Week 4: It Takes September

It really takes the first month of games to see how good, or how bad, the teams really are. It takes a month for the players and coaches to learn their roles. It takes a month for fans to decide whether or not keep the season tickets, or cut their losses and sell to the highest bidder.

What have we seen this first month? Let's start here:

• OSU and Utah stay high or climb the polls but have yet to play anyone of significance.
• BYUs 2-QB system did not work. But we now see why the head coach was not ready to settle on one: neither QB was ready.
• BYU and UGA, as I predicted, would have similar seasons. So far I'm very right, just not the outcome I hoped for. Both teams sit at 1 -3 with three straight losses (first time in five years for BYU, 20 years for Georgia).
• 'bama may be the first team to repeat in the BCS era...their comeback against Arkansas looked like the 'bama of last year and a team that could repeat.
• Right now, 19 of the-top 25 are undefeated and the six 1-loss teams all lost to a ranked team, with the exception of Texas (loss to UCLA).
• Top 25: 6 from SEC, 6 from Big 10, 3 from Big 12, 3 from PAC-10, 2 from ACC, 0 from Big East, and 5 from the WAC and MWC. Hmmmm.....

Just to Vent

The BYU defense could not stop a running play...at all. The play calling was dull, predictable and downright atrocious when they needed it most. Receivers could not catch a ball to save their lives. Heaps is obviously a true freshman...but with potential.

ENDZONE

Please...can the Big 10 step it up a notch? They boast six teams in the Top 25 yet Saturday the Big 10, with the exception of Purdue and Minn, won their games by a total of 345 - 109. Play someone of real caliber and THEN stake your claim as a power conference.

Week 3: No Real Surprises

Kind of a boring weekend in college football when you compare it to the first two weeks. Little change in the Top 25 and all the Top 25 teams won except Houston (QB got hurt) and Iowa.

Houston will be back if Keenum is OK. Iowa will likely shape things up as well. BYU? UGA? Yikes...I don't know if I can stand another weekend of watching those two teams perform almost the same way: spurts of greatness but unable to keep it going. It's killing me!

ENDZONE

Is USC any good? They keep squeaking the games out...darn it. I don't usually wish anyone ill but I really don't want to see Kiffin have a good first year.

Week 2: You Gotta Be Kidding ! !

We are two weeks into the season and four different FBS teams have lost to FCS teams - all four from a different BCS conference! What is going on in college football? What a weekend to remember...

Five teams dropped out of the top 25...three had been ranked 18 or higher.

The ACC had three teams in the top 25...they are now all out.

Florida is 2 - 0 but has dropped in the rankings both weeks...and rightfully so.

BYU went from two QBs to no QB.

UGA could not find an answer for Lattimer...that boy's going places.

Bama made their statement for their precious #1 spot.

And, all the games i watched looked like no one could recall how to tackle.

ENDZONE

Boise State made a great showing against the toughest team on their schedule - VaTech. But then VaTech lost to James Madison...an FCS team...at home...all but nullifying Noise States statement for respect. And if VaTech makes some corrections and takes the ACC, they'll go to a BCS bowl. The BCS is picky about non-qualifying conference teams in their precious bowls but they'll let the ACC Champ, who lost to an FCS team, go automatically? Really now...

Week 1: What We Learned

Here is a sampling from week #1...one of the best kickoff weeks I've seen in years.

What We Learned

• Boise State is for real. Give both teams credit for scheduling a top opponent for game 1 and both for making a great showing.
• Had Va Tech not spent the 1st quarter focused on fashioning their new unis (which are not even the school colors) the outcome may have been different.
• Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State had RBs with 200+ yards in game 1.
• Oklahoma almost lost their first game to another team from Utah.
• Florida........no comment.
• Both UGA and BYU seemed to have found their QBs (two for BYU). NOTE: See the 2010 predictions post.
• LSU and UW offenses were shut out the second half...must have been a little too easy to figure out.
• Ole Miss.....well, it had to happen to somebody and it gives FCS teams some confidence, reminds FBS teams not to take any team lightly, and it reminds us all that the gap is slowly but surely closing year after year.

New Questions

• Will we debate the Boise State in the NC game all year or will they get a little too confident and drop one (to the delight of many a commentator)?
• Are Notre Dame and Michigan finally turning around? Or, was it just their opponent?
• Will Week 2 outshine Week 1? (UGA at South Carolina, Oklahoma at FSU, Penn State at 'Bama and Michigan at Notre Dame)

ENDZONE

Huge shutouts and routs? Oregon wins 72-0, UGA wins 55-7 and I'm sure there were others. Please, lets not return to the days of running up the score...regardless of the opponent and regardless what string of players you have in there. Maintain some decency, respect your opponent for still trying and don't piss off the other teams fans. It WILL comeback to bite you.

Bring on "The Boys of Fall"

Every fan, in their own way, lives vicariously through each game...every play, every tackle, every TD and every bad call. We watch....and high-five, and cheer, and yell...even feel the very emotions as if we were right there on the field.

I really like this video...gets you up and ready for the season.

Click HERE to see the video.