LisaHorneOnSI.com's Blog
  • 11:25 PM ET  03.24
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With Spring practice right around the corner, and in some cases, already in progress, it's time to project who will be in the dog pound this year. Some of the teams are easy to predict, some may surprise you.

Hawaii

You won the WAC with Brennan, now who ya got? Not June Jones, and not even Norm Chow, who really would have taken that job if it had been offered. It's back to the middle of the pack as Boise State and Nevada pick up where you left off. Aloha.

Oregon

We all saw what happened when Dixon went down, and your future in 2007 didn't look pretty with heir apparent Brady Leaf. (Yep, that "Leaf" family) The two C's, Cody and Cade, didn't look like they were much better either, but they are the two more viable options for this year. There are also all those other serious injuries to some key veteran Ducks players. Arf ....Quack.

South Carolina

Spurrier is in his fourth year at South Carolina, and nothing much has happened, other than that SEC Coach of the Year award in 2005. But tanking it in the final five games of the 2007 season isn't very impressive, especially after 2007 was supposed to be "their year". Then there's three-peat offender QB Stephen Garcia, who was recently busted again for an alcohol-related offense. Spurrier's lack of control on his players (just why is this guy still on the team?) tells us where this program is going. Down.

Kansas State

 Let's see...you lost 73-31 to Nebraska (I'll pause to really let that sink in a little), lost to Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Iowa State, and drum roll please.....Fresno State. While you get sympathy for the Oklahoma, Kansas and Mizzou losses, you get a spanking for losing to Nebraska, Iowa State and Fresno State. Since your first two of three games are against L-ville and Fresno State this season, you might want to start searching for some ruby slippers to get you out of Kansas. Toto is toast.  

Pittsburgh

 Ok, so you beat West Virginia. But let's get real here, the Mountaineers were caught with their pants down after already winning the Big East. You beat Syracuse, Grambling State, Eastern Michigan, and Cincy. Big whoop. Bottom line is that you were 3-4 in your conference with 3 out of 5 non- conference games lost as well. ARF.

Washington State

It's hard enough recruiting in a Mars-like geographical area, but now you let Bill Doba "step down", who at least everyone knew, and hire a 2A coach from Eastern Washington in Paul Wulff. WTF? Is that really a step-up for the Cougars? Look for plenty of offense with feeble defense and a can't-miss losing season....again. Meow.

 Notre Dame

Sorry, Charlie, but there's nothing that leads me to believe that the Irish will have a winning season in 2008. You have three probable wins against Pittsburgh, Syracuse and San Diego State, and the rest looks ugly with games against Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State, Stanford, North Carolina, Washington, Boston College, USC and Navy, with only Stanford and Navy looking possibly like a "maybe." Suddenly, home-field advantage isn't such a big deal, and your coach's offensive genius mind has been exposed. That contract buy-out is pretty much the only thing "genius" Weis will have accomplished in South Bend. Woof.

Kentucky

It was fun while it lasted, but it's back to reality for the Wildcats, although right now they can't even claim to be a basketball school. It's tough, real tough. Woodson is gone, and he was the team's heart. Look at it this way- if you beat L-ville and Tennessee this year, isn't that a good football year?

March 25, 2008  12:15 AM ET

I personally think that Notre Dame will suprise you if he can have consistent Oline play

March 25, 2008  12:45 AM ET

Any O-line support would be an improvement. The picture of Clausen with turf in his face mask isn't pretty. Their D improved towards the latter half of the season....of course, it improved against some less than stellar teams. The problem is Weis. He has had huge recruiting classes and can't do anything with them....he's like Norm Chow. Some OC's just aren't cut out for an HC job, but perfect as an OC.

March 25, 2008  12:46 AM ET

Washington State is the perennial basement team in the Pac 10

I agree about Kentucky...I think we'll learn a lot the first 2 games of the season about this team..whether or not they'll have a hangover from losing Woodson

March 25, 2008  01:02 AM ET

hey badgerfan...and what about Wisky? Is this the year they finally get into a BCS game? I can see it...they have been so close, starting with that 1 loss campaign a few years ago, and going to Cap One bowl. I hope Camp Randall rocks this year.

March 25, 2008  01:12 AM ET

It always does...I think it could be our year..depends how things turn out at quarterback after spring ball..and whether or not we can find someone else to throw the ball to other than Travis Beckum. Also whether or not we can solidify our secondary. Also our o-line needs to pass protect better. But I think it could happen too.

March 25, 2008  01:06 PM ET

Badge...it would be nice to see somebody take down Michigan or Ohio State. Illinois had a nice season, but I'm hoping Bielema and Paterno both have special teams this year. It's time for the changing of the guard, much like it is in the Pac-10, although as a USC fan, I'm not encouraging it. :)

March 25, 2008  07:38 PM ET

Good blog.

I'm all for a changing of the guard. I'm an SEC fan who would like to see the Big 10 and Pac 10 show NCAAF fans their conference's depth b/c it's there, but the same dang teams keep winning it, e.g. USC and OSU.

March 25, 2008  07:48 PM ET

How'bout'em...what exactly is "an SEC fan"? Since conferences don't win championships/trophies, and only teams do, how can you be an SEC fan? I'll be perfectly honest with you....I could care less how my team's conference does...as long as my team wins, let the rest eat cake! (j/k)

But you make a valid point, the Pac-10 has been ruled by USC for 6 straight years and I couldn't be happier! Just like I am sure the Ohio State fans have got to be happy (well, sorta) about their team being the king for the last two years. BTW...didn't the lowly 4th place Pac -10 team Cal spank Tennessee last September? And Stanford beat USC. And UCLA prevented USC from playing the Gators in the BCS 2006. So there's competition in the Pac-10, it's just hard to see with SC on top all of the time. As they say, the rich keep getting richer, but with possible NCAA sanctions looming for USC, that could change drastically.

Thanks for the kind words, and I sincerely wish your team good luck, whomever they may be. :)

March 25, 2008  10:17 PM ET

Good point. I don't think you've been on this site for long b/c there's a definite division of fans of certain conferences, especially amongst the SEC'ers, USC, and OSU/UM fans. Big 12 people are usually pretty objective except for the occasional Texas fan.

Cal was 4th ranked in the Pac 10, but Tennessee played in the SEC's fifth ranked bowl even though they were supposedly #1 in the east. My team is UGA, so you can imagine the disdain I have for Tennessee b/c they blew out UGA and played Vandy and Kentucky waaaaay too close at the end of the season. You can imagine my anxiety watching those two games w/ the SEC east in the balance and a possible shot at the National Title for UGA.

There's competition in the Pac 10, just not enough of it. I was glad to see UCLA beat USC, but it's too infrequent in my opinion. I am actually a fan of the Bruins... b/c of a video game. I was drafted as a pocket QB on "Race for the Heisman." I would be undefeated every year until I played USC , and I can still hear USC's victory song in my head right now b/c they were always just too good to beat.

March 26, 2008  11:44 AM ET

Georgia rocks, and could be the team, strike that, should be the team to win the SEC. If they beat Florida. Kewl on the Heisman game! You are right, haven't been here very long, so nice to have nice guys like you around.

March 28, 2008  01:51 PM ET

I can't believe this is a new(er) post. Your post about Oregon would have been accurate if you'd written it in November before the season was finished. A quick google search would have saved you from being exposed as having no idea what you were talking about. Brady Leaf graduated, so he won't be listed on any of Oregon's depth charts this spring or fall. As far is injured "key veterans" (I've got $10 that says you don't know who those veterans are, and that you only heard or read some actual analyst talk about it), John Bacon and Jeramiah Johnson will participate in most drills this spring and they'll both be ready to go when fall camp starts, as will Jerome Boyd.

FTR, whatever Oregon's prospects are this fall, we still laid waste to USC last year. Be sure to thank Dennis Dixon for the Trojan's most recent Pac 10 title.

March 28, 2008  01:52 PM ET

PS: your picture makes you look like Napoleon Dynamite's Glamor Shots "girlfriend". I like your bangs.

April 2, 2008  03:05 PM ET

Georgia rocks, and could be the team, strike that, should be the team to win the SEC. If they beat Florida. Kewl on the Heisman game! You are right, haven't been here very long, so nice to have nice guys like you around.

LisaHorneOnSI.com | 03/26/08, 11:44 AM
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I think I am in love.........Go Dawgs!

April 2, 2008  09:19 PM ET

willa...whoa! Whats with all the freaking hostility here? Gosh, dude, you are probably very knowledgeable about the Oregon Ducks. While I apologize for the glaring mistake, I should have written after Brady, Cody and Cade's play, the future doesn't look very bright for the Ducks, but I mean that as in "after Dixon got hurt." In other words, I messed up my future past tense. My apologies. Glamour shot? That pic was taken in Hawaii by my dad on a very windy day in Lahaina. Are you an internet troll? Get a grip and quit acting like a guy with a compensation issue. It's easy to be a coward behind a keyboard, isn't it?

Rabdawg...go Dawgs. But I'm still rooting for the Gators at the largest cocktail party. Sawwy.

April 3, 2008  10:01 AM ET

Understandable, you think Tebow wil be wearing his knowshon Moreno Pajamas to the game!? HA - J/K!

April 3, 2008  05:45 PM ET

listen....Moreno could give Tebow a run for the Heisman. Will Stafford (isn't he your QB?) throw a lot? I hope not...would like to see Knowshon get a lot of carries.

April 15, 2008  08:29 PM ET

Writing after "Brady, Cody, and Cade" wouldn't have been all that accurate either. Cade Cooper spent 2007 redshirting and rehabbing from an injury, and only hit the practice field late in the season. Justin Roper actually played quite well in the bowl game after getting a chance to work with the system for more than a week or two, but the heir apparent to the QB spot is the unmentioned Nathan Costa, who went down with an ACL injury several weeks before Dixon. And he's pretty dang good, by the way. :) No hostility intended, just fact-checking.

April 16, 2008  08:41 PM ET

Laughing my Ducking arse off!!! Dont overlook L.Blount in the backfield by the way.

April 17, 2008  12:30 PM ET

QUACK QUACK QUACK.....just remember ducks fans that you were beatable even with Dixon....remember Cal?...a lot of Duck fans like to forget they actually lost before DD got hurt....and dont forget the Beavs have had your number two years in a row now including in precious Autzen.... maybe Uncle Phil needs to get his "kids" in Indonesia to make you guys some special underwear or something

 
April 17, 2008  06:17 PM ET

Took you two overtimes to beat our fifth-string QB. Wouldn't brag about that one too much.

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