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
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.
