NCAA Football 2003-2004
 

Here are some preseason rankings by cbs.sportsline.com. Discuss:

1. Oklahoma: When Bob Stoops says, "We should be decent," the nation better watch out. Once again, the defense is loaded, recruiting is great. Pencil the Sooners into the Big 12 championship game and probably the Sugar Bowl.

2. Auburn: The Tigers head into Saturday's spring game loaded. They are three deep at tailback, finally settled at quarterback (Jason Campbell), the linebackers could be the best in the country with Karlos Dansby and Dontarrious Thomas. Tommy T. is safe with a contract extension. Now, just beat USC and everything will be OK -- until the first week of September.

3. Ohio State: Jim Tressel continues to be a coaching genius. No need for Maurice Clarett to even see the field in the spring game. It was wise of Tressel to hold him out despite Clarett's shoulder being 100 percent. It's hard to believe that the Buckeyes can win half their games by seven points or less again but why not? In a couple of short years, Tressel has proved himself one of the best in the country.

4. Kansas State: The BCA Classic against Cal is finally finalized -- the first game of the college season on Aug. 23. If the Wildcats go all the way they will play 15 games. Two Heisman candidates in quarterback Ell Roberson and running back Darren Sproles.

5. Miami: Derrick Crudup played even with Brock Berlin in the spring, but Berlin was handed the job last week. Crudup made veiled claims of racism. (Crudup is black, Berlin is white). Crudup met with coach Larry Coker and quarterbacks coach Dan Werner and cleared things up. But what happens if Berlin falters?

6. Virginia Tech: An uncharacteristic down performance in the conference (3-4) "doomed" the Hokies' season (10-4). We're betting Tech bounces back behind tremendous quarterback depth -- Marcus Vick, Bryan Randall, DeAngelo Hall, Kevin Jones etc. Randall is the starter at quarterback for now, however Vick, brother of you-know-who, will get some snaps. Seven starters or top backups missed the spring because of various injuries but will be back in the fall. Defensive back DeAngelo Hall spent the whole spring on offense and will get about 30 plays per game at receiver next season. Biggest advantage: The Miami game is at home Nov. 1.

7. Georgia: There is much work to be done in both lines but the guess here is that Mark Richt will be able to make a heck of a run at defending that SEC championship. It says a lot for the stable of talent that the Dawgs can lose Boss Bailey, Musa Smith, et al and still be a top 10 program.

8. Pittsburgh: If Miami falters, blame the Panthers. Pittsburgh has the horses and schedule to pass the 'Canes. Pittsburgh gets Virginia Tech and Miami at home, which means it basically controls the Big East race. If everything falls right, Walt Harris goes to the Sugar Bowl and then, finally, to the NFL.

9. Texas A&M: Dennis Franchione came out of spring calling Reggie McNeal and Dusty Long co-starters at quarterback. McNeal is the better athlete. Long, right now, is the better thrower.

10. North Carolina State : An 8-1 start is not out of the question when the Wolfpack play host to Virginia on Nov. 1. The highest-ranked ACC team (12th, AP) is coming off a school-record 11-win season. Tailback T.A. McClendon was held out of spring to rest his injured wrist but will be back 100 percent in the fall.

11. Texas: Even with Cedric Benson, Texas was near the bottom of I-A in rushing. Combine that with a new quarterback and Roy Williams alone won't be enough for the 'Horns to win the Big 12 South.

12. Virginia: A team for the MTV Generation. Forty-one lettermen returning, 17 starters. A freshman or sophomore started at 19 spots in the Continental Tire Bowl game over West Virginia. The best quarterback in the ACC, Matt Schaub, will challenge N.C. State for the conference title.

13. Washington: Maybe optimistic this high but the Huskies defense can't be that bad again, can it? Two Heisman-quality players on offense (Cody Pickett and Reggie Williams) should have U-Dub improving on a 7-6 record. It's the defense that will decide whether Slick Rick breaks into double digits. The guess here is this year, or pretty darn near it, and a Rose Bowl berth for Washington.

14. Arizona State: The new Terrell Suggs is ... well, no one can replace the nation's leading sacker, but junior Jimmy Verdon will try. More flexible than Suggs, Verdon is quick enough to rush from the edge or stop the run from the inside. Coach Dirk Koetter got Boise State going in his third year. The same should happen in his third year at Arizona State.

15. Michigan: John Navarre is back for his 37th year as quarterback of the Wolverines. Just kidding. This is one program that can absorb the loss of six players to the NFL Draft. That means it won't be a Rose Bowl year for the Wolverines, just another solid one.

16. Notre Dame: Sophomore quarterback Chris Olsen had a big spring game but he is unlikely to replace junior Pat Dillingham as the backup to Carlyle Holiday. If Holiday progresses, as expected, under Tyrone Willingham the Irish offense will be much improved. The defense is a given with eight returning starters. If Notre Dame can overcome a tough schedule -- by Oct. 17 it will have played only two home games -- another double-digit win season isn't out of the question.

17. Southern California: We don't like the Trojans as high as some others because of new faces at quarterback, tailback, linebacker and safety. They lost a Heisman Trophy winner, their leading rusher and a first-round draft pick at safety. Pete Carroll's defense will hold the Trojans in the Pac-10 race, but it won't be enough for them to win it.

18. Alabama: The Mike Price era starts with plenty of talent. Former Texas Tech runner Shaud Williams gets the tailback job. The quarterback job is finally all Brodie Croyle's. With no bowl in sight, Price can keep the wolves away from his door by duplicating Franchione's final act: Winning 10 games.

19. LSU: Matt Mauck returned to the practice field for the first time since injuring his foot last season. That's good for the depth at quarterback but there is still much work to be done on offense. The Tigers tied for the SEC West title with an offense that was No. 86 in the country. Then Nick Saban lost his top two rushers, Domanick Davis and LaBrandon Toefield, to the NFL. Replacement Joseph Addai rushed for 438 yards last year.

20. Penn State: Controversy has been swirling around JoePa all spring. It seems he played defensive back Anwar Phillips in the Capital One Bowl after Anwar has been expelled following a sexual assault charge. Paterno's latest blast is that it is none of the media or fans' business. Uh, wrong JoePa. Your salary is paid by the public and you are accountable to your bosses -- remember them? -- and hundreds of thousands of alumni. President Graham Spanier said publicly that Anwar shouldn't have played in the bowl. Meanwhile, back on the field, Zack Mills looked pretty good. He will have to with the loss of Larry Johnson.

21. Maryland: Almost a forgotten team at a basketball school where the best football news is elsewhere in the ACC. Terps have the nation's best punt returner, Scott Suter (four touchdowns), who underwent knee surgery on April 5. Ralph Friedgen needs a backup behind Scott McBrien. Bruce Perry -- remember him? -- is back at tailback.

22. Florida State: The Seminoles' 2003 fortunes hang by the fragile psyche of Chris Rix. He was made off limits to the media during spring practice after last season's meltdown. Greg Jones could be a Heisman candidate and there is the usual collection of athletes, but why do we get the feeling a dynasty is ending in Tallahassee? The offseason disaster created by Adrian McPherson and the school won't go away any time soon. The only distraction is top-notch football. Is FSU back in the top 10 or seeing the end of the Bowden era?

23. Oklahoma State: There are few programs in the country with this much optimism. The Cowboys will challenge for the Big 12 South title on the strength of 13 returning starters that include Biletnikoff candidate Rashaun Woods and 1,000-yard rusher Tatum Bell. Hey, how many teams have beaten Oklahoma twice in a row?

24. Tennessee: The offensive line has been nicked up. The running game is a huge question mark. The schedule is tougher than last year when a six-overtime victory over Arkansas kept the Vols from a 7-6 embarrassment. (They finished 8-5). There is no sympathy for the rebuilding in the SEC. A good place to start is scoring more than 30 combined points against Alabama, Miami and Florida. Free safety Rashad Baker should be an All-American, which means he'll probably be making a lot of tackles 10-20 yards down the field.

25. Arkansas: Just another dogfight in the SEC. The Hogs return 19 starters from a team that lost the SEC championship game and are the sixth SEC team on this list. News flash: If everything falls right, Arkansas could be back in that title game. Quarterback Matt Jones also spent time at receiver. That's good news. Coach Houston Nutt always says he wants to pass more but the Hogs usually end up leaning on a solid running game. If they can throw better (Jones completed only 52 percent of his passes), the Hogs will be tougher than Nolan Richardson's lawyer. Watch All-American offensive tackle Shawn Andrews. His new defensive coach is former Lombardi and Outland Trophy winner Tracy Rocker.

While it's nice to see A&M recieve some respect from the national media, i think we are HIGHLY overrated. We're a team coming off a 6-6 season, no bowl game, a new head coach, and at least 4 of our losses last season were heartbreakers (ITTech, NU, MU, and t.u.)

If we had any hope for a Big XII title it was last year, we caught all the tough guys at home, 'cept for t.u. This year our schedule is brutal and contains trips to VT, ittech, nebraska, and oklahoma. All are tough places to play, but i do think that Fran will turn around the jinx the red raiders have had on us lately.

As much as i want to think that Coach Fran will come in and change things around quickly, i think 2004-2005 will be the year the Ags break the top 10. This season i don't think we should start out ranked higher than 20, if at all. Of course, my reservations are based on years of RC Slocum coached football, Fran may come in and totally raise the bar and change the expectations for Aggie football. This is how i see our schedule shaking out this year:

Arkansas State W
Utah W
@ Virginia Tech W (this game IS winnable & i think will tell a lot about our team)

Pittsburgh W
@ Texas Tech W
Baylor W
@ Nebraska L (again, i think this game is winnable, but we haven't had too much success in lincoln)

Oklahoma State W
Kansas W
@ Oklahoma L
@ Missouri W
Texas * W (hard fought game, i think Fran bests Mr. Februrary, Mack Brown)

So, i see us going anywhere from 10-2 (best case scenario) to 8-4 (with losses to VT and t.u.) Realistically we'll probably end up 9-3 or 8-4.

Basically, what i'm saying is that, we're a bit overrated, and i'd rather us not be ranked and work our way up than vice versa. BTW, this is pretty dated, look who it has as the coach of the #18 team ;)

Kitso
KS 361 times August 30th can't get here soon enough!

Alrighty then! I'm ready for some football!!!

I am worried about some of UGA's first few games because some of their starters sold their SEC rings and may not play unless they pay back what they got.

NC State should be real good, knock off FSU as top ACC team for good hopefully!

FSU wouldn't be suprized is this is their first year in a long time they might not finish in the top 25.

Ohio State Should do well this season. will they go for another undefeated record? not really. As for Penn State, Time is running out for Coach Joe P. Unless he has a team that can be among the top four in the Big Ten and overtake OSU, Don't expect him to be around next season.

I am quite worried about that, too. Playing Clemson in Clemson isn't the easiest thing to do, but without some of those outstanding players, it'll be even more difficult. Of course, I am still rooting for Georgia :)

Wahhhhhhh.. my poor Huskers. :(

Upon reviewing that list I find a few things to be a little off..

Auburn ranked where they are... where did they come from? I don't picture it turning out that way at all. SEC teams beat up on eachother pretty bad by the end of the season so it's unlikely that'll be the outcome.

As for OU at #1.. Although they are 'my team', I'd be surprised to see them go undefeated. They have a road game at Alabama this year as well as a road game at Colorado. They also have to beat Texas for the 4th time in a row -- Mack Brown should be throwing everything he has at them (losing 4 times in a row could bring up some job security issues for Mack).

Texas ranked behind Texas A&M... That's almost comical. However, A&M as a team has shown they can playin big game situations (see last year's OU game) whereas Texas rarely beats a ranked opponent. Perhaps that is starting to be a factor in the ranking.

Kansas State may be a little overrated in that poll as well. Typically their OOC play is a joke. They do avoid OU this year but have to make a trip to Austin. Depending on Nebraska and Colorado they might not be even top 2 in their division.

Missouri should be higher on the list, their QB is amazing.

Maaaaaan, FSU #22? Geez! And not much new here, zntke hatin'! But it's okay...we shall see how next season pans out for the Noles.

FSU will be a lot more successful on the field this year if they can avoid the types of problems that occured last year off the field (McPherson).

Chris Rix sucks dood. If McPherson didn't get his butt booted they would be in alot better shape.

Libra I may be hatin but I have been right so far looking at last year.lol

I saw McPherson come in and replace Rix in what I believe was McPherson's last game. They did lose, but the guy single-handedly put up more yards and I think even 2 scores in the few minutes they had left than Rix had the entire game.

Hopefully they have something waiting under their wings to step in and play QB. They obviously didn't last year as I saw them moving a WR to play QB?!

FSU Does Rise or Fall on Rix
 

Bowden thinks we might be pretty good this year if Chris comes through. Ten of eleven on defense return; only one senior on the 3-deep chat on offense.

No kidding he did qb in HS but he was a much better WR and when he left it it hurt them more. If they start someone other than Rix they may have a good run but still won't be top 10.

It will be a painful year for FSU, no doubt. Is this the year that NC State kills off FSU as a powerhouse? FSU is in the same situation as many other programs and it will be a painful process to rebuild a decent team. zntke I disagree with many of your statements but I understand that many of them are made from an emotional and not factual standpoint. It is very clear that you dislike both Bowden and FSU, which is your right, and I respect that. But.. if you think the end of the world is occuring at FSU, I would disagree. The program will soon again be recruiting like no other, it has deep pockets, and the facilities to get the talent. There are few other programs with these abilities (OU, Miami, Texas, UF, and a few others). The Seminole have stumbled and will endure much more pain before this is over, but the program will emerge a powerhouse.

Edited to say: GO UCF! I am going to watch UCF play VA Tech in Blacksburg next year and I am praying for a miracle!

Hopefully FSU doesn't experience what OU did in the 90's. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. However, there are a lot of parallels...

Bowden and Switzer were both very successful in their times. However, in both cases the players are being charged right and left with criminal behavior.

In Switzer's case he was fired and the program went on a few years in mediocrity and then slipped into an abyss under Howard Schnellenberger (only lasted 1 year) and John Blake.

That lasted from the early 90's until '99 when the Stoopses came to town.

I don't think it'll go that far, but if it does, don't look to emerge anytime in the near future.

Re: NCAA Football 2003-2004
 

WAR EAGLE!

Ah the talk of college football has me feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
First off OU at the top probably the right choice for top bids so far but they have a tough season ahead and if they can beat the Longhorns 4 in a row it should be adone deal.
Auburn that high amazes me they were good last year but with key injuries to their RB who could make a heisman bid helps with his return but the SEC will mostly see Tennessee or Florida top.
Ohio State should return with some potential but the way they were squeking by last year has me thinking Michigan or someone else will upset a couple games for them.
K-state now there is a program that has potential to be in the Big 12 title game if they can best colorado they should give OU a run for the title then again will the Huskers be as big a pushover this year i think not.
Miami won't be as good without Dorsey it just won't happen yeah they will most likely be the best team in the big east but that's only if they can beat VTech.
SOme other interesting things outside the top 5, OSU my Cowboys actually ranked? That just means one of two things, that being themshowing up and being third best team in the Big 12 south or else now they will fold and be a big disgrace after they get some attention. FSU that low, that makes me cry. yeah they are struggling with new faces in the ACC but i think they can take the ACC title. Alabama should be higher for at one time last year they were breaking top 10 on the rankings and the only reason the Razorbacks made the title game over them was their suspension.

All in all looks like i am gonna be wrong on so many of my ideas how the season will go but then again I can't wait till the first game.

HOKIES
 

x

Seminoles
 

Florida State is coming out of a two-year down cycle, caused by a number of factors that converged all at once. They include the death of a player, the loss of three key coaches and their replacement by some maybe not so suited to the chemistry of the program, and a public focus on the gambling and other crimes of the back-up quarterback. Trust me, I know Bobby Bowden and he is an incredibly tough, capable and charismatic leader. FSU has a good chance to win big on the field this fall, and if that happens it will solve a lot of problems quickly. The out-of-conference is, per usual, the toughest in the country, with games against Colorado, Notre Dame, Florida and Miami. I don't expect us to run the table, but I do expect us to win the ACC again for the 10th time in 11 years. It all depends on whether Rix has grown into the job and doesn't go squirrely.
For what it's worth, Bobby Bowden was president of his fraternity in college, and initiated his son Jeff (now offensive coordinator) into the same fraternity at FSU in 1980.

i cannot wait for next years football season! Regardless of how we do next year I'm just thrilled that I can say that during my college years we were national champs! You cannot top that and if we don't do it again when i'm in college thats ok. But hey, if we do thats awesome!

Re: Seminoles
 

If Rix continues his performance next year or is injured, who replaces him?

To KTSnake
 

If Rix goes down or goes 'away', Fabian Walker is the back-up. Walker is tremendously talented, but zero experience with the exception of getting shelled in the Sugar Bowl. Behind him is Wyatt Sexton: pure passer, temendous talent, less-than-zero experience.
Coach still says Rix is the most talented QB he's ever coached, period. So far that hasn't translated into performance on the field. Rix will be a redshirt junior this fall.
By the way, one of the key coaches we lost was Jim Gladden, Sigma Nu, who retired after 28 years coaching FSU defensive ends.

Re: HOKIES
 

hey hokie hokie high,

this would be a lot easier to read if ya broke it into paragraphs ;)

j/k good luck to y'all! here's to another great game between the Ags and the Hokies this fall. Far and away the best fans i've ever encountered in College Station.

Kitso
KS 361

hahaha
 

x

Re: hahaha
 

Oooo, an MIP at the Chicken huh? Northgate's fun, but it's also one of the worst places to drink in town if you're underage. If you ever make it down to CS again, you need to check out the Tap, Carney's/Blarney Stone, or the Ptarmagin. They're not on that main strip, but are a lot more conducive to *ahem* drinks for all :D

Hmmm, well, i may make the trip up to Blacksburg, i've got a friend who was a DG who graduated from VPI last year and she's been buggin me to get up there and see her. I'd also like to see this become a traditional thing, A&M and VPI are definately schools cut from the same mold, but uh, i'll have to disagree on y'all continuing to win all the time, i think coach Fran may have a word or 2 to say about that :D

Kitso
KS 361

All I know about my Huskers is that they are going to be better than last year.

The unfortunate news is that J.Lo (Jamal Lord) is going to be the starter for at least a good month. The guy has the athletic talent with his legs, but lacks an arm, and the cognitive capacity to lead.
Curt Dukes, a much-heralded red-shirt freshman, decided to transfer for reasons still hazy. The guy was in great shape to lead this team, and I don't think anyone thought that he couldn't eventually beat out J.Lo this season. If anything he would have been the certain starter next year...

So now the Husker Faithful's hopes lay on incoming freshman Joe Daily. I predict that the kid will be the first true freshman since Tommie Frazier to start at QB for the Big Red. If that's the case I'll rejoice and be much happier despite any of the likely growing pains. The kid is absolutely drooling with the departure of Dukes.

Other than that, the Blackshirts are going to return with a vengance. Bo Pelini is the Man! He's already said that there are only going to be 11 blackshirts ever, and that it is unlikely that all 11 will ever be handed out. That's really going to increase competition on that unit. A starter's job is highly coveted, but more than anything those guys want that Black practice jersey. But look for Nebraska to attack the ball in ways that recall the glory years of Charlie McBride and 94-95.

As for our schedule...I know this it's not that bad. Okie State is going to have their Big XII hopes dashed in the first game. Our new AD is organizing the largest reunion of former Letter winners to coincide with that first game, and it's going to be an emotional day for the entire state of Nebraska. Just thinking about I'm getting buzzed.

We also get our tougher games at home this year in K-State, Hitler Youth South (A&M), and ISU. Colorado will be a must win at CU.

In other news, Beta Theta Pi is going to win homecoming for the third straight year.

Care to explain the Hitler Youth South remark?

I may be being oversensitive, but i believe this comment is WAY out of line. Have you been hangin out with those hippies down in Austin?

I'm assuming this is in reference to our uniformed Corps of Cadets. For your information, Texas A&M YEARLY commissions more officers into the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps than any other ROTC program in the Nation. 225 Aggies have achieved the rank of General or Admiral and 8 Aggies have achieved the HIGHEST award you can recieve the Congressional Medal of Honor. 7 during WWII. 18,000 Aggies served as officers during WWII, more than any other school INCLUDING the United States Military Academy.

I'm sorry to hijack this thread, but that is something i will NOT stand for. Call us backwards, bumpkins, gomers, whatever, but NEVER compare a school as patriotic and devoted to this country as Texas A&M to hitler and the nazis.

BTW, a school like Texas A&M is the only place where STUDENTS can organize something like our Red, White and Blue Out game, which was our tribute to 9-11. Here is a picture of Kyle Field that day

http://www.barkerproductions.com/images/rwboutlarge.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/johnnyringo34/osu-game.jpg

so betarulz, i'm waiting for your explanation of your remark.

other than that, lets get back to football on here.

Kitso
KS 361 times i'm proud to be an Aggie, a former Cadet, and a Sigma Nu

Sooner backin' up an Aggie here...

Hitler Youth South?!?!? WTF? Last I remember the Aggie War Hymn certainly didn't sound anywhere close to the Horst Wessel Lied. (The Nazi Party song, which almost always accompanied the German national anthem in those bad old days.)

A little too extreme to generalize the Aggie Corps in that manner. Military in bearing? Yes. Proud? HELL YES! WHOOP! :D

Just like a Husker fan... we have a good football thread going and they start calling people Nazi's.;) :D :cool:

Kitso, I'm sorry for the remark. That name is used a lot in the Husker message boards I visit.

It's origin is from the actions of the Corps of Cadets after the Nebraska/aTm game this past year, when students who had made the trip to College Station from Nebraska (it was our Student Migration game) were met with violence for steppin out of the stadium seats, and running on to field level to celebrate our come from behind victory with the team. I had several friends (a Pike,a ChiO, and a couple APhis) who were beaten to the ground, and kicked several times while down on the ground by members of the Corps. These weren't just isolated incidents, as I am sure you're aware of. The use of violence by college students against other college students is inexcuseable, and it was this display by members of the Corps (who without a doubt are representatives of the university) that caused much anger in the Husker Nation.

Call Kyle Field a memorial if you want, making it wrong for my fellow students to step on the field (had they known the significance, which they didn't), but as I recall, in 1999 after aTm beat UT the entire student section rushed the field, begging the question, "Do A&M students only respect fallen war heroes when they lose at home?" Further, it's a football field where plenty of young men do plenty of disrespectful things all the time while playing the game.

By using the name that's offended you, I didn't mean to draw comparisons to Hitler, but rather to the militant actions, and unquestioning rigidity that has composed the entirity of my interactions, or the interactions of my friends, with members of your university. If those cadets who were guilty of the beatings sustained by my friends and other students from Nebraska, had only stopped to think for only a moment about what they were doing to visiting fans, then none of this would have happened...


Finally, good luck with ol' "Dollar" Bill Bryne as your AD...it'll only be a matter of time before Midnight Yell Practice and other great traditions all have corporate sponsors.

Yay!! Georgia won't lose any players due to the ring selling thing.

http://espn.go.com/ncf/news/2003/0604/1563416.html

Whew! Now I can start making some real bets with my brother (a Clemson grad). How 'bout them dawgs!!

Why is it that SEC schools can't get away with a damned thing lately?

First of all, i agree with you that the actions of the cadet in question was unexcusable. The cadet has since been removed from the Corps and suspended from the university. HOWEVER, that does not mean that your friends and the other NU fans were in the right by rushing the field. Have you ever been to Kyle Field? I've been to every home game since my freshman year, including the 2 games you mentioned. Kyle Field is not technically a memorial, but at the end of EVERY game, multiple announcements are made for fans to stay off the field. By ignoring these announcements, i believe many Aggies saw the actions of your friends as overt acts of disrespect for us and our school. That being said, MOST of the cadets were trying to escort the fans off of Kyle, but a few took it too far and got out of hand. Those that were caught were severely reprimanded and the entire Corps has been alerted that another such instance will lose the Corps privilege of being on Kyle.

Secondly, i was at the 1999 game against t.u. and was present for all the events that led up to it. I can tell you that after we won that game, noone rushed the field that isn't usually on the field. The fish in the Corps chased the Yell Leaders, which is what they do after home wins, to tackle them and carry them to Fish Pond for a celebratory Yell Practice. Company E-2, the Corps outfit responsible for our mascot Revielle came out of the stands to form a protective block around Rev and march her back to the quad. Several cadets came out of the stands to join the football team to sing the War Hymn. That was a highly emotional time for A&M, as we had lost 12 fellow Aggies a week prior in our Bonfire tragedy.

I can even remember in 98, when NU came down to CS and we beat y'all. After THAT game, there was no rushing the field, me and some of my fellow cadets went down on Kyle, sang the school song, and left. IMO, that is how winning fans should act. We Aggies don't rush the field when we win on the road, and we don't expect other schools to rush the field when they win at Kyle. Read my posts on some of the goalpost threads. I think it's utterly classless to rush the field after a big football win. As i said on that thread and i've said before, act like you've been there before. Carry yourselves like winners and you'll be respected by Aggies. Lower yourself by committing classless acts and don't be surprised when we lose our respect for you.

I fail to see how you can call us Hitler Youth, then turn around and say "I didn't mean to draw comparisons to Hitler" Forgive me, i'm an Aggie, my skills of reading comprehension must be lacking :rolleyes: All your thoughts about unquestioning rigidity or militant actions could have easily been expressed by calling us a cult. That's fine, i hear that all the time, and that probably would have just gotten a smile and a laugh out of me. I'll admit it, Aggies are kinda cult-like, we have our own lingo, we're extremely loyal, we adhere to a system of tenets that others don't, etc.

My point is, my fellow Aggies were wrong, as were your friends. Just becasue one Aggie got a little overzealous in protecting our field does NOT absolve the incorrect actions of your friends disobeying requests to stay off of Kyle.

Finally, say what you want about "Dollar" Bill Byrne. All i know is that in the past 6 months, he has done more to energize the Aggie faithful than the previous AD, Wally Groff did, in 10 years. Byrne has hired 2 premier coachs, (Coach Fran and Gary Blair) away from big name schools in their respective sports. He also dislikes t.u. as much as any other Ag, which makes CS a great place for him.

That's all i'm going to say on this field rushing incident and the Hitler Youth comment.

Kitso
KS 361 times this thread needs to get back to football

Oklahoma a legitimate chance at running the table this year. Their defense returns almost completely in-tact with the addition of the top JuCo SS, Done Nicholson. They lost CB Andre Woolfolk but Eric Bassey (who did very well at SS last year) is moving over to CB this year. The defense should be incredible. Nearly everyone on this D is All-American material.

The myth about the offense being underpowered is just plain wrong. They averaged 38 points per game with a VERY tough schedule last season (the vaunted TX only averaged 34). Jones and Works are co-#1 at TB and BOTH put up very impressive showings last year.

They'll be running behind what is probably the best O-line in the Big XII (Mizzou looks pretty good also). For QB we'll return White and Rawls. White has plenty of snaps but has been injury prone. He lead the Sooners to a 14-3 win over TX in '01, not to mention a few really good games early on in '02. Rawls, who is co-#1 with White on the Depth Chart lit up the OU secondary in Spring practice. Anyone that can do that against that Defense is going to be just plain scary against anyone else.

The only question in my mind this year is WR. OU doesn't have any *huge* playmakers at WR, all are pretty competant though.

The outlook is great. Hopefully we'll see Miami (who plays a damned-near laughable schedule) this year for the NC (unless someone on the MAC can go undefeated and skate in on strength of schedule).

"As for Penn State, Time is running out for Coach Joe P. Unless he has a team that can be among the top four in the Big Ten and overtake OSU, Don't expect him to be around next season."

JoePA isn't going to be going anywhere until he's ready to go. He's a legend and even if the team isn't at its highest point, Paterno is still king in Happy Valley. He's said he'll probably be done in a few years, but the administration isn't going to cross his path until then. It would be nice to make it to the BCS bowls, but we still love him anyway. Let's go State!
;)

Ok I now this is gonna sound crazy but i am gonna say Tulsa is gonna win atleast two games this season. Furthermore what is the enigma of them consistently getting the best QB in the state of Oklahoma yet they continue to suck. I would like to blame it on the cheerleaders.

Yo, how about them Hawkeyes?!!

They've actually been going outside the state and doing fairly well lately. Thompson was great last year and I'm damned surprised that he's probably going to have to take a redshirt this year. Allen was supposedly crucial in preparing the D for mobile QB's like Seneca Wallace.

So the co-#1's are Rawls and White.

White thus far hasn't really done it for me. He's run up a few points in some games (UTEP for example). However, he was the starting QB in OU's loss to Nebraska 20-10 in '01. Against Texas he only really accounted for one TD, the other one was scored by the D. Hybl did a MUCH better job the next year.

So if White doesn't live up to the high opinion the coaches have of him (and the guy deserves a shot after doing the rehab stuff TWICE) there's Rawls.

The only criticism I've heard lately of Rawls is that he's not as big a guy as the other QB's are physically. Come time to take off that blue jersey we'll see what he's really made of.

Oh and then there's Grady out of California, depending on who was rating ranked 2-4 in QB's drafted this year. Rumor has it that he might go in the MLB draft though.