COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The Springtime Football Fix
Compiled by JOEY JOHNSTON The Tampa Tribune

Published: Apr 19, 2007


Yes, there's dialogue about a Division I-A college football playoff system, largely initiated by University of Florida president Bernie Machen.

No, it won't be in place for next season (or ever, who knows?).

The Bowl Championship Series is back - and for the first time in recent memory, there's not a significant change in the mechanism.

The "double-hosting" format enters its second season, and all roads lead to New Orleans. The Sugar Bowl will be held Jan. 1 at the Superdome, followed six days later by the BCS Championship Game (matching the No. 1 team and No. 2 team in the final BCS standings) at the same venue.

Automatic BCS bids go to champions of the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC, along with Notre Dame (if it is No. 8 or higher in the final standings). At-large bids are available for teams in the top 12. The champion of a non-BCS league (such as Boise State last season) can qualify by finishing in the top 14 (or top 16 if it ranks ahead of a BCS league champion).

BCS standings are derived from a three-pronged formula - the Harris Interactive Poll, the coaches poll and six independent computer rankings (highest and lowest thrown out, the remaining four are averaged).

No league can send more than two of its teams to BCS bowls.

Anchor teams remain the same (SEC champion to the Sugar, Big 12 to the Fiesta, ACC to the Orange, Big Ten and Pac-10 to the Rose, Big East is unaffiliated - unless any of the champions are No. 1 or No. 2 in the BCS standings, thus pulling themselves up to the title game).

Got it?

Me neither.

Don't worry, there's all summer to review and ponder the entire 32-bowl lineup, which begins Dec. 20 with the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (try fitting that on a marquee).

Here's the BCS bowl lineup:

Jan. 1, 2008 - Sugar Bowl at Superdome, New Orleans (Fox)

Jan. 1, 2008 - Rose Bowl at Pasadena, Calif. (ABC)

Jan. 2, 2008 - Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. (Fox)

Jan. 3, 2008 - Orange Bowl at Dolphin Stadium, Miami (Fox)

Jan. 7, 2008 - BCS Championship Game at Superdome, New Orleans (Fox)

OUR TOP 10
The Tribune takes a whack at the upcoming season's top 10 (reserving the right to tweak this list by late August):

1. USC Trojans: Had it not been for a stunning loss against UCLA, the Trojans would have played Ohio State for the national title. USC, a resounding Rose Bowl winner against Michigan, returns QB John David Booty and 10 starters on defense.

2. West Virginia Mountaineers: Coach Rich Rodriguez turned down Alabama to stay at his alma mater - for good reason. The Mountaineers return QB Patrick White and RB Steve Slaton. The key to a successful Big East run might be escaping USF on Sept. 28.

3. Michigan Wolverines: The offense should be dynamite with QB Chad Henne, RB Mike Hart and WR Mario Manningham, plus the return of OT Jake Long. The defense must be rebuilt. The Wolverines get Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State at home.

4. Oklahoma Sooners: We believe Bob Stoops does it with mirrors. We believe the Sooners will adjust to life without RB Adrian Peterson. And we definitely believe the Red River Shootout (Oklahoma-Texas on Oct. 6) will be a red-letter date this season.

5. Florida Gators: The Gators are closer to a repeat engagement at the BCS Championship Game instead of a return to the Outback Bowl. Let's not forget the backlog of recruits under Urban Meyer. Florida might be the new USC.

6. Texas Longhorns: Sophomore QB Colt McCoy showed he's capable of running an offense and winning big games. He has a franchise back in Jamaal Charles. There will be plenty of new faces on the Longhorn defense. Oklahoma is the obvious obstacle.

7. Wisconsin Badgers: Nineteen starters return from a 12-1 team - although QB John Stocco isn't one of them. Sophomore RB P.J. Hill (1,500 yards, 15 TDs) is the real deal. The Badgers' Big Ten schedule gets plenty tougher (Michigan State, Ohio State rotate in).

8. Virginia Tech Hokies: With uncertainty at FSU and Miami, the Hokies look like the class of the ACC. As usual, the reason is defense (LBs Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall are top-notch). Speaking of FSU, the Seminoles finally emerge on the Hokie schedule.

9. LSU Tigers: QB JaMarcus Russell departed early for NFL riches and the defense is without all-world safety LaRon Landry. But years of great recruiting classes have LSU positioned for an SEC West title. Key moment: Sept. 8, Virginia Tech at LSU.

10. Louisville Cardinals: New coach Steve Kragthorpe was bolstered by the return of QB Brian Brohm. RB Michael Bush bolted for NFL, but bullish sophomore Anthony Allen (Jesuit) is an excellent big-back replacement.

BIG SHOES TO FILL
Here are likely replacements for some notable college football superstars who are moving to the NFL:

WR CALVIN JOHNSON, GEORGIA TECH: His contributions will be replaced with versatility - namely new starting QB Taylor Bennett (326 passing yards in 38-35 loss to West Virginia in the Gator Bowl), RB Tashard Choice (ACC's leading rusher with 1,473 yards) and a veteran offensive line. The Yellow Jackets aren't a one-man show.

QB BRADY QUINN, NOTRE DAME: The biggest question in South Bend: Will freshman Jimmy Clausen - regarded by some as the nation's best recruit - be prepared to take the reins on Sept. 1 when Georgia Tech visits Notre Dame?

RB ADRIAN PETERSON, OKLAHOMA: Peterson's injury last season forced a shuttle-system in the Sooner backfield - and it worked. Oklahoma might not have a primary ball carrier, but the leader figures to be Allen Patrick (761 yards).

QB JAMARCUS RUSSELL, LSU: The Tigers have choices. Either expert game-manager Matt Flynn (MVP of 40-3 bowl-game win against Miami in 2005) or Ryan Perrilloux, the former blue-chip recruit whose time finally might be at hand.

QB TROY SMITH, OHIO STATE: Life behind center won't be the same, obviously. The successor to last season's Heisman Trophy winner will come from the pool of junior Todd Boeckman, sophomore Rob Schoenhoft, redshirt freshman Antonio Henton and 21-year-old freshman Joe Bauserman, who spent three seasons playing in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization.

KEY EARLY GAMES
Sixteen nonconference games to watch in September:

Sept. 1 Tennessee at California; Oklahoma State at Georgia; Georgia Tech at Notre Dame; Washington State at Wisconsin

Sept. 8 Miami at Oklahoma; Oregon at Michigan; Virginia Tech at LSU; South Florida at Auburn; Nebraska at Wake Forest

Sept. 13 West Virginia at Maryland

Sept. 15 USC at Nebraska; Notre Dame at Michigan; Louisville at Kentucky

Sept. 20 Texas A&M at Miami

Sept. 29 Alabama vs. Florida State (at Jacksonville); Louisville at N.C. State

THE HEISMAN DOZEN
Twelve names to consider for this upcoming season's Heisman Trophy:

1. Steve Slaton, RB, Jr., West Virginia (pictured): Last season's totals - 1,744 rushing yards, 7.0-yard average, 16 TDs - were plenty scary. USF was only team to truly shut him down.

2. John David Booty, QB, Sr., USC: Passed for 391 yards, four TDs in Rose Bowl. Should thrive in second season as starter with typically loaded Trojan offense.

3. Darren McFadden, RB, Jr., Arkansas: "Run DMc" made New York award trip as a sophomore. His 1,647 rushing yards and 14 TDs were big reason for Hogs winning SEC West.

4. Mike Hart, RB, Sr., Michigan: Tough-minded mighty-mite could take his place among the best backs ever in the Big Ten.

5. Brian Brohm, QB, Sr., Louisville: Back for his senior season with a new head coach, but plenty of returning offensive weapons.

6. Ian Johnson, RB, Jr., Boise State: Rushed for 1,714 yards, 25 TDs, proposed to girlfriend on national TV. What can he do for an encore?

7. Ray Rice, RB, Jr., Rutgers: Powered Scarlet Knights to stunning season behind his 1,794 rushing yards, 20 TDs.

8. Chad Henne, QB, Sr., Michigan: Wolverines have had many notable QBs, but few with the four-year career of Henne.

9. Colt McCoy, QB, So., Texas: He was actually a stealth Heisman candidate as a freshman before Texas took a late-season dive.

10. Patrick White, QB, Jr., West Virginia: An immense dual threat in the freeze-option offense (1,219 rushing yards, 18 TDs), but Steve Slaton is the man.

11. Erik Ainge, QB, Sr., Tennessee: Knee surgery kept him out of spring ball, but what a difference he made last season for Volunteers.

12. Matt Grothe, QB, So., South Florida: Surprise? Not really. Few players mean more to their team than Grothe does to the Bulls.

COACHING CHANGES
There will be 23 new head coaches in Division I-A this season:

Team Old Coach New Coach
Air Force Fisher DeBerry Troy Calhoun
Alabama Mike Shula Nick Saban
Arizona State Dirk Koetter Dennis Erickson
Army Bobby Ross Stan Brock
Boston College Tom O'Brien Jeff Jagodzinski
Central Michigan Brian Kelly Butch Jones
Cincinnati Mark Dantonio Brian Kelly
Florida International Don Strock Mario Cristobal
Idaho Dennis Erickson Robb Akey
Iowa State Dan McCarney Gene Chizik
Louisiana Tech Jack Bicknell Derek Dooley
Louisville Bobby Petrino Steve Kragthorpe
Miami Larry Coker Randy Shannon
Michigan State John L. Smith Mark Dantonio
Minnesota Glen Mason Tim Brewster
North Carolina John Bunting Butch Davis
N.C. State Chuck Amato Tom O'Brien
North Texas Darrell Dickey Todd Dodge
Rice Todd Graham David Bailiff
Stanford Walt Harris Jim Harbaugh
Tulane Chris Scelfo Bob Toledo
Tulsa Steve Kragthorpe Todd Graham
UAB Watson Brown Neil Callaway

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