College Football Predictions 2011: Les Miles Eats Grass and 50 Things We'll See
It probably has to be one of the odder pregame superstitions in college football.
Before each game, Les Miles bends down, plucks a few blades of grass from the field and eats them.
“It humbles me, and lets me know I'm part of the field and part of the game,” says Miles. Humbling, huh? No arguments here.
What does he do when playing at Arkansas or Ole Miss? Does he eat field turf, too?
We'll explore the game-time vegetarian eating habits of Mr. Miles and a few other things that we're bound to see in 2011.
Les Miles Eats Grass
1 of 50
As mentioned in the introduction, Les Miles has a little ritual where he picks a few blades of grass from the field and eats them.
Most players and coaches keep these peculiar superstitions to themselves. But Les Miles was caught green-handed last season in a few key-play situations, quickly bending down, pulling up some grass and quickly popping it in his mouth.
It didn't take long before the media began asking questions, and Coach Miles explained it as best he could.
As long as LSU keeps winning, Miles can eat all the grass he likes.
Nick Saban Blows Up
2 of 50
Nick Saban is just one of those guys. His emotions are always just below the surface, and it doesn't take much to bring them all the way out.
Whether it's during on-field halftime interviews, post-game press conferences or mid-week game previews, Nick Saban wears his emotions on his sleeve.
One of the most interesting things about a Saban press conference is that he always seems just a hair short of absolutely screaming, throwing a chair and pulling a Mike Gundy.
Eternal Wolverine Optimism Is Tempered
3 of 50
When Rich Rodriguez was hired to replace retiring Lloyd Carr at Michigan, there were a number of people who believed another national championship was in Michigan's near future.
That didn't turn out to be true.
Rich Rodriguez was clearly the wrong coach for the program and led the maize-and-blue to their worst three years of football in the program's 131-year history.
Now in comes Brady Hoke. The first difference people in Ann Arbor point to is that Hoke is a “Michigan Man.”
Hoke's coaching roots are purely Michigan in nature. His first college gig was as defensive line coach at Grand Valley State. He then moved on to coach under Jack Harbaugh at Western Michigan. After bouncing around the country for several years after that, Hoke landed back in the Great Lakes State under Gary Moeller. In 2002, Lloyd Carr named Hoke Michigan's associate head coach.
Hoke said he grew up as a big Michigan fan, and “it's a place that's special in a lot of ways.”
He also had an office just down the hall from legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, who was still at the university early in Hoke's tenure. Hoke was also instrumental in the recruiting of a certain quarterback by the name of Tom Brady.
Hoke also has the resume for turning losers into winners. He did it at Ball State, eventually cracking the AP Top 25 for the first time in school history. He did it at San Diego State, where the Aztecs won nine games for the first time since 1971.
Well, Michigan has its man now. We'll see what he can do.
But the Wolverines fans should keep in mind the fact that Hoke's first seasons at both Ball State and SDSU were not resounding successes.
Give him time—something most people at Michigan didn't really care to give Rich Rodriguez.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Someone Is Going To Have a Touchdown Taken Away
4 of 50
The NCAA has instituted a few new rules, as they do every season. But for 2011, one of the big changes has to do with unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
We've all seen the excessive celebration penalties, when the extra point or kick off is taken from 15 yards back.
But beginning in 2011, the NCAA will begin enforcing penalties from the spot they began. That means, quite simply, if you're running free and clear on your way to the end zone, and you turn around or taunt your opponent for such an easy score, and you do it before you are in the end zone, chances are your touchdown won't be going up on the scoreboard.
That's right, kids. If you are at the half-yard line and reach the ball back mockingly towards your opponent, it's a penalty. Your team not only doesn't get the touchdown, but you're back on the 15-yard line.
It's likely we'll see this happen a few times in 2011, but chances are you'll only see it those few times. Once the NCAA and the various conference officiating staffs make it clear they're taking points away, coaches will put a very quick end to any shenanigans.
Someone Will Lose a Game Because of New Clock Rules
5 of 50
Speaking of rule changes...
It's pretty amazing how professional college football commentators cannot seem to grasp the clock rules in college football.
“Why is the clock running? I thought he clearly went out of bounds.”
Well, idiot, he did, but there was more than two minutes left in the half. Even if he goes out of bounds with 2:01 left, the clock begins on the spot of the ball.
Now the NCAA has instituted a new clock rule for 2011.
And it's a good one, especially considering last year (just ask Derek Dooley).
If a team commits a penalty that stops the clock in the final minute of either half, there will be a 10-second run-off of the clock.
BYU's Independence Bites Them Right in the Pads
6 of 50
If you look at the surface, BYU leaving the MWC doesn't make much sense.
But if you dig a little deeper, you find the underlying reasons for the move.
BYU's biggest rival, Utah, is gone.
BYU is also joining the West Coast Conference in the other sports, and the WCC is comprised of private, Christian schools. While it'll be interesting to see how the predominantly Catholic WCC and Mormon BYU will fit together, the WCC schools and BYU have more similarities than do BYU and the rest of the MWC.
The biggest hurdle for BYU, however, comes during bowl selections.
As an independent, BYU no longer has the MWC's bowl contracts of which it can take advantage.
The other three independent schools, Notre Dame, Army and Navy, have independent bowl contracts. BYU, at least to this point, doesn't.
That will be a problem, especially in years when BYU is 6-6 or 7-5.
Even when BYU does well, they won't be rewarded with a bowl as prestigious as it could be were they a member of a conference—any conference.
Little Brothers Make a Name for Themselves
7 of 50
We are going to see two players coming up that will tickle the occipital lobe of many fans of their respective teams.
Case McCoy at Texas and Tyler Gabbert at Missouri.
Don't get too worked up yet.
They're both very young and won't be the reincarnation of their older brothers, which, unfortunately for them, most fans will expect.
The NCAA Finally Gets Involved with Field Colors
8 of 50
When Boise State installed their Smurf Turf years ago, it was a novelty. Heck, it was even pretty cool. Admit it.
But no one else really followed suit, and people began spreading the (false) rumor that it was because the NCAA had instituted a rule prohibiting anything but green fields.
But within the past few years, a couple of programs have proved that rumor incorrect by adding, or planning to add, turf of a color other than green.
FCS Eastern Washington has their red turf.
Division II's New Haven has a brand new blue field.
Now FCS Central Arkansas is installing a field of alternating purple and gray.
A heads up to any program that wants a non-green field. Do it now while you still can. The NCAA will soon be regulating field color.
Whoever thought we'd have to have a rule on the color of grass?
Michael Floyd Helps the Irish Win 10 Games, Keeps out of Trouble
9 of 50
Michael Floyd had yet another alcohol-related run-in with the law. His March 20 arrest for DUI is his third citation, after two citations for underage drinking in 2009 and 2010.
Brian Kelly has suspended Floyd, but expect him to work hard to get back into his coach's good graces.
He'll be successful, and that will help the Irish become more successful.
Let's hope he doesn't celebrate by having a few beers and deciding to drive himself home.
Utah Learns That Life After the MWC Isn't All Peaches and Cream
10 of 50
If Utah fans thought that playing in the Pac-12 would be better for the program than playing in the Mountain West, they may be right.
If they think it will increase their chances of playing in a BCS bowl, they're probably wrong.
While the MWC is certainly a quality conference, the Pac-12 is definitely a step up in class.
Utah won't improve much over last year's disappointment, and their first year in a BCS-AQ conference will be painful for the Utes fans. No Top 25 ranking this year.
Division III Championship Game Matchup Is No Shocker
11 of 50
The last six years have seen the same two teams in the Division III national championship game: Wisconsin-Whitewater and Mt. Union (Ohio).
Each team has won three championships over that span.
And Mt. Union has won 10 titles since 1993.
In 2011, not surprisingly, the domination of these two teams continues.
At least Division III has a playoff system.
Michigan Stadium Will Set Another Record
12 of 50
Last season, Michigan Stadium opened with its new renovations complete, and in Week 1, it drew an NCAA-record crowd of 113,090 for a game against Connecticut.
The previous record of 112,118 was also held by Michigan. That crowd watched the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes in 2003.
In 2011, Michigan has home games against Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State for the first time since the renovations have been completed.
The Ohio State game will see yet another record fall. Over 114,000 fans will be uncomfortably shoehorned into the Big House.
Beamer Ball Results in an Extra Win for Virginia Tech
13 of 50
Since Frank Beamer became head coach at Virginia Tech, a player in every defensive position has scored at least one touchdown.
Scoring at Tech isn't just for the offense, and Beamer Ball has become a way of life for the Hokies.
Last year, Tech dropped a shocker to FCS James Madison. To begin 2011, the Hokies host always-dangerous FCS Appalachian State.
Tech doesn't have the most difficult of schedules in 2011, but it's probably safe to say that the Hokies will find themselves in a situation in which they're woefully behind to a team they should be beating.
Don't fret, Hokies fans. Beamer Ball to the rescue!
In 2011, Coach Beamer's philosophy will be on display, and Tech will lead the nation in non-offensive touchdowns.
Familiar Faces Return to Division II Championship Game
14 of 50
The two Division II powerhouse teams from the last decade, Grand Valley State and Northwest Missouri State, aren't showing any signs of slowing down.
Between them, GVSU and NWMSU have won seven of the last 13 national championships. Since 2001, either GVSU or NWMSU have appeared in the national championship game each year, except 2004 and 2010. They faced each other in 2005, 2006 and 2009 in the title games.
Both teams now have new head coaches after GVSU's Chuck Martin left to join former GVSU boss Brian Kelly at Notre Dame and legendary, Hall of Fame great Mel Tjeerdsma's retirement.
Both teams will find their way back to Florence, Alabama in 2011, to face off for the fourth time for a national championship.
GVSU will have the upper hand as their head coach, Matt Mitchell, has one year already under his belt as head coach in Allendale, and he will hand NWMSU their fifth championship game loss in seven years.
The JoePa Legacy Continues
15 of 50
The man is an absolute force of nature.
Joe Paterno first came to Penn State in 1950 as an assistant.
For perspective, most of the players he is now coaching have parents who weren't even born yet.
After taking over the head coaching duties in 1966, JoePa has amassed an FBS record 401 wins. He's only lost 135 games and has three ties.
Just as impressive is his remarkable bowl record (24-12-1).
Joe Paterno is now 84 years old.
The question now becomes how much longer can he coach?
The simple answer is this: He'll coach as long as he's breathing. Football at Penn State is Paterno's life. Without Penn State football, there is no Joe Paterno. And there's also likely a real life fear that if Joe Paterno ever retired, he'd leave us soon after, much in the way people die of broken hearts.
The football world is better because of his presence, and the living legend still knows how to pile up the W's.
The NCAA Cautions Teams Regarding Attendance
16 of 50
One of the requirements to be an FBS program is that the program must average an attendance at home games of 15,000 tickets sold or actual attending people over the course of the season at least once over a two-year span.
For several FBS schools, that second year is 2011.
There were nine FBS programs in 2011 that couldn't manage to sell an average of 15,000 tickets to their home games.
Those programs (Western Kentucky, San Jose St., Western Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Idaho, Akron and Ball St.) are in jeopardy of violating NCAA rules regarding FBS eligibility.
While the NCAA won't summarily dismiss any programs from the FBS after 2011, the NCAA will officially caution any of those nine programs that don't meet the 15,000 requirement after 2011. If 2012 and 2013 go by without the programs measuring up, then you'll see the NCAA get serious and quite possibly knock a program or two out to the FCS.
Harvey Updyke Jr. Is Convicted
17 of 50
Whether you're an Auburn fan or an Auburn hater, it's pretty universally agreed that Harvey Updyke Jr., the man accused of poisoning the majestic century-and-a-half old oak trees at Toomer's Corner, is a bad, bad man.
Apparently, this Crimson Tide fan was so upset with his team's epic collapse in the 2010 Iron Bowl and numerous other allegations (none of which were substantiated) of Auburn fans' disrespect for Alabama, that he allegedly poisoned the trees with a massive dose of an industrial herbicide.
Trouble is, Updyke used so much of the stuff that not only are the trees doomed (he could have used 100 times less and still done the job), but the herbicide may have contaminated the ground water in Auburn.
Updyke's trial will be quite the spectacle in Alabama in 2011, and when he's found guilty and sentenced, Auburn fans will rejoice by rolling the corner.
As well they should.
Brady Hoke's Chickens Come Home To Roost
18 of 50
Brady Hoke has done a terrific job of turning around the San Diego State football program. And that program now has the opportunity for a signature win over the winningest college football program in history—Michigan.
Trouble is, Brady Hoke is now the head coach at Michigan.
While absolutely no one in their right mind would ever blame Hoke for taking a job in Ann Arbor over SDSU, Hoke will find out just how good of a recruiter he is.
His Wolverines will struggle mightily against the Aztecs and end up on the losing end.
Eastern Washington Upsets Washington, Repeats as FCS Champions
19 of 50
Ah, that crazy red field.
EWU capitalized on their newfound home-field advantage in 2010 and rode that red wave of success all the way to a national championship.
With starting quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell returning for his senior season in 2011, EWU will be hard to stop.
In fact, they'll even have quite the headline-making victory in 2011...
…and that headline-making victory will come on September 3, when the Eagles top the Washington Huskies in Seattle.
The Eagles, fresh off a 2010 FCS national championship, will head into Seattle to take on their FBS cousin, a much-depleted Washington.
In a back-and-forth game, EWU will seize control in the second half, en route to an eye-popping victory.
Northern Illinois Wins the MAC Championship
20 of 50
In what is generally considered the weakest of the FBS conferences, at least one good thing can be said about the MAC—parity.
From year to year, it's next to impossible to determine who is going to win on any given Saturday. From the avalanche of dropped passes to games in which there are no pass attempts, the MAC is both entertaining and painful to watch.
Troy Wins the Sun Belt Championship
21 of 50
Coming off a 2010 year that saw Troy share the Sun Belt title with Florida International, the Trojans will step up their game in 2011, and break through by winning at least one game they shouldn't. That extra win gives them an outright title in 2011.
Hawaii Wins the WAC Championship
22 of 50
With the WAC's odds-on favorite, Boise State, gone to the MWC, Hawaii will have a clear path to the WAC title, with only a depleted Nevada team in their way.
UCF Repeats as C-USA Champions
23 of 50
After finishing 2010 with an impressive 11-3 record, the Knights will look to build on that success and solidify their claim to a Top 25 ranking.
ECU will give UCF a run in the East, but the West will belong to Tulsa. Only this time, there won't be any pesky tiebreakers, and Tulsa will advance to the C-USA championship game.
Boise State Wins the Mountain West Championship
24 of 50
The Broncos have a distinct advantage in the MWC in 2011; they play TCU at home.
The Broncos haven't lost a home conference game in what seems like forever, and the Horned Frogs, as good as they are, will discover just how good Boise State is at home.
West Virginia Wins the Big East
25 of 50
The Mountaineers shared the Big East title in 2010 with Connecticut and Pitt. Due to the tiebreaking system and head-to-head matchups, UConn was the conference's BCS representative.
In 2011, the Mountaineers make their return to the BCS, tearing through a Big East Conference just waiting for the influx of talent TCU will bring in 2012.
Florida State Wins the ACC
26 of 50
Florida State could easily be one of the nation's top teams in 2011.
Looking to improve on a 10-4 season and an ACC Atlantic Division championship, the Seminoles have all the pieces in place to be truly spectacular in 2011.
Oklahoma Wins the Big 12
27 of 50
This won't come as too much of a shock to most.
Oklahoma is arguably the nation's top team coming into 2011. They'll prove that the distinction was well deserved as they tear through the competition en route to a championship game-less Big 12 championship.
Oregon Repeats as Pac-12 Champions
28 of 50
Is there any doubt that Chip Kelly's Ducks will be amped up for 2011?
A disappointing end to the 2010 season, with a loss in the BCS title game, will have the Ducks eager to take the field in 2011.
The new Pac-12 will be blown away with their high-octane offense, and the Ducks will easily win the first Pac-12 championship game.
Wisconsin Wins the Big Ten Championship
29 of 50
Let's face it, Wisconsin didn't see that giant purple bus headed its way.
A trip to Pasadena is a special thing in January, and the Badgers were caught on the fuzzy end of the lollipop as the Horned Frogs made the most of their BCS-busting opportunity.
Wisconsin will have ample opportunity to redeem itself in 2011, especially with the new Big Ten format.
Wisconsin is in the arguably weaker Leaders Division, and its main divisional roadblock is Ohio State.
But with OSU's early-season suspensions taking a toll, the Badgers will meet up with Michigan State in the inaugural Big Ten championship game.
The Badgers will handle business on the neutral field and earn a trip back to Pasadena.
Alabama Wins the SEC Championship
30 of 50
In most programs, a 10-3 season would never be looked upon as a disappointment.
Alabama isn't most programs.
When the Tide followed a BCS title with a 10-3 season, especially considering the returning talent, it was a surprise to many, if not most.
Perhaps 2010 was exactly what the folks in Tuscaloosa needed. A slap in the face and a kick in the rear.
Gone is the sense of entitlement at Alabama. Gone is the smugness. Gone is the arrogance.
Well, maybe not. Maybe that's just tempered.
But the rest of the nation best prepare itself. Those smug, arrogant, self-entitled Tide fans will be back in full force in 2011 as their beloved Alabama runs roughshod through the entire SEC.
The Hurry-Up Offense Increases Its Popularity
31 of 50
After seeing what the hurry-up did for programs like Oregon and Auburn in 2010, there will be a few more teams trying the fast-paced play-calling system in 2011.
In fact, if you look at the top handful of scoring offenses in 2010, almost all of them have incorporated at least some no-huddle play-calling schemes.
Don't think other programs haven't noticed.
Miami Gets Revenge
32 of 50
On September 17, the Ohio State Buckeyes will have their rematch with the Hurricanes.
While Ohio State is loaded with talent, much of that talent will be absent for the first five weeks, and Miami will take full advantage of the situation.
Ohio State will stumble, and Miami wins by a touchdown.
USC Still Won't Be Very Good
33 of 50
Admit it, Trojans fans—2010 was a difficult year.
Not only did USC incur the wrath of the NCAA, it was somewhat predictably followed up with an 8-5 season, including losses to Washington, Oregon State, and Notre Dame.
The Trojans will muddle through 2011 in much the same way and will lose four or five games.
While the two-year ban on postseason play is concluded after 2011, USC still has to contend with the recruiting disadvantage of having 30 fewer scholarships for another year.
The Trojans will eventually be able to rebuild their program, and they'll soon be winning games right and left.
But it won't be in 2011.
The SEC East Continues to Be a Mess
34 of 50
Last season in the SEC East was pretty amazing.
A team with three losses, all in conference, actually made the SEC championship game.
Granted, South Carolina lost in the SEC championship, but the fact that a team could struggle (at least by SEC standards) through the conference season and still make a trip to Atlanta is pretty remarkable.
The same will be true in 2011. Watch for a team with multiple SEC losses to represent the East in the 2011 SEC Championship.
Michigan State Can't Handle the Pressure
35 of 50
Michigan State, fresh off of their co-Big Ten championship season, will begin the year highly ranked and highly touted.
While it's true MSU has some great returning starters, including Edwin Baker at running back and perhaps the nation's most underrated quarterback in Kirk Cousins, the Spartans are going to be a bit overmatched in the Big Ten in 2011.
The Spartans have a killer schedule in 2011, especially Weeks 3 through 9.
Check this out:
Week 3: @ Notre Dame
Week 4: Central Michigan (which beat MSU at MSU two years ago)
Week 5: @ Ohio State
Week 6: bye
Week 7: Michigan
Week 8: Wisconsin
Week 9: @ Nebraska
That's a pretty tough stretch of games to get through. While the days of “the same old Spartans” are probably gone in East Lansing, MSU will be able to muddle through the Legends Division and earn a trip to the Big Ten championship game, but will end up meeting Wisconsin, again. And regardless of Week 8's events, the Badgers won't be denied a return trip to Pasadena.
Charlie Weis Is Back
36 of 50
Charlie Weis is the new offensive coordinator for the Florida Gators.
When Weis was hired as head coach at Notre Dame, he was touted as an offensive genius and would lead Notre Dame to big things.
Problem was, Weis wasn't a very good head coach.
Weis is now back in the role where he made a name for himself—offensive coordinator. No one doubts his skills as an OC. And he'll be carving up SEC defenses without delay.
When Florida begins the year 4-0 before welcoming a cranky Crimson Tide squad to the Swamp, the nation will again be convinced of Weis' skill as a guru of offense.
His play calling will help lead the Gators back to the Top 25.
Mark Richt Calms Critics
37 of 50
Just like last season, Georgia won't have the greatest of starts, going 0-2.
Immediately, the surprisingly quick-to-judge Georgia fanbase will again be flooding talk radio and message boards with crazy, nonsensical calls for his firing.
By Week 4, everyone will calm a bit as the Bulldogs get back to 2-2.
An October 1 home game showdown with Mississippi State finally cools the flames, and the Georgia Bulldogs come out on top, en route to a 5-2 start.
Boise State's Home Conference Winning Streak...
38 of 50
For the first time in anyone's memory, Boise State has a conference matchup in Boise against an opponent that might actually be favored.
On November 12, the Horned Frogs come to two to take on the Broncos on The Blue.
Boise State hasn't lost a home conference game since 1998.
They never lost a home conference game in the WAC.
They're currently on a 62-game regular-season home-game winning streak (including non-conference games).
TCU will come in as the best conference opponent Boise State has possibly ever faced.
TCU will leave as the 67th consecutive team to lose at Bronco Stadium.
LaMichael James Leads the Nation in Rushing Yards, Again
39 of 50
In 2010, LaMichael James racked up 1,731 rushing yards, besting a quarterback from Michigan (Denard Robinson apparently didn't understand that Michigan quarterbacks aren't supposed to be fast and agile) by just 29 yards.
Denard Robinson is fast, but LaMichael James' only task is to run with the football.
While Barry Sanders' FBS record of 2,628 is safe, James breaks 2,000 yards in 2011.
Brian Kelly Wins More Games This Year Than Last
40 of 50
Even Notre Dame fans have to admit that there hasn't been much luck for the Irish over the past decade.
How many coaches has South Bend seen? How many were long-term successes?
One might suppose that the mere fact that Brian Kelly didn't shock everyone and take the Irish to the BCS is actually a good thing. Look at his predecessors. They did it, and they all ended up as resounding failures.
When Brian Kelly wins more games in 2011 than in 2010, it will be another small step back to national prominence for Notre Dame.
And 10 wins may get Notre Dame close to that BCS goal.
Nebraska Has Trouble with the Big Ten, and the Big Ten Has Trouble with Nebraska
41 of 50
Regardless of what happens to the Cornhuskers in their first season in the Big Ten, it will be entertaining.
But for whom will it be most entertaining?
It depends on the week.
Big Ten football and Big 12 football are probably the most similar between all of the BCS conferences, so the transition won't be as rough as some seem to think.
Still, Nebraska fans can't expect a season without any bumps in the road.
Similarly, the Big Ten teams finding Nebraska on their schedule shouldn't expect to run past an always pesky 'Huskers squad.
Oklahoma State Will Light Up the Scoreboard—and the BCS
42 of 50
The Cowboys' high-octane offense is back for 2011, and they're looking for big things.
While Oklahoma is probably the early season favorite, Okie State wants a share of the pie in the Big 12.
They'll get it, but they still won't get past the Sooners in the BCS title game.
They will, however, get into the BCS.
Andrew Luck Gets Even Better but Still Loses the Heisman
43 of 50
Many people thought that when the 2010 season began, Andrew Luck was a shoo-in for the Heisman Trophy.
Then along came Cam Newton.
It's probably safe to say that 2011 will start much the way 2010 did, with Luck as the odds-on favorite to take the trophy home from New York.
Andrew Luck, a year older, wiser and more experienced, will improve on his game at Stanford.
But it won't help him.
He won't be the best quarterback in the nation in 2011.
That distinction, along with the Heisman Trophy, will go to Kellen Moore of Boise State.
Moore has the opportunity to do something very few quarterbacks have ever done: win 50 or more games as a starting quarterback.
Moore currently is 38-2 as a starter.
He also has an insane 99-to-19 TD-tointerception ratio.
To begin the 2011 season, Moore even comes into the year ranked as the Sporting News' No. 1 returning player in the nation—ahead of Luck and Oregon's LaMichael James..
He'll end the season ranked in the same spot.
The NCAA Scolds Ohio State and Levies Additional Penalties against the Program
44 of 50
There are rules in place for a reason.
And Ohio State players, and yes, even the mighty messiah of Columbus, Jim Tressel, broke the rules.
Sure, it might suck that you have to work to be great at something at which you're going to one day make millions and millions of dollars.
Sure, it might be a drag that you can't afford that $1,500 tattoo to make you look even more like a thug.
Sure, it might seem unfair that the bookstore can sell your jersey for $75, and you don't get a cut.
But, kids, life isn't fair.
Too many college athletes are stuck in the instant gratification and entitlement mentality.
The result will be that Terrelle Pryor and company have to sit out for the first five games of 2011. Will that hurt the Buckeyes and Pryor's NFL draft prospects?
Yep.
The NCAA Investigation into Oregon Gets Kicked Up a Notch
45 of 50
Another investigation. Yippee.
By now, everyone paying attention to college football is familiar with the name Will Lyles. He's the Houston-based scout who is linked to Oregon football by way of a $25,000 check to Lyles' “Complete Scouting Services.”
Apparently, some allege that the completeness of those scouting services included influencing the players scouted into committing to a particular university.
The public should understand that it's not terribly unusual for college football programs to pay for advanced scouting work on high school prospects. After all, Oregon coaches can't be everywhere at once, and they certainly can't attend every high school football game.
The issue here is that Lyles allegedly had close ties with LaMichael James and Lache Seastrunk, as reported by the Oregon Daily Emerald.
At odds isn't necessarily that Oregon paid Lyles. The sticking point is whether or not Lyles steered the athletes he scouted towards a particular program, making him a booster of that program.
And we all know what happens when the words “booster” and “money” get put into a sentence.
The Big Ten Championship Game Will Be the Most Important 2011 Championship Game
46 of 50
For the conferences that have a championship game, there's no ambiguity. There are no “co-championships.” There are no tiebreakers (unless you count the tiebreakers on which teams get to play in the championship game). The championship is decided on the field of play, as it should.
The Big Ten, for the first time, will have such a spectacle, and it will be huge for the football-crazed fans in the Midwest.
For the other conferences, their championship games are typically forgone conclusions or are unimportant to the rest of the nation.
After all, does anyone care who wins the MAC championship? Didn't think so.
The SEC in 2011, like in 2010, will probably be another West victory.
The new Pac-12 has divisionalized in such a way that most of the top teams in the conference will meet in their respective divisions.
The ACC is probably in the same boat (although Florida State and Virginia Tech could meet in that game).
But the Big Ten's unpredictability (be honest, who picked Michigan State last August to win a share of the Big Ten?) combined with the newness of the championship game and the Big Ten's ability to exploit it to its fullest (with the combination of their own, fully-owned network and massive contracts with other major networks) will mean the inaugural Big Ten football championship game will be a massive spectacle.
The Big 12 Announces the Addition of Two Programs
47 of 50
One thing that the Big Ten and Pac-12 have decided to cash in on, literally, is the lure of the championship game.
Unfortunately for the Big 12, that means they lose the chance at all the extra revenue (and prestige) of having a championship game.
The Big 12 probably missed the boat on TCU. There was clearly a program, doing well across all sports, looking for a conference move. In all honesty, being left out of the BCS title picture just because of your conference affiliation is pretty stupid. TCU apparently agrees.
So they decided to join...the Big East?
I guess TCU has the money to spend on travel budgets (Remember: basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, et cetera, all have to travel, too).
Wouldn't it have been easier for Texas Christian to join the ranks of other schools like, say, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech?
You'd think.
But the Big 12 now has a more pressing issue than just missing out on TCU. The Big 12 has lost its football championship game and the revenue that comes with it.
That situation will be remedied before the 2012 season begins.
And the championship game will return in 2013.
There Will Be More Than Two BCS-AQ Teams That Go Undefeated in 2011
48 of 50
For BCS haters, this is always the best possible outcome of the season. What could be better than massive controversy surrounding the BCS?
Just as a hypothetical, let's propose that Oklahoma, LSU, Oregon and Ohio State all manage to make it through 2011 without a blemish.
Who do you pick? Is the BCS still going to stick with that broken record of “strength of schedule” nonsense? As if LaMichael James or Terrelle Pryor have any control over who Ohio State plays and how those opponents fare throughout the rest of the season.
And the confusion that abounds at the end of 2011, combined with the added controversy that the Fiesta Bowl has so kindly thrown into the mix, will lead to further calls—this time from major BCS-AQ programs—for reform.
The Conference Matchup Between Boise State and TCU Will Be the Game of the Year
49 of 50
Boise State and TCU, two of the most successful non-AQ programs in the nation, will finally tangle in a regular-season game.
The Horned Frogs travel to Boise for a November 12 matchup between what may likely be two top-five teams.
Across the rest of the country, there is only one other game that could rival this game's BCS implications: LSU at Alabama on November 5.
Of course, any of these teams could stumble prior to these matchups.
But look for November 12 in Boise to be the regular season game of the year.
The BCS Champion Won't Be from the SEC
50 of 50
Blaspheme!
How could anyone question the supremacy of the almighty SEC?
Who in their right mind would ever dare to suggest the possibility that God Almighty's gift to the world of football will not produce another BCS champion in 2011?
Unless you're from an SEC state, or an alumnus of an SEC school, you're usually a bit more objective.
It certainly appears clear that Auburn won't be in a position to repeat as BCS champion. But that's not to say there aren't a couple teams that could make a run.
Both Alabama and LSU are going to be ranked high enough in the preseason polls that winning out could give them a ticket to the BCS title game, but winning out in the SEC is no foregone conclusion, nor is winning the title game itself.
But there are pretty impressive teams in the Big 12, Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 that will all be poised for a BCS title run in 2011.
SEC fans may just have to come to grips with the fact that even the SEC can have a down year.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
