Buzzfalcon
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- Joined
- Dec 6, 2001
- Messages
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Pretty good predictions, especially #25.
25 Truth's of college football for 2002
1) Notre Dame will post a 7 - 5 record in Tyrone Willingham's first season
in South Bend.
2) Colorado's offense will still run strong even after losing two NFL draft
picks on the OL. That running won't, however, be enough two cover up a
defense with too many questions.
3) Texas A & M will have one of their best defenses in the last decade and
will continue to boast about the "Wrecking Crew" (and rightfully so), but
will run Dino Babers out of town if the offense puts up more goose eggs in
2002.
4) Most folks will be shocked when the QB drop-off at Oregon is small. Even
with the departure of "King Joey", "Comeback Joey" or "Emotion Joe" (take
your pick), face it Mike Bellotti is one hell of a ball coach.
5) Don't be fooled because they fell from grace and broke the streak last
year, Florida St. will be back and be back strong. They took a one-year
hiatus and in 2002 will take back the ACC throne.
6) The BCS father's let out a cheer when Miami scheduled Tennessee and
Florida. Throw Florida State in the mix with games against Florida and
Miami, the Red River Shoot-out (Texas vs. OU), and the conference
championship games, and we'd be hard pressed to end up with more than two
(more likely no) undefeated teams.
7) The BCS cheering will come to a screeching halt if we get to late Nov.
and there are 6 or 8 teams with one loss. The BCS folks will hope for a
repeat of 1998 when Kansas State lost to Texas A & M and UCLA lost to Miami
on the last day of the season to thwart mass hysteria.
8) For all of the pressure that has been heaped on Chris Simms (QB, Texas),
the lion's share of the pressure in 2002 is on Greg Davis (Offensive
Coordinator) to raise the level of his game plans. Predictability, not
creativity, has been the norm. With a future NFL QB, RB, 3 WR's, TE and 2
OL, there is too much talent to stay with the attitude, "We'll take what the
defense gives us!" I wonder if that was Spurrier's credo when he coached the
Gators?
9) Oregon St. should open the season 4 - 0. If they can get by USC to start
Pac-10 play, the Beavers will be in the mix for the Pac 10 crown and the
Rose Bowl when they mix it up with Washington and Oregon late in the year.
Welcome the Beavers back to the rankings.
10) With a comfortable schedule that includes seven out of eight games at
home to start the season, Michigan St. should be 8 - 0 and full of
confidence when they roll into Ann Arbor for a rematch of last years
controversial finish with Michigan.
11) Maryland won't finish the year ranked in the Top 25.
12) Alabama will finish in the Top 25 and could win the SEC west.
13) Bob Toledo (Head Coach, UCLA) will hear the screams of the masses if he
doesn't pull a rabbit out of his hat and meet some expectations and not fold
at the end of the season.
14) Pasha Jackson (LB) and Lance Mitchell (LB) should help Oklahoma fans
forget about Rocky Calmus and Roy Williams. Tennessee transfer, Lynn
McGruder (DT) should help establish one of the best DT rotations in the
college game with Super sophomore Tommie Harris and Kory Klein.
15) Spencer Brinton will take over at QB for Michigan and David Underwood
(RB) will have a breakout year now that BJ Askew has moved to fullback.
16) Florida is looking at three losses in 2002. Pick three from vs. Miami, @
Tennessee, vs. LSU, vs. UGA, and @ Florida St.
17) The SEC will reclaim its hold as college football's premier conference
with upwards of seven teams finishing the year ranked in the top 25.
18) Carson Palmer (QB, USC) will have a good senior year and he will need
it. There's not an easy game on the schedule. With the first five games
being vs. Auburn, @ Colorado, @ Kansas State, vs. Oregon St., and @
Washington St., if USC does not experience some early success, they may
disappear by mid season.
19) Remember the name Matt Grootegoed (LB, USC). The high school safety was
having a breakout year last year when he was sidelined by a broken leg. Look
for him to return to form and solidify the USC defense.
20) DJ Shockley (QB, Georgia), super star red shirt freshman, will push for
and get a good amount of quality playing time at Georgia behind David
Greene.
21) Byron Leftwich (QB, Marshall) will post sick numbers and will probably
get invited to the Yale Club (new "temporary" home of the Heisman Trophy)
but will not win because his sick numbers will be against Kent State, Miami
(of OH, not FL), Ohio (University, not State), Ball State, Akron, Central
Michigan (not Univ. of) and Buffalo. September 12 in Blacksburg should be a
good test when Marshall tee's it up with Virginia Tech.
22) Charles Rogers (Michigan St.), Roy Williams (Texas), Andre Johnson
(Miami, FL) and Kelley Washington (Tennessee), Brandon Lloyd (Illinois) will
all catch their last college football pass. They will all leave early for
the NFL and catch their next pass on Sunday.
23) The Tennessee offense will be good but if they can have one of the
highly touted young backs (Cedric Houston or Jabari Davis) step up as well
as a receiver to play opposite Kelley Washington, they could be downright
nasty!
24) Oklahoma St. will shock someone (see OU, 2001) in 2002. UCLA, Texas A &
M and Texas Tech look like the prime candidates to put another feather in
Les Miles coaching cap. Don't sleep on the Cowboys!
25) With a solid, and more importantly healthy, defense returning Chan
Gailey (Head coach, Georgia Tech) should have the most success of the
coaches making their debut at a new school that's not in Florida.
Sean Adams is the Director of Evaluation and Development at ATD Sports, an
Austin, TX based athlete development company and has been a freelance writer
for the last five years. Comments can be sent to Sean_Adams@atdsports.com.
25 Truth's of college football for 2002
1) Notre Dame will post a 7 - 5 record in Tyrone Willingham's first season
in South Bend.
2) Colorado's offense will still run strong even after losing two NFL draft
picks on the OL. That running won't, however, be enough two cover up a
defense with too many questions.
3) Texas A & M will have one of their best defenses in the last decade and
will continue to boast about the "Wrecking Crew" (and rightfully so), but
will run Dino Babers out of town if the offense puts up more goose eggs in
2002.
4) Most folks will be shocked when the QB drop-off at Oregon is small. Even
with the departure of "King Joey", "Comeback Joey" or "Emotion Joe" (take
your pick), face it Mike Bellotti is one hell of a ball coach.
5) Don't be fooled because they fell from grace and broke the streak last
year, Florida St. will be back and be back strong. They took a one-year
hiatus and in 2002 will take back the ACC throne.
6) The BCS father's let out a cheer when Miami scheduled Tennessee and
Florida. Throw Florida State in the mix with games against Florida and
Miami, the Red River Shoot-out (Texas vs. OU), and the conference
championship games, and we'd be hard pressed to end up with more than two
(more likely no) undefeated teams.
7) The BCS cheering will come to a screeching halt if we get to late Nov.
and there are 6 or 8 teams with one loss. The BCS folks will hope for a
repeat of 1998 when Kansas State lost to Texas A & M and UCLA lost to Miami
on the last day of the season to thwart mass hysteria.
8) For all of the pressure that has been heaped on Chris Simms (QB, Texas),
the lion's share of the pressure in 2002 is on Greg Davis (Offensive
Coordinator) to raise the level of his game plans. Predictability, not
creativity, has been the norm. With a future NFL QB, RB, 3 WR's, TE and 2
OL, there is too much talent to stay with the attitude, "We'll take what the
defense gives us!" I wonder if that was Spurrier's credo when he coached the
Gators?
9) Oregon St. should open the season 4 - 0. If they can get by USC to start
Pac-10 play, the Beavers will be in the mix for the Pac 10 crown and the
Rose Bowl when they mix it up with Washington and Oregon late in the year.
Welcome the Beavers back to the rankings.
10) With a comfortable schedule that includes seven out of eight games at
home to start the season, Michigan St. should be 8 - 0 and full of
confidence when they roll into Ann Arbor for a rematch of last years
controversial finish with Michigan.
11) Maryland won't finish the year ranked in the Top 25.
12) Alabama will finish in the Top 25 and could win the SEC west.
13) Bob Toledo (Head Coach, UCLA) will hear the screams of the masses if he
doesn't pull a rabbit out of his hat and meet some expectations and not fold
at the end of the season.
14) Pasha Jackson (LB) and Lance Mitchell (LB) should help Oklahoma fans
forget about Rocky Calmus and Roy Williams. Tennessee transfer, Lynn
McGruder (DT) should help establish one of the best DT rotations in the
college game with Super sophomore Tommie Harris and Kory Klein.
15) Spencer Brinton will take over at QB for Michigan and David Underwood
(RB) will have a breakout year now that BJ Askew has moved to fullback.
16) Florida is looking at three losses in 2002. Pick three from vs. Miami, @
Tennessee, vs. LSU, vs. UGA, and @ Florida St.
17) The SEC will reclaim its hold as college football's premier conference
with upwards of seven teams finishing the year ranked in the top 25.
18) Carson Palmer (QB, USC) will have a good senior year and he will need
it. There's not an easy game on the schedule. With the first five games
being vs. Auburn, @ Colorado, @ Kansas State, vs. Oregon St., and @
Washington St., if USC does not experience some early success, they may
disappear by mid season.
19) Remember the name Matt Grootegoed (LB, USC). The high school safety was
having a breakout year last year when he was sidelined by a broken leg. Look
for him to return to form and solidify the USC defense.
20) DJ Shockley (QB, Georgia), super star red shirt freshman, will push for
and get a good amount of quality playing time at Georgia behind David
Greene.
21) Byron Leftwich (QB, Marshall) will post sick numbers and will probably
get invited to the Yale Club (new "temporary" home of the Heisman Trophy)
but will not win because his sick numbers will be against Kent State, Miami
(of OH, not FL), Ohio (University, not State), Ball State, Akron, Central
Michigan (not Univ. of) and Buffalo. September 12 in Blacksburg should be a
good test when Marshall tee's it up with Virginia Tech.
22) Charles Rogers (Michigan St.), Roy Williams (Texas), Andre Johnson
(Miami, FL) and Kelley Washington (Tennessee), Brandon Lloyd (Illinois) will
all catch their last college football pass. They will all leave early for
the NFL and catch their next pass on Sunday.
23) The Tennessee offense will be good but if they can have one of the
highly touted young backs (Cedric Houston or Jabari Davis) step up as well
as a receiver to play opposite Kelley Washington, they could be downright
nasty!
24) Oklahoma St. will shock someone (see OU, 2001) in 2002. UCLA, Texas A &
M and Texas Tech look like the prime candidates to put another feather in
Les Miles coaching cap. Don't sleep on the Cowboys!
25) With a solid, and more importantly healthy, defense returning Chan
Gailey (Head coach, Georgia Tech) should have the most success of the
coaches making their debut at a new school that's not in Florida.
Sean Adams is the Director of Evaluation and Development at ATD Sports, an
Austin, TX based athlete development company and has been a freelance writer
for the last five years. Comments can be sent to Sean_Adams@atdsports.com.