What? Is it football already?

Every year around this time, we start getting every kind of football paraphernalia. From media guides to previews to picks, the football gurus begin their onslaught right in the middle of my summer respite. And yesterday was no exception. Just as the morning mail was being distributed, one of the ladies in the front tossed me a sack that said “Phil Steele’s COLLEGE FOOTBALL preview.” It didn’t grab my interest near as much as last year’s American Cheerleader magazine, but it’s football for goodness sake. Mr. Steele gives you the skinny on your favorite team, as well as your buddies and his brothers. They say this magazine is supposed to be for recreational use, but all these facts and figures wreak of a bookie and office pool’s around the country. But, I won’t be using this year’s issue for that. I figured it would just give me an excuse to talk college football, and give you just a taste of what to expect from our in-state squads. Somehow or another, Mr. Steele selected the Pac-10 as the toughest conference in 2004. What? Who? Where? Uh-huh, the Pac-10, which is just rubbish to anyone in these parts. And I agree. If you’ve never watched an SEC game, even the one’s that Arkansas plays in, you’ll know that the Southeastern Conference is the toughest in the land. It’s easy to dog ‘em because of the potential win-loss records, but you have to remember they’re playing quality teams (save Vanderbilt) every week. The Pac-10, on the other hand, has team’s like Oregon State, Oregon, a depleted Washington Husky bunch, UCLA Stanford and Arizona. You don’t just give them all a pass because USC was a powerhouse the last two years. With 2005 close at hand, Steele has changed his tune, giving the SEC the preseason nod, followed by the Big 10 (who somehow tied), ACC, Big 12/Pac-10, Big East, Mt. West, C-USA, WAC, MAC, Independent and finally Sun Belt. I pretty much agree, but I wouldn’t be so quick to give the Big 10 top honors. You never know with Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin. At the beginning of the year they’ll all look pretty strong (and Lee Corso wants to make them National title contenders), but by season’s end they’re all 6-3 or 6-4 in the conference and fighting for a Holiday Bowl bid. Anyway, enough about the Big-10. Let’s get to some football closer to home. (I SURE HOPE STEELE GIVES ME A LITTLE OF THE $8.95 HE’S CHARGING FOLKS FOR THIS BOOK, CONSIDERING ALL THE PLUGS I’M GIVING IT RIGHT NOW) UGA—Steele has put the University of Georgia in his preseason Top 10. According to him, “the Dawgs will be a little underrated...” The only SEC squad he’s got above the Bulldogs is LSU at No. 2, while Florida is right behind UGA at No. 11. Fine. Sure. Go ahead and give the Bulldog nation the big-head. But, let’s be honest, what can D.J. do for you? More precisely, what can D.J. do for the Bulldog passing game? I’ve always been skeptical of the 5th year senior, and maybe that’s because he was accident prone. He did pass for nearly 500 yards and four touchdowns last season in limited work, but his lackluster performance in the regular-season finale vs. the Jackets hasn’t sold me on the Dogs chances this year. I think we’d be better served to set the Bulldogs around 15-19 at the outset, and let them prove all of us wrong. I know that “prove me wrong” baloney got me in trouble last year, but I’m hoping the reverse-regular season jinx will help the Bulldogs to an SEC East title and hopefully a solid shot at the big crown. Clark’s preseason rank: 16 Georgia Tech—The Ramblin’ Wreck is need of some love this year. Not being from this area, I’ve never settled on one college team as “my team” here in Georgia, but I’ve always pulled for the Jackets. Steele doesn’t even have them in the Top 40, which is probably more than a safe bet. With Virginia Tech, Miami, Florida State, Virginia and newcomer Boston College holding up the top of the ACC, it’s going to be hard for the Jackets to expect more than an 8-4 finish. And they’ll probably get that first L Sep. 3 when they open at Auburn. Games against the Tar Heels, Hokies, Hurricanes, Cavaliers and Bulldogs could push the Jackets below .500 this season, which would end GT’s record eight straight winning seasons and bowl game appearances. Chan Gailey (21-17 with GT) might be looking for a job at the end of the season. Clark’s preseason rank: off the charts. Let’s just stick with their record: 5-6 (3-5 in the ACC). Man, I’m a little disappointed. I’ve flipped through this book and not one word on Georgia Southern. In fact, not a word on any other division in college football. That’s okay. That just means I’ll have to devote an entire column to Georgia Southern later this year. Haha, I do what I want, son. “Whose house. Our house. Whose house. Our house. Whose house, Run’s house?”

Jason Halcombe