Strife

On a quiet night bellowing with the blankets of winter cold biting at the fingers and the nose, count the ceaseless stars in the pervading still waters of the cosmos and the museum of unique light. Hear the whine of the sorcerer, the blue shift of the lugubrious nuclear reactions in the flight of the train coming home to the station near the waterfront. The battlefront between the past and the present, the light of the stars and the terrestrial horn of a far away locomotive a dichotomy of reality and perspective. Insignificance, strife, the known universe aloof to the vibrancy of humanity in a display of frigid perfection across the vacuum of eons. What is left but shear introspection, the remnants of a shattered mirror reflecting not the truth but ambiguity and boundless questions. As with entropy, the chaotic will of the years reduces simplicity to a multitudinous formula marred by variables, a steady bank of fog obscuring the bitter end. All that is left is the echoes, the pulsating light of the lighthouse, a perpetuating familiarity towards identity. Against the pathway to infinity, the singular fires of the solar systems and galaxies indifferent to warm tears crawling below the eyes are but a dream to living, breathing and loving. The thousands of billions of the pieces of the puzzle of the thousands of billions of the pieces of the puzzle on what is earth and what is what rival impossibility. The singularity that is fuels imagination and the notion to persist.

Could This be a Repeat of 1969?

In the search for futility and some sort of perspective, the last version of UW football to start the season 0-5 was in 1969. With Arizona looming on the horizon in Tucson Saturday, matching an almost 40 year old low water mark does not seem improbable.

Like most fairy tales that end with a feeling of warmth and magic dust, a winless v1969 managed to knock off WSU 30-21 in the final game of the season, thus avoiding the dubious distinction of going 0 for 10. However, in the post-game shower of LSD, prayer circles, wayward activism, and Rainier, the ideals propagated amidst the peace movement are responsible for the current detriment of UW football, our empathetic military and the ineptitude of enabled consumers.

In a striking parallel to the less than auspicious start and circumstances surrounding this dismal season, v1969 played six ranked opponents, including a date at home with #1 Ohio State in a 41-14 defeat. While there exists a very good chance that 2008 may end without a single victory, it must be noted that legendary Coach Jim Owens turned things around the next year and the team won six games in 1970, including two against ranked opponents thanks to a quarterback named Sonny. Though Tyrone Willingam is not Jim Owens and Jake Locker is a hybrid of the modern game and lacks Sixkiller's nuances in the pocket, anything is possible in the world of college football.

Another Harrowing Weekend from the College Gridiron

Jake Locker's thumb still screams in agony and for reform. When will the multi-talented athlete sign with a MLB franchise and enjoy a success similar to Washingtonians Grady Sizemore, Tim Lincecum, Willie Bloomquist, and Matt Tuiasosopo? A career in the bigs is the right choice considering the complete lack of emphasis on winning from the UW administration. A situation that has deteriorated to blind acceptance, much like the Tribune's hold on the Cubs.

My game score predictions could have started for the Husky defense Saturday night, as I was correct only 34 out of 53 times, or 34 to 19 in a game scoring format. 34-19 has historical significance and was actually the final score of the 1987 Apple Cup match-up. In Chris Chandler's final home game, the Dawgs were able to throttle a productive Cougar offense featuring Timm Rosenbach, secure a bowl bid and ultimately end the season with a pedestrian 7-4-1 record. How times have changed. The Don James era was nearly two years away from a complete redefinition from an x's and o's and recruitment perspective. Names such as Emtman, Bryant, Smith, Kennedy and Brunell began to appear in the school's media guide as the groundwork was set for a national championship.

I distinctively remember Demouy Williams zigzagging his way for a punt return touchdown late in the game, the stadium shaking from 74,000 voices, and the refined hate between the Huskies and Cougars spilling over to isolated skirmishes in the stands- the flashbulbs and fists continuously connecting with their targets on the blustery November afternoon.

Another Crazy Season

In my first season of attempting to predict every major college football game and results from the tailgate drinking contests, I have enjoyed some moderate success. So far I have gone 204 Paternos and 56 Willinghams for a 79% clip.

The Folly of Institution; Reliving the Sooner Massacre

Dusk bled into morning. The nine month lull and solitude from the sun forgotten in the stark light.

No, this early day was like the rebirth of the phoenix, a true Northwest Indian summer day. One of only three on the average calendar, where Seattle can be justified as the emerald city, at least from a climatological point of view. Somewhere in Fremont a goth or queen is blaming the ills of the piercing sun’s rays and global warming on the actions of another human being or big business. What a shame. Where is Carl Sagan to surmise our apparent pathway towards the spindly glacial web of global cooling that will eventually envelope the North American continent in a mass freezer ice block of perpetual Winter?

Truly, an auspicious beginning to a new chapter in life after a night of cougar hunting. In reverence to fellow pioneers Sir David Attenborough, Teddy Roosevelt and Steve Irwin, the men who witnessed first hand the pulsating richness of the African veldt, the lure of the prey and the beat of the heart from the predator, dripping in a combative effervescence. Modern times bring an alteration to the characters, though the spirit lives on. No, I did not brandish a weapon capable of inflicting a lethal force, however I was equipped, and resonating a thermal inclination for the company of a counterpart. Of course, my prey was lust and the thought of a conquest was in the forefront of my mind and instinct. As the modern term for a refined woman or cougar has evolved into a four letter acronym similar to the word MILK, the stakes have risen. I enjoyed the diversity of pelicans, flamencos and a virtual rainbow of tropical birds, swooping in the summit of the modern high rises. Their necks and limbs curved delicately and sensuously. The varying scents from the rare orchids and the humid jungle of the crowd, a riveting dichotomy to a crisp evening.

Fortunately, my prey was able to escape in the most eloquent way possible and I was left alone to bask in the true sunlight of the mid morning. I was not allowed the luxury to brood as the touch of college football and the sounds of thundering drums faintly danced within my mind. The Okies were invading the Montlake cut and with a sense of anticipation reverence for the college game, the shackles from my previous evening’s frailty dissolved into the soft lemon wind.

My father arrived with the meticulous demeanor of a brazen cosmologist, casting the very fabric of the universe against itself at speeds bordering the race with a light beam. At 1:45pm, the frailties of the hunt now completely banished to the past as we loaded the car for the trip to the parking lot bordering the stadium, the 520 bridge already burst at the seem to the West. Those not encapsulated by the magic of college football simply caught in another log jam in the seeping current of the pretzels and tapestries of freeways. I imagined their frustration and angst trickling at first into reality with each sequence of gas, break, honk, until the final tremor of the uncontrollable manifesting itself in illustrious epithets directed at the politicians, Microsofties and the migration of Californians from the mid 1980’s, then yuppies in foreign cars, but since tempered by the reality of age and the sobering properties of the evergreen forests, subtle rains, and families. The radio was oddly silent as we traded predictions and barbs about the game, each of us making side bets as to when our cheering would degrade to witty shots at the women’s volleyball team and the audacity of William Gerberding forcing Don James to make only one choice. Of course it has never since been the same.

Dad was actually in an upbeat mood considering the anticipated doom and annihilation we were about to witness at the hands of a superior football team and functioning athletic department. He talked of a golf game Thursday in which he hosted three friends who happened to be fellow alums for another lap around the old track. The story was marred by the divine comedy of old age, the reality that as long as you live, the universe just keeps slicing an imperceptible piece out of you here and there until by the time the golden realm of existence is reached, there is just enough left to beg for mercy; and the realization sets in that the idea of eternal nothingness never felt so comfortable. Like turning the pillow over on a hot summer night or drinking a wonderfully icy beer in the tundra of the holiday season, the thought of a wonderful and competent death is such a simple answer next to a lifetime of fearing the end. The constant quest of exploring ways to reanimate the past or present, daunting and exhaustive against the ills of an unknown future.

The whole plot around the golf game revolved around attempting to locate a motorized cart for a guy in the group who could barely walk. “Ribs” was a guy from the old neighborhood, an athlete back in his day, the shadows of the UW casting its tendrils of influence on himself and all the Montlake boys. Interestingly enough the entire foursome enjoyed their childhood within walking distance of Husky Stadium, selling papers to gain admittance into games or simply throwing the football around the sidewalks and willows near Lake Washington until their arms were sore, and in their imaginations they were one day closer to becoming the great Don Heinrich or Hugh McElhenny. Now, 55 years later his bi-pedal motion was compromised by the chronic wear and tear of previous knee injuries, arthritis and life. Unbeknown to the chums from the neighborhood, a senior women’s tournament was being held that morning and motorized carts were at a premium. Dad finally took matters into his own hands, using his charming rhetoric and refined people skills to negotiate a cart away from a woman in the back of the parking lot. Of course these maverick tactics could not go unnoticed from the disapproving gaze of the head golf pro, himself a UW supporter. Even though the manner in which he heisted the vehicle proved to be the highlight of the actually golfing day, it will be graciously lost in history that Dad finished his round down a few dollars, with “Ribs” enjoying the majority of the winnings with a limp and a wry smile.

After exiting the 520 freeway, we merged onto Montlake in a sea of traffic, just a few blocks away from the stadium lot. Already, a steady throng of people like a metered cavalry in purple and gold and a few in red kept up with the car. We sat in a content silence, hoping that hope itself was a tangible ideal and wishing in the bottom of our hearts that the looming reality would somehow bestow mercy on thousands of people including ourselves, parched for a beautiful and complete performance that can only be manifested in the Saturdays of late summer and autumn. I sat with my blank notepad in the seat of the car as we entered the candy store of chaos, where rules are constantly made to be broken and in a matter of seconds one can be struck down by a bolt of pure disappointment and agony, only to be resurrected by a minute treasure of exuberance, the beauty and brilliance of the little things in life, dusted and decorated with the magic of the unknown and deemed a variation of special in the confines of each and everyone’s heart.

A group of Okies successfully made the trek from Fort Bridger on the Oregon trail via the Barlow trail. The group of portly men led the woman and children all dressed in red and white across the middle of traffic armed with a simple open fist to signify the lines of cars to stop three vehicles in front of us. We stopped cold. My father utters some choice words under his breath. A crosswalk is nowhere to be found. I catch a state trooper on the sidewalk with a look of disdain and he yells at me through the open window in a nonchalant voice, “They’re all Clay Bennett’s relatives.” I laugh heartily inside, imagining the 200 things wrong with the statement.

We turn into the parking lot, two and a half hours before the game and just in time to discover that our normal spot was overtaken by two RV’s and a table topped with a gas powered blender. I wonder if it’s a full moon.

Finally we find a place to stop and graze in the middle third of a long line of vehicles. The situation does not appear futile, as the possibility exists of gaining an early exit before the general intoxication of the collective tailgate kicks in. Ensconced in a bout of nostalgia, outside I am smiling, but internally I mull over an ex girlfriend, a balanced mixture of guilt and dread casting a group of vampire butterflies at the walls of my gizzard. We spend an inordinate amount of time harnessing our own genetics and learning to love ourselves, so at the specific point when that one person drifts into our pathway or vise versa, the very ideals of reality are bent like the upper remains of a rundown chain link fence succumbing to rust and the continued generations of climbers who frown upon the simple use of a nearby gate. I know that she would be in her element here, engaging all those within a mile radius, and finding a feasible amount of good and lively conversation with each unique encounter. Lugging a full red plastic cup of Budweiser around in one hand with a burning cigarette clamped between a finger and the cup, she would drink the liquid proudly while listening to upscale women haggle over the choice of either chardonnay or a bagel. Her glamour and sophistication evident despite the circumstances. We are all old souls to an extent, the patterns and grooves in our mind marked from a lifetime of inner voices and external stimuli. Similar to our faint ancestors rooted to the tepid tide pools on the Australian coast, we simply react to world based on billions of calculations made by billions of cells, the entire subsystem of the massive computer functioning on the quantum level. I will never know who she truly is, though I nearly found out. The luxurious awe and wonderment of witnessing a beauty so profound lasting in the conscience, while the painstaking lull of positive feedback and the tidings of love instigates a system wide reboot for a matter of pico moment. I contemplate the wonders of thermalmorphs, photomorphs, the frailty of humanity and the ex until a true Sooner Bumpkin bounds by the car. Complete with daisy dukes, oscillating curves, hair the color of cornsilk, and well, time to move on. History will never remember those who came within feet from the heights of K2 and Everest, or received the undersized trophy with the gold plated “2” that is always hidden with shame on the shelf at the office behind either a book or a photo.

Traditions are constantly forged, dissolved and recycled into the present. My friends from the coast have also endured the banishment from their usual stomping grounds. I parade up to their tent with a smile and yell to the Sombrero man, “Where is the Sooner meat?” “Hey hon, get him some Sooner special,” he barks to his better half. The wife hands me a toothpick with a perfect square of cheese, adjacent to an equally proportional slab of spam. “I’m going to warn you, this meat may be a little old.” “Remember the ponies dragging the Sooner Scooner onto the field in the Orange Bowl?” Was 1985 that long ago?

I walk back to the car, where Dad is lounging on one of his purple director type chairs and holding a big gulp size Bloody Mary. “I asked the Oklahoma fan over there how he got into the parking lot alive." "He told me the key was wearing a Jake Locker jersey.” If only life were that simple.

A black guy flags me down on account of my Eastern Washington Athletics golfing shirt. We expound upon the glory days of youth and competition. In a battle of witticism, much to my delight and surprise, I discover that I was the most efficient bench warmer between us. Waving the towel above the frosted artificial turf, still in the early afternoon shadows of the stadium, I kept the bench heated with an enthusiasm and passion reserved for the trenches inhabited by the hogs. I reiterate to my new friend the tale of how I endured a badly sprained ankle in practice and at the home opener with a blind surge of adrenaline and lust for glory, I plopped down on the training table and demanded that my ankle be taped, even though I wasn’t slated to play that afternoon. He laughs, while I can still feel the sting from the resulting rebuttal from one of the assistant coaches to my freshman decision.

Like a prism of lightning and lasers, the surface of the lake shimmers in the direct sunlight like a rare jewel. The once somber waters, refreshing and delicate with the tickle of the milfoil in the shallows, lay enhanced by the ultraviolet display. I walk gradually down the hallway of intoxication, pensively touching the artful numbness of surrender as the grandstand of the stadium fills in and the crowd gathers in a conglomeration of a single entity. Clearly this is the first stage of the alcohol softening and alternating and already hazy reality. I enjoy an internalized chuckle as I envision how I would be generalized or labeled in the hierarchy of the tailgate. From the token drunk attention whore who like the state of Missouri wants to show me, but I don’t want to see the cankles, to the paint chip munching super fan or the crown royal and lazyboy lounging old-timer, I deliberate as to the appropriate words to describe my role and social status. I am simply the roamer. Not attached to any specific party or group, I frighten mothers and daughters alike with my easy going pretty boy demeanor. Of course, the woman can sense it from miles away that my charming exterior merely masks the brute force of a hunter and I ruffle the feathers of feathers in the gray area between passion and hatred. However, the guys love me. My married friends adhere to the notion that the grass is always greener on the single side of the fence and attempt to relive their acts roaming vicariously through my freewheeling soul. The largest and boisterous of the parties attempt to assimilate the roamer and it takes a strong will to politely decline the ceaseless offers of shots or conversations about the wild past that may or may not have been part of legitimate history. In a network television moment, Gilbert O’sullivan’s Alone Again, plays gently as I the roamer, drift ceaselessly and nuturally from destination to destination under an ominous sky and unsettling future.

I arrive in the comfortable confines of the seats just as UW fields the kick-off. The theme music has stopped and the buzz and electricity from the crowd tickles the neck. The perfect day removes a bit of the salt from the wound pried open by the thousands of empty seats around the perimeter the stadium and a sea of red in the end zone at the closed end of the horseshoe. Has Captain Husky finally exercised his options to move to the upper deck? I extend a weary gaze to the right to see who will inhabit the seats next to my father and me. It is not enough that the University has raised Tyee dues and tickets prices while the level of football has regressed into a stasis of mediocrity, apparently the seats next to us are reserved for the important boosters of opposing teams. After enduring the chatter and hypocrisy of the unyielding faith of two Mormons during the BYU debacle, I was anxious to see if we were once again winners in the seating lottery. I smile as three children and two parents are settled into the adjacent seats. I wonder why Brian Bosworth, Billy Tubbs or the governor of Oklahoma turned down the privilege of being our game neighbors?

The Pups refrain from running a draw on first down, but go three and out in the series. The crowd responds with a reverberating cheer of "Go Huskies" during a media timeout. Tyrone Willingham cringes for the first time of many. After securing a short punt the Sooners push though the soft underbelly of the UW defense and walk into the endzone. Husky voice Bob Rondeau would describe the nature of the drive as “frighteningly easy”. The first internal curse word session flashes though my brain intermixed with bureaucracy and university. I calm myself and merely smile on account of the little girl in the seat next to my Dad. Similar to the state of Washington, which owns the dubious distinction of having the highest government per capita in the union, the trickle down effect on the university is apparent on a variety of levels. To the regents and academics within the scholastic infrastructure, football is threat to the very principles and quest for ideological control. Title nine notwithstanding, the entity of the university operates under the pretense of an Ivy League institution, even though the majority of the funding comes through the taxpayers in the state. The flawed logic that UW perceives itself as a private organization proves dangerous on many levels. The simple formula that college football is the driving force in funding entire athletic departments is completely overlooked through a veil of arrogance, greed, and fear. I cannot refrain from entertaining these frustrating thoughts as I watch the team that I love being annihilated in every phase of the game. For some, what happens to UW on the field is justice to the young men who work tirelessly each day to prepare. This is their Coliseum, a vindication towards their own pathetic lives as they search in vain to alter the days of youth. The stinking, awkward, flawed days of feeling tiny in such a large and daunting world, yet possessing the facilities to understand the true vastness of reality. And now 30 years later, they search for a fleeting perspective, a grasp of some sort of order in a chaotic world. Who should herd the sheeple? Who should enable the poor? Who should disarm the last bastions of humanity’s savage notion and usher a race towards the binds of utopia? In a sickening reinvention of self, life as we know it becomes a mere consequence of envy.

UW offensive coordinator Tim Lappano calls four straight draw plays on first down, while the Sooner’s promptly engulf three and in the process send promising USC defector RB Chris Polk to the bench with a separated shoulder or worse. College football is a true celebration of fitness, or the ability to adapt and survive. Dynasties emerge to the pinnacle of excellence and function like the machine lines of efficient industry for a few years, eventually crumbling to the base of mediocrity in a cloud of internecine. I gaze over at the three children and parents and envision how important a role genetics play in the evolution of society. In everyday life we possess strong relationships with friends and adversaries. However, attempt to alter the relationship between a parent and her child and the true nature for survival and competition surfaces. Oklahoma has clearly won the battle today, a metaphor towards the daily fight which endures in the world, our nation, and the pursuit for individualism. The deterioration to socialism at UW and other academic institutions exemplifies a passive control and complacency that if allowed to progress, will undermine a people and a nation.

BYU Rants

The ball is tossed behind the head. The arduous journey 3 minute forgotten. Five painful years of sickening lows and total defeats momentarily erased in the brilliant sunlight.

To be the pulsating adrenaline amidst Jake Locker’s being. The joy and competitive thrill so refined and complete as to escape in a primal yowl, the subconscious seeking to grab 320 pound teammates and jump high in the air while encapsulated by the ascending thunder from 70,000 fans. Disbelief turns to invincibility as an excited wind blows around the lower bowl of the stadium.

To have the whole experience whisked away in a pico-second, the gods of fate mocking the degradation of free will.

Twenty years into the future and the basic framework of college football has withstood the test of time and the endless furtive debates. Except for two minor differences, the landscape of Saturday in autumn remains as familiar as the turning of the leaves. Robots programmed by nano-chips imperceptible to the naked eye, have replaced the twenty two young men on the field. There are no winners or losers in the cavernous and nearly empty stadiums, only the celebratory pageantry of passive brainwashing and the soft clinking of metal on metal and the machines cannot exceed five miles per hour. For those who pine for the real experience of Saturdays and the thrill of battle, cyberspace is able to accommodate an acceptable reality.

The abolishment of competition and the effects on all major sports was not a result of a singular incident, rather a gradual deterioration of the values surrounding individuality. Through general carelessness and the technology of the web, the factors of political correctness, socialism and guilt combined to forge a society functioning tediously like an anthill. Those who had strived for control, were now in the ironic position of not being able to yield their power. In other words, the activists had become workers and comrades, never realizing that they were indirectly serving a fruitless coalescence, a damaged mass mind. For the Benthams and Descartes of the past, the structured brilliance of imagined utopia was in fact a trap for humanity, a veritable evolutionary cul-de-sac. So much for the grand scheme of liberalism.

From Jake Locker’s taunting penalty, to the case of the third string running back at California who sued the university for equal playing time and won, the college game was simply allowed to decline. Forgotten or simply ignored was the prowess of television money from football in the athletic department budget. In response to drilling for oil in Alaska, an anti-capitalistic backlash was successful in removing at first the peripheral symbols of the military industrial complex. One of the initial causalities was professional sports, followed by college football. As the verbiage of “equal” took over legal documents, the first NBA game under the influences of cultural changes gone wild, rivaled the Westminster Dog Show combined with Woodstock and hempfest, complete with a circus. As the first quarter ended, not one basket had been scored by the gold fish in the bowl under the basket. A stench of B.C. hash and manure filled the arena and as the spotlight of captured a man hugging a bonsai tree in the third deck, a thunderous applause erupted from the crowd. It was not until the following morning that it was noticed that the synthetic white fibers of the nets had been replaced by a series of blinding topaz beads.

------
In reverence to serious debate, the ending of the BYU-UW contest will remain eternally marred by controversy. Jake Locker made the big play and for anyone who understands the intensity of the gridiron and the random jets of adrenaline, the feeling of joy is nearly indescribable. That being said, BYU clearly dominated a young Husky defense converting 12 of 14 third downs. Could UW have slowed down an efficient Cougar attack in overtime?

Clearly, it is not within the parameters of the officiating crew to surmise the outcome of a game. Yes, the Huskies should have converted the 35 yard extra point. Yes, the audacity of Tyrone Willingham to have one finger up, when the old saying goes, “Go for the win at home and the tie on the road.” is disheartening. Yes, the interpretation of the celebration rule was suspect. Will anyone remember how entertaining a game this was between two well-matched teams? No. Will BYU go through their schedule unscathed? No.

The NCAA rules committee must be held accountable for authoring a rule which leaves room for vast debate and puts a lasting constraint on both players and fans.

2008 NCAA Predictions Part 2

ACC

BC
Aug 30 @Kent St. WIN
Sep 6 Georgia Tech WIN
Sep 20 UCF WIN
Sep 27 Rhode Island WIN
Oct 4 @N. Carolina St. WIN
Oct 18 Virginia Tech LOSS
Oct 25 @North Carolina LOSS
Nov 1 Clemson LOSS
Nov 8 Notre Dame WIN
Nov 15 @Florida St. LOSS
Nov 22 @Wake Forest WIN
Nov 29 Maryland LOSS

Clemson
Aug 30 Alabama WIN
Sep 6 The Citadel WIN
Sep 13 N. Carolina St. WIN
Sep 20 South Carolina State WIN
Sep 27 Maryland WIN
Oct 9 @Wake Forest WIN
Oct 18 Georgia Tech WIN
Nov 1 @Boston College WIN
Nov 8 @Florida St. WIN
Nov 15 Duke WIN
Nov 22 @Virginia WIN
Nov 29 South Carolina WIN

Florida State
Sep 6 Western Carolina WIN
Sep 13 Chattanooga WIN
Sep 20 Wake Forest WIN
Sep 27 Colorado WIN
Oct 4 @Miami (Fla.) LOSS
Oct 16 @N. Carolina St. WIN
Oct 25 Virginia Tech WIN
Nov 1 @Georgia Tech WIN
Nov 8 Clemson LOSS
Nov 15 Boston College WIN
Nov 22 @Maryland WIN
Nov 29 Florida LOSS

Maryland
Aug 30 Delaware WIN
Sep 6 @M. Tenn. St. WIN
Sep 13 California LOSS
Sep 20 E. Michigan WIN
Sep 27 @Clemson LOSS
Oct 4 @Virginia WIN
Oct 18 Wake Forest WIN
Oct 25 N. Carolina St. WIN
Nov 6 @Virginia Tech LOSS
Nov 15 North Carolina WIN
Nov 22 Florida St. LOSS
Nov 29 @Boston College WIN

North Carolina State
Aug 28 @South Carolina LOSS
Sep 6 William & Mary WIN
Sep 13 @Clemson LOSS
Sep 20 East Carolina LOSS
Sep 27 South Florida LOSS
Oct 4 Boston College LOSS
Oct 16 Florida St. 7:30pm LOSS
Oct 25 @Maryland LOSS
Nov 8 @Duke WIN
Nov 15 Wake Forest WIN
Nov 22 @North Carolina LOSS
Nov 29 Miami (Fla.) LOSS

Duke
Aug 30 James Madison WIN
Sep 6 Northwestern LOSS
Sep 13 Navy WIN
Sep 27 Virginia WIN
Oct 4 @Georgia Tech LOSS
Oct 18 Miami (Fla.) LOSS
Oct 25 @Vanderbilt LOSS
Nov 1 @Wake Forest LOSS
Nov 8 N. Carolina St. LOSS
Nov 15 @Clemson LOSS
Nov 22 @Virginia Tech LOSS
Nov 29 North Carolina LOSS

Georgia Tech
Aug 28 Jacksonville State WIN
Sep 6 @Boston College LOSS
Sep 13 @Virginia Tech LOSS
Sep 20 Mississippi St. WIN
Oct 4 Duke WIN
Oct 11 Gardner-Webb WIN
Oct 18 @Clemson LOSS
Oct 25 Virginia WIN
Nov 1 Florida St. LOSS
Nov 8 @North Carolina LOSS
Nov 20 Miami (Fla.) LOSS
Nov 29 @Georgia LOSS

Miami
Aug 28 Charleston Southern WIN
Sep 6 @Florida Lost LOSS
Sep 20 @Texas A&M WIN
Sep 27 North Carolina WIN
Oct 4 Florida St. WIN
Oct 11 UCF WIN
Oct 18 @Duke WIN
Oct 25 Wake Forest WIN
Nov 1 @Virginia WIN
Nov 13 Virginia Tech LOSS
Nov 20 @Georgia Tech WIN
Nov 29 @N. Carolina St. WIN

North Carolina
Aug 30 McNeese State WIN
Sep 11 @Rutgers LOSS
Sep 20 Virginia Tech LOSS
Sep 27 @Miami (Fla.) LOSS
Oct 4 Connecticut WIN
Oct 11 Notre Dame WIN
Oct 18 @Virginia WIN
Oct 25 Boston College WIN
Nov 8 Georgia Tech WIN
Nov 15 @Maryland LOSS
Nov 22 N. Carolina St. WIN
Nov 29 @Duke WIN

Virginia
Aug 30 Southern Cal. LOSS
Sep 6 Richmond WIN
Sep 13 @Connecticut LOSS
Sep 27 @Duke LOSS
Oct 4 Maryland WIN
Oct 11 East Carolina LOSS
Oct 18 North Carolina WIN
Oct 25 @Georgia Tech LOSS
Nov 1 Miami (Fla.) LOSS
Nov 8 @Wake Forest LOSS
Nov 22 Clemson LOSS
Nov 29 @Virginia Tech LOSS

Virginia Tech
Aug 30 @East Carolina WIN
Sep 6 Furman WIN
Sep 13 Georgia Tech WIN
Sep 20 @North Carolina WIN
Sep 27 @Nebraska LOSS
Oct 4 W. Kentucky WIN
Oct 18 @Boston College WIN
Oct 25 @Florida St. LOSS
Nov 6 Maryland WIN
Nov 13 @Miami (Fla.) WIN
Nov 22 Duke WIN
Nov 29 Virginia WIN

Conference USA

East Carolina
Aug 30 Virginia Tech LOSS
Sep 6 West Virginia LOSS
Sep 13 @Tulane WIN
Sep 20 @N. Carolina St. WIN
Sep 27 Houston WIN
Oct 11 @Virginia WIN
Oct 18 Memphis WIN
Nov 2 @UCF LOSS
Nov 8 Marshall WIN
Nov 15 @Southern Miss WIN
Nov 22 @UAB WIN
Nov 28 UTEP WIN

Memphis
Aug 30 @Mississippi LOSS
Sep 6 Rice Lost WIN
Sep 13 @Marshall LOSS
Sep 20 Nicholls StateWIN
Sep 27 Arkansas St. WIN
Oct 2 @UAB LOSS
Oct 10 Louisville LOSS
Oct 18 @East Carolina LOSS
Oct 25 Southern Miss WIN
Nov 8 @SMU LOSS
Nov 22 UCF LOSS
Nov 29 Tulane WIN

Marshall
Aug 30 Illinois State WIN
Sep 6 @Wisconsin LOSS
Sep 13 Memphis WIN
Sep 20 @Southern Miss LOSS
Sep 27 @West Virginia LOSS
Oct 3 Cincinnati LOSS
Oct 18 @UAB WIN
Oct 28 Houston WIN
Nov 8 @East Carolina LOSS
Nov 15 UCF WIN
Nov 22 @Rice WIN
Nov 29 Tulsa LOSS

UAB
Aug 30 Tulsa LOSS
Sep 6 @Fla. Atlantic LOSS
Sep 13 @Tennessee LOSS
Sep 20 Alabama State WIN
Sep 27 @South Carolina LOSS
Oct 2 Memphis WIN
Oct 9 @Houston LOSS
Oct 18 Marshall LOSS
Nov 1 @Southern Miss LOSS
Nov 15 @Tulane LOSS
Nov 22 East Carolina LOSS
Nov 29 @UCF LOSS

UCF
Aug 30 South Carolina State WIN
Sep 6 South Florida LOSS
Sep 20 @Boston College LOSS
Sep 27 @UTEP LOSS
Oct 4 SMU WIN
Oct 11 @Miami (Fla.) LOSS
Oct 26 @Tulsa LOSS
Nov 2 East Carolina WIN
Nov 8 Southern Miss WIN
Nov 15 @Marshall LOSS
Nov 22 @Memphis WIN
Nov 29 UAB 3:30pm WIN

Southern Mississippi
Aug 30 La.-Lafayette WIN
Sep 6 @Auburn Lost LOSS
Sep 13 @Arkansas St. WIN
Sep 20 Marshall WIN
Oct 4 UTEP WIN
Oct 11 Boise St. LOSS
Oct 18 @Rice LOSS
Oct 25 @Memphis LOSS
Nov 1 UAB WIN
Nov 8 @UCF LOSS
Nov 15 East Carolina LOSS
Nov 29 @SMU LOSS

Houston
Aug 30 Southern WIN
Sep 6 @Oklahoma St. LOSS
Sep 13 Air Force WIN
Sep 20 @Colorado St. WIN
Sep 27 @East Carolina LOSS
Oct 9 UAB WIN
Oct 18 @SMU LOSS
Oct 28 @Marshall LOSS
Nov 8 Tulane WIN
Nov 15 Tulsa LOSS
Nov 22 UTEP WIN
Nov 29 @Rice WIN

Rice
Aug 29 SMU WIN
Sep 6 @Memphis LOSS
Sep 13 @Vanderbilt LOSS
Sep 20 @Texas WIN
Sep 27 North Texas WIN
Oct 4 @Tulsa LOSS
Oct 18 Southern Miss WIN
Oct 25 @Tulane LOSS
Nov 1 @UTEP LOSS
Nov 8 Army WIN
Nov 22 Marshall LOSS
Nov 29 Houston LOSS

Southern Methodist
Aug 29 @Rice LOSS
Sep 6 Texas State-San Marcos WIN
Sep 13 @Texas Tech LOSS
Sep 20 TCU LOSS
Sep 25 @Tulane WIN
Oct 4 @UCF LOSS
Oct 11 Tulsa LOSS
Oct 18 Houston WIN
Oct 25 @Navy LOSS
Nov 8 Memphis WIN
Nov 15 @UTEP LOSS
Nov 29 Southern Miss WIN

Tulane
Sep 6 @Alabama LOSS
Sep 13 East Carolina LOSS
Sep 20 La.-Monroe WIN
Sep 25 SMU LOSS
Oct 4 Army WIN
Oct 11 @UTEP LOSS
Oct 25 Rice WIN
Nov 1 @LSU LOSS
Nov 8 @Houston LOSS
Nov 15 UAB WIN
Nov 22 @Tulsa LOSS
Nov 29 @Memphis LOSS

Tulsa
Aug 30 @UAB WIN
Sep 6 @North Texas WIN
Sep 20 New Mexico WIN
Sep 27 Central Arkansas WIN
Oct 4 Rice WIN
Oct 11 @SMU WIN
Oct 18 UTEP WIN
Oct 26 UCF WIN
Nov 1 @Arkansas LOSS
Nov 15 @Houston LOSS
Nov 22 Tulane WIN
Nov 29 @Marshall WIN

UTEP
Aug 28 @Buffalo WIN
Sep 6 Texas LOSS
Sep 20 New Mexico St. WIN
Sep 27 UCF WIN
Oct 4 @Southern Miss LOSS
Oct 11 Tulane WIN
Oct 18 @Tulsa LOSS
Nov 1 Rice WIN
Nov 8 @La.-Lafayette WIN
Nov 15 SMU WIN
Nov 22 @Houston LOSS
Nov 28 @East Carolina LOSS

Big East

Cincinnati
28 Eastern Kentucky WIN
Sep 6 @Oklahoma LOSS
Sep 20 Miami (Ohio) WIN
Sep 27 @Akron WIN
Oct 3 @Marshall WIN
Oct 11 Rutgers LOSS
Oct 25 @Connecticut LOSS
Oct 30 South Florida LOSS
Nov 8 @West Virginia LOSS
Nov 14 @Louisville LOSS
Nov 22 Pittsburgh LOSS
Nov 29 Syracuse WIN
Dec 6 @Hawaii WIN

Connecticut
Aug 28 Hofstra WIN
Sep 6 @Temple LOSS
Sep 13 Virginia WIN
Sep 19 Baylor WIN
Sep 26 @Louisville LOSS
Oct 4 @North Carolina LOSS
Oct 18 @Rutgers LOSS
Oct 25 Cincinnati WIN
Nov 1 West Virginia LOSS
Nov 15 @Syracuse LOSS
Nov 23 @South Florida LOSS
Dec 6 Pittsburgh LOSS

Louisville
Aug 31 Kentucky WIN
Sep 6 Tennessee Tech WIN
Sep 17 Kansas St. LOSS
Sep 26 Connecticut WIN
Oct 10 @Memphis WIN
Oct 18 M. Tenn. St.WIN
Oct 25 South Florida LOSS
Nov 1 @Syracuse WIN
Nov 8 @Pittsburgh LOSS
Nov 14 Cincinnati WIN
Nov 22 West Virginia LOSS
Dec 4 @Rutgers LOSS

Pitt
Aug 30 Bowling Green WIN
Sep 6 Buffalo WIN
Sep 20 Iowa WIN
Sep 27 @Syracuse WIN
Oct 2 @South Florida LOSS
Oct 18 @Navy WIN
Oct 25 Rutgers WIN
Nov 1 @Notre Dame WIN
Nov 8 Louisville WIN
Nov 22 @Cincinnati WIN
Nov 28 West Virginia LOSS
Dec 6 @Connecticut WIN

Rutgers
Sep 1 Fresno St. LOSS
Sep 11 North Carolina WIN
Sep 20 @Navy WIN
Sep 27 Morgan State WIN
Oct 4 @West Virginia LOSS
Oct 11 @Cincinnati WIN
Oct 18 Connecticut WIN
Oct 25 @Pittsburgh LOSS
Nov 8 Syracuse WIN
Nov 15 @South Florida LOSS
Nov 22 Army WIN
Dec 4 Louisville 7:30pm WIN

South Florida
Aug 30 Tennessee-Martin WIN
Sep 6 @UCF WIN
Sep 12 Kansas WIN
Sep 20 @FIU WIN
Sep 27 @N. Carolina St. WIN
Oct 2 Pittsburgh WIN
Oct 18 Syracuse WIN
Oct 25 @Louisville WIN
Oct 30 @Cincinnati WIN
Nov 15 Rutgers WIN
Nov 23 Connecticut WIN
Dec 6 @West Virginia LOSS

Syracuse
Aug 30 @Northwestern LOSS
Sep 6 Akron WIN
Sep 13 Penn St. LOSS
Sep 20 Northeastern WIN
Sep 27 Pittsburgh LOSS
Oct 11 @West Virginia LOSS
Oct 18 @South Florida LOSS
Nov 1 Louisville LOSS
Nov 8 @Rutgers LOSS
Nov 15 Connecticut WIN
Nov 22 @Notre Dame LOSS
Nov 29 @Cincinnati LOSS

West Virginia
Aug 30 Villanova WIN
Sep 6 @East Carolina WIN
Sep 18 @Colorado WIN
Sep 27 Marshall WIN
Oct 4 Rutgers WIN
Oct 11 Syracuse WIN
Oct 23 Auburn LOSS
Nov 1 @Connecticut WIN
Nov 8 Cincinnati WIN
Nov 22 @Louisville WIN
Nov 28 @Pittsburgh WIN
Dec 6 South Florida WIN

Big-Ten

Illinois
Aug 30 @Missouri LOSS
Sep 6 Eastern Illinois WIN
Sep 13 La.-Lafayette WIN
Sep 27 @Penn St. LOSS
Oct 4 @Michigan LOSS
Oct 11 Minnesota WIN
Oct 18 Indiana WIN
Oct 25 @Wisconsin LOSS
Nov 1 Iowa WIN
Nov 8 @W. Michigan WIN
Nov 15 Ohio St. LOSS
Nov 22 @Northwestern WIN

Indiana
Aug 30 W. Kentucky WIN
Sep 6 Murray State WIN
Sep 20 Ball St. WIN
Sep 27 Michigan St. LOSS
Oct 4 @Minnesota LOSS
Oct 11 Iowa LOSS
Oct 18 @Illinois LOSS
Oct 25 Northwestern LOSS
Nov 1 C. Michigan LOSS
Nov 8 Wisconsin LOSS
Nov 15 @Penn St. LOSS
Nov 22 @Purdue LOSS

Iowa
Aug 30 Maine WIN
Sep 6 FIU WIN
Sep 13 Iowa St. WIN
Sep 20 @Pittsburgh LOSS
Sep 27 Northwestern WIN
Oct 4 @Michigan St. LOSS
Oct 11 @Indiana WIN
Oct 18 Wisconsin LOSS
Nov 1 @Illinois LOSS
Nov 8 Penn St. WIN
Nov 15 Purdue LOSS
Nov 22 @Minnesota WIN

Michigan State
Aug 30 @California LOSS
Sep 6 E. Michigan WIN
Sep 13 Fla. Atlantic WIN
Sep 20 Notre Dame LOSS
Sep 27 @Indiana WIN
Oct 4 Iowa WIN
Oct 11 @Northwestern WIN
Oct 18 Ohio St. LOSS
Oct 25 @Michigan LOSS
Nov 1 Wisconsin LOSS
Nov 8 Purdue WIN
Nov 22 @Penn St. LOSS

Michigan
Aug 30 Utah WIN
Sep 6 Miami (Ohio) WIN
Sep 13 @Notre Dame LOSS
Sep 27 Wisconsin LOSS
Oct 4 Illinois WIN
Oct 11 Toledo WIN
Oct 18 @Penn St. LOSS
Oct 25 Michigan St. WIN
Nov 1 @Purdue WIN
Nov 8 @Minnesota WIN
Nov 15 Northwestern WIN
Nov 22 @Ohio St. LOSS

Minnesota
Aug 30 Northern Illinois WIN
Sep 6 @Bowling Green LOSS
Sep 13 Montana State WIN
Sep 20 Fla. Atlantic WIN
Sep 27 @Ohio St. LOSS
Oct 4 Indiana WIN
Oct 11 @Illinois LOSS
Oct 25 @Purdue LOSS
Nov 1 Northwestern LOSS
Nov 8 Michigan LOSS
Nov 15 @Wisconsin LOSS
Nov 22 Iowa LOSS

Northwestern
Aug 30 Syracuse WIN
Sep 6 @Duke WIN
Sep 13 Southern Illinois WIN
Sep 20 Ohio WIN
Sep 27 @Iowa LOSS
Oct 11 Michigan St. LOSS
Oct 18 Purdue LOSS
Oct 25 @Indiana WIN
Nov 1 @Minnesota WIN
Nov 8 Ohio St. LOSS
Nov 15 @Michigan LOSS
Nov 22 Illinois LOSS

Ohio State
Aug 30 Youngstown State WIN
Sep 6 Ohio WIN
Sep 13 @Southern Cal. LOSS
Sep 20 Troy WIN
Sep 27 Minnesota WIN
Oct 4 @Wisconsin WIN
Oct 11 Purdue WIN
Oct 18 @Michigan St. WIN
Oct 25 Penn St. WIN
Nov 8 @Northwestern WIN
Nov 15 @Illinois WIN
Nov 22 Michigan WIN

Penn State
Aug 30 Coastal Carolina WIN
Sep 6 Oregon St. WIN
Sep 13 @Syracuse WIN
Sep 20 Temple WIN
Sep 27 Illinois WIN
Oct 4 @Purdue LOSS
Oct 11 @Wisconsin LOSS
Oct 18 Michigan WIN
Oct 25 @Ohio St. LOSS
Nov 8 @Iowa LOSS
Nov 15 Indiana WIN
Nov 22 Michigan St. WIN

Purdue
Sep 6 Northern Colorado WIN
Sep 13 Oregon LOSS
Sep 20 C. Michigan WIN
Sep 27 @Notre Dame LOSS
Oct 4 Penn St. WIN
Oct 11 @Ohio St. LOSS
Oct 18 @Northwestern WIN
Oct 25 Minnesota WIN
Nov 1 Michigan LOSS
Nov 8 @Michigan St. LOSS
Nov 15 @Iowa WIN
Nov 22 Indiana WIN

Wisconsin
Aug 30 Akron WIN
Sep 6 Marshall WIN
Sep 13 @Fresno St. LOSS
Sep 27 @Michigan WIN
Oct 4 Ohio St. LOSS
Oct 11 Penn St. WIN
Oct 18 @Iowa WIN
Oct 25 Illinois WIN
Nov 1 @Michigan St. WIN
Nov 8 @Indiana WIN
Nov 15 Minnesota WIN
Nov 22 Cal Poly WIN

Mountain West

Air Force
Aug 30 Southern Utah WIN
Sep 6 @Wyoming LOSS
Sep 13 @Houston WIN
Sep 20 Utah LOSS
Oct 4 Navy WIN
Oct 11 @San Diego St. WIN
Oct 18 @UNLV LOSS
Oct 23 New Mexico WIN
Nov 1 @Army WIN
Nov 8 Colorado St. WIN
Nov 15 BYU LOSS
Nov 22 @TCU LOSS

BYU
Aug 30 Northern Iowa WIN
Sep 6 @Washington LOSS
Sep 13 UCLA LOSS
Sep 20 Wyoming WIN
Oct 3 @Utah St. WIN
Oct 11 New Mexico WIN
Oct 16 @TCU WIN
Oct 25 UNLV WIN
Nov 1 @Colorado St. WIN
Nov 8 San Diego St. WIN
Nov 15 @Air Force WIN
Nov 22 @Utah WIN

Colorado State
Aug 31 @Colorado LOSS
Sep 6 Sacramento State WIN
Sep 20 Houston LOSS
Sep 27 @California LOSS
Oct 4 UNLV WIN
Oct 11 TCU LOSS
Oct 18 @Utah LOSS
Oct 25 @San Diego St. LOSS
Nov 1 BYU LOSS
Nov 8 @Air Force LOSS
Nov 15 New Mexico LOSS
Nov 22 @Wyoming LOSS

New Mexico
Aug 30 TCU LOSS
Sep 6 Texas A&M LOSS
Sep 13 Arizona LOSS
Sep 20 @Tulsa LOSS
Sep 27 @New Mexico St. WIN
Oct 4 Wyoming WIN
Oct 11 @BYU LOSS
Oct 18 San Diego St. WIN
Oct 23 @Air Force LOSS
Nov 1 Utah LOSS
Nov 8 @UNLV LOSS
Nov 15 @Colorado St. WIN

San Diego State
Aug 30 Cal Poly WIN
Sep 6 @Notre Dame LOSS
Sep 13 @San Jose St. LOSS
Sep 27 Idaho WIN
Oct 4 @TCU LOSS
Oct 11 Air Force LOSS
Oct 18 @New Mexico LOSS
Oct 25 Colorado St. WIN
Nov 1 @Wyoming LOSS
Nov 8 @BYU LOSS
Nov 15 Utah LOSS
Nov 22 UNLV LOSS

TCU
Aug 30 @New Mexico WIN
Sep 6 Stephen F. Austin WIN
Sep 13 Stanford WIN
Sep 20 @SMU WIN
Sep 27 @Oklahoma LOSS
Oct 4 San Diego St. WIN
Oct 11 @Colorado St. 3:30pm
Oct 16 BYU LOSS
Oct 25 Wyoming WIN
Nov 1 @UNLV WIN
Nov 6 @Utah LOSS
Nov 22 Air Force WIN

UNLV
Aug 30 Utah St. WIN
Sep 6 @Utah LOSS
Sep 13 @Arizona St. LOSS
Sep 20 Iowa St. LOSS
Sep 27 Nevada LOSS
Oct 4 @Colorado St. LOSS
Oct 18 Air Force WIN
Oct 25 @BYU LOSS
Nov 1 TCU LOSS
Nov 8 New Mexico WIN
Nov 13 Wyoming WIN
Nov 22 @San Diego St. WIN

Utah
Aug 30 @Michigan LOSS
Sep 6 UNLV WIN
Sep 13 @Utah St. WIN
Sep 20 @Air Force WIN
Sep 27 Weber State WIN
Oct 2 Oregon St. LOSS
Oct 11 @Wyoming WIN
Oct 18 Colorado St. WIN
Nov 1 @New Mexico WIN
Nov 6 TCU WIN
Nov 15 @San Diego St. WIN
Nov 22 BYU WIN

Wyoming
Aug 30 Ohio WIN
Sep 6 Air Force WIN
Sep 13 North Dakota State WIN
Sep 20 @BYU LOSS
Sep 27 Bowling Green WIN
Oct 4 @New Mexico LOSS
Oct 11 Utah LOSS
Oct 25 @TCU LOSS
Nov 1 San Diego St. WIN
Nov 8 @Tennessee LOSS
Nov 13 @UNLV LOSS
Nov 22 Colorado St. WIN

SEC

Florida
Aug 30 Hawaii WIN
Sep 6 Miami (Fla.) WIN
Sep 20 @Tennessee LOSS
Sep 27 Mississippi WIN
Oct 4 @Arkansas WIN
Oct 11 LSU WIN
Oct 25 Kentucky WIN
Nov 1 @Georgia WIN
Nov 8 @Vanderbilt WIN
Nov 15 South Carolina WIN
Nov 22 The Citadel WIN
Nov 29 @Florida St. WIN

Georgia
Aug 30 Georgia Southern WIN
Sep 6 C. Michigan WIN
Sep 13 @South Carolina WIN
Sep 20 @Arizona St. WIN
Sep 27 Alabama WIN
Oct 11 Tennessee WIN
Oct 18 Vanderbilt WIN
Oct 25 @LSU LOSS
Nov 1 Florida LOSS
Nov 8 @Kentucky WIN
Nov 15 @Auburn WIN
Nov 29 Georgia Tech WIN

Kentucky
Aug 31 @Louisville LOSS
Sep 6 Norfolk State WIN
Sep 13 M. Tenn. St. WIN
Sep 27 W. Kentucky WIN
Oct 4 @Alabama LOSS
Oct 11 South Carolina LOSS
Oct 18 Arkansas WIN
Oct 25 @Florida LOSS
Nov 1 @Mississippi St. LOSS
Nov 8 Georgia LOSS
Nov 15 Vanderbilt WIN
Nov 29 @Tennessee LOSS

South Carolina
Aug 28 N. Carolina St. WIN
Sep 4 @Vanderbilt WIN
Sep 13 Georgia LOSS
Sep 20 Wofford WIN
Sep 27 UAB WIN
Oct 4 @Mississippi LOSS
Oct 11 @Kentucky WIN
Oct 18 LSU LOSS
Nov 1 Tennessee WIN
Nov 8 Arkansas WIN
Nov 15 @Florida LOSS
Nov 29 @Clemson LOSS

Tennessee
Sep 1 @UCLA WIN
Sep 13 UAB WIN
Sep 20 Florida LOSS
Sep 27 @Auburn LOSS
Oct 4 Northern Illinois WIN
Oct 11 @Georgia LOSS
Oct 18 Mississippi St. WIN
Oct 25 Alabama WIN
Nov 1 @South Carolina LOSS
Nov 8 Wyoming WIN
Nov 22 @Vanderbilt WIN
Nov 29 Kentucky WIN

Vanderbilt
Aug 28 @Miami (Ohio) LOSS
Sep 4 South Carolina LOSS
Sep 13 Rice 7:00pm WIN
Sep 20 @Mississippi LOSS
Oct 4 Auburn LOSS
Oct 11 @Mississippi St.LOSS
Oct 18 @Georgia LOSS
Oct 25 Duke WIN
Nov 8 Florida LOSS
Nov 15 @Kentucky LOSS
Nov 22 Tennessee LOSS
Nov 29 @Wake Forest LOSS

Alabama
Aug 30 @Clemson LOSS
Sep 6 Tulane WIN
Sep 13 W. Kentucky WIN
Sep 20 @Arkansas WIN
Sep 27 @Georgia LOSS
Oct 4 Kentucky WIN
Oct 18 Mississippi WIN
Oct 25 @Tennessee LOSS
Nov 1 Arkansas St. WIN
Nov 8 @LSU LOSS
Nov 15 Mississippi St. WIN
Nov 29 Auburn WIN

Arkansas
Aug 30 Western Illinois WIN
Sep 6 @La.-Monroe WIN
Sep 13 @Texas LOSS
Sep 20 Alabama LOSS
Oct 4 Florida LOSS
Oct 11 @Auburn LOSS
Oct 18 @Kentucky LOSS
Oct 25 Mississippi LOSS
Nov 1 Tulsa WIN
Nov 8 @South Carolina LOSS
Nov 22 @Mississippi St. LOSS
Nov 29 LSU LOSS

Auburn
Aug 30 La.-Monroe WIN
Sep 6 Southern Miss WIN
Sep 13 @Mississippi St. WIN
Sep 20 LSU WIN
Sep 27 Tennessee WIN
Oct 4 @Vanderbilt WIN
Oct 11 Arkansas WIN
Oct 23 @West Virginia LOSS
Nov 1 @Mississippi LOSS
Nov 8 Tennessee-Martin WIN
Nov 15 Georgia WIN
Nov 29 @Alabama LOSS

LSU
Aug 30 Appalachian State WIN
Sep 6 Troy WIN
Sep 13 North Texas WIN
Sep 20 @Auburn LOSS
Sep 27 Mississippi St. WIN
Oct 11 @Florida LOSS
Oct 18 @South Carolina WIN
Oct 25 Georgia WIN
Nov 1 Tulane WIN
Nov 8 Alabama WIN
Nov 15 Troy WIN
Nov 22 Mississippi WIN
Nov 29 @Arkansas WIN

Mississippi
Aug 30 Memphis WIN
Sep 6 @Wake Forest WIN
Sep 13 Samford WIN
Sep 20 Vanderbilt WIN
Sep 27 @Florida LOSS
Oct 4 South Carolina WIN
Oct 18 @Alabama LOSS
Oct 25 @Arkansas WIN
Nov 1 Auburn WIN
Nov 15 La.-Monroe WIN
Nov 22 @LSU LOSS
Nov 28 Mississippi St. WIN

Mississippi State
Aug 30 @Louisiana Tech WIN
Sep 6 Southeastern Louisiana WIN
Sep 13 Auburn LOSS
Sep 20 @Georgia Tech LOSS
Sep 27 @LSU LOSS
Oct 11 Vanderbilt WIN
Oct 18 @Tennessee LOSS
Oct 25 M. Tenn. St. WIN
Nov 1 Kentucky WIN
Nov 15 @Alabama LOSS
Nov 22 Arkansas WIN
Nov 28 @Mississippi LOSS

Sun Belt

Arkansas State
Aug 30 @Texas A&M LOSS
Sep 6 Texas Southern WIN
Sep 13 Southern Miss LOSS
Sep 20 M. Tenn. St. WIN
Sep 27 @Memphis LOSS
Oct 11 La.-Monroe WIN
Oct 18 @La.-Lafayette LOSS
Nov 1 @Alabama LOSS
Nov 8 @FIU WIN
Nov 22 Fla. Atlantic LOSS
Nov 29 @North Texas WIN
Dec 6 @Troy LOSS

Florida Atlantic
Aug 30 @Texas LOSS
Sep 6 UAB WIN
Sep 13 @Michigan St. LOSS
Sep 20 @Minnesota LOSS
Sep 30 @M. Tenn. St. WIN
Oct 7 Troy WIN
Oct 18 @W. Kentucky WIN
Oct 25 @La.-Monroe LOSS
Nov 8 North Texas WIN
Nov 15 La.-Lafayette WIN
Nov 22 @Arkansas St. WIN
Nov 29 FIU WIN

Florida International
Aug 30 @Kansas LOSS
Sep 6 @Iowa LOSS
Sep 20 South Florida LOSS
Sep 27 @Toledo LOSS
Oct 4 @North Texas LOSS
Oct 11 M. Tenn. St. WIN
Oct 18 @Troy LOSS
Nov 1 @La.-Lafayette LOSS
Nov 8 Arkansas St. LOSS
Nov 22 La.-Monroe WIN
Nov 29 @Fla. Atlantic LOSS
Dec 6 W. Kentucky WIN

La- Lafayette
Aug 30 @Southern Miss LOSS
Sep 13 @Illinois LOSS
Sep 20 Kent St. WIN
Sep 27 @Kansas St. LOSS
Oct 4 @La.-Monroe LOSS
Oct 11 @North Texas WIN
Oct 18 Arkansas St. WIN
Nov 1 FIU WIN
Nov 8 UTEP LOSS
Nov 15 @Fla. Atlantic LOSS
Nov 22 @Troy LOSS
Dec 3 M. Tenn. St. WIN

La- Monroe
Aug 30 @Auburn LOSS
Sep 6 Arkansas LOSS
Sep 13 Alabama A&M WIN
Sep 20 @Tulane LOSS
Oct 4 La.-Lafayette WIN
Oct 11 @Arkansas St. LOSS
Oct 18 North Texas WIN
Oct 25 Fla. Atlantic LOSS
Nov 1 Troy 7:00pm WIN
Nov 8 @M. Tenn. St. LOSS
Nov 15 @Mississippi LOSS
Nov 22 @FIU LOSS

Middle Tennessee
Aug 28 Troy LOSS
Sep 6 Maryland LOSS
Sep 13 @Kentucky LOSS
Sep 20 @Arkansas St. LOSS
Sep 30 Fla. Atlantic LOSS
Oct 11 @FIU LOSS
Oct 18 @Louisville LOSS
Oct 25 @Mississippi St. LOSS
Nov 8 La.-Monroe WIN
Nov 15 @W. Kentucky WIN
Nov 22 North Texas WIN
Dec 3 @La.-Lafayette LOSS

North Texas
Aug 30 @Kansas St. LOSS
Sep 6 Tulsa LOSS
Sep 13 @LSU LOSS
Sep 27 @Rice LOSS
Oct 4 FIU WIN
Oct 11 La.-Lafayette LOSS
Oct 18 @La.-Monroe LOSS
Oct 25 Troy LOSS
Nov 1 @W. Kentucky WIN
Nov 8 @Fla. Atlantic LOSS
Nov 22 @M. Tenn. St. LOSS
Nov 29 Arkansas St. LOSS

Troy
Aug 28 @M. Tenn. St. WIN
Sep 6 @LSU LOSS
Sep 13 Alcorn State WIN
Sep 20 @Ohio St. LOSS
Sep 27 @Oklahoma St. LOSS
Oct 7 @Fla. Atlantic LOSS
Oct 18 FIU WIN
Oct 25 @North Texas WIN
Nov 1 @La.-Monroe LOSS
Nov 8 W. Kentucky LOSS
Nov 15 LOSS
Nov 22 La.-Lafayette WIN
Dec 6 Arkansas St. WIN

WAC

Boise State
Aug 30 Idaho State WIN
Sep 13 Bowling Green WIN
Sep 20 @Oregon LOSS
Oct 1 Louisiana Tech WIN
Oct 11 @Southern Miss WIN
Oct 17 Hawaii WIN
Oct 24 @San Jose St. WIN
Nov 1 @New Mexico St. WIN
Nov 8 Utah St. WIN
Nov 15 @Idaho WIN
Nov 22 @Nevada WIN
Nov 28 Fresno St. WIN

Fresno State
Sep 1 @Rutgers WIN
Sep 13 Wisconsin WIN
Sep 20 @Toledo WIN
Sep 27 @UCLA LOSS
Oct 4 Hawaii WIN
Oct 11 Idaho WIN
Oct 25 @Utah St. WIN
Nov 1 @Louisiana Tech WIN
Nov 7 Nevada WIN
Nov 15 New Mexico St. WIN
Nov 21 @San Jose St. WIN
Nov 28 @Boise St. LOSS

Hawaii
Aug 30 @Florida LOSS
Sep 6 Weber State WIN
Sep 13 @Oregon St. LOSS
Sep 28 San Jose St. WIN
Oct 4 @Fresno St. LOSS
Oct 12 Louisiana Tech WIN
Oct 17 @Boise St. LOSS
Oct 26 Nevada WIN
Nov 1 @Utah St. WIN
Nov 8 @New Mexico St. WIN
Nov 22 Idaho WIN
Nov 29 Washington St. LOSS
Dec 6 Cincinnati LOSS

Idaho
Aug 30 @Arizona LOSS
Sep 6 Idaho State WIN
Sep 13 W. Michigan WIN
Sep 20 @Utah St. WIN
Sep 27 @San Diego St. WIN
Oct 4 Nevada LOSS
Oct 11 @Fresno St. LOSS
Oct 18 @Louisiana Tech LOSS
Oct 25 New Mexico St. LOSS
Nov 1 San Jose St. LOSS
Nov 15 Boise St. LOSS
Nov 22 @Hawaii LOSS

Louisiana Tech
Aug 30 Mississippi St. LOSS
Sep 6 @Kansas LOSS
Sep 20 Southeastern Louisiana WIN
Oct 1 @Boise St. LOSS
Oct 12 @Hawaii LOSS
Oct 18 Idaho WIN
Oct 25 @Army WIN
Nov 1 Fresno St. LOSS
Nov 8 @San Jose St. LOSS
Nov 15 Utah St. WIN
Nov 22 @New Mexico St. LOSS
Nov 29 Nevada LOSS

Nevada
Aug 30 Grambling WIN
Sep 6 Texas Tech LOSS
Sep 13 @Missouri LOSS
Sep 27 @UNLV WIN
Oct 4 @Idaho WIN
Oct 11 New Mexico St. WIN
Oct 18 Utah St. WIN
Oct 26 @Hawaii LOSS
Nov 7 @Fresno St. LOSS
Nov 15 San Jose St. WIN
Nov 22 Boise St. LOSS
Nov 29 @Louisiana Tech WIN

New Mexico State
Sep 4 Nicholls State WIN
Sep 13 @Nebraska LOSS
Sep 20 @UTEP LOSS
Sep 27 New Mexico LOSS
Oct 4 Alcorn LOSS
Oct 11 @Nevada LOSS
Oct 18 San Jose St. LOSS
Oct 25 @Idaho WIN
Nov 1 Boise St. LOSS
Nov 8 Hawaii LOSS
Nov 15 @Fresno St. LOSS
Nov 22 Louisiana Tech WIN
Nov 29 @Utah St. WIN

San Jose State
Aug 30 UC Davis WIN
Sep 6 @Nebraska LOSS
Sep 13 San Diego St. WIN
Sep 20 @Stanford LOSS
Sep 28 @Hawaii LOSS
Oct 11 Utah St. WIN
Oct 18 @New Mexico St. WIN
Oct 24 Boise St. LOSS
Nov 1 @Idaho WIN
Nov 8 Louisiana Tech WIN
Nov 15 @Nevada LOSS
Nov 21 Fresno St. LOSS

Utah State
Aug 30 @UNLV LOSS
Sep 6 @Oregon LOSS
Sep 13 Utah LOSS
Sep 20 Idaho LOSS
Oct 3 BYU LOSS
Oct 11 @San Jose St. LOSS
Oct 18 @Nevada LOSS
Oct 25 Fresno St. LOSS
Nov 1 Hawaii LOSS
Nov 8 @Boise St. LOSS
Nov 15 @Louisiana Tech LOSS
Nov 29 New Mexico St. LOSS

MAC

Akron
Aug 30 @Wisconsin LOSS
Sep 6 @Syracuse LOSS
Sep 13 Ball St. LOSS
Sep 20 @Army LOSS
Sep 27 Cincinnati LOSS
Oct 4 @Kent St. LOSS
Oct 11 Bowling Green LOSS
Oct 18 @E. Michigan LOSS
Nov 5 Toledo LOSS
Nov 13 Buffalo LOSS
Nov 22 @Ohio LOSS
Nov 28 @Temple LOSS

Bowling Green
Aug 30 @Pittsburgh LOSS
Sep 6 Minnesota WIN
Sep 13 @Boise St. LOSS
Sep 27 @Wyoming LOSS
Oct 4 E. Michigan WIN
Oct 11 @Akron WIN
Oct 18 Miami (Ohio) WIN
Oct 25 @Northern Illinois WIN
Nov 1 Kent St. WIN
Nov 8 @Ohio WIN
Nov 21 Buffalo WIN
Nov 28 @Toledo LOSS

Buffalo
Aug 28 UTEP LOSS
Sep 6 @Pittsburgh LOSS
Sep 13 Temple LOSS
Sep 20 @Missouri LOSS
Sep 27 @C. Michigan LOSS
Oct 11 W. Michigan WIN
Oct 18 Army WIN
Oct 28 @Ohio WIN
Nov 4 Miami (Ohio) LOSS
Nov 13 @Akron WIN
Nov 21 @Bowling Green LOSS
Nov 28 Kent St. WIN

Kent State
Aug 30 Boston College LOSS
Sep 6 @Iowa St. LOSS
Sep 13 Delaware State WIN
Sep 20 @La.-Lafayette WIN
Sep 27 @Ball St. LOSS
Oct 4 Akron WIN
Oct 11 Ohio WIN
Oct 25 @Miami (Ohio) LOSS
Nov 1 @Bowling Green LOSS
Nov 12 Temple WIN
Nov 18 Northern Illinois WIN
Nov 28 @Buffalo LOSS

Miami (Ohio)
Aug 28 Vanderbilt WIN
Sep 6 @Michigan LOSS
Sep 13 Charleston Southern WIN
Sep 20 @Cincinnati LOSS
Oct 4 Temple WIN
Oct 11 @Northern Illinois LOSS
Oct 18 @Bowling Green LOSS
Oct 25 Kent St. WIN
Nov 4 @Buffalo WIN
Nov 11 Ball St. WIN
Nov 21 @Toledo LOSS
Nov 28 Ohio WIN

Ohio
Aug 30 @Wyoming LOSS
Sep 6 @Ohio St. LOSS
Sep 13 C. Michigan LOSS
Sep 20 @Northwestern LOSS
Sep 27 VMI WIN
Oct 4 @W. Michigan LOSS
Oct 11 @Kent St. LOSS
Oct 21 @Temple LOSS
Oct 28 Buffalo LOSS
Nov 8 Bowling Green LOSS
Nov 22 Akron WIN
Nov 28 @Miami (Ohio) LOSS

Temple
Aug 29 @Army WIN
Sep 6 Connecticut WIN
Sep 13 @Buffalo WIN
Sep 20 @Penn St. LOSS
Sep 27 W. Michigan WIN
Oct 4 @Miami (Ohio) LOSS
Oct 11 @C. Michigan LOSS
Oct 21 Ohio WIN
Nov 1 @Navy LOSS
Nov 12 @Kent St. LOSS
Nov 22 E. Michigan WIN
Nov 28 Akron WIN

Ball State
Aug 28 Northeastern WIN
Sep 5 Navy LOSS
Sep 13 @Akron WIN
Sep 20 @Indiana LOSS
Sep 27 Kent St. WIN
Oct 4 @Toledo LOSS
Oct 11 @W. Kentucky WIN
Oct 25 E. Michigan WIN
Nov 5 Northern Illinois WIN
Nov 11 @Miami (Ohio) LOSS
Nov 19 @C. Michigan LOSS
Nov 25 W. Michigan LOSS

Central Michigan
Aug 28 Eastern Illinois WIN
Sep 6 @Georgia LOSS
Sep 13 @Ohio WIN
Sep 20 @Purdue LOSS
Sep 27 Buffalo WIN
Oct 11 Temple WIN
Oct 18 W. Michigan WIN
Oct 25 @Toledo LOSS
Nov 1 @Indiana WIN
Nov 12 @Northern Illinois WIN
Nov 19 Ball St. WIN
Nov 28 @E. Michigan WIN

Eastern Michigan
Aug 28 Indiana State WIN
Sep 6 @Michigan St. LOSS
Sep 13 Toledo LOSS
Sep 20 @Maryland LOSS
Sep 27 Northern Illinois LOSS
Oct 4 @Bowling Green LOSS
Oct 11 @Army LOSS
Oct 18 Akron WIN
Oct 25 @Ball St. LOSS
Nov 1 @W. Michigan LOSS
Nov 22 @Temple LOSS
Nov 28 C. Michigan LOSS

Northern Illinois
Aug 30 @Minnesota LOSS
Sep 6 @W. Michigan LOSS
Sep 20 Indiana State WIN
Sep 27 @E. Michigan WIN
Oct 4 @Tennessee LOSS
Oct 11 Miami (Ohio) WIN
Oct 18 Toledo WIN
Oct 25 Bowling Green LOSS
Nov 5 @Ball St. LOSS
Nov 12 C. Michigan LOSS
Nov 18 @Kent St. LOSS
Nov 25 Navy LOSS

Toledo
Sep 6 @Arizona LOSS
Sep 13 @E. Michigan WIN
Sep 20 Fresno St. LOSS
Sep 27 FIU WIN
Oct 4 Ball St. WIN
Oct 11 @Michigan LOSS
Oct 18 @Northern Illinois LOSS
Oct 25 C. Michigan LOSS
Nov 5 @Akron WIN
Nov 15 @W. Michigan LOSS
Nov 21 Miami (Ohio) WIN
Nov 28 Bowling Green WIN

Western Michigan
Aug 30 @Nebraska LOSS
Sep 6 Northern Illinois WIN
Sep 13 @Idaho WIN
Sep 20 Tennessee Tech WIN
Sep 27 @Temple LOSS
Oct 4 Ohio WIN
Oct 11 @Buffalo LOSS
Oct 18 @C. Michigan LOSS
Nov 1 E. Michigan WIN
Nov 8 Illinois LOSS
Nov 15 Toledo WIN
Nov 25 @Ball St. WIN

Indie

Army
Aug 29 Temple WIN
Sep 6 New Hampshire WIN
Sep 20 Akron WIN
Sep 27 @Texas A&M LOSS
Oct 4 @Tulane WIN
Oct 11 E. Michigan WIN
Oct 18 @Buffalo LOSS
Oct 25 Louisiana Tech LOSS
Nov 1 Air Force LOSS
Nov 8 @Rice LOSS
Nov 22 @Rutgers LOSS
Dec 6 Navy LOSS

Navy
Aug 30 Towson WIN
Sep 5 @Ball St. WIN
Sep 13 @Duke LOSS
Sep 20 Rutgers LOSS
Sep 27 @Wake Forest LOSS
Oct 4 @Air Force LOSS
Oct 18 Pittsburgh WIN
Oct 25 SMU WIN
Nov 1 Temple LOSS
Nov 15 Notre Dame LOSS
Nov 25 @Northern Illinois WIN
Dec 6 @Army WIN

Notre Dame
Sep 6 San Diego St. WIN
Sep 13 Michigan LOSS
Sep 20 @Michigan St. WIN
Sep 27 Purdue WIN
Oct 4 Stanford WIN
Oct 11 @North Carolina LOSS
Oct 25 @Washington LOSS
Nov 1 Pittsburgh LOSS
Nov 8 @Boston College WIN
Nov 15 @Navy WIN
Nov 22 Syracuse WIN
Nov 29 @Southern Cal. LOSS

Western Kentucky
Aug 30 @Indiana LOSS
Sep 6 @Eastern Kentucky WIN
Sep 13 @Alabama LOSS
Sep 20 Murray State WIN
Sep 27 @Kentucky LOSS
Oct 4 @Virginia Tech LOSS
Oct 11 Ball St. LOSS
Oct 18 Fla. Atlantic LOSS
Nov 1 North Texas LOSS
Nov 8 @Troy LOSS
Nov 15 M. Tenn. St. LOSS
Dec 6 @FIU LOSS

2008 NCAA Predictions Team-by-Team Part 1

Every Team, Every Game!

Pac-Ten

USC
Aug. 30 at Virginia Win
Sept. 13 Ohio State Loss
Sept. 25 at Oregon State Win
Oct. 4 Oregon Win
Oct. 11 Arizona State Win
Oct. 18 at Washington State Win
Oct. 25 at Arizona Win
Nov. 1 Washington Win
Nov. 8 California Win
Nov. 15 at Stanford Win
Nov. 29 Notre Dame Win
Dec. 6 at UCLA Win

Oregon
Aug. 30 Washington Loss
Sept. 6 Utah State Win
Sept. 13 at Purdue Win
Sept. 20 Boise State Win
Sept. 27 at Washington State Win
Oct. 4 at USC Loss
Oct. 11 UCLA Win
Oct. 25 at Arizona State Win
Nov. 1 at California Win
Nov. 8 Stanford Win
Nov. 15 Arizona Win
Nov. 29 at Oregon State Win

Washington State
Aug. 30 Oklahoma State Win
Sept. 6 California Win
Sept. 13 at Baylor Win
Sept. 20 Portland State Win
Sept. 27 Oregon Loss
Oct. 4 at UCLA Win
Oct. 11 at Oregon State Loss
Oct. 18 USC Loss
Nov. 1 at Stanford Win
Nov. 8 Arizona Win
Nov. 15 at Arizona State Loss
Nov. 22 Washington Win
Nov. 29 at Hawaii Win

Washington
Aug. 30 at Oregon Win
Sept. 6 BYU Win
Sept. 13 Oklahoma Loss
Sept. 27 Stanford Win
Oct. 4 at Arizona Win
Oct. 18 Oregon State Win
Oct. 25 Notre Dame Win
Nov. 1 at USC Loss
Nov. 8 Arizona State Win
Nov. 15 UCLA Win
Nov. 22 at Washington State Loss
Dec. 6 at California Loss

California
Aug. 30 Michigan State Win
Sept. 6 at Washington State Loss
Sept. 13 at Maryland Loss
Sept. 27 Colorado State Win
Oct. 4 Arizona State Win
Oct. 18 at Arizona Loss
Oct. 25 UCLA Win
Nov. 1 Oregon Loss
Nov. 8 at USC Loss
Nov. 15 at Oregon State Win
Nov. 22 Stanford Win
Dec. 6 Washington Win

UCLA
Sept. 1 Tennessee Loss
Sept. 13 at BYU Win
Sept. 20 Arizona Win
Sept. 27 Fresno State Win
Oct. 4 Washington State Win
Oct. 11 at Oregon Loss
Oct. 18 Stanford Win
Oct. 25 at California Loss
Nov. 8 Oregon State Win
Nov. 15 at Washington Loss
Nov. 28 at Arizona State Loss
Dec. 6 USC Loss

Arizona State
Aug. 30 Northern Arizona Win
Sept. 6 Stanford Win
Sept. 13 UNLV Win
Sept. 20 Georgia Loss
Oct. 4 at California Loss
Oct. 11 at USC Loss
Oct. 25 Oregon Loss
Nov. 1 at Oregon State Loss
Nov. 8 at Washington Loss
Nov. 15 Washington State Win
Nov. 28 UCLA Win
Dec. 6 at Arizona Loss

Arizona
Aug. 30 Idaho Win
Sept. 6 Toledo Win
Sept. 13 at New Mexico Win
Sept. 20 at UCLA Loss
Oct. 4 Washington Loss
Oct. 11 at Stanford Loss
Oct. 18 California Win
Oct. 25 USC Loss
Nov. 8 at Washington State Win
Nov. 15 at Oregon Loss
Nov. 22 Oregon State Win
Dec. 6 Arizona State Loss

Stanford
Aug. 28 Oregon State Win
Sept. 6 at Arizona State Loss
Sept. 13 at TCU Win
Sept. 20 San Jose State Win
Sept. 27 at Washington Loss
Oct. 4 at Notre Dame Loss
Oct. 11 Arizona Win
Oct. 18 at UCLA Loss
Nov. 1 Washington State Loss
Nov. 8 at Oregon Loss
Nov. 15 USC Loss
Nov. 22 at California Loss

Oregon State
Aug. 28 at Stanford Loss
Sept. 6 at Penn State Loss
Sept. 13 Hawaii Win
Sept. 25 USC Loss
Oct. 2 at Utah Win
Oct. 11 Washington State Win
Oct. 18 at Washington Loss
Nov. 1 Arizona State Win
Nov. 8 at UCLA Loss
Nov. 15 California Loss
Nov. 22 at Arizona Loss
Nov. 29 Oregon Loss

Big-12 North

Missouri
Aug. 30 Illinois Win
Sept. 6 SE Missouri State Win
Sept. 13 Nevada Win
Sept. 20 Buffalo Win
Oct. 4 at Nebraska Loss
Oct. 11Oklahoma State Win
Oct. 18 at Texas Loss
Oct. 25 Colorado Win
Nov. 1 at Baylor Win
Nov. 8 Kansas State Win
Nov. 15 at Iowa State Win
Nov. 29 Kansas Win

Nebraska
Aug. 30 Western Michigan Win
Sept. 6 San Jose State Win
Sept. 13 New Mexico State Win
Sept. 27 Virginia Tech Win
Oct. 4 Missouri Loss
Oct.11 at Texas Tech Loss
Oct.18 at Iowa State Win
Oct.25 Baylor Win
Nov. 1 at Oklahoma Loss
Nov. 8 Kansas Win
Nov. 15 at Kansas State Win
Nov.29 Colorado Win

Kansas
Aug. 30 Florida International Win
Sept. 6 Louisiana Tech Win
Sept. 12 at USF Loss
Sept. 20 Sam Houston State Win
Oct. 4 at Iowa State Win
Oct.11 Colorado Win
Oct.18 at Oklahoma Loss
Oct.25 Texas Tech Loss
Nov. 1 Kansas State Win
Nov. 8 at Nebraska Win
Nov. 15 Texas Loss
Nov.29 Missouri Loss

Colorado
Aug. 31 Colorado State Win
Sept. 6 Eastern Washington Win
Sept. 18 West Virginia Loss
Sept. 27 Florida State Loss
Oct. 4 Texas Loss
Oct. 11 at Kansas Loss
Oct. 18 Kansas State Win
Oct. 25 at Missouri Loss
Nov. 1 at Texas A&M Win
Nov. 8 Iowa State Win
Nov. 15 Oklahoma State Win
Nov. 28 at Nebraska Loss

Kansas State
Aug. 30 North Texas Win
Sept. 6 Montana State Win
Sept. 17 at Louisville Win
Sept. 27 Louisiana Lafayette Win
Oct. 4 Texas Tech Loss
Oct.11 at Texas A&M Loss
Oct.18 at Colorado Loss
Oct.25 Oklahoma Win
Nov. 1 at Kansas Loss
Nov. 8 at Missouri Loss
Nov. 15 Nebraska Loss
Nov. 22 Iowa State Win

Iowa State
Aug. 28 South Dakota State Win
Sept. 6 Kent State Win
Sept. 13 at Iowa Loss
Sept. 20 at UNLV Loss
Oct. 4 at Kansas Loss
Oct.11 at Baylor Loss
Oct.18 Nebraska Loss
Oct.25 Texas A&M Loss
Nov. 1 at Oklahoma State Loss
Nov. 8 at Colorado Loss
Nov. 15 Missouri Loss
Nov. 22 at Kansas State Loss

Big-12 South

Oklahoma 11-1 (7-1)
Aug. 30 Chattanooga Win
Sept. 6 Cincinatti Win
Sept. 13 at Washington Win
Sept. 27 TCU Win
Oct. 4 at Baylor Win
Oct. 11 Texas Win
Oct. 18 Kansas Win
Oct. 25 at Kansas State Loss
Nov. 1 Nebraska Win
Nov. 8 at Texas A&M Win
Nov. 22 Texas Tech Win
Nov. 29 at Oklahoma State Win

Texas Tech
Aug. 30 Eastern Washington Win
Sept. 6 at Nevada Win
Sept. 13 SMU Win
Sept. 20 Massachusetts Win
Oct. 4 at Kansas State Win
Oct. 11 Nebraska Win
Oct. 18 at Texas A&M Win
Oct. 25 at Kansas Loss
Nov. 1 Texas Win
Nov. 8 Oklahoma State Win
Nov. 22 at Oklahoma Loss
Nov. 29 at Baylor Win

Texas
Aug. 30 Florida Atlantic Win
Sept. 6 at UTEP Win
Sept. 13 Arkansas Win
Sept. 20 Rice Win
Oct. 4 at Colorado Win
Oct. 11 Oklahoma Loss
Oct. 18 Missouri Loss
Oct. 25 at Oklahoma State Win
Nov. 1 at Texas Tech Loss
Nov. 8 Baylor Win
Nov. 15 at Kansas Win
Nov. 29 Texas A&M Win

Oklahoma State
Aug. 30 Washington State Loss
Sept. 6 Houston Win
Sept. 13 Missouri State Win
Sept. 27 Troy Win
Oct. 4 Texas A&M Win
Oct. 11 at Missouri Loss
Oct. 18 Baylor Win
Oct. 25 at Texas Loss
Nov. 1 Iowa State Win
Nov. 8 at Texas Tech Loss
Nov. 15 at Colorado Loss
Nov. 29 Oklahoma Loss

Texas A&M
Aug. 30 Arkansas State Win
Sept. 6 at New Mexico Win
Sept. 20 Miami FL Loss
Sept. 27 Army Win
Oct. 4 at Oklahoma State Loss
Oct. 11 Kansas State Win
Oct. 18 Texas Tech Loss
Oct. 25 at Iowa State Win
Nov. 1 Colorado Win
Nov. 8 Oklahoma Loss
Nov. 15 at Baylor Win
Nov. 29 Texas Loss

Baylor
Aug. 30 Wake Forest Loss
Sept. 6 Northwestern State Win
Sept. 13 Washington State Loss
Sept. 19 at Connecticut Loss
Oct. 4 Oklahoma Loss
Oct. 11 Iowa State Win
Oct. 18 at Oklahoma State Loss
Oct. 25 at Nebraska Loss
Nov. 1 Missouri Loss
Nov. 8 at Texas Loss
Nov. 15 Texas A&M Loss
Nov. 29 at Texas Tech Loss

2008 College Football Preview Top 32

Attempting to forecast with at least some semblance of accuracy within a college football season is a thankless and arduous task. Entertaining each and every scenario of an imaginary game is simply dull. At this juncture in the pre-season, all inclinations towards the games themselves are based purely on how teams are analyzed statistically, with talent and past performance acting as the deciding credentials. However, the projected performance of a team simply cannot be forecasted based on last year’s results and the bowl season. For those individuals who fall into the trap of factoring in a “carry over” effect from past seasons, the simple truth exists that innumerable unpredictable occurrences shape the actual results of games. From turnovers, to the inexplicable, to luck; in this universe Appalachian State somehow won at Michigan and Kansas tallied 12 wins. Possessing a sense of accountability, I will stand by my predictions with 100% authority and vow to consume a finely barbequed crow with mashed potatoes on the side in the many instances that my soothsaying is flawed.

Note: I have expanded the field to 32 to spur thoughts towards a much needed playoff system. No, the precious bowl games will not be absolved of historical significance or pageantry, but a clear cut national champion can emerge in a natural and straightforward fashion.

The Top 32

Disclaimer: A pre-season prediction party holds as much weight as the words of boisterous self-proclaimed descendant of Descartes at the end of the bar.

1. Ohio State
Can a team that has stared at the many shimmering facets of a national championship and been thoroughly waxed in the last two BCS championships, break free from the chains of the runner-up hangover? Nearly everyone of consequence returns, including the majority of the nation’s best overall defense in 2007. A visit to USC and a trip to Madison loom for Tressel and troops and will determine the make-up of the BCS.
11-1 (8-0)

2. Oklahoma
Has Stoops finally lost too many veteran players from a solid system that has previously averaged 10 wins per season? Can QB Sam Bradford be relied upon and with his sophomore shoulders to be more than a game manager who flourishes against lesser opponents? The defense has multiple concerns, especially in the secondary, but the schedule is not a killer with revenge in store for Texas Tech in Norman.
11-1 (8-0)

3. Florida
If Tim Tebow stays healthy, the offense will shine. How the back seven of the defense fares against a slate of high octane opponents will determine if the Gators can make a run at a championship. As usual, the SEC schedule looks daunting but UF gets LSU and Georgia at home.
11-1 (7-1)

4. Clemson
Tommy Bowden's club carries the dubious trademark of winning the big game, while losing inexplicably to a lesser opponent. While the Tigers cannot expect the innumerable turnover feast from opponents to continue from last season, Quarterback Cullen Harper and the running back stables should correct any spurious calibration towards bad breaks. The slate of opponents is not mind boggling and the chance for regular season perfection is well within the realm of reality.
12-0 (8-0)

5. USC
Pete Carrol possesses a wonderful team based on recruiting rankings, but can the Trojans compile enough momentum to power through 13 difficult weeks in the season? Can Carrol cope with the presence of Rick Neuheisal and the subsequent downgrade in the L.A. social scene. QB Mark Sanchez and SC lost to Stanford last year in one of the biggest upsets of all-time and the offense once again will have to reload. FS Taylor Mays spearheads an unbelievably solid defense, that may not be able to cover the inadequacies and growing pains of the offense. If USC can handle Ohio State at home, the squad is in prime position to win out in the regular season. If not, Carrol may have to resort to trimming his lovely locks.
10-2 (8-1)

6. Pittsburgh
The Panthers return a veteran team that has the potential to win the right way. The offense can run the ball and control a game, while the defense is stingy. With a few breaks, this team could earn a BCS bid.
11-1 (6-1)

7. Missouri
Much to chagrin of fans in Seattle, former UW assistant Gary Pinkle built Toledo to a middleweight powerhouse and has brought the Tigers to the brink of a top-5 finish. In retrospect, Pinkle’s disconnect from Don James in the late 80’s seemed a futile gamble, but after three straight bowl appearances in Columbia, the long shot has bought the drinks for the whole bar. Other than lead actor QB Chase Daniel, Mizzou is a complete team comprised of individuals who come through in the clutch when needed. The schedule is not difficult in a contemporary sense, but history is not on the Tiger’s side, as a Missouri team has not won in Lincoln since the days of Mckinleynomics.
10-2 (6-2)

8. Miami
“Bring out the ice cubes and the hot water, this is the second half and not the second quarter,” 2 Live Crew and Coral Gables benefactor Luther Campbell eloquently rhymes into the mic with angst during the new version of the approximately titled #%&* Shop. “The ‘Canes are back and bring me some mortar!”
A painful but true fact lurks in the muck of the upcoming season. The tropical storm that was Miami football over the last two yours has been upgraded to a Hurricane. Well, at least on the defensive side of the football. Head coach Randy Shannon has emphasized the old Oakland Raiders style of play, while embracing the subtle nuances of the best and worst of South Beach. The mantra of course, simply out slug the opponent until the refs throw no less than 15 flags for unnecessary roughness. The barometer reading for Miami will be a visit to the swamp and a chance to anoint Tim Tebow in three feet into the grass.
10-2 (7-1)

9. Texas Tech
A soft spot exists in the heart of every football fan for the offense. To promote a peaceful night's sleep instead of counting sheep as a tool for passive hynosis, the steady accumulation of chunks of yardage and the explosion of fireworks on the scoreboard are imagined and cherished, leading directly to REM. The college football nation secretly roots for Mike Leach running the table and QB Graham Harrell compiling 6,000 yards and 60 touchdowns, under the stipulation of course that Tech’s surgical attack is not putting their own team’s defense under the influence of 75 points of ether. Yes, Tech will be entertaining and the defense is no longer a token group, however the level of play in the Big-12 has improved. Can Leach promote a tenacious focus that will last through out the regular season? The Red Raiders are known for losses that leave their fans frustrated, while winning games that are equally baffling. If Tech does not overlook a scary match-up in the late season against Kansas, rival Texas visits Lubbock the following week. A win over the Longhorns would setup the scenario in Norman, November 22, for the game of the year in the Big-12 South.
10-2 (6-2)

10. Wisconsin
The Badgers have found a way to quietly accumulate 10 wins per season in recent times, a testament to the system head coach has installed in Madison. The offensive line is intact, the defense is solid and the Big-Ten does possess a handful of mediocre teams. Can UW survive a scary trip to Fresno State and beat Ohio State at home?
10-2 (7-1)

11. Oregon
QB Dennis Dixon's knee injury was even more gruesome than the revolving door of decrepit uniforms. The obvious plight for head coach Mike Bellotti in 2008 clearly involves the quest of finding a starting quarterback on an otherwise balanced team. The evolution of Oregon’s scheme simply equivocates to three guaranteed victories per season and proves that good coaching in the college ranks cannot be overlooked.
10-2 (7-2)

12. LSU
Les Miles is the coach you love to hate, however he scored a few points in the off-season by finally putting to rest the Ryan Perriloux situation. The Tigers are too inexperienced to be considered BCS contenders, but can be a viable threat near the top of the polls in the early season. The rotation of Georgia onto the schedule in 2008 is an unfortunate development for Tiger fans.
10-2 (6-2)

13. South Florida
Nobody says much about the Bull's defense. Over the last three seasons, opponents have averaged less than 20 points against the aggressive scheme. Though returning starters is a highly overrated number, the offense remains virtually intact, including underrated quarterback Matt Grothe. With the Big East mediocre from top to bottom, this team has a shot at running the table.
11-1 (6-1)

14. West Virginia
Changes abound, Bill Stewart moves to the helm. Why alter the offense with all the pieces primed to amass 300 ppg on the ground and score 40 points? Sometimes coaches outthink themselves with stunning consequences. Again, good coaching is vital for the longevity of a successful program.
10-2 (6-1)

15. Virginia Tech
“Beamer Ball” has evolved into a way of life in parts of Virginny, and exemplifies the benefits of following a systemic approach to preparation. Whether or not an inexperienced Hokies squad can flourish with a manageable schedule, will determine the magnitude of post season accolades. The QB rotation, offensive line and defense are solid, but the receivers are young.
10-2 (7-1)

16. Georgia
The spark of RB Knoshown Moreno has dissipated from year’s streak of invincibility in the second half of the season. Right now the Bulldogs are a good, but will not challenge for a national title. Two factors work against UGA, including a brutal schedule and the amount of preparation time in which opposing coaches have utilized in finding a way to disrupt a productive attack. The defense is solid and the offense will have to generate amazing plays to beat South Carolina, Auburn and LSU on the road, of course Florida is on the slate in the annual festival celebrating the vibrancy surrounding the world’s most monumental consumption of cocktails.
10-2 (6-2)

17. Texas
The Longhorns give off the impression of being in a reloading phase even though QB Colt McCoy returns behind a very talented offensive line. The conference schedule is poison, playing Oklahoma, Missouri and visiting Texas Tech. Is another 2-3 loss season the cause for angst in Austin?
9-3 (5-3)

18. Auburn
Okay, they miss Florida, but have to break in a new quarterback for SEC play. A very talented team on parchment, but can it translate to wins?
9-3 (5-3)

19. Washington State
Head Coach Paul Wulfe played under the tutelage of Dennis Erickson and returns to his alma matter with a formula for winning. A vast accumulation of offensive stats has always been the mantra at WSU, and Wulfe will attempt to remove the sour taste of the emphasis on losing from the Bill Doba era. Look for flashy offensive numbers, a gambling defense and two or three stunning upsets, as the Cougs return to the elite.
9-3 (6-3)

20. Mississippi
Team defensive statistics become magnified in the SEC as a result of mediocre quarterback and listless offensive attacks. However, the Rebels boast one of the most physical and formidable defenses in the nation and according to the experts exist in the shadow of better programs. Another characteristic of the SEC, is the persistent notion to schedule weak non-conference opponents. When Mississippi travels to Florida, the Rebs should be a robust 4-0, a start which will carry the club to nine wins.
9-3 (5-3)

21. Fresno State
Pat Hill has built a formidable program in California’s heartland and has garnered the respect of the college football world by accepting the invitation to play any opponent, without stipulations. Virtually everyone returns on a veteran squad which was challenged by trips to Texas A&M and Oregon. (see opposite of SEC scheduling philosophy) The Bulldogs travel to Rutgers and Westwood, but get a chance to knock Wisconsin out of the top-ten at home.
10-2 (7-1)

22. Tennessee
Highly touted Jonathan Crompton steps behind center to attempt to lead the Vols through the minefield of the SEC. RB Arian Foster returns after eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark. The defense will be improved, but can the defense stop the better teams in the SEC? A good litmus test will be Florida at home and business trip to Athens, Georgia.
8-4 (4-4)

23. Boise State
Just how solid is the foundation in Boise. After “reloading” with a 10-3 season, the Broncos have to break in a new quarterback, yet have the opportunity to be the third WAC team in as many years to earn a BCS bid. Remember Ian Johnson? The senior who scored the deciding two point conversion in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl against the Sooners, finished with 16 touchdowns and 1000 yards last year in an abbreviated campaign. Can Boise State knock off a Pac-Ten opponent on the road? The Ducks await at Autzen and will determine whether or not Boise State finishes perfect in the regular season.
11-1 (8-0)

24. Florida State
A mediocre offense continues to plague the masses in Tallahassee. Will Drew Weatherford turn a corner with the help of RB Antoine Smith and a veteran receiving corps? The answer is a blatant “no” because FSU offensive line is inexperienced and does not have to play out of its mind thanks to impact of the Seminole’s defense. Once again the back eleven are nasty. The schedule is not difficult, with the exception of Miami and a visit from Florida.
9-3 (6-2)

25. Penn State
Once again, defense is the staple in State College. Joe Paterno has tweaked his system enough to win 29 games in the span of three seasons and instill faith in the seats of the now cavernous den of Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lion’s talent on the defensive side should offset the task of breaking in a new quarterback. Successful conference road trips to Wisconsin and Columbus are not impossible, but unlikely.
8-4 (4-4)

26. Alabama
The youth movement tugs at the shoulder pads of QB John Parker Wilson, as head coach Nick Saban plays babysitter. There is absolutely no chance for rehearsal as the Tide open up with BCS contender Clemson. Though the cries and screams of growing pains resound in Tuscaloosa, the overall season will not be a disaster thanks to a manageable schedule.
8-4 (5-3)

27. Maryland
This is a solid squad that faces a very easy schedule. Only three sure losses jump out, while the rest of the games are winnable.
8-4 (5-3)

28. Michigan
The hiring of head coach Rich Rodriguez has already brought benefits to the Wolverine program. There are rumors that the off-season conditioning was attacked with a fervor and enthusiasm not seen in years. If the speculation is a true, a lean and mean team will be ready for the opener hosting Utah. While Michigan is inexperienced in the backfield, talent alone can win 8 games in the Big-Ten.
8-4 (5-3)

29. Nebraska
The Blackshirt mentality has returned to Lincoln. Head coach Bo Pelini is a disciple of defense and should lead the Cornhuskers to a bowl game. How can he not? The opening three games of the schedule is a joke and realistically, the team has to go 5-4 in the real regular season to reach 8 wins.
8-4 (5-3)

30. Central Michigan
The elements of the MAC conference and darkhorse QB Dan Lefevour mix to formulate one of the most productive offenses in the nation. Who will be able to stop this unit? The defense is not terrible and the numbers should be there barring an injury of to the best quarterback that nobody cares to hear about.
9-3 (7-1)

31. Tulsa
Clearly, they are the favorites in Conference in USA. As Boise State and Hawaii evolved to the important bowl games, the Hurricanes are loaded on offense and play an easy schedule.
10-2 (7-1)

32. North Carolina
The Tar Heels were last a winner in 2001. Head Coach Butch Davis is another “sytem” coach who knows how to prepare for games. NC will be better on both sides of the ball and should benefit from catching some breaks. A trio of tough match-ups exists for the Heels in the early season, Rutgers, Virginia Tech, and Miami.
8-4 (5-3)



Please be wary of…

Rutgers
Central Florida
South Carolina
Washington
Arizona
Iowa
Kansas
Utah
East Carolina
Bowling Green

Into the Wild Gray Chinese Yonder of Sulfur Dioxide

The chemical bake sale of gray scale particulates obscuring the futuristic skyline of China's ancient capital in the form of a fine and toxic summer mist, sets off the rugged yet pristine jade artifacts resounding with the historical significance of dynasties and emperors. Another type of cloud deftly hangs over Beijing, shrouding the capital not with any physical pollutant, but with an ideological vacuum which has persisted since the conclusion of World War II. The presence of European communism, first customized by Mao and brought to the foundation of the PRC, lays covered by a very thin layer of paint and deception. The celebration of the 2008 Olympic games and the rampart waves of building and cranes, proves as a tawdry effort in disguising the notion that China is still China and will always be, for that matter. If the world is not careful and continues to pour trillions of dollars into the Chinese economy while freely exchanging the secrets that comprise the capitalistic military industrial complex of the West, the Earth may be so renamed, "The People's Planet".

In the two days since the brilliant fireworks illuminated the birds nest of the Chinese Olympic Stadium, the US media has resorted to humor in an attempt to soften the images of the persistent Beijing smog, rivaling the smoky aftermath from a massive fire. Whether or not the cooked pollutants in the summer air are a bi-product of the IOC's perpetual moral meltdowns or simply the remnants of a new performance enhancing drug developed by Mennon and sprayed over the athletes in the Olympic village from deodorant cans, is a mystery within itself. However, the wonderful media continues to paint US corporations and certain politicians as enviro-villians. Select Hollywood celebrities posing as climate alarmists are given the pedestal to ramble into specious rants of idiocy and extremism. Even when faced with a clear view of reality from the vistas of their hotels.

From the blooms of mile-sized clumps of phosphorous green algae in the coastal waters to the constant bombardment of ozone and S02 in the air, China's pollution issues persist. The US faced similar waste management and discharge problems in the mid-20 century, but thorough regulations were adopted which have resulted in a high standard of clean water and safe air, rare on the stage of the modern globe. While EPA restrictions continue to preside over the local environment, industrial progress has fallen victim to extremism. This point is often overlooked, even when given the contrast of the wondrous Beijing gray skies to the pristine sunsets on the West coast. The once Olympic gem of Athens, Greece which shined brilliantly for the cameras in 2004, suffers from the symptoms of a permanent hangover which will have lasting effects on Greek culture and the health of the nation's economy. Fortunately for the Greeks, the loud and baseless sentiments have moved to Beijing. Over the next month, the history of the Chinese culture, the dichotomy between progress lineage and the alleged victimization of a thriving labor class can be carelessly summarized by the rhetoric of dolts. In other words, hypocrisy thrives amidst abundant contradiction based on the surreal.

There exists a plethora of public figures who possess the inclination to emigrate to all points on the globe, where life is real and the future is raw. Though basic human freedoms such as the right to make an ass of one's self with watered down cliches and senseless logic are not covered by any sort of binding document, the opportunity exists to study under the eaves of Confucius, Mencius or the wisdom of Mao. You can flourish in the tent of the polluted fog, flanked by 1.2 billion comrades and a fledgling military soaked with the memories of history's improprieties. Please, shout in unison "Free Tibet!" as the barrage from the firing line two hours later convulses your already mutilated body.

The indistinguishable haze permeating from above, beside and below every camera shot in Beijing, is a preview and an apt metaphor for the possibility of an unsettling future; the complete annihilation of individuality.

Here's to Jose Lopez

If Ichiro stands as the icon of the Seattle Mariner's franchise and the Nintendo Corporation during a feast or famine run in the first decade of the 21st century, Jose Lopez certainly represents the face of sorts. The 24 year old second baseman is quietly putting together a wonderful statistical masterpiece on paper, but numbers do not always equivocate to victories at the major league level. Brushing away the periphery layer comprising the hollow achievements of Lopez's relatively young career, it becomes patently obvious that the middle infielder is actually a deterrent from the formula of baseball which transcends time itself, the formula for winning.

During Lopez's big league tenure with Seattle, the Mariners stand at 343-386, or roughly on par with the franchise's all-time mediocre winning percentage. During his rookie season in 2004, the team lost nearly 100 games, while an apex saturated in over achievement was reached in last year's 88 win total, Lopez flirted with the Mendoza line for the month of September and was eventualy banished to the doghouse by team leader Jose Guillen. In 2006 Lopez did garner the M's lone spot on the all-star team, and gained credibility with local media, including Seattle Times sportswriter Larry Stone.

It's now delightfully obvious to all concerned that Lopez went out and did it. He did it all, everything they asked, from mastering the nuances of second base, to learning how to hit to all fields, to hiring a personal trainer this winter in order to keep off the 15 or so pounds he lost at the end of last season.

The anomaly that is Lopez continues during this season's latest installment of a Seattle sports nightmare. In the team's 42 wins, Lopez is hitting an amazing .384 while in defeats, his average descends to a pedestrian .262. Delving into the raw numbers, things appear just plain ugly. Out of the starting second baseman in baseball, Lopez ranks near the bottom of the list in walks. Though his totals are comparable to Brandon Phillips of the Reds and Placido Palanco of the Tigers, Phillips hits for power, while Palanco utilizes a high average. Even the much maligned Orlando Hudson of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who was a Toronto outcast, has drawn more free passes than Lopez this season. Though Lopez strikes out at a relatively low rate, the relationship between his few walks and high k's is directly proportional to the fact that he does not take a lot of pitches. This point is clearly illustrated by the small margin of .029 separating his batting average and on base percentage. As Lopez struggles with the art of patience at the plate, he adds virtually nothing once he reaches base. At this stage in the season, he has accumulated four stolen bases, while the head scratching nature of his numerous base running blunders have infuriated the entire spectrum of the Mariner Nation.

Dissecting the content that doesn't show up in the boxscore, proves alarming. According to scouts and what is witnessed by fans, Lopez can't bunt. His jaw dropping errors in the field defy logic not simply by their frequency in occurrence, but in the crucial points in a game at which they occur. Though the eyes of the television camera, his demeanor appears to border on indifference. Former Mariner reliever Jeff Nelson expounded upon the current issues within the clubhouse on 950 KJR AM earlier this season and alluded to presence of Mariner players who were simply content with getting their two hits, regardless of the result. Of course Ichiro first comes to mind in the wake of Nelson's insight, as does a player in the mold of Lopez, who has always enjoyed a moderate rate of success at the plate. At this juncture in his career, can Lopez improve his emotional intelligence and develope a sense of accountability without the existence of leadership in the clubhouse? The Jose Guillen era (1 season), proved a success, but GM Bill Bavasi acted upon his own ideas as to the framework of winning.

Between Lopez and shortstop Yunieksy Bentancourt, the management of the organization envisioned a productive middle infield which would parallel the success of the Carlos Baerga-Omar Vizquel tandem of the Cleveland Indians in the mid 1990's. The emphasis was on speed, reaching base, and solid defense and longevity. The perfect scheme to compliment the atmosphere and dimensions of Safeco Field. Lopez was originally signed by the M's as a teenager and brought through the system as a prototypical infielder. Which begs the question; How deep do the issues of this franchise reach? If a young player cannot be groomed to a professional level through the minor leagues, does the onus fall on the ownership group, the scouting, or the absence of a comprehension of baseball philiosophy within the front office?

As yet another experiment spurred by the apparent wisdom of Chuck Armstong and Howard Lincoln fizzles in the backwash of another 100 loss season, fans can all hold steadfast to the reality that Jose Lopez will finish the season with solid statistical numbers while filling the foundation towards contention not with concrete, but with paper.

2008 College Football Preview Week 1

The unwritten rules of life dictate that the college football fan appreciates the artistic integrity of a fine mess. This point is supported by the reaction of intrigue perpetuated in Navy's 74-62 win over North Texas last year and Mike Gundy's press conference implosion which rivaled the total loss of control indicative of a liberal caller breaching the screener system and ranting into Rush's headphones. Nowhere on this planet are casual sports fans associated with expert insight, except when the supply of Budweiser has been extinguished on a cold and blustery Saturday in October.

In reverence to the thousands of blogs and previews already devoted to the chaotic thrill ride that will be the 2008 college football season, hopefully the following rhetoric does not deter from the pending enjoyment and anticipation of a new season. For at least one week, the shot at a BCS championship is real and fresh; a wish that may last throughout the whole season.

"The toil of all that be Helps not the primal fault; It rains into the sea, And still the sea is salt." A.E. Houseman


Williada 2008 College Football Preview (Day One)

Five questions that need to be addressed before further pontification...

5. Will Cinderella deftly sneak into the Tiger's cage and steal the glass slipper?

The previously named Division I-AA put FCS on the tip of every one's tongue in the wake of Appalachian State's stunner at the Big House and North Dakota State's impressive dissection of Minnesota. As if the schedules are made with fate as an ingredient, Appalachian State travels to Baton Rouge as a made for media match-up featuring the reigning kings of the BCS and FCS. Appalachian State will lose this MFBS by at least four touchdowns, a testament to the trickle down parity effect and respect in all levels of college football. As Boise State and Louisville put the fear into coaching staffs of the BCS conferences, the Mountaineers from North Carolina have solidified the notion that a large school can no longer simply show up and endure the motions of a "pre-season" game.

"Exhibition" Games that may cause some level of stress

Aug. 30 Eastern Washington @ Texas Tech... Will the Red Raiders dare to break the century mark? (Eastern was decimated by Houston 84-21 in 1990 as David Klingler tossed 11 TD's)
Aug. 30 James Madison @ Duke
Sept. 6 Northwestern State @ Baylor
Sept. 13 Montana St. @ Minnesota
Sept. 13 North Dakota St. @ Wyoming

4. Can Tim Tebow stay injury free for another season?

The brilliant manifestations of Urban Meyer's spread offense is reliant on the health and will of the quarterback. Though Heisman winner Tebow is the size of linebacker, a brutal schedule in the SEC looms and another 210 carries from the quarterback position is asking for trouble. As well as the truth that a QB is one well place hit away from being carted off on a stretcher. Though the Gators return one of the top offensive lines in the conference, defenses and defensive coordinators alike are inventing new ways to hit a running quarterback as many times as possible. Oregon Duck fans can attest to possible disastrous season ending injuries bestowed upon Dennis Dixon, during a successful run towards a BCS berth. USC transfer Emmanuel Moody is the key figure in the running back stables and has to exceed 175 carries to alleviate the pressure of both Tebow and WR Percy Harvin in the misdirection game.

3. Can somebody besides Ohio State make a strong claim for running the table?

USC once again breaks in a "new" starting QB, Florida relies too much on Tim Tebow, while Oklahoma is vulnerable and plays a difficult schedule. Outside of the big four, who will step up and surprise? Texas Tech is an intriguing team, but always seems to win impossibly and lose improbably. The same vein is apparent with Clemson. Georgia returns 17 starters and a brutal running game, but also endures a brutal schedule. Wisconsin has a chance to knock off the Buckeyes in Madison, but faces a few roadblocks.

Once gain, parity saturates the top 40 teams in the BCS.

2. Who is the biggest fish in the smallest pond?

The MAC conference has been recognized on the college football map thanks to offensive juggernauts and well timed upsets of lesser Big 10 foes. This year is no different as Central Michigan Quarterback Dan LeFevour fits the mold perfectly as a general in the spread offense. Last year the 6'3 229 pound sophomore was the architect for a staggering accumulation of numbers including 1122 yards rushing, another 3642 through the air and 46 total touchdowns. More importantly, LeFevour lead the Chippewas to a MAC title and a bowl appearance. During the second week of 2008, the versatile QB has a chance to shine on the big stage as Central Michigan travels to Athens and a date with the Bulldogs. He can atone for the fact that he has never lead a victory over a BCS opponent in 6 previous tries.

1. Who will be this year's Kansas?

As Kansas head coach Mark Mangino waddled each week to the helm of his press conference in the style of William Howard Taft, the burely coach captivated a national audience based on the real threat that he might endure a possible heart attack at the media podium while in mid praise of his stunning team. Though the Jayhawks and their leader were blessed with an inexplicable karma both on and off the field, not even the most outlandish string theoriest working with chaos mathematics and infinities could have predicted the ascension to 12 victories through the reality of a punishing Big 12 conference schedule. Oregon State, Kansas State, Utah and Boise State have all garnered bandwagon delegates this decade, while reaching the forefront of the college football consciousness from relative obscurity. Typically, the ingredients for a team primed for a meteoric rise include the propensity towards mediocrity and the accomplishment of a monumental early season upset.

And the answer is...
Over the last four years, NFL refugee Dave Wannstedt has endured the balancing act between mediocrity and miserable failure. For the 2008 season, Pitt returns 15 starters, including durable RB LeSean McCoy, and faces a favorable schedule, hosting Iowa and West Virginia at home. The Panthers have a golden opportunity to run the table in the Big East and capture the interest of the nation thanks in large part to the pending attrition in Morgantown linked to the coaching change.