Class In Session : What We Learned From Week 1 Of College Football

      We may not all like each other. We may have differing opinions but there's one thing that all the college football fans did across the country this Saturday: woke up, donned their luckiest apparel of their favorite team and watched football games. Whether it was crowding into a one-hundred thousand seat stadium, or eagerly watching from our living rooms on our HDTVs that we bought for the up-coming season, we all were watching. Previews and predictions were finally thrown by the wayside. We could now forget the analyst that said our team was going to fall short of a bowl game, or sit on the edge of our seats to see if our team could live up to lofty expectations. While the gridiron boys are learning today, let's reflect on what this first Saturday of the college football season taught us.

Parity in a new light

       First things first...the word parity now represents a very thin line in college football, as predicted. When I say parity, I do not necessarily mean smaller D one's growing closer in talent to the big timers. As was the case during the first weekend of college football, the teams ranked outside the glamorous top 25 can play with some of the teams inside the list. East Carolina, UCLA, and Bowling Green all showed no fear in the little number next to their opponents name on the ESPN scoreboard, and further proved my belief that pre-season rankings aren't really necessary. If you want to throw number 24 ranked Alabama's crimson tide roll over Clemson into the discussion too, you can.

Football Powerhouse?

       From Clemson's disappointing start, we found that the ACC's attempt to become a prolific football conference ends at the basketball gymnasium doors. Not saying that one or two Atlantic Coast Conference team's won't re-bound and become a BCS bowl contender, but they didn't exactly kick off the season the right way. Virginia Tech's loss was pretty embarrassing, as Sean Glennon hardly looked like a seasoned vet, and Clemson's thunder and lightning duo of Davis and Spiller were weathered all evening in Atlanta. The Demon Deacons stomped over Baylor, but we still need to see a real test before gauging fully how overrated the ACC really was. The supposed top of the league didn't look so mighty.

MEN among boys

       Re-touching on parity, we must admit, fans or not, that the good are really good. There was no one near App St./Michigan this year, and the big boys showed their opponents who was the boss better than Tony Danza. Southern Cal, Florida, Georgia, Mizzou, Ohio State looked flat out faster, stronger, quicker, and more athletic than all the respective teams they played. This is normally the case on week one, but it seemed more apparent than ever, as dust was flying everywhere on Saturday. I'm talking completely blowing out of the water. The Heisman candidates did their jobs as well. Jobs as in, padding their stats in order to make their seasonal campaigns look better at years end. Pat White ran, I mean threw for five Td's, Tebow was back to his old tricks after a slow start, Jeremy Maclin danced down the field on his kickoff return, and Beenie Wells was steaming through Youngstown St. until he hobbled off the field with a mysterious foot injury.

Mizzou Tigers Growl Loud

       The aerial and ground attack put on display in St.Louis had us believing that the Mizzou Tigers can light off offensive fireworks almost as bright as their Big 12 counterpart, Texas Tech. Though they weren't facing and elite defense, 52 points against a Big 10 team who triumphed to the Rose Bowl just a season ago is impressive. Not only did they put up 500 plus yards, but they did it with great ease and in all aspects of the game. If you want a high-scoring affair call up the Illini and the Tiger's of Mizzou.They'll provide one thousand plus yards of offense and over eighty points combined. No problem.

Long Road Ahead

      Michigan's anticipated struggles is one story that held its ground this Saturday. The men from Ann Arbor struggled to gain any yards from scrimmage in the first half, and although aspiring play from their senior-laden defense, the offensive inexperience had the Big Blue fall short to a Utah team who is flying under the radar out west. A small glimpse of possible light in the future was shown in this game, and although it will be tough going on the road in the Big Ten for the raw talent Michigan puts on the field, no one will be surprised if Rodriguez works out the kinks and has his Wolverines firing on all cylinders come December. 

      Everything else still remains a mystery. We look forward to some competition for the teams atop the rankings (especially Ohio State's voyage to So Cal) to really see how they play under pressure, and more games like UCLA-Tennessee. How great it was to finally see the ball fly through the air on kickoff weekend in college football.