Today’s Chorus is brought to you by NYU graduate and Parks and Rec person Aubrey Plaza. So very glad to have her back on my Thursdays.

*****

• The Arizona Republic is following BCS money. This could get derrrrrty.

• CBS’s Bruce Feldman has deserved praise for LSU CB Tyrann Mathieu, who’s now officially “The Honey Badger.”

• Toledo wants its (SHADY) loss to Syracuse reversed. Seems futile.

• Texas A&M has officially joined the SEC.

• Minnesota coach Jerry Kill suffered another seizure and readmitted himself to the hospital. Time will be taken to hopefully get all straightened out.

• Florida State CB Greg Reid was arrested on misdemeanor obstruction of justice and perjury charges. And it involved a scooter. This is all starting to feel very meltdown-y.

• So that’s that for New Mexico coach Mike Locksley after a recruit got a DWI driving a car registered to Locksley. Feels like a no-no.

• ESPN‘s bloggers have conference power rankings and, screw it, power bowl projections. You can’t even begin to contain the power.

• They also learned things. Good for them.

• SB Nation’s Bill Connelly is up in the weekend’s numbers. I think they got to second base.

• I thought I told you that SI.com’s Stewart Mandel didn’t stop.

• The Wiz has your week four screengrabs. Cincy girl wins the week.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is Beats by Dry Cleaner.

Enjoy your Monday.

***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 by former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. In the back of my mind, you’re getting the 24-style silent clock countdown treatment. Good night, sweet prince (of alleged corruption).

*****

Ahem…

• Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has officially coached his last game for the Buckeyes after resigning amid pressure from those around him at the university. Interim head coach Luke Fickell keeps the tag, but now with more games tacked on.

• Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor is the subject of an investigation by both Ohio State and the NCAA regarding his ever-expanding car collection and other illegal benefits allegedly received.

• SI’s George Dohrmann conducted an investigation into the scope of the benefits that Ohio State players had come to receive during the Tressel era.

• Ohio State blog Eleven Warriors thoroughly analyzes the above investigation in the expected partisan manner they should have.

• Oh and ESPN analyst Urban Meyer will not pursue any filled jobs for this fall. Good for him.

• Current and former Buckeyes react to the news. Former Buckeye WR Ray Small was particularly poignant.

• ESPN’s Bruce Feldman throws out some replacement ideas.

• Finally, some reactions — Yahoo!!!!!”s Dan Wetzel expects snowballing … Fox Sports’s Bruce Hooley talks about Tressel losing his cred … SI.com’s Andy Staples says it’s all his fault … CBS’s Brett McMurphy wonders how OSU AD Gene Smith is surviving.

• West Virginia OC Dana Holgersen has actually been involved in at least six “alcohol-related incidents” in the past six months. And no, he doesn’t seem like a good guy to party with.

• Remember that random elite DL recruit from Florida who announced for New Mexico last year? He’s done with New Mexico.

• South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia was quietly reinstated by Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier. Shhhhh.

• Nebraska QB Cody Green is transferring out of Lincoln. Boise State is a name that has surfaced. Ugh, which probably means that he’ll have a good shot into developing into a complete QB. Meh.

• SEC spring meetings begin today. ESPN’s Chris Low has a preview. It’s like rock and roll but the exact opposite.

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is straightforward and to the point — May Failures (I refuse to use the word “fail” as a noun).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrO-qVywKD0

Enjoy your Tuesday.

***Follow me on Twitter.***

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.

Follow me on Twitter.

Today’s Chorus is brought to you by former Bucknell student Kevin Bacon. He seems like an intense guy — no way is he happy about the 1-11 season the Bison suffered through, BUT they did lose to Lafayette, so naturally, I’m fine with it.

*****

• Arizona kicker Alex Zendejas had two extra points blocked by Arizona State DE James Brooks — one to win it in regulation and one to tie it in double OT. The Wildcats lost and Mike Stoops‘s head is still yet to be recovered.

• Chip Brown of OrangeBloods.com is saying Texas OC Greg Davis will “be replaced.” The nation awaits with bated breath for a new coordinator to find new ways for QB Garrett Gilbert to throw passes into triple coverage.

• NCAA president Mark Emmert defends the Cam Newton decision. It would’ve been much easier if Emmert simply asked, “Hey, what’s that behind you?” and then took off.

• Jim Delaney and Larry Scott, commissioners of the Big 10 and Pac 10, respectively, aren’t thrilled with the Cam Newton ruling. Cam Newton, meanwhile, may be pleased with the ruling, but I assume he’s too busy studying a soon-to-be-vacated gameplan.

• Though he injured his knee against Oklahoma State, Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray will play tomorrow against Nebraska.

• Whichever team loses the ACC championship game will play in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. So there’s that.

• Syracuse will be playing in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Derek Jeter is expected to attend … to the needs of Minka Kelly on some tropical island somewhere.

• Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez played some Josh Groban for the departing seniors at the team banquet last night while pleading for his job. Yep.

• Former Colorado coach Dan Hawkins got a couple mil’ for his troubles (to not coach the Buffs). That’ll do.

• Jon Embree, former Colorado player/coach and current Washington Redskins tight ends coach, has been offered the Colorado head coaching job. Unless he hasn’t been. But he probably has been.

• New Mexico coach Mike Locksley will, due to the always-inspirational situation of his bosses not wanting to buy him out, be back next year.

• Oregon State will be wearing throwback uniforms tomorrow that are, well, kinda awesome.

• SI.com’s George Schroeder (SVBFF) profiles Oregon QB Darron Thomas. What? Like I wasn’t going to link this?

• The Wiz flips through the notebooks of reporters across the country.

• The latest lines for this week’s games. What’s a guy gotta do to lay some paper on Bethune Cookman?

*****

Today’s Video of the Day is of Kevin Bacon’s biggest fan, Kevin Bacon. Hey, sometimes you just gotta cut loose.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyQb192-CPQ

Enjoy your Friday + (your last) College Football Saturday.

Ty and Dan delve into the week’s headlines, voice messages, e-mails, and, at long last, previews for the first week of the 2010 college football season!

Ty and Dan empty out the inbox after National Signing Day and discuss innovative camera ideas, the viability of Fort Worth as the Solid Verbal Host City in 2010, and ferocious live mascots.

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Ty and Dan recap all the action on National Signing Day, examining winners, losers and bizarre names that slipped through the cracks.

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Throughout August, we will be counting down the top 25 teams (as listed here) going into the 2009 season. Today we bring it on down to Utahville, where we’ll take a look at the only program to go undefeated twice in the BCS era. Another fun fact:, Utah is the only state in the union to have their nickname centered around the production and storage of honey. I love honey. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Impressions

A case could be made that this has been the Offseason of Utah. You could also consider Lane Kiffin and Tennessee, but it seems like the Utah football program is a central theme in every BCS story and more (or less) importantly, every congressional college football hearing thus far during the offseason. 

Larger stories aside, Utah has done quite well for itself. Its recruiting base isn’t big, but through innovative coaching and steady player development, the Utes have been able to couple quality 7-9 win seasons with special seasons in which they’ve punched some huge teams square in the mouth. 

Utah shares the same ol’ problem that most teams in western states face: exposure. You can only draw so many conclusions without actually seeing games, which obviously can work for or (generally) against non-BCS conference teams with BCS aspirations. 

As a west coast football fan, very few things have been more satisfying to watch than Utah dismantling a pouting Alabama team in the Sugar Bowl. Do you hear that ringing? John Parker Wilson still does. 

Last Year

Undefeated. Plain and simple, Utah was the most important team of the 2008 college football team. 

For you nitpickers, there were some weaker parts of the 2008 season that a supposed national title contender shouldn’t have on their resumés. Only beating a terrible Michigan team by two is defensible given it was the first game of the year and it was on the road. Winning by three over a 4-win New Mexico team that fired their coach after the season is far less than impressive. Oregon State couldn’t close out a game at Utah with under a minute left and Utah promptly took advantage. It’s what great teams do. 

2008 = The Year of the Ute. 

People

Wait, where did everybody go? The Utes lose starting QB Brian Johnson to graduation (amongst unconfirmed rumors of an AC/DC tour), the three starting receivers, star DE Paul Kruger early to the draft, two starters on the OL, a rotation RB, a defensive tackle, and both starting corners. Kruger’s supposed weakside replacement, blue chip JC transfer James Aiono, also won’t be making it to the SLC until next season. 

The strength of the team looks to be the returning linebackers, led by OLB Stevenson Sylvester (I checked, it’s not backwards). It’ll be a season of opponents both attacking what should be a more conservative offensive attack and throwing against an inexperienced Ute secondary. 

On the coaching front, they lose offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, though some (ahem) may argue the validity of the term “loss” here. The good news is that the Utah head coach job appears to be a destination gig for Kyle Whittingham, which is always an advantage when your team is forced to swim against the current in a skewed system. 

This Year

They open with two wins against Utah State and San Jose State. SJSU has improved under Dick Tomey, but Utah should be able to get a win after USC toys with the Spartans the week before. As nice as it was to beat Oregon six years ago (and inspire the Ducks to move to the spread), Eugene doesn’t look to be pretty for a rebuilding team. 

Louisville is a winnable home game, Colorado State is a bowl team that could pose problems on the road. Frankly, a game at UNLV followed by three straight at home against Air Force, Wyoming, and New Mexico should all yield victories. 

The tail end of the schedule has the Utes on the road against TCU and BYU teams that can’t be terribly pleased about losing in Salt Lake City last year. There’s a small shot against TCU, but the Holy War at BYU won’t be pretty. 

Conclusion

The personnel losses are significant, but outside of three brutal road games at Oregon, TCU, and BYU, the Utes have a reasonable opportunity to minimize their fall from last season’s unprecedented grace. Breaking in new corners is never fun, but the passing in the Mountain West is essentially limited to Max Hall and BYU … though it is A LOT of passing. 

The Prediction

8-4

Highlights Set to Unfortunate Music

-Dan