To get you ready for the college football season, Aaron Torres has been breaking down all of college football's top teams, coaches, and players. To see the rest of his 50 Reasons To Be Excited, as well as his Week 1 preview, click here, or visit him at www.aarontorres-sports.com)

 

With Labor Day upon us, it’s time for another college football season.  Sit back, grab a cold drink and enjoy, as Aaron Torres gives you 50 Reasons To Be Excited for the 2009 College Football Season.

(*** Author’s note: I promise you there are 50 items here. Because of formating purposes, I couldn’t actually number them as intended. Enjoy.)

 

1. September 5: Georgia-Oklahoma State. Oklahoma-BYU. Alabama-Virginia Tech. How else would you want to spend the first Saturday in September?

 

2. Will Muschamp: He’s intense, sweaty and likes to chest-bump 290 lb. linemen. He’s also the best defensive coordinator in the sport, and as good big of a reason as any that we may see Texas holding the crystal ball in January.

 

3. USC’s defense is “Taylor Made”: On the first day of spring practice, USC safety Taylor Mays must have looked around the field like Will Smith in I Am Legend, not quite sure what he got himself into. 

Regardless, Pete Carroll has to be doing back-flips that Mays is back to lead a talented, but inexperienced defense.

 

4. The Steve Sarkisian Experience: The oldest saying in college football is that the back-up quarterback is the most popular guy on campus. Well with Sarkisian replacing Ty Willingham—who went winless in 2008—he may be the most popular guy in the state of Washington. 

If the Huskies can stay healthy, multiple wins should be expected.

 

5. Seeing a document leaked to the press in Happy Valley, PA sometime in mid-October: With only the words “Joe Pa’s Bucket List,” on it.

 

6. Gary Danielson: Because he works just once a week- the Saturday afternoon CBS game—we forget about Danielson over the course of the season.  But listen closely in 2009. No analyst is more right, more often, and with more insight than Danielson.

 

7. Rolando McClain and Don’t’a Hightower: These two are not only the best pair of linebackers in college football, but the reason that despite losing John Parker Wilson at quarterback and Andre Smith at offensive tackle, Nick Saban and the Tide will continue to roll.

 

8. Devine Time: Last year Steve Slaton left. This year Pat White is out the door. What does this all mean?  Noel Devine—one of the most electric and elusive players in college football—is now “the man,” in Morgantown.

 

9. Houston Nutt hits the big stage: No coach gets more out of less talent than Houston Nutt, as evidenced by a 9-4 mark at Ole Miss in his first year. Now the tough part. What will Nutt do now that the target is on his and his team’s back?

 

10. Florida Going to Death Valley: Remember the last time Florida and LSU played in Baton Rouge? The Tigers went 5-5 on fourth down, winning one of the wackiest college football games of this decade.

The match-up between these two on October 10 should determine whether the Gators finish the regular season undefeated or not.

 

11. Kellen Moore: Sure he looks like one of Tim Allen’s sons on Home Improvement, but don’t be fooled by the Boise State quarterback’s youthful exuberance. If Moore’s Thursday night performance against Oregon is any indication, the Broncos are in good hands.

 

12. Harvey Unga: No he’s not the third place finisher from last year’s American Idol, but a running back from BYU, and a good one.  The junior is looking for his third straight 1000 yard season.

 

13. An “Empty Fridge,” In College Park: All joking aside, let’s give Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen credit for losing over 100 lbs. this offseason, when doctors told him that his health and life were in jeopardy. 

The weight should be easy to keep off, as after losing 30 seniors from last year, Friedgen likely won’t have much of an appetite after most of the Terrapins games.

 

14. Say It With Me…“Ndamukong Suh”:

The Nebraska defensive tackle is not only going to be a force all season long in opponent’s backfields, but also a tongue twister for the anchors on Sportscenter as well.

 

15. Ryan Perrilloux: Remember when Perilloux got to LSU and claimed he was going to win multiple Heisman Trophies? Now in his fifth-year—and at Jacksonville State—Perrilloux won’t even be on the field for the Gamecocks season opener against Georgia Tech. 

Hey Ryan, good luck against Tennessee Tech.  Go get that Heisman.

 

16. USC’s “Lean On Me”: I’ve watched the video on Youtube 100 times, and I’ll probably watch it 1000 more.  There’s nothing better about football—and nothing I miss more about the sport—than the comradery it builds among the group that’s in the locker room. 

You’ll never find a clip that better shows what I’m talking about than this one.

 

17. Ryan Mallett leading Arkansas to an unexpected bowl berth: And the media temporarily forgetting that he was arrested for public intoxication this offseason.

 

18. Deciding whether or not to loathe Greg Paulus, Syracuse’s new quarterback: We grew to despise him as Duke’s chest bumping, ass slapping point guard for the last four years. 

Now, having switched campuses’ and sports, Greg Paulus has been reinvented as Syracuse’s starting quarterback. Whether you liked him or not at Duke, it’s hard not to root for a guy pulling off such an amazing feat.

 

19. Lou Holtz: Ok, so none of us are taking him very seriously these days, especially after he picked Notre Dame to win the National Championship. But come on, those “Dr. Lou,” bits sure are entertaining.

 

20. Hearing all the hype about Tyrod Taylor and Virginia Tech: Before realizing that Taylor threw just two touchdown passes last year to seven interceptions. How far the Hokies go this season will have much more to do with Bud Foster’s defense that Taylor’s arm or legs.

 

21. Robert Griffin’s Need for Speed: At some point this season, Baylor’s quarterback may actually break the speed of sound, he’s that fast. He is also the biggest reason why Baylor is one of the most interesting stories coming into 2009, and has a better than good chance to go to its first bowl game since 1994.

 

22. North Carolina’s Need for Speed: While Griffin may be the fastest player in the country, nobody-other than Urban Meyer—has a faster defense than Butch Davis at North Carolina. 

It is the biggest reason that despite losing heavy personnel on offense, the Tar Heels are still a threat to win the ACC’s Coastal Dvision.

 

23. It’s Mullen Time: It’s been quite some time since the good folks of Starkville, have had much to cheer about. But with Tim Tebow’s former offensive coordinator, and Urban Meyer’s former right hand man now on the sidelines, things are looking up for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

 

24. Realizing that Pitt has more than enough talent to win the Big East: And then also realizing that the Panthers are coached by Dave Wannstedt, a guy who literally reads College Football Coaching For Dummies during halftime of Pitt’s games. 

Wannstedt sure can recruit, but still hasn’t proven to be much more than average on Saturday’s.

 

25. Year 5 of Charlie Weis’ coaching “internship”: Come on, admit it, that billboard was pretty clever. Luckily for Weis he returns talent all over the field, and should be in safe hands to return in 2010.  Would six years qualify as the longest internship ever?

 

(To see the rest of Aaron's preview, including his thoughts on Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy, please click here, or visit Aaron at www.aarontorres-sports.com)