A New Dawn: A Reflection

Yes, old and new BUCFPites alike - a new season is upon us. As I just finished watching NC State lose to South Carolina in a battle of the unmotivated offenses, I sit giddy! Outside of one particluar event this year, this is the best time of the year. The other event, the birth of my son Connor who will no doubt be a fixture on the BUCFP scene for years to come. Doesn't he look ready to Roll the Tide?

Yes, that's right, my beloved Virginia Tech Hokies are taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday night in a battle of preseason Top Ten opponents! Hopefully, this will turn out a little better for the Hokies than the last time they held a preseason top ten battle with an SEC opponent (I will not relive the momory any further thanks). Given the Tide no longer has dreamie JPW, and VT lost Darren Evans, all-stud tailback, that contest may make NC State, Sout Carolina look like a track meet in comparison. Regardless, the point is - IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE, COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS HERE!!!

Here's some stream of giddiness:

1. The University of Florida and it's All-Universe Quarterback Tim Tebow enter the season as the most favoritists preseason number 1 ever. Given their out of conference schedule of Charleston Southern, Troy, and Florida International ( in addition to the annual tilt with the Seminoles), and given the fact their SEC schedule is as light as an SEC schedule gets - no Bama and no Ole Miss - we might not see much of a test against the Gators outside of a road trip to LSU and the temptation of Tim.
2. My favorite target, and Lou Holtz's national champ, the Notre Dame Fightin' Irish have entered the national talk mix on the "strength" of a favorable, and I mean favorable schedule. Outside of USC, the slate includes mostly winnable games. If you consider Michigan and Michigan State in weeks 2 and 3 as "winnable" for a team that, over the last two years, lost more games in a 2 year span than ANY OTHER TEAM IN NOTRE DAME'S HISTORY! Yes, it is Notre Dame, but just the name alone can't undo the ineptitude of the last two years. I don't think Notre Dame has even got the juice to go BCS this year. And if I'm right, does Weiss get to keep his job? (and will Tim pay me in cash or check?)
3. Ole Miss. Not buying it.
4. Penn State. Out of Conference schedule = Akron, Temple, Syracuse, and Eastern Illinois. All at home. I can describe that in two syllables "la-me."
5. Speaking of Syracuse, Paulus? If starting at QB for a moribund D1A program was part of his dream, why didn't he just shoot over to Wallace Wade Stadium and give the Blue Devils a rip?
6. Feel good story 2008: Ball State, check your calendar. It is 2009. North Texas just pantsed you at home.
7. Michigan. "Coach Rodriguez, did you violate NCAA rules by requiring more than the maximum allowed hours of your players?" "I CARE ABOUT MY PLAYERS!!!" "Ummm, that wasn't the question coach." "I CARE ABOUT MY PLAYERS!!! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT I'M CRYING?" "Coach Rodriguez, how may hours did they practice?" "DO YOU WANT ME TO FIND A PLAYER AND KISS HIM ON THE MOUTH RIGHT NOW? I WILL! THAT'S HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT THEM!"
8. Will this be the year someone besides USC wins the Pac-10? Don't be stupid.
9. Dear Boise St., at first the blue field was quirky and cute. Now, it is just annoying.
10. Quick, what's the name of the stadium that Troy plays its games in? That's right "Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium". I knew the video rental business was hitting hard times, what with NetFlix taking much of the market, but are we really honoring the veterans of the corner store?

Give me YOUR observations!