Ty and Dan talk with Spencer Hall about Will Muschamp’s early marks, LSU-Alabama, the Big Ten, “We” Bombs, and a college football version of The Truman Show.  Plus, picks for all the big action during Week Eight.

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.

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.

Ty and Dan plod through more cumbersome talk of conference realignment and play through Verballer voice messages before previewing week 4 and putting a double-jinx on Saturday’s Florida State-Clemson game.

Ty and Dan lick their wounds after Notre Dame and Oregon suffer losses, but power through a full hour and recap all the significant Week One action.

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 Andy Staples from SI.com and preview the upcoming SEC season, Alabama’s defense, Mark Richt’s job security, Stephen Garcia’s leadership, LSU’s questions, and Kentucky’s non-existent offense.

Ty and Dan discuss the bombshell report putting Miami under the microscope, conference expansion rumors, key injuries around college football, and plow through overflowing voicemail and e-mail inboxes.

Ty and Dan talk with Clay Travis about Lane Kiffin, quarterbacks in the SEC, the bear population in Mississippi, and tattoos.  Plus, what the F is the Internet?

Ty and Dan discuss coaching moves at Maryland, Pittsburgh and (potentially) Michigan and haphazardly offer grades for various bowl teams.  Plus, previews for the remaining seven games, including the BCS Championship.

Ty & Dan discuss the latest in the Cam Newton pay-for-play situation and the need to renovate Husky Stadium, and break down all the Week 12 action.

Ty and Dan get together on Halloween and recap the Week 9 action, including solid road wins by Oregon and Auburn and tough road losses for Michigan State and Missouri.

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 Jeff Garlin, half of the funniest twosome on TV, and graduate of The U. Niversity of Miami. Here’s to hoping he makes his “big vagina” gesture (probably NSFW) at some point during tonight’s Pitt game. Just because.

*****

• The Playoff PAC is accusing the Sugar, Fiesta, and Orange Bowls of violating their claimed tax-exempt status as non-profits. Apparently, everybody made a crap-ton of money. Oops.

• North Carolina has suspended two defensive backs for receiving $1300 and $1400 in benefits, respectively. The horror.

• Michigan is still looking for somebody to kick it through two giant yellow goal posts. Or they’re not. Or something.

• SI.com’s Andy Staples profiles the Ft. Campbell High (Ky) football team, made up entirely of sons of soldiers, most of whom are overseas. Read this before the mascot story below.

• Early reports indicating Mark Mangino was hired to consult Minnesota coach Tim Brewster may be incorrect. This doesn’t mean something’s not afoot, though. In my experience, something’s always afoot. Always.

• One of BYU‘s receivers that has a traditionally last name as a first name has been suspended for “disciplinary reasons.”

• ESPN‘s bloggers predict games and tell us what to watch. Nowhere to be found in “What to Watch” is “The Solid Visual,” so their cred instantly takes a hit.

• If you’re holding out hope for Admiral Ackbar at Mississippi, you’re among furry friends.

• SI.com’s Stewart Mandel has a new mailbag. Would it be so bad if Stew and the guy who answers the Penthouse Letters switched letters for a week? Probably.

• The Pac-10 is discussing possible locations for a title game. The clubhouse leaders are probably Glendale, AZ and San Diego, but remember, never sleep on the Lehigh Valley.

Today’s Video of the Day is pure fluff. Fluff.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDWMG9_lxPU

Enjoy your Thursday.

Ty and Dan talk about a wild evening slate of Week 3 games and dissect all the other action from Saturday.

Ty and Dan talk with Andy Staples about his favorite eateries in college towns and get answers to burning questions about all 12 SEC teams.

Ty and Dan dig deep for college football news in the dog days of summer and find Lane Kiffin, Jeremiah Masoli, Bryce Brown and angry college presidents.  Plus, voice messages and Verballer e-mails.

Ty and Dan delve into the SEC and chat about Alabama’s quest to repeat, Florida’s retooling, the uptick in Starkville, and the Wild Cock offense at South Carolina.

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Ty and Dan welcome Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt to the show to discuss preseason hype, Jevan Snead, the Wild Rebel, and Admiral Ackbar.

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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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Website: http://www.solidverbal.com

Ty and Dan return from respective trips to Georgia and Oregon to discuss their journeys, Tim Tebow’s injury, the craziness that transpired in the top ten, and the possibility of them finally meeting in-person.  Plus, voice messages, a brief fantasy football rundown and why Ty was rooting for Miley Cyrus on his car ride to Athens.

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Throughout August and September we will be counting down the top 25 teams (as listed here) going into the 2009 season.  For the moment, let’s focus our attention on Alabama.  Not on the textbook scandals or dubious fishing trips, though.  Those are none of your concern, OK?  (Thanks.)  We’re talking strictly about the action on the field.

First Impressions

When Nick Saban bolted for Alabama, you just know that the Crimson Tide would instantly become a perennial contender in the world of college football.  Say what you want about the man, but he is nothing if not an elite football coach, regardless of team, conference, or general sleaziness.

The sticking point for SEC teams as contenders always begins and ends with scheduling, and 2009 should provide some favorable matchups for the Tide.  Among Bama’s four road games (not counting this weekend’s game against Virginia Tech in Atlanta), only one (@Mississippi) figures to be against a ranked opponent.  They also dodge Florida and Georgia, and play a meaty non-conference schedule in the form of Florida International, North Texas, and Chattanooga.  Roll Tide.

Despite losing John Parker Wilson and Glen Coffee, Alabama’s team, as a whole, will be stronger in 2009.  Yes, stronger.  Assuming that Julio and Mark’s fishing trip is OK’d by the powers-that-be, another unbeaten season could be in the cards.

Last Year

Despite a rampant notion that Alabama was a year away from making any serious noise on the national stage, the Crimson Tide started off its season on the right foot by pummeling then-No. 9 Clemson by a 34-10 score in the first week of the season.  What followed was an exciting, gritty run through the SEC and to No. 1 in the polls, taking down Georgia, Mississippi and LSU along the way.  Bama finished 2008 with a 12-0 regular season record, but it was ultimately Florida that finally knocked off the Tide in the SEC Championship.  With seemingly nothing to play for, Bama mailed it in against a tough Utah squad and lost again in the Sugar Bowl.  As a whole, it was one of Nick Saban’s finest coaching jobs ever.

Saban managed to march through a tough SEC schedule by taking the pressure off John Parker Wilson and getting the ball to his main playmakers: Glen Coffee, Mark Ingram and Julio Jones.  Wilson wasn’t asked to win games, but neither were any of his offensive players — in typical Saban fashion, he left that task to a stingy defense which only allowed about 14 points and 260 yards per game.  That formula proved successful.

In short, only a loss to Florida separated Alabama from playing in a BCS title game.

People

The question for Alabama is, again, its offense.  With only four returning starters from 2008 and an offensive line that needs reconfiguring, the onus falls on Nick Saban to again invent a winning strategy without a prolific offense.  This year, he’ll be replacing Wilson with Greg McElroy and Glen Coffee with Mark Ingram — in general, two players who should at least provide the same level of production.  Of course, standout receiver Julio Jones will be back for his sophomore campaign, which should help McElroy.  Saban-led teams know how to grind out an offensive possession and score points — Jones will be the primary target.

Bama’s defense, though, should be sick.  With nine returning starters, it’s possible that this team will improve upon its healthy defensive numbers in ’08 and potentially make another run at an undefeated season.  Listen for names like Rolando McClain, Brandon Fanney, Dont’a Hightower an Javier Arenas.

This Year

Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech will set the tone very early for the Crimson Tide, just as last year’s opening against Clemson did.  A win over a solid Tech squad will give Bama instant confidence and credibility, both of which it’ll need as the season progresses.  As with any SEC schedule, there is potential for four losses, but don’t count on it.  Bama might be favored in every game it plays this season, and with a stout defense in place, Saban will again ask his offense to control the clock and focus on efficiency instead of pyrotechnics.  If the Crimson Tide can do that again, you should expect big things.

Conclusions

Never underestimate Nick Saban’s ability to coach a football team.  Still, it feels like there is a loss somewhere (anywhere) on this schedule.

Prediction

11-1

Game Highlights Set To Sophisticated Music

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHEC4KzNwDQ

Ty and Dan bring back Clay Travis to talk about various topics around the world of college football, as well as his new book On Rocky Top.  Plus, West Coast Kevin drops by Solid Verbal Studio West to react to e-mails and celebrate the 50th show.

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E-mail: solidverbal@gmail.com
Voicemail: 206-338-1784
Website: http://www.solidverbal.com

Ty and Dan grapple with a variety of hard-hitting college football issues while battling debilitating technical issues:

• Dan’s trip into Gustav threatened Mississippi; Ty’s trip to “wine and cheese” country
• Oregon’s Nate Costa and his bum knee
• Penn State’s curious passing routes and rabid tailgates
• An eerie comparison between football guru Phil Steele and Lexington Steele
• Sleepers and busts for the coming season
• Quasi-previews of this week’s big games

E-mail the show with your thoughts: solidverbal@gmail.com

(Please excuse our dust while we hone in our sound equipment.)