Are You Ready For Some Football: The College Season Is Underway!

Lets get this party started. Thursday night, College Football begins on ESPN.

It should be a memorable season.

2009 Star power is highlighted by having the returning Heisman winner Sam Bradford and top competing candidates from last year, Tim Tebow, and Colt McCoy in the lineup for their respective teams.

Tebow has the chance to become the first two time winner since the great Archie Griffin (Ohio State 1974, 1975).

This is the first time a top three candidate encore season has occurred since the inaugural Heisman Trophy presentation began in 1935.

All three are front runners for the coveted trophy, but there will certainly be others that emerge to compete with the big three as the season statistics begin to pile on.

It has only happened once, but challengers can arise from both sides of the ball to vie for the coveted prize.

The traditional efforts have been turned in by the QB and RB positions, with an occasional standout wide receiver.

Forty times the award has been handed to a running back, 27 times to a quarterback. Three wide receivers, two linemen and only one player with specialists skills as DB and WR have struck the pose at seasons end.

Charles Woodson (Michigan) is the only player to have received the Heisman as a primary defensive player.

His skills as a wide receiver and special teams player put him in position to be awarded with the honor in 1997.

The Heisman is without question, the most coveted individual sports honor in college football, but a successful season is not possible without team unity. This includes success on offense, defense and special teams.

Outstanding contributions from all who take the field is necessary to complete a championship run. And it is the award of National Champion that fuels the fires that burn in a coaches heart.

The action starts on Thursday night, with South Carolina and North Carolina State. Teams from storied conferences, with history and tradition on the line.

The SEC spouts dominance from top to bottom over other conferences, the ACC wants to regain respect as traditional powers Miami and Florida State, Clemson and Boston College have lost their luster over the past several seasons.

Spurrier has something to prove, mainly, that he can still coach. A loss in the opener will put an immediate damper on his legacy.

N.C. State wants redemption after the 34-0 beatdown to begin the season last year at the hand of the Gamecocks. 

North Texas and Ball State (ESPNU) kick off at 7:30. The Mean Green and The Cardinals square off in Muncie Indiana for a game that seems unevenly matched.

The MAC West champion Cardinals were 12-2 in 2008, loosing the last two games of the season, the finale, a punishing loss to the Tulsa Hurricanes 13-45 in the GMAC Bowl.

They expect to lead off the 2009 season with convincing win. The North Texas Green need to re-establish their meanness after a poor showing in 2008 ending with a 1-11 record.

Eastern Kentucky vs. Indiana and Central Washington vs. Minnesota Duluth serve as a warm ups for the matchup of the Utah State Aggies vs Utah Utes.

The Utes are in a "state of flux" having the majority of the offensive line starters suffering nagging injuries that may hold them out for the season opener.

If they are not healthy, Coach Kyle Whittingham will have to modify his game plan to suit the available personnel, and at this point, the decision is day to day.

The late game should be a great matchup featuring two programs trying to establish a tradition of success on the gridiron. The Boise State Broncos will open against the Oregon Ducks in Bronco Stadium.

Who knows at this juncture what the adorable Ducks will wear, but the game has taken center stage on this opening night of the 2009 season. A new uniform should be in order.

ESPN will broadcast the nighttime finale beginning at 10:15 EST. The Broncos hope to open the game receiving the football to test the effect of intensive work on special teams in the off season.

Because of poor results on kick and punt returns last season, special teams coach Jeff Choate visited with the Chicago Bears this summer to study the archives and work with coaches of Devon Hester and Co. As a result, he has installed a set of plays intended to mimic the success of the Bears return specialist.

Returner Cole Trickle (not the Tom Cruise version) is expected to turn the corner for the Boise State special teams and create havoc for the opposition.

"Days of Thunder" will be remembered on smurf turf rather than the NASCAR asphalt should this speedster gets the ball in his hands and turn punts and kickoffs into points for the Broncos.

The Chris Petersen offense will reload and sophomore quarterback Kellen Moore will play an integral part in continuing the win streak on the home field blue turf. Last year, the Broncos ended the season 12-1, the sole loss was the season opener against TCU.

The Oregon Ducks are led by new head coach Chip Kelly. Kelly grabbed the helm when long time head coach Mike Bellotti accepted the offer to become the Oregon University Athletic Director. Kelly knows the Oregon system, having served as offensive coordinator since 2007.

The former New Hampshire offensive coordinator arrived at Oregon in 2007 and promptly solidified his position in UO lore by producing the highest scoring team and most yards of total offense in school history.

For an encore, his unit bettered both marks again the following year and finished in the top 10 nationally in rushing offense, total offense and scoring offense.

He hopes to open the season as an effective Head Coach, and keep the fan base excited about the nasty quack attack.

Thursday just whets the appetite for the main events on Saturday. But and appetizer is an appropriate course as the feast begins.

Are you ready for some college football?