NCAA Football '08

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  • jpix
    Senior Member
    • Mar 2007
    • 1346

    NCAA Football '08

    Just wanted to put something here.................:sm:
  • Daws1089
    Moderator
    • Mar 2007
    • 7811

    #2
    you got my hopes up. Feel free to talk about any topic and and any team on any level and I'd be glad to conversate.


    I'll start.. the hokies are killing me this year with all the thursday night games. It makes it damn near impossible for me to get down there now.

    Comment

    • joepa66
      MOD Squad
      • Mar 2007
      • 24833

      #3
      Thanks JPIX....anything beside gawd awful baseball! I'm ready too.....and let me add that without the services of Sean Lee, LB who tore his ACL during the spring game and is now lost for the season.....the defense has some questions marks at Penn State! On the other hand, I can't wait to see Terrell Pryor and how he's gonna impact Ohio State and the Big Ten!:thumbs:
      Batman: "If you can't spend it, money's just a lot of worthless paper, isn't it?" :phew:

      Comment

      • redhog55
        Member
        • Mar 2007
        • 316

        #4
        Can't believe it's still a couple of monthes away!! Can't wait! It's bittersweet though, as that's when my job really cranks up, but it's still my favorite time of the year.

        Looking forward to Petrino's Hogs. Don't really expect a lot this year with a tough, tough schedule, totally new offense and most of last season's offensive production playing in the NFL.

        Not sure how long Bobby P will stick around, but things were not going well for Nutt in this state and the factors above would have probably spelt his doom this year anyway.

        7-5 would be an outstanting season considering everything.

        Any Cinderella predictions next year? Houston might have fell in a bucket of **** and came out smelling like a rose in Mississippi. Look for them in a bowl.

        Comment

        • CuseFan10
          Senior Member
          • Feb 2007
          • 4446

          #5
          Originally posted by redhog55
          Any Cinderella predictions next year?
          Utah undefeated season?????

          Comment

          • redhog55
            Member
            • Mar 2007
            • 316

            #6
            That's what I love about you Cuse!!! Never a limb that you were afraid to wander out on. Not just a Cinderella, but undefeated. To be a true Cinderella though, in that conference, they would probably have to run the table. Thanks for the reply!

            Are you giving Michigan any chance at all in the opener?

            Comment

            • CuseFan10
              Senior Member
              • Feb 2007
              • 4446

              #7
              Originally posted by redhog55
              Are you giving Michigan any chance at all in the opener?
              Yea, definitely. Just climbed a tree, picked "Mid Major" type branch, and went for a stroll.

              Comment

              • Daws1089
                Moderator
                • Mar 2007
                • 7811

                #8
                I'll go out on a limb and say usc is national champs lol and towson beats navy this year!

                Comment

                • Daws1089
                  Moderator
                  • Mar 2007
                  • 7811

                  #9
                  while i'm at it, I think Georgia Tech will be awesome.

                  Comment

                  • joepa66
                    MOD Squad
                    • Mar 2007
                    • 24833

                    #10
                    Kent will try again.....last year they were favored to win the MAC East and fell on their faces with 4 injuries at the QB position and key defensive injuries!

                    Ten Flashes On Steele’s Preseason All-MAC Team
                    Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications
                    Release: 06/04/2008

                    KENT, Ohio — Kent State placed 10 players on the preseason All-MAC team released on Tuesday (June 3) as part of the 2008 Phil Steele’s College Football Preview. The group was headlined by junior running back Eugene Jarvis (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and junior kicker Nate Reed (Wadsworth, Ohio) who were both named to the first team.

                    Jarvis is the nation’s leading returning rusher after gaining a school-record 1,669 yards on the ground in 2007. His 139.1 rushing yards per game ranked fifth in the country and first in the MAC. The first team All-MAC pick scored 13 total touchdowns (10 rushing, 3 receiving) on his way to compiling 1,975 all-purpose yards. Meanwhile, Reed set the school record with his 52-yard field goal against Central Michigan Oct. 27, while tying the KSU records for field goals in a game (4 at Ohio, Sept. 29) and in a season (18). His 79 points led the Flashes.

                    A pair of senior offensive lineman garnered second team accolades in Travis McGraw (Silver Spring, Md.) and Augustus Parrish (Temple Hills, Md.), while senior linebacker Derek Burrell (Richmond, Va.) was a member of the third team. Parrish was a second team All-MAC honoree in 2007, while Burrell was a third team All-MAC choice after leading KSU with 112 tackles.

                    Senior linebacker Cedrick Maxwell (Tampa, Fla.) and senior defensive back Rico Murray (Cincinnati, Ohio) were both on the fourth team, while senior quarterback Julian Edelman (Redwood City, Calif.) junior defensive lineman Kevin Hogan (Chardon, Ohio) and sophomore linebacker Cobrani Mixon (Cincinnati, Ohio) earned honorable mention nods.

                    Kent State opens the 2008 season on Aug. 30 in Cleveland Browns Stadium against Boston College in the FirstMerit Patriot Bowl. The game, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m., will air live on ESPNU. The Flashes, who return 14 starters, then open their five-game home schedule on Sept. 13 against Delaware State in Dix Stadium. To purchase season tickets, contact the KSU ticket office at (330) 672-2244.
                    Batman: "If you can't spend it, money's just a lot of worthless paper, isn't it?" :phew:

                    Comment

                    • joepa66
                      MOD Squad
                      • Mar 2007
                      • 24833

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Daws1089
                      Feel free to talk about any topic and and any team on any level and I'd be glad to conversate. I'll start.. the hokies are killing me this year with all the thursday night games. It makes it damn near impossible for me to get down there now.

                      C'mon over Daws.....lots of ticket to Kent games. The first should be interesting in the Patriot Bowl at Cleveland Browns Stadium in the opener. Great place to watch a game. Not much else on Kent's home schedule except for Akron and OhioU....their other home games are Delaware State, Temple and Northern Illinois. Ah, but I surmise that's what the tailgate is for, the games are just a distraction! And we can check out the new scoreboard and stadium upgrades....


                      Dix Stadium To Go High-Def In 2008
                      Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications
                      Release: 05/14/2008

                      KENT, Ohio — Kent State recently chose Daktronics, Inc. of Brookings S.D., and its industry leading HD-X light emitting diode (LED) video technology to provide the new scoreboard as part of the Phase II renovations going on at Dix Stadium. The agreement will provide KSU with new integrated systems not only for football, but indoor track & field as well.

                      Dix Stadium, home to Kent State football, will be one the first collegiate facilities to showcase Daktronics HD-X technology. The new HD-X video display will measure approximately 36 feet wide by 20 feet high and will feature resolution on 16 millimeter (.63”) line spacing. The video screen can serve as one giant display or be divided into multiple zones (windows) to show a wide variety of statistics, information, graphics, animation and video.

                      The Golden Flashes will be the first team in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) to incorporate Daktronics HD-X technology. The product line features ultra-wide viewing angles, increased contrast with deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, and world-class video processing for improved image quality. Using the latest LED and control system technologies, Daktronics large screen displays present live and recorded video images, colorful animations and vivid graphics.

                      The integrated display will also include a ProAd® LED display measuring 60 feet in length. Flanking both sides of the video screen will be custom LED football scoreboards providing basic game information. Spectators will hear crystal clear audio through a Sportsound® sound system. Sportsound®, a division of Daktronics, provides sound systems ensuring excellent sound projection, clear and intelligible speech and a powerful audio experience.

                      Additional improvements to the stadium will include a plaza and concessions area encompassing the scoreboard on the south side, new entrance, ticket and concession areas on the west side as well as a new fence line with brick pillars around the stadium. In addition, entryways will now feature decorative bricks, new graphics will be added to the stadium. The total cost of Phase II is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $4 million.
                      Batman: "If you can't spend it, money's just a lot of worthless paper, isn't it?" :phew:

                      Comment

                      • redhog55
                        Member
                        • Mar 2007
                        • 316

                        #12
                        Originally posted by joepa66
                        C'mon over Daws.....lots of ticket to Kent games. The first should be interesting in the Patriot Bowl at Cleveland Browns Stadium in the opener. Great place to watch a game. Not much else on Kent's home schedule except for Akron and OhioU....their other home games are Delaware State, Temple and Northern Illinois. Ah, but I surmise that's what the tailgate is for, the games are just a distraction! And we can check out the new scoreboard and stadium upgrades....


                        Dix Stadium To Go High-Def In 2008
                        Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications
                        Release: 05/14/2008

                        KENT, Ohio — Kent State recently chose Daktronics, Inc. of Brookings S.D., and its industry leading HD-X light emitting diode (LED) video technology to provide the new scoreboard as part of the Phase II renovations going on at Dix Stadium. The agreement will provide KSU with new integrated systems not only for football, but indoor track & field as well.

                        Dix Stadium, home to Kent State football, will be one the first collegiate facilities to showcase Daktronics HD-X technology. The new HD-X video display will measure approximately 36 feet wide by 20 feet high and will feature resolution on 16 millimeter (.63”) line spacing. The video screen can serve as one giant display or be divided into multiple zones (windows) to show a wide variety of statistics, information, graphics, animation and video.

                        The Golden Flashes will be the first team in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) to incorporate Daktronics HD-X technology. The product line features ultra-wide viewing angles, increased contrast with deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, and world-class video processing for improved image quality. Using the latest LED and control system technologies, Daktronics large screen displays present live and recorded video images, colorful animations and vivid graphics.

                        The integrated display will also include a ProAd® LED display measuring 60 feet in length. Flanking both sides of the video screen will be custom LED football scoreboards providing basic game information. Spectators will hear crystal clear audio through a Sportsound® sound system. Sportsound®, a division of Daktronics, provides sound systems ensuring excellent sound projection, clear and intelligible speech and a powerful audio experience.

                        Additional improvements to the stadium will include a plaza and concessions area encompassing the scoreboard on the south side, new entrance, ticket and concession areas on the west side as well as a new fence line with brick pillars around the stadium. In addition, entryways will now feature decorative bricks, new graphics will be added to the stadium. The total cost of Phase II is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $4 million.

                        I guess it's the times we live in today, but does $4mil not sound like a bargain for these improvements?

                        Comment

                        • joepa66
                          MOD Squad
                          • Mar 2007
                          • 24833

                          #13
                          Originally posted by redhog55
                          I guess it's the times we live in today, but does $4mil not sound like a bargain for these improvements?

                          Nah, that only includes the scoreboards....which is Phase II.....I think there are actually four phases of the remodeling and I was done last year....the place is going to look totally different and it's going to be a nice D-II stadium if the attendance doesn't go up...they're on notice....
                          Batman: "If you can't spend it, money's just a lot of worthless paper, isn't it?" :phew:

                          Comment

                          • joepa66
                            MOD Squad
                            • Mar 2007
                            • 24833

                            #14
                            How about these early bowl predictions.....Looks like Ohio State is going to beat USC in the coliseum....AND, some MAC love with 4 predictions and Ball State and Kent State getting nods....

                            Early forecast predicts Buckeyes, Bulldogs in title game
                            By Mark Schlabach ESPN.com
                            Updated: June 24, 2008, 6:15 PM ET

                            The heat of June dragging you down? Wondering what cool bowl matchups might happen in December and January? Well, here's a very early look at what the 2008 bowl season could bring.

                            2008-09 Bowl Projections

                            FedEx BCS National Championship Game
                            (BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2) Georgia Bulldogs vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

                            Tostitos Fiesta
                            (BCS vs. BCS) Oklahoma Sooners vs. BYU Cougars

                            Allstate Sugar
                            (BCS vs. BCS) Auburn Tigers vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

                            FedEx Orange
                            (BCS vs. BCS) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Clemson Tigers

                            Rose Bowl presented by Citi
                            (BCS vs. BCS) USC Trojans vs. Wisconsin Badgers

                            GMAC
                            (C-USA vs. MAC) Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs. Central Michigan Chippewas

                            International
                            (Big East vs. MAC) Louisville Cardinals vs. Miami (Ohio) RedHawks

                            AutoZone Liberty
                            (C-USA vs. SEC) Houston Cougars vs. Ole Miss Rebels

                            AT&T Cotton
                            (Big 12 vs. SEC) Texas Longhorns vs. LSU Tigers

                            Konica Minolta Gator
                            (ACC vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame) Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

                            Capital One
                            (SEC vs. Big Ten) Florida Gators vs. Illinois Fighting Illini

                            Outback
                            (Big Ten vs. SEC) Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Tennessee Volunteers

                            Chick-fil-A
                            (SEC vs. ACC) Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Virginia Tech Hokies

                            Insight
                            (Big 12 vs. Big Ten) Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Purdue Boilermakers

                            Gaylord Hotels Music City
                            (ACC vs. SEC) Miami Hurricanes vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

                            Brut Sun
                            (Pac-10 vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame) Oregon State Beavers vs. Texas A&M Aggies

                            Bell Helicopter Armed Forces
                            (Mountain West vs. C-USA) TCU Horned Frogs vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles

                            Pacific Life Holiday
                            (Pac-10 vs. Big 12) Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Missouri Tigers

                            Texas
                            (Big 12 vs. C-USA) Colorado Buffaloes vs. UCF Knights

                            Roady's Humanitarian
                            (WAC vs. ACC) Boise State Broncos vs. Maryland Terrapins

                            Valero Alamo
                            (Big Ten vs. Big 12) Michigan State Spartans vs. Kansas Jayhawks

                            Papajohns.com
                            (Big East vs. SEC) Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Kentucky Wildcats

                            PetroSun Independence
                            (SEC vs. Big 12) Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys

                            Emerald
                            (Pac-10 vs. ACC) California Golden Bears vs. Boston College Eagles

                            Champs Sports
                            (ACC vs. Big Ten) Florida State Seminoles vs. Michigan Wolverines

                            Meineke Car Care
                            (Big East vs. ACC) Pittsburgh Panthers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

                            Motor City
                            (MAC vs. Big Ten) Ball State Cardinals vs. Iowa Hawkeyes

                            Sheraton Hawaii
                            (WAC vs. Pac-10) Nevada Wolf Pack vs. UCLA Bruins

                            San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia
                            (Mountain West vs. Pac-10) Air Force Falcons vs. Arizona Wildcats

                            R + L Carriers New Orleans
                            (C-USA vs. Sun Belt) East Carolina Pirates vs. Florida Atlantic Owls

                            Congressional
                            (ACC vs. Navy) Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Navy Midshipmen

                            Pioneer Las Vegas
                            (Mountain West vs. Pac-10) Utah Utes vs. Oregon Ducks

                            St. Petersburg
                            (Big East vs. C-USA) USF Bulls vs. Memphis Tigers

                            New Mexico
                            (WAC vs. Mountain West) Fresno State Bulldogs vs. New Mexico Lobos
                            Batman: "If you can't spend it, money's just a lot of worthless paper, isn't it?" :phew:

                            Comment

                            • joepa66
                              MOD Squad
                              • Mar 2007
                              • 24833

                              #15
                              Bulldogs back at No. 1 in updated Top 25
                              By Mark Schlabach
                              ESPN.com
                              June 25, 2008, 10:55 AM ET

                              The calendar turns to July next week, leaving a little more than two months until the 2008 season kicks off. If your favorite team made headlines during the past two months, the news probably wasn't good. Off-field problems and arrests have littered the college football landscape since spring practice ended, affecting many of the country's top teams.

                              Georgia and Ohio State remain atop the preseason Top 25 poll for 2008, although the Bulldogs and Buckeyes have flipped top spots since the May 9 edition. And in what should be a surprise for many college football fans, Notre Dame debuts at No. 25 -- even after last season's 3-9 disaster.

                              1. Georgia Bulldogs
                              Bulldogs coach Mark Richt has some lingering personnel issues as preseason camp approaches. Starting fullback Brannan Southerland, one of the country's best lead blockers, will miss the first five games with a foot injury. Possible starting defensive end Jeremy Lomax and offensive lineman Clint Boling have pending legal problems; Lomax was arrested on concealed weapons charges and Boling was charged with DUI. But QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshon Moreno keep the expectations high in Athens.

                              2. Ohio State Buckeyes
                              Starting quarterback Todd Boeckman better stay healthy after backup Antonio Henton transferred to Division I-AA Georgia Southern. Henton's departure opens the door for highly regarded freshman Terrelle Pryor, who might be utilized like Florida's Tim Tebow was used as a freshman.

                              3. Oklahoma Sooners
                              Sooners coach Bob Stoops spent much of the spring talking to boosters about his team's 5-1 record in Big 12 championship games. But many OU boosters still want to know what went wrong in Oklahoma's 1-4 record in its past five bowl games. Oklahoma's players are reminded of their 48-28 loss to West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl each time they walk into the school's football complex. A banner displays a quote from Mountaineers quarterback Patrick White, who said his team "wanted it more."

                              4. USC Trojans
                              A video of USC assistant coach Brennan Carroll putting walk-ons through a tryout was yanked off YouTube after some viewers objected to the coach's foul language. Trojans coach Pete Carroll said the video was a spoof and his program was only trying to have fun. What's not funny: The NCAA is poking around alleged rules violations involving former Trojans basketball star O.J. Mayo -- and is still trying to get to the bottom of the Reggie Bush scandal.

                              5. Florida Gators
                              Bad news for Florida's opponents: Speedy junior receiver Percy Harvin is ahead of schedule in his recovery from offseason heel surgery. Gators coach Urban Meyer believes his offense might be better than it was a year ago, when Florida led the SEC in scoring with 42.5 points per game. Just don't ask Meyer if quarterback Tim Tebow will run the football less often in 2008; that subject remains taboo in Gainesville.

                              6. Clemson Tigers
                              Tigers coach Tommy Bowden can begin feeling the pressure from his new $1.83 million contract. Clemson will try to win its first ACC title under Bowden without starting middle linebacker Cortney Vincent, who was dismissed from the team in May. Vincent started 12 of 13 games and had 68 tackles and seven tackles for loss. The Tigers will now be without their top four linebackers from last season.

                              7. West Virginia Mountaineers
                              Mountaineers coach Bill Stewart dismissed safety Charles Pugh from the team following his arrest for allegedly using a stolen credit card. Pugh is the fourth West Virginia player -- and third potential defensive starter -- to be dismissed from the team by Stewart. Linebacker John Holmes and defensive lineman James Ingram were kicked off the team following their arrests for possession of marijuana. Stewart allowed former running back Jason Gwaltney to rejoin the team, but he won't be eligible to play during the 2008 season.

                              8. Texas Tech Red Raiders
                              The battle for the starting tailback job got a little thinner when Red Raiders coach Mike Leach suspended junior Kobey Lewis from the team for an unspecified violation of team rules. Lewis, who ran 50 times for 189 yards and two touchdowns in 2007, left spring practice in a four-player battle for the starting job. Shannon Woods, Baron Batch and Aaron Crawford will continue the competition during preseason camp. Safety Steven Harris, a special-teams standout, also was suspended for the 2008 season.

                              9. Missouri Tigers
                              The defending Big 12 North champions started voluntary summer workouts a week earlier for the second year in a row. The Tigers are without junior receiver Danario Alexander, who caught 37 passes for 417 yards and two touchdowns last season. Alexander underwent surgery earlier this month to repair damage in his left knee. There is good news for Missouri coach Gary Pinkel. Tight end Chase Coffman is fully recovered from surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle.

                              10. Auburn Tigers
                              New offensive coordinator Tony Franklin still hasn't settled on a starting quarterback, so offseason workouts will be very important for Chris Todd and Kodi Burns. Todd, a JC transfer, seems to have a better understanding of Franklin's spread offense, but he was plagued by shoulder problems during spring practice. Burns is a better runner, but Franklin wants to see more consistency from the sophomore.

                              11. Texas Longhorns
                              Backup quarterback John Chiles will spend the summer trying to get a better grip of the offense. With the Longhorns trying to replace tailback Jamaal Charles, coach Mack Brown said he intends to use starting quarterback Colt McCoy and Chiles on offense. Look for Texas to be more creative on offense, incorporating some of the trick plays it used in a 52-34 victory over Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl.

                              12. LSU Tigers
                              All eyes are on LSU's quarterbacks this summer, after heir apparent Ryan Perrilloux was dismissed from the team during the spring. Tigers coach Les Miles hinted during speaking engagements this spring that junior Andrew Hatch, a Harvard transfer, might have the edge over redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee. Highly regarded freshman Jordan Jefferson joins the competition during preseason camp.

                              13. BYU Cougars
                              The Cougars have their sights set on a BCS bowl invitation, but they'll have to do it without top fullback Manase Tonga. The senior was ruled academically ineligible and will miss the 2008 season. Tonga ran for 305 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 248 yards last season. He also was a great lead blocker for Harvey Unga, who last year became the first BYU freshman to run for more than 1,000 yards in a season.

                              14. Tennessee Volunteers
                              New starting quarterback Jonathan Crompton is throwing again after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in late April. Crompton and the Volunteers' returning receivers will need summer workouts to iron out the offense installed by new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson. The Vols are holding their collective breath while waiting to see if junior running back Montario Hardesty fully recovers from a stress fracture in his lower leg.

                              15. Arizona State Sun Devils
                              Sun Devils coach Dennis Erickson said quarterback Rudy Carpenter has fully recovered after undergoing surgery on his right thumb following spring practice. Erickson said Carpenter is in better physical condition and showed better mobility. Michael Jones, the Sun Devils' most experienced receiver, was selected in the 29th round of the amateur baseball draft by the New York Yankees earlier this month.

                              16. Wisconsin Badgers
                              Kansas State transfer Allan Evridge wasn't named the Badgers' starting quarterback after spring practice, but the fifth-year senior has the edge over less experienced candidates. Coach Bret Bielema hopes Evrdige will take control of the team during voluntary summer workouts, but junior Dustin Sherer remains in the hunt for the starting job. Sherer has spent three seasons in the Wisconsin program, attempting only three passes.

                              17. Kansas Jayhawks
                              Juco running back Jocques Crawford arrived in Lawrence for summer school and immediately turned heads. Crawford ran for nearly 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns at Cisco (Texas) Junior College. The national JC player of the year is expected to share carries with junior Jake Sharp in the Jayhawks' spread offense this coming season.

                              18. Illinois Fighting Illini
                              Senior receiver Kyle Hudson, who caught 12 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown last season, will forgo his final season of eligibility. Hudson, a two-sport star, was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round of the amateur baseball draft earlier this month.

                              19. Pittsburgh Panthers
                              Sophomore Maurice Williams, the Panthers' most impressive receiver during spring practice, has been ruled academically ineligible for the 2008 season. Williams, who caught five passes for 100 yards last season, was battling Oderick Turner for the starting split end job. Williams plans to remain in school and would have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

                              20. Virginia Tech Hokies
                              The Hokies are hoping redshirt freshman Darren Evans has a better summer than their previous starting tailback did. Evans, a former Indiana Mr. Football, emerged as the leading contender to start at tailback after Branden Ore was dismissed from the team. Evans had a slight edge over redshirt freshman Josh Oglesby after spring practice. Juniors Kenny Lewis Jr. and Jahre Cheeseman were sidelined by injuries during the spring.

                              21. Oregon Ducks
                              Can Oregon's quarterback competition get any more crowded? The Ducks figure to have at least six players battling for the right to replace Dennis Dixon when preseason camp opens. Sophomore Nate Costa, who had knee surgery last fall, left spring practice as the favorite. Sophomore Justin Roper, who starred in the Sun Bowl victory over South Florida, is probably his closest competitor. Two freshmen -- Darron Thomas and Chris Harper -- enrolled at Oregon before spring drills, and JC transfer Jeremiah Masoli joins the battle this summer. Junior walk-on Cade Cooper also is competing for the job.

                              22. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
                              How much have expectations changed in Winston-Salem, N.C.? The Demon Deacons are again considered to be ACC championship contenders after posting consecutive winning seasons, which included the 2006 ACC title. Since the ACC was formed in 1953, the Demon Deacons have never had three straight winning seasons.

                              23. Fresno State Bulldogs
                              The Bulldogs open the season at Rutgers on Sept. 1, but coach Pat Hill is calling the Sept. 13 home game against Wisconsin the biggest game in Bulldog Stadium history. With 16 starters back from a team that finished 9-4 in 2007, Fresno State is a popular choice to unseat Boise State and Hawaii in the WAC and contend for a spot in a BCS bowl game.

                              24. Penn State Nittany Lions
                              Penn State's five senior captains vow the off-field problems that plagued the Nittany Lions before the 2007 season are a thing of the past. During a news conference in Happy Valley earlier this month, senior linebacker Sean Lee told reporters, "If you want to be on this team, you have to be with us. If not, get out." One thing that won't go away: speculation about 81-year-old coach Joe Paterno's future at Penn State.

                              25. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
                              Athletic director Kevin White leaving Notre Dame for Duke might have been a sign of impending doom for the Fighting Irish, but NBC thought enough of their future to renew its TV contract another five years. Notre Dame returns 17 starters, including quarterback Jimmy Clausen. The Irish schedule includes four home games in the first five weeks of the season, and Charlie Weis might have the right mix to get Notre Dame back into a bowl game.
                              Batman: "If you can't spend it, money's just a lot of worthless paper, isn't it?" :phew:

                              Comment

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