College Football's Down Home Prophet: The Return Of Country Joe

There appears to be something good that came out of the summer drought, a banner year of vegetables in the garden of longtime acquaintance Country Joe.

Every year, in the dog days of summer, Country comes to town.

He never fails to drop by to see his old friends and provide a bounty of home grown cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and cantaloupes.

And, that is just for starters.

If a couple of tickets to a Georgia home game in Athens can be "discovered" he is always willing to open up the back of his truck and offer the greenest watermelons one can imagine.

"About the only thing better than a good 'mater sandwich is watching those Bulldogs while eating a good 'mater sandwich" opined the man with the green thumb.

Joe further allowed, "looks like my hairy dogs are in over their head with those Florida boys this year, they just have way too much."

Country is something of an authority on college football. He has made quite a healthy reputation out of passing along his thoughts to area fans over the years.

Joe is known in the hills as a person who can read omens and tell the future. Last year at this time, he shared some of his thoughts with the Bleacher Report.

He nailed Alabama as the SEC West winner and surprised many with his projection of Nebraska and Notre Dame returning to respectability and heading to Bowl games.

Unable to pass on the opportunity, Joe was asked by yours truly to grace the Bleacher Report readers with some of his ideas concerning the 2009 season. 

"This season?" "Oh, this season is going to be easy to pick" said Joe.

According to Country, "Florida will go back to the SEC Title game and play Alabama again but, this time ol' Saban will get 'em."

The defensive line play favors Alabama in the SEC according to Joe but don't look for the Crimson Tide to be in the BCS Title game.

"Alabama will win the SEC and that will leave Oklahoma No. 1 and Texas Christian as the only other undefeated team in the polls," allowed Country Joe.

Observing Joe finishing a glass of lemonade, he pointed out that "Michigan is coming back this year, they might win the Big 10". "Zook has talent but, he's run his course."

You've taken us this far, how about naming the team Oklahoma will play for the National Title?

"That might be Florida, can't imagine them dropping to lower than No. 2 if they have only the one loss but, I have to go with USC if Carroll can find a quarterback."

How do you see the ACC race, Joe? "Kind of hard to make out, probably Miami and Boston College will be your two top teams and Miami might end up back in the Orange Bowl."

Miami? What makes you certain about Miami and Boston College?

Joe answered, "Because Miami has the most talent and BC has the toughest players, they'll settle the ACC between them."

As he reached for his keys and made his way around to say his goodbyes, there was a certain comfort in knowing this scene will be replayed in one way or the other among all who love college football.

Isn't that what makes the game so special for all of us?