I know I wrote about the news about USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten in the coming years.
Truth is, I can’t wait that long! I am ready for college football now!
Yes, I did enjoy the USFL. And I was delighted that Skip Holtz’ Birmingham Stallions took the Championship. The last time I saw Skip he was coaching Louisiana Tech at Marshall in 2019. The Herd won that won handily.
Though the speaktherights.com College Football Preview is a month away, I hope my students are paying attention! I am so ready for college football to begin. I am excited about seeing another FBS school in Idaho. They will be coming to Bloomington to take on the Indiana Hoosiers in September. Having seen more than 70 FBS schools play football in person, I have never seen Idaho. Yes, I know about the Vandals. I watched them many times on crazy satellite feeds over the years. Yes, I know the name John Friesz. Some of you may have to look that one up. Seeing the Vandals in Bloomington, I could not make the game last year, will be a treat.
I am ready to make this walk into Memorial Stadium again.
Memorial Stadium is a great place to be on college football Saturdays.
Look, I know what I am talking about.
I was in Iowa City last year for the Hoosiers’ season opening debacle. This was a portent of doom.
Yes, I was the guy who made hotel reservations in Pasadena for The Rose Bowl for a team who finished 2-10. Thankfully, my dear wife, Carrie, and I were at the last Indiana Hoosiers Football victory last September in Bowling Green against Western Kentucky.
It was a long season.
Guess what? The pressure is off. Coach Allen has a multi-year contract that no one will touch in Bloomington, Indiana. The staff and the players have had time to look around. And my guess is they like what they see.
The 2020 season was an anomaly. Yes, the Hoosiers did well. Heck, maybe they had an advantage by playing in front of small to no crowds.
Here’s what I do know. Last year when the Cincinnati Bearcats came calling to Bloomington, and the Hoosiers got hosed with a phantom targeting call against McFadden, my dear wife, Carrie, met a lady from Cincinnati who was glad to talk to her. She Bearat lady found refuge in my Hoosier wife. The Bearcat lady told Carrie of how nasty the Indiana fans were to her. That is too bad. We are not Wisconsin or Ohio State! I was so disappointed when Carrie told me of this.
Act like you have been there before. That is what we were always taught, in case we scored a touchdown in high school. Me, I kicked points and field goals and played center. Indiana Football fans had not been there in their lifetimes. I know I hadn’t. Two bowl games in a row and expectations beyond belief. Walking on the moon seems more practical.
Here is what I do know. I believe in Tom Allen and his ability to bring the boys back. He knows what he is doing. Yes, I know, Washington and South Alabama have good head coaches. Indiana does too.
Me, I am looking forward to the 2022 College Football Season.
This is going to be fun. We can talk about how it all pans out in about a month!
Speaking the rights.
Danny Johnson