Why I Love (And Hate) Preseason Football

Preseason football: What comes to mind when you see that? The beginning of another great football season? Fall? Who cares? Well, all of these can pretty much describe my feelings towards preseason football. Sure, we've been all dying for football season to start, and I'll be the first to admit I'll take preseason football over none at all, but something about it gives me a 'boring' vibe. First, I'll explain why I love it... ROOKIES!!!! The preseason is a great time to see how your favorite college players are doing in the pros, or for that matter, just comparing them against other rookies. Most of the time, rookies aren't first-team offense or defense, so they won't play much during the season, barring an injury. Second, it can be quite entertaining watching players compete for roster spots, even though starters are mostly decided already. Third, its great to see how the bottom-dwellers have improved (or gotten worse). You can see how the stars of the league react to new teams, players, coaches, etc. So you get my point. Now, why I hate it. Injuries. Seems like someone always gets hurt in the preseason. This year's big injury was Elvis Dumervil. The starters don't play much for safety reasons but it still should be a little more entertaining considering we've been starving for football all summer. When you do get a player that does play for more than a few series, they take them out right in the middle of a great drive or defensive possession. You think you'll get to see some action, then you get a stalled drive or a blown defensive stand. Either way you view it, its still football!

The Conference Carousel

While the title of the article suggests otherwise, it's not all fun and games with conference realignment. Just when you thought the whole thing was over, Nevada and Fresno State have chosen to leave the WAC and join the Mountain West. It's a good move for both schools. Both programs are established as up and coming football teams, and it gives Nevada and Fresno the chance to compete against better competition. The WAC is basically waiting to collapse with only 6 football member schools. BYU was considering leaving the MWC for the WAC in all sports except football, and they planned to become an independent in football, but that idea seems to have lost some steam. Hawaii needs to leave the WAC, maybe for the Pac-10 if they ever consider inviting another team, but it's unlikely right now. The MWC is a better option in the short term future. The WAC should separate and let the remaining schools find another conference, become independent, or a drastic measure: move back down to FCS competition. It could provide the best long term solution for the members if any more teams left and the WAC dissolves. It's fun to speculate, but I was hoping that this shifting would've been done a while ago; it's old news.

Coaches' Poll

The USA Today Coaches' Poll came out a couple weeks ago. No real surprises. Alabama was No. 1, Ohio State No. 2, Florida No. 3, Texas No. 4, and Boise State rounds out the Top 5. Pretty close to what I thought they'd be, but Florida's too high along with Texas. I was kinda surprised Boise didn't crack the Top 3; I'd put Boise at No. 3 and Florida back at No. 5. Surprised UConn wasn't in the Top 25. I did get to see the number of points a few teams who just barely made the cut had. UConn was No. 33 in the points race with 40 points. The way the UConn schedule sets up, they could possibly be 5-0 by the time they travel to Rutgers. A win there and they could be 7-0 by the time West Virginia comes to East Hartford. I have a sleeper team in the Top 10 that could really do some damage...Iowa. Iowa has beaten Penn State the last 2 years and probably will again this year being PSU is a home game for them. They could beat Ohio State because OSU is also a home game for Iowa. If they win those 2 games, not much else is standing in the way of them winning the Big 10 title and going to the Rose Bowl. I'm so excited for football season :)

Connecticut

A few weeks ago, I got back from UConn, my favorite college. Also, today I have a few guest columnists. UConn is an awesome place. The football facilities are the best in the country. The two main buildings are very large. The first, The Burton Family Football Complex, is a beautiful museum dedicated to UConn football. The second, The Mark R. Shenkman Training Center, is the team's strength and conditioning center. They have a full-size indoor practice field. The weight rooms are huge and filled with all kinds of exercise equipment. The Burton Complex has trophies, jerseys, and even shoes from Donald Brown's (legendary UConn RB) record setting season. There is also a nice memorial to the late UConn CB Jasper Howard, a would-be Senior who was murdered last October. There are pictures of former players. There is a wall of NFL helmets that below them have plaques showing former Connecticut players that have been drafted, play, or did play for the teams. Perhaps the most famous quote in UConn sports history is above the front office desk in bold silver letters. "Play each play like it's the last play you'll ever play", said by Jasper Howard in a postgame interview after he played his final game the evening of his passing, is right there. If you are ever in the Hartford area, go check out the UConn campus.

Update

Texas denied the Pac-10's invitation to join the conference, so that means the Big 12 is saved. The remaining schools in the Big 12 met to work on a TV deal. The deal likely will keep the Big 12 together for good. The Pac-10 will stop at nothing to benefit from this whole "realignment" scare, so they've raided the Mountain West. Utah is expected to join the Pac-10 as its 12th member

College Football News

Wow, what an amazing few days in the college football world! I think 2009 was the last year of college football as we currently know it. Jeremiah Masoli, the quarterback of the Oregon Ducks and 2010 Heisman hopeful, was kicked off the football team following his arrest on June 7. He was already suspended for the 2010 season after being arrested back in March on theft charges. USC has been hammered by the NCAA following their 4 year investigation. They are prohibited from playing in the postseason for 2 years, they will lose 30 scholarships over 3 years, and will have to vacate wins from 2004-05. Reggie Bush may be stripped of his Heisman. The BCS committee will decide if they will strip USC of their 2004 National Championship. Some players may decide to transfer, but I don't know of any definite names. They could also lose some recruits, so we'll just have to see how this works out in the near future... Nebraska has decided to apply for Big Ten membership, ending months of speculation regarding expansion. However, Nebraska's move to the Big Ten has set off a chain reaction of events that will cause a seismic impact to the college football landscape. These events will eventually lead to the "death" of the Big 12. Colorado has announced its move to the Pac-10; Boise State will be moving to the Mountain West; Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma St. look to join the Pac-10 as early as Tuesday; Kansas, K-State, Baylor, Missouri, and Iowa State are left in the dust, scrambling for a place to go; Texas A&M is interested in pursuing the SEC...the list will get longer. Mizzou looks to receive a Big Ten invite while Kansas and K-State may receive a Mountain West invite. Baylor and ISU don't really know where they might fit in. Then there is the issue of basketball. What would happen to the legendary Kansas basketball program? Kansas or K-State may begin looking at the Big East for an invite! Another issue is the idea of college football's first "megaconference". This potential "Pac-16" will cause the NCAA rules to be changed due to the current bowl format and the large number of teams in the conference. Now there could be 2 automatic BCS bowl berths for instance the conf. champion and the runner-up. Looks like 2010 will be essentially the same except there will be a troubling thought in the minds of school officials everywhere: Where do we go from here? Answers will be few and far between...

Random Thoughts

I saw on ESPN where Reggie Bush is being reviewed by the NCAA for receiving "extra benefits" while he played at USC; the allegations could cost him his Heisman Trophy if he is ruled retroactively ineligible. The NCAA will then decide if his Heisman will be vacated. Ben Roethlisberger also spoke today about re-evaluating his life and focusing on what's important. Other that that, not much news in the football world.