2011 - Preseason edition

We're mere days away from heavenly bliss. It's time for my take on the upcoming season, but we won't go over the wacky offseason that just occurred. Instead, I'll give you a few snippets of the craziness.

First, I would probably need an entire blog devoted to what happened at THE Ohio State University. Selling player memorabilia, suspensions, head coach Jim Tressell resigning, former main man Terrelle Pryor quitting the team altogether, and multiple sanctions that are sure to follow are just the main points of what happened in Columbus. I mean Pryor had his own private car lot at one point. Who at that school DIDN'T think they would get caught. Well they did, and now they have a new coach, and an unproven QB situation instead of a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Don't forget about the possible huge sanctions at Miami, as well as North Carolina and Oregon. We are still waiting to see what happens there.

South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia was "suspended" from the team for the fifth time due to him being a drunken idiot at a team banquet. Ha, yeah right. He's already back on the team just in time for fall camp because Spurrier knows he can't win without him. It's always about winning isn't it?

Most recently, Texas A&M thinks that after a 9-4 season and a Cotton Bowl loss they all of a sudden can hang with the SEC. They get a little jealous of Texas' Longhorn Network, which or may or may not be fair, and they decide they now want to join the big boys. They had their chance last year during the conference realignment chaos of 2010, and were persuaded to stay in the Big 12. This time around, the SEC says no thanks, for now at least.

A sad time in Norman, OK. Austin Box would have been a starting linebacker for the preseason number one ranked team in the country. Instead, he was found dead at a friend's house, believed to have had a bad mix of pain pills and other medication. So tragic when a kid that young loses his life.

There were many things I could go over that happened this offseason, but I don't have time. Plus, it's time to look toward the future. Let's get it started!

Speaking of OU.

Every one's preseason number one. With all of the talent on offense and defense coming back, why shouldn't they be? Someone has to be number one to start the season. They will be favored to win every game, but losses could come at Florida State and at Oklahoma State, two top 10 ranked teams on the road. QB Landry Jones is now a Heisman candidate, and he has one of the best receivers in the nation to throw to in Ryan Broyles. A slew of young talent also will be on the field for the Sooners, and the defense will be solid as always. Bob Stoops knows how to coach, but can he get them over the national championship bug that has plagued them over the years? A BCS bowl is probably a given for Oklahoma in 2011, it's just a matter of which one.

The defending champs.

Won't be defending. Auburn had a magical season last year, a once in  a generation player, and everything go their way. Well, I'm afraid that won't happen again. Cam Newton took what would have been an 8 win team to a national title all by himself. Sure, the defense came up big when it needed to, and Nick Fairley was a beast. But Newton made the entire team go the way no one else could. In steps an unproven quarterback named Barret Trotter. Gus Malzahn is one of the top five best offensive minds in the country, so he'll have him ready. But he's not Cam Newton. Auburn has recruited very well the last couple of years, so the young talent is there. They're just young and inexperienced. Auburn probably wins 8 games.

Don't call it a comeback.

Or do if you wish, but the Seminoles of Florida State look ready to return to the old glory days, when they finished ranked in the top five 14 straight seasons. At least that is what everyone tells me. I think they'll be a good team, win 9, maybe 10 games, but preseason top five in some polls? I don't know about that. Second year head coach Jimbo Fisher seems to have them on the right track, and has recruited extremely well. But I'm just not sure they can win the ACC and make it to a BCS bowl this season. Don't forget, Virginia Tech is still in the same conference. EJ Manuel steps in for Christian Ponder at QB, who played well last year when Ponder was injured. But my concern for the Noles is that Fisher is supposed to be this offensive guru, and they only ranked 33rd last year in total offense in the country. Who knows, maybe in year two, they will take off. I hope so, I used to love this program, especially Bobby Bowden. The monstrosity of a showdown with Oklahoma the third week of the season will tell us how good they really are.

Speaking of monster showdowns.

There are two week one match ups that should give us an idea of the make up of the top 10 right away. First you have #3 Oregon against #4 LSU in Cowboys Stadium. WHAT?! I can't remember an opening week game of this magnitude, well, ever! Oregon is coming off a trip to the national title game, where they had every chance of winning that game, but lost on a last second field goal by Auburn. LSU returns the nucleus of a team that somewhat quietly went 11-2 last year. All the pressure is on LSU QB Jordan Jefferson, who goes hot and cold faster than anyone you've ever seen. Of course, LSU just seems to win a lot of games every year. Oregon also returns the majority of that national title runner up team, including a Heisman favorite in LaMichael James. Everyone always talks about Oregon's fast paced offense, but we all know what can happen to an offense when it faces and SEC defense. And LSU has a great defense. This game will be huge, there's no other way to say it. Just sit back and hold on.

The second big game of the opening week will be stupid Boise State versus Georgia in the Georgia Dome. It is a big match up, however I'm slightly disappointed. Georgia is not what they were a few years ago. Sure they're ranked, but ranked 24th. Head coach Mark Richt is on the molten lava hot seat in Athens, and they are lacking big stars that they normally have. QB Aaron Murray is good, but how good is he really? Boise State will think they're getting their measuring stick game against an SEC opponent, but they're really not. It's basically a home game for Georgia, and if the Dawgs can jump on them early and punch them in the mouth, they can pull it off. But just like always, Boise State will probably find a way to win on some annoying play and anger me to no end. Nevertheless, it is a big time match up we need to watch.

Speaking of how good is he really?

Andrew Luck is that good. The guy is more pro ready than anyone I've seen in a long time. There are no questions marks with him. He is smart, physically gifted, and a good guy. Stanford will not be what they were a year ago, but who cares? I just want to watch Luck. He is a Texas boy(from Houston) who knows how to play football. Stanford is ranked #7 in the preseason, but I feel that is a carry over from last year. Head coach Jim Harbaugh is gone, and he was the biggest reason, other than Luck, Stanford went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl. Unless Luck decides to quit, or gets seriously injured, he should win the Heisman and be the number one pick in the NFL draft next year. Good for him.

New look.

This marks the first year of the newly expanded Big 10, which has 12 teams. Don't get it confused with the Big 12, which has 10 teams. Try and keep up. The biggest move was Nebraska to the Big 10. After crying for revenge against Texas from '09, then losing to them again at home, and after a Big 12 championship loss in '10, they unceremoniously move on. I'm glad, they annoy me. Sure they are rich with tradition, but in the last 8-10 years, what have they done? Not much. I think they'll be successful in slow-land, especially now that Ohio State won't be that good for the next year or two. All they have to worry about is Wisconsin, not Iowa or Penn State like everyone else thinks. Bo Pelini is bringing them back to being a good program, even though he needs anger management help. I wouldn't be surprised if Nebraska wins the Big 10(12 teams) their first time out.

Speaking of bringing them back.

No other program in the country gets the benefit of the doubt like Notre Dame. The richest tradition program of them all, other than Oklahoma, rides that wave of success from years past better than anyone. They get an automatic five spot jump in the rankings, and are favored to win games they shouldn't be favored to win, ever. I mean they hadn't won a bowl game in about 15 years up until two years ago! Anyway, second year head coach Brian Kelly is the real deal. They guy can flat out coach. He took Cincinnati, yeah, Cincinnati, to two straight BCS bowls and Big East titles. No Kenyon Martin wasn't on the team. I promise you he'll get it done in South Bend like it hasn't been done in a long while. He's already recruiting well, it's not hard too there, but still. Get ready to hear slobbering Lou Holtz on ESPN call them the best team of all time for years to come.

Just unfair.

Again, an entire blog could be created just to talk about the SEC West. Yes I'm a homer when it comes to this division, but you can't argue with what's about to happen this year. Brad Edwards of ESPN wrote an article stating this might be the best division ever in college football. Of course this is all preseason rankings at this point, but you have Alabama ranked #2, LSU #4, Arkansas #14, Auburn #19, and Miss. State #20. Talk about having to get up for every game and not slack off. The Big 12 South of '08 was close to this with OU, Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State all ranked in the top 15 going into the last two weeks of the season. But there was a big drop off after Okie State. So with this division having five teams ranked, and never being able to tell what Ole Miss is going to do, it may indeed be the best division ever. And if you wonder why people talk about the SEC so much, this doesn't include the two ranked teams over in the East division.

Speaking of Texas.

What a disappointment last year was, for them at least. Preseason ranked in the top 10, to a 5-7 finish and sitting at home during the bowls. Something we're not used to seeing out of Austin. I thought it was hilarious! There's nothing I love more than to see the Longhorns fail. But, don't expect that for long. Mack Brown overhauled his staff, hiring new, proven offensive and defensive coordinators. And although QB Garret Gilbert is more experienced, word is another McCoy has been playing well and could get a chance to start. Colt's little brother Case is the backup right now, but he played well in the spring, and I wouldn't be shocked if he gets the nod in favor of Gilbert. As much as I don't want them to, Texas will be back. And just to add to their arrogance, they now have their own TV network, so aptly named The Longhorn Network. Yay.

That other orange Big 12 team.

The Pokes of Okie State. Always entertaining, you never know what Gundy is going to say. He will literally NEVER live down "The Rant." Unfortunately for him, that overshadows what he's done in Stillwater. His offenses are really good, and it will be again this year with QB Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon coming back. Blackmon is probably the best wide receiver in the country. He has the Biletnikoff award to prove it. They went 11-2 last year, the quietest 11 win team of all time. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgerson took the head coaching job at West Virginia, but Gundy has been excellent as the OC in past years. The problem with the Pokes is always defense. They've never fielded a stellar defense, and who knows how good it's going to be this year. As always, Bedlam will be a huge game at the end of the year, and could decide once again who wins the Big 12. The MAN has never beaten OU, will this be the year?

Last but not least, of course.

I finish with the Hogs. A disappointing loss in the Sugar Bowl to the cheaters of Ohio State ended one of the best seasons in school history. But it raised expectations, and deservedly so. Arkansas should have just as good a team this year. Ryan Mallet is gone, but in steps Tyler Wilson. He doesn't have the physical gifts of Mallet, mainly the arm, but he can get it done. He may just be the right guy to take them to the next level. We thought it was going to be easier for him having running back Knile Davis to take some of the load off, but he injured his ankle and will miss the entire season. Awesome. But there are capable backs in Ronnie Wingo, and Dennis Johnson returns from an injury a year ago. Wilson will also have the luxury of throwing to the best receiving corps in the nation. The only question on offense is breaking in new starters at offensive tackle. If they gel in time for the start of conference play, they'll be fine. The defense should be even more improved after making a big jump last year. It could be the kind of defense that carries a team to big things. Have I ever said defense wins championships? This Hog team should win nine or ten games again, they just have the unfortunate task of playing in the best conference and division in the country.

Until the start of the season!