8 showdown at LSU will be an early indicator.

Though Tech remains a highly successful program, having won 10 or more games five of the past seven years, it's been a while since it's been considered a threat for the national championship. Even a loss in Baton Rouge wouldn't kill title hopes, considering one of the year's biggest non-conference games comes early in the season. But the program has to focus on the bigger picture. Obviously, that involves far more than just football after the tragedy and horror the school has dealt with.

Now Virginia Tech has to adjust to all the attention of being a national story week in and week out for reasons other than just being a great football team. There's a new kind of pressure the program will have to deal with, and that's dealing with being the distraction and rallying point for a community desperate for something positive.

On the field, the offense has to be consistent in ACC play — it can't suffer its annual bizarre in-game, nationally televised meltdown — and has to play up to its capabilities. It's ACC title or bust, with an eye on even bigger and better dreams. And bigger and better responsibilities.

What to look for on offense: A big dose of Ore. He averaged 20 carries a game last year, and it wouldn't be surprising to see that number swell several times throughout the year. That would help a Tech ground game that was erratic at best last year, mostly when Ore was banged up, and should help take the pressure off QBs Sean Glennon and Ike Whitaker. Whoever's throwing (it'll be Glennon to start) gets back the top eight targets from last year, including Royal, David Clowney and Josh Morgan.

What to look for on defense: Tech was amazing last year, allowing just 219.5 yards of total offense and 11 points a game, both best in the nation. With eight starters back, including Adibi, Hill, tackle Barry Booker and corner Brandon Flowers, the Hokies again will be stifling, and capable of making the offense's job much easier. The overall formula will be the same, using the front seven to swarm to the ball and get into the backfield, while hoping the secondary can use its speed to keep the big plays to a minimum.

The team will be far better if ... an offense which ranked 99th in the nation last year becomes more efficient, more balanced and more consistent. The Hokies don't have to be Hawaii, but they can't rely entirely on the defense. Glennon or Whitaker must get the ball downfield more often, and the ground game must produce more than 3.2 yards per carry.

The Schedule: The first half of the year should be a walk in the park with the exception of that trip to LSU that'll be Tech's chance to make a national championship statement. Another visit to Death Valley, Clemson's version, will be the chance to make an ACC championship statement. After the layup at Duke it gets rough, playing Boston College, at Georgia Tech, Florida State and Miami before finishing up at Virginia.

Best Offensive Player: Junior RB Branden Ore. Ore arrived in a big way last fall, parlaying a physical, no-nonsense running style into a 1,000-yard season with 16 touchdowns and a spot on the all-ACC first team. An old-school Hokie with a habit of moving the chains and wearing out defenses, the junior is also surprisingly valuable as a receiver on screens and swing passes.

Best Defensive Player: Senior LB Vince Hall. Along with teammate Xavier Adibi, Hall helps give the Hokies the most physically imposing linebacking tandem in the nation. Tech's leading tackler for the last two seasons is a versatile predator who fills the gaps quickly in run defense, covers well and at 6-foot, 245-pounds, and can blow up opposing linemen.

Key player to a successful season: Junior QB Sean Glennon or sophomore Ike Whitaker. Glennon appears to have the job after spring ball, but if he struggles, things could quickly change. The statistics say Glennon completed 56.3 percent of his throws, but he matched his 11 touchdowns with 11 picks and never threw the ball downfield with any regularity. Granted, it was his first year under center, but he wasn't a dynamic weapon by season's end, although he had improved. Whitaker might turn out to be the better option, with far more ability and immeasurably more mobility.

The season will be a success if ... the Hokies win the ACC title. That early date at LSU might be too much to overcome to play in the national championship game. The defense should be among the best in America, if not number one overall, and the offense should be a bit more consistent, no matter what the quarterback play is like. It's time to win the conference and be off to the BCS. The team is too good for anything less.

Key game: Nov. 1 at Georgia Tech. There are several big ACC showdowns, including road trips to Clemson and Virginia, but with Boston College, Florida State and Miami all coming to Blacksburg, a win at Georgia Tech might be the one game that stands between the Hokies and the Coastal Division title.

2006 Fun Stats

Interception return average: Virginia Tech 17.9 yards; Opponents 4.6 yards

Second quarter scoring: Virginia Tech 89; Opponents 23

Virginia Tech Hokies
Team Information
Head coach: Frank Beamer
21st year: 156-82-2
27th year: 198-105-4
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 19, Def. 21, ST 2
Lettermen Lost: 19

Ten Best Players
1. LB Vince Hall, Sr.
2. LB Xavier Adibi, Sr.
3. CB Brandon Flowers, Jr.
4. RB Branden Ore, Jr.
5. OT Duane Brown, Sr.
6. WR/KR Eddie Royal, Sr.
7. DE Chris Ellis, Sr.
8. DT Barry Booker, Sr.
9. CB VIctor "Macho" Harris, Jr.
10. FS D.J. Parker, Sr.

2007 Schedule
Sept. 1 East Carolina
Sept. 8 at LSU
Sept. 15 Ohio
Sept. 22 William & Mary
Sept. 29 North Carolina
Oct. 6 at Clemson
Oct. 13 at Duke
Oct. 25 Boston College
Nov. 1 at Georgia Tech
Nov. 10 Florida State
Nov. 17 Miami
Nov. 24 at Virginia




- #3 - West Virginia

Rich Rodriguez has built a program in Morgantown that now expects to win championships every year. Everyone's trendy pick to challenge for a national title in 2006 fell short, losing to Louisville and South Florida in November, but it's no longer going out on a limb to think the Mountaineers can win it all.
From the moment Coach Rod spurned Alabama to remain at his alma mater, West Virginia took yet another big step in the fight to remain an elite program. With one decision to stay put, WVU suddenly became a destination job and not quite the stepping-stone many thought it'd be for Rodriguez.

He and his coaches adapt to their personnel and develop talent about as well as any staff in the country, and now they're getting more and more of the top-shelf players to fit the system. Of course, it helps immensely that QB Pat White and RB Steve Slaton will also be back for their junior years to build around.

White and Slaton create a speed advantage that few, if any, defenses can contain even when they know what's coming. Even scarier than their past performances is what's lurking on the horizon now that White has shown signs of improvement as a passer to go along with his game-breaking running ability in the open field.

Helping the stars is all the returning experience with plenty of starters and seasoned backups to both sides of the ball. The key will be finding replacements for last year's leading tackler, Boo McLee, and a pair of graduating offensive linemen, most notably Rimington Award winner Dan Mozes. The Mountaineers never have a shortage of run blocking road graders, but losing offensive line coach Rick Trickett to Florida State won't make the transition any easier.

West Virginia has won 11 games in each of the last two seasons and back-to-back bowl games for just the second time in school history. That head of steam, coupled with a veteran roster should mean another big run in the Big East title race. With the right breaks, the Mountaineers will be shooting for even more.

What to watch for on offense ... The spread offense conjures up images of a dink and dunk passing game, but no one runs the ball or keeps defenses on its heels better than WVU, which has the Big East's most potent ground game five years running. With White and Slaton in the backfield, there's no reason to get too cute and go away from what's been working. The offense is about getting to the playmakers as quickly as possible, creating space, and then watching them run through the gaping seams. Look for more play-action in 2007, allowing White to find the team's other blazer, WR Darius Reynaud.

What to watch for on defense ... Nothing about West Virginia is conventional, including the defense, which employs the 3-3-5 stack to get its best athletes on the field for blitz packages while creating a swarming effect in run defense. The Mountaineers, however, got scorched through the air repeatedly down the stretch last year, a flaw that has to be corrected or else they'll be vulnerable again, even in a league that's short on prolific passers not named Brohm.

The team will be far better if ... the defense can create pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The pass rush was spotty last fall, leaving an already iffy secondary to cover an extra second or two longer than it could handle. It's incumbent upon the unit to flush the pocket and create sacks or else the Mountaineers will again rank among the worst in the country against the pass. Neither White nor Slaton is that big or that durable, so keeping both healthy will also be a year-long objective.

The Schedule: It's all about surviving the early barrage. After warming up against a good Western Michigan team, the Mountaineers have to survive a brutal stretch of four road games in five weeks and five away games in the first eight going to Marshall, Maryland, South Florida, Syracuse and Rutgers. If the team is BCS title worthy, it shouldn't have a problem winning four of the five, but it might be too much to ask to go unscathed in all five. Things don't exactly ease up in November, but at least Louisville, Connecticut and Pitt have to go to Morgantown.

Best Offensive Player: Junior RB Steve Slaton and QB Pat White. You can't have one without the other. Actually, as last year proved when injuries struck each, you can, and there can still be plenty of rushing production. Every team knows these two are going to run the ball. Every team goes into games knowing that there's no chance for a win without stopping them. Even so, no one can do it. Each deserves more credit in the Heisman chase.

Best Defensive Player: Senior NT Keilen Dykes. Not your typical soft body in the middle of a defensive line, Dykes is a rock solid, 6-4 and 300-pound presence for the Mountaineer defense. While always stout against the run, the reigning first team All-Big East tackle continues to improve in his ability to penetrate and pressure opposing quarterbacks.

Key player to a successful season: Senior CBs Larry Williams and Vaughn Rivers. The Mountaineers struggled all season long in pass defense with most of the stats coming when games were out of reach. Even so, the secondary needs to tighten up, especially against Louisville, to get into the national title discussion.

The season will be a success if ... the Mountaineers win the Big East title. Win the conference first, then hope everything else falls into place. It's not going to be easy considering how loaded the league is, but if they can win the home games against Louisville and Pitt, and can split with South Florida and Rutgers while beating Maryland in the non-conference schedule, things should fall into place for a second BCS slot in three years. The team is good enough to shoot for nothing less.

Key game: Oct. 27 at Rutgers. The trip to South Florida in late September is also vital, but among the biggest of the big boys, West Virginia has to come away from Piscataway with a win or there's no chance at a BCS slot if it loses the following week against Louisville.

2006 Fun Stats:

First quarter scoring: West Virginia 111 — Opponents 51
West Virginia first downs rushing: 168 — passing 91
Average yards per carry: West Virginia 6.7 — Opponents 3
Yards per carry: Virginia 3.2; Opponents 2.8

West Virginia Mountaineers
Team Information
Head coach: Rich Rodriguez
7th year: 50-24
Returning Lettermen: 43
Lettermen Lost: 27

Ten Best Players
1. QB Pat White, Jr.
2. RB Steve Slaton, Jr.
3. S Eric Wicks, Sr.
4. DT Keilen Dykes, Sr.
5. OT Ryan Stancheck, Jr.
6. WR Darius Reynaud, Sr.
7. FB Owen Schmitt, Sr.
8. S Quinton Andrews, Soph.
9. LB Reed Williams, Jr.
10. CB Antonio Lewis, Sr.

2007 Schedule
Sept. 1 Western Michigan
Sept. 8 at Marshall
Sept. 13 at Maryland
Sept. 22 East Carolina
Sept. 29 at South Florida
Oct. 6 at Syracuse
Oct. 20 Mississippi State
Oct. 27 at Rutgers
Nov. 8 Louisville
Nov. 17 at Cincinnati
Nov. 24 Connecticut
Dec. 1 Pitt


- Booger



- Out Cold





- Picks O'the day

Yesterday - 2-4
YTD - 133-115

1)

3 more days until kickoff.........

- 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