College Football Under The Bleachers: June 1st

So Young, But So Good

Most first-year guys don't make much of an impact, but some awesome new meat can help a program jump to new levels.  Who are the very best first-year players of the last fifty years of college football, though?  Here's a list of the top eleven.

There are some great names on this list that might not immediately pop to mind, like Ernie Davis and Rex Kern, and Maurice Clarett.  He's just happy to be a part of any lineup where he doesn't have to hold a number in front of him. 

The Real Coaches Poll

It might still be a bit too early to start ranking the teams for the 2009 season, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a top twenty five list.  Here's a list of the top coaches in the country. This is a tough call when you're trying to pick a top dog from the likes of Jim Tressel, Pete Carroll, and Nick Saban. 

No surprise that Urban Meyer comes in pretty high on the list. 

Lane Kiffin commented,  "I've got absolutely no evidence to back up this claim, but I'm pretty sure Meyer cheated to get there.  Is anyone else tired of me already?"

Take a Jaunt Down the Coast

The ACC may not be the most intimidating of the BCS conferences, but that doesn't mean its teams can't have some nice digs.  Here's a slide show focusing on the ACC's best stadiums.  At the top, the ACC's home fields are as nice as you'll find anywhere in the country. It's hard to knock Death Valley. 

Who's at the bottom?  There's Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium, which looks like a high school team might play there, and not a good high school team, either. You know, one of those schools everyone beats 73-3 and then hears about how they "really only care about academics."  Which means it's the perfect home for Duke football!

Getting Comfortable in Crimson

Greg McElroy may be going into his first year as Alabama's starter at QB, but he doesn't seem too frazzled by the situation yet.  In fact, he's such a cool customer that our writer is already talking about what a wide comfort zone the young signal caller has.  No rush to get settled in, Greg.  If you struggle out of the gates, the Tide's fans will give you at least two series before they start calling for your head.  Maybe they'll even give you a whole quarter!

What's Making Tressel Sweat?

Ohio State's still got more than three months before they take the field for the 2009 season, but that doesn't mean we can't analyze their schedule.  Here's the Buckeyes' slate of opponents, ranked in increasing order of difficulty. 

Wow, New Mexico State comes in as more of a cupcake than even Indiana.  That sort of insult is worse than anything even departed coach, Hal Mumme could ever do to the Aggies' program.