Fantasy Land (8/14)

August 13, 2009

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) Subscribe: http://feeds.feedburner.com/solidverbal E-mail: [email protected] Voicemail: 206-338-1784 Website: https://146.66.103.97/~solidver

August Countdown: Florida State (17)

August 13, 2009

Throughout August, we will be counting down the top 25 teams (as listed here) going into the 2009 season. Today, we cut up our t-shirts and don cowgirl hats to celebrate all things Seminole. Luckily, Chief Osceola had this very image in mind when he fought for the freedom and safety of his people in the mid 1830s. Wooooo!!!                 First Impression Is this the year? It seems like it could be, though you can never truly be optimistic until everyone is positive Drew Weatherford is off campus for good.  Although things appear to be taking shape in Tallahassee . . .

August Countdown: Notre Dame (18)

August 12, 2009

Throughout August, we will be counting down the 25 teams (as listed here) going into the 2009 season. Today, we travel (figuratively) to South Bend, Indiana, to preview the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  Seeing as how this write-up was authored by Notre Dame fan extraordinaire Ty Hildenbrandt, you should expect a heavily biased and bitterly sarcastic perspective of the 2009 season.  If you can’t handle that, then go somewhere else, damn it. First Impressions If there were ever a year for Notre Dame to reach the 10-win plateau, it is 2009.  In fact, it MUST happen this year, otherwise . . .

August Countdown: Nebraska (19)

August 11, 2009

Throughout August, we will be counting down the 25 teams (as listed here) going into the 2009 season. With today’s team being Nebraska, we’re inundated with blackshirts, corn, and the nicest fans in college football. The state is also known for Bright Eyes, serving as an “undisclosed location” for George W. Bush, and its state bird, the Western Meadowlark. That’s right, suck it, Eastern Meadowlark.                    First Impressions When people think of the sleeping giants of college football, oftentimes the attention is turned to Notre Dame, Miami, or UCLA, but Nebraska fits . . .

August Countdown: TCU (20)

August 10, 2009

Throughout August, we will be counting down the top 25 teams (as listed here) going into the 2009 season. Today we strap on our spurs and travel to Forth Worth, TX to talk about a college that may or may not have actual horned frogs roaming the premises, but whose website definitely has a picture of a cheerleader that looks like the chick from The Bachelorette.                           First Impressions Oh, how quickly we forget TCU‘s 17-16 victory in the revered Poinsettia Bowl over Boise State last year — . . .

August Countdown: North Carolina (21)

August 7, 2009

Throughout August, we will be counting down the top 25 teams (as listed here) going into the 2009 season. Today we climb the Chapel Hill and take a closer look at North Carolina. Fun fact: notable UNC alumni include Dan Cortese, Andy Griffith, and Dr. Ken Jeong.            First Impressions To be honest, ever since UNC hired Butch Davis, I’ve had the Tar Heels as a sleeping giant in the back of my mind. The recent tradition isn’t necessarily there, but their recruiting base of states in the Southern and Mid-Atlantic states is obviously rock solid.  . . .

August Countdown: BYU (22)

August 5, 2009

Throughout August, we will be counting down the top 25 teams (as listed here) going into the 2009 season.  Today, we delve into BYU, our second Utah team in as many days.  It’s apparently Utah Week here at the Solid Verbal.  Apologies to Discovery Channel for upstaging Shark Week. First Impressions It is apparent after looking at BYU‘s 2009 schedule that the Cougars athletic department picked this season as the year it could potentially make a BCS splash.  Despite a shaky Mountain West schedule, which, as usual, features only Utah and TCU, the Cougs scheduled a neutral site game with . . .