This is the level of excitement I'm trying to reach...without the help of banned substances. Unless it's totally necessary.
We are only a month away from the start of the 2010 college football season and less than a week from fall practice. Yet I find myself remarkably calm.
Between my obsession with VH1’s “The Flavor of Ocho” and earning my online certification in bounty hunting, summer has absolutely flown by and this season really snuck up on me.
But why aren’t I more excited? Why has it taken me this long to get my blog on?
Typically by August I’ve already stockpiled all the preseason magazines, memorized the Longhorns’ depth chart, and invested more time and energy indentifying a game day shirt than I did selecting names for my children.
It’s taken me awhile, but I may have figured it out.
You hear the term “rebuilding year” thrown around the sports landscape all the time. It’s one of those phrases that can instantly depress a fan base and put a coach in a defensive mood.
In professional sports, it’s the equivalent of waving the white flag before the season begins. In college, it means things might be okay, but there are a lot of unknowns.
Most of the time, you hear this reference about a team. But in 2010, one can argue that the entire Big 12 Conference is rebuilding.
Think about the insane summer we just witnessed. Nebraska decided they were fed up with losing – on and off the field – to Texas and jumped at the chance to get beat up by Ohio State. Like dorks, Colorado showed up to the Pac 10 party early to ensure they would be let in…only to find out later that their friends decided not to come after all. Now they are stuck rooming with Utah.
The Big 12 Conference was hours away from dissolving. That’s a crazy offseason. So, we have one more year of the Big 12 as we know it. Then, in 2011, we transition into Big X(II), or whatever Texas decides to call it.
Of course that’s going to grab all the headlines, but did you also happen to notice the incredible number of star conference players who…this is hard…decided to take their talents to the NFL?
The Big 12 had nine players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, and 30 taken overall (including 21 out of the South Division alone).
Don't take this man out of my life and expect me to be happy about it. Tuberville can suck it. Seriously.
Bradford. McCoy. Suh. Bryant. Okung. Gresham. Shipley. Kindle. Thomas.
These are names that defined the last few years of the conference.
Excuse me while I also take this opportunity to mourn the loss of Mark Mangino and Mike Leach. They provided more inspiration to this blog than the rest of the coaches combined. They will be missed. For reasons they probably don’t care to be missed…for example, awesome YouTube videos like this and this.
Okay, back to it.
Heading into 2009, the Big 12 returned 16 players who’d been named First Team All-Conference the previous season. In 2010? Just nine… including four on offense – Daniel Thomas, Bryant Ward, Nate Solder and Grant Ressel.
Excited yet?
Still, most national preseason polls have Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma among their top 10-15 teams. But that may say more for the state of college football this season than for these programs. Outside of Alabama, Ohio State and Boise State, it’s a roll of the dice to determine where rest of the Top 15 end up.
What was that about “rebuilding”? Maybe it’s a much larger issue than just the Big 12.
For example, take a look at the Heisman Pundit’s preseason list of favorites for the 2010 trophy. The star power just isn’t there like it has been the last few seasons. Christian Ponder. Ryan Williams. John Clay. These are considered favorites? I never thought I’d miss Tim Tebow this much!
That’s a lie. I totally did.
But therein lies the beauty of college football. By October, we’ll have all forgotten about what’s missing from this season and I’ll be banging out 1,000-word essays on why some guy I’ve barely heard of at this moment will definitely deserve Heisman consideration. I’ll compare Garrett Gilbert to Tom Brady and ponder questions like, “Are Sam and Emmanuel Acho the most talented pair of sibling athletes since Jose and Ozzie Canseco?”
Maybe starting with a clean slate will make this season that much more interesting. Maybe the process of discovering new talent around the conference will be invigorating for fans. Maybe I’m trying really hard to get excited about a team that will feature James Kirkendoll, Tre Newton and Barrett Mathews at key skill positions.
Either way, it’s settled. I AM READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!! So get prepared for another season of Holland Crew clogging up your Facebook news feed and testing the limits of your family’s internet filters.
Now…about that game day shirt.
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#1 by Bryan on August 6th, 2010
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Good thoughts! I will definitely miss Leach and his antics, and I imagine most Techies will too. He (and his offense) was their identity. Time for all their fans to get rid of their pirate flags. They are a major question mark this year.
So long Nebraska and CU! I hope everyone stomps them.Surprised Jerrod Johnson is so low on that list, I’ve seen him on shorter lists elsewhere. He’ll have a big season.
I think OU and UT are for sure 1 and 2, but wouldn’t be surprised to see A&M steal one against either.
I think O$U, Tech, and Baylor will be 4,5,6 in the South in no particular order.
Baylor will be bowling this season. Couldn’t have asked for a better schedule, sans TCU.