Folks, a quick programming note:
Starting next week, there will be a new schedule 'round these parts, with the NFL and college seasons kicking into gear.
We wanted to change things up to better accommodate the football schedules; we couldn't very well have a complete recap show on Monday morning while the NFL games were just finished.
This is a new feature at the Pigskin Podcast: Each week, we'll post on Friday afternoon what we're looking forward to each weekend. Enjoy!
(No lines on games featuring Football Bowl Subdivision -- or 1-AA -- schools)
SATURDAY
Bowling Green (+13) at Pitt, noon: Bowling Green just suspended three players for improper use of a credit card, and Pitt boasts a hell of a running back, LeSean McCoy. The Falcons have high hopes for this season, but this might be a bloodbath.
By Andy Barch
ABarch@pigskinpodcast.com
In my world, Christmas takes a back seat to summer's final days and the beginning of fall. Not unlike many other fans, I begin scratching the itch a few weeks after the NFL Draft by purchasing fantasy football, college football and NFL preview magazines.
When you're in my line of work - minor-league baseball -- you need to kill time when you're spending a countless amount of hours on the bus or in hotel lobbies. Gearing up for the football season is, in a way, how to get through baseball season.
By Nick Seuberling
Seubs@pigskinpodcast.com
If you've ever seen the movie "Dumb and Dumber," there's a scene when Lloyd, played by Jim Carrey, gets in a fight with Harry, played by Jeff Daniels. In a quest destined for Aspen, Colo., Lloyd drives the wrong way, instead ending up in Nebraska.
In anger and frustration, Harry decides to walk away from their Sheep Dog van and leave Lloyd. The next scene cuts to Harry walking down a barren road in Nebraska. In the background Lloyd comes zooming in on a dinky moped.
By Brian George
BGeorge@pigskinpodcast.com
Over the past few weeks, I've started a rundown of the three greatest players from each team in each of the six BCS conferences, based primarily on the players' accomplishments in college.
(Quick archive: Big Ten Part 1; Big Ten Part II)
Feel free to agree or disagree by sending us an email. We may even use your email and response on an upcoming show! We'll continue this week with Part 1 of the ACC.
By Erik Bell
EBell@pigskinpodcast.com
Ladies and gentlemen, it's finally time for football.
In light of the college and pro seasons beginning, I'll take a look at the five most important people for the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cleveland Browns to have successful seasons.
Every Monday afternoon during the college football season, we'll release our weekly poll; this is the first, our preseason edition.
The guys pored over offseason magazines, practice reports and analyzed the other major polls in making their decisions.
Check in every Monday afternoon for the PigskinPodcast.com Top 25!
Coming tomorrow: Do preseason games matter?
Coming next week: We unveil our picks for the college football season.
By Joel Hammond
JHammond@pigskinpodcast.com
I live in Cleveland, so while I live and cry by the Green Bay Packers, I'm just as -- if not more -- familiar with the Browns.
So it was with great calm that I wrote this for my work blog on Wednesday:
"Repeat after me: It's PRESEASON.
It's preseason.
It's preseason."
By Andy Barch
ABarch@pigskinpodcast.com
It's looking more and more like it could be a long season for football fans in the desert.
A while ago, I wrote about the Cardinals and how they need to understand that while they want to transition into a ball-control offense, they just don't have the personnel to do it. Anquan Boldin apparently sees the writing on the wall, and wants out.
By Brian George
BGeorge@pigskinpodcast.com
In case you missed the first installment, last week I began running down a list of each of the six BCS conferences, along with Notre Dame, identifying the three greatest players in that school's history. The decisions were based upon the player's accomplishments primarily in college.
Feel free to agree or disagree by sending us an email. We may even use your email and response on an upcoming show! We'll continue this week with Part 2 of the Big 10.
Coming tomorrow: Nick, Joel and Erik pick their most indispensable NFL players, answer some college NFL e-mail and debate whether preseason polls should be eliminated. Be sure to tune in!
By Erik Bell
EBell@pigskinpodcast.com
A lot of college football pundits and fans are already counting out the Georgia Bulldogs, the No. 1 team in the first editions of both the USA Today and AP polls. No team could navigate that schedule they say, no matter how much talent the Bulldogs appear to have.
Count me in that group.
By Joel Hammond
JHammond@pigskinpodcast.com
In case you missed it, former Kent State star and current Cleveland special teams whiz Joshua Cribbs seems to be feeling a little unwanted these days. The Chicago Bears' Devin Hester, who might just be a small step ahead of Cribbs when it comes to special teams mastery, got a new megadeal two weeks ago: four years, at least $30 million with a potential for $40 million.
By Andy Barch
ABarch@pigskinpodcast.com
A while ago, I told you why two of last year's last-place teams will improve and climb out of the cellar this season. Now, the tables have turned and I will give you two teams that enjoyed first-place finishes in 2007 that will lose their top spots this year.
As I mentioned in my other article, the parity in the NFL is what makes it so great, or not so great for the teams I'm going to mention.
By Brian George
BGeorge@pigskinpodcast.com
Over the next few weeks, I'll be running through each team in the six BCS conferences, along with Notre Dame, identifying the three greatest players are in that school's history. My decisions were based upon the player's accomplishments primarily on the college gridiron.
Feel free to agree or disagree by sending us an e-mail. We may even use your e-mail and response on an upcoming show! We'll begin this week with Part 1of the Big 10.
By Erik Bell
EBell@pigskinpodcast.com
Brett Favre once shot a German plane down by yelling, "Bang!"
The chief export of Brett Favre is pain.
Brett Favre doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
So maybe Brett Favre isn't quite on Chuck Norris' level yet, but he's getting there, according to fans and media.
By Joel Hammond
JHammond@pigskinpodcast.com
We've talked at length about the Southeastern Conference and the Big XII as being far and away the two best conferences in college football.
We've asked guests Phil Steele and Seth Jungman about the issue, and both agreed that the Big XII, with the emergence of Missouri, Kansas and this year's much-prophesized Texas Tech breakthrough, is most definitely catching the SEC.
By Nick Seuberling
Seubs@pigskinpodcast.com
For those of you who are familiar with the Charlie Brown cartoon, you all know the football story. Lucy would try to convince Charlie to kick the football from her hold and every time Charlie would refuse adamantly. Finally, Lucy would crack Charlie and he would run up to the ball at a full sprint. Just as he's about to kick the ball, Lucy pulls it away and starts laughing hysterically while Charlie somersaults through the air.
If you don't know his story, 2nd Lt. Caleb Campbell was a four-year starter for the Army Black Knights. He was a very talented safety and many scouts projected him as a late-round pick. In an attempt to help bolster a good public image and recruiting base, the Army decided to allow athletes who are drafted to go pro right after college instead of reporting to active duty.
Next week, our shows will focus on fantasy football, a perfect time to introduce our fan interaction segment. In that segment, we'll answer questions from listeners and readers, so be sure to get them in! You can either e-mail us feedback by clicking here or e-mail any of the guys.
By Andy Barch
ABarch@pigskinpodcast.com
A while ago, Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports wrote an interesting article on Al Davis and his recent offseason moves, which have left a lot of us wondering just how much longer Davis can run Raider Nation. In the article, sources from other teams commented on Davis' admission that maybe he needs to bring in some help to guide this team in a different direction.
If you're a fan of Raider Nation with even a small hint of realism, then you have to be saying, "it's about time." If you're a fan of the Broncos, Chiefs or Chargers, you have to be saying to yourself, "no, please stay, you have a few good years left!" No way in the world can you be satisfied as a Raider fan. This team has been flat out EMBARASSING since their appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII.
By Erik Bell
EBell@pigskinpodcast.com
The first edition of the USA Today poll was released last week, with the Georgia Bulldogs at No. 1 (we talked about it here). It certainly wasn't front-page news in most newspapers across the country, nor was it a top story on SportsCenter or sportscasts across the country, what with Joe Mon ... I mean Johnny Unit ... I mean Brett Favre talking about coming back.
So why am I devoting a full blog to the college football polls? Because they're more proof that college football's postseason system is a bloody mess. While college basketball polls have no bearing on who gets invited to the NCAA tournament, college football polls have a direct effect on which two teams meet in the national championship game. The fact that only two teams are involved is another topic for another expletive-laden blog entry. Believe me, it's coming in December.
Coming tomorrow: We chat with five college football experts from across the country to get a better sense of which rivalry is tops in the sport; Nick, Erik and Joel also debate which is the NFL's better conference.
Be sure to tune in! Later today, we'll have a jam-packed dropback for you.
By Brian George
BGeorge@pigskinpodcast.com
Despite what you might think, the NFL season is officially here with Hall of Fame ceremonies in Canton, Ohio, last weekend and the annual Hall of Fame Game, the first exhibition game, played Sunday night at Fawcett Stadium. The weekend had very much of a Washington Redskins flavor not only with the 'Skins and Colts kicking off the '08 NFL preseason but with Redskins legends Darrell Green and Art Monk -- the latter finally getting his due -- enshrined in Canton.
Coming next week: We'll talk Packers and also delve back into the top rivalries in college football!
By Joel Hammond
JHammond@pigskinpodcast.com
We're always talking about sure things. I think any NFL football fan, blogger, writer, mom, girlfriend or anyone else tangentially tied to the sport knows that Dallas, Green Bay, Seattle, New England, Indianapolis, San Diego and Pittsburgh are near shoo-ins for the playoffs.
Yes, there are always surprises that upset that natural pecking order, but I don't see it happening next year.
Instead, I wanted to talk about some teams that don't hear their names a lot -- at least for on-field success -- who might this season.
