Keys to the Big Games
Week Nine, Oct. 29
Ohio State vs. Minnesota---college fotball ---
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By John Harris---college fotball ---

a. Oh boy,---college fotball --- does it get better than this? – It’s not quite Magic vs. Bird. Nor, is it Randy Johnson vs. Big Papi. And, it’s not Deion Sanders vs. Jerry Rice. But, as far as college match ups go this week and any other week, the Ohio State linebackers against Minnesota RB Laurence Maroney (Gary Russell, too) and his offensive line is well worth the price of admission. What’s so great about this match up is the fact that Ohio State knows what Minnesota is going to do – it’s zone left and zone right with a little inside zone mixed in. All they’ve got to do is stop it. Well, it’s easier said than done, but taking a page out of Wisconsin’s, wait, sorry, Penn State’s defensive playbook, the Buckeyes can slow down the great Minnesota pair of backs. The difference is that Penn State relied heavily on the defensive line to make plays in the backfield to stop Maroney, but the pressure of stopping Maroney falls on Hawk, Carpenter and Schlegel. The Buckeyes defensive front will occupy as many linemen as possible to allow the triumvirate to flow to the football quickly and do so in an agitated mood. Ultimately, the key for the Buckeyes is going to be the outside backers Carpenter and Hawk. Eventually, the Buckeyes perimeter run defenders are going to eliminate any outside running game, and turn the Gopher backs back into the middle of the field, where a backside pursuing Buckeye linebacker has to be in position to make a tackle for a loss or for a short gain. Hawk and/or Carpenter will have to navigate through some trash to get there, but they must ensure that they’ve taken an inside/out path to Maroney and put a helmet right through the star Gopher running back. Man, what a match up this will be, but if the Buckeyes can hold him under 75 yards, it’ll be over quickly.---college fotball ---
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b. Keep Going to the Well – If something works, don’t you keep going to it? If you’re seven iron is dead on from 150 on in, don’t you keep pulling it out of your bag? You do, with no hesitation. That being the case, the Buckeyes need to do all they can to keep feeding WR Santonio Holmes. Somewhere along the line, defenses in this conference must’ve forgotten about what the Great Santonio could do to a defense. Holmes burned Michigan State to the tune of 150 yards through the air, and then followed that up with another 100 yard performance at Indiana. Although the Minnesota secondary is much improved over past years, stopping a healthy and ‘hot’ Holmes might require some safety help. Although Jim Tressel took some heat earlier this season for not getting the ball to Ted Ginn more, he’s been able to get Holmes in single coverage situations by lining him up as the lone receiver on the backside of a trips (three WR) set. Although Tressel has called Holmes number often this year, he’s got to give him the opportunity to mix up his routes and let QB Troy Smith read on the run. Last week against Indiana, Holmes beat the Hoosier corner on a slant route for six points, but when they were down inside the red zone again later in the game, the Buckeyes called the same exact route. It got picked off as the Hoosier corner had anticipated properly the same exact route that had beaten him earlier. But, if Holmes can read on the run, he could’ve easily planted his inside foot and took it to the corner and been wide open. Regardless, the Buckeyes need to keep dialing up Holmes all over the field.---college fotball ------college fotball ---
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c. Spaeth is hit with Cupito’s Arrow? – Considering the fact that the Wisconsin run defense is nowhere near Minneapolis this weekend (in fact, as mentioned above, it’s Wisconsin’s evil twin, Ohio State coming to town), the Gophers must get something out of the play action passing game. That means TE Matt Spaeth and a healthy, well, relatively healthy Bryan Cupito behind center. No offense to Tony Mortensen, who played while Cupito nursed an injured shoulder against Wisconsin, but Cupito must play this weekend for the Gophers to have a chance against Ohio State. The Buckeyes won’t respect play action at all if Cupito isn’t in the game. Shoot, at that rate, they might not respect the passing game at all even if the Gopher junior does start and play. But, if he does play, he’s got to take advantage of the fact that the Buckeyes’ linebackers will be on a seek and destroy mission to stop #22 and #24. And, that’ll mean using TE Spaeth. The pressure in stopping this offense is mainly around finding enough run support defenders to slow down Maroney, but in so doing, the Gopher pass catcher will have all kinds of room to work in the middle of the field behind the talented Buckeye linebacker trio. Keep an eye on the use of zone waggles/bootlegs, as always, generated from outside zone play action fakes to Maroney and Russell, to Spaeth to try to get Cupito’s confidence back up after sitting for the Wisconsin game.---college fotball ---
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Conclusion – With two weeks to let that heart-breaking loss to Wisconsin simmer, the Gophers have to be chomping at the bit to get back on the field this week. Losing as they did against Wisconsin, the worst thing you can have happen is to sit for two weeks. Although the rest did them some good to get guys rested for the stretch run, it may not matter this week. The Buckeyes’ defense loves to be hit in the mouth and to hit back, just a bit harder. Ohio State just has too many perimeter weapons, and those WR will eventually make big plays against a much improved Gopher secondary. Keep an eye on RB Antonio Pittman this week – he could be ready to break out the rest of the season. Ohio State – 28 vs. Minnesota – 18---college fotball ---

Keys to the Big Games
Week Eight, Oct. 22
Auburn vs. LSU ---college football---

By John Harris---college football---

a. Foot Soldier – When it comes to crunch time in a ball game, as an offense, you eventually figure out what type of team you are. Texas Tech, well, you know that they’re going to chuck it a million times a game. Navy and Air Force are going to ride, read, pitch and repeat. But, what kind of team is LSU? Well, maybe we got a glimpse of the team and the offense that we’re going to see this weekend in last week’s game against Florida. With so much talent at the skill positions, in particular at WR, the offense turned into Joe Addai right, Joe Addai left and Joe Addai every other way possible. Finishing the game with 32 carries, Addai seemed to gain strength from running the ball down after down. Into the fourth quarter, he seemed to be the freshest player on the field. That all being said, this LSU offense, due in large part to the inconsistent play of QB JaMarcus Russell, might end up being one that dominates on the ground, with Addai, in particular, throughout the rest of the season. Auburn’s defense is still quick up front, but whether they can handle the pounding of the LSU offensive line remains to be seen. As Addai gained momentum throughout the second half, you could also see the offensive line grow in confidence, hitting the Gators right square in the jaw, play after play. Now, don’t misunderstand, the Tigers are going to need Russell to throw the football effectively and efficiently throughout the game, but if they’re going to win this game, they’ve got to hand the ball to Addai. Then, do it again and again and again.---college football---

b. A Final Four to be Remembered – For all of the talk about how talented and how important Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams were for the 2004 Auburn squad, it’s a shame if you don’t consider how great the secondary was under former DC Gene Chizik. Carlos Rogers and Junior Rosegreen were big time players and solidified a back four that ended up being as good as any secondary in the nation. With those two guys gone, the pressure on this year’s secondary is somewhat palpable, made even more difficult in having to face this talented crew of LSU pass catchers. The Auburn secondary is only giving up 153 yards a game through the air, but they haven’t really been tested, outside of the opener when they faced Georgia Tech and WR Calvin Johnson. But, even against that unit, the Tigers only gave up 174 yards through the air. But, the match ups are a little bit different against LSU than they are against any other team that Auburn is going to face this year. With Dwayne Bowe, Early Doucet and Skyler Green, LSU has three guys that can really hurt the Auburn secondary, in a variety of ways. Bowe and Doucet are explosive down the field and Green is the type of guy that’ll stretch Auburn horizontally as much as anyone on the field. Last year, the secondary was extremely physical with LSU’s receivers, so don’t expect much of a change from that philosophy. LSU shouldn’t and probably won’t throw it as much as they have earlier this year, but that doesn’t mean that the secondary can rest easily. In fact, with the front seven so heavily involved in stopping the run, David Irons and friends will have to stop the passing game, mostly by themselves.---college football---

c. No Loose Ends – When facing a team like Auburn, a team that can run it pretty well with RB Kenny Irons and a group that has a plethora of wide receivers that can hurt a defense, typically the tight end goes unnoticed. However, this week Auburn TE Cooper Wallace and Cole Bennett could play a major role in the offense as they’ll definitely not be the focus of the LSU game plan. The problem that they present, though, is accounting for them in the pass defense. The LSU linebackers are quick, fast and aggressive, but don’t make for good pass defenders, for the most part. But, with the secondary having to cover Ben Obomanu, Courtney Taylor and Devin Aromashodu down the field, there may be no choice for the LSU defensive staff than to put the LSU linebackers on them in passing situations. Now, two things happen – one, the tight ends are in an advantageous situation running their routes down the field against the pass defense deficient linebackers. Two, it takes them out of blitz situations. Even if they do blitz LB Ali Highsmith, choosing to roll the dice with one of the other linebackers covering Wallace and/or Bennett is a risk that LSU DC Bo Pelini may not want to take. Furthermore, the ‘hot’ route to the TE will be one that QB Brandon Cox can and must find pretty easily. It might not be pretty to use the tight end throughout the game, but this might be the perfect situation to use them.---college football---

Conclusion – As always, this will be as physical a game as we’ll see this week or even this year. Hopefully, it’ll be a little prettier than the Florida game last week (which was somewhat hard to watch with how inept both offenses performed throughout the game). This game, as it always seems to do, will come down to which QB makes the fewer mistakes. Both teams feature good running backs and hard nosed offensive lines, but if JaMarcus Russell and Brandon Cox are giving the ball back to the opposing defense, it won’t matter at all. With Addai emerging as THE offensive threat, Russell just needs to make consistent throws and take pressure off of the running game, not carry the offense. He does that and the Tigers win…the ones in the purple and gold. LSU – 24 vs. Auburn – 17---college football---

Perspective PieceAuburn vs. LSU, Oct. 22By Matthew Zemek
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Remember how the weight of the world seemed to rest on the shoulders of Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley entering the Dawgs’ huge game at Tennessee a few weeks ago? That weight now falls on Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox this week, as the unproven quarterback heads to Baton Rouge in the SEC West’s typically pivotal annual Tiger-fight.When Cox struggled against Georgia Tech in the season opener, Auburn fans realized how good they had it with Jason Campbell... and that quarterbacks blessed with a full package of skills—combining intangible gifts along with raw physical potential—don’t just materialize immediately.
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Great quarterbacks don’t come along very often to begin with, but even if they do emerge, it takes time for that ripening process to unfold.After several low-profile games—including a contest against an Arkansas team that isn’t an SEC threat anymore—Brandon Cox finally re-enters the spotlight, as America gets to see, seven weeks after Georgia Tech, how far Al Borges’ newest project has truly progressed.
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The extent to which Auburn’s field general responds to the singularly unique noise of a Death Valley night game (Auburn fans know this all too well from 1988) will in large part determine this always-critical battle for SEC West supremacy. The winner knows that a date with Alabama will decide the division; the loser knows it will either be out of the running (if LSU is the team that falters) or have no margin for error (Auburn will have to win at Georgia to make the Iron Bowl relevant to their SEC West title hopes). Those are pretty high stakes for Cox’s first substantial baptism by SEC West fire.Cox surely knows how this game can make or break Tiger quarterbacks from both Louisiana and the Central Alabama Plains.----collegefootball----
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In the previous four stagings of this game, LSU-Auburn has decided the SEC West (2001), knocked the Bayou Bengals out of Atlanta (2002), propelled LSU to Atlanta and the national title (2003), and catapulted Auburn to an undefeated season and No. 2 ranking (2004). Cox has to be particularly aware of how this game became the turning point for Jason Campbell’s Auburn career last season.----collegefootball----
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For the first 57 minutes, Campbell was his typically small self in a big game, failing to meet the moment with clutch throws and good decision making. Auburn seemed headed for another crushing early-season defeat and another unfulfilling college football campaign.But just when things were at their bleakest, Cambpell decided to change the trajectory of his career and the life of Auburn football. ----collegefootball----
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On a 4th and 12 play from the LSU 29 with around three minutes left—and after having used its last timeout—Campbell, hesitating slightly, drifted to his right under furious pressure from three hard-charging LSU pass rushers. Getting crunched as he threw the pass, Campbell nevertheless had the downfield vision and intestinal fortitude to get his wobbler safely into the mitts of Courtney Taylor, the receiver who got open in LSU's secondary.----collegefootball----
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Two plays later, Campbell calmly and coolly delivered a smoother strike to Taylor in the back of the end zone.Lord knows, it took him long enough... not only in terms of the progression of this one game, but in terms of the trajectory of his Auburn career. But Jason Campbell finally did show the true grit and late-game gallantry that he could never quite seem to do on so many previous occasions over the past few years as Auburn's top signal-caller. After that moment of catharsis, Campbell was a changed man, and his combination of leadership and excellence under pressure carried Tommy Tuberville’s team to a 13-0 season, an SEC championship, and a Sugar Bowl victory.----collegefootball----

All of Auburn’s accomplishments last year flowed from the LSU game, the team’s ultimate crucible in 2004. After that point of passage, all the burdens that brought down Auburn the year before were suddenly eliminated, and Campbell played with the confidence of a reborn man.Saturday in Baton Rouge, Brandon Cox will try to jump-start his career the way Campbell got his own Auburn tenure off the ground. The stakes are high, but so are the rewards. The need to perform well is high, but ball security—given LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell’s propensity for committing turnovers—could be good enough to win. At any rate, Cox will be squarely in the spotlight for a game that has a way of either elevating or exposing young QBs.
----collegefootball----
If Cox is up to the challenge, this game gets a lot more interesting... and Auburn has a chance to set up an Iron Bowl of apocalyptically delicious proportions. If Auburn’s signal caller flubs, however, Les Miles and Company will have legitimately passed their October gauntlet, and will be able to face Alabama for the undisputed SEC West title in November.Auburn and Brandon Cox haven’t had a high-intensity game since Sept. 3. Saturday night, we’ll see if Tommy Tuberville’s team has learned anything in the intervening seven weeks----collegefootball----

College Football: Young's TDs guide Texas to long-sought prize: Victory over Oklahoma

The Associated Press

Vince Young and the Texas Longhorns are headed home from the State Fair with the prize that has eluded them for five years: a victory over Oklahoma. - College Football -

Showing the poise and leadership he has developed since a miserable performance against the Sooners last year, Young threw for three touchdowns in guiding No.2 Texas to a 45-12 victory Saturday in Dallas. - College Football -

The Longhorns (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) convincingly ended one of the most dominant runs in the 100-game series between the Red River rivals and salvaged the reputation of coach Mack Brown.

The orange-clad throng that filled the Texas half of the Cotton Bowl savored every second.

The Sooners (2-3, 1-1) came in not only riding their longest series winning streak since the 1950s, they had outscored the Longhorns 189-54 along the way, leaving the impression that Oklahoma's Bob Stoops was outcoaching Brown. Even with victories over Michigan in the Rose Bowl and at Ohio State earlier this season, Brown still had something to prove in this game.

The proof came right away. Young led an 82-yard touchdown drive on the opening series that put Texas ahead for good. Although Oklahoma got within 7-6, freshman Jamaal Charles answered with an 80-yard touchdown run on the Longhorns' next snap and the rout was on.

No.1 USC 42, Arizona 21 In Los Angeles, LenDale White scored four touchdowns, rushed for 179 yards and USC posted its 27th consecutive victory. The Trojans also won their school-record 23rd home game. White and Reggie Bush, who had 110 yards, each ran for 100-plus yards for the third consecutive game. Steve Smith added seven catches for 134 yards. - College Football -

No.3 Virginia Tech 41, Marshall 14 In Blacksburg, Virginia, Branden Ore rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown for Virginia Tech. The Hokies led 14-7 at the break, but got a 19-yard field goal from Brandon Pace, a 15-yard fumble return by Vince Hall and a 48-yard scoring pass from Marcus Vick to David Clowney in a span of 3:29 of the third quarter to lead 31-7.

No.4 Florida State 41, Wake Forest 24 In Tallahassee, Florida, Drew Weatherford threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns as the Seminoles blew open a close game with three quick scores in the final quarter. - College Football -

- College Football -

Florida State rolled up 585 yards and 27 first downs, but its nationally ranked defense struggled all day against the pesky Demon Deacons. Wake Forest closed to 20-17 on a 31-yard touchdown run by Chris Barclay, who finished with 125 yards. But the Seminoles scored three touchdowns in the next nine minutes to take a 41-17 lead.

No.5 Georgia 27, No.8 Tennessee 14 In Knoxville, Tennessee, starting for the first time against a top-10 team, D.J. Shockley went 16-of-27 for 207 yards and ran 11 times for 51 yards as the Bulldogs won for the third straight time in Neyland Stadium. - College Football -

No.20 UCLA 47, No.10 California 40 In Pasadena, California, Maurice Drew ran for three touchdowns, scored another on a long punt return, and caught a 28-yard pass for the go-ahead touchdown and UCLA snapped California's 12-game, regular-season winning streak.

Northwestern 51, No.14 Wisconsin 48 In Evanston, Illinois, freshman Tyrell Sutton ran for 244 yards and three touchdowns, and Reggie McPherson's interception sealed the victory.

Northwestern scored on seven straight possessions and finished with 674 yards of offense.

Brett Basanez completed 26 of 36 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns for the Wildcats. Sutton's 1-yard run in the third quarter put Northwestern ahead for good, 23-17, and his 62-yarder late in the fourth made it 51-34. - College Football -

No.16 Penn State 17, No.6 Ohio State 10 In State College, Pennsylvania, Michael Robinson and Derrick Williams ran for touchdowns less than three minutes apart in the second quarter, and Paul Posluszny and Penn State's defense did the rest as the Nittany Lions moved back on top of the Big Ten and back in the hunt for a national title.

Victory No.349 for Coach Joe Paterno was the type of victory some thought was only in the past for the 78-year-old coach. The Nittany Lions had not beaten a team so highly ranked since knocking off No.4 Arizona to start the 1999 season. - College Football -

The Nittany Lions did more than just hold their own against the Buckeyes and their vaunted defense, led by linebacker A.J. Hawk. The Buckeyes had 230 total yards with Troy Smith passing for 139. - College Football -

Minnesota 23, No.21 Michigan 20 In Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jason Giannini kicked a 30-yard field goal with a second left, helping Minnesota snap a 16-game losing streak to the Wolverines. On third-and-10 from the Minnesota 26, Gary Russell ran 61 yards to set up the winning kick.

LOUGH COLUMN: First Harris poll as odd as its voters
By Michael A. Lough

TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER

College football fans waited eagerly, tuning into their favorite sports network or peering over their keyboards. - College Football -

The suspense of the first Harris Interactive Poll of the season was immense.

After all, it was voted on by a panel that included the son-in-law of a coach and had 114 people of varying jobs, access, objectivity and agendas. And pulse rates. Former coach John Mackovic wondered eloquently about the qualifications in an interview with the Palm Springs (Cal.) Desert Sun:

"There are several people on the panel who have long since departed their active roles in football. ... To tell you the truth, I did not know a couple of them were still alive."

Oh my.

But the Harris gathering is making the writers and coaches look good.

Idaho is 0-4. Got five points. Apparently somebody didn't take their Metamucil. There were concerns that whoever took the poll over the phone might have misheard the vote, that maybe "Iowa" sounded like "Idaho."

Maybe not.

One win against an overrated ranked team does not a ranking make, but South Florida at 2-2 got more points than 3-0 Nebraska. Syracuse at 1-2 got a vote. - College Football -

Somebody likes the Mid-American Conference, because 1-2 Bowling Green got more points than 3-1 Toledo.

The Harris gang voted for 50 teams. There are 119 Division I-A teams. I'd not be surprised if somebody tried to sneak in some Division I-AA teams. - College Football -

The good news is that nobody nodded off while voting for the top dozen or so teams, for there was nothing outlandish. Interesting how similar a poll out for the first time in late September matches the ones that began with the preseason.

Assorted media folks went goofy with the poll and some of its silliness, forgetting that it was only the first one and some kinks. Plus, hey, it's a production of the BCS, and if we know one thing about any production of the BCS, it's this: There will be tweaking. - College Football -

Plenty of tweaking.

Alumni update

Gardner-Webb senior running back George Pressley (Westside) is averaging 54.7 yards rushing, third-best on the team. He has 1,214 yards on 233 rushes in his career at G-W, racking up a career-high 149 yards last November against Charleston Southern.

Two more Middle Georgians are on the G-W roster: running back Bryan Wallace (Dublin) and offensive tackle Jordan Sikes (Toombs County). ... - College Football -

Nebraska defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith (Stratford) is 13th in tackles with seven, with two sacks on the list. The Huskers lead the nation in scoring defense, allowing 5.3 points a game. ...

Wide receiver/returner Willie Reid (Warner Robins) is expected to play today when Florida State hosts Syracuse (ABC regional telecast). ... - College Football -

Defensive back Ronnie Jackson (Windsor) had a team-high nine tackles in Central Michigan's 40-3 loss to Penn State two weeks ago. ... - College Football -

Jeremy Wiggins (Northeast) is the leading tackler at Appalachian State with 41 stops, 12 better than the No. 2 Mountaineer. ...

Quarterback Adrian Johnson (Peach County) is second in rushing at Clark Atlanta with 49.8 yards a game, and is completing 37.5 percent of his passes (24 of 64) for 77 yards a game. ...

Defensive lineman Johnny Williams (Southwest) is fourth in tackles for Tuskegee with 16, including a sack. ... - College Football -

Quarterback Justin Tyler (Jones County) is at Arkansas-Monticello, a Valdosta State rival in the Gulf South Conference, and is listed as a junior. He hasn't played yet this season. ...

Houston County's Kyle Moore in in the equation for top-ranked Southern Cal this year as a true freshman. - College Football -

The 6-foot-7 defensive end had a fumble recovery in the opener against Hawaii, but has been sidelined with a sprained knee. He's listed as possible for tonight's game against Oregon and is listed as the No. 2 defensive end on one side. - College Football -

Gridmouthings

A sign things might return to normal in Statesboro: Georgia Southern is second nationally in Division I-AA rushing with 387.5 yards a game.

A problem? The Eagles are 103rd in rush defense, giving up 224.3 yards each Saturday. ...

The Conference Call radio show started a nice discussion a few days ago:

Why is Alabama getting more poll love than Auburn?

Auburn was, yes, upset in the season opener by a team that despite a pounding last week remains ranked. - College Football -

And that's the only opponent for either team so for that's likely to reach a bowl.

Alabama is 15th and 16th while Auburn is tied for 25th and unranked. In the new Harris poll, two-loss Michigan is 25th, but no Auburn. - College Football -

The Tigers have to dispatch unpredictable South Carolina today, while Alabama is an underdog against Florida. Other games today that may help Auburn rise: No. 13 Notre Dame at No. 22 Purdue, unbeaten Kansas at No. 16 Texas Tech, No. 1 Southern Cal at No. 14 Arizona State, No. 18 Minnesota at undefeated Penn State, and No. 23 Iowa State at 3-0 Nebraska. ...

Southern Cal is fallible.

The Trojans fall around the midway point of I-A statistically in pass efficiency defense (52nd, 119.21 points), net punting (54th, 35 yards a boot), 92nd in punt returns (5.4 yards a return, amazing since they should be well-versed in it), and 68th in pass defense (234.3 yards a game allowed). - College Football -

OK, being second in total offense (615.67 yards, 38 yards behind Texas Tech) and scoring offense (59.3 ppg, seven behind Texas Tech) sort of makes up for all that.

More than the game

By Terry Foster / The Detroit News

But it's not all about football.

It's about fun ... and family.

In a survey, Michigan fans said the band is the second-most important part of game day -- besides the team's winning.

That might explain why Kendall's mother, Kimberly, spends Fridays at Elbel Park, watching U-M's storied marching band practice for the next day's gala.

And it isn't unusual for three generations to pile into an SUV or a van to see their favorite teams. They park in the same spot next to the same people, who have become extended family.

Even season tickets, at some schools, are passed down from generation to generation.

"It is the fight songs and the pageantry," said Kendall's father, Jamie Morris, who is No. 2 on Michigan's career rushing list. "In the NFL, teams move and players move. Incollege, the players change but the colors don't.

"The tradition stays the same."

Ready to roll

Down South, they are primed for college football

My grandfather turned 90 years old this weekend, so I traveled from New York to L.A. (Lower Alabama) for the big celebration. Blogging from the farm is an interesting experience, because as much as I like living in Manhattan, pecking away on the laptop while sitting on a porch swing is pretty unbeatable. Except for the Alabama state bird, the mosquito.

Here in Alabama, and all across the South, for that matter, college football fever is in full swing. Reading the New York Post and New York Daily News every day, you'd have no idea how D.J. Shockley is adjusting to the starting QB gig in Athens, or that Steve Spurrier makes his Gamecock debut this weekend (with an offense he's dubbed the "cock n' fire," which sounds like something I learned about in 11th grade health class).

Unless the St. John Red Storm goes on an improbable run and sweeps the BCS -- improbable, I know, since they don't even have a men's football team -- the college game will probably never get its due up North in the media capital of the world. Understandable. And of course, no one in the South will ever really care about the Yankees or the Red Sox.

Here on the farm, taped to my grandfather's refrigerator are two newspaper clippings, both aged and yellow. One features Bear Bryant, his houndstooth hat pulled low on his brow, being escorted off the field after a bowl game victory. The other picture is of Gene Stallings, being carried off the field after Alabama's 1992 national championship win over Miami. There's also a ticket stub from the 1963 Orange Bowl, as well as a stub from some old regular season game between Alabama and Nebraska.

Just before we took the big family portrait yesterday afternoon, my grandfather unleashed a loud, "Roll Tide!"

And my grandfather didn't even go to Alabama.

This is college football in the South, where the only thing more important than where you go to church is what school you root for. Your allegiances are displayed by bumper stickers and by plastic flags projecting out the car window. It's not replica jerseys -- because they don't make completely accurate current college replicas -- so it's sweats and t-shirts. It's Winnebagos and paper plates, burgers and barbeque chicken. With a side of potato salad, of course.

It's Cokes that get watered down from the sun and humidity, getting sunburn on just one side of your face, and borrowing suntan lotion from stranger in front of you. Frat boys in dress shirts, ties and slacks, and regular people in shorts and sneakers. SEC coaches on TV shilling for pressure-treated lumber, ACC coaches overshadowed by the basketball coaches.

I've never been to a college game up North or out West, but I assume it's a similar, if smaller, experience. College football is equal parts family and funseekers. And at the risk of choking on a cliché, college football in the South really is a way of life, moreso than any pro sport has ever been and probably will ever be. This is partly a reflection of the Southern economy. Most people here aren't going to shell out $45 a pop to watch the Atlanta Hawks play the Los Angeles Clippers. Pro football is popular, as long as the teams are winning (note that the Atlanta Falcons have never had back-to-back winning seasons), and the Braves always average a solid crowd, but famously have had problems selling out playoff games.

Why is college football so enduring down here? I think it has something to do with spirit. It's easy and fun to joke about the schools turning into football factories, about the students not really being students, but at the end of the semester, they've got to pass classes like the rest of us once did. These are real kids, who hang out at the student center and for the most part will never play football again after they leave college. So for them this is it, the only memories they'll have to live the rest of their lives on.

And with a pro career eliminated, they don't have to worry about playing for the name on the back of the jersey, and instead can concentrate on playing for the name on the front of the jersey. We understand this, as fans, and we don't root for them, as people, but as representatives of our favorite schools. University presidents like to talk about academics and the importance of the school's rich sociology or math department. The day 105,000 people show up for a math competition, I'll start listening to them. We want to see football, hear helmets cracking, brass sections blowing.

Right now, it's 8:21 a.m., and I'm at a Panera Bread Company restaurant, strictly to rock the free WiFi, although the bagels aren't bad, either. (Note to self: Ask Peter King about the lattes here.)

Looking around, there are about 14 people in here, give or take a few. And I see two Auburn hats, an Alabama golf shirt and a car with an Alabama flag outside.

Are you ready for some football? We are.

Copyright © 2005 CNN/Sports Illustrated.