"Steveo's Salvos" - July 2009 Edition

"Salvos" is presented as the editorial content of CollegeFootballFan.com focusing on current issues surrounding college football and news about some of the teams on the CFF schedule this year.  Originally from a newsletter, this web site, CollegeFootballFan.com, has evolved. 

We did it!!! - October 27, 2007.  CollegeFootballFan.com is #1!!!  Aside from any media types, no one can say that they've seen more College Bowl Subdivision teams than we have.  It's impossible.  There are 119 teams and now we've seen 'em all!  Great time with some big Nevada Wolfpack fans for the Grand Finale against Idaho in Reno.  Now we move on to more great football games season after season!  Western Kentucky becomes #120 in 2009.  We hope to be at their opener, but a certain Guest Game Analyst (GGA) we've had with us over the years will probably start playing Freshman football in HS this season.  We'll have to work around that.

119 or 191 - You can now check out our "Other History" as we've updated our records indicating which non  Football Bowl Subdivision (we hate this name!) teams we've seen in addition to the current 119 at the FBS level.  We've seen 72 other teams play among FCS, D-2, and D-3 levels.  Check it out. 

It was bound to happen - With one of our favorite Guest Game Analysts, Eric Koreivo,  about to embark on his high school football career, our priorities to see college games on some weekends will get super-ceded.  As a freshman, most games will be played on Friday afternoons allowing us to after the game or the next morning to drive to some "local" contest, or to fly out Saturday morning to some game with the hopes of flying out of Newark Airport on time to make it to some opening kickoff.  With the announcement of this year's Lenape Valley freshman schedule, two original contests had to be moved aside.  The Lincoln-Cheyney game that we looked forward to on August 29 will have to be cancelled to attend the Patriots' only Saturday pre-season scrimmage.  On October 10, Eric's team plays at Chatham at 4:30 followed by the varsity game at 7:30.  We will miss the Vanderbilt at Army game.  We wanted to see the Cadets run Rich Ellerson's version of the wishbone to see if it leads to some success, but we at least we already planned to see them host Tulane the week before.  To compensate  forgoing our second Army game, we plan to go see D-3 Cortland State visit Montclair State at 1 pm.  Montclair is a short distance from Chatham allowing us to see a football triple-header!  Cortland won first and second round playoff games in last year's playoffs before getting whacked by eventual national champ Mt. Union, 41-14.  The Purple Raiders went on to win "one for the thumb" as they captured their tenth D-3 championship.  Montclair will probably vie with Cortland and Rowan once again the the NJ Athletic conference championship.

Game of the year -  Penn State-Ohio State aside in November, early on we not only  look forward to seeing Clemson for the first time since 1980 and getting to Death Valley for the first time ever, but TCU is a formidable, mid-major foe ranked in everybody's Top 20.  For the Horned Frogs with 11 wins in three of the last  four seasons, DE Jerry Hughes returns with All-American status after last season with 15 sacks, two INTs and six forced fumbles.  The defensive unit that returns a lot of experience allowed only 47.1 yards rushing last year with a slate that included Utah, Air Force, Oklahoma, and Boise.   QB Andy Dalton leads the offense.  We saw him lead TCU to the Texas Bowl win two years ago over Houston as a freshman.   Clemson returns with its offensive line intact and RB CJ Spiller who has 2,335 rushing yards and 20 TDs.  The Tigers are searching for a new QB, but look for Clemson's D to keep TCU in check with eight starters returning .  We look forward to a memorable first experience at Clemson Memorial Stadium.

25 years ago - We kicked off the 1984 season at the second annual Kickoff Classic.  The Miami Hurricanes defeated Auburn, 20-10.  It was HC Jimmy Johnson's debut for the Canes.  Soph QB Bernie Kosar led his team and took MVP honors.  Auburn RB Bo Jackson sustained a leg injury in the second half and couldn't answer the final bell to help the Tigers' comeback.  We called our tailgate party in the Meadowlands "The Tour from the Shore"  as we with friends came up for the evening from our vacation at a beach house down the Jersey Shore.  To build on the theme, we had a pre-game Hurricane party starting at 4pm for the 9 pm kickoff.  Rums and juices concocted from recipes discovered in Louisiana made up this prime potion that the women especially loved.  About 25 of our fellow fans took seats in a section different from our seats at the 40-yard line where we enjoyed for our season ticket package for nearly 20 years.  When we went over to visit everyone at the half in the other row, they were all passed out.  How 'bout those Hurricanes!

Bring on the playoffs - The Football Championship Subdivision is on to something.  After this season, they will not only expand their playoff format to 20 teams from 16, they will push back their championship game to the night before the controversial FBS Championship between the always questionable one and two teams from that level.  Maybe we'll decide to be heading to Chattanooga instead of Glendale to see a championship next season.

Second time around - Now that we've seen 'em all, except for Western Kentucky who officially joined the FBS this year, we'll see six other teams play for only the second time.  With Clemson (1), we've had the longest dry spell since 1980!  We'll see them in a good game hosting the TCU Horned Frogs.  We saw Minnesota (2) visit PSU in 1993 in the Lion's first Big 10 game.  We'll see the Gophers at the PSU Homecoming this year.  In 1995, we saw the Gamecocks of South Carolina (3) host Vandy in a blow-out when we lived down there to add both teams for the first time. Now we get to see the other USC play at one of our favorite venues, NC State.  Tulane (4) lost to Army's last bowl team in 1996.  We'll see them square off on the banks of the Hudson again at our Big Tailgate party.  In 1997, we saw Chad Pennington and Randy Moss team up for two Marshall (5) TD passes against Army in their first win at the D-1A level after returning from 1-AA play for many years.  When we see them this year, they'll host Southern Miss (6), a team we saw open at PSU in 1998 for the first time, only time.  It will be played on the 39th anniversary of the Marshall plane crash tragedy. 

Early Bowl plans - With our regular season schedule pretty much intact, we started perusing the recently announced bowl schedules.  It doesn't look as convenient as in recent years, but we've got the FF miles ready along with some free hotels and car rentals saved up.  We're weighing two options with both starting for the second year in a row at the Eagle Bank Bowl in D.C.  The organizers moved this to Tuesday, December 29 at 4:30 pm.  We enjoyed having the entire weekend last year there to spend with the family, but we won't be able to savor the same this year.  Wednesday morning, we're flying...somewhere.  We're torn between going back to some bowls we really enjoyed in Texas two years ago, or heading to the West Coast to attend two new bowls, one which we'd really love to get to.   The logistics could be tough though.  Texas would give us the opportunity to go back to the Texas Bowl on the 30th and the Bell Helicopter Armed Services Bowl on New Year's Eve day.  Imagine this long shot possibility -  we could see all three service academies play three games in a row.  If Army qualifies, they can play in the Eagle Bank Bowl (seriously doubt this will happen); Navy is contracted to play a Big 12 entry in the Texas Bowl (that would be tremendous); two years ago, we saw Air Force as the MWC's entry in the BHAFSB, and it could happen again.  We would enjoy that!  The Cotton Bowl is on Saturday, but having to fly back to DC and driving home 4 hours on Sunday might not sit well with the family still at home.  The other option is to fly out to San Diego to see the always tremendous Holiday Bowl on the 30th in San Diego between the Big 12 and PAC 10.  Maybe we can hook up with our SDSU friend Tom Ables.  The next day, it's 300 miles to the Insight.  Can we make this?  Of course there's the Rose Bowl back another 300 the next day, but that's a tough ticket.  We could always watch with left coast family and friends out there, and return on Saturday, but there's that long flight and a 4-hour drive.  Let us know what you think we should do.  What would you do if you had the choice?

First Game - We open on a Thursday night, August 27, when we attend a great D-2 rematch when Ashland visits Bloomsburg University.  We can't wait!  Bloomsburg is ranked No. 7 in Lindy's pre-season poll and Ashland is at No. 13.  BU returns QB Dan Latorre who tossed 19 TD passes last year, and RBs Derrick Price and Ken Domzalski who combined for 2,157 yards and 10 TDs.  Ashland returns QB Billy Cundiff who tossed 37 TDs for the 9-4 Eagles last year.  His D, however, allowed 40 points in six games.  It sounds like another potential 49-42 opener like last year between these two.

Tales 'round the Tailgate - The manuscript about our adventure to see 'em all is basically finished. 

Our D-1 opener (we hate calling it FBS) - Last year, NC State fell at South Carolina, 34-0.  With the Wolfpack returning soph QB Russell Wilson who turned things around for State late last season, and the Gamecock starting soph QB Stephen Garcia for the first time, we expect a different result.   Wilson made things happen last year for the Pack who was in the lead against Rutgers in the Papajohns.com Bowl until he went out with a leg injury in the second half.  We look forward to getting back to Raleigh, and rooting for ex-BC coach and Navy player, Tom O'Brien. 

"Ali oop!" - You'll see a lot of that when Army's triple option offense gets close to the goal line.  New head man Rich Ellerson has converted 6'10" Ali Villanueva from OT to TE.  Ellerson claims the uniqueness of his triple option is how he mixes in the passing game.  This will be unique all right.  We remember Villanueva standing out like a sore thumb on last year's Cadet line.  With our cancellation of the Vanderbilt -Army game on October 17, for the sake of a planned bus trip with our current employer that we are helping to plan, we've rescheduled to September 12 when Duke visits Army.  The Cadet schedule is being manipulated to get them to the Eagle bank Bowl.  Why not?  Everyone else does it!

Guaranteed record-setter - On November 21, we plan to attend the Lafayette-Lehigh game at Lehigh's Goodman Stadium.  It will be the 145th consecutive year the two schools in the Lehigh Valley will battle one another.  We hope to catch this game at Lafayette's Fisher Stadium in the future as well.  This year, we'll see the Leopards face another traditional foe there, the Bucknell Bison.  A former HS mate's son plays for them.  We plan to surprise him that day.

10 years ago - 1999 was only the second  since 1983 that we didn't start our season off at the Kickoff Classic.  Instead, we started it off in Happy Valley with the Pigskin Classic between the third and fourth ranked teams in the nation depending on what poll you believed -Penn State and Arizona.  Instead of a fight to the finish, my sweaty four-year old and I watched the Lions clobber the Wildcats, 41-7.  About half an hour after the game as we cooled off and tossed a football in the parking lot, we watched a 737 high-tail it out of nearby State College airport and turn in directly for Phoenix.  It reminded us of those commercials for a different airline, "Wanna get away?"  AU finished the season 6-6, never nearing the pre-season hype.  PSU lost their last three regular season games but salvaged a 24-0 Alamo Bowl win over Texas A&M to finish 10-3.

RU tix - Rutgers announced that with the new expansion and the slow economy that more season tix are available.  With three lousy non-conference game on their slate at home ( Howard, Texas Southern, and FIU), we plan to hold off and wait to see what's available for their more interesting conference games.  They announced more season tickets are still available.  We'll wait for the single game seats in August. 

New men on the sidelines - Seems like the fewest new coaches we've seen in years - just three.  Stan Ellerson brings the option to Army, Dabo Swinney brings a new name to Clemson, and Lane Kiffin brings his mouth to Tennessee.

Potential DH's and other add-ons -  On Oct. 31 after the Bucknell-Lafayette game, we might make an effort to see another Montclair game at 6 pm when they host Western Connecticut.  On the other hand, we just might decide to settle into the Tavern on the Hill near Lafayette.  We've always wanted to check it out when we park in that neighborhood.  If PSU hosts a night game in their looming battle vs. Ohio State, maybe we'll see another game in the Keystone that day.  It could possibly be the PSAC championship game between East and West Division champs.  Bloomsburg's within reach.  If there's any interest in this game on Thursday November 5, maybe we'll venture down to Philly on Thursday night to see Miami (O) at Temple, but both teams will have to be vastly improved from 5-7 and 2-10 records respectively from last season.

The Undefeated - Miami (F.) is touted to have our best record in the FBS level among teams we've seen play five or more games. The Canes stand 7-0 against pretty tough road competition over the years.  Our recent  analysis of other divisions indicates one other team has outdone the best of our Big Boys.  D-3 Montclair State stands 10-0-1 over 39 years having seen them play. That includes wins over D-2 East Stroudsburg (twice), perennial rival Rowan (twice), and a playoff win over Allegheny College, 21-20.  Their only "blemish" was a 20-20 tie with Wagner of Staten Island in 1983.  A year later, MSU avenged the tie with a 24-6 win over the Seahawks at their field overlooking New York Harbor.  Wagner has gone on to FCS non-scholarship competition since.  In 1986, we watched the Red Hawks win a 31-26 thriller over Kean College in Union, NJ.  Montclair's starting QB was "Shotgun" Johnny Briggs, who got the nickname playing QB for Tom Cruise's team in the movie, "All the Right Moves."

He's back! - After a year of sitting out with a knee injury, the guy we look forward to seeing play this year is Nittany Lion LB Sean Lee.  We liked him when he was somewhat overshadowed by Dan Connor and Paul Poszlusny.  We look for big things from him and other returnees at Linebacker U. 

Hope with Hoke - Our buddy and #1 San Diego State Aztec fan, Tom Ables, reports that the Aztec fandom is very happy with new Head Coach Brady Hoke, coming in from a successful season 12-1 at Ball State ( he didn't coach in the bowl loss to Tulsa).  Tom says the question is not IF he can win, but WHEN he will.  He brought in Al Borges as offensive coordinator, successful at Auburn and at UCLA in the past.  On the defensive side, he lured former New Mexico Head Coach Rocky Long.  Tom says more than BYU or Utah, Long was the guy who dominated SDSU, and he's happy to have him on his side.  Publications indicate that if Hoke get get quality players to Ball State, he'll have even greater success in San Diego.  Tom sat with former SDSU alum and charger head Coach Don Coryell at a benefit.  Brian Sipe is the new QB coach under Hoke, where there's a lot of hope for the Aztecs.

"Parrish" the thought - When Hoke left Ball State last season after his team lost to Buffalo in the MAC championship and before the were crushed by Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl, Ball State promoted offensive coordinator Stan Parrish to Head Coach.  From 90-95, Parrish was an assistant to Head Coach Doug Graber at Rutgers where their teams went 29-36-1 during their stays.  The roles are reversed now.  Parrish hired Graber as his new defensive coordinator for the Cardinals.  What will this mean for BSU?  Well, we don't think they'll schedule Penn State any time soon as we remember a little shouting incident after the PSU 59-34 win over their Scarlet Knights in the Meadowlands.  It will also be a RU coaching reunion when they face Western Michigan on Nov. 24.  The Broncos are coached by Bill Cubit who was RU's o-coordinator when Greg Schiano first took over the program.  Cubit's gone on to turn WMU around.  Is Terry Shea available as QB coach?  Perish that thought.

Big Tailgate - It looks like the local LVRHS game to be played on Friday October 2 will open things up for our Big Tailgate the following day when Army hosts Tulane at West Point. We couldn't have asked for a more competitive game at Michie Stadium and we truly mean that.  Since we last saw these two teams square off in 1996 in an Army victory on their way to a 10-2 season, the Cadets and Green Wave have each won six games against one another.  How many busses will we need?

We told them so - All of a sudden, all the scribes and bloggers have woken up to the fact that most FBS teams play horrible no-conference slates to pad their wins to attain bowl status.  It's funny they never brought this up when the SEC was the primary culprit doing this many years ago when they played only six games in their 10-team conference with eleven game schedules.  Everyone else learned well from them including our fave, Joe Paterno.  As we pointed out in recent years, if the FBS ever does develop a play-off, only invite conference champs.  If they throw out the rankings, maybe some of the more "formidable" programs will start playing each other again so we can see some better match-ups during the regular season.  There's not many great ones this year.  In name only, the best include:  USC at Ohio State, Florida State at Florida,  Alabama vs. Va Tech ( at a neutral field of course), Georgia at Arizona State, Illinois vs. Missouri (in St. Louis as usual), Michigan at Notre Dame, Colorado at West Virginia, Oklahoma vs. BYU,  Georgia at Oklahoma State, Nebraska at Virginia Tech, Oregon at Boise, Utah at Oregon, TCU at Clemson (we'll be there ), Maryland at Cal, Oregon State at Cincinnati, UCLA at Tennessee, USC at Notre Dame,  and WVU at Auburn (we saw them play last season).  The problem is that there isn't enough of these games.

#120 - Western Kentucky will not only be our 120th FBS team to add to our annals, Lindy's rates them #120 in their pre-season poll.  How appropriate.  The Hilltoppers lost all five games they played against Sun Belt competition last year.  This year they add Tennessee, Navy, and South Florida.

What were they thinking? - Delaware State at Michigan?  OK, playing #1 FCS Appy State turned out to be more than a challenge for the Wolverines, but DSU? DSU finally gets to play Delaware in a regular season game this year.  We wonder if this is the first time anybody played the Wolverines and Blue Hens who basically wear the same uniform?  DSU focused on the big money so much, they had to give up a conference game against North Carolina A&T which they'll have to forfeit in the final MEAC standings.