Welcome to your new Saturday morning feature here at the National Football Post — the NFP Saturday Tailgate. We’re ecstatic to ramp up our college football coverage this season and deliver you a one-stop shop for all things college pigskin, from Week 1 until the BCS championship game.
Throughout the fall, the NFP will keep you covered and up to date with the latest news, whether it is an injury to a Heisman Trophy contender or an upset that shakes up the BCS standings.
So before you grab your cold shower, pop some Tylenol and try to pretend that Friday night never happened, be sure to pass me a cold beverage. I may be on the wrong side of 21, but I am still down to party with some co-eds.
With that said, let’s get this tailgate started right.
Week 1’s storylines to watch
*The lingering question of which North Carolina players would be on the sideline for the Tar Heels’ huge nonconference matchup with LSU at the Georgia Dome finally was answered on Friday morning. With an ongoing academic investigation and an NCAA inquiry that is not limited to the UNC program, head coach Butch Davis was faced with forfeiting potential victories if he put players on the field who ultimately would be disciplined.
ICONUNC head coach Butch Davis will be missing many of his starters against LSU.
We already saw star defensive tackle Marvin Austin get suspended Wednesday because, according to Davis, he “neglected his responsibilities to the team.” Davis said Austin would sit indefinitely because of this and not because of the inquiry into UNC’s academic issues and the possible relationship several players had with agents.
South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier then benched star tight end Weslye Saunders for the Gamecocks’ game this past Thursday against Southern Miss, as well, for issues apparently unrelated to this ever-growing investigation. Coincidence or not, these head coaches proceeded with caution.
We wondered how the NCAA and Davis would further proceed on this issue, and we received our answer Friday morning when six UNC players — Austin, cornerbacks Charles Brown and Kendric Burney, wide receiver Greg Little, and defensive ends Michael McAdoo and Robert Quinn were declared ineligible for the game. Six other players — running backs Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston, defensive end Linwan Euwell, and safeties Brian Gupton, Da’Norris Searcy and Jonathan Smith were announced as being withheld, as well.
UNC also worked with the NCAA to determine the eligibility status of three other players who were questionable to travel to Atlanta. Those players were safety Deunta Williams and linebackers Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter. Late Friday, Williams was declared ineligible while Sturdivant and Carter were cleared to play. At the end of the day, nine starters will be out of action.
North Carolina arguably enters this season with the most NFL talent of any team in the nation — particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Even if they truly have two-deep talent, though, there’s no question that the pressure will be amped up even more on the underwhelming T.J. Yates under center. Davis didn’t release a regular season depth chart before his weekly press conference, noting that he would employ a “fluid” depth chart in practice this week. No indication was given of who could possibly sit out against the Tigers, but we all knew the worst-case scenario.
Throw in the fact that the entire coaching staff is in hot water, and there is absolutely no way to predict how the Tar Heels react on the field once that football is kicked off. All I know is that the Tigers will be lining up with their regular starters — which gives them a distinct advantage.
*Intriguing nonconference action rules opening week and Labor Day weekend, and it doesn’t end with just UNC against LSU. The big one — the real big one — will take place on Monday night at FedEx Field between Boise State and Virginia Tech. Boise is positioned, because of its talent and legitimate schedule, to make a run at the BCS national championship game. Broncos fans have never been flying higher than they are now. It is their moment, and they want to revel in Smurf Turf glory throughout the season if they can get by the Hokies.
ICONVirginia Tech QB Tyrod Taylor developed as a passer in '09.
Meanwhile, Virginia Tech possesses the best and deepest backfield in the nation, along with a quarterback in Tyrod Taylor who made great strides last season. The Hokies are used to playing in big opening-week contests. They just aren’t used to winning them, losing to No. 1 USC in 2004 and No. 5 Alabama last season.
Which team is feeling more pressure? Even with the Hokies’ one-sided losses to open those aforementioned seasons, the Broncos have everything to lose on Monday night. While we watched Boise take care of Oregon last season in the opener, that game was at home. Last time the nation watched the Broncos open on the road against a big-time opponent was in 2005 against Georgia. That didn’t end well.
The Broncos have a new defensive coordinator in defensive line coach Pete Kwiatkowski after losing Justin Wilcox to Tennessee. However, the two worked closely together during their tenure in Boise, and the unit will look similar schematically. The team was strong against the run last season, but the unit didn’t see anything that resembled a three-headed monster like Ryan Williams, Darren Evans and David Wilson.
On the flip side, can a rebuilding Hokies defense — Bud Foster or not — contain a Boise offense led by quarterback Kellen Moore that relies on varied formations and looks to disrupt a defense? Will the Hokies be able to limit the big play? Stock your pantry and fridge now because you don’t want to run out of chips and dip for this one.
Week 1’s best games
Besides the UNC-LSU matchup and the Boise State-Virginia Tech tilt, these are the games worth keeping an eye on if your girlfriend/wife/boo gives you grief for wanting to watch too many games (I tried to limit the list as best as I could — sorry guys).
ICONNotre Dame head coach Brian Kelly makes his debut against Purdue.
Purdue at Notre Dame: The Brian Kelly era begins in South Bend, while Miami transfer Robert Marve gets his second chance on a big stage.
Connecticut at Michigan: It’s become chic to pick against Michigan in nonconference home games, but Randy Edsall’s Huskies are really good — and dangerous.
Washington at BYU: Huskies quarterback Jake Locker begins his Heisman campaign on tough road terrain.
Oregon State vs. TCU: Will the Horned Frogs blitz new Beavers quarterback Ryan Katz all night long?
SMU at Texas Tech: How many points will these two teams combine for on Sunday afternoon?
Navy vs. Maryland: Can the Maryland defense contain Navy signal-caller Ricky Dobbs and start a make-or-break campaign for head coach Ralph Friedgen on the right foot?
Skinny posts
…USC running back Marc Tyler racked up 154 yards on 17 carries Thursday night in the team’s win over Hawaii — a scary thought considering that Dillon Baxter is already considered the most dangerous rusher in the ‘SC backfield and he didn’t even play while serving a one-game suspension.
…Teammates see a difference in the way Georgia Tech senior quarterback Joshua Nesbitt is throwing the football. Not only did he build chemistry with his receivers this offseason, but he seems to have a little more zip on the football and is better equipped at ball placement. Still, expect a very healthy dose of rushing from Paul Johnson’s triple-option offense.
ICONStanford QB Andrew Luck is one of the best in the nation.
…While Stanford QB Andrew Luck may have thrown for a pedestrian 13 touchdowns last season, the most important stat may be this: out of 288 pass attempts in his first season as a starter, he tossed just four interceptions.
…Bobby Bowden’s 34-year run with Florida State ended after the Seminoles’ victory over West Virginia in the Gator Bowl last season. With that sort of longevity unheard of in sports these days — and many other professions — let’s take a look at the current longest-tenured FBS head coaches at one school.
Joe Paterno, Penn State: entering 45th season
Chris Ault, Nevada: 26th
Frank Beamer, Va. Tech: 24th
Larry Blakeney, Troy: 20th
Pat Hill, Fresno State: 14th
Mack Brown, Texas: 13th
Bob Stoops, Oklahoma: 12th
Randy Edsall, Connecticut: 12th
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: 12th
Meanwhile, these head coaches are all entering their 10th year at their current school:
Mark Richt, Georgia
Jim Tressel, Ohio State
Jim Grobe, Wake Forest
Ralph Friedgen, Maryland
Gary Pinkel, Missouri
Greg Schiano, Rutgers
Gary Patterson, TCU
Freshmen who could make the most impact in 2010
RB Dillon Baxter, USC: Fans have to wait to see Baxter until the Trojans get back to the mainland, as the running back was suspended for the season-opener against Hawaii. If he can keep his nose clean, he will immediately be one of the most electrifying players in the nation. Head coach Lane Kiffin said that he is “potentially the most talented player on the team.” And he’s a freshman.
WR Kenny Stills, Oklahoma: Stills could really benefit playing across Ryan Broyles, who will draw most of the attention from defenses. He had an impressive spring game, and quarterback Landry Jones will throw the football this season even with head coach Bob Stoops feeding the rock to a healthy DeMarco Murray.
ICONMarcus Lattimore will continue to get carries at South Carolina.
RB Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina: We were waiting for an offensive juggernaut during the Steve Spurrier era at South Carolina. After Thursday night’s performance, perhaps this is the year — if Stephen Garcia and the offensive line can play as well as they did against Southern Miss every week. While leading returning rusher Kenny Miles is solid, Lattimore was the nation’s top running back recruit and looks like a YouTube clip waiting to happen. He often looked like a man among boys against the Golden Eagles.
S Matt Elam, Florida: Elam has earned regular playing time in Gainesville, something the trio of Dominique Easley, Ronald Powell and Sharrif Floyd — the Miami Heat of college football — have not. The safety impressed coaches during the spring, and he will play in the Gators’ nickel package in addition to backing up Ahmad Black at strong safety.
S Marquis Flowers, Arizona: Another impressive first-year safety, Flowers could find himself in the starting lineup sooner than later after Wildcats head coach Mike Stoops moved Robert Golden from strong safety to cornerback. At the very least, he should play in the nickel.
RB Michael Dyer, Auburn: Dyer can run the football and is too good to keep off of the field. But he will need to be able to block in offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn’s scheme if he is to stay on the field. The Tigers have Onterio McCalebb and Mario Fannin ready to run all day, as well, so Dyer will need to be adept at blitz pick-up and blocking if he is to take carries from the veterans.
QB Jake Heaps, BYU: Heaps will share quarterback duties for the Cougars with junior Riley Nelson. Head coach Bronco Mendenhall likes the different styles that Heaps and Nelson bring to the table. The feeling, however, is that Heaps’ talent will eventually outshine Nelson’s and he’ll be taking the majority of the snaps before long. He was, after all, one the country’s top QB recruits.
QB Pete Thomas, Colorado State: Rams head coach Steve Fairchild gave the starting nod to Thomas, who was one of the most touted recruits in CSU history. The 6-5, 220-pounder will start displaying his big arm in the opener against rival Colorado.
Quote of the week
“It’s a hell of a way to have your first game, isn’t it? Against a team like that? They’re No. 1 or No. 2 in America, picked by everybody, and they showed it.” – new Marshall head coach Doc Holliday, after his Thundering Herd lost to Ohio State
Note: Three straight sophomores have won the Heisman Trophy after no second-year player had ever won the award until Tim Tebow took home the hardware in 2007. Will there be a sophomore on the NFP’s debut Heisman Watch on Wednesday? We shall see…
Since I expect this column to evolve throughout the season, if you ever have any suggestions and want something provided in this forum, feel free to send me an email at dave.miller@nationalfootballpost.com.
Enjoy the games!
Follow me on Twitter at Miller_Dave
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