What a nice way to start the football season out last night. The North Harrison Cougars beat the Salem Lions 27-17 in Salem last night. That is something that has not been done too many times. The Cougars have won two in a row at Salem. Before that? Try 1 win and 17 loses. The times they are a-changing.
On to College Football!
Two syllables. BAM-AH. You can’t deny it. You can’t get away from it. Or in the parlance of Keith Jackson AL-LAAAA-BAM-AH! The Crimson Tide own college football. I suppose they will as long a Nick Saban is the head coach there. He apparently is that good. Check out the Top Ten Standings in the last ten years at the end of the AP college football season.
The last Associated Press poll before the Bowl Championship Series is after conference championship games that are played usually the first weekend in December. In the last ten years the Alabama Crimson Tide has been ranked in the top ten at the end of the season nine times. That is college football domination. No other team can boast such numbers. In 2010 the Tide was a paltry 9 and 3. They were ranked number sixteen that “off” year. I’ve been watching Indiana University football all my life. Most of those as a fan but that is another story. A 9-3 season for the Indiana Hoosier football would send calls to Hollywood for another movie.
I truly expect the Tide to keep rolling. My apologies to my University of Louisville friends rooting their beloved Cardinals on as those birds head to Orlando the first weekend in September to play Alabama in the season opener. It’ll be more like a “can opener” than a season opener for the Cards, if you know what I mean.
Brother Tim Petty will be a happy man again this season.
WE LOST A LEGEND.
My dear wife, Carrie, and I were at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington for a good-bye and send off that featured players and coaches telling those in attendance what Coach Bill Mallory meant to Indiana University, the University of Colorado, Miami of Ohio, and Northern Illinois. Coach Mallory died on May 25th this year.
Coach Mallory got to Indiana in 1984. Before he had arrived in Bloomington, the Hoosiers had played in two bowl games in a hundred years. It took Coach Mallory 10 years to take the Hoosiers to six bowls. In 1994 it should have been a seventh. The school’s administration denied the team a chance to play in the Motor City Bowl in 1994. Too expensive. This was during a time when you had to have a winning regular season to qualify for a bowl. No 6-6 records heading into the post-season. The Hoosiers being denied a bowl was the beginning of the end for Coach Mallory. On Halloween day 1996 he was fired. People were just as crazy twenty-two years ago as they are now. I turned my back on Bloomington for a while after that.
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP AT INDIANA.
I am picking the Hoosiers to have a winning season this year. Coach Tom Allen is the best coach Indiana has had since Coach Mallory. There is also something in Bloomington that we haven’t always had and that is support from the administration. Have you seen the place lately? The best place in America to watch a football game somehow has gotten better. Now let’s go win some games! It will happen this year. I believe. I also believe that this faith needs a boost in week one. The Hoosiers travel to Florida International for the season opener. This is dangerous. The Hoosiers have not fared well playing south of Bloomington. The victory at Virginia last year helped. It can be done. But Florida is a long way from Kirkwood Ave. Whomever made this schedule needs to schedule their own eye doctor appointment.
In games played South of Bloomington since 1988, the Hoosiers are 11-16-2. Games included in Lexington, KY and Columbia, MO are not far south. The biggest travel games for the Hoosiers during this time have been forays into North Carolina to play UNC, NC State, and Wake Forest. In 2016 they opened at FIU and won handily. One visit to North Texas did not go well. I say now: The Hoosiers need to win at FIU. The palm trees and warm weather won’t help. Plenty of ice in the water bucket and all players making curfew will help.
Go Hoosiers!
THE REBELS
No, I can’t forget the Rebels. How could I? They play at Vandy this year but we won’t be making it to that one. It does not look like a trip to Oxford will happen this year either. Next year, I hope we can make it to Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium and catch up with my cousin Darrell. He finished at Oxford and knows Ole Miss and the Rebels well.
The Rebs did the right thing when they made Matt Luke the head coach after the Hugh Freeze fallout. That was butt-ugly last year. 2018 finds the Rebs playing for pride and each other and the Egg Bowl Trophy. There will be no post-season. If they win nine games that is where they will stand after the Egg Bowl against the State Bulldogs. Speaking of State, they will be two degrees more difficult to despise this year since smarty pants Coach Dan Mullen got hired to coach the Florida Gators. Guess when he retires he’ll have an alligator farm to show off to football fans from Columbus, Ohio wearing black socks over their calf muscles and below their Bermuda shorts.
The Rebs have some offense for sure. They will be trying to get the ball to A. J. Brown all they can. He is a gifted receiver we will be talking about for a long time.
Speaking of long time, it boggles my mind to think it was fifteen years ago I was in Oxford with Aunt Barbara to watch Eli Manning play quarterback his senior year at Ole Miss against a Lou Holtz coached South Carolina team. Glad we were playing quarters that day. Ole Miss had a huge lead of 43-14 late in the third quarter only to see the Gamecocks come back to make it a 43-40 final. Though the Rebs had just won the game to start 5-0 in SEC play for the first time since 1963, it felt more like a tie. Eli had 391 yards passing. The most he ever had in a victory for the Rebs.
GO HERD!
I am still following the HERD and they are going to have a good team. Gone is QB Chase Litton. When he was good he was very good. When he took a five step drop you held your breath cause you hoped it would be good. That was the Herd last year. The team was 8-5 last year and beat Colorado State in the New Mexico Bowl. That was great for them. Chase Litton left school early and was not drafted. He was too inconsistent. I like the old boy. I watched him sign autographs and yammer back and forth with little kids and he meant it. I thought that was great.
The new Herd qb is graduate transfer Alex Thomson. He is 6-5 225lbs. He will be able to see over the line.
As it stands, Carrie and I are going to see the Herd play NC State in Huntington on September 22nd. They play at South Carolina the week before that so we will know a few things before the Wolfpack makes its way into The Joan to chants of We Are Marshall!
PREDICTIONS
The Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Division
- Clemson…Tigers continue to roll…but won’t roll over the Tide
- NC State…The Wolfpack is rising with Coach Doeren
- Louisville…I know…I know…but the king is gone and the team may be back
- Florida State…Growing pains for Coach Taggart but it won’t take long…Clemson
- Wake Forest…The Deacons are better and may be as high as three here in the end
- Boston College…They aren’t bad either…gotta put’em somewhere
- Syracuse…Must put them here
Coastal Division
- Miami…My they have really come on thanks to Coach Richt
- Virginia Tech…Learned my lesson last year when I had them 4th
- Duke…They are going to be good and yes, Coach Cut is the best in the ACC
- Georgia Tech…I say it again. Can’t go wrong with The Varsity across the street
- Pitt…Gave them too much love last year
- UNC…Not good days in Chapel Hill for football
- Virginia…Hoosiers hosts Wahoos September 8. Hope to be there
Miami and Clemson should battle in the ACC Championship. I think the U of L Cards will be okay. Was eating an obscene plate of nachos (it was a half order) on Topsail Island while the Cards played Miss. State in bowl game with a dumb name. As I looked at them (the Cards not the nachos) I thought to myself…the Cards will be a better TEAM next year. We’ll see if I know anything.
Now for Duke, they have a kid named Daniel Jones playing quarterback and he could do something special. If the ball bounces the right way for Duke, things could be very interesting in Durham even though they are waiting on basketball season. Progress is being made there nonetheless and I have no doubt the folks there leave Coach Cut alone and let him do his job the way he wants to do it. He hasn’t left Duke, has he? He could have.
The Big Ten
After attending the Rutgers game in Bloomington last season, which IU won 41-0 which was the halftime score, I have now seen all fourteen Big Ten teams play in person. Rutgers in the Big Ten. I still have to say it now and again to remind myself. Rutgers is in the Big Ten. Notre Dollar started it with that exclusive TV contract with NBC and the door came down to the point of looking for markets first and schools second. That is a mess in college sports. Don’t get me started. Let me talk about the Big Ten.
That empty end zone there now looks like this:
Memorial Stadium, as I said, is quite impressive these days. That is one big TV.
This remains one of my favorite shots from Memorial Stadium. It reminds me of the game I saw in 1988. Still is the greatest college football game I ever witnessed in person. Indiana 45 Iowa 34. Iowa quarterback Hartlieb completed 44 passes and the game, being televised on ABC which was a big deal then, lasted over four hours. October 29 was the date. Anthony Thompson carried the ball like 47 times or something. It was a great thing to witness. Thank you, Coach Mallory.
Big Ten
East Division
- Penn State…Trace McSorley can lead this team. Lost some good D. Timing is right
- Michigan… Transfer Shea Patterson should start for Coach Blowhard
- Michigan State…A bunch back on both sides of the ball. Look out.
- Ohio State…Want to put them last…should…that timing thing again. Bad preseason.
- Indiana…Looks like Ole Miss in the same division as Auburn, Alabama, LSU, etc.
- Rutgers or Maryland
- Maryland or Rutgers…I just don’t care. Should be in Big Ten Money Division alone.
West Division…Can we realign? I can make an argument with a map for Indiana here.
- Iowa…So I have a little bias for the Hawkeyes. QB if tuff and road schedule is not.
- Northwestern…They ended on a huge win streak including bowl 8 in a row.
- Wisconsin…Nothing good to say…so it must be bad.
- Purdue…The Boilers could be higher here. D was respectable but lost a few keys
- Nebraska…. Did I just put Purdue ahead of Nebraska? New coach will get them back.
- Minnesota…If Goldy needs to keep opponent out of end zone for a change.
- Illinois…I hope I am wrong here.
The Southeastern Conference…THE SEC
Ron? Ronnie? Is that you? I mean, President Reagan is that you? I could of swore I just heard a phrase we have all heard but with just a slight different slant.
“Well, here we go again.”
The SEC is still the prime conference. Look around. Who are they chasing? It is an SEC world and the rest of us in college football country are living in it. This year, I think, will, well, be no different. And make sure you keep November 24th handy. That is the Iron Bowl. I plan on being in Bloomington that day to watch Indiana host Purdue and I hope it is a noon kickoff in Bloomington that goes quick so we can get to a place to eat wings and watch Bama host Auburn at 3:30 EDT.
East Division
- Georgia…Looks like the Bulldogs are real again.
- Florida…Coach Mullen walks into a team ready to compete
- Kentucky…Yes Kentucky… it has to happen some time, doesn’t it?
- South Carolina…Schedule may move them up the ranks here
- UT…New coach in Knoxville usually takes time
- Mizzou…Finished with a flurry of Ws and folks will take note
- Vandy…What did Lewis Grizzard used to say? “Bless their hearts.”
West Division
- Alabama..Nuff said.
- Auburn…Cos the trees at Toomer’s Corner are growing again.
- LSU….I still like Coach O…in Baton Rogue
- Ole Miss…Even though they go nowhere after the Egg Bowl.
- Texas A&M…Coach Fisher learns about the SEC
- Arkansas…I don’t even know who the coach is there now.
- Mississippi State…I’d make’em ninth if I could! Hotty Toddy!
Other Champs…
PAC 12
USC…Washington is the favorite out there, I know. USC is still the team. Like it or not.
American Athletic Conference
Central Florida…Coach moved on but players still very good from 13-0 team last year.
THE MAC
Ohio…Coach Solich is still there and I am loyal.
SUN BELT
Troy…They have too many returning not to give them the nod.
BIG 12
Oklahoma…Why not. Gave Baker the preseason props last year. Here we go again.
CONFERENCE USA
MARSHALL…They were sandbaggers and lollygaggers last year. New QB and new attitude. Win one for Reggie Oliver! See you in Huntington.
MOUNTAIN WEST
Wyoming…Cos I am tired of writing and hope they win!
Made it through without mentioning Notre Dame by their proper reference. I am still glad I took my Dad to South Bend in November 2013 to see BYU. He was fine. I thought I was going to freeze to death. I am also glad to see they too are playing a meaningful game late in the season. Notre Dame plays USC on November 24th. The same day as the Old Oaken Bucket Game (that is Indiana vs. Purdue for the 80% of America wondering what that is.) The Iron Bowl, we all know what that is, will be played the same day. Thank God for recording devices.
The Notre Dame-USC game after Thanksgiving reminds me of my childhood. Our family reunion in Mississippi was on Thanksgiving Day and we would stay through Saturday. At Uncle Durwood and Aunt Barbara’s house in Jackson on Dubarry Lane not far from a big bucket of paint on display in front of a paint store, we would gather in a living room watching football, laughing, eating, and having a great time. I remember it well. USC-Notre Dame and Keith Jackson.
The weekend before all that football rivalry craziness goes on, I am taking my dear Carrie to see a rival game that had the good sense to be played a week before all the last game chaos. We are going to The Rose Bowl to see USC play UCLA. I took my Dad there two years ago.
It was a thrill. I want Carrie to see the place.
And so it begins. I will be making predictions every week. We’ll see what happens. Whatever happens, enjoy your time with your family and friends. Make some good memories. That is the best thing about this game.
Speaking the rights…
Danny Johnson