Season Almost Here, Hard Knocks, and a little Recruitin'

Got to start by apologizing to my faithful followers about the delay between posts. Two-A-Days just seem to drain my enthusiasm for blogging. Speaking of the dreaded double sessions, they mean football season is almost here! As any Hard Knocks (more on that later) fan knows, the NFL preseason has already started. If you're looking forward to games that actually means something, High School Football starts up this next week (along with school.. Yuck!), and College will start the first week of September.

Anyway, I watched the first two episodes of HBO's Hard Knocks and was surprised at a few things. Of course Jets Coach Rex Ryan's cursing jumps out. It seemed like it was pretty standard for the NFL, but it still offended longtime NFL coach Tony Dungy. You could tell that Rex tried to tone down the swearing in the second episode, but who knows if it was because of Dungy. The funniest part was probably Antonio Cromartie trying to remember his own children. I lost count, but it seemed like he had a baby mama in every state and a couple in Canada. Also, about half of them were three years old, which didn't make sense to me, but hey I'm no math whiz. If he is willing and able to support them all, then more power to him.

Lastly, there was some big football recruiting news. In today's recruiting world, a "commitment" means pretty much nothing.But it is still exciting that Five Star prospects James Wilder Jr. and San Antonio/Cibolo product Malcolm Brown have committed to Florida State and "The" University of Texas. It will be interesting to see how a big bulldozer back like Brown does in Texas' Spread Offense, but they have been doing more under center stuff, so we'll see. For all those interested Brown's High School Team will be playing Madison on ESPN August 28.

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The Way Too Early College Football Top 5

Following the end of an epic NBA final, summer has become a slow time for sports. The only things still going on are baseball and something called the World Cup. No offense to baseball, it is America's game or national pastime or whatever, but wake me up when the World Series starts and the games matter. Soccer? Let's just say I and most other Americans prefer football to foos ball. Can you dig it? Anyway, for those missing college football, here's my way too early summer top 5; the best 5 teams in America.

No.5-Oklahoma: Last season was not kind to the Sooners; hit by key injuries, they stumbled to an 8-5 record. Barring injuries, I wouldn't bet against OU this year, there is just too much talent. They are solid along both their O and D lines, particularly their front four on d. The linebacking corps will be good and the secondary has experience. They are breaking in a semi-new QB in Landry Jones, but he got lots of experience last year and will have star receiver Ryan Broyles and numerous other targets to throw to. The critical game is of course against Texas. Also watch out for an early season clash between OU and Florida State.

No.4-TCU: Boise State seems to get all the BCS buster hype and did beat TCU last year, but I think TCU will be slightly better. Their defense will be fast, swarming, and should be as a stout as previous years. The O's only significant change from last year is the replacement of LT Marshall Newhouse. Otherwise, they should be good this year. The big thing separating TCU from Boise is attitude. Boise returns almost all of its starters but it seems like there could be a possibility of them becoming complacent since they are no longer the lovable non-BCS underdog. Another factor is location. Although Idaho had a nice season this previous year, Boise is clearly the state's best and they get that respect. TCU has been overshadowed by all the big Texas state schools (especially with the Big 12 expansion controversy), and will not have much of a spotlight on them. Their key game is the season opener against Oregon State.

No.3-Duke/USC: When I asked my sister about the upcoming football season and her predictions she immediately mentioned her alma mater, Duke. It was then that I told her this was a ranking for the ole' pigskin and not the Princeton Review. Anyway, my real pick this year is USC. The Trojans seems to have underachieved since the Bush (George W. not Reggie) Administration, but this could be the year to realize all that stockpiled talent. The whole Reggie Bush scandal takes the pressure off of them, and though they cannot play in a bowl, they can still be ranked. They have the talented pretty boy Matt Barkley coming back to lead the offense with a slew of highly recruited players around him. The Defense will be reenergized by crazy coach Ed Orgeron and should be as good as in the past.USC seems like a sleeper pick that could make serious noise at the end of the year even if they are not in a bowl. They have no real hard games this year besides the Oregon match-up.

No.2- Alabama: SEC homeboys may cry foul at 'Bama not being No.1, and they do have an argument. 'Bama is not losing too many starters, and if the Lakers could repeat, it seems they can also. (Is Nick Saban NCAA's Phil Jackson?????) Any who, the Tide is talented and the offense should be special. But there are some holes in the secondary that worry me. They must replace one corner and two safeties and will be inexperienced. Seeing Garrett Gilbert (Texas's freshman QB) throw for 2 td's against the tide last year seems like a small chink in their armor that could be exploited. The big game for them is against Florida and the early matchup with ACC power Duke.

No.1-"The" Ohio State: Though I will never understand why in god's name it is called "The" Ohio State and Harvard is just Harvard, the buckeyes are my pick for no.1 this year. The Buckeyes do not have any flashy stars, but are good at every position. The knock on Ohio State and pretty much every big-time mid-west team is they are not fast enough to keep up with southern powers. But this year's Buckeyes posses ample speed (especially freak athlete/QB Terrell Pryor) and how does being in the south make you faster? Birds fly south for the winter because it is too cold not because it will make them run (fly?) a 4.4. If OSU can survive Big Ten matchups with traditional rivals Penn State, Wisconsin, and that hated school up north (Michigan), along with newcomer Nebraska, they can beat Alabama and end the title drought for northern teams.