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SIDELINE ARCHIVE Unnecessary Hits To The Pocket / Upset: BYU October 17, 2008 Romo's Pause / Seattle Seahawks October 15, 2008 Weekend Prep: Red River and More October 10, 2008 College Football's 'Crossroads' Weekend October 9, 2008 Gramatical Error October 7, 2008 Turning The Page September 30, 2008 So Cal 'Quizzed — But Who Will Answer? September 26, 2008 3rd Tuesday Panic Button / Forté Yard Dash September 23, 2008 Two and Oh; Oh and Two September 22, 2008 No More NCAAffeine September 11, 2008 Week 1 College Football September 6, 2008 How To Spell Heisman / Chad Ocho Cinco September 1, 2008 Why the Favre story STILL won't go away August 18, 2008 Olympic Notes / Ricky's Still Relevant August 14, 2008 Committee Meetings August 9, 2008 Let the QB Battles Begin August 8, 2008 Slinging The Slinger — More Favre August 6, 2008 Welcome to the 2008 season July 28, 2008 Plus One May 27, 2008 Draft: The Morning After April 28, 2008 Draft: Thinking the Unthinkable April 25, 2008 Draft: Ready For The Long Haul April 23, 2008 Sofa–bound Sport April 16, 2008 Post–Winter Wonderland April 11, 2008 Six Impossible Things February 4, 2008 Brady's Misdirection Play February 3, 2008 Colorful Language January 23, 2008 Let the Romo–bashing begin: Dallas lost January 14, 2008 Bowl Bites: The Wrap January 10, 2008 All About The Coaches January 1, 2008 Bowl Bites 3 and A Communication Breakdown December 29, 2007 Bowl Bites 2 December 27, 2007 Bowl Bites 1 December 23, 2007 The Empty Chair - Coach Situations Vacant December 22, 2007 For Some, The Playoffs Are Now December 15, 2007 A Certain Lack Of Welcome December 13, 2007 Unrelated Notes November 29, 2007 Two Thanksgiving thoughts November 22, 2007 Halftime: NFC November 9, 2007 Halftime: AFC November 8, 2007 London, Part 2 / A Tale of Two Chads / A Game of Intimidation November 4, 2007 Damp Squib / Other London Notes October 29, 2007 Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em / Dolphins – The Aftermath October 23, 2007 The Dolphins Did What? October 18, 2007 Notes on the Defenses October 13, 2007 Habits to be Broken October 12, 2007 Overtime October 13, 2007 This Week's Starters October 6, 2007: USF: Covering The Spread / Fantastic Football September 27, 2007: Grossman: The Final Act? / McNabb, the Epilogue September 24, 2007: Eagles QB in Slight Controversy September 21, 2007: Leftwich's Parting Gift to Jacksonville? / Boos cruise September 18, 2007: Notre Dame M.I.A. September 16, 2007: Looking Beyond NFL Wk. 1 September 12, 2007: Best Hope For Heisman September 10, 2007: Coaching Hot Seats / AP Poll Feeling ’Appy September 7, 2007: The NFL’s Prime Cuts September 5, 2007: Michigan Falls to Killer Apps September 3, 2007: Look Out Couch / The Taint's On You, Bud September 1, 2007: |
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SPORTS SIDELINE 
Observations, Opinion & Occasional Silliness by Richard L Gale Week 1 College Football Notes Things have been a little hectic, what with 120 college preseason capsules and some last minute, wild and wacky NFL predictions to post before each team kicks off (missed them? click here ). This blog will resume its normal in–season spontaneity any day now, but before the season kickoff overtakes me, some thoughts from the opening week of college football and beyond... South Carolina's Tommy Beecher threw four interceptions in the Gamecocks' game against NC State. Kevin Craft also threw four picks for UCLA against Tennessee. Both teams won. You won't see that happening twice in the same weekend very often. Week one was inevitably full of blowouts as the big boys took on kindergartens in the home of securing a 1–0 start, so which lopsided laughers were noteworthy? Well, for one thing, Buffalo looked a lot better than a bottom feeder as they rolled UTEP 42–17. QB Drew Willy was sharp and RB James Starks may work his way onto the NFL's watch list after the 6–2 215lb junior put up 179 yards while splitting time with Brandon Thermilus. This year's Texas–Oklahoma game looks like being one for the ages, if their week one games are anything to go by. The Sooners beat Chattanooga 57–2 and the Longhorns downed Florida Atlantic 52–10. Neither opponent can be considered elite — although FAU were a bowl team last year — but Texas and Oklahoma both seemed in mid–season form. To anybody writing off Rutgers after they lost to Fresno State 24–7, I say think again. The passing and rushing games seemed to be a fingertip off, a half–block away all day for the Scarlet Knights, and they shut out Fresno in the second half. By comparison, Pittsburgh were everything I suspected — what were you thinking, sports experts? This is the Wannstedt! Week 2 should supply even more one–sided games, and a few less quality battles, but there will some stories to watch: Ohio v Ohio State will be on our screens, and those expecting a tight contest better look away — last time Ohio State lost to an in–state rival, the Charleston was still the latest dance craze. Nonetheless, those looking forward to Ohio State v USC should be intrigued to see how the depth chart looks behind the resting Chris Wells. An entertaining early game could be Southern Miss at Auburn. Sure, the Tigers should win solidly, but Southern Miss put up 51 points last week against Louisiana–Lafayette, and could be a better test of Auburn than Louisiana–Monroe, who the Tigers blanked with their running game. Expect Auburn to inject more of their spread passing game this week. Florida–Miami is obviously the game of the day, but keep an eye on another in–state rivalry, as South Florida take on Central Florida. The recruiting battle in Florida can never be under–estimated, and right now Miami and Florida State seem to be slipping back as programs. With UCF a C–USA contender and South Florida a ranked team that flew as high as no.2 last season (hey, didn't everybody?), these two games will be the channel–hop highlights for Floridian recruits. If the Gators make Miami look like minnows, it could be a very good recruiting day for the South Florida Bulls. Stepping away from football for a moment: the LPGA has recently been proposing making English its official language, suggesting players who lack proficiency are not allowed on tour. "This is an American tour" said Kate Peters, tournament director of the LPGA State Farm Classic (apparently overlooking the fact that English still isn't the official language of the US). However, in related comment, LPGA deputy commissioner Libby Galloway described the LPGA as a "global tour". Communications problems? Hmm. The LPGA has now rescinded the embryonic edict. That's probably wise. |
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