Ty and Dan break down all the action from “Tire Fire Saturday,” including Ohio State’s passing offense, a near “Clemsoning,” and more unfortunate uniform combinations. Plus, voice messages from rowdy listeners.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Steve Jobs, Reed College attendee.

*****

• Oregon beat Cal. LaMichael James‘s elbow popped out before James himself popped it back in. He’s more of a man than you or I will ever be.

• Cal fans react to the third quarter Oregon onslaught.

• TCU is going to the Big 12. Probably.

• CBS’s Dennis Dodd has a weekend watch list and other such musings.

• CBS’s Bryan Fischer says there’s nothing quite like Texas football. Well okay, then.

• Watch Western Michigan. They’re not that bad. Seriously.

• Stanford‘s punter has a pretty boring job.

• ESPN‘s bloggers have things to watch.

• Fox Sports’s Thayer Evans profiles Texas OC Bryan Harsin.

• SB Nation’s Bill Connelly answers your questions.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is a never-before-aired “Here’s to the Crazy Ones” Apple ad narrated by Steve Jobs.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rwsuXHA7RA

Enjoy your Friday.

***Follow me on Twitter.***

Ty and Dan make their Week 6 Picks, talk about Missouri’s potential move to the SEC, discuss Michigan’s defense, and debate whether Clemson is 2010 Auburn in disguise.

Ty Hildenbrandt and Dan Rubenstein take a closer look at impressive victories by LSU and Alabama, poke fun at Texas A&M’s pass defense, and devise a diabolical scheme to fix South Carolina’s quarterback problem. Plus, another batch of listener Reverbs and another tale of Nick Foles’ performance… in a losing effort, of course.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Oregon attendee and Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Kaitlin Olson. Welcome back to teevee, horrible people.

*****

• LSU squashed Mississippi State under their thumb last night. Not pretty.

• Minnesota coach Jerry Kill is out of the hospital and ready for action (maybe).

• ESPN’s David Ubben talks Iowa State and upward trending.

• ESPN’s Brian Bennett chats with Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins ahead of tomorrow’s Notre Dame game.

• Oklahoma‘s regents are meeting on Monday. This passes for news, apparently.

• ESPN’s Andrea Adelson previews tonight’s Boise State-Toledo matchup.

• Cal coach Jeff Tedford was reprimanded for speaking poorly of officials.

• SI.com’s Jordan Conn profiles FIU’s T.Y. Hilton. T.Y. Hildenbrandt is very excited.

• The Wiz has a prognostication wrap of writers from across the country.

• Maryland‘s down two receivers for the West Virginia game.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day features The Dude and some sweet, sweet soul.

Enjoy your Friday.

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Ty and Dan kick off their fourth season as hosts of The Solid Verbal by reviewing the news of the week, reading a handful of Verballer messages, and previewing the biggest games of 2011′s opening weekend.

Ty and Dan talk with Ted Miller from ESPN.com about the newly-expanded Pac-12, the immediate impact of Utah and Colorado, USC’s defense, Arizona State’s role as frontrunner, Stanford without Jim Harbaugh, and Oregon’s chances of repeating.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Freaks and Geeks AND Loyola Marymount alum Linda Cardellini. I think I like the Lindsay Weir version better.

*****

• Arkansas RB Knile Davis is out for the season after breaking his ankle during a scrimmage. Awful news.

• Texas A&M to the SEC isn’t nearly as true as the consistently reliable Texas A&M Rivals site would have you believe.

• Could Florida State go to the SEC? Probabmaybwhoknows.

• We like Indiana coach Kevin Wilson a lot more after his radio appearance yesterday.

• 2011 will be Howard Schnellenberger’s last year coaching Florida Atlantic. Here’s to his pants being suspended in a professional, respectable way.

• A nice point/counterpoint between Florida H-back Trey Burton and an interviewer. Her point is calling him hot, his counterpoint is looking at her chest. It balances out.

• ESPN figures out which teams are just big ol’ teases.

• Jim Tressel and Ohio State are testifying today before the NCAA. Perfect way to start the weekend, right?

• Fox Sports’s Thayer Evans profiles West Virginia menace DE Bruce Irvin.

• SI.com’s Andy Staples has an ACC preview, but fails to talk about Maryland scooters. This is why we win.

• SEC Week is real and it’s spectacular.

• Cal lost presumed starting FB Eric Stevens to a torn ACL.

• Rivals has a Florida State preview. Conclusion: It’s Bjoern Time.

• Cincinnati‘s going black on matte black with alternate helmets.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is the Warcraft kid freaking out over a tattoo. This is video birth control.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtkuvF7VbSQ

Enjoy your Friday. Keep warm.

***Follow me on Twitter.***

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by SUNY-Buffalo graduate and film mogul Harvey Weinstein. A little birdie told me that The Weinstein Company is interested in optioning The Solid Verbal story. That little birdie? Me.

*****

• The NCAA isn’t done with Ohio State. Or are they? No, they’re not.

• Your monthly Texas A&M-to-the-SEC rumor (this time with a double shot of Governor Rick Perry) is now ready for you. Careful, it’s hot.

• Boise State AD Gene Bleymaier is no more in the Treasure Valley. Ok, he’ll still probably be in the area, but somebody new will be occupying his office.

• Missouri DT Sheldon Richardson has finally been cleared to practice for the Tigers, though he may still go to USC. Or not. Or so.

• Cincinnati AD Mike Thomas will accept the same position at Illinois. Things just got a whole lot more orange.

• SB Nation’s Spencer Hall previewed every SEC game, I’m assuming because he hates sanity.

• ESPN’s Andrea Adelson has Big East practice reports. Most importantly, cursing and Tweeting is out at Pitt.

• ESPN checks in with second-year coaches.

• Penn State coach Joe Paterno returned to practice with his arm in a sling and his body in a golf cart.

• SB Nation’s Bill Connelly previews Boise State. Spoiler: The numbers love ‘em.

• South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier doesn’t want his players swearing. He’s the only one allowed.

• Is Cal‘s offense too hard for young players? Sure, that must be it, you all are just too dumb to understand.

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel has a mailbag AND a Dodge Stratus.

• College football and MS Paint (penises) will never, ever get old.

• Dr Saturday‘s SEC Week keeps on keeping on.

• Georgia Tech OT Phil Smith has been suspended for two games for rule breakage.

• Former Nebraska RB Ahman Green will be roaming sidelines for the Big Ten Network this fall. My only connection to this is that I once accidentally walked in on two people (neither of which were Ahman Green) attempting to make babies in the basement of a building he lived in in Omaha. This has nothing to do with anything.

• 2012 Auburn QB commit Zeke Pike is already thrilled to prod Alabama fans on Twitter. This will only end in mutual respect and peaceful thoughts.

• Rivals previews Nebraska, without any of the Ahman Green insight I provided above. Lame.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is Paul Rudd’s marketing genius.

Enjoy your Thursday. Enjoy your style.

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Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Daniel Tosh, UCF graduate, and possible Knight-Knight fan. Doing O’Leary proud!

*****

• Top HS QB prospect Jameis Winston picked Florida State yesterday, though he’s expected to also be taken high in next year’s baseball draft. Wouldn’t wish his problems on my worst enemy. (video)

• The Humanitarian Bowl is no more. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is, uh, more.

• Oregon State WR James Rodgers has been cleared for (limited) practice, which is awful news for everybody in the Pac-12.

• CBS’s Tony Barnhart has 2011′s top ten trap games. As always, Admiral Ackbar ghost wrote most of this.

• SB Nation’s Bill Connelly has a thorough, fact-filled Auburn preview. RollsRoyce5 will immediate denounce all of it as being a sham and biased.

• ESPN’s David Ubben reflects on Big 12 media days. Guessing they weren’t served lobster like the lucky sumbitches in the Big East.

• An SEC media days lookback.

• Pac-12 ditto. B1G ditto.

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel has a new mailbag that completely ignores this season of Whale Wars, which I know Stew himself is not doing. Bring it out in the open, Mandel!

• Pre-Snap Read is counting down teams with extraordinary detail. Read it. Love it. Live it. Here’s Florida.

• Yahoo!!!!!!’s Dr Saturday continues Pac-12 week with Cal and defining games. (And no, Cal isn’t in today’s defining games post)

• Rivals has the nation’s best OL groups. Iowa is #5 despite last September’s Arizona game existing.

• Touted incoming Mizzou DE Sheldon Richardson is yet to be cleared by the NCAA. Or he has. Or he hasn’t. Or he has. Or he hasn’t.

• Illinois waterskis. Simple as that.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is an explanation of hipsterdom, but by puppets. Of course.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbTI7eWaQbk

Enjoy your Thursday. Rock the shwag.

***Follow me on Twitter.***

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Brooklyn Decker, anonymous North Carolina fan and actress(ish) in a new movie called Battleship. Based on Battleship the board game. I blame everyone but her for how horrible it’ll be.

*****

• Butch Davis is out at North Carolina. Not totally unexpected, but the timing is such that UNC must REALLY not want anything to do with him. Interesting.

SI.com’s Andy Staples has questions. Such a sleuth.

Was it the whole cheating thing? Maybe?

ESPN’s Heather Dinich reviews possible UNC interim candidates.

• Gunner Kiel, the nation’s unanimous #1 HS QB prospect chose … Indiana. How many times do you think IU coach Kevin Wilson used the word “Bradford” during conversations? 71,000? 73,000?

• The Pac-12 Network was expected. We got Pac-12 NetworkS. In a year, you won’t be able to avoid Jeff Tedford‘s face. So, yeah.

• Oklahoma State has new uniforms. The gray lids have a fan in me.

• When Oregon WR coach Scott Frost leaves Eugene for Nebraska (or whoever gives him an OC job), they’ll be worse off.

• ESPN’s Ted Miller has Pac-12 media day notes. I learned that Washington‘s large people are dented.

• ESPN’s David Ubben does the same with the Big 12. Iowa State appears to be tapping the breaks on the whole “tough non-conference schedule” thing.

• ESPN’s Edward Aschoff profiles Vanderbilt QB Larry Smith, currently Nashville’s most sacked college QB!

• The new voice of FIU football is … former CNN anchor Rick Sanchez? Okeedoke.

• Clay Travis says air conditioning is responsible for Florida sports dominance. Not to be outdone, it’s also responsible for some of my most dominant naps.

• SB Nation’s Bill Connelly previews Missouri. Don’t tell anyone, but they’re defense has gotten, at times, scary good.

• Thought you knew the rules? Good, now forget everything — SI.com’s Andy Staples has you covered.

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel mailbags it and suggests that Washington could be better sans Jake Locker, something I’ve been saying for at least 10-15 minutes.

• Yahoo!!!!!’s Dr. Saturday goes green and previews Michigan State. Because they wear green. Brilliant.

• They’re also seeing red as they preview Nebraska. God, I’m so on today.

• Georgia LB (and USC transfer) Jarvis Jones will miss the 2011 season with a shoulder injury.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is the next sports to take the world by storm — I call it kicky jumpy mini-volleyball, or KJMV. Sign up now!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljb6Mne8Mfc

Enjoy your Thursday. Thread up.

***Follow me on Twitter.***

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Miami attendee and Curb You Enthusiasm mainstay Jeff Garlin. Here’s to hoping that, at one point, Garlin yelled out, “IT’S ALL ABOUT DA U!”

*****

• Former Georgia coach Jim Donnan is accused of profiting off of a Ponzi scheme. I, I, I just have nothing.

• CBS’s Brett McMurphy thinks that if USF is FOR REALZ about succeeding in college football they need to leave Raymond James Stadium. For. Ev. Er.

• Everybody, this is Russell Wilson … Russell, this is everybody. Hurray!

• Is Cal coach Jeff Tedford going and making things so complicated? Maybe?

• Today’s July 18th, which means two things — 1. It’s Vin Diesel‘s birthday, and 2. B1G specialist rankings ARE OUT.

• ESPN’s Ted Miller reviews Pac-12 linebackers. We’re all grateful he led off with ASU MLB Vontaze Burfict, not only because it’s deserved, but also because the safety of Ted’s family was probably at stake.

• Former Georgia Tech C Sean Bedford wrote an open letter to the NCAA that ended with him saying they could pry his 1999 ACC championship ring from his “cold, dead finger.” Well okay then!

• Years after Larry Coker allegedly only used Rivals to recruit, he’s bringing college football to San Antonio.

• SB Nation’s Bill Connelly previews Oklahoma State. There’s a pretty good chance new OC Todd Monken is taking notes.

• Former Michigan WR Desmond Howard led a new class into the College Football Hall of Fame. Humbly.

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel profiles Michigan coach Brady Hoke.

• As per my understanding of photography and art, Wyoming will be wearing giant, oversized helmets this fall.

• Yahoo!!!!!!!’s Dr. Saturday has a very specific set of WAC predictions.

• Georgia‘s loading up on touted recruits. Probably wise.

• Rivals profiles first-year starting QBs who could maybe (potentially) win some games.

• UCLA is getting Vanderbilt CB Jamie Graham, which is pretty much the final puzzle piece for the Bruins.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is what happens when water jet packs don’t, um, jet.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=he2a4xK8ctk

Enjoy your Monday. Today’s Solid Verbal Apparel Day!

***Follow me on Twitter.***

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by former Boy Meets World actress Danielle Fishel. She apparently hosted some show thereafter. The important thing to remember here is that we went to the same high school. And our high school is terrible at football.

*****

• Oregon All-American CB/PR Cliff Harris has been suspended indefinitely in the wake of his driving citation and other outstanding (in a bad way) fines. He’ll miss, at the very least, the LSU game. Say what you will, but Chip Kelly is now probably the Anti-Tressel of the moment.

• ESPN’s Chris Low ranks SEC wide receivers. An innocent enough list until you realize who will be throwing to these guys. And that would be mostly unproven people.

• ESPN’s Heather Dinich gets in on the position ranking hustle and trots out ACC quarterback rankings. Randy Edsall is in charge of #1. I don’t feel good about this.

• Add “saggy pants” to the list of awesome things happening right now for New Mexico football.

• Kegs ‘n Eggs has Bodog Heisman odds. Notre Dame QB Dayne Crist checks in at NotGonnaHappen to 1.

• Football Study Hall does its best to figure out Cal. I don’t think they’ll ever be the same.

• Michigan St is ready to prove the doubters wrong. Unless the doubters live Tuscaloosa, AL. You guys were totally right.

• Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott is, alongside his Big 10 and SEC brethren, also looking into athletes getting a little more scratch.

• The new Longhorn Network will mostly feature Mack Brown doing and saying things.

• Former Miami RB Storm Johnson can transfer anywhere he wants to, so long as it’s not a college or university in the United States.

• Two Kansas football players are taking on other KU athletes at their own sports. This time it’s women’s soccer. The video is a little long but if you start at around the five minute mark you won’t be sorry. Unless you hate comedy.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is terrific advice to graduates of any age — keep on dancing!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WCgKEukISs

Enjoy your Thursday. Buy stuff, etc.

***Follow me on Twitter.***

Today’s Chorus is brought to you once again by NC State alumnus Zach Galafianakis, star of Between Two Ferns and other things that may come out soon.

*****

• Ole Miss dismissed DE Delvin Jones and LB Clarence Jackson after they were arrested for public drunkenness. It was not the first trouble either had been in. I know, right?

• CBS’s Dennis Dodd proposes an idea to have Auburn-Alabama scrimmage in August to raise money for tornado relief. It’s such a good idea that it isn’t even his. Don’t worry, no credit was given.

• Illinois AD Ron Guenther announced his formal retirement. To be safe, Ron Zook better get a letter of rec sooner rather than later.

• ESPN College Gameday will begin the season at the Oregon-LSU game in Dallas. A victory for those that prefer their pre-game college football coverage in a sterile, safe setting. YES!

• Cal coach Jeff Tedford reminisced about the old days at Fresno State. I can’t wait until some ranked team cockily strides into Fresno and loses — I’m never going to stop with the, “You don’t come into the SJV talking that mess!” jokes. Never.

• Nebraska AD Tom Osborne backs Jim Tressel in the Ohio State coach’s ongoing struggle. Whenever a former coach who famously started a player right after that player threw a woman down a flight of stairs calls, YOU LISTEN.

• ESPN’s Edward Aschoff has a tidy SEC spring wrap. He tries dutifully to say nice things about LSU QB Jordan Jefferson.

• Minnesota gets the Football Outsiders treatment. Summary: If they’re going to win, it’ll be because of the offense.

• Anchor of Gold has a Vanderbilt offensive preview. More on this later.

• Oregon‘s OL gets a boost with the return of C Hamani Stevens, who left the school to complete a Mormon mission. Of course, he hasn’t put on pads in two years, he’s not in Eugene or enrolled in the school, so let’s all temper our collective excitement for now.

• New Florida WR Ja’Juan Story likes to poop and listen to Katy Perry.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is the preview for the NBC show, “The Playboy Club.” It’s all the sexiness of Playboy and the early 60s mixed with the horrible development and generally misguided sensibilities of NBC.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-dnE5NtJDs

Enjoy your Tuesday.

***Follow me on Twitter.***

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by UC Santa Cruz alum and star of the weekend’s #2 movie, Bridesmaids. This marks the first time that a Banana Slug starred in any weekend’s #2 movie. Ok, I’m just guessing here.

*****

• Ohio State and coach Jim Tressel have hired a law firm made up of ex-NCAA officials to fight the coach’s current and coming sanctions. No terrible college football deed goes un-defended by high-priced attorneys finding loopholes for cheaters.

• Cal‘s new starting QB is Buffalo transfer Zach Maynard. The semi-new look offense is going to specifically incorporate more read-option looks by a guy who threw more INTs than TDs during his last season on the field (in the MAC). Tricky.

• Mark Richt: Oversigning is pretty “awful.” Rest of SEC: Kthxbye.

• Oregon State DT Castro Masaniai has been suspended indefinitely from the Beavers after being arrested for second-degree kidnapping, coercion, disorderly conduct, harassment and criminal mischief. And it all happened in a McDonald’s. If EDSBS doesn’t give him some sort of honorary ribbon or something, the Fulmer Cup is all for naught.

• ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg has a primer on the … BIG TEN SPRING MEETINGS!!!!

• Ohio State’s 2010 Gold Pants are in limbo. Dun dun DUNNN!!

• USC coach Lane Kiffin and his QB Matt Barkley share a mutual respect. They also share a mutual fear of winning 10 games.

• Bill Connelly continues his numerical devilry as he examines Kansas State success rates and such.

• Ohio State reassigned its football PR maven. Because really, this is all her fault.

• The Sports Business Journal breaks down the motivations for rivals like ESPN and Fox to come together for the sake of Pac-12 media rights. As you’d probably expect, those motivations are mostly rooted in evil.

• Rivals lists their favorite good players on bad or so-so teams. Harsh.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is the new New Era commercial with Alec Baldwin and John Krasinski. As soon as I have a little bit of money, I may do this all the time.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjmvsc22OFw

Enjoy your Monday.

***Follow me on Twitter.***

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, West Virginia attendee and noted rainmaker. Former Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker is seething with jealousy.

*****

• The Fiesta Bowl was fined ONE MILLION DOLLARS for their minor corruption snafus, but will stay in the BCS. That’s a lot of complimentary 2015 tortilla chips with my name on ‘em.

• If the NFL lockout sticks, get ready for more four-hour college football games. This according to the people that would make money from the six minute commercial breaks.

• CBS Sports’s Dennis Dodd has decided, before even a single game broadcast, that Urban Meyer on TV isn’t right. But who replaces him in the booth? My guess — Bob Stoops.

• If you’re keeping score at home, it’s been almost three and a half years since Joe Paterno has visited a recruit. And now he’ll be traveling less. Scary to think about how good Penn State will be with an acting head coach.

• Former Florida CB Janoris Jenkins will be playing out his eligibility at North Alabama, whatever that is.

• ESPN’s Brian Bennett wraps the Big East spring. Long live Tino v. Geno in the backyard.

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel answers emails. He feels good about the SEC. And there you have it.

• Clemson has no interest in Missouri QB transfer Tyler Gabbert. It’s because of the kids, you see.

• Thirty percent of Virginia Tech players will receive new helmets that actually help to guard against concussions. Always good.

• Iowa has verbally offered a 15 year old (who hasn’t played a down of varsity football) a scholarship. What could possibly go wrong?

• Rivals profiles Cal QB Zach Maynard, the Buffalo transfer who’s competing for the Bears’ starting job. Oh and his little brother is Cal‘s “star” WR.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day reinforces what we already all knew — jetpacks are awesome.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4CX-8Eo_6I

Enjoy your Thursday.

Follow me on Twitter.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by the newly single Arnold Schwarzenegger, a University of Wisconsin-Superior correspondence graduate and lover of all things derriere.

*****

• After receiving an extension, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald will be continuing his reign of efficient spread passing terror through at least 2020. TERROR.

• Georgia RB Washaun Ealey will soon be (other team) RB after being granted his unconditional release from Georgia. If he becomes dominant wherever he goes, I’m calling dibs now on a nickname of “The Moving Violation.”

• Missouri QB Tyler Gabbert (younger brother of Sunshine Gabbert) announced his intention to transfer, with Clemson, according to his father, as a possible landing spot. Despite no college passing attempts, Mel Kiper already lists him on the big board.

• Four Miami players of minimal consequence are transferring. Oh well.

• Football Study Hall gets down and dirty with Duke. Not pretty.

• TCU doesn’t return a ton, but they’ve done enough to warrant a spring wrap from ESPN. It’s to be expected that MLB Tank Carder will hunt you down if you don’t click the link.

• Yahoo!!!!!’s Dr. Saturday examines TressellBall. What, you thought you were done with Craig Krenzel? NEVER!!

• Earlier in the offseason, Rutgers added former Pitt and Cal offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti to install an actual offense. For those expect an immediate impact, take a slow look at that resumé once again.

• USC WR Brice Butler announced his decision to transfer before announcing his decision to remain a Trojan. Without any knowledge to support this, due credit should be given to USC’s new on-campus Chick-fil-A. Works wonders.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is Rafael Nadal getting fancy between his legs. Never hesitate to send me trick tennis shots. Never.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mevFnV5rCuI

Enjoy your Tuesday.

Follow me on Twitter.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Kate Upton because, damnit, she Dougies for Arash Markazi. And appears on Jimmy Traina’s podcast. And looks like Kate Upton.

*****

• Former Auburn OL Chaz Ramsey, who was interviewed on the HBO special about money and NCAA athletes, will speak to the NCAA about his allegations of under-the-table payments and ticket sales.

• After falling to 4th on the depth chart, Ole Miss QB Nathan Stanley will transfer. This makes it a perfect 10 players to leave Oxford since the end of 2010. I blame the Tom Kite Black Bear.

• The Big 12 has a new TV deal with Fox Sports worth a little over a billion (with a “b”) dollars to show all Big 12 sporting evens, including every football game that ESPN/ABC or school-operated channels won’t. To clarify, this even includes any Kansas/Iowa State matchups.

ESPN’s David Ubben reacts.

• Arizona State and Washington State have new uniforms. I’m grading Wazzu a bit higher on this one. Gray gets the nod.

• ESPN’s David Ubben visits Stillwater to get the straight poop on Oklahoma State. Pyongyang awaits your thoughts, sir.

• Northwestern and Notre Dame are going to play each other. They’ll fight over the Mandel-Hildenbrandt Cup.

• Kentucky QB Morgan Newton is once again starting. Let’s hope that sentence isn’t vacated.

• ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg files notes from Ann Arbor. Like most of us, he’s captivated by QB Denard Robinson‘s effortless smile.

• How are things at QB in Berkeley? Good? Average? Uncomfortable? I have no idea.

• Want to know what USC QB Matt Barkley sees (other than possible rooftop shenanigans)? Fox Sports West straps on. A camera.

• SI.com’s Andy Staples profiles Keyshawn Johnson’s 7-on-7 team and training program, which definitely isn’t AAU football. Definitely not.

• You know that new Purdue Pete brought in to be less scary to the kiddies? Already done in West Lafayette.

• A former BYU professor explores Cougar athletes (mainly football players) and honor code violations.

• Rivals profiles Florida State QB EJ Manuel because it’s April and that’s what you do in April.

• Penn State QB Robert Bolden‘s mom has no idea where her son will be going to school this fall. Perhaps a phone call is in order.

• EDSBS has an updated Howard Schnellenberger Top 25. Suspenders are just CRUISING.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is the trailer for Rise of The Planet of the Apes. Damn you James Franco!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqyKYrDta_E

Enjoy your Thursday.

Follow me on Twitter.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Reese Witherspoon, one time Stanford student. Perhaps she was bummed that we had Jeff Tedford on and had a glorious time talking Cal football. It’s fine, Reese, we know where your heart really is.

*****

• Michigan State OT Arthur Ray is again practicing after the 2007 removal of a cancerous tumor from his leg. We wish him many healthy pancakes.

• CBS’s Bryan Fischer visits Fort Worth to break down TCU’s revamped roster. I really did think the use of “revamped” would sound better than it did.

Speaking of which, take a look at TCU’s Rose Bowl ring. It’s essentially a bejeweled golf ball.

• Do you have the CBS Sports Network (formerly CBS College Sports)? Do you like Mountain West games? Have I got news for you!

• Bruins Nation breaks down the Pac-12 TV contract possibilities. Every single time the word “Fox” appears in print when people discuss this story, it bums me out just a little bit.

• ESPN’s Ted Miller has notes on Stanford’s defense. I couldn’t find anything on LB Chase Thomas practicing the ol’ fake knee injury. Look harder, Miller. Look harder.

• Yahoo!!!!’s Dr. Saturday turns his QB focus to Darron Thomas, booger-pick and all.

• ESPN’s David Ubben predicts the Big 12′s 1000-yd rushers. A Bryce Brown sighting!

• ESPN’s Chris Low does the same for the SEC, but only lists Alabama RB Trent Richardson at #2. Do you not understand that he may in fact be better than Mark Ingram? Sheesh.

• Cal WR Tevin Carter left the Bears and returned home, the assumption being that Carter has no interest in continuing a football career elsewhere.

• Clemson coach Dabo Swinney talks spring football. And classic American hairstyles.

• Mr SEC has the details of alleged payments and inappropriate contact between an Alabama booster and LB signee Brent Calloway. Fun.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is the fake Windows 7 commercial with a storm trooper.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr04FBKPS9E

Enjoy your Friday.

Follow me on Twitter.

Ty and Dan restart the Coaching Carousel and talk with Cal coach Jeff Tedford about playing all “away” games in 2011, Pac-12 expansion, recruiting services, and dealing with pressure.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Harvard alum Rivers Cuomo. I’ve never said this until now, but a pretty significant part of me wants to destroy his sweater. Whew, that felt right.

*****

• Pac-12 TV rights hit the open market today. Here’s a rundown of the favorites to land conference media rights. I’m positive by the time all is said and done, I’ll be watching Oregon games on Oprah‘s third regional network in standard definition.

• Noted shady person Willie Lyles allegedly asked Texas A&M $80,000 to deliver Patrick Peterson. Peterson and his father were outraged and denied any association with Lyles. And then a Rivals reporter confirmed THREE YEARS AGO that Peterson and his father went to Houston specifically to visit Lyles. Whoops indeed!

• Well then, Ohio State blog Eleven Warriors looks … different today.

• ESPN’s David Ubben made the trek to College Station and returns with Texas A&M practice notes. Because it’s his job, that’s why.

• ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg does the same in Evanston for Northwestern, but uses bullet points. Ohyoufancyhuh?

• When Nebraska plays a team with a decent defense, their offense is going to be way better. Srsly, you guys.

• Yahoo!!!!!’s Dr. Saturday looks at Cal’s offense and the news that coach Jeff Tedford is once again in control.

• It seems that New Mexico coach Mike Locksley can finally be terminated and not be paid a quadrillion dollars. Advanced economics!

• Colorado QB Tyler Hansen implies that there perhaps, maybe, kind of, sort of, probably was a touch of nepotism in former coach Dan Hawkins playing QB Cody Hawkins so much. Intriguing.

• Verbie-nominated Tweeter and Ole Miss DE Kentrell Lockett has been granted a sixth year of eligibility. #excitement

• Rivals previews Ohio State’s spring. Quiet quiet quiet.

• The Texas spring game will be on ESPN. The secrety secrets will be exposed!

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is our ol’ pal at SI.com, Andy Staples, talkin’ jorts.

Enjoy your Friday.

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Ty and Dan talk with Ted Miller from ESPN.com about the addition of Utah and Colorado to the Pac-12, the personality of Chip Kelly, a Locker-less Washington, and the hot seat in Westwood.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you, once again, by Natalie Portman. I’m told she’ll pregnantly win an Oscar on Sunday. I can’t imagine that there’s any other reason to watch in earnest.

*****

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel fires a shot across the bow at Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton, the man responsible for hiring coaches accusing of violating NCAA rules in both of the school’s major revenue sports.

• If Stanford QB Andrew Luck gets dinged up this fall, he’s still getting PAID.

• Atlanta DE prospect Lorenzo Mauldin accepted an offer to play for South Carolina. And then the day before Signing Day, the school told him, “Not so much.” SEC Football!!!!!

• Texas coach Mack Brown closed spring practice to observers. Prediction: QB Garrett Gilbert will somehow still throw it to the wrong color jersey at some point.

• CBS’s Bryan Fischer kicked it with new Miami coach Al Golden. God, my descriptions are so hip.

• USC hired a new WR coach. His name is Ted Gilmore and here to say … he hopes QB Matt Barkley stops staring down his new receivers so much.

• New Texas OC Bryan Harsin had an offer for more years and more money from Les Miles to perform the same job at LSU. Unfortunately, it required coaching at LSU.

• ASU QB Steven Threet is stepping away from football due to suffering multiple concussions. Smart dude.

• California Golden Blogs created a formula called QB Score as a new way of measuring passing efficiency, which concentrates on generating yards against not generating turnovers. I don’t fully understand it, but Cal QB Brock Mansion is well into the negatives, so it feels right.

• SI.com’s Andy Staples reveals his all two-star team. I assume a jar of BBQ sauce or a rib bib gets shipped to each member in their goody bag.

• ESPN’s Andrea Adelson previews the springs for some notable non-AQ teams.

• ESPN’s Brian Bennett does the same for Notre Dame.

• Yahoo!!!!!!’s Dr. Saturday profiles Baylor’s “Mr Indispensible,” QB Robert Griffin.

• Wonderful Terrific Monds II is officially a Buffalo Bull. Awesome?

• The Wiz has the complete list of NFL Combine odds. Of course he does.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is an exploration into the habitat of the Wyoming offensive lineman.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=haBv3g15mGU

Enjoy your Friday.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Ronnie from Jersey Shore. I assume he’s pro Monmouth in the budding QB mixtape feud.

*****

• Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville received a raise of $500,000 — an upsetting detail to the school’s faculty members, who recently were forced to take pay cuts. And agree to comb Tuberville’s fine silver hair once a week. Excessive.

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel speaks with former current UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel.

• CBS’s Bryan Fischer has a primer for Stanford’s spring. It purports that QB Andrew Luck is competent. I’m taking a wait-and-see approach.

• Monmouth QB Alex Tanney put together his own trick throw mixtape and claims to be better than UConn QB Johnny McEntee. Can’t we settle this like the American Gladiators would — on an elaborate TV set? C’mon, like CBS College Sports doesn’t have a 30 minute block to fill at some point…

• The NCAA will try to understand “recruiting.” And not a moment too soon!

• Former Oklahoma RB and subject of “The Best There Never Was” Marcus Dupree is now a wrassler. This can only end well.

• SB Nation’s Andy Hutchins is slowly releasing his Top 25. The good news? Central Florida is still Central Florida.

• ESPN’s Chris Low previews the SEC East and the SEC West. And then Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never 3D. Snaps!!

• ESPN’s Ted Miller explains the home field tiebreaker for the new Pac-12 championship game. It’s exactly how you imagined it to be, unless you made the leap that I did, and imagined an elaborate lingerie game to settle it. <—Perv.

Miller also profiles new Colorado coach Jon Embree, who is “Colorado to the core.” I know this because the profile includes a picture of Embree standing in front of mountains. To the core!

• Georgia QB Aaron Murray suffered a minor ankle injury that will almost assuredly not affect his playing career at all.

• It’s the offseason, so that can only mean one thing for Penn State — DANCING!!

• Cal may wear white helmets for a game in 2011, just like Stanford always does. Draaaaaama!

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is a baby getting drunk and destroying a bar full of puppets. Because why not, right?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cds7lSHawAw

Enjoy your Tuesday.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Salma Hayek, alum of Universidad Iberoamericana, a school once again completely screwed by the BCS.

*****

• The East-West Shrine Game apparently happened. Here are some players that allegedly, even though there’s four years of tape on them, improved their stock playing in a haphazard, second-tier all star game.

• Two freshman Oklahoma starters (WR Kenny Stills, S Tony Jefferson) were arrested for misdemeanor DUI and “interference with the official process” respectively. Oh to be 19 and in Norman, OK.

• UCLA finally bought out OC Norm Chow, who was officially named to the same position by Utah. The Bruins hired former 49ers OC Mike Johnson, who can now tell budding recruits that they can be the next Alex Smith.

• Former Miami coach Randy Shannon interviewed for UCLA’s defensive coordinator position.

• USC finally made its appeal to the NCAA, which will undoubtedly result in something inconsistent with every other decision the NCAA makes.

• ESPN’s Heather Dinich reviews the recruiting needs of each ACC team, which officially kicks off the two nerdiest weeks of the college football year.

• Now that that’s out of the way, here’s more nerdery with Michigan coach Brady Hoke working overtime to keep the Wolverines’ recruiting class together.

• Rutgers QB Tom Savage is transferring, but coach Greg Schiano won’t let his backup QB haunt him at a school that doesn’t play Rutgers ever. Sucka!

• Cal OC Andy Ludwig will take the same position at San Diego State. In a statement, Ludwig said, “I will call a dive, then a bubble screen, then a regular screen pass.”

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is yesterday’s Fat Guy TD. If I ever don’t post a Fat Guy TD, know that SolidVerbal.com has been compromised.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AegmORvD28

Enjoy your Monday.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by the Iron Sheik, who, until proven otherwise by Nick Fairley, will always be Earth’s #1 suplex artist.

*****

• Auburn QB Cam Newton is entering the draft, because that’s what mercenaries do — four uniforms in four years.

• Michigan QB Denard Robinson is returning to Michigan after considering his post-Hoke hire options. Smart.

• Stanford hired their OC/RB coach David Shaw to take over as head coach. Looks like they ignored my letters begging for Walt Harris to get a second chance.

• UConn hired longtime Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni to be their next head coach. There are riots in the streets of North Nobodycaresville.

• ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg spoke to new Michigan coach Brady Hoke.

• ESPN’s CFB bloggers have all-bowl teams. The big takeaway I had was learning that Tulsa has a LB named Curnelius Arnick.

• Kentucky WR (and Hildenbrandt favorite) Randall Cobb is entering the NFL Draft. RIP Wild Cobb.

• ESPN’s Joe Schad is reporting that Auburn DT Nick Fairley is declaring for the NFL Draft. Expect an on-stage Goodell suplex.

• According to his father, Michigan QB Tate Forcier (possibly) wants to stay in Ann Arbor.

• Dear degenerate gamblers, 2011 national champion odds are out.

• A handy list from SI.com of all the early draft entries (so far). Hm, they seemed to have missed Cal QB Brock Mansion…

• The Wiz has your bowl ratings superguide.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is a commercial for Google’s science fair. There’s also French singing.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7oJfK4E7RY

Enjoy your Friday.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Alison Brie, who, with yesterday’s sponsor Gillian Jacobs, is stars on Community. And she’s on Mad Men. And … sorry, I lost my train of thought. Happy New Years!

*****

• North Carolina absorbed an admirable performance from Tennessee and Vol QB Tyler Bray, took advantage of a last-second clock reversal, and beat the Vols in two overtimes to win the Music City Bowl. So now we know that North Carolina is probably better than Tennessee. Yes!

• Washington cared and played well. Nebraska not so much. 19-7 Huskies.

• A throwaway touchdown celebration of a simple salute is basically everything that’s wrong with college football. And thus, Syracuse beats Kansas State.

• Army beat SMU. Lesson: Don’t invite teams to your bowl because you think they’ll sell tickets and be happy to spend the holidays at home. They won’t and they don’t.

• Oregon RB LaMichael James announced that he’ll return to the Ducks next year. When he heard the news, Jeff Tedford instinctively fell to the ground.

• Michigan QB Tate Forcier was ruled academically ineligible for the Gator Bowl. Note to future interviewees boasting about how hard it is to flunk out if you’re a football player: Just … don’t.

• ESPN’s CFB Bloggers get their previews and keys on:

Meineke Car Care — Keys … Preview

Chick-fil-A — Keys … Preview

Liberty — Keys … Preview

Sun — Keys … Preview

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel offers up his last mailbag of the year. If you enjoy depressing facts about bowl ticket guarantees, it’s the feel good column of the year.

• Stanford’s Andrew Luck says he may stay in school. This actually seems plausible.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is a series of feel-good “fails” from this past month. Injuries aplenty!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvqs0qr0Ulo

Enjoy your Friday + New Years + MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL!!!!!

Today’s college town restaurant/bar recommendations takes us to Berkeley, CA, courtesy of Verballer Rob. As always feel free to add anything he may have missed by emailing us at SolidVerbal@gmail.com

*****

Top Dog: Always packed on gamedays, but worth it.  The locations farther from campus (on Hearst and Center) should be less busy on gamedays than the Durant location.

La Burrita: A solid (pun…intended?) burrito.  The Euclid location is probably less busy on gamedays.

Fat Slice/Blondie’s: It’s…quick.  And…cheap.  And close to campus.

King Pin Donuts: It’s only worth coming here around 11 or 12 at night because 1. you are probably drunk and 2. they’ll have just made a fresh batch of warm donuts.

Zachary’s: Best deep dish pizza I’ve ever had (note: I haven’t been to Chicago).  Always incredibly busy.  A bit of a walk from campus.

Bakesale Betty’s: In Oakland, so if you’re driving, it’s on the way to campus.  The fried chicken sandwich is incredible. (edit: I’ve never been here, but I’d wound somebody to try that sandwich)

Kip’s: Shithole of a bar full of annoying fratties and loud music.  You might be tempted to go because it’s close to campus, but don’t.  Just don’t.

Jupiter: Great selection of beer (microbrews), decent food.  Fairly relaxed atmosphere, with a crowd mainly in the 25-35 range.

Raleigh’s: Average bar, but it’s close to campus and has a few TV’s.  Younger crowd (college age and recent grads), but still a decent place to chill and have a beer.  Busy on gamedays.

Bear’s Lair: The main on-campus bar.  Decent place to watch a game and grab a beer or two.  Usually really busy on gamedays.

and my (Dan) addition:

Smart Alec’s: A healthy alternative, but they still have good sandwiches, and burgers/fries. Conveniently located on telegraph and on the same block as Fat Slice and Amoeba (outstanding record store).

Edit: I also remember eating some good cheap Chinese food in an upstairs location somewhere around campus, but I have no idea what the place was called. Happy hunting!

*****

As always, send in anything you think we may have missed or send in places from your own college town to SolidVerbal@gmail.com

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Vanilla Ice. I have no idea if he’s a fan of Miami football and/or Randy Shannon, but I can no longer hear anyone say “A1A” without yelling out, “Beachfront Avenue!!!” so I’m sliding him in today.

*****

• TCU is joining the Big East and it will join in all sports (after the 2011-12 academic year). It’s about time -- Coach Gary Patterson can finally tell Texas kids they’ll get to play on Thursday nights in Piscataway, NJ. Where do I sign?

• Miami fired coach Randy Shannon and won’t hire Jon Gruden. Unless they will, which they almost certainly will not.

• Michigan AD Dave Brandon is yet to evaluate coach Rich Rodriguez’s performance, but will do so in about a month. Most important Insight Bowl ever?

• The newest BCS standings are out. Northern Illinois is ranked higher than Florida, Texas, USC, and Georgia.

• Florida DL coach and former Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney is the new head coach at North Texas. Always happy for a “Dan” getting hired.

• You know how Ty and have said that Nebraska‘s fanbase was probably the nicest, most respectful fan base in college football? Well, they’re no longer making the rest of us look bad anymore — I present to you … Nebraska psychopaths!!

• The American Football Coaches Association has an All-American team. I bet they also have delicious pot lucks, go-kart races, and crazy slumber parties with scary stories. Or I’m just imagining that. But yeah right, it’s pretty much true.

• Cal DL coach Tosh Lupoi was suspended for instructing a player to fake an injury against Oregon. Because position coaches going rogue and instituting an individual position game plan without consulting anyone else sounds complete plausible. Mr. Lupoi, here comes the bus, we’re just going to give you a light shove and be on our way.

• Indiana coach Bill Lynch was fired and is now just plain ol’ citizen Bill Lynch.

• Vanderbilt coach Robbie Caldwell will step aside now that his interim year has concluded. That sound you’re hearing is some very excited (or terrified) turkeys.

• Florida coach Urban Meyer will fix the Gators by recruiting “tough” players. He then added, “What? Coach Addazio has a lot of heavy furniture that’s not just going to move itself out of the building.”

• USC coach Lane Kiffin explains how USC did what Tulsa couldn’t — lose to Notre Dame.

• ESPN’s CFB bloggers have some especially powerful power rankings and particularly project-y bowl projections. Whatever, you try thinking of two different adjectives to use in a sentence.

• Oklahoma State CB Brodrick Brown played a little game against Oklahoma called “just the tip.” Oh wait, I see what I did there.

• Florida DB Dee Finley has some constructive criticism for Gator fans. And by “constructive,” I mean “thoroughly misspelled demands of mass suicide.”

• Oregon State DT Stephen Paea has power running through his veins. Oh and lots and lots of cortisone.

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel looks at new money in his newest College Football Overtime. ***Spoiler*** Texas is old money.

• The Wiz has the snapshots of the week. A disappointed fan in full-costume is featured, which is obviously the best kind of disappointed fan.

• An Auburn fan, celebrating the Tigers’ Iron Bowl win, tackled a snowman, and then did a dainty little celebration. I’m as surprised as you are. (via edsbs)

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is, well, I really have no idea what is or what happens, but it’s right below this sentence.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC60iSTUmRE

Enjoy your Monday.

Ty and Dan deliver a super-sized episode, chock full of analysis for all the week’s biggest rivalries, listener e-mails and voice messages.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by legendary horse trainer and Arizona graduate (Major: Race Track Industry!) Bob Baffert, though I have no idea if he follows college football and has a horse in the race when it comes to Friday’s game at Oregon. You see what I did there? Comedy.

*****

• Nebraska coach Bo Pelini apologized for his behavior and confirmed Taylor Martinez’s continued presence on the Huskers. He reiterated, “NBgHJ RN3GL JDaF K77GN&#*@3&* %&#$@(adf*#@!!”

• An Indiana prosecutor is investigating a sexual assault claim against a Notre Dame football player by a woman who died in early September in an apparent suicide.

• Oregon RB LaMichael James left the Cal game with an apparent leg injury and appeared on crutches in a walking boot post-game. He apparently practiced full-go yesterday and should be fine against Arizona on Friday. Upon hearing the news, Cal DT Aaron Tipoti instinctively fell to the ground.

• Stanford’s Andrew Luck, Boise State’s Kellen Moore, and Auburn’s Cam Newton are your Davey O’Brien Award finalists. All well and good, but who’s up for this year’s Ken O’Brien? Oh, it appears to be only Garrett Gilbert.

• Speaking of which, Wisconsin RB John Clay, despite managing only 42 rushing yards (due to injury) in November, is a Doak Walker Award finalist. CBS Sports’s Adam Jacoby (correctly) takes issue.

• EDSBS’s Doug Gillett prefers to disagree with you regarding the biggest college football rivalries.

• ESPN’s Gameday will be in Stillwater for Saturday’s Bedlam game, forgoing the excellent idea to have Lt. Jim Dangle be the celebrity picker at Boise State/Nevada on Friday.

• The LA Times’ TJ Simers says it’s not looking good for UCLA OC Norm Chow. But Rick Neuheisel is doing a bang-up job!!

• ESPN’s Brian Bennett compares Pitt RB Dion Lewis to West Virginia RB Noel Devine, two backs who have fallen in line with the Big East’s library-quiet presence this season.

• Boston College RB Montel Harris, the Eagles’ one offensive bright spot, could be out 3-6 weeks with torn meniscus. Plug in Kuechly!!

• ESPN’s CFB bloggers rewind and fast forward. Because they’ve done so every week and it’s why they get paid Cecil Newton money.

• Want to see this week’s most famous golf cart? Of course you kind of do! (Impressive upholstery)

• Arizona will be down a receiver (suspension) for Friday’s Oregon game. And so will Oregon (injury). Both rock solid names, though.

• Oregon‘s building a new HQ for its football program. It’s expected to be inexpensive, modest, and devoid of any flash. Ahem.

• SB Nation’s Spencer Hall (SVBFF) goes A through Y, and then just for kicks, goes to Z in this week’s Alphabetical. I enjoyed you best, Yale.

• Similarly, SB Nation’s Brian Cook (SVBFF) tackles some schadenfraude.

• SI.com’s Cory McCartney casts an updated Heisman vote because … actually, I really have no idea why.

• This week’s college football lines. Las Vegans (word?) seem to like the Crimson Tide of Alabama.

• This week’s screengrabs of the week (via The Wiz).

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is almost guaranteed to make you a vegetarian (if yesterday’s didn’t) or some sort of bloodthirsty maniac. It’s essentially every kind of edible animal combined to form a delicious super-meal called TurBaconEpic. With extra bacon.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xc5wIpUenQ

Enjoy your Tuesday.

Ty and Dan talk about LSU’s close call, Nebraska’s dud, a potential Wisconsin-Stanford Rose Bowl, and the ongoing Dillon Baxter Experiment at USC.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Idaho governor Butch Otter, who, and it wouldn’t surprise you given the antics of the two most notable football teams in his state, ascended to his current position by simply targeting his opponents and then leading with his helmet. Politics as usual.

*****

Ty wrote his “Thursday Proverbs” column. Read it here and read it NOW. Or, depending on the speed of your Internet connection, a few seconds from now.

• Fox Sports acquired the rights to the first six Big Ten title games. It sounds like win-win — the game and league get the exposure of network TV and viewers get The Best Damn Title Game, complete with a broadcast duo (typically) unfamiliar with calling a college game, and some sort of dancing cartoon representative. We Are. Fox Sports!

• CBS Sports’s Dennis Dodd writes about Cam Newton and the Heisman. Because there’s nothing else to talk about in college football. To be fair, though, it’s both preachy and stale.

• Somebody named “blueTunaTiger” writes thousands of unsupported, unverified words on an LSU message board theorizing on a possible Cam Newton conspiracy theory. As soon as CBS Sports updates the Week 6 fantasy numbers, I’d be fine with them running this.

• Colorado and former Colorado coach Bill McCartney have made contact with each other. Aw, how cute.

• Oregon DB Cliff Harris chose the Ducks because they wear green, and “money be green.” That’s some unassailable logic — I got nothing.

• According to a Cal blogger, Stanford QB Andrew Luck is excellent at college football. I’m actually a bit surprised the writer went through with the blog post and didn’t fake a finger cramp to get out of it.

• ESPN’s CFB Bloggers tell you and me what to watch this weekend. All reasonable requests until SEC blogger Chris Low vouched for a “Teen Mom” marathon.

And like every other week, they also make predictions.

• For those of you reading this in the 70+ demo, ESPN’s Ivan Maisel remembers a simpler time for Army-Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium. So smoke your Lucky Strikes, fire up your Glenn Miller album, and read it on your magic, futuristic computer doohickeys.

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel has a new mailbag. If I had recited that sentence out loud and you couldn’t read the word “mail,” it could’ve meant something quite different. And it would’ve been a medical breakthrough.

• A booster and failed banker oversees Auburn’s athletic budget. Good to know.

• Idaho S Shiloh (Shiloh!) Keo tried to decapitate back-up Boise State QB Mike Coughlin and has been suspended for the first half of the Vandals’ game against Utah State.

• A potential NFL lockout will influence Georgia WR A.J. Green‘s early entry decision. “Me too,” Florida QB John Brantley added. “Me too.”

But sadly, there is no joy in Gainesville, mighty Addazio has struck out.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is the trailer for “Cowboys vs Aliens.” You might not even need to watch the trailer to get the gist of it, but since it appears that a lot of money and big names were poured into this, it’s probably worth your two and a half minutes.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKzfMGHdrHE

Enjoy your Thursday.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Nick Nolte, crazy person and former Arizona State student (and football player). It’s still yet to be decided if Nolte is the acting world’s Vontaze Burfict or Burfict is ASU’s Nolte. In any case, be careful around either of these two.

*****

• The FBI has quietly been involved with Auburn QB Cam Newton‘s pay-for-play case and interviewed John Bond, the former Mississippi State QB who was told of Newton’s MSU asking price of $180,000. ¡Federales!

• Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson was fined for criticizing officials over a call they made on LB Vontaze Burfict. As a coach, one clearly has to have his players’ back, but really, we’re defending The Walking Personal Foul here?

• Orangebloods’s Chip Brown has a Texas status update. As far as the coaches are concerned, it’s more “Greg Davis is Single” than “It’s Complicated.”

• Auburn DT Nick Fairley won’t be suspended for the Iron Bowl against Alabama next week. Excuse me while I go invest in whichever company sells the most MRI and CT Scan equipment to the southeastern states.

• Purdue WR Keith Smith is looking to be granted a sixth year of eligibility via a medical hardship waiver. He tore his ACL and MCL in Purdue’s second game of the season against Western Illinois. So, you know, at least the game meant something.

• Apparently, Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema is coming under fire for running up the score against Indiana. I like that Bielema’s response amounts to, “Hey, your job is to stop us and you couldn’t even stop our scrubs. Also, you’re all pansy MFers.” I like this. He’s like a reverse Bob Stoops.

• Miami QB Stephen Morris will start this Saturday when the Hurricanes host Virginia Tech. With a wall of up to 13,000 Miami fans behind him, no less.

• Iowa State QB Austen Arnaud‘s career is over after after sustaining multiple knee injuries against Colorado. His left knee requires “total reconstruction.”

• The Biletnikoff Award (WR) finalists were announced. Normally, I wouldn’t care, but it reminded me of how stacked the country is with great receivers. Not that any of them are touching Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon, but I can appreciate their efforts.

• Illinois coach Ron Zook doesn’t want to talk about a bowl game. Only he really, really does. Also, it sounds like he’s about six years behind on his cough drop cycle.

• NC State LB Nate Irving is angered by running backs. And probably deserves 30-40 yards for this anger. (via edsbs)

• “Not much can be done” about Oregon‘s opponents faking injuries, according to ESPN’s Ted Miller. It’s pretty much a waiting game — eventually, though, the testes drop.

Supposedly, a Cal source confirmed that “injuries” were part of the game plan.

• “Our fans are better than the Aggies’ fans,” says Nebraska coach Bo Pelini. I’ve been to both Lincoln and College Station, and, uh, yep.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is Neil Young (Jimmy Fallon) and Bruce Springsteen (Bruce Springsteen) covering the song, “Whip my Hair.” If you’re unfamiliar with the song, you probably lead a rewarding, successful life. If you are familiar with the song, you know that it means music is dead. This version, though, is awesome.

Enjoy your Wednesday.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by James Lipton, host of Inside the Actor’s Studio. I couldn’t locate where/if he attended college, but I’ve actually become pretty excited about the upcoming appearance of Cal’s defensive line on his show. ACTING!!

*****

• Florida coach Urban Meyer expects Steve Addazio to remain in place as the Gators’ offensive coordinator next season. And yes, that’s good news for Gator fans who can’t stand to see supremely fast athletes getting the football in space. That would be the final frontier.

• Wisconsin coach Brett Bielema is going to keep on scoring and it’s pretty clear he doesn’t care what you or Dickie V think. Fine by me.

• Penn State RB Silas Redd was cited for disorderly conduct at 4:13 am, a fancy way of saying he was taking a leak in public. Since Ty blessed Redd as his favorite NIttany Lion RB this week, I think we can conclude that the Hildenbrandt Reverse Jinx is alive and well.

• SB*Nation’s Spencer Hall spoke with ESPN’s Rece Davis about Rece Davis-type topics.

• EDSBS’s Holly Anderson (Peete) gives out some rad stickers to college football names. Even Dan Hawkins (who was actually AT Saturday’s Colorado game) gets in on the action.

• Washington QB Jake Locker “expects” to play against UCLA Thursday night. Adjust your Thursday accordingly. And watch a new episode of The Office or something. Man, Archer needs to come back like yesterday.

• Boston College’s Luke Kuechly is an outstanding LB, but since he doesn’t play for TCU or Oregon or Auburn and he couldn’t personally jump somebody in the BCS rankings, he doesn’t matter. La-la-la I can’t heeeeaaaarrrr youuuuuu.

Ok, Yahoo!!!!!!!! also thinks he matters.

• Fanhouse’s Clay Travis thoroughly explains why Auburn QB Cam Newton will 100% be ineligible. Finally, SOMEBODY starts writing about the SEC.

• Staying on Clay, Wisconsin RB John Clay may sit this week (@ Michigan) after missing last week’s Indiana game. This changes nothing.

• Utah, once thought to be a legitimate top 10 team, embarrassed itself and hurt TCU with its loss to Notre Dame. That’s right, Mountain West Conference credibility has been hurt because of a loss to a depressing team like Notre Dame.

• A predominantly SEC-centric writer and a non-AQ writer predict bowl matchups. Penn State-Florida could theoretically happen, which would ultimately require a Spencer Hall/Ty Hildenbrandt live play predictor showdown.

• Cal defensive linemen are prone to spontaneous cramps. And below-average acting. Cal Football: We may not win, but we’ll go down acting like toddlers.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is the definitive lesson on catching wild turtles in Kentucky. I defy you to do better.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn8EQ0azXpQ

Enjoy your Tuesday.

Ty and Dan go through all the Week 11 action and break down Oregon’s close win on the road against Cal.

Ty and Dan analyze the latest on the Cam Newton situation in light of recent comments by purported associate Kenny Rogers.  Plus, e-mails, voice messages and Week 11 picks.

Ty and Dan discuss a crazy week of high-scoring action and a very important statement win by TCU.  Plus, Reverbs and poking more fun at Ty’s locks.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Will Ferrell, because sometimes it just feels right when somebody as successful and talented as he is, roots for USC and is repeatedly disappointed. I think we’re all just assuming USC’s season is karma for Land of the Lost, anyway.

*****

• The new BCS standings have been released. As have the new polls. I’ve got to agree with the coaches here — screw NC State, how dare they beat Florida State, have the same record, and expect to be ranked ahead of them. Totally lame.

CBS Sports’s Dr. Jerry Palm goes deeper to explain what it all meeeeeaaaaannnns.

• CBS Sports’s Dennis Dodd says Texas is past the stage of “laying down.” This makes me think the Dennis Dodd has been actively watching Texas football this season. Kudos.

• Auburn football players love both Halloween, and clearly, their own junk pressed up against tight-fitting clothing.

Yahoo!!!!!!!!’s Dr. Saturday has video.

• Michigan State lost to Iowa. Again and again and again and again.

• Clemson Clemson’d to Boston College. Woops.

• Miami QB Jacory Harris was hit hard at Virginia. You read that correctly.

• ESPN’s CFB bloggers file conference race updates. I was a bit disappointed when I learned that this wasn’t Heather Dinich waxing poetic on how people of different cultural backgrounds are getting along in the coastal states.

The bloggers also offer up their power rankings, which are (***SPOILER***) just plain ol’ rankings.

• Notre Dame QB Dayne Crist tore his patella tendon and will be out for six months following yesterday’s surgical procedure to repair his left knee.

• USC is building a $70 million dollar athletic building. I’m told plenty of construction jobs will be available to many needy, under-developed blue chip prospects.

• According to Fox Sports’s Kalani Simpson, Nebraska is back to being Nebraska. It also felt like some old school Kalani Simpson. Kalani’s finally back to being Kalani. Whew.

• The Oregon Duck, Puddles, taught a USC cheerleader how to “Duckie.”

• SB Nation’s Andy Hutchins burrows into some box scores. Unfortunately, you can never unsee whatever it was Washington did on Saturday.

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel had a mental breakdown and finally reveals his enemies list. Ok, maybe that just links to this week’s College Football Overtime column. But maybe it doesn’t.

• Week 10 lines are out. Oregon opens at minus “whatever it is, give the points” against Washington.

• The Wiz has week 9 snapshots (via 30fps). I enjoyed Black Redhead Chip Kelly.

• Cal QB Kevin Riley is likely out for the year with a knee injury.

• There’s QB dramaz in Knoxville. Not that it actually matters.

• Virginia Tech will probably win the ACC and nobody seems to care. I just copied that from something I wrote some other year.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is a guy singing cartoon theme songs on an acoustic guitar. He’s a huge hit with ladies at lame parties who like foreign, gap-toothed, weird facial-haired musicians. Still good.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrMvYHFeH60

Enjoy your Monday.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Regis Philbin, who, in rooting for Notre Dame Saturday, is unequivocally anti-United States Navy. But probably for stomach-stomping. That rascal.

*****

• Tennessee coach Derek Dooley compared his team to the Germans in World War II. Improperly.

• Notre Dame lost to Navy on Saturday, but only if cheap stomach-stomps aren’t worth 20 points apiece.

• Michigan State CB Chris Rucker drove recklessly, which violated his probation, and landed him in the clink for about a week. You’ll notice a particularly witty line in the linked story about his “new teammates at Ingham County Jail.” It should be noted that those serving time alongside Rucker are not actual “teammates,” but rather, other randomly incarcerated people. Hope that’s now clear.

• Florida coach Urban Meyer isn’t too pleased with much these days, and that includes Gator practices.

• Texas A&M QB Jerrod Johnson may be close to losing his job to backup Ryan Tannehill. I get the feeling that a bunch of guys in camo are shrugging and find this to be reasonable.

• UCLA suspended two more players for violating team rules. I assume in this case that means they’ve been consistently blocking well and running crisp routes.

• Michigan QB Denard Robinson should be good to go against Penn State on Saturday. Unfortunately for Michigan, it’s no longer a month that ends in “-tember.”

• With Matt Simms hobbled by a sore knee, true freshman Tyler Bray has been taking the majority of practice snaps for Tennessee. Derek Dooley looked at it as being very similar to when the Mongols invaded Helsinki. Or something.

• CBS Sports’s Dr. Jerry Palm says Boise State should probably get used to the waiting game. But that’s the hardest part, Jerry. The hardest part.

• Fox Sports’s Peter Schrager says Texas and Cal are examples of how “crazy” this season has been. Except that Cal has been dancing on the fence that separates “wildly inconsistent” and “just kinda bad” for years now. Beating below-average teams at home and losing to decent ones on the road isn’t confounding.

• Fox Sports’s Thayer Evans calls in on the ThayerLine to recap the weekend action. And because it’s Fox Sports, there’s cleavage, Tom Arnold, and penis jokes. Or so I’m assuming.

• How deep does SB Nation’s Spencer Hall roll? Try 26 deep in this week’s Alphabetical.

• SB Nation’s Holly Anderson (Peete) and SI.com’s Cory McCartney debate the pros and cons of various free trade regulations. Ok, just kidding, they mostly repeat themselves (and each other) while discussing the Heisman on their respective sites.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day looks at how neat nature truly is. Really, it’s Neature.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm3JodBR-vs

Enjoy your Tuesday.

Ty and Dan talk about Mizzou’s big win, the rise of Auburn, and Navy’s dismantling of Notre Dame. Plus, Verballers ReVerbs.

Ty and Dan do their first show since meeting face-to-face in Lincoln, Nebraska and rehash VerbaCon 2010 as well as the other action during Week 7.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by proud Minnesota resident, Prince. There’s no indication that he pays any attention to the Golden Gophers and their recent dismissal of Tim Brewster, but perhaps the Gophers can turn their disappointing season around by purifying themselves in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.

*****

• Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LaGrand was paralyzed during the Scarlet Knights’ game against Rutgers. It’s an unimaginable horror, so if you’re so inclined, do send him your well wishes.

• Minnesota coach Tim Brewster was relieved of his duties (heh, duties) after the Gophers’ loss to Purdue. But not before receiving another extensions. Gopher up!

• Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett suffered a concussion during Saturday’s loss to Auburn. Even though his “symptoms are improving,” Arkansas fans are still using the Freedom of Information Act to get the doctor’s license plate number and Facebook password. Just because.

• BCS standings are out. Unless you host a terrible sports radio show and need to fill 4-5 hours, this probably doesn’t affect your life.

Ok, it affects Dr. Jerry Palm’s life and we like Dr. Jerry Palm.

• ABC’s Brent Musberger kinda/sorta mentioned Spencer Hall’s blog on the air. We of course would welcome “The Verbally Solid” casually referenced at any point, but only on BYU-TV — wouldn’t want our site flooded or anything.

• A Texas fan documented his trip to Lincoln, NE for the Nebraska game, but only used MS Paint to do so. I love this so much.

Warning: There are cartoon penises.

Related: Taylor Martinez is still the starter at Nebraska, at least for this week.

• ESPN’s team of CFB bloggers take a look at the conference races and issue their weekly power rankings. Once done with those, the group stepped aside and let Big 12 specialist David Ubben take the stage and rock an acoustic Earth, Wind, and Fire cover. Groove it.

• ESPN has some bowl projections. Should both teams win enough, I’m excited to see how Alabama/TCU gets avoided.

• Cal fan and Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz wasn’t too optimistic before Saturday’s USC game. See, you can never let white guy dreads fool you, some of those guys pay attention to, you know, stuff.

• The new UGa loves some giant bags of ice.

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel chimes in with his College Football Overtime.

Solid Verbal Behind the Scenes: Stew was a welcome guest into the world of Saturday’s Verbacon celebration in Lincoln. He enthusiastically chatted up Husker fans with us, dropping some knowledge bombs, and withstood a personal space assault from large, well-meaning Husker fan who couldn’t recommend Armen Katayen’s book enough.

Here are some SI.com pictures of Saturday’s action.

• Kentucky Everything Randall Cobb isn’t a fan of the fans.

• A referee during the Florida/Mississippi State game ruled a field goal good and then didn’t. That about covers it.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is a first person view of what it’s like to parachute into Michigan Stadium. This is probably cool if you enjoy heights. In my case, let’s just say my feet are sweatier than they were before I started watching this.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnJX2FiW-ik

Enjoy your Monday.

Ty and Dan preview all the Week Seven action on the eve of their first ever meeting in Nebraska for Verbacon 2010.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Jenn Sterger, who, as a Florida State grad, must be pleased with how Mark Stoops has handled the D. Whatever happened to her?

*****

• Alabama WR Julio Jones broke his hand in the first half of Saturday’s South Carolina game. He had surgery the following day to have a screw inserted. Psh, like his hand isn’t already made of bionic parts already.

• Oregon State WR James Rodgers is officially out for the remainder of the season after his knee injury at Arizona on Saturday. He’s a small dude, but as a Duck/football fan, I’m equally terrified and excited every time he plays. But mostly terrified.

• The Rose Bowl, the best/worst stadium in college football, is getting a $152 million dollar renovation. To be honest, I’m going to miss their original Gameboy-sized video screen, 20 minute waits in the entrance tunnels, and hot benches. Oh no wait, no I’m not. Huzzah!

• Three UCLA starters will be suspended for next Thursday’s Oregon game. Discipline is admirable, but only sending 8 guys out there against the #2 team in the country? Risky.

• Houston QB Case Keenum will apply for a medical hardship waiver after blowing out his knee against UCLA a few weeks ago. He’s also expected to summarily beg Dana Holgorsen to come back to the Cougars, which is the only way this story matters.

• The Pac-10 is working on splitting up into divisions in preparation for Utah and Colorado. Stanford and Cal are causing problems. Nerds!

• Two Washington State RS freshmen were growing dozens of pot plants in their rented house. Police said that growing that many plants was a “big deal.” The players are agreed, but their high five attempts with police were immediately rebuffed. (via SbB)

• EDSBS’s Spencer Hall ranks some college football announcers, submits his weekly Alphabetical column, while Holly Anderson (Peete) doles out some classy stickers.

• The season is about 40% done, so why not hammer out some Heisman thoughts? SB Nation’s Holly Anderson (Peete), SI.com’s Cory McCartney, and ESPN’s team of randoms are happy to oblige. Yahoo!!!!!!!! takes it one step further and ranks just about everybody by position.

• The Week in Schadenfreude from SVBFF and SB Nation’s Brian Cook. God help us all if this column becomes terrible and we all delight in its failure. That’s what’s called a double-meta blackhole. What does it meeeeaaaannnnn?

• Smart Football’s Chris Brown has his Smart Notes up, which looks at the key types of plays that led to wins. I feel smarter just linking to this.

• ESPN’s team of CFB bloggers look back at the first half of the season and do a quick rewind/fast forward. Thankfully, they also finally show us how to properly trim spare ribs prior to cooking. Find the flap!

• Lost in the hilari-depressing USC season is the breakout performance of true freshman WR Robert Woods, who finished with over 200 yards receiving in the Trojans’ loss at Stanford. Quite simply, dude be fast.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is a perfect commercial for Stella Artois, directed by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola. It’s too early for beer, Dan. It’s too early for beer.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pq8u2orRLU

Enjoy your Tuesday.

Ty and Dan delve into a few voice messages and some e-mails, and discuss their picks for Week Six.

Ty and Dan replay all the Week Four action, including impressive wins by SEC teams, letdown showings by the Big 12, and the dawning of a special new Big Ten tradition.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by Chris Pine, the star of  Star Trek and a graduate of Cal, who takes on a lightning fast Nevada team tonight. Chris Pine’s co-star Zoe Saldana looks much better atop today’s links, so that’s what you get. Youuuuu like it.

*****

• Florida players have been arrested many times since Urban Meyer arrived in Gainesville. I’m not smart enough to tell you why that is and I’m not morally pure enough to tell anyone what to do with their lives, but as long as Florida wins games, this story probably doesn’t matter all that much.

• Kansas coach Turner Gill spoke to his team before their game against Georgia Tech. Apparently restrained is the new loud. (via Dr. Saturday)

• Speaking of which, Texas Tech students want the stadium to fall silent when Texas enters the field tomorrow to “intimidate” the Longhorns. And neither will happen.

• Eastern Washington‘s red field is now in place. My first stab at a nickname: The Artery.

• Nevada hosts Cal tonight in Reno. I like watching Nevada’s offense. In general, I have very little faith in Cal turning things around after a string of disappointing years. Cal is going to slaughter Nevada.

• Florida Atlantic is getting a stadium for $70 million on their Boca Raton campus next season. The locals seem to be particularly excited about the numerous proposed hard candy concessions. Because old people live there.

• Cincinnati isn’t very good. But they’re terrific with once-in-a-lifetime fumble situations.

• SBNation has a College Football Buffet. It’s delicious.

Today’s Video of the Day is Judge Judy at half-speed. Really, that’s everything you need to know.

Enjoy your Friday/CFB Saturday.

Ty and Dan talk about Tennessee showering seminars, their “Heisman Bust” movie idea, and the big games headed into a monster weekend of college football. Plus, e-mails and a voicemail poking fun at Tom Hammond.

Ty and Dan talk with ESPN’s Ted Miller about the impact of the NCAA’s penalties on USC, Oregon’s QB battle, Jake Locker’s prospects for 2010, and Nick Foles’ hairstyle.

Ty and Dan talk with Clay Travis about the NCAA’s decision to vacate USC’s wins, how the harsh penalties will affect the program, and the tall task in front of Lane Kiffin.  Plus, chatter about ongoing conference expansion and a giant pile of listener messages.

Ty and Dan take a gander at the Pac-10, including USC’s prospects under Lane Kiffin, Oregon’s quarterback quandary, Stanford’s post-Gerhart era and Washington State’s, uh… yeah, we got nothing.  Plus, a lively batch of Verballer messages.

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Ty and Dan talk with George Schroeder from the Eugene Register Guard, SI.com and the Football Writers Association of America about Oregon’s latest troubles, coverage of conferences, and why the Pac-10 should target Texas for expansion.  Plus, the backstory of Ty and Dan’s improbable (podcasting) love and the unveiling of their Sweet Sixteen teams.

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Ty and Dan welcome back Jed Williams from ACCSports.com to discuss various, in-depth ACC topics and explore the possibility of him being a machine inputs and outputs raw college football knowledge.  Plus, voicemails, e-mails, and week 12 picks (including some from a special guest).

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Ty and Dan dissect TCU’s big win from a number of angles, evaluate Cincinnati’s BCS ceiling, bow down to Toby Gerhart, and batten the hatches for another Notre Dame coaching search. Plus, commentary from Jerry Palm and East Bay Greg, as well as voice messages and results from pick ‘em and fantasy football.

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Ty and Dan kick it old school by flying solo with an extravaganza of voice messages, e-mails and week nine picks.  Plus, a quick game of “overrated/underrated”, more additions to pool of potential Solid Verbal host cities, and some secret news on the life and times of Dan Rubenstein.

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Ty and Dan talk with Jerry Palm from CollegeBCS.com about the first week of BCS rankings, the deficiencies of the system, the variables that make it tick, and the ultimate doomsday scenario.  Plus, your messages, another Solid Verbal Host City and week eight picks!

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In week five of The Postgame Tailgate, Dan Rubenstein excessively celebrates with the SEC, gets pushed into the end zone by Notre Dame, calls pass plays for Houston, congratulates Al Groh, eulogizes Cal football, and celebrates Lou Holtz’s dead-on picks of the week.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=02ICOu36WGA

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Ty and Dan delve into all the week five action, including tick-tack celebration penalties, Miami’s big win and Cal’s disappearing act.  Plus, voice messages, e-mails, Facebook chatter and more thoughts on the Solid Verbal host city in 2010.

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Ty and Dan are joined by Josh McCuistion from SoonerScoop.com to discuss Sam Bradford’s visit to Dr. James Andrews, the reputation of the Big 12, and the possibility of non-BCS team playing for the BCS Championship.  Plus, voice messages, e-mails, and the beginning of the open competition for The Solid Verbal’s host city in 2010.

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Ty and Dan record a special matinee edition of the Solid Verbal and are joined by Bob Condotta from the Seattle Times to talk about Washington’s upset of USC, matchups within the Pac-10 and the future of Jake Locker.  Plus, voice messages from all corners of the country, scathing e-mails, and details about Ty and Dan’s respective trips to Georgia and Oregon.

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Ty and Dan review the second week of the 2009 college football season despite Ty’s emphatic request to talk about anything OTHER than the Notre Dame – Michigan game.  Plus, taunting voice messages, a recap of the college fantasy league, and a quick rundown of the Solid Verbal pick’em pool.

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Ty and Dan discuss the latest predictions by Lou Holtz, the curious three-quarterback set at Michigan, Julio Jones’ fishing trip and USC’s practice regimens. Plus, drunken voice messages!

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*To enter the Solid Verbal’s pick ‘em pool, follow this link (http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/college) and use group ID # 7669 with a password of “solidverbal” *

Throughout August, we will be counting down the top 25 teams (as listed here) going into the 2009 season. Today, we break out the pachouli oil, impressive SAT scores, and our loudest protest bullhorns as we take a seat on Tightwad Hill to catch a glance at this year’s Cal Bears squad. Somewhere, Adam Duritz is totally feeling our vibe. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Impression

Cal is and should always be a good football school. There’s a good amount of talent in Northern California and a great amount in Southern California. The school boasts academics that almost nobody else around the country can. God help the entire Pac-10 if they ever get impressive facilities. Could you imagine if they actually cared about the program up there? Yikes. 

Moving on, Cal has become a consistent preseason second tier national program over the last five years, and there are games in which they absolutely deserve it. As good as Jeff Tedford is as a QB guru, QB play has been inconsistent, and at times, downright odd. 

In light of Ty continually calling Cal “Clemson West,” eventually they won’t have the usual Cal lull, win at least ten games again, and justify the yearly hype. I think. Maybe. 

Last Year

The season started out with a back and forth win over Michigan State (solid scheduling) that highlighted a tremendous running game in which Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen both notched hundred yard games. They then flew east to Maryland and played at what felt like 6:00 A.M., got down early and lost. Quite simply, the Bears weren’t prepared and they dun’ brain farted in College Park. 

Two painless wins over Colorado State and ASU begat a third quarter at Arizona that may have been the worst quarter played by any Top 25 team all year. UGLY. 28 points later, Tucson chewed up and spit out Cal’s case for Pac-10 contention. Woops. 

A win over UCLA led into a sloppy victory in the rain over Oregon. Quarterback play on both sides was abhorrent against the Ducks in Berkeley, and Cal even did all they could to hand the game away, but Oregon refused to do enough to win on a sludgy field. Cal wisely accepted the win and moved on. Clearly, I haven’t. 

Cal then lost to the top two teams in the conference on the road (at the time), USC and OSU, before closing out the season with two straight home wins and a home bowl game win over Miami. 

The year was essentially defined by the emergence of Jahvid Best, a surprisingly stout defense (over the second half of the season), and Nate Longshore agonizing epilogue. 

People

The first name in Cal football is now Jahvid Best. He’s the most dangerous open-field runner in college football. Luckily, and this is just a prediction, but the Pac-10 will almost assuredly only see him at 75-80% for a good period of time. Simply put, he gets beat up. 

Kevin Riley fully takes over for a (thankfully) departed Nate Longshore. Riley’s shown flashes of being really good (see: 2007 Armed Forces Bowl), but has also shown a knack for being really average. Touted RS freshman Brock Mansion has been challenging Riley during the offseason, but Riley has been the consistent #1 at camp.

Every worthwhile skill position guy is back, and the addition of RS freshman Marvin Jones to the receiving corps should add flash to an already decent group (Nyan Boateng, Verran Tucker). 

The big places where the Bears take an equally devastating hit are at center and linebacker. Alex Mack was generally considered to be the best center in the country last year, and Cal’s experienced, focused LBs anchored a defense that carried the team throughout the second half of the season. Plus, LB Worrell Williams apparently doesn’t like me, so I’m happy he’s out of the state. 

The defense will need to get lockdown performances out of Syd’Quan Thompson (9th year senior) and the rest of the secondary, but as stated before, it’s a running league this year, so much of the pressure should be off of the defensive backfield. 

This Year

Cal will blow at Maryland the first week of the year. Book it. The very next week, I could see Eastern Washington taking down Cal. Ok not really, but I’ll do my best to predict Cal’s bonehead loss(es). 

Minnesota has certainly improved, and even though the game is in Minny’s new stadium,  the Gophers only seem to beat up on bad teams, which the Bears certainly are not. 

Here’s where it get’s tricky. Cal gets another road game, this time at Oregon, which is one of their two hugely difficult tests. Lucky for Cal, defensive coordinator Bob Gregory has schemed superbly against Oregon’s spread the past few seasons, and the Ducks are coming off of a September schedule that includes games at Boise State and against Utah. Cal finally goes down here. 

It doesn’t get any easier the next week, but at least USC comes to Berkeley this year. By this point, USC at home may be more attractive than the Ducks in Eugene, especially since I’ll be in Autzen Stadium, giving the Ducks that extra something. Ok, the Dan Rubenstein shoehorning ends here. 

The rest of the season should be fairly easy to navigate: UCLA is better, but still building; ASU can say the same; Oregon State is always able to develop and insert players (and beat Cal); Arizona is tricky but comes to Cal; Stanford is fiesty, but breaking in a new QB; Washington is abysmal. 

Conclusion

Is this the year Ty stops calling Cal “Clemson West?” Maybe. USC is as vulnerable as they’ll ever be. The schedule isn’t brutal. other than LB, and the middle of the offensive line, there’s experience everywhere. That said, there’s still a part of me that knows that they’ll beat a good team and lose to one, and then they’ll beat up on a bunch of lower teams and then lose to one or two. Oh Jeff Tedford, we know ye too well!

Prediction

9-3. They lose to Oregon, USC, and Stanford. I think. Ok, I have no idea, but it feels right. 

Game Highlights Set to Unfortunate Music

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdjhyWdEF54

-Dan

Throughout August, we will be counting down the top 25 teams (as listed here) going into the 2009 season. Today, I will be insufferable and go into way too much detail about the Oregon Ducks. Our uniforms are bright, our mascot picks fights, and our cheerleaders are better looking than yours. See, I’m insufferable already. 

First Impressions

It seems that Oregon is in that perennial “Who Can Challenge USC?” position with Cal, and for good reason. The Ducks have an explosive offense, are well-coached, and have distinctive home field advantage at Autzen Stadium. 

That said, 2009 is a transition year, but has the possibility to be much more. Chip Kelly, the Ducks’ offensive coordinator the past two years, takes over for the former Dean of the Pac-10©, Mike Bellotti. There’s always concern with a regime change, but since the hire was from within, and nearly all of the staff was retained, the transitions have and should be minimal. 

The schedule is devoid of non-conference cupcake games, but a weird year in the Pac-10 should provide for a number of interesting opportunities for the Ducks to vie for a conference title. 

Last Year

In what turned out to be Mike Bellotti’s final season, the Ducks had an uneven start, in no small part due to what has become an Oregon trademark -- quarterback issues. 

After beating two terrible teams in Washington and Utah State, the Ducks needed double overtime to win in West Lafayette over Purdue. The following week saw a Boise State cheap shot take down Jeremiah Masoli early on in his first start, which came as a part of a 37-32 loss. The supposedly-dominant secondary got burned by play action all day. 

Including the expected loss at USC, the Ducks won their next three of four, due in large part to the emergence of JC transfer LeGarrette Blount at running back and the steady rushing of senior RB Jeremiah Johnson. 

A sloppy game (from both sides) led to a sloppy loss at Cal, but was followed by a close win at home against Stanford, another close one in Eugene in a shootout over Arizona, and the most satisfying game of the season, the deconstruction of both Oregon State and their Rose Bowl hopes in Corvallis, OR. 

In what always seems like a good, high scoring game, the Ducks outmuscled Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl to send Coach Bellotti into retirement in style. Despite the expected losses in personnel going into 2009, momentum is present. 

People

The Duck losses in personnel are significant and can’t be overstated: S Patrick Chung, RB Jeremiah Johnson, CB Jairus Byrd, DE Nick Reed and both starting defensive tackles, C Max Unger and two other OL starters, plus the talented, but inconsistent WR Jaison WIlliams were all lost to the draft or graduation. 

In addition, the turnover in regime led to some expected transfers: QB Justin Roper, WRs Chris Harper and Aaron Pflugrad, and a rotation defensive tackle all decided to transfer after the spring. 

Beyond alllllll of that, the Ducks return a number of playmakers and important pieces. SI cover boy Jeremiah Masoli finished the year stronger than any QB in the country, LeGarrette Blount is joined by LaMichael James in the backfield to form the best-named RB duo in the Pac-10, if not the country. 

The offensive line is being rebuilt, but the group up front has been stocked well in recruiting. Defensively, the rebuilding process of the defensive line is more troubling because of the number of top notch RBs in the conference (Rodgers, Best, Gerhart, Grigsby, and 12 different USC guys). The younger, quick LBs are the strength of the D, while the secondary could go either way. It always helps that four year lockdown CB Walter Thurmond III returns, though. 

This Year

The question/story of the tear is if the Ducks can develop up front on both sides of the ball. If the offense can open up holes and give Masoli enough time in the pocket, Duck running backs should maintain their recent level of productivity and Masoli should sit atop the conference as its best quarterback. If the defensive line can hold their ground, Oregon’s linebacking corps should similarly be among the best in the conference. 

The schedule is a bit tricky, but the conference portion is ideal. September without a down week (@Boise St, Purdue, Utah, Cal) makes for a tough first month, but every key Pac-10 game (USC, Cal, OSU) will be played in Eugene, with the possible exception of Arizona in late November. If the Ducks come out of September unscathed, they’ll be a top 8 team. One loss is more realistic and frankly, as a fan, I’ll take it. 

UCLA is improving, but they’re not there yet, the Washington schools will continue to be freebies (thanks Ty Willingham!), and USC is as vulnerable as they’ll ever be. Once again, it all rests on the defensive line. 

The Ducks always seem to have trouble in Arizona, but if they’re still healthy come week 11, the Ducks should have the firepower to finish the year strong against the Wildcats and then an Oregon State team in Eugene that has significant losses on both sides of the ball. 

Conclusion

I’ve never been great at predicting an Oregon football season. They’ve had more line turnover than they’ve had to deal with in quite some time (as if that needed to be repeated). Nine wins isn’t unreasonable, ten would be a really good season, eleven is probably a best case scenario, with twelve only in the discussion if weird, fluky circumstances in the Pac-10 are coupled with unexpectedly dominant play from the Ducks. See? I promised insufferable and biased, and I delivered. 

Prediction

10-2. I’ll go on the record today and say Boise won’t even be close. Ducks by at least 17. 

Game Highlights Set to Unfortunate Music

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDU_jAcmkS8

-Dan

Ty and Dan recap their college fantasy football draft and discuss how it differs from more conventional fantasy leagues.  Plus, SI.com’s Stewart Mandel stops by to chat about the Coaches’ Poll, USC’s potential QB controversy, and which coach he’d pick to give a best man’s speech.  And, of course, your wacky e-mail messages.  (Episode #51)

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Ty and Dan talk with Jon Wilner from the San Jose Mercury News about the troubles of the Pac-10′s television deal, the obstacles facing USC, and the ongoing Mike Stoops Experiment.  Plus, new features on SolidVerbal.com and tons of listener e-mails.

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Ty and Dan welcome Phil Steele to the program to talk about the creation of his yearly magazine, teams to watch around the country, thoughts from last season, and his prediction for the 2010 BCS Championship Game.  Plus, random thoughts on the Michael Jackson tribute, Nick Saban’s digs at Utah, the meaningless BCS hearings, and some new slogans for various programs around the country.

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Ty and Dan talk with Brian Cook from MGoBlog.com and The Sporting Blog about the early reviews on Rich Rodriguez, the challenges facing Michigan football, punters named Zoltan, and NCAA 2010.

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Ty and Dan are joined by Will Leitch from New York Magazine and Deadspin to talk about the overly-intense Ron Zook, the ballad of Lucious Pusey, college athletics in Illinois, and the Internet’s role in college football.  Plus, e-mails from listeners and the chance to meet Ty and say something ridiculous for potential airing on next week’s show.

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