2008 Spring Football: Emerging Teams

This year, the Cougars will be the mid-major in the running for a BCS Bowl bid.  If the Cougars can win their rubber match against UCLA (BYU lost 27-17 in the regular season but won the bowl game, 17-16), there is a good chance this program can go undefeated in 2008.

Starting as a freshman at running back, Harvey Unga ran for an impressive 1,227 yards and 13 touchdowns.  Rising junior Max Hall led the Mountain West last year in passing yards (3,848) and touchdowns (26).  The defense allowed just over 16 points per game against conference foes last year and will look to continue that momentum into the ’08 campaign.

 

Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Last year: 5-7 (2-6 in ACC)
Key games in 2008: at Florida (9/6), at Texas A&M (9/20), Florida State (10/4), Virginia Tech (11/13)

After a tumultuous first season in which Miami was clearly overmatched in games against Oklahoma (lost 51-13), Virginia Tech (44-14), and Virginia (48-0), Randy Shannon will look to regroup with a talented bunch of recruits from the Miami era.  The Virginia game was especially embarrassing to the program as it was their last game in the storied Orange Bowl, but 2008 promises a chance for the program to get a fresh chance.

Over the past two years, Shannon has recruited the speed and athleticism that has typified the program over the past two decades; with running backs Graig Cooper and Javarris James, wide receivers Sam Shields and Aldarius Johnson, defensive backs Doug Wiggins and Damien Berry, and defensive stalwarts Arthur Brown and Marcus Fortson, the Hurricanes will have a solid foundation for several years to come.  It also doesn’t hurt to have the past two Florida Mr. Football players on their roster: quarterbacks Robert Marve and Jacory Harris.

The previous Mr. Football before them (Tim Tebow) just won a Heisman Trophy as a true sophomore.  It looks like these guys might have some potential.

 

North Carolina Tar Heels

Last year: 4-8 (3-5)
Key games in 2008: Virginia Tech (9/20), at Miami (9/27), Notre Dame (10/11), at Virginia (10/18) 

With the exception of lopsided losses to South Florida and Wake Forest last year (both by the score of 37-10), North Carolina lost its six other games by a combined 24 points.  If anything, this margin of defeat is a good indicator that the Tar Heels have the talent to compete in the ACC.

Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, the schedule is much more difficult in 2008.

The beginning of the season will dictate how much improvement North Carolina will be able to make in the win column in 2008.  Although the Tar Heels—considered the “best 4-8 team in the nation last year”—are continuously improving under Butch Davis and the new coaching staff, wins will be hard to come by in September and early October. 

North Carolina must travel to Rutgers (8-5 last year) and Miami, as well has play home dates against Virginia Tech (11-2 last year), Connecticut (9-4 last year) and an improved Notre Dame squad.

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