http://www.yardbarker.com/content/school/64 Recent Yardbarker Articles: Cincinnati Bearcats en-us Before I do this blog, let me say that the idea comes from having watched "Mike & Mike in the Morning", where they pick a game (that is way off the grid when it comes to college football) and then have the fans send in the names that would suit best the match up. Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:16:56 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/334813 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/334813 The Big East did not fall apart like many thought it would when the 3 big boys left for the ACC. In fact, this year the Big East may end up being a better conference than the ACC. There is probably not a more evenly matched conference top to bottom (other than Syracuse) in the nation. Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:02:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/331122 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/331122 Scratch another conference off the list. After the ACC laid an egg in week one, the Big East tried to prove it was even worse. Also, is there hope for the ACC? And a Heisman candidate emerges out West. Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:27:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/330442 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/330442 After a pretty so-so weekend to begin the 2008 season the Big East Conference needs to get back on track with a good showing in week two. There is a couple of pretty good games on tap for this weekend, some being winnable and one a lot less likely. Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:53:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/328747 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/328747 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:47:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/324046 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/324046 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:47:43 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/323936 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/323936 FIO staff writer Dan Mesday's 2008 preview of the Big East... included for each team in the conference are: key returning players, key losses, best h.s. signings, must-see games, and a 2008 outlook. Also check out Mesday's year-end standings predictions. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:16:41 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/313640 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/313640 Big East West Virginia returns the offensive line from a team that averaged 297.2 yards a game on the ground. With the elusive quarterback Pat White and Noel Devine, a budding star at running back, the Mountaineers again figure to have one of the country's best rushing offenses. Last September, South Florida defeated West Virginia, then ranked No. 5, to land on the national scene, and there are plenty of reasons why the veteran Bulls should contend for a conference title. Connecticut won a share of the Big East crown last season and returns most of its starters. Dave Wannstedt is entering his fourth season at Pittsburgh; this could be the year the Panthers break through. PLAYERS YOU SHOULD KNOW South Florida defensive end George Selvie had14 sacks and led the nation in tackles for loss (31). LeSean McCoy averaged 110.7 yards a game rushing and has drawn comparisons to the former Pittsburgh great Tony Dorsett. West Virginia tackle Ryan Stanchek anchors a top offensive line. Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith combined for 14 interceptions for Cincinnati. Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt each had at least 1,100 yards receiving for Rutgers. DARK HORSE In his first season as coach, Brian Kelly led an unheralded Cincinnati team to its first 10-win season since 1951. Despite losses on offense, Cincinnati returns many of the key players from a ball-hawking defense. GAME TO WATCH South Florida at West Virginia (Dec. 6) For the conference title? Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:38:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/311906 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/311906 USF @ Cincinnati: Entering the game with just one loss and playing in front of a soldout Nippert Stadium crowd, Matt Grothe and the USF Bulls are too much for UC's Bearcats, and the somewhat muddled situation they have at QB. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:34:35 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/309623 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/309623 The Big East is a force to be reckoned with! Before you begin to laugh take a real close look at the conference. With deep returning talent and superstars at many positions the Big East will make a run for the top spot in the bowls again this year. Don't be surprised if there are only one or two teams that finish below .500 in the Big East. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:19:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/309569 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/309569 This year UC's test will be in week 2 versus Oklahoma. And against UC's favor AT Oklahoma. Though UC's returning starters include Dominick Goodman at Wide Reciever and Corners DeAngelo Smith and Mike Mickens. They took a blow when starting Quaterback Matt Muak could not return for his sixth Season. If UC can pull out the upset versus Oklahoma they will certianly be rolling strong into rest of the regular season. I believe they could go undefeated this year and have a shot at the National Championship. If there Quaterback Dustin Grutza could step up and be a leader of this UC football team. Go Cats.! -BlackNights Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:30:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/308530 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/308530 No. 12 Auburn Location: Auburn, Ala. Nickname: Tigers. Quick facts: In the eyes of the Countdown, this fall presents Auburn with its best chance at a national title since 2004, when the Tigers were left out of the national title picture by those always fickle B.C.S. computers. However, a few impediments stand in their way, all related. First, a pair of new coordinators; second, and in the same vein, wholesale changes on the offensive side of the ball; and third, no matter who gets the starting nod, a new, untested quarterback. While we're making lists, two reasons why the Tigers could be able to overcome these question marks: One, Tommy Tuberville, one of the best coaches in the business; and two, it's not as if the Auburn coaching staff has historically been the model of consistency under Tuberville this will mark the third defensive coordinator since 2005. At 42-9 since 2004 (the fifth-best mark in the F.B.S.), Auburn has been as good as any program in the country. Can the Tigers build upon their recent success and steal the SEC away from L.S.U., Florida and Georgia? Tidbit: With the benefit of hindsight, let's go back and take a look at that 2004 season, hopefully without opening up too many old wounds. That fall, Auburn completed it season 12-0, joining U.S.C. and Oklahoma as the only undefeated teams among the B.C.S. conferences. However, the B.C.S. computers, in their infinite wisdom, put Auburn third in the final regular-season rankings, with the Sooners earning the second spot. As we all know, Oklahoma was thoroughly trounced by U.S.C., 55-19, in the national title game, while the Tigers held off A.C.C. champ Virginia Tech, 16-13, in the Sugar Bowl. So who deserved to be there? Let's look at the respective schedules. Oklahoma beat only one top 20 team (No. 5 Texas, 12-0) while defeating four Big 12 opponents by 10 points or less. On the other hand, Auburn topped three top 10 opponents (No. 4 L.S.U. by 10-9, No. 8 Tennessee by 34-10 and No. 5 Georgia by 24-6); four if you count Tennessee twice, since the Tigers beat the Volunteers in the SEC title game. In addition, only twice did the Tigers beat opponents by less than 10 (L.S.U., and 21-13 over Alabama in their rivalry game). Hindsight is 20/20, etc.; however, the real reason for Auburn being left out in the cold was its preseason ranking, which, at No. 17, gave it too much ground to make up with voters. Just to point out, the Countdown is not a poll as much as a preview; we do not have a vote in any preseason poll. Tidbit (rivalry edition): We examined Alabama's side of the 'Bama and Auburn rivalry during the Tide's preview, so let's look at things from a Tiger perspective. Though Alabama holds a 38-33-1 edge in the Iron Bowl, Auburn has seen its fair share of memorable moments; for example, let's watch Bo go over the top. Auburn has won six straight in the series, the best streak in program history. From 1954-1958, the Tigers beat Alabama five consecutive times by the combined score of 142-15. Tidbit (Beijing edition): Auburn alumni have won 13 swimming medals at the Beijing Olympics, more than doubling the swimming power's record of six medals in a single Games. The haul includes gold medals from Brazil's Cesar Cielo (one of his two medals), Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry (one of her four, including three silver medals) and Mark Gangloff of the United States. In all, four of the 13 medals came from American swimmers. Former players in the N.F.L.: 41, OL Willie Anderson (Cincinnati Bengals), WR Devin Aromashodu (Indianapolis Colts), RB Ronnie Brown (Miami Dolphins), QB Jason Campbell (Washington Redskins), WR Tim Carter (Houston Texans), LB Karlos Dansby (Arizona Cardinals), OL Tim Duckworth (New Orleans Saints), OL King Dunlap (Philadelphia Eagles), RB Heath Evans (New England Patriots), OL Chris Gray (Seattle Seahawks), DE Quentin Groves (Jacksonville Jaguars), OL Ben Grubbs (Baltimore Ravens), DE Marquies Gunn (New Orleans Saints), LB Will Herring (Seattle Seahawks), CB Kevin Hobbs (Seattle Seahawks), CB Roderick Hood (Arizona Cardinals), CB David Irons (Atlanta Falcons), RB Kenny Irons (Cincinnati Bengals), DT T.J. Jackson (Kansas City Chiefs), RB Rudi Johnson (Cincinnati Bengals), DT Spencer Johnson (Buffalo Bills), CB Pat Lee (Green Bay Packers), DE Stanley McClover (Carolina Panthers), OL Marcus McNeill (San Diego Chargers), WR Anthony Mix (Washington Redskins), WR Ben Obomanu (Seattle Seahawks), OL Jonathan Palmer (Cleveland Browns), DE Jay Ratliff (Dallas Cowboys), RB Tony Richardson (Jets), CB Carlos Rogers (Washington Redskins), OL Kendall Simmons (Pittsburgh Steelers), DT Pat Sims (Cincinnati Bengals), LB Takeo Spikes (San Francisco 49ers), WR Courtney Taylor (Seattle Seahawks), LB Dontarrious Thomas (San Francisco 49ers), LB Reggie Torbor (Miami Dolphins), TE Cooper Wallace (San Francisco 49ers), LB Marcus Washington (Washington Redskins), CB Jonathan Wilhite (New England Patriots), RB Carnell Williams (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), LB Travis Williams (Atlanta Falcons). Famous alumni (non-football related): Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia; Charles Barkley, everyone's favorite N.B.A. commentator; the former Olympic gold medalist and current NBC swimming announcer Rowdy Gaines; Toni Tennille, half of the easy-listening duo of Captain & Tennille. Team Conference: Southeastern, West Division. Head coach: Tommy Tuberville ('76 Southern Arkansas), 80-33 over nine seasons at Auburn. Since 2000 (his second year on the job), Auburn is tied for the best SEC record at 47-17. Tuberville has won at least eight games in seven of his nine seasons with the Tigers, including 11 in 2006 and the aforementioned 13-0 2004 campaign, and has led the program to three consecutive January bowl games. That fall earned Tuberville both SEC and national coach of the year honors. Though he was largely under appreciated by both fans and his own administration early in his tenure see the Bobby Petrino fiasco Tuberville has garnered praise for the success his teams have experienced since 2004. Over the last four years, Auburn is 42-9 (.824), fifth best in the nation. Prior to coming to Auburn, Tuberville led Mississippi to a 25-20 record from 1995-98, including an 8-4 mark and a trip to the Motor City Bowl in 1997. As an assistant, Tuberville spent eight years at Miami (1986-93, the final season as defensive coordinator), helping the Hurricanes to an 87-9 mark and a pair of national titles. A one-year stint as the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M (10-0-1 in 1994) gave Tuberville a 97-9-1 career record as an F.B.S. assistant. 2007 record: 9-4 (5-3). Another solid campaign for Tuberville and the Tigers, as the program finished with at least nine victories for the fourth consecutive season and the fifth time in six years. Auburn was able to rebound from a 1-2 start to win 8 of its final 10, with the only two losses coming to the No. 1 (L.S.U.) and No. 2 (Georgia) teams in the final Associated Press poll. As expected, the defense carried the team for most of the season, holding opponents to 16.9 points and 297.9 yards per game. Auburn held 11 of its 13 opponents to 20 points or less, including 7 points to both Vanderbilt and Arkansas, 3 to Mississippi and 10 in a win over rival Alabama. However, it was the offense that let Auburn down, specifically the quarterback play: As a team, Auburn threw for only 178.2 yards per game, with more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (12). High point: A 20-17 win over Florida in the Swamp, Auburn's second consecutive win over the Gators. Auburn's 17-10 win over Alabama marked their six straight in the series. Low point: Losses to the top two in the SEC by a combined 75-44: L.S.U. by 30-24 and Georgia by 45-20. Auburn lost 26-23 in overtime to South Florida on the fall's second weekend, though the Tigers gave the game away with five turnovers. Returning starters: 15 (8 offense, 7 defense). Key losses: On offense, the Tigers must start by replacing the three-year starter Brandon Cox at quarterback, though Cox took a step back last fall after a stellar 2006 campaign. It was his worst statistical season of his three years as a starter: 2,080 yards for 9 scores while throwing 13 interceptions; he didn't reach double-digits in picks as a sophomore (eight) or a junior (nine). However, one thing you can never take away from Cox is this: A member of the winningest class in Auburn's history (50 victories), Cox went 29-9 as a starter and 3-0 against Alabama, joining the current Washington Redskin Jason Campbell as the only Tigers to do so. The Tigers also lost tackle King Dunlap, who entered the season as one of the most highly acclaimed linemen in the SEC but was unable to live up to his enormous hype and ability. The mammoth (6-9, 325 pounds) Dunlap was eventually stripped of his starting position, and ended up sliding in the N.F.L. draft from a near lock for the first day to the seventh round, where he was taken by the Eagles. While Dunlap's disappointing senior year was troublesome, that Tuberville and his staff were able to play so many young underclassmen on their offensive line will pay huge dividends in 2008 and beyond. On defense, the Tigers lost a number of key contributors, including four who went among the first four rounds of the N.F.L. draft. The biggest losses are up front, where the Tigers must move forward without the all SEC standouts Quentin Groves and Pat Sims and the tough nose guard Josh Thompson. Though Groves was hampered by painfully dislocated toes last fall, he still exhibited the speed and athleticism off the edge (seven tackles for loss, three sacks) that made him a second round pick in April's draft. Joining him on the defensive line, Sims finished second on the team with 4.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss, and Thompson topped all Tigers with 67 tackles; impressive, considering he started all 13 games at nose guard. In the secondary, the first year starter Patrick Lee made the most of his opportunity at corner, tying for the team lead with four interceptions; a late riser in the draft, Lee joined Groves as a second round pick (Green Bay). Jonathan Wilhite, a highly touted JUCO transfer, showed enough flashes of talent with the Tigers (30 tackles, 1 sack, 2 interceptions in 2007) to justify a fourth round selection by the Patriots. Players to watch: Tony Franklin, formerly of Troy, is the new Auburn offensive coordinator, and he brings with him the spread offense the Trojans ran to such effectiveness in the Sun Belt. Franklin's spread, more Texas Tech than West Virginia, wants to put the ball in the air, making the wide receiver position an integral part of the new Tigers offense. At wideout, the senior Rodgeriqus Smith (52 receptions for 705 yards and 5 scores, all tops on the team) and the junior Montez Billings (28 for 321) are the top two pass catchers from a year ago, with the senior Robert Dunn and the electric sophomore Mario Fannin (18 receptions for 176 yards, 448 yards rushing, 399 return yards) also looking to be heavy contributors. Franklin's offense will ask the receiving corps to go at least five deep. The junior tight end Tommy Trott will also fit in well with the new system. The backfield looks to be in good shape with the senior Brad Lester (530 yards last fall) and the junior Ben Tate (team leading 903 yards and 8 touchdowns), though their roles may be slightly diminished in the new offense. The offensive line, which features a nice mix of experience (two seniors) and young talent (three sophomores) looks to be in terrific shape. The two senior starters left guard Tyronne Green and center Jason Bosley will provide the familiarity with the SEC, but the real standout is left tackle Lee Ziemba, who stepped into the starting right tackle spot last fall and put together a freshman all America season; it was one of most impressive seasons of any freshman, regardless of position, in 2007. Ziemba's move to left tackle places him on the fast track for all America honors. The defensive line, despite losing Groves, Sims and Thompson, will again be among the SEC's best. This is because of the juniors Sen'Derrick Marks and Antonio Coleman, both of whom are likely to earn all conference honors this fall. At end, Coleman led the Tigers in both sacks (eight and a half, fifth in the SEC) and tackles for loss (18.5, fourth). Marks, who has started 26 straight games for the Tigers, finished with 43 tackles (9 for loss) and 2 sacks. The big challenge for this pair is transitioning from secondary players Groves and his fellow seniors received the majority of the attention from opponents to the first line of defense; they are certainly talented enough to take on that mantle. If he keeps his head in the game both on and off the field the junior Trey Blackmon, a freshman all American in 2006, could be among the top linebackers in the nation. Though he has often found himself in Tuberville's doghouse, the fierce-hitting Blackmon has talent to burn. The secondary will be led by the sophomore strong safety Zac Etheridge (65 stops last fall), a member of the SEC all-freshman team, and the junior corner Jerraud Powers, who tied Lee for the team lead with four picks in 2007. On special teams, the sophomore kicker Wes Byrum (17-23 on field goals, though 3-8 from 40 plus) is cold-blooded; see his game winning field goal (or field goals, as his first make came back) against Florida in the Swamp. Position battle to watch: Auburn is still searching for a starting quarterback, with neither the sophomore Kodi Burns, last year's No. 2, or the junior Chris Todd able to separate himself from the pack. Though the staff is very high on Burns and his athleticism, Todd is also an intriguing prospect. Formerly of Texas Tech, Todd spent one year at junior college before enrolling at Auburn in the spring. Franklin will ask more of his quarterbacks in the passing game than did his predecessor, Al Borges, so Todd's experience in a quarterback-friendly high school offense and his short tenure with the Red Raiders will likely be a huge bonus in the eyes of the coaching staff. However, it seems likely that the job is Burns's to lose, since he was on the verge of taking the starting job away from Cox a season ago. He made an auspicious debut, rushing for 87 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Mississippi State. Burns' M.V.P. performance in the spring game may have sealed up the starting nod, but don't be shocked if Tuberville and Franklin opt to play use different quarterbacks in different situations, especially since Todd and the sophomore Neil Caudle are more traditional pocket passers than the mobile Burns. 2008 schedule: Aug. 30 Louisiana-Monroe Sept. 6 Southern Mississippi Sept. 13 @ Mississippi State Sept. 20 L.S.U. Sept. 27 Tennessee Oct. 4 @ Vanderbilt Oct. 11 Arkansas Oct. 23 @ West Virginia Nov. 1 @ Mississippi Nov. 8 Tennessee-Martin Nov. 15 Georgia Nov. 29 @ Alabama Game(s) to watch: The season finale with Alabama, as always. The Tigers get SEC powers L.S.U., Tennessee and Georgia at home, which will help. Season breakdown & prediction: Say this about Auburn: On any given Saturday, the Tigers can beat anybody, and very rarely are they on the short end of a blowout (though they lost by 25 to Georgia last fall). This is a testament to Tuberville, who has been among the nation's best at getting his team ready to play since taking over at Auburn a decade ago. So what about this season: Should fans be worried about their new coordinators (Paul Rhodes is the new defensive coordinator)? In the long run, the move to Franklin and the spread will benefit the program, especially since the offense grew stale during the last two seasons under Borges. I anticipate only a small amount of growing pains this fall, with more issues stemming from an inexperienced quarterback group than a new offensive philosophy. Remember, Auburn had its best offensive performance of the season in its bowl game, and that came with little time for Franklin to acclimate the roster to the spread. Over all, when combining a growing offense with its typically strong defense, I see Auburn going 10-2 this fall, though defending champ Louisiana State which, admittedly, also has major questions at quarterback is my pick to win the West. I really like Auburn, but L.S.U. still looks too stacked to be unseated. Dream season: Auburn goes 12-0 in the regular season, upends Georgia in the SEC championship game, and avenges the ghosts of 2004 with a win in the national title game. Nightmare season: Auburn's offense struggles adapting to Franklin's spread offense, and the Tigers finish the regular season 7-5, their worst season since 2001. Alabama snaps its six game Iron Bowl losing streak with a win to end the season. Where do Auburn fans congregate: Another solid SEC fan base, with a number of good resources. Check out Tiger Insider, Tigertown, AU Tigers.com and Wayne and Hobbes' Tiger message board. Who is No. 11?: This program has the best career winning percentage of the A.C.C.'s original six teams. Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:29:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/308074 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/308074 West Virginia has been the biggest name in the Big East in recent years, but the Mountaineers might be showing some chinks in the armor. Several teams are improving rapidly, and could threaten to push Pat White and company for the top spot in the conference. Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:46:12 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/305582 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/305582 NCAA FOOTBALL TEAM PROFILES: From: THE QUAD. We will post the most complete team profiles for the next 21 NCAA Football Teams you'll find on the Internet. We will be posting a new team every day or so for the next few weeks. Today's team is # 18 PENN STATE. Location: State College, Pa. Nickname: Nittany Lions. Nittany is a reference to Mount Nittany, which abuts the Penn State campus. Quick facts: Let's be serious for a moment: Joe Paterno can't coach forever. At some point, the 42-year Penn State head coach will have to hang 'em up and appreciate all that he has done for the university – both as a football coach and a dedicated benefactor. But before he goes, can he lead the Nittany Lions to one more great season? Another year's worth of games against the likes of Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin lie ahead for Penn State in 2008, but with a talented set of skill players and an always disruptive defense, could this fall see the Nittany Lions make a push for JoePa's third Big Ten title? Tidbit: Penn State has finished in the top four in terms of home attendance every season since 1991, including back-to-back second-place finishes over the past two seasons. Michigan finished first in 2007 (110,264 fans per game to P.S.U.'s 108,971), though one must think that if Penn State's Beaver Stadium held as many fans as the Big House the Nittany Lions would have no problem filling seats. How many seats would P.S.U. actually have to hold in order for a home game not be a sellout? 150,000? Former players in the N.F.L.: 33 – DT Anthony Adams (Chicago Bears), DT Jay Alford (Giants), OL Levi Brown (Arizona Cardinals), QB Kerry Collins (Tennessee Titans), LB Dan Connor (Carolina Panthers), WR Eddie Drummond (Pittsburgh Steelers), WR Bobby Engram (Seattle Seahawks), TE John Gilmore (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), K Robbie Gould (Chicago Bears), DE Tamba Hali (Kansas City Chiefs), RB Tony Hunt (Philadelphia Eagles), WR Bryant Johnson (San Francisco 49ers), DT Ed Johnson (Indianapolis Colts), RB Larry Johnson (Kansas City Chiefs), WR Joe Jurevicius (Cleveland Browns), P Jeremy Kapinos (Jets), DT Jimmy Kennedy (Jacksonville Jaguars), S Ethan Kilmer (Cincinnati Bengals), CB Justin King (St. Louis Rams), S Calvin Lowry (Tennessee Titans), CB David Macklin (St. Louis Rams), TE Sean McHugh (Detroit Lions), OL Kareem McKenzie (Giants), DT Scott Paxson (Pittsburgh Steelers), CB Anwar Phillips (Baltimore Ravens), LB Paul Posluzny (Buffalo Bills), OL Tyler Reed (Chicago Bears), RB Michael Robinson (San Francisco 49ers), S Bryan Scott (Buffalo Bills), LB Tim Shaw (Carolina Panthers), TE Isaac Smolko (Jacksonville Jaguars), TE Tony Stewart (Oakland Raiders), RB Kenny Watson (Cincinnati Bengals). Famous alumni (non-football related): Richard James, inventor of the Slinky; the film director Adam McKay ("Anchorman," "Talladega Nights"); Congressmen Charlie Dent and Michael Doyle of Pennsylvania; Jigme Thinley, the Prime Minister of Bhutan. Team Information Conference: Big Ten. Head coach: Joe Paterno (1950, Brown), 373-125-3 over 42 years as the head coach at Penn State. Since Paterno took over in 1966, there have been 817 head coaching changes on the F.B.S. level; since the Nittany Lions entered the Big Ten in 1993, there have been 31 different head coaches in the conference. There is really nothing the Countdown can add to the Paterno conversation that hasn't already been said: The man is a legend – comfortably among the top 10 coaches in the history of college football – and a revered figure at the university for both his on-field prowess and his many off-field contributions to the good of Penn State. However, with the clock ticking on his career, the Countdown asks: Who will be his eventual replacement? Paterno will obviously have a major say in who takes over the reins of the program he built, so will he insist upon one of his current assistants (defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, offensive coordinator Galen Hall or perhaps his son, quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno) being promoted from within? Must the next head coach have Penn State ties (Greg Schiano of Rutgers)? Or will the administration decide to go in a different direction (a la Michigan) and bring a new face into the program? Tidbit (coaching edition): As all loyal readers of the Countdown undoubtedly know, Paterno trails only Bobby Bowden on the career list for major college wins; Bowden has 373 victories, with Paterno on his heels with 372. However, if we discount Bowden's 31 wins on the F.C.S. level (Samford, 1959-62), Paterno holds the edge in F.B.S. victories, 372-341. 2007 record: 9-4 (4-4). Each of Penn State's four losses came in conference play, with three occurring on the road (Michigan, Illinois and Michigan State) and the fourth coming at home to then-No. 1 Ohio State. The Nittany Lions were somewhat streaky: A 3-0 start preceded back-to-back road losses, and after two strong Big Ten victories, P.S.U. split its final four conference games. Statistically, the Nittany Lions looked better than a nine-win team, outscoring opponents by 30.3 to 17.5 per game and outrushing opponents by 100 yards per game (193.8 to 93.8). However, it was with the little things – turnovers, overall inconsistency on offense – that the Nittany Lions struggled. An Alamo Bowl victory over Texas A&M gave Paterno an F.B.S.-record 23 bowl victories, and improved his bowl winning percentage to .691, the second-best mark among coaches with at least 12 bowl appearances. High point: A 38-7 victory over then-No. 19 Wisconsin in mid-October put the Nittany Lions at 5-2 and snapped a two-game losing streak. Beating Notre Dame is always nice, even when the Irish are atrocious. Low point: The back-to-back road losses (by 14-9 to Michigan and by 27-20 to Illinois) and the tough 37-17 setback to Ohio State in front of a raucous home crowd. Returning starters: 15 (8 offense, 7 defense). Key losses: On offense, the Nittany Lions will be breaking in a new backfield with the departure of quarterback Anthony Morelli and tailback Rodney Kinlaw. Morelli was often criticized during his inconsistent two-year tenure as the Penn State starter, though his senior year (2,651 yards with 19 scores against 10 picks) saw him make a marked improvement over an up-and-down 2006 season. Last fall, Morelli set Penn State record for completions (234) and attempts (402) in a season, and his yardage and touchdown totals were good for second and fourth on the P.S.U. career list, respectively. Morelli, a Western Pennsylvania product, won 18 games over his two years with the Nittany Lions, including a January bowl win over Tennessee following the 2006 season. Was there a more underappreciated 1,000-yard back in the country in 2007 than Kinlaw? A tough, hard-nosed runner, Kinlaw patiently waited his turn in the Nittany Lion backfield, and after earning his first career starting assignment in the Week 5 loss to Illinois rolled off the 11th 1,000-yard rushing season in P.S.U. history. Kinlaw rushed for 1,329 yards in only nine starts (13 total games played), the ninth-highest single-season total in team history, adding 10 touchdowns on the ground. Undrafted, Kinlaw signed a free-agent contract with the Jets; will he be the anti Blair Thomas? On defense, Penn State must again replace an all-American linebacker in Dan Connor, who concluded his four-year career as the school's leading career tackler (419 stops) and the 2007 Bednarik award winner. As a senior, Connor led the Big Ten and ranked seventh nationally with 145 tackles (15 for loss); he also chipped in six and a half sacks, second on the team. Though somewhat overshadowed until his senior season by the current Buffalo Bills linebacker Paul Posluzny, Connor was a two-time all-American and first-team all-conference selection (2006-7). The linebacker spot took another big hit with the knee injury to yet another all-American, the would-be senior Sean Lee, who will miss the entire 2008 season while rehabbing from his A.C.L. tear. Lee intends to take a medical redshirt and will return in 2009. Corner Justin King, whose 17 passes defended (2 interceptions) were good for second in the Big Ten, elected to enter to the N.F.L. draft following his junior season. A highly-touted recruit who played mostly at receiver as a freshman (10 receptions for 126 yards, 227 yards rushing in 2005), King's ceiling at corner is as high as any player taken in April's draft. Players to watch: The senior wide receiver Derrick Williams – the nearly consensus top high school recruit in the nation in 2005 – arrived at Penn State among nearly insurmountable expectations, and, not surprisingly, has been unable to live up to his promise. This is not to say Williams has been a disappointment: He led the team in receptions (55) last fall while adding the occasional big play to the Nittany Lion arsenal. Nevertheless, Williams enters his final campaign with the goal of stepping up his level of play and becoming a team leader with a new quarterback. Joining Williams at wideout is his fellow senior Jordan Norwood, whose consistency (at least 35 receptions in each of his three seasons) puts him on pace to finish his career among the top three receivers in team history. Taking over for Kinlaw in the backfield will be the sophomore Evan Royster, who rushed for 513 yards and 5 scores in a sterling freshman season. However, a name to remember is the redshirt freshman Stephfon Green (from the Bronx), a quick, shifty back who put on a quite a show at P.S.U.'s spring game in April. The senior center A.Q. Shipley, a two-year starter, leads a line that returns four starters from a season ago. Stefen Wisniewski, whose father and uncle (the two-time all-American and N.F.L. standout Steve Wisniewski) both played for Paterno at Penn State, is a future star on the interior of the Nittany Lions' front. With the loss of two all-American linebackers, the strength of the defense shifts up front, where the Nittany Lions return one of the best linemen in the country in the junior end Maurice Evans, whose 12.5-sack 2007 season made him a finalist for the Ted Hendricks award (nation's top defensive end). His sack total was good for fourth on the P.S.U. single-season list, while his tackles for loss (21.5) placed him fifth in school annals. Without Connor or Lee at linebacker, Paterno and his staff will look to the senior Tyrell Sales to step up his play. Sales, a major contributor on special teams before taking on the starting role in 2007, had 50 tackles and 3 sacks a season ago. In the secondary, the senior safety Anthony Scirrotto has led the team in interceptions each of the last two seasons (6 in 2006, 3 in 2007), though he cannot let a few off-field distractions affect his stellar play. The junior cornerback A.J. Wallace is an electric athlete (a team-record 581 kickoff returns yards last fall) who is still learning the intricacies of the corner position; once he puts it together, he has the potential to be one of the best cover men in the Big Ten. Position battle to watch: Two hopefuls are vying for the starting job at quarterback. The senior Daryll Clark, who was the No. 2 behind Morelli, is currently pegged to start the season opener, though he will need to fend off the sophomore Pat Devlin. Clark brings terrific athleticism to the position; see his performance in the Alamo Bowl, where he ran for 50 yards and a touchdown in helping the Nittany Lions to the victory. Though the jury is still out on whether he can be an effective pocket passer, Clark's running ability will bring P.S.U. fans back to the days of Michael Robinson. His competition is Devlin, a legendary Pennsylvania high school quarterback with only one career pass attempt under his belt. Who takes the starting job will obviously rest on Paterno's personal preference: more mobile, or a more traditional pocket presence; more experienced, or the player with the higher ceiling. The Countdown would never pretend to tell Joe Paterno how to coach his football team, but a smart move would be, if Clark is the starter, to give Devlin a few series per game to get him more experience for the 2009 season, when he will be the unquestioned starter. It's not a bad thing to have two capable quarterbacks, especially when one is an underclassman. 2008 schedule: Aug. 30 Coastal Carolina Sept. 6 Oregon State Sept. 13 @ Syracuse Sept. 20 Temple Sept. 27 Illinois Oct. 4 @ Purdue Oct. 11 @ Wisconsin Oct. 18 Michigan Oct. 25 @ Ohio State Nov. 8 @ Iowa Nov. 15 Indiana Nov. 22 Michigan State Game(s) to watch: Keep an eye on a deadly October, which sends P.S.U. to Purdue, Wisconsin and Ohio State. The team will be in great shape if it can exit the month at 3-1. Season breakdown & prediction: The Nittany Lions will again be in the Big Ten hunt, but look unlikely to unseat the defending conference champion, Ohio State. However, Penn State is still talented enough to reach 10 wins; amazingly, this would make it only the third Nittany Lion team in a decade to reach double-digit victories. The positives for the 2008 Nittany Lions are a strong receiving corps and an experienced line on offense, and while the defense will miss their standout linebackers, I don't expect the unit to experience any meaningful decline in production. So where will Penn State land in the Big Ten? I have the Nittany Lions competing with Illinois and Wisconsin for the second spot being the Buckeyes, though Penn State's away date in Madison may end up being the difference for the Badgers. Over all, I see P.S.U. finishing 9-3, though the potential for great play – if the quarterback situation can resolve itself – could absolutely lead the Nittany Lions to double-digit wins and a shot at Ohio State for the Big Ten crown. With all the talk about Paterno's retirement and the program's rocky off-season, reaching 9 or 10 wins would be a welcome respite for a loyal, but hungry, fan base. Dream season: With an 11-1 regular season and a victory in Columbus, Penn State is able to claim its first outright Big Ten title since 1994. Nightmare season: The Nittany Lions lose to – wait for it – Syracuse in the Carrier Dome in non-conference play, sending their season into a tailspin. Though Paterno rallies his troops for a late season push for bowl eligibility, a 7-5 finish is not what fans expected for the 2008 season. Where Penn State fans congregate: Nittany Lion backers talk P.S.U. sports at Blue and White Illustrated and Fight on State. Other resources include the Web sites of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Altoona Mirror. Who is No. 17?: This team's coach, though under constant attack from both opponents and fans alike, is the active leader in career winning percentage among coaches with at least 10 years experience. Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:36:47 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/304433 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/304433 NCAA FOOTBALL TEAM PROFILES: From: THE QUAD. We will post the most complete team profiles for the next 21 NCAA Football Teams you'll find on the internet. We will be posting a nrw team every day or so for the next few weeks. Today's team is No. 21 South Florida. Go to link or 1st comment for a taste of things to come. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:23:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/303163 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/303163