I sit here looking at a copy of Sports Illustrated (the August 17th edition), and cannot help but to wonder what is going on with the pre-season rankings.
I'll start at the top: One through five looks right, with traditional powerhouses Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, USC, and Virginia Tech.
But Ole Miss at six? Wait, didn't this team finish 5-3 in the SEC last year? Yes, I know the SEC is a very strong conference but that was still fourth best in the conference as they did not finish ahead of any ranked teams in conference play.
Oklahoma State and Alabama as eight and nine makes sense, as both are coming off of strong season and return many starters.
Boise State will start at ninth. Finally the voters are showing some love to the WAC team that was undefeated in conference play and returns eleven starters.
Rounding out the top ten is Ohio State. The Buckeyes look to win yet another Big Ten championship and this year should not be too challenging for them. Penn State is the only other Big Ten team ranked to start the year (14th). They seem to be a deserving top ten team.
Check back tomorrow for day five of First & Short's week long college football tailgate party.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Day 3: Life in the ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference is constantly bashed and noted as a weak football conference. Some have even said that the Mountain West Conference is stronger than the ACC.
But could this be the year that the ACC steps up and demands respect from the rest of the college football world? Maybe the have already started making statements.
In this decade, the ACC has produced more first-round NFL draft picks than any other conference. That statistic is often hidden behind the ACC's 2-9 record in BCS bowl games. A winning percentage of just over 18%.
With Miami not being the same dominant national power that once were when they played in the Big East Conference, the ACC lacks a dominant team.
Florida State used to be that team in the ACC, but has been mediocre nearly every season since the conference expanded to twelve teams. Hell, the Seminoles have had more academic scandals than bowl wins since the expansion.
Virginia Tech has been the team to really take control in the conference. But has yet to make a big mark nationally, going just 1-3 in BCS games.
Bottom line: the ACC needs someone to step up this year, my guess is that Virginia Tech will be that team, they will start the season ranked fifth in the country, now can they stay up at the top for the whole season? We'll find out soon enough.
Check back tomorrow for day four of First & Short's week long college football tailgate!
But could this be the year that the ACC steps up and demands respect from the rest of the college football world? Maybe the have already started making statements.
In this decade, the ACC has produced more first-round NFL draft picks than any other conference. That statistic is often hidden behind the ACC's 2-9 record in BCS bowl games. A winning percentage of just over 18%.
With Miami not being the same dominant national power that once were when they played in the Big East Conference, the ACC lacks a dominant team.
Florida State used to be that team in the ACC, but has been mediocre nearly every season since the conference expanded to twelve teams. Hell, the Seminoles have had more academic scandals than bowl wins since the expansion.
Virginia Tech has been the team to really take control in the conference. But has yet to make a big mark nationally, going just 1-3 in BCS games.
Bottom line: the ACC needs someone to step up this year, my guess is that Virginia Tech will be that team, they will start the season ranked fifth in the country, now can they stay up at the top for the whole season? We'll find out soon enough.
Check back tomorrow for day four of First & Short's week long college football tailgate!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Day 2: Warming Up
We are now less than a week away from the opening of the 2009-2010 college football season. College students across the country have made the great dash to receive tickets to their school's first game of the season.
North Carolina State University is no exception. Students tickets have been distributed and at the moment, every seat at recently renovated Carter-Finley Stadium has been sold for the season opener against South Carolina. It seems that the 37-0 beat down brought on by the Gamecocks last season has not phased the often overly optimistic Wolfpack fans as they start the new season.
Student tickets were so hard to come by that your's truly is left without a ticket (Not to worry, this will be resolved). A white out has been called by the students... just another cheesy unoriginal practice that bothers me in sports. Why not a red out? Seeing as that is the school's color.
Oh well, I guess I'll just have to live with it, like I've done for the wave for years.
Check back tomorrow for day three of First and Short's week long college football tailgate party.
North Carolina State University is no exception. Students tickets have been distributed and at the moment, every seat at recently renovated Carter-Finley Stadium has been sold for the season opener against South Carolina. It seems that the 37-0 beat down brought on by the Gamecocks last season has not phased the often overly optimistic Wolfpack fans as they start the new season.
Student tickets were so hard to come by that your's truly is left without a ticket (Not to worry, this will be resolved). A white out has been called by the students... just another cheesy unoriginal practice that bothers me in sports. Why not a red out? Seeing as that is the school's color.
Oh well, I guess I'll just have to live with it, like I've done for the wave for years.
Check back tomorrow for day three of First and Short's week long college football tailgate party.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Day 1 of First & Short's Week Long College Football Tailgate!
The feel of NCAA Football is definitely in the air now. Two-a-days are in full swing as teams across the country are preparing for week one of the seaon.
The first game of the '09-'10 seaon is just seven days away, and First & Short will be there. The South Carolina Gamecocks will travel to Raleigh to take on the N.C. State Wolfpack on ESPN. The feeling on campus is unlike any season in recent history.
The expectations are astronomical for Tom O'Brien in his third season with the Pack, after the local newspaper, The News and Observer predicted state would finish near the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference for this season, largely in part from the return of All-Conference quarterback, Russell Wilson.
We will have a full game preview for this game next Thursday (gameday).
Check back tomorrow for day two of First and Short's week long college football tailgate party.
The first game of the '09-'10 seaon is just seven days away, and First & Short will be there. The South Carolina Gamecocks will travel to Raleigh to take on the N.C. State Wolfpack on ESPN. The feeling on campus is unlike any season in recent history.
The expectations are astronomical for Tom O'Brien in his third season with the Pack, after the local newspaper, The News and Observer predicted state would finish near the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference for this season, largely in part from the return of All-Conference quarterback, Russell Wilson.
We will have a full game preview for this game next Thursday (gameday).
Check back tomorrow for day two of First and Short's week long college football tailgate party.
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