Preseason Top 10 Wipeout

Ten observations to match the preseason’s top 10 wipeout!

I. College football was big, now it’s on fire.
We all love college football and it’s impossible to argue that it’s not the hottest sport in our country right now. Why?
Modern technology.
Cable television, mobile phones, email, text messaging, mobile phones, TiVo, pay per view packages, mobile phone downloads, fantasy leagues, talk radio, talk TV, mobile phones, weeknight games, primetime games, and blogging all contribute to an explosion of instant information and opinion.

II. Upsets; why?
It’s not all that surprising. It’s like accidents or mechanical breakdowns. Although it’s impossible to predict when it will or who it will happen to it’s easy to predict that they’re inevitable.
Some reasons people don’t give enough credit to:
High school spread offenses, camps, personnel trainers, aau basketball, you tube, video games.

III. Unintended consequences
Yogi Berra said he could get rid of all the close plays at first base by just moving the bag back a foot. College football’s “rule makers” thought they could shorten the games by moving the kickoff back five yards.
It’s true, there are less touchbacks, and therefore the clock runs and theoretically “shortens” the game. The unintended consequences? Better field position, more scoring, more injuries, more penalties, and in the end; longer games!

IV. Freshmen
Can’t win with’em, can’t win without’em.
They will get you beat, but in modern college football if you don’t use them you can’t build a winning program. Recruits look to schools that aren’t shy about playing the young guys. Florida and Southern California show that you can still win and build at the same time.

V. A school's name counts.

Don’t tell me college football heavyweights like Michigan, Alabama, Florida St., Texas or Oklahoma don’t get the benefit of doubt. Two years ago the computers were thrown out because “experts” felt University southern California was denied the championship game.

VI. The spread will never go away
Option football was the equalizer, however recruiters used the offense against the teams that ran it; “can’t get ready for the pros…” The spread accomplishes the same things the option did without the recruiting baggage.

VII. It’s October and its still football season in Kentucky
Rich Brooks first survived now he’s thriving. The best feel good story for any coach in the country.

VIII. Heisman
It’s not like I don’t enjoy the Heisman. It’s part of what makes college football. Still could we just wait until November to constantly rank the favorites?
I know we do it at CBS, but believe me we try to put the talk into proper perspective. I said try….!

IX. Instant replay
The more I see these reviews during the games, the more I marvel at how good these officials do their job. Sure they miss some but for the most part fewer games are being decided by the refs than at any time in the history of college football.

X. So who’s gonna make it to the championship?
As of today, I like LSU and Oklahoma. I think Ohio St., and Boston College will both lose a game.


Catch Gary Danielson's college football analysis on XM Satellite Radio this season. Gary appears Monday at 125pm ET, Thursday at 825am ET, and Saturday at 9am ET. Go to xmradio.com/college sports for more information..