Alabama-Notre Dame at the Georgia Dome?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s “Free-Wheeling” Friday again when we give ourselves permission to go off topic or dream big dreams. Such as:
1. Notre Dame vs. Alabama in Atlanta?: Why not? I’m hearing that Alabama coach Nick Saban really wants to get Notre Dame on the Crimson Tide schedule in the future. He played the Irish as the head coach at Michigan State and found the exposure for his program very helpful. And beating the Irish never hurts in recruiting.
Here is my proposal:
If Alabama can’t talk Notre Dame into a home and home series, how about two neutral site games-one in Atlanta and one in the new stadium in Indianapolis? I’m just throwing it out there for your consideration.
Neutral site games, like the Aug. 30 meeting between Clemson and Alabama at the Georgia Dome, are going to become more common in the future. It comes with a good payday (over $2 million per school) and takes the “brand” of that school into new recruiting territory.
Illinois and Missouri are opening the season in St. Louis. Kansas and Missouri are playing their Big 12 showdown at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Notre Dame and Arizona State announced this week that they have agreed to play on Oct. 5, 2013, in the new $1 billion stadium being built by Dallas Cowboy’s owner Jerry Jones.
Gary Stokan and the Atlanta Sports Council have proven that they want to be players in this new trend. Stay tuned.
2. Another strike against a four-team playoff: One of the things that makes these neutral site games possible is the advent of the 12-game regular season.
With four non-conference games to play with, an athletics director can guarantee himself seven home games and use the other one to set up neutral site games or a strong non-conference match-up.
But when the four-team playoff was being discussed last week, some commissioners suggested that the regular season might have to be cut back to 11 games in order to accommodate it.
That is not going to happen. The money for the 12th game is in everybody’s budget now.
3. Michael Brown will not return: Brown, who had started 18 games at left tackle for Mississippi State, was kicked out of school earlier this year when he and a teammate were charged with firing guns on campus-a felony. Both received three-year sentences that were suspended. I wondered if Brown, from College Park, had a chance to get back into school and play his senior season for the Bulldogs. The answer I got out of Starkville was a solid was “No.” Brown will not be back.
4. Exodus at Florida State: My friend Steve Ellis of the Tallahassee Democrat points out that when you count the players who have left FSU for various reasons (including using up their eligibility), a total of 25 players who were on the 2007 roster will not be on the 2008 roster. The latest was offensive lineman Daron Rose, who was declared academically ineligible this week. If you’re a Florida State fan, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The recruiting class you have coming is in a cut above the past two or three in terms of athletic ability. I’ve been told that a number of these guys are going to have to get on the field as backups.
No one will say it out loud, but Florida State is undergoing a transition in its program now that Jimbo Fisher has been named the head coach in waiting. Some decisions are being made now so that the program will be in good shape when Bobby Bowden decides to step down and hand it over to Fisher. What is going on now is part of that process.
5. Arkansas’s Mallett must sit: Quarterback Ryan Mallett transferred from Michigan to Arkansas because he knew he would not fit into the offense run by new coach Rich Rodriguez. He petitioned the NCAA to waive the rule that would have required him to sit out a year before becoming eligible at Arkansas. School officials knew the request would not be granted but supported Mallett and his family anyway.
I’m not sure why, but the mere fact that Mallett and his family made the request just bugs me. Because when you make it, you’re telling the NCAA that you are a “hardship” case that is worthy of a waiver.
Not fitting into the offense of a new head coach is an annoyance, an inconvenience, and a disappointment.
Needing to be near a parent dying from cancer is a hardship. That is why the rule was put into place.
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Should BCS now consider a true “Plus-One?”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The BCS commissioners told us last week that they are not ready to support a four-team playoff and that the current two-team format will be with us for the next six years.
But what if there was a baby step that we could take between what we have now and the four-team playoff? Just consider this:
There were rumblings last week that while four of the commissioners were flatly against a four-team playoff, a couple of them might be willing to consider a true “Plus-One” format to decide the national championship.
In the true “Plus-One,” we would go back to the old days when conference champions played in their traditional bowls: ACC (Orange), SEC (Sugar), Big 12 (Fiesta), Big Ten and Pac-10 (Rose). After those games are played, THEN the BCS formula picks two teams to play for the national championship.
This is not a new idea. Vince Dooley proposed it at least 15 years ago.
So if we can’t have a four-team playoff right now, then tell me why this wouldn’t work in the short term. Here are the rules:
After the conference champions are in place, the bowls then get to pick their second team in a pre-determined order, just like they do now. Last season the order was Orange, Fiesta, Sugar. The Rose is not in the rotation because both sides are filled.
The five Coalition conferences (Conference USA, WAC, MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt) have the same access as they do right now. If one of their teams finishes in the top 12, they are in. Notre Dame keeps its access rule (top eight finish).
Here are two new rules that I have added:
A fifth bowl, the Coalition Bowl, will be created. This bowl will be a part of the BCS with the same revenue sharing that currently exists. The bowl will not, however, be a part of the national championship game rotation. After the other four BCS bowls are filled, the Coalition Bowl may choose any two teams from the remaining pool of qualifiers for its game. This rule keeps the available spots for BCS bowls at 10.
This is important. In order to implement this plan, the rule limiting a conference to only two teams in the BCS will be waived. Bowls must be free to put together the best possible match-ups regardless of conference affiliation.
Based on the final BCS standings last December and the selection order these would have been the likely bowl match-ups:
ROSE BOWL: No. 1 Ohio State (11-1 Big Ten champ) vs. No. 7 Southern Cal (10-2, Pac-10 champ)
ORANGE BOWL: No. 3 Virginia Tech (11-2, ACC champ) vs. No. 5 Georgia (10-2, SEC at-large)
FIESTA BOWL: No. 4 Oklahoma (11-2, Big 12 champ) vs. No. 9 West Virginia (10-2, Big East champ)
SUGAR BOWL: No. 2 LSU (11-2, SEC champ) vs. No. 6 Missouri (11-2, Big 12 at-large)
COALITION BOWL: No. 8 Kansas (11-1, Big 12 at-large) vs. No. 10 Hawaii (12-0, WAC champ at-large)
After these five games are played, the BCS standings come out one more time and the top two teams would play for the national championship.
You can shoot a lot of holes in this idea but there are two things it would definitely do:
1) It makes every bowl relevant to the BCS championship where now only one of the five game matters to the vast majority of the viewing public. If LSU can play its way from No. 7 to No. 2 on Dec. 1, why can’t Georgia play its way from No. 5 into the BCS championship game? Every game could potentially be sending its winner to the big game. Ratings for all the games would go up.
2) Because teams get to play in their traditional bowls, this system provides better match-ups across the board, which is something that was certainly lacking last season. It also all but guarantees a sellout for the games.
This process essentially adds a week to the regular season, which has been used as an argument against it. Given the quality of college football’s regular season, I would say that it is an argument FOR it.
It’s not perfect. Sooner or later No. 1 is going to end up playing No. 2 in a bowl. But the percentages are overwhelmingly against it. In the 57 years between 1936 and 1992 before the first version of the BCS, No. 1 played No. 2 in a bowl only eight times.
It’s not a four-team playoff but wouldn’t it have more drama than what we have now?
I’m not advocating for this position but I am asking: Would it be better than what we have now?
Tell me why this wouldn’t work.
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Dawgs are No. 1 in the TB Top 30
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Okay, we’re down to the top 10 teams in the TB Top 30. Today we set the table for the arguments we’re going to have all summer. If you disagree with my Top 10 then tell me why. Should your team be included? Should they be ranked higher? Make the case.
Here we go. A lot has happened since the BCS championship game on Jan. 7. Guys have turned pro early. Guys (like LSU’s Ryan Perrilloux) have been kicked off the team. A lot of coaches have changed addresses. The college football landscape has undergone a significant change in the past four months.
But nothing has changed my mind about who should be the nation’s No. 1 team going into the summer of 2008. And it is:
1. Georgia (11-2 last season, 8 offense, 9 defense): There is no question about the talent in Athens because the Bulldogs have it at every position. They have a veteran quarterback (Matt Stafford) who is going to have a big year. They have tons of talent at running back (Knowshon Moreno, Caleb King). They have more speed on defense than any Georgia team in recent memory. There are, however, some red flags. They could use a little more depth on the offensive line, a proven place-kicker, and a schedule that doesn’t look like the Bataan Death March. Will it be difficult, if not impossible, to go undefeated against that schedule? You bet. But until somebody beats the Dawgs, they have to be No. 1.
2. Southern Cal (11-2, 4 offense, 7 defense): Mark Sanchez is the starting quarterback after beating out Mitch Mustain. I thought the Trojans had more good football players than any team in the country last season and that has not changed. They will easily plug a bunch of new players into the offense and keep on clicking. Southern Cal gets Ohio State at home on Sept. 13. The winner of that game will get a lot of votes for No. 1.
3. Missouri (12-2, 6 offense, 10 defense): The Tigers were hoping to get RB Tony Temple back for a final season but he dropped his appeal in late January and turned pro. Expect QB Chase Daniel and all-world WR Jeremy Maclin to both have huge seasons as Mizzou wins the Big 12 championship. If Missouri beats Illinois in its opener (in St. Louis), the Tigers will probably be 6-0 when they go to Texas on Oct. 18.
4. Florida (9-4, 8 offense, 8 defense): This team is loaded and motivated after stumbling at the end of last season against Georgia and Michigan. The Gators return the Heisman Trophy winner (Tim Tebow), one of the nation’s most explosive players (WR Percy Harvin) and to that mix have added RBs Chris Rainey and Emmanuel Moody, a transfer from Southern Cal. If the defense improves, and it will, the Georgia-Florida game on Nov. 1 could be one for the ages. The winner of that game will have the inside track for the SEC championship and, perhaps, the national championship. Auburn, one of Florida’s losses last season, comes off the schedule and is replaced by Arkansas.
5. Ohio State (11-2, 9 offense, 9 defense): Some have the Buckeyes at No. 1 but you’ll forgive us if we remain a little skeptical until they go to Southern Cal on Sept. 13. All of the principal figures return including RB Beanie Wells and sophomore DE Cameron Heyward of Atlanta, who could be an All-Big Ten pick. Will freshman QB Tyrelle Pryor be a factor? I kind of doubt it. This is a good team. But after getting hammered in two straight BCS championship games, the Buckeyes have something to prove.
6. Oklahoma (11-3, 8 offense, 6 defense): Here’s another talented team that has something to prove after losing in the Fiesta Bowl the past two seasons. If sophomore QB Sam Bradford (3,121 yards passing, 36 TD, 8 int) continues to play well, Oklahoma will win the Big 12 South and play Missouri for the conference championship. There are no scary games on the non-conference schedule and if the Sooners beat Texas on Oct. 13 they could be undefeated when they play in the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 6. If they beat Mizzou, the maybe Bob Stoops and his troops get in the BCS mix.
7. Clemson (9-4, 7 offense, 8 defense): The Tigers have not won an ACC championship since 1991 but this just has to be their year. There is just too much talent on the offensive side of the ball with RBs James Davis (1,064 yards rushing), C.J. Spiller (768), QB Cullen Harper (27 TD, 6 int), and WR Aaron Kelly (88 catches, 1,081 yards). The defense is really good, too. I’d feel better about this pick if Clemson was set on the offensive line. There remain some real questions there.
8. Illinois (9-4, 7 offense, 6 defense): Quarterback Juice Williams returns and he’ll certainly miss RB Reshard Mendenhall. But Ron Zook has recruited well and the Illini showed they are ready for prime time by handing Ohio State its only regular-season loss in 2007. Illinois will lose its opener to Missouri in St. Louis. But with Ohio State at home, the Illini could run the table after that.
9. West Virginia (11-2, 7 offense, 4 defense: If QB Pat White can stay healthy, the Mountaineers will win the Big East again. Yes, White will miss RB Steve Slaton but there are still a lot of offensive weapons on this team. With the possible exception of a Thursday night home game with Auburn (Oct. 23), every game on the schedule looks winnable.
10. Auburn (9-4, 8 offense, 7 defense): The Tigers have two new coordinators, a new offense, and the state is buzzing over Nick Saban’s recruiting class at Alabama. Nobody is paying much attention to Auburn and that is just the way coach Tommy Tuberville likes it. The new spread offense will be difficult to prepare for in just one week and the Tigers have two quarterbacks (Kodi Burns, Chris Todd) capable of running it and are deep at RB. With LSU, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Georgia all coming to Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn could be the surprise team in the SEC.
LSU (12), Tennessee (15) make the TB Top 30
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yesterday we gave you the bottom 10 in the TB Top 30 for the summer of 2008. Today we give you 11-20. Often this can be a tough group to pick because there are several who can quickly jump into the Top 10 with a couple of breaks.
Are there some teams here who absolutely deserve to be in the Top 10? If so, tell me why.
Come back on Wednesday for our Top 10, when we’ll crown our No. 1 team going into the summer.
11. Texas (10-3, 7 offense, 5 defense): New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was hired away from Auburn to make the Longhorn defense a little meaner. So far, so good. If junior QB Colt McCoy regains his freshman form, Texas could beat Oklahoma in Dallas (on Oct. 11) to reach the Big 12 championship game.
12. LSU (12-2, 7 offense, 5 defense): The dismissal of QB Ryan Perrilloux won’t help in the short term, but if LSU finds a pair of reliable cornerbacks, the defense might carry this team back to the SEC championship game. But the road trips to Auburn (Sept. 20) and Florida (Oct. 11) look a little scary.
13. BYU (11-2, 10 offense, 3 defense): The Cougars will likley be this year’s Coalition conference entry into the BCS. Junior quarterback Max Hall (3,848 yards passing in 2007) threw for over 300 yards five times last season. Yes, there is work to do on defense but the schedule, which includes weak Pac-10 teams UCLA and Washington, is set up for a run at the BCS.
14. Arizona State (10-3, 7 offense, 7 defense): QB Rudy Carpenter (3,202 yards passing, 25 TD, 10 INT) is back to lead an offense that averaged 32.3 points per game last season. There are two glaring weaknesses that must be fixed. Arizona State gave up 55 quarterback sacks last season with a veteran offensive line. So rebuilding that unit won’t be a bad thing for the Sun Devils. Arizona State must also get better on defense. Based on spring practice it appears that has happened.
15. Tennessee (10-4, 8 offense, 6 defense): The Volunteers have a new offensive coordinator (Dave Clawson) and a new quarterback (Jonathon Crompton) but the offense looks good with a veteran line and at least four quality running backs. The concerns are on defense where the Volunteers cannot afford any injuries at tackle. The Volunteers get Florida and Alabama at home but must play Auburn and Georgia on the road.
16. Wisconsin (9-4, 8 offense, 9 defense): If RB John Clay, the gem of the 2007 Badger recruiting class, is the real deal, Wisconsin could be ranked much higher. Clay (6-2, 230) took a redshirt last season and is now ready to back up sophomore P.J. Hill to give the Badgers quite a 1-2 punch a running back. Wisconsin gets Ohio State at home (Oct. 4).
17. Texas Tech (9-4, 10 offense, 8 defense): With QB Graham Harrell (5,298 yards, 45 TD) and WR Michael Crabtree (125 catches, 1,861 yards) returning, we know that the Red Raiders are going to put up a lot of yards and a lot of points. What we don’t know is whether or not they’ll be able to play defense well enough to beat Texas or Oklahoma. JUCO transfer McKinner Dixon, who started at Texas Tech in 2005, could turn the defensive line from a weakness to a strength.
18. Pittsburgh (5-7, 8 offense, 7 defense): After closing last season with the stunning upset of No. 2 West Virginia, this is finally going to be the breakout season at Pittsburgh under coach Dan Wannstedt. Bill Stull returns as the starting quarterback after missing almost all of 2007 with a thumb injury. His experience combined with RB LeSean McCoy (1,328 yards as a freshman) should put the Panthers in position to challenge for the Big East title.
19. Virginia Tech (11-3, 6 offense, 4 defense): The Hokies have to rebuild one of the nation’s best defenses from last season. They kicked their best running back (Brandon Ore) off the team and the next two backs (Kenny Lewis, Jahre Cheesman) both got hurt during spring practice. Still, Virginia Tech will probably be picked to win the ACC Coastal again.
20. Kansas (12-1, 6 offense, 9 defense): Nine starters are back on defense but gone are coordinator Bill Young (to Miami) and CB Aquib Talib. The Jayhawks believe they can win beat Missouri (Nov. 29 in Kansas City) and win the Big 12 North because of QB Todd Reesing (3,486 yards, 33 TD) and wide receiver Dexton Fields (63 catches, 834 yards). The Jayhawks will miss RB Brandan McAnderson, a 1,000-yard rusher.
Alabama, Florida State crack the TB Top 30
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Four months ago, on the eve of the BCS championship game, I gave you my Ridiculously Early Top 25 for 2008. A lot has changed since then. Now that spring practice is over, I’m going take the next three days to give you The TB Top 30 for the summer of 2008. We’ll start today with 21-30 plus 10 more that didn’t quite make the cut. On Tuesday we’ll have 11-20 with the Top 10 on Wednesday.
Last season’s record plus returning starters are in parentheses.
Is your favorite team going to make it? Stay tuned.
THE TB TOP 30: 21-30
21. Wake Forest (9-4, 6 offense, 9 defense): If the Deacons can find a play maker to replace WR Kenny Moore, they are going to shock some people for the third straight year. Wake Forest has a veteran quarterback in Riley Skinner (72.4 percent completion in 2007) and the nation’s best kicker in Sam Swank.
22. Oregon State (9-4, 9 offense, 3 defense): During spring practice the Beavers found their next star tailback in redshirt freshman Ryan McCants who will step right in to replace Yvenson Bernard. Quarterback Sean Canfield missed spring practice while recovering from a shoulder injury but will compete with Lyle Moevao for the starting job in August. The Beavers led the nation in rushing defense (70.6 ypg) last season but must replace eight starters.
23. Penn State (9-4, 8 offense, 6 defense): The offense will be without quarterback Anthony Morelli but it is expected to be better because of players like freshman speedster Stephfon Green, who had a 57-yard touchdown run in the spring game. The Nittany Lions’ defense will be without linebacker Sean Lee who had knee surgery after suffering an injury on April 11. He will return for the 2009 season. Darryl Clark and Pat Devlin will continue to compete for the quarterback job in August.
24. Oregon (9-4, 5 offense, 8 defense): Justin Roper, who threw four touchdown passes in the Sun Bowl, will still have to compete for the quarterback position over Nate Costa, who sat out the spring recovering from a knee injury. If the Ducks get solid play at QB they will be very good again on offense, despite the loss of RB Jonathan Stewart, because it appears junior college transfer LeGarrette Blount is better than advertised.
25. Fresno State (9-4, 8 offense, 7 defense): The Bulldogs have the talent to become the third straight team from the WAC to reach the BCS. The problem is a non-conference schedule that includes games with Rutgers, Wisconsin, and UCLA. QB Tom Brandstater completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 2,654 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
26. Connecticut (9-4, 9 offense, 8 defense): The Huskies surprised a lot of people when they tied for the Big East championship last season. Now they are out to prove that it was not a fluke with defense that should be even better in 2008. QB Tyler Lorenzen has a very good running tandem in Andre Dixon and Donald Brown, who both ran for over 800 yards last season, but he needs to make more plays in the passing game.
27. Michigan State (7-6, 7 offense, 7 defense): Five of Michigan State’s losses in its first year under coach Mark Dantonio were by a touchdown or less. The Spartans expect to take another step forward in 2008. RB Javon Ringer missed spring practice due to shoulder surgery. Michigan State has to replace both starting defensive ends. If Ringer can stay healthy and QB Brian Hoyer (2,725 yards passing) continues to play well, the Spartans could have another bowl season.
28. Florida State (7-6, 8 offense, 7 defense): If the Seminoles can get some stability on the offensive line then they may surprise some folks. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher will not be afraid to play more than one quarterback in order to spice things up this season. It would have helped the cause if WR Preston Parker had not been arrested on gun charges.
29. Alabama (7-6, 9 offense, 6 defense): Just call this one a hunch. If a couple of the young wide receivers come through, the Crimson Tide just might be pretty good on offense. The line is solid and QB John Parker Wilson should perform well under new OC Jim McElwain. There are just not enough great athletes on defense to play the way coach Nick Saban would like. But help is on the way from a No.1 ranked recruiting class.
30. Cincinnati (10-3, 7 offense, 6 defense): If QB Ben Mauk had gotten another year from the NCAA, the Bearcats would be a contender for the Big East title. Cincinnati will still be able to move the football behind Dustin Grutza or Notre Dame transfer Demetrius Jones.
TEN WHO ALMOST MADE IT
Boston College (11-3): QB Matt Ryan is not the only hole in the Eagles’ lineup.
Boise State (10-3): The Broncos return RB Ian Johnson, but they need a new QB.
East Carolina (8-5): Pirates have to replace first-round draft choice Chris Johnson at RB.
Kentucky (8-5): Wildcats lost too much firepower on offense.
Michigan (9-4): It’s going to be an ugly transition year under Rich Rodriguez.
Miss. State (8-5): Bulldogs still need some offensive firepower.
North Carolina (4-8): Tar Heels return 18 starters under second-year coach Butch Davis.
Rutgers (8-5): Scarlet Knights have to prove they can replace RB Ray Rice.
South Florida (9-4): Bulls return QB Matt Grothe, but defense took a hit.
Virginia (9-4): Losing QB Jameel Sewell will be huge for Cavaliers.
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Very good retort SC Rules. You’ll find that most of us on here will greatly respect any fan of any team that brings a coherent argument. I know there are a ton of SEC folks that think our conference is the best. But wouldn’t you kinda think... read the full comment by Zeb McKluskey | Comment on Alabama-Notre Dame at the Georgia Dome? Read Alabama-Notre Dame at the Georgia Dome?
Zeb; I don’t mean to bust anyone’s balls on this issue; I just find it amazing how SC never gets any cred from y’all. I’m just saying that to get some love you gotta give some love that’s all. I DO appreciate that you... read the full comment by SC RULES!! | Comment on Alabama-Notre Dame at the Georgia Dome? Read Alabama-Notre Dame at the Georgia Dome?
SC Rules, take a valium man. Most of us SEC fans on here have the utmost respect for the real USC. You don’t have any point to prove. You guys normally do it on the field. If you are truly a Trojan, why do you feel the need to come on an east coast... read the full comment by Zeb McKluskey | Comment on Alabama-Notre Dame at the Georgia Dome? Read Alabama-Notre Dame at the Georgia Dome?
dbcooper: As for power houses; you selectivley forgot that half the SEC teams in ‘07 bowls had just meat the 1-A MINIMUM of 6 wins to qualify. Yeah that’s some real power there! Not to mention that USC DOESN’T have any 1-AA teams... read the full comment by SC RULES!! | Comment on Alabama-Notre Dame at the Georgia Dome? Read Alabama-Notre Dame at the Georgia Dome?