Bleacher Report - Articles by Gators First

College Football Pick 'Em 2009: Week 12

Gators First — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:56:55 -0500

Week 11 had 59 games on the slate, and a total of 62 pts were available. Henry Al D tied last week with 50 pts. Henry takes the season lead with 516 pts, followed by me and James, each with 515.

This week we have G1 co-founders James Brown and Chris Canada, G1 contributors Ryan Crutchfield, Allen Delaney (The Punt Returner (../../../../index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/college-football/the-punt-returner.html)) and Henry Testet (CFB 365 (http://cfb365.blogspot.com/)), as well as our friend Ritch from the South Carolina blog Leftover Hotdog (http://www.leftoverhotdog.blogspot.com/).

We aren't bookmakers, so if you plan on using these picks for your own personal financial gain, take caution. (I'd stick with mine, heh...)

Punt Returner: FIU Week

Gators First — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:46:45 -0500

Back again, no more BS, I'll just try and get this out whenever I have time.

It's another yawner weekend in "The Conference," but there are a few good games to watch this weekend around college football as a whole.

Last time I was around I had an average week but poor within the conference, going 1-3 in the SEC, 3-2 in the ACC, and 2-1 for the rest to end the week 6-6.

Hopefully, I'll be back to my winning ways this week.

SEC

It's that shameful part of the year where the SEC takes the 12th game granted by the NCAA and pounds a lightweight. Florida and Alabama take their turns this weekend with Florida International and Chattanooga, respectively. Last time, SEC teams failed to cover large spreads against weak teams, this week I'm not so sure.

Tim Tebow Returns: Gainesville Rejoices

Gators First — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:49:05 -0400

Written by James Brown, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

Tim Tebow’s presence at practice today meant far more to the team and the fans than I think most people realize.

Looking back on the end of the Kentucky game, we all (fans, players, coaches) just wanted the game to be over and “Tebow Watch” to begin. Everyone was just going through the motions.

Tebow’s return to the field today was a breath of fresh air for everyone involved. He may not be ready to play Saturday, but we do not need to worry about his general well-being any more.

As far as Saturday’s outcome, I like Florida to win regardless of The Chosen One’s status. This is because I feel that however inexperienced backup Johnny Brantley may be; he’s got to be better than Mississippi State QB Chris Relf.

Besides, the big advantage for these Gators is when they get to play their seasoned, NFL prospect-laden defense against LSU’s inexperienced QB and overmatched offensive line.

A conservative, run-first approach is nothing new to Urban Meyer- he has employed this strategy for most of the first four games this season, and through much of the early part of the schedule a year ago.

Usually, LSU’s suspect secondary, combined with their defensive strength in the front seven, would be a reason to expect the Gators to go to the air. But last year, in a home game, Urban only went to the air 21 times against LSU.

Having Brantley play all or part of the game wouldn’t dramatically change this fact; he got more carries against Charleston Southern than Tebow, and the playmakers on this team are the running backs.

All that being said, I expect Tebow to be on the field. I just don’t see him being cleared for action by medical staff and being held back.

Unless there is some unforeseen setback in the coming days, he will be in the game. But this is a game the stable of running backs and the defense will step up and win for the Florida Gators.

You can find the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/tim-tebow-returns.html

Gator Aider: Who To Root For, Week 1

Gators First — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:11:33 -0400

Written by Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder Chris Canada

As part of our commitment to Gator football, the Gatorsfirst .com team will provide a weekly update on which teams we should be rooting for each week, and how it affects the Gators.

At the start of the season it's pretty simple as we'll be rooting for teams that we play against. But as we approach the end of the season, we'll be rooting for teams in games that usually don't affect our ranking.

This week we don't play anyone in the SEC. Therefore we should be rooting for everyone on our schedule to win this week (sans Charleston Southern).

The reason for this is because it invariably affects our strength of schedule, which is calculated as part of the computer rankings. It also puts an inkling in voters' minds that the Gators may have a quality win over a team that beat so-and-so.

Teams On Our Schedule

South Carolina over NC State

Troy over Bowling Green

Kentucky over Miami (OH)

Tennessee over Western Kentucky

Georgia over Oklahoma State

LSU over Washington

Florida St. over Miami (FL)

Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas play FCS schools, so their records do not factor into BCS computer rankings. Obviously a loss by one of them would hurt greatly. FIU has a bye week.

If we're strictly talking about Gator football, we should be rooting for each of these teams on our schedule. Let me point out four games in particular.

South Carolina got a big win tonight over NC State on the road. This is good for conference ranking, and helps the Gators. We meet in November in Columbia.

The LSU game against Washington is not even going to be close, but any win over another BCS conference is good.

The Georgia game against Oklahoma State is one of the premier SEC v BCS Conference games this season. It's a big headliner of the opening week and another way to show SEC superiority. A win by Georgia affects the Gators greatly, as pollsters will look to this game early to judge the SEC v Big XII.

The last of this bunch is Florida St. over Miami (FL). Most Gator fans would like to see some natural disaster happen during this game. However for BCS standings sake, Florida fans should root for FSU, as hard as that may seem.

Now, I grew up in south Florida as a Canes fan, and then went to UF for seven years. You could imagine the hatred I have for FSU. I'll be rooting for Miami, as I'd rather see them go 0-12 than help the Gators. However, root for the Seminoles this ONE time...

Other SEC Games

Alabama over Virginia Tech

Mississippi over Memphis

We should root for both of them because we are probably gonna meet one of them in the SEC championship game as the SEC West representative.

We should specifically root for Alabama over Va. Tech because a win over another BCS conference team enhances the conference rankings int he computer polls. Plus it always looks good in front of the voters.

Other National Games of Interest

Oregon over Boise State

Oklahoma over BYU

I think you have to go with the both OUs here to prevent the BCS Busters from possibly taking BCS bowls away from SEC teams. Even though Oregon and Oklahoma have opportunities to win out, you've gotta think that they'll slip up against the USC's and Texas's of their respective conferences.

You can find the original article here.

High Hopes and Hindsight: Florida vs Charleston Southern Preview

Gators First — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:06:46 -0400

Written by Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder Jesse Colston

I can’t believe it’s already here. Football season. College football season. Florida Gators dominating EVERYBODY season.

I know we all have high hopes this year and it starts with a little warm-up game at 7 o’clock this Saturday night. Charleston Southern (7-5 last year; 0-16 all-time against FBS schools) comes to the Swamp with a little extra money in their pockets and a little extra padding on their shoulders. The Gators are looking for someone else to hit and Tim Tebow says he’s 100 percent going into the season for the first time in his career...

Florida is 340 point favorite but I don’t expect them to cover. Expect to see a great scrimmage type game, only this time the defense is allowed to flatten the QB into the turf. Florida will come out firing early with a quick score on the first drive.

Charleston Southern will gain a first down on the first series as our defense gets settled in but will punt soon after. There isn’t much reason to think Florida won’t score on every possession but let’s chalk a couple of punts up to losing field position on some “opening day jitter” penalties.

Florida will put up half a hundred in the first half but will slow a little in the second as Meyer & Co. will use the big lead to see some of the youngsters test their skills against a team with different colors. All in all, everyone will look impressive but it will mostly be attributed to the lack of opposition from the competition.

Final Score: Florida 74 – Charleston Southern 3

You can view the original post here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/high-hopes-hindsight-florida-vs-charleston-southern-preview.html

Gatorsfirst.com's Full Month of College Football Previews

Gators First — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:50:12 -0400

We at gatorsfirst.com have been fiending for some college football since roughly... 1990. In order to bring you the very best perspective on the upcoming season, we are giving you a different college football preview for the 2009 season every day for the entire month of August!

We are exploring the ways different conferences feel about football—in their own backyard and throughout the nation. You will get to hear the personal feelings and game day experiences of renowned college football bloggers from all over the internet, straight from their keyboards in our interview portions.

You'll get to see conference standings picked in every BCS conference, plus the Mountain West conference. And for the greatest conference in the land, you'll get a different SEC preview from a fan of each school.

Basically, keep your browser on gatorsfirst.com all month long as we provide you the ultimate experience for the 2009 college football season.

Below you'll see the list of contributors, plus links to those that have already been published. We will be constantly updating this list as more of our previews are complete.

The National Picture

Notre Dame Preview via Interview with Ty Hildenbrandt (Solid Verbal podcast, SI.com)

Oregon Preview via Interview with Dan Rubenstein (Solid Verbal podcast, SI.com)

10 Things That Won't Change in 09 by Henry (CFB 365)

Predicting the 2009 College Football Season, via Interview with Zach Rosenfield (Accuscore)

Preview of the National Race by James Brown (Gators First)

ACC Preview and Interview with Alex Ryan-Bond (Hell In A Red Shell)

Big East Preview and Interview with Matt Freeman (We Must Ignite This Couch)

Big Ten Preview and Interview with Brad Gilliam (BleacherReport- Penn State)

Big Ten Preview with HD (Block O Nation)

Big XII Preview and Interview with Blatant Homerism (Blatant Homerism)

Pac 10 Preview and Interview with Ian Peterson (Husky Trails)

Mountain West Conference Preview and Interview with Jeremy Mauss (MWC football)

The Heisman Trophy Race by James Brown (Gators First)

The Rest of the Best (SEC Previews)

The Toughest Schedules in the SEC by Shaun Wilson (BCS Watch)

Alabama Crimson Tide Fan's SEC Preview and Interview with Tony (Alabama Game Day)

Arkansas Razorback Fan's SEC Preview and Interview with Jacob London (Hog Database)

Auburn Tigers Fan's SEC Preview and Interview with Justin Hokanson (Gridiron Guru)

Georgia Bulldogs Fan's SEC Preview and Interview with Doug Gillet (Hey Jenny Slater)

Kentucky Wildcats Fan's SEC Preview and Interview with Alan Rucker (Over the pylon)

Louisiana State Tigers Fan's SEC Preview and Interview with Justin Goar (BleacherReport - LSU)

Mississippi Rebels Fan's SEC Preview and Interview with The Dead Guy (Rebelations)

Mississippi State Bulldogs Fan's SEC Preview and Interview with Brett Holloway (All Things Maroon)

South Carolina Fan's SEC Preview and Interview with Ritch (Leftover Hot Dog)

Tennessee Volunteers Fan's SEC Preview and Interview with the BSXtravaganza (Youtube)

Vanderbilt Commodore Fan's SEC Preview and Interview with Dimon Kendrick-Holmes (Moral Victory)

The Mighty Florida Gators

Florida Gators Pro Prospects - 2010 NFL Draft by Krutch (Gators First)

Florida Gators & SEC Preview by Chris Canada (Gators First)

Florida Gators Fan's SEC Preview by James Brown (Gators First)

Interview with Chris Canada, Co-founder Gators First

Interview with James Brown, Co-founder Gators First

Interview with Jesse Colston, Co-founder Gators First

Find the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/college-football/gatorsfirstcom-s-full-month-of-college-football-previews.html

Florida Gators Pro Prospects: 2010 NFL Draft

Gators First — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:47:36 -0400

Written by Ryan Crutchfield, Gatorsfirst.com Contributor

Talk about fiending football...

(JB): what do you think about Rainey in the NFL?

My buddy and fellow Florida alum JB and I have already gone through so many Gator topics that now we’re thinking about the pro chances of backup running backs. That inspired me to think about the pro prospects of other lesser-hyped players on the 2009 Gators. We’ve already all heard plenty about the NFL futures of Tebow, Spikes, Dunlap, and Haden...

1. Chris Rainey (RB 5'9" 175 lbs., So., RS)

a. Skills Shown

Rainey is a speed demon, one of the many sub-4.5 guys Meyer has at his disposal. He’s shown the ability to burst through the line, make guys miss using some shifty moves, and outrun anybody who’s unfortunate enough to have to chase him. Also, he's got good hands (catching and ball protection) and is slippery in the open field.

b. Needs Improvement

He’s a small guy. Word is he’s bulked up to around 185—which is a good start—but still about 10 pounds short to survive consistent hits from NFL linebackers. He isn’t prone to breaking any tackles when squared up with a defender

c. Final Word

If Chris keeps it going in the weight room and works on his running between the tackles, he could contribute immediately as a kick returner. Down the road, he’ll have a chance to contribute as a third-down back and, in a pinch (injury to starter), a 20-carry RB. Ultimately, he needs to get more playing time to showcase himself. With Demps hogging the workload later last season, we shouldn’t expect Rainey to declare early.

2. Major Wright (FS 6-1, 204, Jr.)

a. Skills Shown

Major is a crushing tackler who's rarely caught out of position. He had four forced fumbles as a true frosh in '07 and four interceptions last year. You have to love a guy that shows up in big games.

b. Needs Improvement

With the way he plays, he could stand to bulk up a bit more to handle bigger NFL running backs.

c. Final Word

Major has the size, strength, and speed to be an NFL-caliber safety. He's played against some tough competition in the SEC. While he'd be declaring early if he decided to go this year, he does have three full years experience in the college game. If he enters early, he could be a third or fourth-round pick. He would contribute immediately on special teams. If he stays another year and keeps healthy, he could possibly land in the late first-round.

3. Maurkice and Mike Pouncey (C 6-5, 318, Jr.; G 6-5, 320, Jr.)

a. Skills Shown

Are they the same person? No (though it's hard to tell from pictures). Maurkice played guard and center while Mike played guard and some D-tackle. Both of their natural positions are at guard. These are two smart offensive lineman who are punishing run blockers.

b. Needs Improvement

Both lineman need to increase their strength a bit and show they can play in a pro-style offense. Their only experience in pass protection has the QB giving them five yards of space (at least at the college level).

c. Final Word

Both guys have the size and experience for the NFL. Playing in a system that demands athleticism makes them a good fit in a zone blocking scheme. Offensive linemen don't usually leave school early unless they are guaranteed to get drafted, but the Pounceys have a chance at a second national title in consecutive years, and may want to ride into the sunset with Tebow and Spikes.

4. Aaron Hernandez (TE 6-2, 250, Jr.)

a. Skills Shown

The Most Tattooed Man in the History of Connecticut. He catches well with his hands (instead of body), and uses every bit of his 6'2" frame. He's very athletic for his size and a versatile weapon on offense. He's lined up at receiver, tight end, and fullback.

b. Needs Improvement

Like the Pounceys, Hernandez will need to show he can play in a pro-style offense where he's called on to block more often. He's got the strength, he just needs to work on his blocking mechanics.

c. Final Word

To make full use of Hernandez's skill set, he'll need to go to an NFL team with a creative offensive coordinator. Think Chris Cooley with Washington. Even if he does have the breakout year most people are expecting out of him, he's not a lock to go in the first three rounds. I think he stays another year to be a leader with Johnny Brantley in 2010.

5. Brandon James (RB/KR 5-7, 185, Sr.)

a. Skills Shown

Since he set foot in the Swamp, he's brought excitement to every kick and punt return. He has a knack for making the first guy miss. This year will give him four years of experience running back kicks. He's also made a handful of splash plays on offense, including catching 19 passes over the past two seasons.

b. Needs Improvement

While he's great in the open field, he hasn't shown much as a running back behind an offensive line. He has the same size deficiencies as Rainey.

c. Final Word

BJ could surprise us all and be an effective runner in the NFL. Small backs like Darren Sproles of San Diego and Willie Parker of Pittsburgh have had success. Both guys had plenty of experience at RB in college, though. Unless he returns four kicks for TDs this year or takes full advantage of some playing time on offense, James will be lucky to make an NFL roster. If not drafted, I'm sure he'll get picked up for a team's training camp and will be given an opportunity at the next level.

Well, that's just five of our guys. There's plenty more NFL caliber talent on the roster. I also still think Tebow will go in the first-round as a QB.

You can view the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/florida-gators-pro-prospects-2010-nfl-draft.html

The Best and Funniest Tim Tebow Pictures

Gators First — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:48:41 -0400

Written by Brian Lewis, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder With Tim Tebow's senior season coming up, the Gatorsfirst.com team found it fitting to give a pictorial representation of his career so far... you can find the original pictorial here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/college-football/the-best-and-funniest-tim-tebow-pictures.html

Begin Slideshow

Football for Nerds: An Interview With Accuscore's Zach Rosenfield

Gators First — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:15:31 -0400

Written by Zach Rosenfield & Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder James Brown

With the college football season rapidly approaching, Gatorsfirst.com is presenting a different take on the 2009 season every day for the entire month of August. We call it our ''Full Month of College Football Previews''. As part of the project, we are having fellow bloggers and other college football personalities from around the SEC and the rest of the nation give us their take on the current state of college football. This approach will allow us to bring you a much more in-depth look at the 2009 season than we could possibly provide on our own.

The next in this series is an interview with AccuScore's Zach Rosenfield. AccuScore is an analytical method to predicting the most likely outcomes of sporting events. I always love any type of college football argument that is backed by data, so it seemed a natural fit for our season previews to talk with him about how his computers predict the national and conferences races to unfold this season.

James Brown, Gatorsfirst (JB):Before getting into why the Gators are this season’s favorite to win the BCS Championship, can you tell us a little about your website and how your projections work?

Zach Rosenfield, AccuScore (ZR): Sure thing. AccuScore is a simulation engine that uses players, teams and coach’s statistics and past performances to project the outcomes of games and seasons. We simulate games one-play at a time under real game conditions that factor in more than 100 variables. We then repeat the process 10,000 times and are able to get a very good indication of what we think will happen in a game.

In March, we transitioned into a premium site to meet the various needs that fans have leading up to their game. Each fan has an interest in pre-game information for diversified reasons. We are set up to meet those needs. On the site, you can get everything from speculative articles about the value a player might have, to fantasy information, as well as our probability for each game’s final score.

(JB): As you get data for the current season, say in early October, how much are you using your preseason projections? In other words, if a team has a poor stretch of games in September, are you drastically changing your model to predict how they finish the rest of the season?

(ZR): Every time a play happens, our database gets that much bigger. Games are like movies, with the players being the lead actors. You have to take into account all the variables that support that play. For instance, if Tim Tebow completes a 10-yard pass to Riley Cooper, there is a slew of information we process around that such as: what quarter was it in, what down was it, what part of the field was it on, was it at home or on the road, what was the score at the time, was it a passing situation or a run situation, was it on grass, was it at night, was it raining, etc.

Teams who consistently put up bad numbers usually have a bad stretch. It is inversely proportional to teams that are playing well. However, because we focus in the long sample, we look for sustainability with a team, its players and coaching tendencies.

Injuries also play a big role in this. If a player is hurt or questionable, it will have an immediate impact on our simulations and the team’s win probability.

(JB): Do you predict individual player statistics for each game? What about for the entire season? I’m looking for any advantage I can find in my college fantasy football league.

(ZR): We do project player stats for college football, but on a game-by-game basis. We are going to be expanding that in the near future as college fantasy leagues start to gain momentum. For the time being, our game forecast pages give a complete breakdown of how we think each player will do. We also developed a custom simulator that allows our users to tinker with the stats and see the fallout it brings. Every stat in a game has an impact on each player in the game. It’s a lot of fun.

(JB): Okay, enough with the general questions, we are all dying to know: How, exactly, did you rate Florida as having the highest probably of reaching Pasadena?

(ZR): Come on…do we really need a computer simulation engine to predict that one? When the defending champion returns all their starters on defense and their offense is led by the biggest impact player in the game, it’s a layup.

We have Florida’s record to be 11.5 wins and 0.5 losses. The only reason they have any marks in the loss column is based on the laws of compounding probabilities. The Gators will be significantly favored in every game they play this year and with good reason. They also got a huge break in scheduling and PR. The nation has a love affair with Florida and Tim Tebow and they will not get grief for an otherwise soft non-conference schedule. On the other hand, Penn State is going to get killed in the media for what they have on the books in September. Additionally, not playing Ole Miss or Alabama is very good for the projections. Florida would be favored in both those games, but not having to play them is even better when your goal is Pasadena.

Top to bottom, the SEC is down this year. Lots of quality programs, but none of them are hitting at full speed right now. People put too much stock in bowl games and I think there is more to learn from LSU’s games against Ole Miss and Arkansas then what happened in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. We have done a preliminary simulation on the Gators' trip to Baton Rouge and Florida is winning by a comfortable double digit margin. Also, Florida has Urban Meyer and LSU has Les Miles. End of story.

(JB): How accurate are these predictions from year to year? How did you rate Florida a year ago? What team had the highest probability of reaching Miami before the 08 season?

(ZR): We had a good year last year where we had 79% accuracy with picking the winner, which was up 2% from 2007. Admittedly, college football is the easiest sport to pick winners, but we still performed over 9% better than what the notable handicapper’s average was. We are proud of this because while it is easy to project Florida over Hawaii, it is not so easy when forecasting the MAC.

Last year was a lot more challenging in projecting our national championship finalists. There were a lot of good horses in the race and the season broke perfectly for the teams that made it. I don’t have last year’s numbers in front of me, but Florida owes a great deal to Alabama for posting a 12-0 regular season. If the SEC winner was 9-3, it would have been harder to take Texas in the BCS standings in the last week of the year.

(JB): What other points would you like to make about the national race?

(ZR): The number one point I want to make about this year’s race is it is not wide open. It’s actually very top heavy and it’s not hard to decipher who has the inside track. I will say that we are projecting it to be another SEC vs. Big 12 BCS Championship Game. We don’t see how Florida is going to lose during the regular season and we are expecting big things from Ole Miss in the West.

USC is going to be down this year and will struggle with 8 new starters on defense and a quarterback in Aaron Corp who is not the real McCoy. Also, they have a horrific schedule with road games at Ohio State, Notre Dame, Cal and Oregon.

The ACC will once again be the fulcrum of mediocrity and we feel Virginia Tech is very overrated. We have them at 8-4. Miami is most likely going to start 0-4 and the slew of average teams will most likely beat themselves up.

The Big 10 is poised to pick up the pieces if we see a season like 2007 because they have two slugs in that conference. Ohio State will be good, but replacing Hartline and Robiskie is going to be a much bigger deal than replacing Beanie Wells. Penn State is a good team with a gift of a schedule that could work out for them. If they beat Ohio State in Happy Valley, they very easily could go undefeated. I want to note that if there are three undefeated teams and any of them are from the Big 10, the Big 10’s entry will get shut out.

You have the identical situation in the Big 12 South this year as you did last, only replace Texas Tech with Oklahoma State. Whoever wins between Texas and OU in Dallas (we have UT as a 54% favorite) has an inside track at Pasadena. However, it can all once again be undone if Texas beats OU and loses to OSU on October 31. OSU would most likely be undefeated when they go to Norman. That can once again set the chaos of last year back in motion.

It should be noted that USC is very vulnerable this year and we think a Big 10 Champion with one-loss would not get the nod over a Big 12 Champion with one loss. We have penciled in Florida to go undefeated and if they should lose in the SEC Championship, whoever beats them most likely would be in.

(JB): What other teams stand out in the SEC? Is there a sleeper team in the conference that you think pundits are overlooking, but your computers really like? Why is this the case?

(ZR): I might ruffle feathers here, but I am ok. The SEC is down this year. The best matchup you will see is Alabama at Ole Miss and that just sounds weird. I know Gator fans will say “what about LSU?” and my answer is “yeah, what about them?” The best team LSU had under Les Miles lost two games and needed miracles against Alabama and Auburn and some home cooking to beat your Gators. So like I said, we have Florida by double digits in that one.

To be honest, nothing jumped off the page when looking at the SEC when it comes to sleepers. We have LSU at 8-4 and Georgia at 7-5. I will say the one that caught our eye was Alabama. We think they are not going to be as good as their projections are at 10-2.

Not to beat a dead horse, but we are high on Ole Miss. Our preliminary simulations show they will beat Alabama and Nutt will get the three-peat against Les Miles. As weird as it is to say, it is highly conceivable that Ole Miss and Florida can both be undefeated and play in the National Semifinals by way of the SEC Championship Game.

But just to be clear, Ole Miss is projected to go 11-1 or 10-2, it varies. Ironically, they are winning preliminary simulations against all the teams they play, but the laws of compounding probability put dashes in their loss column when looking ahead at the entire season.

(JB): Can I nail you down on a predicted finish for Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Auburn?

(ZR): Terrible. Stagnant. Improved. Gross.

I think it was time for Phil Fulmer to move on from Tennessee, but a quick coaching change is not necessarily the answer. Like it or not, Lane Kiffin is an unproven commodity despite his resume. I can’t give him credit for the success USC had because it didn’t break stride when he left and his tenure in Oakland didn’t show enough. But the real question in Knoxville is do they have talent? We expect them to rebound at 8-4, but those 8 wins will not come against the brass of the SEC.

The Spurrier experiment is going about the same as the Holtz experiment for South Carolina. After playing the Gators tough back to back years, they really laid an egg last year and did nothing against LSU in a marquee game the year before. USC is one of those middle of the road teams that should have shown something by now, and the fact they haven’t leads us to believe it’s because there is nothing to show. We have them at the bottom the East.

Even if Houston Nutt stayed in Fayetteville, Arkansas would have had a forgettable 2008 campaign. You cannot ignore how Arkansas finished down the stretch and being a “tough out” finally paid off with very nice comeback against LSU on Thanksgiving weekend. Arkansas is a hard team to project because we really don’t know what we are getting with Ryan Mallet under center. We do project them at 5-7 and potentially 6-6.

Ever since being shut out of the BCS Championship Game, it has been one disaster after another for the Tigers and are looking at 5-7 this season. We are in agreement that getting rid of Tuberville was a terrible decision only to be outdone by the hiring of Gene Chizik. Auburn has always been stout on defense, but it’s their lack of patience with an offensive system that has really set them back. It’s going to be a long few years for Auburn.

(JB): I’m afraid to ask the question, for many different reasons, but… are the Gators going to go undefeated?

(ZR): I really can’t stress how hard it is for a proper simulation engine to project a team to go undefeated. With that in mind, it should be noted that Florida is as close to the hole as any team can get. Their projected ½ losses is a full game better than last year’s highest probability team (USC) who we had going 10.5 and 1.5.

I am not going to sugar coat it. If Florida loses a game in this year’s regular season, it would not only shock me, but it would be a true embarrassment. You side step Ole Miss, don’t see Alabama, LSU is well…LSU and Georgia will assume their familiar position in Jacksonville. Sprinkle in some softies while touting the best defense in the land and tell me if you feel any different about the potential for a Gator loss. And we didn’t even talk about the offense!   Tim Tebow sure does get a lot of PR and some of it can be a bit annoying at times (cue Thom Brennaman), but PR isn’t what lead the Gators past Alabama and PR isn’t want lead Florida on a soul crushing drive last in the 4th quarter against OU. Tim Tebow is what got it done and you can’t take that away from him.

(JB): So, can you make a pick for the National Championship?

(ZR): Texas/Oklahoma vs. Florida. Although our preliminary projections show Texas beating both OU and OSU, our computer is actually choosing Oklahoma to come out of the Big 12. Let me explain.

Texas is a 54% favorite against OU and 51% against OSU. Oklahoma is a 46% favorite against Texas, but a staggering 81% favorite against OSU. Texas is on the right side of two virtual coin flips. Despite being only 46% against Texas, that game is a virtual coin flip, but the fact the Sooners are a 4 to 1 favorite against Oklahoma State is what makes them our pre-season favorite in the Big 12.

***

I want to thank you guys for taking the time to chat with me. I really like what you guys do and think it is great that you bring great content to your fans. As an avid college football fan, I understand the value of sites such as yours.

Moreover, I am a die-hard Sooner fan who was at last year’s BCS game. I have nothing but great things to say about Florida and your unrelenting support for your Gators. I hope OU gets at redemption and if not, my message is this to the Florida Gators… “Beat Texas!”

Zach Rosenfield is an AccuScore analyst who focuses on NCAA Football. In addition to overseeing AccuScore.com's daily editorial content, his opinions and analysis has been published by Wall Street Journal, Yahoo!, USA Today, Los Angeles Times and more. In addition to his published analysis, Rosenfield has appeared on more than 40 radio stations nationwide, including being a regular on ESPN Radio, Sporting News Radio and numerous shows on Sirius/XM.

You can view the original interview here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/college-football/predicting-the-2009-college-football-season.html

Oregon Preview & Interview with Dan Rubenstein

Gators First — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:36:13 -0400

Written by Gatorsfirst.com & Dan Rubenstein

With the college football season rapidly approaching, Gatorsfirst.com is presenting a different take on the 2009 season every day for the entire month of August.

We call it our ''Full Month of College Football Previews''. As part of the project, we are having fellow bloggers and other college football personalities from around the SEC and the rest of the nation give us their take on the current state of college football.

This approach will allow us to bring you a much more in-depth look at the 2009 season than we could possibly provide on our own.

The next in this series is an Oregon Ducks season preview, by Dan Rubenstein. Dan co-hosts the Solid Verbal podcast and writes for SI.com.

As he is an Oregon fan, we turned to him for his take on the Ducks' outlook for 2009, the BCS, and the Pac-10's TV deal. Check out the interview below.

Gatorsfirst (G1): How did you become a fan of your team?

Dan Rubenstein (DR): I don't have any great stories about my dad taking me to Duck games as a kid since I grew up in Los Angeles, but when I gave my verbal commitment Coach Bellotti (that's how I choose to look at it), I became a Duck fan.

My first game at Autzen was a 24-22 barnburner, with Oregon kicker Jared Siegel kicking a game winning field goal af the end of an Oregon two-minute drill. I know this now sounds improbable, but Joey Harrington was amazing. Just trust me on this one.

(G1): Describe the gameday atmosphere.

(DR): I'm clearly biased, but since I've seen a wide variety of gameday atmospheres, including gameday at nine of the 10 Pac-10 stadiums, Oregon's is either the first or second best in the conference. Washington is the other school that comes to mind, but it's pretty hard to get the energy up for a game in Seattle right now.

Autzen Stadium is off-campus, but it's still only about a mile walk through a small forest and over a foot bridge. Student tailgating is minimal, but since there's a huge lot and a couple of large fields across the street, everything is pretty centralized.

The actual gameday scene isn't specifically different, but it's loud, people are friendly, and there's nothing but green and yellow as far as the eye can see. Actually, there's also black and white, didn't mean to exclude any of the uni combos here.

My own gameday experience consists of praying to the Football Gods that I'll be lucky enough to get to see a Pac-10 game on the west coast (you read that correctly), and going into a mode in which I either can't be spoken to or am jumping around like a lunatic. Understandably, I very rarely watch games with USC friends.

(G1): Give me some thought on your coaching staff. Are you satisfied? Do you wish your team ran different schemes? How is recruiting?

(DR): I may be in the minority among fans around the country, but I'm quite happy with Oregon's staff. Despite his lack of head coaching experience, I don't expect a drop-off when the Chip Kelly era begins, if anything, immediate improvement isn't totally out of the question.

It's hard to find something wrong with Oregon offensive scheme, although sometimes I wish they wouldn't move and score so quickly because the defense becomes that much more taxed, but scoring two quickly is a pretty high class problem.

Defensively, the stats aren't pretty, but they're on the field 20-30 percent more than almost every other team. Nick Alliotti, the defensive coordinator, receives endless criticism for some excruciating bend-but-don't-break drives in which the D gives up a couple of 13-yard completions on 3rd and 12, but I'm generally fine with how things are handled.

Recruiting has been interesting. Oregon is starting to become a national recruiter, which in large is due to the spread option (The Sproption?) system that the Ducks employ targets specific types of athletes that are rarely found in the Northwest.

The Ducks continue to recruit both Northern and Southern California Hard, but have may significant inroads into Texas, Florida, and various other southern states.

Chip Kelly was Mike Bellotti's primary recruiter in Texas and the South, and the new younger members of the staff, Scott Frost (WRs) and Mark Helfrich (Offense, QBs) are considered to be outstanding on the road.

(G1): Who is a player we might not know from Oregon that you are excited about this season? Why?

(DR): The player that seems to be generating the most excitement is redshirt freshman RB LaMichael James, who along with LeGarrette Blount forms the LeBackfield, a nickname I sorely wish I came up with.

James should make up the lightning to Blount's thunder, but is said to have a higher top speed than Jeremiah Johnson did over the last few years.

Coaches raved about his performances on last year's scout team and secretly felt lucky that they had the luxury of redshirting such a talented back.

On a team that finished second in the country in rushing last year, it's always nice to have a new running back step right into the spotlight when another leaves. Blount did it last season, replacing Jonathan Stewart, and the cycle looks to continue.

(G1): Make one point about Oregon and one about the Pac-10 you think is overlooked on the national level.

(DR): To a certain degree, Oregon's reputation of being a flashy school due to their uniforms and facilities is warranted, but since Chip Kelly arrived, Oregon has been a team that has used a punishing ground game to set up the passing game, which generally isn't the case with spread offenses.

This is in no small part due to offensive line play in the trenches that has been consistently overpowering. The uniform combinations and training room juice bars may be there, but it hasn't made the team any softer up front.

On a similar note, the Pac-10 has traditionally been the most pass-happy offense in the land, but the conference is now built around top tier running backs, and should be the best conference on the ground in 2009.

USC will once again rotate 4-5 blue chippers, Arizona, while breaking in a new QB, has the stability of Keola Antolin and Nic Grigsby, Stanford will be doing the same with Toby Gerhart while Andrew Luck gets comfortable, Jahvid Best at Cal may be the best RB in the country, Oregon's LeGarrette Blount could play himself into the first round with his combination of size and speed, Quizz Rogers at OSU can't be tackled and is the reigning Pac 10 Offensive POY, and Washington and Washington State, well, I'm not sure what exactly is going on up there, but UW's Jake Locker seems athletic, if nothing else.

(G1): What do you think about conference title games? Would it be a good idea to add to 12? Would you change something about the Pac 10?

(DR): I'm not for or against conference title games. They work in bigger conferences, but I'm happy with the current 10 team round-robin format.

It understandable affects how many bowl eligible teams come out of the conference each season, but it makes for a better football product. With all due respect to Northern Arizona or Montana State, I'll pass on watching a Pac-10 team pony up for four early victories.

Competitively, adding some combination of Boise State, Utah, BYU, or TCU makes sense, but things feel comfortable with the 10 current teams.

Right now, there's no big incentive for the Pac-10 to expand, as none of those schools bring in any sort of major TV market to the conference that would perhaps lead to a better media deal.

Regarding what I would change about the Pac 10, see the above sentence. The TV deal the conference has is atrocious.

The other usual complaint is about bowl alliances, but the reality of changing bowls is quite complicated. You then get into issues of increased payouts, questions about fans traveling great distances, etc.

The TV deal that the Pac-10 signed years ago, though, is terrible. It involves a combination of regional ABC broadcasts and Fox Sports broadcasts.

The Fox Sports contracts include a 10:30 EST game, which, if you're on the east coast, you just don't care about after a day full of football.

Unless you live in or near the college town of the team you care about, at certain points during the season, you'll be forced to somehow pay to see your game, if at all.

Since college football is a game of exposure and reputation, if voters west of the Mississippi can't watch you, you don't matter. You're just a box score.

(G1): How much did you like the bowl system pre-BCS? As a fan, how much do you concentrate on 'National Championships'? Has this changed in the last decade or so?

(DR): I never really had a problem with the system pre-BCS, mainly because it seemed that college football used to be far more regional. With the nationalization of the game, it would be almost impossible to go back to the pre-BCS ways of doing things. If you won the Pac 10, you were in the Rose Bowl. That's it.

Now, though, if Oregon won the Pac-10 and went undefeated and were forced to take on a two-loss Ohio State team in Pasadena instead of playing an undefeated Texas or Oklahoma, I'd lose my shit. Just the way it is now.

As a fan of college football, I take the idea of a national championship with a grain of salt. Unless there's two clear-cut contenders, it doesn't say too much that Florida was better than an Oklahoma team that probably should've played Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Sure, the Gators earned a title, but to the avid football-watching eye, Texas and USC were both playing on the same level as UF and OU, but were simply sent elsewhere.

Nothing has dramatically changed my view things over the past decade. Most years, somebody has a good reason to bitch and moan throughout December and that's not all that fun for me.

Oregon got jobbed by Nebraska and the BCS in '01 and '05 and it doesn't make me any happier that my bitching is part of the fun of college football. The next time I hear that the regular season is already like a playoff, I'm going to start tazering people.

(G1): What sort of changes, if any should be made to the BCS system? Does this opinion put you in-line or out-of-line with other fans of your team and conference?

(DR): My first and only wish would be just to scrap it and go to a four or eight team playoff. The four team version is obviously just a plus-one system.

At this point, Oregon's been jobbed out of two BCS games by screwy logic (Nebraska in '01 for the national championship game, Notre Dame in '05 for being Notre Dame), so I'd say most Duck fans would be in favor of deciding things on the field.

Similarly, the Pac-10 doesn't often get the exposure or opportunities that teams in other BCS conferences seem to get, so I'd say the Pac-10 thought is that a playoff system would be ideal.

Of course, the school presidents couldn't possibly be bothered about what their constituents would like, there are checks to be cashed.

(G1): Are the polls a good idea in the first place? Should they play a role in determining a 'National Champion'?

(DR): College football is better off in every sense by being a national sport, so some sort of ranking system needs to be in place. Polling makes sense to a certain degree, but certainly waiting until Oct. 1 to issue the first one of the year is fine by me.

It's a good measure of progress, and aside from controversies at the top, year-end polls generally get it right.

That said, I'm never crazy about situations in which coaches feel like they need to campaign for their teams in order to secure certain bowl berths. I'm looking at you, Mack Brown.

(G1): How much should non-BCS teams be included in the BCS- and other high payout- bowls? How much do you watch these teams?

(DR): I'm for bowls being open for anyone, but the strength of schedule of a non-BCS team certainly needs to be brought into play.

Most of the time, when you jump down from a BCS conference to a non-BCS conference, there's a discrepancy in talent.

It's not to say, for example, Utah, Boise State, or TCU can't beat a top BCS school, but a bad SEC or ACC team is still on a different level than a bad team in the Sun Belt, at least in the majority of cases.

In the case of last year's big non-BCS team, I watched precisely one Utah game: their victory over Oregon State. Why? Because it was on national TV on a Thursday night.

It's not that I don't want to see a good MWC game, I generally just can't because it's either not on, or there are simply too many other games to choose from.

There's no real "right" answer here. If a non-BCS team earns the right and is collectively voted on by peers as being worthy, the team should have every opportunity to compete on a level playing field.

You can view the original interview here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/college-football/interview-with-dan-rubenstein.html

ACC Preview and Interview With Alex Ryan-Bond

Gators First — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:54:26 -0400

Written by Gatorsfirst.com & Alex Ryan-Bond

This approach will allow us to bring you a much more in-depth look at the 2009 season than we could possibly provide on our own.

The next in this series is the ACC season preview, by Alex Ryan-Bond. Alex runs the Maryland Terrepins website Hell In a Red Shell, so we turned to him for his take on the ACC's outlook for 2009.

Also, check out the interview below for his take on the BCS, regional biases, and the ACC's performance in non-conference games.

Projected Conference Finish

Conference Championship: Virginia Tech over Florida State

Atlantic

Florida State 9-3 (6-2)

NC State 8-4 (5-3)

Clemson 8-4 (5-3)

Wake Forest 7-5 (4-4)

Maryland 7-5 (4-4)

Boston College 2-10 (1-7)

Coastal

Virginia Tech 8-4(6-2)

Miami 8-4 (5-3)

North Carolina 7-5 (4-4)

Georgia Tech 7-5 (4-4)

Duke 5-7 (3-5)

Virginia 4-8 (3-5)

Top 5 Freshmen/newcomers

1. Desmond Scott, RB, Duke

2. Jacobbi McDaniel, DT, FSU

3. David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech

4. Malliciah Goodman, DE, Clemson

5. Travis Hawkins, DB, Maryland

Top 5 Breakout Players

1. Russel Wilson, QB, NC State

2. Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Ga. Tech

3. Josh Nesbitt, QB, Ga. Tech

4. Greg Boone, TE, Va. Tech

5. Jacory Harris, QB, Miami

Player Superlatives

Player of the Year: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

Offensive POTY: Russel Wilson, QB, NC State

Defensive POTY: Kam Chancellor, S, Virginia Tech

Overrated POTY: Tyrod Taylor, QB, Virginia Tech

Underrated POTY: Vic Hall, QB, UVA

Bowl Projections

BCS Championship Game: Nobody from the ACC

Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech v. Rutgers

Gator Bowl: Miami v. Texas Tech

Champs Sports Bowl: Clemson v. Iowa

Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Florida State v. South Carolina

Gaylord Hotels Bowl: NC State v. Vandy

Emerald Bowl: Wake Forest v. UCLA

Meineke Car Care: North Carolina v. South Fla.

Eagle Bank Bowl: Maryland v. Navy

GMAC Bowl: Ga. Tech v. ???

And now on to the interview:

Gatorsfirst (G1): How did you become a fan of your team?

Alex Ryan-Bond (ARB): Simple geography. Being from Maryland, and one of those few “native D.C.” types that continues to stick around the area, you are expected to be a rabid Maryland basketball fan.

So, we use football season as a great way to kill time until Duke and Carolina come to town in January, and it just kind of comes with the territory that you are also a Terps football fan.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but, hey it’s just the truth.

(G1): Describe the gameday atmosphere.

(ARB): The gameday atmosphere is pretty fun, and everyone kind of converges on the tailgating lots closest to the stadium.

Night games are the most fun, but I think that holds true everywhere.

We have a great student section every year, for all sports, so that is definitely a nice home field edge. It’s not as crazy as it is during basketball season, but it’s still fun.

(G1): Give me some thought on your coaching staff. Are you satisfied? Do you wish your team ran different schemes? How is recruiting?

(ARB): I wouldn’t say that anyone in the ACC is satisfied with their coach (outside of Va. Tech with Beamer, or maybe Johnson or Davis at Ga. Tech and UNC, respectively).

So, as such, I wouldn’t say I’m “satisfied” with Friedgen and Franklin, but I can’t say that I’m too upset, either.

I’m not sure if I wish we ran different schemes, more that I just wish we’d run what we have now with any kind of consistency.

One week, everything clicks. The next week, everything falls to pieces. And nobody (including the coaches) has any idea why that is.

And, as so many people like to point out, that is true of the conference as a whole, leading to everyone having the same 7-5 or 5-7 record range. Recruiting is good, however.

For such a mediocre team, we send a lot of players to the NFL and have a reputation as a pro factory.

(G1): Who is a player we might not know from your team that you are excited about this season? Why?

(ARB): Everyone talks about Chris Turner (and his beautiful golden locks) or Da’Rel Scott being our big tickets. But I think David Meggett, our speedy little quark-esque running back, could have an outstanding year.

We’ve lost quite a bit of experience off our offensive line, which means that to have any kind of running game we’re going to need speed on the exterior, and Meggett is that guy.

(G1): Make one point about your school, and another point about your conference, you think is overlooked on the national level.

(ARB): Everyone in the national media seems to just give Friedgen a reputation as an offensive “guru.”

I frankly haven’t seen it since he’s been around.

People seem to gloss over that point, and just toss the term around and move along without really evaluating the long stretches of anemic production you see from his teams.

A point about the conference that is usually overlooked is the fact that for such a mediocre college football conference with mediocre teams, the ACC produces a staggering amount of NFL talent.

Go back to the NFL draft in the spring; there were a lot of ACC players taken very high (Raji, Johnson, Heyward-Bey), and quite a few second-through-seventh round guys came from the ACC.

What makes this so frustrating for us fans is that we know there is serious talent in the league, but for some reason (cough, coaching, cough) that isn’t translating to exciting on-field college football.

(G1): What do you think about conference title games? Would it be a good idea to add to 12? Would you change something about the ACC?

(ARB): I think conference title games are a necessary progression in the eventual march to a playoff system. I also think that they are a fantastic way to make a conference a ton of money, and they give us all an extra week of excellent college football, so I’m all in favor.

And, because of the money factor, I’m surprised the Pac-10 and Big Ten haven’t gone ahead and added the title game yet. It just seems like a no brainer to me.

I don’t even know where to begin with the list of changes that are needed for the ACC title game.

For one, move it out of Tampa/Jacksonville. God, nobody wants to go there on short notice.

Two, stop playing it in the afternoon on championship Saturday when it isn’t socially acceptable to drink heavily, because that’s the only way you can sit through another Virginia Tech defensive snoozefest game.

Three, play it at a team’s home field, alternating between the two divisions on a yearly basis, or find some tiebreaker to determine who gets home field. That way, you’re guaranteed to get people in the stands, and thus won’t have the camera panning out over 50,000 empty seats. Again.

(G1): How much did you like the bowl system pre-BCS? As a fan, how much do you concentrate on 'National Championships'? Has this changed in the last decade or so?

(ARB): I liked the pre-BCS system. And as a fan of college football, I enjoy the national championship game and the hoopla because it’s the best chance to see truly great football (see: Texas v. USC in ’05).

As a fan of my own team, it really hasn’t changed my own perceptions. The goal is always become bowl eligible, and then look to winning our division/conference.

It’s unreasonable for us to consider competing for a national title, but getting to a guaranteed big money game like the Orange Bowl is not out of the question.

So, I’m not sure how much it has changed my perceptions as a Maryland fan (or an ACC fan), but if it has it’s placed a large monetary award on winning your conference by hook or by crook, especially if you’re one of the lucky ones in a BCS conference.

(G1): What sort of changes, if any should be made to the BCS system? Does this opinion put you in-line or out-of-line with other fans of your team and conference?

(ARB): If we had to keep the BCS system and not go to playoffs, I’d like to change the conference guarantees that have been handed down to all the major conferences.

Instead of having conference champions guaranteed into certain BCS designated bowls, I’m of the opinion that the best 10 BCS rated teams should go to the BCS bowls, period.

If your conference wasn’t up to snuff this year, tough luck. Maybe next year you should win your out-of-conference games, or schedule tougher opponents.

Last year’s Orange Bowl between Cincy and Va. Tech should serve as a good example of why conference guarantees don’t lead to exciting football. I’d guess this makes me relatively unpopular with a large section of ACC fans, but I think if we don’t deserve to make it in, we shouldn’t be there as a conference.

Maybe it would provide A.D.'s with good motivation to better our programs.

(G1): Are the polls a good idea in the first place? Should they play a role in determining a 'National Champion'?

(ARB): Yes? No? I’m not really sure? Maybe? I’m Ron Burgundy?

I honestly don’t have an answer for you here, since our fanbase has never personally tasted the sting of a voter snub. We usually blush and get all quiet that they’d even consider us for the 25th spot.

(G1): How much should non-BCS teams be included in the BCS- and other high payout- bowls? How much do you watch these teams?

(ARB): As I said earlier, I think if they can make it up to snuff with scheduling good out-of-conference teams (and win), then they should make if they are one of the top 10 rated BCS teams.

While I know the current money payout and scheme won’t ever allow that to happen because too many people have too much to lose, the populist in me would love to see that.

But then, I’d also like to see playoffs.

As far as watching those teams, I feel like I get to see a healthy amount of them through their midweek ESPN games, specifically those random Tuesday night games featuring Ball State.

Either there, or that random 2 a.m. Pac10/WAC matchup that is the only thing still on TV Saturday night after getting home from the bar due to the time difference. Hawaii, I’m looking at you.

You can view the original interview here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/college-football/acc-preview-2009.html

Pac 10 Preview & Interview With Ian Peterson

Gators First — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:42:12 -0400

Written by Gatorsfirst.com & Ian Peterson

As part of the project, we are having fellow bloggers and other college football personalities from around the SEC and the rest of the nation give us their take on the current state of college football. This approach will allow us to bring you a much more in-depth look at the 2009 season than we could possibly provide on our own.

The next in this series is the Pac 10 Conference season preview, by Ian Peterson. Ian runs the Washington Huskies web site Husky Trails, so we turned to him for his take on the Pac 10's outlook for 2009.

Also, check out the interview below for his take on the BCS, regional biases, and the Pac 10's performance in non-conference games.

Projected Conference Finish

Conference Champions: USC and California Co-Champions

USC
California
Oregon
Oregon State
Arizona State
Stanford
Arizona
UCLA
Washington
Washington State

Top 5 Freshmen/newcomers

1. Matt Barkley, QB, USC

2. Stanley Hasiak, OL, UCLA

3. Patrick Hall, ATH, USC

4. Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

5. Daniel Batts, DB (JC Transfer), Washington

Top 5 Breakout Players

1. Everson Griffen, DE, USC

2. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

3. Kevin Riley, QB, California

4. De'Andre Goodwin, WR, Washington

5. Shareece Wright, CB, USC

Player Superlatives

Player of the Year: Jahvid Best, RB, California

Offensive POTY: Joe McKnight, RB, USC

Defensive POTY: Taylor Mays, S, USC

Overrated POTY: LeGarrete Blount, RB, Oregon

Underrated POTY: Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford

Bowl Projections

Rose Bowl: USC v. Ohio State

Holiday Bowl: California v. Texas

Sun Bowl: Oregon v. Pittsburgh

Las Vegas Bowl: Oregon State v. Utah

Emerald Bowl: Arizona State v. Wake Forest

And now for the interview:

Gatorsfirst (G1): How did you become a fan of your team?

Ian Peterson (IP): Well, it really started when I got accepted at the University of Washington. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area as a 49ers' fan. My very first college football game was the Notre Dame vs. UW game in 2005 when I was moving in for my first year of college. From then on, I was hooked, and I've had season tickets ever since.

This upcoming season is my first outside of the student section, but I'm still excited for the season. I love the passion of college football, and because I went to the school it's a team I feel like I belong to, even though I don't play.

(G1): Describe the gameday atmosphere.

(IP): It has tapered off over the last four years, as the team has hit rock bottom, but it still can be a crazy experience. Everyone dressed in purple, pouring out of cars, pouring from campus, pouring out of buses, and even showing up on their boats.

I believe it's one of two schools, with the University of Tennessee being the other, where fans show up on their boats. People in Seattle like their football, be it the Huskies or the Seahawks. While we may not compete with the SEC in terms of rabid fans—the 0-12 season has taken away from the atmosphere somewhat—Steve Sarkisian has really re-energized a lot of fans.

(G1): Give me some thoughts on your coaching staff. Are you satisfied? Do you wish your team ran different schemes? How is recruiting?

(IP): Considering that te staff is brand new, it's hard to say if I'm satisfied from a football standpoint. From a program standpoint these guys are great. They are young and energetic, and seem really excited about the program. Coach Sark has opened up the program to a large extent, with open practices and access to the program readily available through his twitter site and his web site coachsark.com.

The team is currently installing a pro-style offense that Sarkisian designed at USC. I, personally, am hoping that it will give us some of the success that USC has.

The problem is we are perhaps a little light on personnel for the system, specifically tight ends. The old coach, Tyrone Willingham, ran a version of the spread that relied heavily on quarterback Jake Locker's running ability...too heavily on it. Sarkisian is trying to improve his accuracy and reduce the need for him to run.

Recruiting is excellent right now, considering we had a losing season. Our class is headlined by quarterback Nick Montana, Joe Montana's son. He was a huge get, even though he isn't the best of the best of the quarterbacks this year and may be a bit undersized. He turned down offers from teams as diverse as Notre Dame, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida State, and Ohio State.

The team is also recruiting well in our home state of Washington, something the previous staff utterly failed in last year, as well as the state of California.

(G1): Who is a player we might not know from your team that you are excited about this season? Why?

(IP): It's gotta be Jake Locker, the dynamic dual-threat quarterback for the Huskies. The team is just better when he is on the field. He was hurt with a broken thumb for most of last year, but is back and healthy right now. Sarkisian has been working on upping his accuracy, and if he can get that down the team could make a huge jump in the wins column.

(G1): Make one point about your school, and another point about your conference, you think is overlooked on the national level.

(IP): For the school, I would say we are still as passionate as ever, so don't forget about us up here in the lonely Pacific Northwest. We'll be back on the national scene sooner rather than later.

For conference, we play good football out here in the West. Everyone looks down their nose at the Pac-10 because somehow everyone manages losses even when they are favored. I claim this isn't a weakness but a strength. I think the conference is one of the most competitive ones, top to bottom, in the country. And let's not forget the conference has a winning record against every FBS conference since 2000, and that includes the SEC.

(G1): What do you think about conference title games? Would it be a good idea to add to 12? Would you change something about the Pac 10?

(IP): I think the format for the Pac-10 is good as it is, but I understand the arguments that if it was expanded to add a championship game then a Pac-10 would be a better contender for national champion. As it stands, a Pac-10 team has to go undefeated to get into the championship game, which is difficult but not unheard of.

Adding to 12 has been talked about, but there is somewhat of a question of whom to add. The biggest contenders are the Utah schools like BYU and Utah, but there is also Fresno State, Boise State, and others that could make a good claim. While those teams dominate the Mountain West and WAC, would they be challengers at the top or just middle of the road teams?

Remember Boise State beat Oregon last year, but lost to Washington the year before. BYU struggled to get past Washington last year. It's a hot button issue right now, and it's going to continue to be as long as the BCS format is still in place.

(G1): How much did you like the bowl system pre-BCS? As a fan, how much do you concentrate on "National Championships?" Has this changed in the last decade or so?

(IP): You know, I never really watched the pre-BCS system, I've only really gotten into it after the system is in place. It was just as flawed though, having co-national champions was a tough system to work around. At least now there is a clear victor, even if the system leading up to it is a bit strange sometimes.

If it was the middle of the '90s I would say that yes, national championships are on my mind. However, with Washington about as low as they can get, I really have no interest in the title game. I didn't even watch last year's game.

The BCS bowls that I watch the most are the Rose Bowl for the Pac-10 ties, and whichever bowl got the largest bid for a non-BCS school. I loved the Sugar Bowl last year, and the Fiesta Bowl with Boise State and Oklahoma was probably the best football game I ever watched.

(G1): What sort of changes, if any should be made to the BCS system? Does this opinion put you in-line or out-of-line with other fans of your team and conference?

(IP): I still think the system needs to be scrapped in favor of a playoff. I understand the problems involved with creating a playoff, but it would eliminate so much of the griping that happens now. I honestly think that most people want one too, it's just such big money right now that it's hard to change.

(G1): Are the polls a good idea in the first place? Should they play a role in determining a "National Champion?"

(IP): Absolutely, otherwise there is little to determine who belongs in the championship game. It's as fair and democratic as we can get in the sport.

People in the East, West, and Midwest will never agree on who is better during any given season. Each side of the country has their own regional bias and the polls average a lot of that out.

(G1): How much should non-BCS teams be included in the BCS and other high payout bowls? How much do you watch these teams?

(IP): I think that undefeated non-BCS teams deserve just as much of a chance at the big payouts as anyone else. I think people underestimate how hard it is to go undefeated. I do think a lot of these teams are weaker, but they are still good teams.

I watch these teams a fair amount, my parents are both Fresno State grads so I have a soft spot for them. Utah is also a fun school to watch, and the Sugar Bowl was a great game against Alabama. Those are about the only ones that I follow.

You can view the original interview here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/college-football/pac-10-preview-2009.html

Big East Preview and Interview With Matt Freeman

Gators First — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:02:55 -0400

With the college football season rapidly approaching, Gatorsfirst.com is presenting a different take on the 2009 season every day for the entire month of August.

We call it our ''Full Month of College Football Previews."

The next in this series is the Big East season preview, by Matt Freeman.

Matt can be found on the famous West Virginia fan board We Must Ignite This Couch, and blogs there frequently. We turned to him for his take on the Big East's outlook for 2009. Check out the interview below.

Predicted conference finish

WVU 10-2 (6-1)
Cincinnati 10-2 (5-2)
USF 9-3 (4-3)
Pitt 8-4 (4-3)
Rutgers 8-4 (3-4)
UConn 6-6 (3-4)
Louisville 6-6 (2-5)
Syracuse 5-7 (1-6)

Top 5 Freshmen/newcomers

Ryne Giddins, DE, USF
Tevita Finau, DE, WVU
Antwan Lowery, DT, Rutgers
Tom Savage, QB, Rutgers
Gino Smith, QB, WVU

Top 5 Breakout Players

Jarrett Brown, QB, WVU
Victor Anderson, RB, Louisville
Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati
Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pitt
Alric Arnett, WR, WVU

Player Superlatives

Player of the Year: George Selvie, DE, USF

Offensive POTY: Noel Devine, RB, WVU

Defensive POTY: George Selvie, DE, USF

Overrated POTY: Matt Groethe, QB, USF

Underrated POTY: Victor Anderson, RB, Louisville

Bowl Projections

BCS Championship Game: Florida v. USC

Orange Bowl: WVU v. Virginia Tech

Gator Bowl: Cincinnati v. Georgia Tech

Meineke Car Care Bowl: USF v. Florida State

International Bowl: Pitt v. Ball State

Papa John's Bowl: Rutgers v. Ole Miss

St. Petersburg Bowl: UConn v. St. Petersburg High School

And now for the interview.

Gatorsfirst (G1): How did you become a fan of your team?

Matt Freeman (MF): If you like sports and you’re from West Virginia, you almost have to be a fan of WVU.

I myself actually attended WVU, so that turned me into the fanatical sort that went to the trouble to create a website dedicated to the team.

But one thing outsiders to WVU athletics may not realize is that the Mountaineers are really the state team.

To a state with no professional sports teams, having a successful program that actually represents us is more important than one may realize.

West Virginians are fans of sports just like everyone else. The dominant NFL following in West Virginia is Steelers/Redskins. With baseball it’s mostly Pirates and Reds.

But those teams don’t belong to us.

They belong to Pittsburgh, D.C., and Cincinnati. The Mountaineers are the one national sports entity that is definitively West Virginia.

Coming from a place where the state itself is used as a punchline in too many ignorant stereotypical jokes, it’s important to have something that represents us as a state (and represents us well) on the national stage.

The Mountaineers are about more than just a college football team to us: it’s a matter of pride in your home.

(G1): Describe the gameday atmosphere.

(MF): Every fan of every team is going to tell you their gameday atmosphere is unlike anything else in college football.

The same is the case with the Mountaineers.

On gamedays, Morgantown becomes the most populous city in the state of West Virginia. The drinking is legendary, as you will see from WVU’s ranking in the top 10 of party schools for any list you can find, every single year.

(WVU also holds the distinction for being the only school I’ve ever heard of where the students rushed Mountaineer Field and tore down the goalposts…after an away game. Students headed towards a darkened Mountaineer Field en masse, stormed the gates, got to field level, and brought down the goalposts after beating Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in 2002. So you can imagine what it’s like when the home team is actually there.)

Perhaps unique to WVU is the affinity for igniting furniture after a major victory. (Our very website name, We Must Ignite This Couch is based on such a tradition.)

But there’s a common misconception that couches are burned after every victory. Honestly, to the best of my knowledge, there hasn’t been a football-related rash of couch-burnings since 2003, when WVU upset No. 3-ranked Virginia Tech at home.

Here’s the criteria for couch-burning, all of which must be met:

Major victory over a top-ranked opponent
Upset Victory over hated rival.

As the Mountaineers have been highly-ranked in recent years, there really haven’t been that many upset victories, and hence many fewer opportunities to set bonfires in the streets.

(G1): Give me some thoughts on your coaching staff. Are you satisfied? Do you wish your team ran different schemes? How is recruiting?

(MF): This is a touchy subject around WVU.

WVU’s head coach, Bill Stewart, is the captain of the All Good Guy Team, and is legitimately one of the nicest, most honest people ever to coach in the NCAA.

But there are a number of detractors around the state that believe he was handed the keys to a Lexus last year following Rich Rodriguez’s departure, and drove it directly into a ditch, losing games to ECU, Colorado, Cincinnati, and Pitt (not exactly a murderer’s row).

While I understand that he’s changing schemes and creating a different culture, I can say that the consensus among fans is that there’s some serious improvements to be made.

The coaching staff that he assembled is actually one of the most accomplished staffs in the nation, and the recruiting classes he’s hauled in to date have been two of the strongest classes in program history, including a highly-touted QB prospect from your neck of the woods in Gino Smith of Miramar HS. (Who turned down offers from all four major programs in Florida.)

Scheme-wise, offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen faced some criticism last year for short dink-and-dunk passing even in the face of 3rd and longs, but his effort to bring an aerial attack to a town known for consistently ranking in the top 5 in rushing nationally was bound to meet criticism.

He’ll have another shot this year with a QB that is arguably a better passer than his predecessor Pat White (who was obviously other-worldly as a threat to run). Defensively, WVU runs a 3-3-5 stack with defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel at the helm, and is coming off of a solid year, ranking 11th in the nation in scoring defense.

(G1): Who is a player we might not know from your team that you are excited about this season? Why?

(MF): Ever hear of a 6’8’’ slot receiver?

Well, we’re giving that a shot this year.

WR West Lyons has been a tantalizing talent for a few years now, but hasn’t really put everything together until this spring, where he was voted most improved offensive player. He’s tall, athletic, and as you can tell from this YouTube clip, he has some physicality.

If he develops into the goal-line weapon he should have been all along (he’s going to be a foot taller than most people covering him), opponents could be very frustrated defensively.

You can view the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/college-football/big-east-preview-2009.html

Big Ten Preview and Interview With Brad Gilliam

Gators First — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:54:43 -0400

With the college football season rapidly approaching, Gatorsfirst.com is presenting a different take on the 2009 season every day for the entire month of August.

We call it our ''Full Month of College Football Previews.''

This approach will allow us to bring you a much more in-depth look at the 2009 season than we could possibly provide on our own.

The next in this series is the Big Ten conference preview, by Brad Gilliam. Brad is a current Penn State journalism student, so we turned to him for his take on Penn State and the Big Ten.

You can find the articles he writes for Bleacher Report here.

Check out the interview below.

Projected Conference Finish

Penn State 11-1 (7-1)
Ohio State 10-2 (7-1)
Michigan State 9-3 (6-2)
Iowa 9-3 (5-3)
Illinois 9-3 (5-3)
Northwestern 8-4 (5-3)
Wisconsin 8-4 (4-4)
Michigan 7-6 (2-6)
Minnesota 4-8 (1-7)
Purdue 2-10 (1-7)
Indiana 2-10 (0-8)

Top 5 Breakout Players

Brandon Minor, RB, UM
Dan Herron, RB, OSU
Mike Kafka, QB, Northwestern
Jewel Hampton, RB, Iowa
Graham Zug, WR, PSU

Player Superlatives

Player of the Year: Daryll Clark, QB, PSU

Offensive POTY: Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois

Defensive POTY: Navarro Bowman, LB, PSU

Overrated POTY: Terrelle Pryor, QB, OSU

Underrated POTY: Ricki Stanzi, QB, Iowa

Big Ten Bowl Projections

Rose Bowl: PSU v. USC

Fiesta Bowl: OSU v. Oklahoma

Capitol One: MSU v. Ole Miss

Outback Bowl: Iowa v. Georgia

Alamo Bowl: Illinois v. Kansas

Champs Sports Bowl: Northwestern v. Georgia Tech

Insight Bowl: Wisconsin v. Missouri

Motor City Bowl: Michigan v. Central Michigan

And now, on to the interview.

Gatorsfirst (G1): How did you become a fan of your team?

Brad Gilliam (BG): I became a fan of Penn State when I first visited the campus. I was in awe the entire visit. After that first visit, I knew it was where I wanted to be.

(G1): Describe the gameday atmosphere.

(BG): State College, Penn., is unbelievable during the fall.

Thousands of fans tailgate around Beaver Stadium leading up to game time. PSU has the best student section in the nation. You can’t beat those “White-Out” games.

It’s a very festive atmosphere and I always have a good time.

(G1): Give me some thoughts on your coaching staff. Are you satisfied? How is recruiting?

(BG): The coaching staff has been doing a good job, but it could be better on and off the field.

All of the arrests are making the school look bad. Recruiting hasn’t been the greatest this decade, but it looks promising for 2010.

(G1): Who is a player we might not know from your team that you are excited about this season? Why?

(BG): We know how great QB Daryll Clark and RB Evan Royster are, but I think Graham Zug will be a major factor this year at wide receiver.

Last season he had a decent amount of playing time behind Jordan Norwood, Derrick Williams, and Deon Butler.

Now that they are gone, Zug has to step in and be Clark’s primary target. In the Ohio State game, Zug caught a big 49-yard pass early in the game.

(G1): What do you think about conference title games? Would it be a good idea to add to 12?

(BG): Conference title games are great.

It’s a nice build-up to the bowl season. Unfortunately, the Big Ten doesn’t have one.

The idea of a 12th team is fantastic because the conference will not have to wait until the holiday season for a football game. This also will give teams one last shot to sway the voters for higher bowl bids.

I’m not a fan of ending early because while the other conferences are still playing and making their cases, the Big Ten is sitting home.

(G1): How much did you like the bowl system pre-BCS? As a fan, how much do you concentrate on 'National Championships'? Has this changed in the last decade or so?

(BG): I’m young so I don’t remember the old system, haha. But I aim at a national championship.

Since I saw my favorite team, the New York Giants, defeat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, I started aiming towards championships.

The NC is always the ultimate goal. I didn’t follow college football 10 years ago, but I believe that was their goal. Today, there is more pressure to succeed and a smaller margin for error because the spotlight is brighter and fans want immediate success.

(G1): What sort of changes, if any should be made to the BCS system? Does this opinion put you in-line or out-of-line with other fans of your team and conference?

(BG): I really want a playoff system and I’m sure PSU and other Big Ten fans agree.

A team that has an 11-1 record in one of the major BCS conference should be allowed to compete for a national title. It would be great to see national powers duke it out in January.

(G1): Are the polls a good idea in the first place? Should they play a role in determining a "National Champion?"

(BG): The polls should not determine who plays in the national championship and the champion.

I really was not happy with having co-champions in the 2003 season with USC and LSU.

There should be only one champion.

If there was a playoff system, I wouldn’t mind them doing the rankings throughout the season. Since there is no playoff system, I think it’s a bad idea. Too many biased voters.

(G1): How much should non-BCS teams be included in the BCS- and other high payout- bowls? How much do you watch these teams?

(BG): If they go undefeated in the regular season, then I’m all for it.

The non-major BCS conferences are 3-1 since 2004. I would watch because teams like Boise State and Utah can go up against the powerhouse teams and win.

I love when the underdog is victorious.

You can view the original interview here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/college-football/big-ten-preview-2009.html

Big XII Preview and Interview With Blatant Homerism

Gators First — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:49:29 -0400

Written by Gatorsfirst.com and Blatant Homerism

With the college football season rapidly approaching, Gatorsfirst.com is presenting a different take on the 2009 season every day for the entire month of August.

We call it our ''Full Month of College Football Previews."

This approach will allow us to bring you a much more in-depth look at the 2009 season than we could possibly provide on our own.

The next in this series is the Big XII Conference season preview, by Blatant Homerism. As he is an Oklahoma Sooners fan, we turned to him for his take on the Big XII's outlook for 2009.

Also, check out the interview below for his take on the BCS, Oklahoma's recruiting base, and conference championship games.

Projected Conference Finish

Conference Championship: Oklahoma over Kansas

North

Kansas 9-3 (5-3)

Nebraska 9-3 (5-3)

Kansas St.7-5 (4-4)

Colorado 7-5 (4-4)

Missouri 4-8 (2-6)

Iowa St. 2-10 (0-8)

South

Oklahoma 11-1 (7-1)

Texas 11-1 (7-1)

Oklahoma St. 9-3 (6-2)

Texas Tech 7-5 (3-5)

Baylor 7-5 (3-5)

Texas A&M 2-10 (0-8)

Top 5 Freshmen/newcomers

1. Nick Kasa, DE, Colorado

2. Alex Okafor, DE, Texas

3. Jon Major, LB, Colorado

4. Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M

5. Cameron Kenney, WR/P, Oklahoma

Top 5 Breakout Players

1. Dezmon Briscoe WR, Kansas*

2. Malcolm Williams, WR, Texas

3. Stephen Good, G, Oklahoma

4. Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma

5. Earl Thomas, SS, Texas

*Assuming he's eligible

Player Superlatives

Player of the Year: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

Offensive POTY: Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

Defensive POTY: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

Overrated POTY: Brandon Carter, G, Texas Tech

Underrated POTY: Todd Reesing, QB, Kansas

BCS Bowl Projections

BCS Championship Game: Florida v. Ohio State

Orange Bowl: Va. Tech v. Pittsburgh

Sugar Bowl: Georgia v. Texas

Rose Bowl: California v. Penn State

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma v. Notre Dame

Which brings us to the interview portion of this preview:

Gatorsfirst (G1): Give me some thought on your coaching staff. Are you satisfied? Do you wish your team ran different schemes? How is recruiting?

Blatant Homerism (BH): It seems like people are more likely to think “Chokelahoma” than “Big Game Bob” these days when it comes to Sooner football.

It’s true that OU’s bowl record in the last six years sucks. Obviously I’d rather see OU winning those games, but it doesn’t change the fact that OU has owned the Big 12 since Stoops arrived.

The Sooners have won six conference titles in Stoops’ 10 seasons as head coach. No other member school has won more than one in that span, including Texas.

When you consider the state of the program before Stoops took over, it’s miraculous.

In other words, yes, I’m satisfied.

As for schemes and recruiting, it’s tough to argue with the results. On balance, though, I do think there has been a drop-off in the defense’s effectiveness since Mike Stoops left for Arizona.

The D has continued to produce in his absence, but it seems like discipline and toughness have fallen off. Fundamentals like tackling technique and taking proper blitzing lanes have declined a bit.

Also, the secondary generally tends to struggle with busted assignments in pass coverage, as has been the case for a while now.

(G1): Who is a player we might not know from your team that you are excited about this season? Why?

(BH): It may seem strange to pick an offensive lineman, but I’m excited to see Stephen Good take on a bigger role in the OU offense.

Heading into his senior year in high school, a number of recruiting services pegged him as the top prospect in Texas. A shoulder injury forced him out for the season, though, causing his ranking to plummet.

Last year, Good was impressive in the seven games he played as a true freshman. This year, he is solidly entrenched at the right guard position, and I expect him to be a road grader in the OU run game.

In time, Good should develop into an NFL-caliber lineman. Book it.

(G1): Make one point about your school, and another point about your conference, you think is overlooked on the national level.

(BH): When you stop to think about it, the Sooners’ sustained run of success is pretty remarkable.

You’re talking about a state that ranked 28th in population in 2008 and sustains three D-I universities. That means a smaller in-state talent pool being diluted by competition.

To put things in perspective, not one player who took part in the NFL combine workouts this year hailed from the state of Oklahoma.

Look at the rosters of the other programs that have won national championships this decade—Florida, Texas, USC, etc.

All draw heavily from their home states, which puts the Sooners at a significant disadvantage. Even Louisiana has roughly a million more people than Oklahoma.

We haven’t even gotten to discrepancies in schools’ resources and state income levels. Add it all up and you have a pretty nice testament to the job Bob Stoops is doing.

Outside of Texas, I think most of the conference is in the same boat. When was the last time you heard of an outstanding recruit coming out of Nebraska?

(G1): What do you think about conference title games? Was it a good idea to add to 12? Would you change something about the conference?

(BH): Given the constraints of the season for the 12-team leagues, I guess the conference title games are necessary. But the Pac-10 does it right, in my opinion.

A conference champion should have to play every member school. Look at Ole Miss’ schedule this year—the Rebels miss Florida and Georgia out of the SEC East. That’s an artificial advantage over the rest of the SEC West.

From a national championship perspective, I look at the conference championship games as just another game to add to a team’s body of work.

With the disparities in how the conferences decide their champions, I don’t see much point in using conference titles as some point of differentiation between teams.

Basically, the championships are just a matter of intra-conference bragging rights.

If I could change something about the Big 12, I would boot Iowa State from the North division and Baylor from the South. Nothing personal—just seems to me that a league with 10 teams works better for football.

(G1): How much did you like the bowl system pre-BCS? As a fan, how much do you concentrate on 'National Championships'? Has this changed in the last decade or so?

(BH): I can barely remember what the old system was like, but the notion that the teams most deserving of playing for the national championship couldn’t meet because of “tradition” seems a little odd to me.

At least the BCS has the potential to give us matchups like USC-Texas in the ’05 Rose Bowl and Ohio State-Miami in the ’03 Fiesta Bowl. It’s not as pretty when there aren’t two undefeated major conference teams, but I think the system typically puts the two most deserving teams in the title game.

The emphasis on the national championship certainly is one drawback of the BCS.

If your view of success is title or bust, your life as a fan will be pretty disappointing. Yet, that mentality seems to have infected college football fandom as a result of the BCS.

In general, fans should keep in mind just how hard it is to actually win a national championship and be more reasonable about their expectations.

(G1): What sort of changes, if any should be made to the BCS system? Does this opinion put you in-line or out-of-line with other fans of your team and conference?

(BH): I’m certainly not a full-fledged playoff advocate. To me, it doesn’t reward teams for a full season’s achievement. Why people buy that a playoff is the best way to determine a champion is beyond me.

I also agree with the university presidents and conference commissioners that implementing a playoff would have unintended consequences that the anti-BCS crowd doesn’t recognize.

The biggest issue with the current system seems to be the lack of comparability between teams that play vastly different schedules. I think a plus-one seems like a good solution, in so far as the bowls would at least give the deciders an opportunity to see the elite play each other.

Either way, I think a selection committee along the lines of the college basketball postseason model would be a big step forward.

(G1): How much should non-BCS teams be included in the BCS- and other high payout- bowls? How much do you watch these teams?

(BH): If a team plays an exciting style of football, I’ll watch. For instance, I think Conference USA games can be pretty fun—Houston, Tulsa, Southern Miss., etc.

I really don’t see any reason to keep the little guys out of the BCS. If a non-BCS team puts together a strong enough body of work, as Utah did this year, why ban them? I try to look at resumé more so than conference affiliation.

You can find the original interview here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/college-football/big-xii-preview-2009.html

Mountain West Conference Preview and Interview with Jeremy Mauss

Gators First — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:25:36 -0400

Written by Gatorsfirst.com and Jeremy Mauss

With the college football season rapidly approaching, Gatorsfirst.com is presenting a different take on the 2009 season every day for the entire month of August. We call it our "Full Month of College Football Previews."

The next in this series is the Mountain West Conference season preview, by Jeremy Mauss. Jeremy runs the CFB Awards-nominated MWC Connection blog.

We asked for his take on the conference's outlook for 2009. We also solicited his input on the state of coaching in the MWC, campus game day atmosphere in the league, and the BCS system. You can see his predictions, followed by the interview, below.

Projected Conference Finish

TCU

BYU

Utah

UNLV

Air Force

Colorado State

New Mexico

San Diego State

Wyoming

Top five freshmen/newcomers

James Aiona, DE Utah

Ed Wesley, RB, TCU

David Kruger, DT, Utah

Lee Aguirre, DB, BYU

Aveni Leung-Wai, LB, BYU

Top five breakout players

Omar Clayton, QB, UNLV

Aiona Key, WR, Utah

Joseph Turner, RB, TCU

Donovan Porterie, QB, New Mexico

Rashaun Green, WR, Colorado State

Player superlatives

Player of the Year: Max Hall, QB, BYU

Offensive POTY: Andy Dalton, QB, TCU

Defensive POTY: Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU

Overrated POTY: Ryan Wolfe, WR, UNLV

Underrated POTY: Ryan Lindley, QB, San Diego State

Bowl projections

Las Vegas Bowl: TCU vs. Arizona State

Poinsettia Bowl: Utah vs. Stanford

Armed Forces Bowl: BYU vs. Tulsa

New Mexico Bowl: UNLV vs. Fresno State

Humanitarian Bowl: Air Force vs. Nevada

And now, to get a feel for the MWC, we conducted the following interview:

Gatorsfirst (G1): How did you become a fan of the Mountain West Conference?

Jeremy Mauss (JM): Well, the main reason is because I went to the University of Utah, and it just happened to be at the start of their great run in 2003 in my first year there at Utah. I attended the 2004 Fiesta Bowl, which was an amazing year, and then I was hooked on the league.

Another reason I became a fan of the league is that I am the same faith as BYU and somewhat followed them while growing up in Houston, plus for some reason I enjoy the less publicized league.

Other factors for me loving the MWC is that while attending school at Utah I was on the school's radio station covering the Utes and had the chance to attend press conferences, games, and also had the chance to go to the 2006 Armed Forces Bowl.

All of that pulled me into the whole league and write about the Mountain West. Another reason was that I for some reason was in the vast minority to want all the teams in the league to do well in non-conference games. Whenever I talked about that idea, I was looked at as if I was crazy because I wanted BYU to beat whomever in non-conference games, because some fans want their rival to lose every game.

Then being in the Mountain West, the league is not perceived as a strong league, and with the non-conference as a chance for teams to shine and over the past few years with BCS talk, more fans have taken the approach that they want the league to do well in non-conference games.

(G1): Describe the gameday atmosphere at an MWC game.

(JM): The only teams that I have been to see on their campus are Utah and BYU games. Utah has a good tailgating scene with tons of great food, but it is not as rowdy as others since in Utah most of the state is of the Mormon faith and does not drink. That does not mean the fans are not excited or drink their adult beverages, but it seems that nothing ever gets out of hand and is just an excited bunch of fans.

BYU is different for pregame because there is no tailgating permitted at the stadium parking lot. BYU has a great stadium and have been selling out nearly every seat of their near 70,000-seat stadium each year.

The only problem with BYU fans is that to me it seems that a good number of BYU fans are at the game to be at the game and need the jumbotron or student section to know what is going on.

At the Utah games the fans are a bit different and seem to be into the game more then the BYU fans. The Utah games can be very loud even though Rice-Eccles holds about 45,000 seats, especially the student section, which from personal experience is great.

They stand the entire game (which is not uncommon across the country), but they are into every play and everyone is into the game and very rarely leave early from a blowout win or loss.

The cool thing about being a student is that after the games the team and band come over and sing the school song, and that is a very cool thing. It is not quite the same thing as games at Texas A&M, which I have attended a few, but still a very cool experience for students.

(G1): Talk about the current state of coaching in the MWC. What sort of schemes are popular? How is recruiting?

(JM): This past year there are three new coaches in the league for New Mexico, UNLV, and Wyoming.

The league is taking on more of the spread offense, with the exception of Air Force, who runs an option offense, but even they have moved away from a tight triple option to using more two and three wide receiver sets but still operating a run option.

The other is Colorado State, who runs a more traditional pro-style offense, because they have had good backs to pound the ball. TCU too somewhat runs their offense under center plus three wideout sets in the shotgun. The rest of the league runs three-plus wide receiver sets to run the spread offense.

Even with all of the pass-happy offenses and scoring points, the league should get recognized for the defense the league plays. TCU, Wyoming, and Utah have all had very good defenses, and this year the rest of the league should tighten up their defense with every team having solid defensive players.

Recruiting has been very good for the 2010 class for the Mountain West. BYU has top QB Jake Heaps according to Scout and ranks 13th as of their last update. Part of that is that Heaps is a Mormon athlete where the university is an extension of that. Plus Heaps brought in WR Ross Apo, who de-committed from Texas to go to BYU, plus they have been getting more four-star recruits.

Utah has reaped benefits from the 2004 Fiesta Bowl, their consistency, and the 2008 season has helped them get more early commits and better athletes. TCU does an exceptional job in Texas, because they are not beating out Texas or Oklahoma, but they can compete with Texas A&M and a few times with Texas Tech.

The thing the league does good is to spot talent early, offer early, and then the most important, they can develop these recruits who were overlooked.

(G1): Who are some players from the MWC that you are excited about this season? Why?

(JM): First, I am very high on UNLV QB Omar Clayton, who showed flashes of brilliance last year but missed a few games with injuries. UNLV finally has a quarterback in place who has not come off of major injuries or is a former highly touted transfer, but instead Clayton has run the spread pretty good. Look for him to blow up this year.

Another player is Utah's wide receiver Aiona Key. He came in late last year as a JUCO transfer because of getting his grades to Utah, so last year he saw nearly no time on offense but was a star on special teams.

Besides being a good wideout who has size, he also is a track star who can high jump around seven feet. Key will get the time this year because Utah lost its top three wideouts from last year.

The next player who interests me is BYU wide receiver McKay Jacobson, who is returning from a two-year church mission and has the responsibility of trying to replace former BYU Austin Collie.

Prior to Jacobson leaving he was a star receiver as a true freshman and was a top recruit out of Texas. It will be interesting to see if he can get right back into football shape and be productive.

(G1): Make one point about your conference you think is overlooked on the national level.

(JM): The league is actually good. National "experts" try to poke holes in the bottom of the league, but in reality every single league has a tier system of how good teams are. In the MWC it is BYU, Utah, TCU, and then the past few years Air Force and Colorado State, and then the rest.

They try to say that the bottom feeders are the worst teams in all of FBS, but look at last year, when UNLV beat the middle of the Pac-10 in Arizona State, and the bottom of the Big 12 in Iowa State, and then Wyoming, eighth in the MWC, beat the worst team in the SEC in Tennessee. Tired of that argument when every league has bad teams.

Oh, also the league was the first to have a television deal exclusively with a conference with The Mountain West Sports Network, and it was not The Big Ten who was the first. Yes, the Big Ten Network has better coverage because Fox owns about half of it, but The Mtn. was the first channel dedicated to a particular league.

(G1): What sort of changes, if any, should be made to the BCS system?

(JM): If the BCS has to stay around in its current format, then I would want the MWC to have an auto bid. That would leave three at-large spots for the five bowl games. The top of the league is just as strong as every league except the Big 12 and SEC.

Now the MWC is currently just on the outside of being considered, in my opinion, because they still need another year or two of having teams in the top 10 and multiple in the top 16 to get an auto bid.

Plus, I would like to see the BCS four-year cycle evaluation have more concrete requirements when deciding what leagues are included, and use the polls after the bowl games since those games are supposed to be the most important.

Ideally I would want a 16-team playoff with all 11 conference champs getting in and five at-large berths. That would ultimately start to close the gap between the low-level conferences to the top. Now the champ would most likely still come from the current BCS schools, but that does not mean that the Sun Belt or MAC champ would not win a first round game or pull a George Mason and make a run.

(G1): Are the polls a good idea in the first place? Should they play a role in determining a 'National Champion'?

(JM): Polls are for the fans, especially the preseason polls. Ideally they should start the first weekend in October, but that will never happen because rankings sell recruits, tickets, television ratings, and garner prestige to schools.

They should be a part, but the BCS uses them all to help determine a champion. It is hard to have a committee and select two teams that are not one and two in the combined polls.

Since the polls are going to be used to determine the BCS through the 2014 season, they should bring back strength of schedule formula into the computers. Very ironic that nerds and wires help determine the champion of a physical sport.

(G1): How much should non-BCS teams be included in the BCS and other high payout bowls?

(JM): I think the top 12 is a fair gauge for a non-BCS school to get invited, but they so far have to have been perfect to get into a BCS game. The top 12 is the only guaranteed bid for a non-BCS to make a game, while last year there were three teams, TCU, Utah, and Boise State, who were ranked higher than the ACC and Big East champs, and only Utah got in.

Not only were Boise State and TCU ranked higher then two conference champs, they were also bypassed by two lower-ranked teams for BCS bowls.

Since the BCS is a business, there is no reason not to take bigger schools because they bring the eyeballs. That is what is screwed up about the BCS. As for other high bowl payouts, those need to be negotiated with the leagues to get better bowl money or matchups.

View the original interview here.

Notre Dame Preview and Interview With Ty Hildenbrandt

Gators First — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:12:41 -0400

Written by Gatorsfirst.com and Ty Hildenbrandt

The next in this series is the Notre Dame season preview, by Ty Hildenbrandt. Ty co-hosts the Solid Verbal podcast and writes for SI.com.

As he is a lifelong Notre Dame fan, we turned to him for his take on the Fighting Irish's outlook for 2009. Check out the interview below.

Gatorsfirst (G1): How did you become a fan of your team?

Ty Hildenbrandt (TH): I’m not your typical Notre Dame fan, seeing as how I was raised in eastern Pennsylvania and have a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University. But when you’re raised by a large Italian family, all of which is Catholic, your fate is pretty much sealed from birth.

Despite the jarring realization at age 12 that I would never run one-eighth as fast as Raghib Ismail, I remain a rabid Irish fan.

(G1): Describe the gameday atmosphere.

(TH): The gameday atmosphere at Notre Dame is actually somewhat muted compared to that of State College and other places I’ve been. (Perhaps I’m biased after enduring four years of intense, alcohol-centric tailgating during college.)

If I were to describe the scene, I’d say it’s more “mature” than “fanatical.”

I don’t want to give the impression that fans don’t get into the game—that’s not the case at all—but it’s definitely more “rehearsal dinner” than “bachelor party.

With that said, Notre Dame Stadium is a cathedral for college football, and an all-around fantastic place to watch a college football game on a fall day.

The stadium is so closely interwoven into the campus that you really get to fully experience how time stands still on a major college when college football is in the air.

I’d recommend a Notre Dame football game to almost anyone. And by “almost anyone”, of course, I’m referring to people that don’t stick for Southern Cal.

I’m just about ready to scrap that rivalry and substitute IUPUI for USC.

And, if you’re interested, my gameday ritual usually involves a No. 10 Brady Quinn or a No. 3 Michael Floyd jersey (purchased during the maligned Ron Powlus-era) and lots of screaming at the TV while watching the game with my mother.

Yes, my mother. She might be a bigger ND fan than anyone I know—she’s five-foot-zero and I’m convinced she’d kill an elephant with her bare hands if it blocked her view of the television on gameday. Don’t eff with Mama Hildenbrandt.

(G1): Give me some thought on your coaching staff. Are you satisfied? Do you wish your team ran different schemes? How is recruiting?

(TH): From the very beginning, I was the biggest proponent of hiring Charlie Weis, and I’m sticking to my guns until the bitter end, whether that means an unceremonious dismissal or 10 consecutive national championships.

Though I’d like him to be a little less pompous, I think people need to realize the state of the football program when he grabbed the reins from Ty Willingham.

In hindsight, the worst thing that could’ve ever happened to Weis was Brady Quinn, if only because he fanned the flames of unrealistic expectations.

I am satisfied to the extent that I think Weis has learned and continues to learn from his past mistakes.

He’s learned that he can’t micromanage. He’s learned that he needs to get better at picking assistant coaches. He’s learned that he can’t be quite as abrasive as Bill Belichick and get away with it at the collegiate level.

He’s probably even learned to accept that stupid “Lord of the Rings” nickname that Brent Musburger gave him during his first season. I think he’s evolved and progressed as a coach, and after Willingham, that gives me the warm fuzzies.

Recruiting has been outstanding, and I can’t say enough good things about how Weis and his staff have replenished the program with talent. The problem, though, as with any program, is piecing that talent together in a way that builds a winning foundation.

Weis hasn’t proven that he can do this yet, and if he doesn’t soon, people like Paul Finebaum will continue spreading unfounded rumors about Urban Meyer bolting for South Bend.

In reality, if Weis can improve upon last year’s record and use ND’s bowl win as a catalyst for 2009, I’d be completely content. Everyone wants to go 12-0. I just want people to be realistic.

(G1): Who is a player we might not know from Notre Dame that you are excited about this season? Why?

(TH): You might already know about running back Armando Allen, but I’m still excited about him, especially because he won two Heismans in my NCAA ’09 dynasty last year. Guy was money.

Here’s someone with great versatility and blinding speed—the problem for him has been the fact that ND’s offensive line has refused to block anyone for the last two years, hence the reason the offense, as a whole, hasn’t clicked.

I’m hopeful that ND’s line has improved from “Waiting For The Bus” to “Getting In Someone’s Way” this season, and I expect Allen to play a much larger role in ND’s offense.

(G1): Make one point about Notre Dame you think is overlooked on the national level.

(TH): This is officially the first time “Notre Dame” and “overlooked” have ever appeared in the same sentence. Honestly. I need a second to digest that.

(G1): Take your time. Fire when ready.

(TH): Phew. Thanks. OK, I’ll get back to a point I raised earlier: I don’t think people really understand the state of the ND football program after Ty Willingham was dismissed.

I’ve heard countless stories from trusted sources who claim that the players had lost all faith in their coach and no longer respected him.That’s a pretty big deal.

The offense had no identity, the defense was being asked to win every game, and it was just a lousy situation that wasn’t conducive to long-term (or short-term, for that matter) stability.

So, I think Weis deserves some slack, even though that honeymoon period has just about run its course.

He entered into a situation not only with many built-in advantages, but also with several major obstacles that people ignored simply because it was fun to pile on Notre Dame.

(G1): Would it be a good idea for Notre Dame to join the Big Ten?

(TH): Depends on your perspective.

If you’re the Big Ten, it’s the best idea since sliced bread. If you’re Notre Dame, then I’m not so sure.

Notre Dame doesn’t have to split its NBC revenues with anyone, plus, it gets an automatic BCS berth (and payout) if it finishes in the top eight of the final BCS standings.

The Big Ten doesn’t offer a package quite as peachy.

The issue with this setup, though, is that it only makes sense (long-term) if Notre Dame is a steady, top-eight team. That hasn’t exactly happened.

Each year, it’s either a big win-win situation or a big lose-lose.

Personally, I’m just hoping that Notre Dame is allowed back into a BCS bowl if it should ever find itself in the top eight. Did you see ND’s last two BCS games? They made cyanide look like an attractive condiment.

At the end of the day, this all comes down to money. Anyone who talks about the pageantry of remaining independent doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

College football is a business nowadays. Notre Dame will find a way to join the Big Ten when it is no longer as profitable to stay independent. End of story.

(G1): How much did you like the bowl system pre-BCS? As a fan, how much do you concentrate on 'National Championships'? Has this changed in the last decade or so?

(TH): I hated the bowl system almost as much as I hate the BCS. Almost. But, at least it knew what it was and embraced that fact that a “true” national champion might or might not be crowned.

It was completely chaotic and controversial, but the most charming thing about it was that it simply didn’t care. Hey, whatever! We’ll make it up as we go along! It works for the adult film industry!

The BCS, on the other hand, should lose a sponsor every time it claims to crown the real champion in college football. Gag me.

Does anyone really believe this?

If this were the case, why don’t we see the BCS being used to determine the champion of the NFL, NBA, or Major League Baseball? And how is it that every other college sport has some version of a playoff to determine its champion?

This is a corrupt, money-driven system in a corrupt, money-driven world. Period. How else do you explain an automatic berth for Notre Dame whenever it finishes in the top eight?

Far be it from me to look a gift horse in the mouth, but let’s be honest here.

That said, I stopped concentrating on national championships when Notre Dame lost to Syracuse two years ago—that was rock bottom for me. I think I blacked out.

My new goal, as a fan, is for Notre Dame to beat all the service academies and Syracuse-like teams on its schedule. Do that, make a bowl, and I’m happy.

If the Irish should happen to make a BCS game, just make it competitive. That’s all I ask.

(G1): What sort of changes, if any should be made to the BCS system?

(TH): Though I’d love to see an eight-team playoff, I know that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

So, I’d like to see a plus-one format retrofitted onto the existing system. That’d be a good starting point, and might stop Orrin Hatch from launching anymore BCS hearings. Even C-SPAN was bored with those.

(G1): Are the polls a good idea in the first place? Should they play a role in determining a 'National Champion'?

(TH): Polls are a good idea in ice skating, where results can only be subjectively determined.

But, in football? I’ve always looked at them as a cheat sheet for people who can’t watch every single game, or the gasbags who drink a few beers and want to act like know-it-alls.

Should polls determine a champion? Of course not. But that’s what we’re sort of stuck with, so live with it.

That said, I will say that they are a GREAT cheat sheet if you do find yourself, you know, not being able to watch EVERY SINGLE GAME—basically, if you’re a normal human being with a social life.

While there may be some biased voters out there, there are also a lot of unbiased, educated pollsters (like SI’s Stewart Mandel) who vote honestly and know what they’re talking about.

(G1): How much should non-BCS teams be included in the BCS and other high payout- bowls? How much do you watch these teams?

(TH): Admittedly, I don’t see a whole lot of them unless they’re playing against a team from a BCS conference. And that’s a shame, because teams like Utah and Boise State play an exciting brand of football.

The question, though, is whether that brand of football is equal to the likes of the power conferences. Start asking questions like that and it gets a bit murkier, which is why I’m especially interested in BYU’s season.

The Cougs play both Oklahoma and Florida State this year. If by some miracle they should beat both AND go unbeaten in the Mountain West, we could be looking at another cataclysmic situation that the BCS has yet to face: a non-BCS team sneaking its way into a BCS championship game.

It’s a long shot, but since inventing doomsday scenarios for the BCS has quickly become as American as apple pie and baseball, I figured I’d just throw it out there.

The extent to which non-BCS teams should be included is a tricky question. Obviously, you can’t include every Sun Belt team that goes 12-0 because the competition is considerably weaker.

But in the same breath, you can’t discount the fact that both Utah and Boise State have won BCS bowl games. The BCS’s answer has been to add an extra game and overcompensate by throwing the Mountain West a stray BCS berth every year.

It’s not a terrible idea and allows worthy programs to grow, but it’s still not 100-percent fair.

My point: If teams like Utah can never play for a real national championship, then why bother being in the bowl subdivision at all? Seriously.

Supporters of the current system would say that the Utes still get a payout for playing in a BCS game (or any bowl game for that matter). I’d thank those people for proving my point that this system is entirely money-driven.

Any competitive person would argue that a huge payout isn’t any consolation for the pride of winning a championship, or at least competing for one.

Unfortunately, this is one dilemma that would remain even with a playoff, so I don’t really know the answer here.

Should non-BCS teams be given a fair shake at the title? I think so. How? Um, do we have time for a round-robin, 119-game schedule? If not, then I honestly have no idea.

You can view the original interview here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/college-football/notre-dame-preview-interview-with-ty-hildenbrandt.html

SEC Preview from Gatorsfirst

Gators First — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:11:50 -0400

Written by Chris Canada, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

This is the second in the gatorsfirst.com series of season previews & interviews for the upcoming 2009 college football season from around the nation. Check back every day to see more previews from other blogs around the country, with a much more in-depth preview of other conferences and teams than we could ever provide.

Today’s SEC preview is with Florida Gator fan Chris Canada. Chris held an interview yesterday.

Conference Championship Florida over Ole Miss

Projected Conference Finish

East

Florida 12-0 (8-0)

Georgia 10-2 (7-1)

Tennessee 8-4 (4-4)

Kentucky 6-6 (2-6)

South Carolina 5-7 (2-6)

Vanderbilt 3-9 (0-8)

West

Ole Miss 11-1 (7-1)

Alabama 10-2 (7-1)

LSU 9-3 (5-3)

Arkansas 7-5 (3-5)

Auburn 5-7 (2-6)

Mississippi State 4-8 (1-7)

I really don't see the Gators losing this season. Yes, that's probably some small percentage of homerism showing, but it's mostly based on what I've already seen of this team. As Einstein said ''The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.'' This team is poised to repeat, and I don't think complacency will be an issue as Urban Meyer, Tim Tebow, and Brandon Spikes won't allow it.

As for the rest of the Eastern division, Georgia is clearly the next best team, and should be very good. They will definitely be an extremely tough opponent for the Gators is Jacksonville, but I think the Gators will have just enough for the W.

I see Tennessee having a bounce-back season, even though they have a buffoon as a coach. They have a lot of talent coming in, as well as a bunch of good assistant coaches to keep Kiffin in line, including his dad. Kentucky should have an average season, but good enough for a bowl berth. I think South Carolina will fall off a bit, and Vanderbilt will be dreadful.

In the West, it's hard to deny the claim that Ole Miss is going to win the division. If you look at their schedule, they have both Alabama AND LSU at home, and they don't have to play Florida or Georgia from the East. Both Alabama and LSU will definitely challenge, but Jevan Snead, Dexter McCluster and Co. should lead Ole Miss to the championship game.

Top Five Freshmen/Newcomers

1. Andre Debose, WR, Florida

2. Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

3. Omar Hunter, DT, Florida

4. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

5. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

I think many people are excited to see if Andre Debose can fill the large shoes of Percy Harvin. Gator fans are just hoping that at the very least he can make a few game-changing plays.

Rueben Randle was a big-time receiving recruit, and should be a good replacement for Demetrius Byrd. As I've said in my D-Line preview, I'm really excited to see Omar Hunter's impact on the Gator defensive front. Also, Alabama has a two newsters Trent Richardson and Dre Kirkpatrick that could make an immediate impact.

Top Five Breakout Players

1. Jordan Jefferson, QB, LSU

2. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas

3. Michael Smith, RB, Arkansas

4. Caleb King, RB, UGA

5. Emmanuel Moody, RB, UF

I expect Jordan Jefferson to make a name for himself this season. He played great in last year's bowl game and he has a cupboard full of speedy playmakers out their ready to make a difference. I think some people will underestimate LSU due to their rough showing last year, so look out for him.

Second year Arkansas Razorback coach Bobby Petrino is very happy he'll have the talents of former Michigan starter Ryan Mallett. Petrino has a good track record of building college quarterbacks, and Mallett should thrive. Luckily he'll have a beast at running back in Michael Smith. Smith surprised a lot of people last season by being able to get so much out of his small frame, including Florida, whom he ran wild on.

Caleb King has the difficult task of taking over for Knowshon Moreno. As with the 264 Georgia running backs before him, Bulldog fans will think he's the next coming of Hershel Walker. Fortunately for them, I think King will be a pretty good player.

I discussed the prospects for Gator running back Emmanuel Moody in my RB preview. If Demps and Rainey are lightening, Moody is most definitely thunder. This bruising tailback is coming of what some can perceive as a disappointing year after transferring from USC. However, when you look at it, it’s not really his fault that coaching staff was reluctant to put him in after Demps and Rainey started scorching everyone. He has a few bright spots, including great showings in the Tennessee and Georgia games, as well as topping 100 yards against the Citadel. He’s been the most impressive back this spring and I expect him to be a force in our backfield for the next two years.

Player of the Year Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

Offensive POTY Jevan Snead, QB, Ole Miss

Defensive POTY Eric Berry, S, UT

Overrated POTY Terrance Cody, DT, Alabama

Underrated POTY Michael Smith, RB, Arkansas

Tim Tebow is the best player in the SEC, if not the nation. Pure and simple. I think we all know that. However, former Florida recruit and Texas transfer Jevan Snead is not too shabby. He led a high powered offense last year that had it's way with Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl.

Although I'm obviously a big fan of Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes, I think the best defensive player in the SEC, and probably all of college football for that matter, is Tennessee safety Eric Berry. He's strong, fast, and has a knack for the big play. He has 12 career interceptions, and he's really close to setting the NCAA record for interception return yards, and he's only been playing for two years.

I think the most overrated player in the SEC is Alabama defensive tackle Terrance Cody. Yes, he's big and is able to move people around. But from the small sample of videos I've watched on him, I don't see him changing the game as much as every one claims that he does. As for the most underrated player, I'll bring up Arkansas's Michael Smith. You'll probably see him rush for well over 1000 yards this season.

SEC Bowl Projections

BCS Championship Game: Florida v. Texas

Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss v. TCU

Cotton Bowl: Alabama v. Oklahoma State

Capitol One: Georgia v. Illinois

Outback Bowl: LSU v. Penn State

Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Tennessee v. Georgia Tech

Liberty Bowl: Arkansas v. Memphis

Music City Bowl: Kentucky v. Bowling Green

You can find the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/sec-preview-from-gatorsfirst.html

Top Ten Florida Gators Football Games I've Attended

Gators First — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:48:26 -0400

Written by James Brown, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

To get in the mood for the upcoming season, I started thinking about all the great times I've had going to games.

I decided to rank the top ten Florida Gators football games I've attended.

For these rankings, I considered the build-up to the game, the atmosphere at the game, and the outcome of the game itself. Restricting the set of games to choose from was tough, as I've been to plenty of games, but for whatever reason some of them stick in my mind over others.

Here are those games, I hope the list provides a fair enough sampling of my experiences that they help you remember your good memories of college football. Here's to a great season, now only about a month away!

1. BCS Championship: (2) Florida vs. (1) Ohio State; Jan 2007

Of course the only National Championship Game I’ve ever attended had to be the top pick on this list. The magnitude of the game alone means it would be on the list, but the actual game was devastatingly awesome for a Florida fan (not so much a good game for anyone else to watch).

We are all familiar with the storylines, but I’ll reiterate from personal experience. We were dismissed as having a shot or even deserving to be in the game by the Buckeye fans (and Wolverine fans... and everyone else). I have been to plenty of road and neutral SEC games, and there is always hatred—always someone wanting to get into it with you.

Those OSU folks just did their anti-Michigan cheers and didn’t even really pay attention to us. Our table of fans would be the only Gators in a restaurant, but we didn’t get much hostility.

I don’t think the world ignores us any more, however.

I tried to tell all the opposing fans we were going to win, and all they did was debate how they should be playing Michigan again. I think that ‘rivalry’ is more of a symbiotic relationship. In the SEC, we don’t have ‘rivalry week’. We have ‘Saturday’.

2. (10) Florida vs. (1) Florida State; Nov 1997

FSU was No. 1 and undefeated coming into Gainesville. This was a fantastic game no matter what your allegiance (FSU fans might not remember it fondly, but a neutral party would agree with me).

The late Fred Taylor run; the deep pass from Doug Johnson to Jacquez Green; the way Spurrier rotated QBs on each play: there are many legendary things about this game. I’ll give you a couple from my vantage point in the stands.

The opening kickoff came to our corner (the NE corner of the stadium). The FSU guy received, and got hit so hard it looked like his head exploded. My dad said ‘There goes the pregame meal”. There were chunks of vomit on the field throughout the game.

Secondly, after the famous Johnson-to-Quezzie connection, some guy actually jumped down from the upper ledge (those walls with ‘Home of the... Florida Gators’ painted on them) and landed right next to me during the celebration.

Lastly, this game was among the- if not the- loudest of all time. Go to any forum and they’ll have the argument, but it’s definitely the loudest I’ve heard.

3. Florida at (6) LSU; Oct 2003

My roommate at the time had played high school football with an LSU player. We made several away game trips together, and we just through Baton Rouge would be a good time, and we'd get steamrolled while LSU would go on to play for championships.

We were half right, as LSU went on to split a title with USC. (Memo to USC fans: this means you've only won ONE BCS Championship. Florida, LSU > USC!)

The Florida defense came through big time, as the only score by LSU was on special teams. The 19-7 victory was more the Gators way than the score indicated. The fact that LSU's only score was a punt return TD, on the first punt of the game, actually made me a little more confident when the opening kick in the BCS Championship game went for a TD.

4. World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party: (22) Florida vs. (5) Georgia; Nov 2002

This win was extremely satisfying on multiple levels. First, because it was against our biggest rival. Second, because it was Georgia's only loss of the season. Third, did I mention it was against Georgia?

But here is the greatest reason it was so satisfying: the Georgia fans were rabid on Friday night, thinking that Spurrier was gone and they would gain control of this series.

Big Al and the Kaholics did their cover band thing at the Jacksonville Landing, all the while getting Bulldog (I refuse to use their intentional misspelling. Unless it is on a t-shirt like 'Dawgs Lick Balls') fans to do their barking cheers. At one point the MC for the evening said 'Because we all know who is going to win tomorrow!' and the overwhelmingly pro-Georgia crowd went crazy.

The game was also very close throughout, so neutral parties would agree that this was a fantastic game to attend, for reasons besides my hatred of the heathens from Athens.

5. (23) Florida vs. Auburn; Oct 2002

An overtime win against a long-time (now forgotten) rival must be in the top five. Especially when Damon Duval was such a good kicker, and was lining up for a gimme FG to win the game. When Bobby McCray blocked that kick, the student section went absolutely bonkers.

I weighed probably 175 lbs and was wearing flip flops, but somehow my jumping up and down broke the bleacher I was standing on. Or maybe it was the 20,000 other students doing the same thing.

The Rex Grossman TD pass to go ahead and the Clint Mitchell sack to seal the win in OT were also memorable moments.

6. (2) Florida v. (4) Tennessee; Sept 1997

Ah, Peyton Manning’s senior year. I remember it so wistfully. I wish I had season tickets in 95 so I could link to the Joey Kent hit, but this one was almost as sweet. If Doug Johnson stays away from the nightlife in Louisiana and at the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, we could have made a good run, thanks to this game, and No. 2 on this list.

7. (6) Florida v. (16) Alabama; Sept 1991

Just a memorable game as it was the conference opener, and Alabama was very much on top of the college football universe, while Florida was an afterthought. Also, it was a night game in the Swamp, and felt huge because it was on national TV. It’s also the only time I’ve seen ‘Bama.

The fact that it was a shutout makes it a memorable game for me (I appreciate such things), but then ‘competitive’ hasn’t been a requirement to get on this list before now, so why start?

8. (1) Florida va. (16) Auburn; Oct 1996

Auburn QB Dameyune Craig had a lot to say about Florida, and considering the Plainsmen had prevailed in the last meeting in the Swamp, he may have been justified. Florida throttled Terry Bowden’s boys, winning 51-10. Here is the writeup from the LA Times.

In Craig’s defense, his comments that the Florida defense had not been tested were probably true—we had only thumped Peyton Manning’s Vols prior to this game. Like many of these others, the build-up to the game made it a better game than the actual score.

The beating, after all the talk, was certainly satisfying. I did not know at the time what a routine thing this would become for Florida Gators fans (Ohio State fans: that means you and the jibber-jabber circa December 2006).

9. (19) Florida vs. (21) Florida State; Nov 2005

Looking back, this game means more now than it did at the time. The 34-7 victory marked the beginning of Urban Meyer's dominance over the 'School Out West'. My only regret about the game was that it wasn't a shutout.

On a personal note, it was my last home game as a student, and a blowout victory over a hated rival is always memorable, and has to make a top ten list. It didn't hurt that I made the ride to the stadium in the bed of an El Camino with Gators First co-founder Jesse Colston, a boombox, and a cooler.

10. (15) Florida vs. Vanderbilt; Nov 2005

I know, how could any game involving Vanderbilt make a top ten? I had to put it in because it went to OT. I don’t have to rank it any higher than ten. I just remember thinking that, as a graduating student, I would forever be associated with that year we lost to Vandy. We didn’t.

11. Citrus Bowl: (6) Florida vs. (11) Penn State; Jan 1998

If the Big Ten gets to count Penn State, and still be the Big Ten, then the same goes for my Top Ten. A bowl game victory against JoePa surely has to make the list, especially when it means I saw Spurrier make sure Fred Taylor was a first-round pick (43 carries for 243 yards).

We also had a rowdy guy in our section who cheered wildly for Jesse Palmer’s only completion. Memorable times all around. By the way, I’d like to close with this link about the Citrus Bowl game mentioned here. Blogs have come so far, it’s like staring at a cave painting.

You can view the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/top-ten-florida-gators-football-games-ive-attended.html

Interview with Chris Canada from Gatorsfirst

Gators First — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:34:51 -0400

Written by Chris Canada, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

This is the first in the gatorsfirst.com series of season previews & interviews for the upcoming 2009 college football season from around the nation. Check back every day to see more previews from other blogs around the country, with a much more in-depth preview of other conferences and teams than we could ever provide.

Today’s interview is with Florida Gator fan Chris Canada. Chris is one of the co-founders of Gatorsfirst.com. He is a University of Florida alum and is now working as and industrial engineer in Texas, not to far from fellow co-founder James Brown. You can view all of his positional previews here: QBs, RBs, WRs/TEs, OLs, DLs, LBs, DBs, and Special Teams.

Gatorsfirst (G1): How did you become a fan of your team?

Chris Canada (CC): Being raised in South Florida during the 80’s and 90’s, you could imagine that I was a diehard Miami fan growing up. I mentioned this in my preview of the FSU game last year.

I hated the Gators for numerous reasons, but most of all was because of the ridicule my Gator friends gave me during Miami’s tough spell following their NCAA sanctions, which happened to coincide with Florida’s first national championship game, and win the following season.

However, all things changed when I was choosing colleges while in high school. Once I stepped onto the Gainesville campus for my first visit, I knew the University of Florida was right for me. The day I officially became a Gator was sometime in mid-December of 2001, when I found out that I had been accepted.

Over the next few years, I had to endure the Ron Zook era. When I entered college, I was still a big Miami fan, as all of my favorite players were there, and a lot of hated Gators were still in Gainesville.

However, as my time in Gainesville lengthened, the older players from Miami left for the NFL, and the newer players from Florida became something that I could call my own, as I had been in Gainesville from their start.

Players like Dallas Baker, Chris Leak, Reggie Nelson and Ciatrick Fason quickly became my favorites. My allegiances were become stronger with each new recruiting class.

By the time the Zook experiment was over, and Urban Meyer arrived in Gainesville, almost every player on the team had started their collegiate career during my stay. Even though I still feel favorably about the Canes, and root for them on occasion (especially against FSU), I know that the Gators are my team. And that’s how I became a fan of the Mighty Gators!

G1: Describe the Gameday Atmosphere.

CC: Gameday in Gainesville is a thing of beauty. Cars, trucks, vans, buses, RVs, and even motorcycles line the streets, clad in their Gator paraphernalia as far as the eye can see. Campus loses all sense of standard rules you would expect from an institution of higher learning.

Every square inch of grass space throughout campus is completely covered with vehicles. People set up their tents, with equipment ranging from grills to televisions, in search of that great gameday experience. Beers flow like the salmon of Capistrano.

For the past few years, I’ve woken up to multiple texts from the Gatorsfirst gang that simply say “Gameday”. And I reply in form. It puts a smile on my face.

While in undergrad, I took the lead with setting up campus tailgates for my fraternity. These obligations included picking up a keg, ice, cups, and gameday food that is essential for a good tailgate. All the while, making sure that I get to the designated spot on campus no later than 7:30am.

Why would I subject myself to waking up so early for a Gator tailgate, even though I may even have a hangover from the night before? Because it’s gameday, and that’s what you do!

While the tailgating experience is great, the in-stadium experience is that much better. During pregame, the crowd is electric. You’ll have the traditional cheer led by Mr. Two-Bits, the “Orange and Blue” cheer where the student section yells “Orange” while the the Alumni section retorts “Bluuuuue” over and over again, as well as the intro for the Gator football team as the Jaws music plays and the announcer proclaims “The Swamp, Only Gators GET OUT ALIVE!!!!!”. It gives you chills.

All throughout the game, the band is riling up the crowd with their various fight songs. You can expect to start chomping at the beginning of every kickoff, chomping for the Gatorbait cheer, or simply sing along to the fight song after a score (“Cheer for the Orange and Blue, Waving forever…).

The chomping is quite a sight to see. Imagine 90,000 fans chomping their arms in unison. You can’t really understand why EA Sports has designated the Swamp as the toughest place to play in the country until you’ve stepped foot within Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. It is a spectacle to behold.

After a Florida win, you can most likely find me and 50,000 other students at the various bars that line University Avenue. My favorites include the Grog House, the Swamp Restaurant, Gator City, and the Salty Dog Saloon. It’s Great to Be a Florida Gator!

G1: Give me some thought on your coaching staff. Are you satisfied? Do you wish your team ran different schemes? How is recruiting?

CC: It’s hard to be upset with a coaching staff that has won two national championships in the four years that they have been here. Coach Urban Meyer is the savior of a program, bringing things that had lacked during the Ron Zook years.

I’m obviously satisfied with the spread offense, as it’s fun to watch, and with the right personnel, you can see how effective it can be. And Urban is a very smart man. He knows that the fastest kids in the country are in the south and speed is what makes the spread system work. It’ll be interesting to see Scot Loeffler’s new I-Formation sets, as many of these kids haven’t played out of those types of sets since high school.

As for the defense, Charlie Strong has now been in Gainesville for nine years, and his schemes and techniques have been the real core of the Gators championship success. We all know how dominant they were against Ohio State in the 2007 BCS Championship Game, and also how they stopped the highest scoring offense of all time last season in the 2009 BCS Championship Game.

This current staff has done a great job recruiting over the past five years. Coach Urban Meyer and his staff have consistently brought in superior talent, often times bringing in top-5 classes. With the future departure of many players to the NFL following this season, expect the Gators to bring in one of the best recruiting classes of all time!

G1: Who is a player we might not know from your team that you are excited about this season? Why?

CC: As I mentioned in my defensive line preview, I’m really looking forward to seeing Omar Hunter in action. He was a high touted 5-star recruit, and from multiple sources, I’ve heard that he had a tremendous spring. An injury slowed him down and allowed him to redshirt last year, which is great for Gator fans, because he’ll be around a little longer.

G1: Make one point about your school, and another point about your conference, you think is overlooked on the national level.

CC: It’s hard for me to claim that UF or the SEC has been overlooked in any way recently. Florida has been on this magical championships run, has the most well-known quarterback, and the swamp has been the No. 1 toughest place to play on EA NCAA Football for god knows how long.

I guess the thing I would say that is overlooked about the University of Florida is it’s academics. It is still perceived by many as this southern party school filled with a bunch of little dumb coeds. Now, with a student body of over 50,000, I can’t deny that there are definitely some of those...

However, Bernie Machen has done a good job of turning the school into a premier academic institution, easily the best in Florida (specifically engineering, I’m biased though). The latest US News & World Report rankings have us as the 17th best public school in the nation, and second in the south behind North Carolina.

As for the SEC, I would say it still has to be the fact that people outside the south don’t understand how much college football means to those rooting for their SEC schools. I lived in California for a little while in 2007, and it was embarrassing how little they cared about their team. I wrote about it here.

G1: What do you think about conference title games? Was it a good idea to add to 12? Would you change something about the conference?

I think the conference title games are a great idea. Some people claim it isn’t fair that a great team has to prove themselves one more time after sweeping through a conference. However, I think that if a team wants to claim to be the best team in the nation, they shouldn’t be afraid to prove themselves on a big stage.

Adding the number of teams to 12 in 1992 was a very shrewd move. I’ve talked about further realignment for all of college football where there would be multiple 12 team conferences, all with their own championship game. James has also discussed realignment.

I think the layout of the SEC is perfect. I enjoy how you have one inter-divisional “rival” that allow for longstanding rivalries to stay intact. Yes the Florida-Auburn rivalry is bigger than the Florida-LSU one, but the Georgia-Auburn rivalry is like the longest standing rivalry in college football isn’t it? So I think they got it right. I would put Clemson and Georgia Tech in and a take Arkansas and Vanderbilt out, but that’s just splitting hairs...

G1: How much did you like the bowl system pre-BCS? As a fan, how much do you concentrate on 'National Championships'? Has this changed in the last decade or so?

CC: The bowl system, in general, is just an archaic method of allowing mediocre teams to showcase their top players to the NFL and make a ton of money for their schools and conferences. While that’s good an all, it doesn’t solve the problem about getting a true national champion.

The reason “March Madness” is so fun is because of the drama and anticipation of whittling down the group of playoff teams into your best set of teams. It makes for great excitement and great games at the end.

G1: What sort of changes, if any should be made to the BCS system? Does this opinion put you in-line or out-of-line with other fans of your team and conference?

CC: The BCS math is a good tool, but I think it would be better suited if it was used on a wider array of playoff teams. For example, maybe the top 8 or 16 playoff teams are determined by the BCS standings, instead of just the top two.

I know a lot of people get uncomfortable allowing numbers to determine who the “best team” is. However, I think it’s actually done a good job of sifting through the pile to find the top talent.

You can find the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/interview-with-chris-canada-from-gatorsfirst.html

2009 Florida Gators Football Positional Previews: Special Teams

Gators First — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:23:03 -0400

Written by Chris Canada, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

With all of the players from last year's team coming back to defend their title, introductions are probably not needed. However, the Gatorsfirst.com team will give you the positional breakdowns you deserve to be fully ready for the 2009 season.

Urban Meyer has emphasized an importance in the special teams game ever since he got here. Last season alone, the Gators ranked 9th nationally in punt return yardage, with two punt return touchdowns, ranked 8th in the country in net punt yardage, and blocked a total of nine kicks. This year appears to be headed in the right track as all the big players are back, as well as some new blood. Here’s the special teams preview...

Punters

Florida returns one of the best punters in the nation in Chas Henry (Jr., No.17, P, 6'3'', 222lbs). Last season, he averaged 43.4 net yards per punt, which ranked him third in the SEC. He put 21 punts inside the 20-yardline, which is a huge benefit to the field position game.

Henry continually boom punts, and he had a season long of 67 yards against FSU. He was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy award given to the nation’s premier punter. I expect him to be in the running for that award this year.

In addition to booming punts, he will be our emergency quarterback if needed, as he started for his high school team. The trick plays are always a threat because of his strong arm.

Backing him up will be redshirt freshman walk-on David Lerner. Although we only have two punters, Lerner will not see any action with a star in front of him.

Kickers

Jonathan Phillips (RSr., No.38, K, 5'10'', 218lbs) returns for what seems like his 17th season in Gainesville, as he was able to get a medical redshirt for his missed 2007 campaign. Phillips was very steady last season, hitting 12 of 13 field goals, and making 78 of 79 extra points, which set an SEC record. We all know the one he missed...

Because of his accuracy, he was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza award, given to the nation’s best kicker. And although he’s accurate, he doesn’t have a very strong leg, so you’ll rarely see him attempt from lengths greater than 45 yards.

Caleb Sturgis (So., No.19, S, 5'10'', 190lbs) will be taking care of the kickoffs this season. He has an incredibly strong leg, as showcased at the Orange & Blue game. Unfortunately, he tends to pull a lot of kickoffs out of bounds (eight last year to be exact).

This frustrated me constantly, because they always seem to happen after big scores. The coaching staff wasn’t too pleased either, often pulling him for the next kickoff. He has a lot of talent, and we’ll probably see him attempt some long field goal tries throughout the season.

Punt/Kickoff Returners

I’ve mentioned Brandon James (Sr., No.25, PR/KR, 5'7'', 185lbs) before in my WR preview. However his true threat to defenses is returning kicks. His ’08 campaign was something special. He was named an All-American by FWAA, Sporting News, and Phil Steele. He was also named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year.

He finished third in the country in punt return yards, averaging 29.7 yards per game, returning two back for touchdowns, including the breathtaking one against Tennessee, which I wrote about here. His ability to move the ball down the field creates an extremely important field position advantage.

James returns kickoffs as well. However, he’ll be sharing the field with a new returner now that Kestahn Moore has graduated. I expect some other burners to take his place. Jeff Demps returned a kick 39 yards last year in his lone opportunity. The boy’s got speed. I think he’d make a great option to fill that roll.

Another person that I can see fielding kickoffs is true freshman Andre Debose. He has a knack for making big plays, and when he’s alone in space, watch out!

Punt/Kickoff Coverage

The Gators have a fine punt coverage game. Because Chas Henry is able to get a lot of air time under his kicks, the speedy defenders have plenty of time to get down field and make the tackle, as evidenced by they’re low 5.6 yard per return average.

The area that concerns me is kickoff coverage. During both of the last two seasons, the Gator kickoff team has allowed over 20 yards per return. This is crucial because over time those extra yards of field position add up. Hopefully Coach Meyer will do something to shore this up.

Punt/FG Blocking

The most under-appreciated part of this special teams unit is the ability to block kicks. Last season alone, the Gators blocked nine kicks. Carlos Dunlap had three of those blocks, on both punts and field goals. Jeff Demps had two punt blocks as well.

The ability to not only stop an offense, but to also create the equivalent of a turnover by blocking a kick alters the field position game drastically. With all of the speed and size coming back, I expect the trend of blocking kicks to continue.

You can find the other position previews here: QBs, RBs, WRs/TEs, OLs, DLs, LBs, and DBs.

Read the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/2009-florida-gators-football-positional-previews-special-teams.html

2009 Florida Gators Football Positional Previews: DBs

Gators First — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:23:55 -0400

Written by Chris Canada, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

Remember the 2007 season when we basically only had Tony Joiner at safety flanked by a bunch of freshmen and sophomores? Opposing quarterbacks salivated at the thought of playing against the young and inexperienced secondary.

Fortunately, that young nucleus grew up real quick. They put it all together last season and became a dominant force, making game-changing interceptions and helmet-rattling hits. Here is the DB preview...

Cornerbacks

Returning Starters

Joe Haden (Jr., No.5, CB, 5'11'', 190lbs) was the first true freshman to ever start opening day at the cornerback position in Florida Gator history. It was a rough start as he continually got beaten by speedy receivers and bit on simple routes. But by the end of the season, he was a tackling machine.

In 2008, Haden came into his own, recording 87 tackles, .5 sacks, three interceptions, 12 passes defended, and a forced fumble. He became a shut down corner and never seemed to miss a tackle. His NFL stock is rising fast, so another good season will probably mark the end of his days in Gainesville.

Janoris Jenkins (So., No.1, CB, 5'11'', 188lbs) followed in Haden’s footsteps last year by starting as a true freshman on opening day. He made the most of his time by also turning into a shut down corner, often times taking the responsibility of the opponent’s best receiver.

Jenkins recorded 39 tackles, one sack, three interceptions, 11 passes defended, and one forced fumble. Aside from the tackle numbers, he had incredibly similar numbers to Haden.

He switched to No. 1 this offseason, just in case you're looking for him. He'll join former star No. 1s Jack Jackson, Tony George, Keiwan Ratliff, Reggie Nelson, and Percy Harvin. Make the number proud JJ!

Backups

Haden and Jenkins were lucky to have a good set of backups. When he’s not training by chasing goats Wondy Pierre-Louis (Sr., No.4, CB, 6'1'', 185lbs) will be backing up Jenkins. Wondy has been a critical role-player for his entire stay at Florida. He lost his starting role to Jenkins last season, but he will still be an integral part to the secondary.

He’ll be used a lot in nickel and dime packages, when the opposing team is looking to air it out. Last season, he had 19 tackles, one interception, and two passes defended.

Markihe Anderson (Sr., No.14, CB, 5'9'', 182lbs) is entering his senior season and will be Joe Haden’s primary backup. Last season, Anderson made 21 tackles and had three passes defended. The pressing concern with him is his durability. He’s been injured in both of the last two seasons, so we’ll have to watch to see if he can stay healthy.

Other CBs

Redshirt freshman Jeremy Brown has been making waves this offseason. Coming into last season, he was neck and neck with Jenkins for that starting spot, but back problems ended his season before it started. He’ll see a good deal of playing time, which is good because there will be a mass departure following this season.

Moses Jenkins will see some playing time, but not much. Hopefully we’ll get to see what we have in redshirt freshman Adrian Bushell, as he's in our future plans. Corey Henderson, Steven Bennett, Reginald Hopkins, Ean McQuay, and Miguel Carodine will probably not see any action, except as scout team members.

Safeties

Returning Starters

Major Wright (Jr., No.21, S, 6'0'', 204lbs) had another stellar season last year at free safety collecting 66 tackles, six passes defended, and four interceptions, taking one of those to the house. The thing that Wright is known for is his vicious hits. Here is a little taste.

I think we all remember his hit in the national championship game last year. Those hits set the tone of the game, and get the receivers reassessing their routes. He’s been doing this since his freshman year.

The diminutive Ahmed Black (Jr., No.35, S, 5'9'', 185lbs) is an inspiration to vertically challenged people like myself. He continues to make big plays time and again. Last season at strong safety, he recorded 59 tackles and five passes defended.

But the most important part of his game was his seven interceptions, which ranked second in the SEC, and seventh nationally. Two of those interceptions he took back for touchdowns. He makes big hits and is always in the right place.

Backups

It’s always a good thing when you have someone talented enough to possibly supplant a star, and this is the case with both safety backups. Will Hill (So., No.10, S, 6'1'', 202lbs) will be challenging Major Wright for playing time this season.

He had an incredible freshman season last year, gathering 48 tackles, two interceptions, and a pass defended. As with Wright, he makes huge hits and has a knack for the ball.

Dorian Munroe (RSr., No.20, S, 5'11'', 205lbs) was slated to start at strong season before tearing his ACL last summer, allowing Black to assume the role. All reports claim that he has excelled during spring practices, so Black needs to watch his back.

Other Safeties

Cody Worton also tore his ACL during the 2008 season and missed the last 12 games. He’ll be used sparingly though (like fats & oils). True freshmen Dee Finley and Josh Evans will need to learn quickly, as they may have to assume the starting role next season. Finley was the 5th rated safety prospect, so I expect big things in the future.

I've already discussed the QBs, RBs, WRs/TEs, OLs, DLs, and LBs. Look for the Special Teams preview tomorrow!

You can view the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/2009-florida-gators-football-positional-previews-dbs.html

2009 Florida Gators Football Positional Previews: LBs

Gators First — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:55:06 -0400

Written by Chris Canada, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

We now cover the linebacking corps, which like the rest of the defense, returns every starter and backup from last year’s national championship team. This is the best set of linebackers I’ve seen at the University of Florida.

They are the No. 1 squad in the nation, and second isn’t even close. They bring back multiple future NFL stars and have the most depth in the country. They’re experienced and hungry to win another title...

Returning Starters

The captain of the defense Brandon Spikes (Sr., No.51, LB, 6'3'', 258lbs) is the heart and soul of this defense, replacing Tony Joiner before him. He’s every bit Tim Tebow on defense, as he commands respect and expects greatness on the field.

I’ve had my radar on him since his freshman season, when he played in eight games, including the national championship game. He made some bone-crushing tackles, and I knew we’d have another great Brandon at middle linebacker after Siler left (this happened shortly thereafter).

Last year, he didn’t put up the gaudy tackle stats from the year before (93 vs 131). But he did have an excellent season with eight tackles for loss, two sacks, and four interceptions resulting in two touchdowns.

Spikes turned down a sure 1st round NFL draft selection to come back to Florida. Now both James and I have said that if a player has a shot at guaranteed money in the pros, go a take it; ask Brett Nelson. However, we will gladly take him back, as we took back the famed “oh-fours.”

Spikes is a special linebacker that has the natural ability to sniff out offensive plays and make an immediate impact. He’s similar to Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher, as he seems to make all the big plays, and he’s a vocal leader. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he has in store for this upcoming year!

This linebacking group isn’t just made up of one guy. There are two other starters that make this unit special. A.J. Jones (RJr., No.16, LB, 6'1'', 226lbs) will be starting at strongside linebacker. Last season he had 35 tackles, and a fumble recovery. He’s extremely quick, and will be primarily be used as a pass rusher.

On the weakside, Ryan Stamper (RSr., No.41, LB, 6'2'', 235lbs) took over last season and ended up starting 11 games. He recorded 45 tackles and one sack. He controls the middle when Spikes is out of the game, and you rarely see him miss a tackle.

Backups

Stamper better watch his back, because Dustin Doe (Sr., No.32, LB, 6'0'', 231lbs) has been shining during spring practices. He’ll see plenty of action, as he used to be the starter before Stamper took over. He had 30 tackles and one interception last year.

It’s quite possible that the next great Brandon may be Brandon Hicks (Jr., No.40, LB, 6'2'', 221lbs). Hicks started six games last season recording 34 tackles and two sacks. He’ll be in the main rotation, backing up both the strong and weak sides. He’s coming back from shoulder surgery, so we’ll have to watch his progress.

The last man of the main rotation is Lorenzo Edwards (Jr., No.26, LB, 6'1'', 236lbs). He came to Gainesville as a safety prospect, but was converted to linebacker.

Using those skills, he is very good against the pass and has been known to lay a few people out from time to time. He recorded 27 tackle last season, and will be the main reserve for A.J. Jones.

Other LBs

With three seniors in the main rotation, and two possible early departures (Jones & Hicks), the young guys better get some work in to hone their skills and be ready for the 2010 season. Luckily, the Gators don’t lack talent in the wings.

This offseason produced two big-time recruits in Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins. Bostic is expected to compete for the middle linebacker role in the future, while Jenkins was the highest rated outside linebacking prospect. Jelani means “Mighty” in Swahili, and the Gators hope he’s very mighty for years to come.

Alongside the newest guys, sophomore Lerentee McCray is coming back after a solid freshman season where he played in eight games. Redshirt freshman Brendon Beal is coming back from a torn ACL last spring and looks to get his college career started.

Former walk-ons Chris Pintado, Scott Peek, and Michael Ross don’t expect to see much, if any, playing time.

I've already discussed the QBs, RBs, WRs/TEs, OLs, and DLs. Look for the Secondary preview tomorrow!

You can view the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/2009-florida-gators-football-positional-previews-lbs.html

2009 Florida Gators Football Positional Previews: DLs

Gators First — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:24:49 -0400

Written by Chris Canada, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

The entire defensive line that terrorized the SEC last season, and kept Sam Bradford on his back in the national championship game this past January is back for another season.

Here is a detailed preview of this year’s squad.

Returning Starters

Jermaine Cunningham (Sr., No.49, DE, 6'2'', 252lbs) returns for his senior season to anchor the defensive line. He had a great season last year, totaling 52 tackles and six sacks. Not only that, he forced three fumbles and deflected four passes. He does everything.

Cunningham is going to be a stud in the NFL. Gator fans need to appreciate what they’ve got as his days in Gainesville are fading fast.

Carlos Dunlap (Jr., No.8, DE, 6'6'', 290lbs) also returns to secure the other defensive end spot. He led the team in sacks last season with nine, good enough for second in the SEC.

After a slow start to last season, he heated up and straight dominated the last seven games. He ended up being named the defensive MVP of the national championship game with four tackles and 1.5 sacks. In fact, he wasn’t technically the starter, even though he got the majority of playing time.

Dunlap is tall and agile, and he gets to the quarterback with ease. Opposing QBs will have trouble sleeping the night before playing the Gators this season.

I was really surprised by the great play of our defensive tackles last season. Lawrence Marsh (RJr., No.90, DT, 6'4'', 304lbs) had 28 tackles and three sacks, while Terron Sanders (RJr., No.92, DT, 6'2'', 309lbs) had 21.

Although Sanders didn’t record any sacks, he was constantly causing havoc in the backfield, pressuring the quarterback into bad passes. He also had a fumble recovery against Georgia, which he returned for 20 yards.

Backups

Justin Trattou (Jr., No.94, DE, 6'3'', 264lbs) actually started 13 of the 14 games for the Gator defense in front of Carlos Dunlap at defensive end. Although Dunlap saw more time on the field, Trattou was crucial for the success of the line, garnering 27 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

I think Dunlap is going to see more starts, but wouldn’t be surprised if Trattou sees a bunch of starts.

Duke Lemmens (Jr., No.44, DE, 6'3'', 260lbs) and Jaye Howard (RJr., No.6, DT, 6'3'', 296lbs) will be relied on heavily to spell Jermaine Cunningham and Terron Sanders, respectively. Both got some playing time last season, notably Lemmens, who seemed to make some big tackles when we really needed them.

I’m really looking forward to seeing former 5-star prospect Omar Hunter (RFr., No.99, DT, 6'0'', 308lbs). He got to play in three games early in the season, but was granted a medical redshirt midway through the 2008 campaign.

As a big nasty in the middle of the defensive line, I expect him to spell Lawrence Marsh at nose tackle and gain the experience he’ll need as a mega-star in the future.

Other DLs

Brandon Antwine, William Green, Troy Epps, and Edwin Herbert will all get some playing time, but it will be limited, due to the depth in front of them. The cupboard is full on our D-Line with new freshmen stars Gary Brown and Kendric Johnson coming in, as well as sophomore Earl Okine.

However, they will probably be learning from the veterans from the sidelines all season. Lamar Abel and Glen Watson will probably not see the playing field.

I've already discussed the QBs, RBs, WRs/TEs, and OLs. Look for the Linebackers preview tomorrow!

You can view the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/2009-florida-gators-football-positional-previews-dls.html

2009 Florida Gators Football Positional Previews: OLs

Gators First — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:45:30 -0400

Written by Chris Canada, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

The offensive line took a had this offseason as three starters graduated. Phil Trautwein, Jim Tartt, and Jason Watkins will sorely be missed. However, with a string of injuries last season, a lot of quality young linemen got their chance to show off their skills. Here is a 2009 preview for the offensive line...

Returning Starters

The menacing twins Mike Pouncey (Jr., No.55, RG, 6'5'', 320lbs) and Maurkice Pouncey (Jr., No.56, LG, 6'5'', 318lbs) are back to protect Tim Tebow and create gaping lanes for our speedy RBs to run through. Both have started many games in their first two seasons. Mike will be at right guard and Maurkice will start at left guard.

Coming off All-SEC team selection last season, both will be watched closely by NFL scouts. If they both play up at the same they have for the past two years, I can very well see them leave for the NFL following this season.

Carl Johnson (RJr., No.57, LT, 6'5'', 342lbs) is a big boy. At 342 lbs, he is our biggest starter. He started eight games last year at left guard and was a beast. This season, he’ll be moving to left tackle to take over for Phil Trautwein.

New Starters

Marcus Gilbert (RJr., No.76, RT, 6'5'', 320lbs) started two games last season, replacing Jim Tartt who was injured. He’s played in 26 games in his career, so he has plenty of playing experience.

Another new starter is Sam Robey (RFr., No.50, C, 6'4'', 291lbs). Robey was slated to get a ton of playing time last year, but was derailed by a preseason injury. He dressed for the SEC and BCS championship games, but did not play. This season he should be starting at center, which will move Maurkice Pouncey over to left guard.

Backups

There are plenty of good young players eager to get some playing time. James Wilson (RSo., No.66, OL, 6'5'', 329lbs) got plenty of playing time last year, as did Maurice Hurt (RJr., No.74, OL, 6'2'', 305lbs). Both should be backing up the Pounceys at the guard positions, and will see a lot of playing time.

Corey Hobbs (RJr., No.79, OL, 6'3'', 300lbs) played in eight games last season, and will be vital in backing up Sam Robey at center. David Young (So., No.78, OL, 6'4'', 303lbs) will also be a back up for Marcus Gilbert at the right tackle position, but could see some time at center, as he's been used there during spring practice.

One of the most interesting stories this offseason was the move of Matt Patchan (So., No.71, OL, 6'6'', 260lbs) back to offensive line. He played in 11 games last season as a defensive tackle.

He was a highly touted offensive line prospect in high school, so moving back to his natural position will probably work out the best for the Gators. He’ll be backing up Carl Johnson at left tackle.

Other OLs

The Gators did a great deal of recruiting for the offensive line this past offseason. They ended up signing seven OL recruits: Xavier Nixon, Nick Alajajian, Jonotthan Harrison, Cole Gillam, Christopher Guido, Jon Halapio, and Kyle Koehne. Nixon, Alajajian, and Harrison are players to look at for the future and expect to get some playing time, but not much. The others are expected to redshirt.

Jim Barrie, Shawn Schmieder, Gary Beemer, William Steinmann, and Bryan Jones are on the team roster, but aren’t expected to see much playing time.

I've already discussed the QBs, RBs, and WRs/TEs. Lok for the Defensive Line preview tomorrow!

You can find the original article http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/2009-florida-gators-football-positional-previews-ols.html

2009 Florida Gators Football Positional Previews: WRs and TEs

Gators First — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:26:26 -0400

Written by Chris Canada, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

With the loss of starting receivers Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy to the NFL, the receiving corps will have some questions entering the 2009 season. Harvin is someone who can’t truly be replaced, due to his impact on the entire offense (receiving, rushing, and blocking). And Louis Murphy was an incredibly underrated player.

But Coach Meyer has been working all offseason to find what combination of players can to the best job to fill those roles. Here is our receivers preview for the upcoming season…

Wide Receivers

David Nelson (RSr., No. 83, WR, 6'5'', 212lbs)

David Nelson came on really strong toward the end of the season, finally living up to his large expectations. He caught big touchdowns in the SEC and BCS championship games. He creates a big size mismatch, as he’s 6’5”. Now, he’s not the fastest receiver we’ve got, but he runs good routes and should be relied on heavily this season.

Deonte Thompson (RSo., No. 6, WR, 6'0'', 201lbs)

Mr. Thompson showed some flashes of brilliance last season, including a 46 yard touchdown against South Carolina. I’ve really looking forward to seeing this kid get on the field for an extended period of time. He can straight up fly, and he should be a good down-the-field option of Tim Tebow. I also expect him to be a target for many screens.

Riley Cooper (Sr., No. 11, WR, 6'3'', 215lbs)

It’ll be interesting to see if Cooper sticks around for his senior season, or if he takes the opportunity to play professional baseball. Signs are pointing to him taking the pro route. I’ve never been a big fan of his play on the field. He’s not a great route runner, and he drops a lot of balls.

He’s does, however, block well down field, and he’s always giving tremendous effort, so you can’t fault him for that. He’s improved each of his three seasons, and his leadership will be welcomed back if he chooses to stay.

Carl Moore (Sr., No. 9, WR, 6'3'', 225lbs)

Moore’s 2008 season was a bit of a disappointment, as I was expecting big things out of a 5-star JUCO transfer. He consistently dropped balls and wasn’t the big star I expected. Coming into this year, he’ll be relied on heavily for crossing routes, and to be our big possession receiver.

Andre Debose (Fr., No. 4, WR, 5'11'', 175lbs)

This is the kid everyone’s been raving about. Coach Meyer has said on many occasions that he is similar to Percy Harvin and will be a star. I’ve only been able to watch one game of his, but he did not disappoint, scoring a highlight reel touchdown in the Under-Armour High School All-American game.

He’ll probably be used in a similar capacity to Harvin, running lots of screens, as well as coming into the backfield quite a bit. He needs to bulk up a bit, as hes not nearly as strong as Harvin was, but that comes with time with the Gators strength coaches.

Other WRs

I expect to see some usage of redshirt freshmen Frankie Hammond Jr. and Omarius Hines, as they are ready to show the Gator Nation what they can do. T.J. Lawrence is another redshirt freshman ready to play, but I don’t think he’ll see the light of day with all of the other talent at WR.

Redshirt sophomore Paul Wilson will see some playing time as well, after losing most of last season with a foot injury.

Tight Ends

Aaron Hernandez (Jr., No. 81, WR, 6'2'', 250lbs)

The most tattooed man in the history of Connecticut will be our most important receiver this season. He followed up a great freshman season with a spectacular sophomore campaign, scoring five TDs. I expect him to continue to make highlight reel catches and be that safety valve that Tebow needs. If he has another great season, I fully expect him to leave for the NFL.

Desmond Parks (Fr., No. 80, WR, 6'4'', 233lbs)

Parks will surely be involved in the offense as a true freshman, as the coaching staff has hinted at using more two-TE sets. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future at TE will look like after Hernandez leaves.

I've already discussed QBs and RBs. Look for the offensive line preview tomorrow.

You can find the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/2009-florida-gators-football-positional-previews-wrs-tes.html

2009 Florida Gators Football Positional Previews: RBs

Gators First — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:09:27 -0400

Written by Chris Canada, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

The long and dull offseason is finally coming to a close. Anticipation has never been higher in Gainesville, as last year's BCS champions are looking to do what no team in the BCS era has been able to accomplish: Win a second consecutive championship.

With all of the players from last year's team coming back to defend their title, introductions are probably not needed. However, the Gatorsfirst.com team will give you the positional breakdowns you deserve to be fully ready for the 2009 season.

One of the big question marks heading into last season was their lack of experience at running back. However, after leading the SEC in rushing last season, there is high anticipation for this upcoming season. We now look at the tailbacks and fullbacks for the 2009 season...

Jeff Demps (So., No. 2, RB/ATH, 5'8'', 183lbs) – Demps was a complete and pleasant surprise last season. No one expected this little guy to be able to handle the rigors that SEC defenses place on running backs. Everyone except the Florida coaching staff believed he was too small. Urban saw his breakaway speed, and boy is “breakaway” an understatement. Jeff Demps may be the fastest player I’ve ever seen play at Florida, and that’s saying a whole lot. Demps ended up rushing for over 600 yards and seven TDs. Along with Rainey and Moody, he’ll be able to stay fresh and not have to take more than 10-15 carries per game.

Chris Rainey (RSo., No. 3, RB, 5'9'', 175lbs) – Rainey had a bounce-back year last season as he was coming back from injuries sustained during his freshman year, which he ended up taking a redshirt. Chris averaged 7.8 yd/carry and scored four TDs. He’s just about as fast as Demps, so it’ll be fun to see those two burn. He’ll also stay fresh by taking only 10-15 carries per game.

Emmanuel Moody (RJr., No. 21, RB, 6'0'', 210lbs) – If Demps and Rainey are lightening, Moody is most definitely thunder. This bruising tailback is coming of what some can perceive as a disappointing year after transferring from USC. However, when you look at it, it’s not really his fault that coaching staff was reluctant to put him in after Demps and Rainey started scorching everyone. He has a few bright spots, including great showings in the Tennessee and Georgia games, as well as topping 100 yards against the Citadel. He’s been the most impressive back this spring and I expect him to be a force in our backfield for the next two years.

Brandon James (Sr., No. 25, RB/ATH, 5'7'', 185lbs) – Although he has made his name as a return specialist, Brandon James did get to see some action on the offensive side of the ball last season, both running and receiving. He’ll probably get a couple of those touches that Percy Harvin had last year, along with freshman receiver Andre Debose. Look for him to score at least one highlight film score from the tailback position this year

Other RBs – There has been a whole lot of buzz about walk-on Christopher Scott, who looks like he can steal a few carries here and there. True freshman Mike Gillislee has impressed coaches, but I expect him to redshirt and be part of the Gators’s long term plans. Vincent Brown and Marquis Hannah are also on the roster, but they will most likely not see the field.

Fullbacks – The spread offense doesn’t have much use for a typical fullback. Combine that with the fact that Tim Tebow plays both positions most of the time, and you can see why touches will be scarce, just ask Billy Latsko. However, when in the newly implemented I-Formation sets, expect to see Southern Illinois transfer Rick Burgess and redshirt freshman TJ Pridemore battling for playing time. Steven Wilks tore his ACL in the spring and will miss the season.

We discussed our QBs yesterday. Look for the Wide Receivers and Tight Ends preview on Monday!

You can find the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/2009-florida-gators-football-positional-previews-rbs.html

2009 College Fantasy Football Draft Guide

Gators First — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:25:29 -0400

Written by James Brown, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

I have long been a fantasy sports player, and been a college football fan for even longer. Last year, when one of my friends asked me to join his college fantasy football league (CBS was allowing you to draft players with actual name for the first time) it seemed like the perfect fit: college football and my appetite for fantasy sports.

I spent all of last season pouring over as much data as I could find, but college fantasy football isn’t covered in any of the usual prominent locations.

This draft guide marks the beginning of my efforts to bring more college fantasy football analysis to the forefront. I am not some other fantasy sports expert trying to extend my knowledge into college football—I’ve already been following the sport for a long time, and in an in-depth fashion.

I am not trying to be some overall fantasy sports guru, just give you exactly what you need for college fantasy football. I feel this sort of focus could help you more than some of the other places, where college fantasy football is an afterthought to the NFL version.

Why is College Fantasy Football Great?

College fantasy football is fantastic for many reasons. My favorite being, I can pay less and less attention to that other league on Sundays. As much as I love to gamble, I get more satisfaction out of winning at college fantasy football than straight up NCAA football betting.

However you look at it, college football is growing incredibly fast, and fantasy sports have gotten out of control—this is the next natural progression.

This blog is meant to be an initial guide, helping you through the draft process and making some general strategy points you can use throughout the season. In the coming weeks, I will be previewing each of the BCS conferences (and the independents), giving you some sleepers from each team and ranking the players in that conference.

Throughout the season I will update on who is flying under the radar, and help guide you to dominate your league.

As CBS is easily the largest sports website with a college fantasy football game, and I already am signed up for two of their leagues, I will be writing most of the analysis assuming you are playing by their rules.

CBS leagues play one QB, two RB, three WR, and a TE, K, and D/ST. Passing TDs are worth six points, as are all other TDs, and there are no points per reception (PPR). You get five bench spots. It is worth noting that if one of your players plays against a team outside of FBS (D-1A), then you only get 75 percent of that player’s points.

I am also going to concentrate on players from BCS leagues. CBS does allow you to restrict the player universe as you see fit, choosing from any of the D-1A leagues.

The wackiness of some of the non-BCS conferences causes some stats to go way up, and even thought fantasy sports and real sports have much different goals, I can’t endorse a system that values Colin Kaepernick over Tim Tebow. Finally, no matter how you customize your leagues, you’re probably using some subset of BCS leagues (or all BCS leagues) so I can help the most people this way.

Get Your Favorite Players

Let’s take a minute to talk general fantasy strategy. I am a big believer in a few concepts. The first is to get the players you want. Don’t go get Aaron Hernandez just because I like him—it’s you that has to cheer for him all season.

The projections may say Dez Bryant is a low first round pick, but if you’re drafting second, and you know he won’t be back when it’s your turn again, go get him. The projections are just that, projections, and if you’re going to get screwed halfway through the season, it might as well be with players you like. See, isn’t this better than football betting already?

Consistently Put up Big Numbers

The next general rule to follow, which is really more of a strategy, is to get consistent scoring. Many of you may have played NFL fantasy football before.

Well, there are two main reasons running backs are taken heavily in the first several rounds. The first is that they are usually a very consistent option. The same thing applies in baseball, where most strategies encourage you to build your team around the batters, as they give more consistent production year in and year out (and don’t carry the same season-ending injury risk of pitchers). In fantasy, you cannot play defense (putting in a Defense/Special Teams doesn’t count).

What you have to try to accomplish, each week, is to outscore your opponent (I know, I sound like a stupid commentator). Certain factors cannot be accounted ahead of time each week, you must try to put the highest number of points you can, and hopefully the luck evens out.

If you’re playing Florida the week Tim Tebow runs in five TDs vs. South Carolina, there’s not much you can do to prevent your opponent from scoring lots of points. But if you’re playing him when Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps slash the Razorback defense, you’ve lucked out the other way.

The best way to put yourself into a position to win a fantasy league is to prevent the low-scoring weeks, and to put up consistently above average scoring totals.

Pay Attention to Position Scarcity

Another key fantasy concept you’ll want to analyze for your league is position scarcity. There are a couple of factors to consider with college fantasy football position scarcity. The first one is easy: you want to know how many elite options, how many average options, and how many dreadful options there are at each position.

Do a complete ranking of each position in your league, or look at default rankings. Decide where the tiers are (Okay, there a five stellar QBs, and another six I could live with, but I have to make sure I get one or two of those second six if I miss out on the first five), and keep track of who is left in which tier during your draft.

The second factor to consider when thinking of position scarcity is the number of players you need to start each week. You may think that, because there are only 11 above average QBs in your 10-team league, the position is scarcer than RB, where there are 18-20 above average options.

I’d argue that RB is the more scarce position, as each team (in a CBS standard league) starts only one QB, but two RB. This is magnified in leagues with a flex position, as owners will typically start RBs in those slots.

Position scarcity, in the terms I’m discussing it, is also the main reason why you should always draft a kicker last. Kickers are wildly unpredictable, and at the end of the year, they end up with about the same amount of points.

Pulling up CBS’ projections, the top-projected kicker is projected to score 17 more points, total, than the 15th rated kicker (only half of your league should be nutty enough to grab a backup kicker, so I chose 15th). Those 17 points, when distributed over a 12 game schedule, don’t represent much of an improvement to your team.

You are better off using a draft selection on a breakout candidate (a sleeper or a freshman, or even a backup to a highly touted player), as keeping one of these guys tucked on your bench could pay huge dividends if he ends up a fantasy stud (earning you much more than that 17 point improvement grabbing the No. 1 kicker instead of the No. 15 kicker).

Apply the theory to only 10 kickers being drafted (one per team in a ten-team league, CBS’ maximum size allowed), and the difference is even smaller. Draft your kicker last. Drop him if he has a bad matchup, or a bye week. You’ll thank me in December.

Know the Goofy Rules Your Old High School Buddy Chose

The last general concept I’ll discuss, which seems obvious, but is often overlooked by lackadaisical fantasy players, is to know your league rules! This ties in a little with the position scarcity discussion, but it also ties in with scoring.

One important way it relates to CBS standard leagues is this: CBS has roster maximums per position, during the draft. You cannot draft more than three QBs, three RBs, four WRs, or two for each of TE/K/DST.

Don’t draft two kickers. That means, more than likely, you’re going to have to draft either a backup TE or DST. I never carry a backup of either, so this will crap my style a little bit. It is worth noting, however, that you are not limited by these same maximums after the draft, so more than likely I’ll immediately drop my second defense for another RB or WR.

Putting it Together: Draft Prep

So how can we apply these simple principles to our customized college fantasy football leagues? Most fantasy sites will rank a lot of QBs (a lot of these, it should be noted, require starting two QBs) at the head of the draft, and even CBS does.

But before you mindlessly draft that QB in the first round, like all of your league mates, pay attention to the principles I’ve just explained to you. Sure, QBs score the most points. But if you get the No. 8 and No. 12 best QBs, and platoon them, will you be that much worse off?

What would your team look like if you did the NFL fantasy thing, and went RB-RB with those first two picks? Or if you took a stud WR up there (remember, you have to start three)? I don’t know your exact league settings, but if you look at the player pool available in your league, you should be able to figure out the best course of action.

Last year, I ran through my league, even though I drafted toward the end of the first round. With my two closely spaced together picks, I snapped up what I had evaluated as the top two options at RB (Knowshon Moreno and Beanie Wells), setting my team up for consistent scoring and a significant advantage over my league mates.

I missed out on some above average QBs (I never had a shot at Tebow or Harrell drafting that low, anyways), but by the time the draft snaked back to me, everyone already had their QB, and was ignoring them in favor of their other holes.

This allowed me to take my pick of a number of breakout candidates, and I must say Colt McCoy ended up doing just that, and I didn’t grab him until the fourth round!

This isn’t because my league mates were complete idiots, or not familiar with the Big XII (I live in Texas). It’s because he was projected to be in that second tier of QBs, and while I was drafting QB in the fourth round, and had a pretty good selection of QBs still available (everyone else had their one starter), I didn’t need to worry about missing out on some good options.

Do Your Research All Season

The last point I want to make about college fantasy football, like any other fantasy sport, is you need to do your research. Though not many websites will provide lots of fantasy analysis on college football, there are many, many avenues to seek out information on who is playing well and who is not (of course, we offer both perspectives right here).

Watch a bunch of games, so you know which guys are getting extra touches (WR who run the ball a lot are prevalent in college football, and can boost that consistent scoring factor), and which guys are only getting their catches in mop-up duty (not consistent point scorers).

Pay attention to which guys are running the wildcat (the opportunity for extra statistics is nice, but be careful you don’t have your RB getting you negative points by throwing an interception). You need to know which defenses are good against the run or the pass, and play matchups accordingly.

Most college fantasy football leagues will have a massive player pool, so you can really sell out to matchups, and being an active owner can work to your advantage.

I’m not saying there is any one formula for winning your league, but the principles I’ve mentioned are adaptable to any league setting, and should put you in contention to win your league. Of course, you’ll also need to pick up some good walk-ons and make a few transfers along the way, but I’ll be right here for you all season long.

I’ve created a Gatorsfirst.com Fantasy Football Challenge. I am in the process of filling out the league, if you think you’ve got what it takes, post in the comments section, below, or click ‘contact us’. Just get ready to be embarrassed by my skills. Depending on the response, I may have to come up with a goofy contest to whittle down the entrants.

Check back often in the coming weeks, as I break down the fantasy prospects in each BCS league (and the independents, as many people add them to include Notre Dame). Indeed, I’ll keep you updated on the latest conference previews by linking them here.

ACC: 2009 Fantasy Football Preview

Big East: 2009 Fantasy Football Preview

Big Ten: 2009 Fantasy Football Preview

Big XII: 2009 Fantasy Football Preview

Independents: 2009 Fantasy Football Preview

Pac-10: 2009 Fantasy Football Preview

SEC: 2009 Fantasy Football Preview

You can find the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/college-football/2009-college-fantasy-football-draft-guide.html

2009 Florida Gators Football Positional Previews: QBs

Gators First — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:00:15 -0400

Written by Chris Canada, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

The first position we will dissect is none other than the leader of the offense: Quarterbacks. I could simply state the obvious. I mean, when I asked JB for his input he responded ''Here's my preview 'we're going to be f***ing spectacular at QB this season. That is all'''. However, I thought I'd give it the preview it deserves...

Tim Tebow (Sr., No. 15, QB, 6'3'', 245lbs) - All-world stud QB Tim Tebow is back for his final collegiate season. Mr. Tebow has accomplished pretty much everything you could imagine. During his freshman year, he was the bruising fullback mold that spelled Chris Leak on the way to the BCS championship.

During his first full year as a starter as a sophomore, he had what can be argued as the great single season ever by a quarterback, let alone a dual-threat quarterback, as he amassed 55 total TDs (32 by air, 23 by ground) while only throwing 6 INTs. The Heisman Trophy could not lock the doors on underclassmen any more as Timmy picked up the trophy, deservedly so. The Gators, however, struggled to a 9-4 record, including a Capitol One Bowl loss to Michigan.

Tebow refocused his efforts to lead the Gators to the BCS championship once again, totaling 42 TDs (30 by air, 12 by ground) while only throwing four INTs. His post-loss speech following the Ole Miss game will forever go down in Florida Gator lore, as well as college football history. In the championship celebration held at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Tim riled up Gator fans once again by proclaiming that he would indeed come back for his senior year.

Tim enters this year with passion and purpose, something all that follow him know he doesn't lack. He has repeated stated that he wants to leave a legacy here at Florida, not to place his name all over the record books (well, he's gonna have a hard time doing that...), but rather as a motivated leader to guide this special group to another title, and to put Florida at the apex of the sport.

Urban Meyer lost his offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Dan Mullen to be the head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He handed over the reins to Steve Addazio, the team's assistant head coach and offensive line coach. Addazio is very familiar with Coach Meyer's system, but hopes to add a few wrinkles to spice up an already potent attack.

To do so, former Michigan Wolverine quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler was brought in. Loeffler has plenty of experience building budding talent into superstar quality QBs. His proteges include Tom Brady, Brian Griese, Drew Henson, John Navarre, and Chad Henne. Loeffler looks to add a few I-Formation sets for this Gator offense.

I am really looking forward to seeing Tebow's progress with new QB coach Scot Loeffler. His expertise with the I-Formation should help Timmy in the long run, as he's sure to expect to play out of those sets in the pros. There have been many reports of minor tweaks and adjustments made to Tim's throwing motion to allow for a crisper pass down field. He's also been working on his footwork to guarantee a steady motion dropping back, something he rarely needed to do in the shotgun. For what it's worth, the I-Formation gives Tim just one more way to run the option, and that makes him even more deadly than before.

Although he did not win the Heisman last season, he still received the most first place votes. All three finalists from last year's Heisman race are back again for another go-round. Reigning Heisman winner Sam Bradford will certainly be at the top of the short list, as will fellow Big-12 compatriot Colt McCoy.

However, if Tim plays the way he's played over the past two seasons, and the Gators go undefeated during the regular season and win the SEC championship game, voters will be hard-pressed to deny Tim from his second Heisman, quite possibly the second man ever to do so. He also has a chance to win a third Maxwell Trophy, something no one has ever done before.

Combine all of that with another BCS championship, and when it's all done, you may be able to tell yourself that you witnessed the greatest and most accomplished college football player in the history of the game. I'll never bet against Tim Tebow. Time will only tell...

John Brantley (RSo., No. 12, QB, 6'3'', 217lbs) - Brantley, nephew to former Gator All-American LB Scot Brantley, will be entering his second full season as backup QB to Tim Tebow. His 2008 campaign was very impressive, as he posted 235 yards, three TDs, 1 INT, and a 163 passing efficiency during late game appearances. He has the pedigree and poise to lead this team in the future, and will be learning all he can from the leadership that Tebow shows.

Urban Meyer has hinted at using Brantley quite bit this year to relieve Tebow at times during the upcoming season. As a pure pocket passer, the introduction of Scot Loeffler's I-Formation sets will benefit Brantley greatly, as he'll definitely use those in his future with the Gators. NFL scouts are drooling over Brantley, and each time he gets playing time is another opportunity for Florida Gator fans to see the future after Tebow. Although it's impossible to truly replace a player like Tim Tebow, I think the Gators have found a really good kid in John Brantley. The future looks bright in Gainesville.

Other QBs - With the departure of mammoth Cam Newton to JUCO ball in Texas, the Gators are left without a third QB. Last year's rise of John Brantley left Cam Newton eager to leave the program. That, and him stealing a laptop, writing his name on it, and then throwing it out his dorm window upon questioning...

Former walk-on Andrew Blaylock played the role of signal caller from the sideline in the two games that he dressed for, but he was nothing more than a glorified spectator. The roster also had a fifth QB in freshman Zack O'Quinn, however, I haven't heard anything about him, and so he's as good as gone to me.

Freshman recruit Jordan Reed from Connecticut is someone to look forward to in the future, however even though I expect him to dress, I see him redshirting this year.

Look back tomorrow for our RB preview!

You can find the original article here: http://gatorsfirst.com/index.php/florida-gators-sports-news/gatorsfirst/2009-florida-gators-football-positional-previews-qbs.html

Aaron Hernandez: The Most Tattooed Man in the History of Connecticut

Gators First — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:21:47 -0400

Written by James Brown, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

A couple of years ago, I had no idea why we were recruiting a guy from Connecticut.

I mean, Urban Meyer emphasizes speed and that's all in the South, right?

And forgive me if I see you as the top prospect in a state like Connecticut, and think that means you face competition roughly equivalent to Palatka High School's JV team.

Then I saw Florida Gators football TE Aaron Hernandez get into a game.

The first thing I noticed was the ink. All over his body. Again, forgive me for not expecting this out of this football prospect from Connecticut. This kid was a freshman, and was coming into college with all the ink. I mean, it took LeBron several years to get that many tats, and those were NBA years.

The man certainly has talent. He got publicity toward the end of the year for catching shovel passes was a little unwarranted, as the 'new play' the announcers harped on was a play I saw Urban Meyer run at Utah, and at Florida in 2005! Despite that, I think I speak for all Florida fans when I say I'm excited for his ability.

Now, with the departure of Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy to the NFL, he is our top returning receiver. I have stated that we need an outside threat to develop, so that other teams can't just double him over the middle.

However this season turns out, please refer to him as 'The Most Tattooed Man in the History of Connecticut', because whether this moniker is truthful or not, it's a fun nickname.

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