College Football's Early Season Excitement Can Pay Off

Its been said that bravery never goes out of style, and the networks know it makes great television ratings to boot. 

As college football readies for another anticipated kickoff, let's salute those programs that shake off their summertime blues and charge right into the arena against a top-notch opponent.

Or at least an opponent that will give them a game and let the fans at the stadiums know their money was well spent.

Fans at home want exciting, early season, out-of-conference match ups.

Alabama vs. Clemson. An ACC team with national title hopes, traveling to the Georgia Dome to meet the revitalized SEC Tide and all the hopes that go with a high-priced, big-name coach like Nick Saban.

Now that's a ballgame.

Sure beats the tiny Coastal Carolina Chanticleers skipping into Happy Valley for a payday against Penn State.

Promising Illinois travels to the "Show Me State" to battle the Big 12 title-hungry Missouri Tigers, whose fans will be roaring.

Better than watching the Villanova Wildcats being banged up in West Virginia by the bullying Mountaineers.

What chance do the Chattanooga Mocs have against the powerful Oklahoma Sooners?

Football fans will be filing out of silent Owens field hoping to catch Washington at Oregon in an exciting Pac-10 opener.

Utah at Michigan: now that's an interesting clash. Mountain West against mighty Michigan with a new man at the helm and a new offense for the Big Ten. 

I'll tune in.

Not so much for Texas Longhorns goring the Florida Atlantic Owls.

Geographical out-of-conference matchups like Virginia Tech vs East Carolina and South Carolina vs. NC State sure sound like fun.

Odd matchups like USC vs. Virginia, Hawaii vs. Florida, and Michigan State vs. California provide quality programs who rarely play each other in exciting games.

What's exciting about the La.-Monroe War Hawks vs. the Auburn Tigers?

Or the Florida International Golden Panthers vs. the Kansas Jayhawks?

Or the Maine Black Bears at the Iowa Hawkeyes?

Cheers to those brave enough to battle early. And little poll punishment to the bold losers; at least they tried to provide their fans an exciting product.

And a nod to the networks for providing the fans with potentially exciting Sunday matchups.

Grudge Sunday has a pair of great games.

Kentucky vs. Louisville. Colorado State vs. Colorado.

Monday has two intriguing cross-country match ups. Fresno State coming to Jersey to meet Rutgers and the SEC's Tennessee Volunteers traveling to the bright lights of Los Angles to face the UCLA Bruins.

New Bruin Coach Rick Neuheisel calls it right.

"To have that kind of exposure, people talking about UCLA football in anticipation of this game, is terrific."

Fans couldn't agree more.