1) No one is good
This is the easy one with which to start because people are all over the place while trying to crown a champion in September. Compared to last year (and the year before, and the year before, and the year before..... you get the picture), there is not a single team that has exploded on my radar as the proverbially 'team to beat'. LSU has had the best performance of the year but Oregon couldn't get out of it's own way. Oklahoma and Alabama have been crowned but OU has beaten powerhouse Tulsa (at home) and Bama beat hapless Kent State and an overrated PSU without the semblance of a competant offense. We'll find out about OU this week and Bama soon enough (their offense is soooooo bad). I've seen more parity this year in the sport than in any other because there is NO clear favorite. All teams have myriad flaws so let's sit back and enjoy the ride before we crown a champion.
2) Defense is a lost art
What is happening in football? The advent of the spread and the run-and-shoot offenses have seemed to relegate a fairly important part of the game to the back burner. I'm speaking of defense. I can count on my fingers the number of teams thus far that have played defense this year (Bama, PSU, OSU--1 game, Wisconsin--no real opponent, ...um I'm sure there are more but...). I felt sick after watching the ND-Michigan game, not only because the Wolverines won, but also because it was one of the most horribly played games defensively EVER (Note: horribly played doesn't mean not exciting). The pendulum has swung to offensive football and my offensively focused mind likes that but not when no one is trying to stop you. It's time for a team to rise from the ashes by shutting down the explosion rather than the glitz and flash.
3) Notre Dame is closer to being back than Michigan (but unknown if they will achieve it)
While the game under the lights in the Big House had the makings of an all-time classic for the first night game in Ann Arbor, it was clear the better team didn't win. So many have crowned Denard Robinson the Heisman winner (again) when anyone with a brain can see that this team will struggle mightily. Robinson was credited with 3 picks but most of his deep balls (including the TDs) are easy pickings for a defense with a pulse. I was stunned the Irish didn't come away with AT LEAST 5 interceptions with the glorious arm punts that were lofted. With that being said, it was clear to me that:
a) Notre Dame's offense is actually really good if they can avoid the turnovers
b) Michigan is so-so offensively with Denard still being handcuffed in the pro-style offense
c) These teams have never seen a defensive playbook in their lives
The game was thrilling and literally down to the last 2 seconds, but let's stop someone. Notre Dame's problems are easier to correct in the near future on offense, but Michigan still needs athletes to run the system--the spread the field athletes are not ready for this pro offense. On defense, blow both teams up and start over (sans maybe Mante Teo on ND).
4) The new uniform craze HAS to go
Of all the sports in the country, tradition is deepest in college football. This is, in my opinion, the simplest argument of all. The rivalries, the passion, the hatred, the pride, the fight songs, the band; tradition is rampant in the sport. Another aspect that is inherent to the deep-rooted tradition is the uniforms. The numbers on the Bama helmet, the Princeton....I mean Michigan wings on the helmet, the white of PSU, the Silver Bullets of OSU all epitomize the history and tradition of the sport. Then along comes Nike and tries to reinvent the wheel. First, Oregon is used as a fashion model changing week to week with each uniform trying to be more outrageous than the last then Nike gets greedy and tries to reinvent the tradition of everyone with their 'pro-combat' unis. They've gotten out of hand. OSU saying they're wearing 'throwbacks' when in reality it is a simple ploy for the almighty dollar. Teams don't even wear school colors in the pro combat uniform any more (FSU wearing black for example). Then, to push the envelope of competition further, Under Armour creates even more outrageous (and ugly) uniforms for Maryland to rival Nike. The warmup uniforms were different and just as bad. It's time to get back to football and tradition rather than all the fashion talk. I don't care what you wear, just line up and play. Blood and mud look the same no matter how pretty you look.
5) The little guys believe.
Big Bad Ohio State gets a bigger scare from the Ohios, Toledos, and Navys of the world than they have from Michigan in the last few years. This is because the scrappy, David vs. Goliath mantra is starting to find hope in the little schools. Don't get me wrong, I think Toledo is vastly underrated, but they threw EVERYTHING at the Buckeyes on Sat (as usual) but this was slightly different...they almost won. In the past, a recruit would kill to ride the pine at Notre Dame, Texas, Michigan, or OSU rather than start at the MAC or Big East schools. The time have changed where players seek to get on the field now so more higher level recruits seek the school that will let them show their talents as soon as possible. This better breed of athlete at the lower tier schools has led to some new dynasties (Boise, TCU, etc.) as well as the real upset potential every week. It's not the Big Boys suffering; it's better coaches and players on the little sisters of the poor that know these games are their one big shot to shock the world. They know no one cares about or remembers the Little Caesars/Microcenter/Best Buy/Your Name Here for $100000 Bowl but everyone will remember the school that beats Ohio State. Quick: Who won last year's Liberty Bowl? No clue? Ok, what 1-AA school beat Michigan in the Big House in 2007? Go Appalachian State! These players know this is the chance for immortality and are stepping up to the plate. Look out Auburn, OSU, PSU, Michigan, USC, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. here comes Utah State, Toledo, Temple, App State, Utah, Tulane, Rice, Tulsa.
Of all the sports in the country, tradition is deepest in college football. This is, in my opinion, the simplest argument of all. The rivalries, the passion, the hatred, the pride, the fight songs, the band; tradition is rampant in the sport. Another aspect that is inherent to the deep-rooted tradition is the uniforms. The numbers on the Bama helmet, the Princeton....I mean Michigan wings on the helmet, the white of PSU, the Silver Bullets of OSU all epitomize the history and tradition of the sport. Then along comes Nike and tries to reinvent the wheel. First, Oregon is used as a fashion model changing week to week with each uniform trying to be more outrageous than the last then Nike gets greedy and tries to reinvent the tradition of everyone with their 'pro-combat' unis. They've gotten out of hand. OSU saying they're wearing 'throwbacks' when in reality it is a simple ploy for the almighty dollar. Teams don't even wear school colors in the pro combat uniform any more (FSU wearing black for example). Then, to push the envelope of competition further, Under Armour creates even more outrageous (and ugly) uniforms for Maryland to rival Nike. The warmup uniforms were different and just as bad. It's time to get back to football and tradition rather than all the fashion talk. I don't care what you wear, just line up and play. Blood and mud look the same no matter how pretty you look.
5) The little guys believe.
Big Bad Ohio State gets a bigger scare from the Ohios, Toledos, and Navys of the world than they have from Michigan in the last few years. This is because the scrappy, David vs. Goliath mantra is starting to find hope in the little schools. Don't get me wrong, I think Toledo is vastly underrated, but they threw EVERYTHING at the Buckeyes on Sat (as usual) but this was slightly different...they almost won. In the past, a recruit would kill to ride the pine at Notre Dame, Texas, Michigan, or OSU rather than start at the MAC or Big East schools. The time have changed where players seek to get on the field now so more higher level recruits seek the school that will let them show their talents as soon as possible. This better breed of athlete at the lower tier schools has led to some new dynasties (Boise, TCU, etc.) as well as the real upset potential every week. It's not the Big Boys suffering; it's better coaches and players on the little sisters of the poor that know these games are their one big shot to shock the world. They know no one cares about or remembers the Little Caesars/Microcenter/Best Buy/Your Name Here for $100000 Bowl but everyone will remember the school that beats Ohio State. Quick: Who won last year's Liberty Bowl? No clue? Ok, what 1-AA school beat Michigan in the Big House in 2007? Go Appalachian State! These players know this is the chance for immortality and are stepping up to the plate. Look out Auburn, OSU, PSU, Michigan, USC, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. here comes Utah State, Toledo, Temple, App State, Utah, Tulane, Rice, Tulsa.
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