"Steveo's Salvos" - March 15, 2007 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. 

"Way to go, Idaho!"  - We repeated the line from the popular kids' movie "Toy Story" when the WAC finally announced their conference schedule on March 9.  At first, we uttered unmentionable phrases when the schedule showed that the Vandals of Idaho would play at Nevada on October 27, the same day two other teams needed to complete the craziness, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, are scheduled to play.  Then things got all convoluted.  Maybe we could see Kansas State, the fifth remaining team play at Oklahoma State on Oct. 20.  OU could possibly be seen on Nov. 3 at home versus Texas A&M, but three long weekend trips in a row would be burdensome.  How about OU-Texas on Oct. 6?  Tough ticket.  Other OU games either conflicted with other commitments, or else they play teams they would most likely dominate not making our trips or our grand finale season one of interesting games to savor to close out The Goal!  We went back and looked a little more closely at the Idaho and Nevada games on the WAC schedule to see if there was any flexibility there to work around this "gridiron lock". Wow!  To our benefit, we saw a sliver of daylight and we're going for it.  Instead of heading to Nevada as initially desired, we're spending a weekend in Idaho for a Saturday/Sunday "weekend doubleheader".  On Saturday, October 13, Idaho hosts Fresno State in the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, ID.  The next day, 276 miles south in Boise, the Wolfpack of Nevada-Reno visits Boise State on the blue turf at Bronco Stadium in a game tentatively scheduled for ESPN.  CFF intends to book that weekend to not only add the Vandals and the Wolfpack, but to attend games in tow of the most unique stadiums in college football!  With these games on our slate, we plan to try to see Kansas State at Auburn on Labor Day weekend, and somehow, we're going to get into the OU-OSU rivalry to finish the Goal on October 27!  We need to start making these arrangements now to assure we can get it done.  This should be fun!

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The Unbeatens -  We didn't see the one remaining undefeated 1A team standing at the end of 2007, but we'll see them next year.  Any chance to see them on a streak?  Before Nevada, Weber State, Wyoming, Southern Miss and New Mexico State come to Boise.  The Broncos visit Washington for the first time ever, and they head out to Bowling Green.  We have a good chance to see them still on the nation's longest winning streak.

Head to head competition - We were wrong in the one bowl game played between two teams we saw play in 2006.  Utah defeated Tulsa in the Fort Worth Armed Services Bowl, 25-13.  More amazingly, the offensive star of the game was All-American free safety Eric Weddle, who stepped in at QB late in the game to move the offense and preserve the victory.  We can't wait to see where he ends up in the pros and what position he will play.

Goes around, comes around - We saw Darrel Dickey as a lame duck coach when we saw North Texas lose to FAU, 17-16 last season.  His replacement is Todd Dodge, former Texas QB and well respected Texas HS football coach who amassed a 96-11 record at Carroll HS in Southlake, TX.  Dodge played QB for the Longhorns when we saw them defeat PSU in the Meadowlands in 1984, 28-3.

Navy update- USNA improved their schedule a little bit by replacing Kent State with Northern Illinois, and North Texas, which should improve under Dodge, was added as an away game next year to probably help recruiting in the Lone State State.

Get in line -  We put our dibs in early and now we wait for our Rutgers 2007 season tickets.  RU is waiting for its season ticket holders to claim any additional tickets before they issue new ones.  We won't hear until July!

Thanksgiving in New England - We hope to attend a rematch of the '84 Classic when Boston College hosts Miami under their two new head coaches on November 24