ESPN College Football

I don't have to coach Maurice Clarett. Thank God.

Then again, I would never and could never coach a college team, period. My livelihood dependent on the performance, behavior, and whims of 18-22-year-olds? Uh, no thanks. Don't have the patience. I admire enormously those that do.

Jim Tressel is among the most patient, level-headed guys in the business. But now he has reached his breaking point. I won't belabor the latest chapter in Clarett's saga. I get the sense that fans outside Ohio are beyond sick of it. Even among Buckeye faithful, it's gotten real old. The time to write an obituary for Clarett's very brief career at Ohio State may be here soon. Will he really sit out the entire season, attend classes and stick around to suit up for the Scarlet and Grey next year? Seems like a longshot.

Then again, you never know what ol' Mo will do. We sure didn't think he'd be hanging around our GameDay set last Saturday evening as kickoff approached, signing autographs for tailgaters in his game jersey and a red and white Yankees' hat. We didn't think he'd hop up on the set and sit down for a chat, either. He seemed lost for ways to pass the time, since he had just been told he could not eat the pregame meal with his teammates.

Even though he was somehow outwardly smiling and giggling when most players would have been dying inside, he told us most of the right things: that he felt humbled by his ordeal ... that he'd learned that no one is bigger than the team ... that he has was not soured on college football ... that he had never contemplated challenging NFL rules about early draft entry.

Do you believe him? It's hard to. Clearly, the administration at Ohio State does not. Now Clarett has way too much time on his hands.

I'll miss him. College football was more interesting with him on the field. And we need interesting figures in a sport where most players are either camera-shy, dull or programmed to provide bland answers. Take it from someone who has interviewed thousands of players in 15 years covering college football.

Others I Miss
Speaking of lively personalities, this sport continues to lose them.

1. Steve Spurrier. It hasn't been as much fun since the ol' ballcoach up and left for the 'Skins. Ron Zook is something of a character, too. But nothing was more fun that showing up on a Friday in Gainesville, chewing the fat in Spurrier's office and then watching his coaching histrionics and innovative play calling from a spot right next to the Gators' bench.

2. Mike Price. He was affable, quotable and a guy you rooted for. It's a shame his legacy outside of Pullman, Washington will be the sad events on that golf outing.

3. Rick Neuheisel. Things were never dull with him in the house. He made an amazing number of enemies in the Seattle media. Those guys must be enjoying the far more predictable fare at the Huskies' press conferences these days.

4. Dick Tomey. The shades and the backwards ball cap. I loved Tomey' sideline demeanor, like he might run and head bump a player at any moment.

5. Ron McBride. Utah's former boss was refreshingly honest and always had a story or two to share.

6. Hal Mumme. I know he's coaching Southeastern Louisiana, but that's a little off GameDay's radar screen. Whatever you think of Mumme, his wacky offense and tactics were a fun watch.

7. R.C. Slocum. OK, he wasn't a rhetorical firebrand, but he was a classy symbol of southwest football.

I could go on, but you've probably had enough. Consider this, though: too soon, we won't have Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden, or Lou Holtz (see below) to lean on for sideline star power and the sport's visibility will suffer. Programs everywhere are being led by sound, solid football guys who go out of their way to avoid saying anything remotely entertaining or interesting. I watch a lot of coaches' press conferences via satellite. Most are about as scintillating as watching rain drops fall on the U.S. Open courts. (This week's gratuitous tennis reference to annoy Kirk and Lee.)

Premature Jubilation
Part of the fun of opening weekend is that afterwards, bold opinions overflow. Some fans start booking trips to the Sugar Bowl and others sink into deep depression, resigned to a miserable season. Relax. Regardless of what happens, it's just one game. You don't taste the appetizer in a 13-course meal and label the restaurant four stars.

Florida State: The Seminoles unleashed a chippy "us against the world" attitude on poor North Carolina, intent on proving doomsayers wrong. Great. That is the motivational ploy these days. But what does it prove to slap around North Carolina? The Heels may prove to be among the five worst teams in any BCS conference, just a notch above the Rutgers, Kansas, Indiana clubs. I fully expected a shutout from the 'Noles' defense, which I think can be excellent. I have to avoid ignoring my own counsel about rash, early statements, but the ACC looks like it may not run as deep as we thought. So the 'Noles should roll right into the Miami game at 5-0, when we will finally learn what they've got.

Nebraska: Headlines are proclaiming that the Blackshirts are "back." Back to what? 1994, '95, or '97? Or just back to respectability? After being shredded the last three games of 2002, I admit it was a great debut for Bo Pelini's crew. Last year at Okie State, NU stopped neither the run nor the pass. This time, they swarmed the Pokes after the opening TD drive. The challenge will be to maintain the same kind of passion, frenzy, and intensity each game, because this is not a group that can just overwhelm with athletic playmakers like the vintage NU groups did. This group wants to atone for the 40-7 undressing in Happy Valley and can't wait for Penn State. September 25th opponent Southern Miss looked awful at Cal. The jury is out on Mizzou, outplayed by Illinois. The defining game won't come until Big Red visits Burnt Orange November 1st. The NU passing game displayed no progress in the opener, produced just one TD and was booed just before halftime. Fans were not hoping for a 4-1 run/pass ratio. Long way to go on that side of the ball. Still, it's good to have NU and FSU looking like themselves for a change.

Colorado: The Buffs' cashed in a boatload of busted assignments for a handful of huge pass plays against Colorado State. It was a very sweet win and jumped CU into the Top 25, but I have not bought in yet. They need to beat UCLA to get on to my AP ballot. The defense gave up 500 yards and the ground game struggled. Gaining 80 percent of their yards via Joel Klatt's arm is not going to be a successful formula all season. CU wants to be more diverse, but will have to run much better to win a third straight Big 12 North. And stop somebody, too.

Watch Saturday For ...
Joe Paterno, Dennis Franchione, Lou Holtz, and David Cutcliffe better hope the ancient cliché about drastic improvement between openers and second games is proven out. Because they struggled to win against teams they were expected to handle with ease, I've got my eye on the following teams:

Penn State staggered around against Temple, then jumped in to the rankings? Wow, what I saw from the Lions didn't warrant inclusion in my AP ballot. This team has a long way to go, starting with the first meeting with Boston College in eleven years. That's the final tuneup before heading to Lincoln, for a fascinating rematch with the Blackshirts. It'll take time to retool the offense minus Larry and Bryant Johnson, but the Lions need huge improvement quickly.

Texas A&M hosts Utah, which is a pretty big jump up from opening victim Arkansas State. The Aggies were never forced to punt. That's good. But in the debut of Coach Fran's offense, they totaled 291 yards on just 49 plays and just first downs. That's a cause for concern. Utah is a sound defensive team. Then, it's off to Blacksburg to face Virginia Tech in an ESPN Thursday affair. The Ags need to get better, starting Saturday.

South Carolina hosts Virginia, and Lou Holtz is in rare form, auditioning for a Comedy Central time slot. Off a super sluggish win against lowly Louisiana-Lafayette, Holtz is publicly conceding defeat. He said something about his team's chances resembling those of the adult film star running for governor of California. Lou said his team might be better off staying home and catching up on sleep.

Funny stuff. Has Lou heard the news that last year's ACC offensive player of the year, Matt Schaub, is out with a shoulder injury, replaced by freshman Anthony Martinez? Still, Lou has placed Al Groh's guys in the same class as the Sooners, 'Canes, and Buckeyes! Vintage.

Ole Miss always struggles with Vanderbilt, so it's hardly time to panic. But the Rebels did not look like an SEC West contender Saturday in Music City. This week in the birthplace of the Blues (Memphis), Eli Manning faces a Tigers' defense that should be much improved. It's a potential upset trap if they don't take a step forward. In two games, Texas Tech visits, and (at least in the opener with SMU) the Red Raiders didn't seem to miss Kliff Kingsbury as much as everyone figured.

Tough spot
NC State had hoped for an open date to prep for a landmark visit to Ohio State next week. Didn't happen. The ACC slotted a conference opener with Wake Forest for this week. The Demon Deacons are not a bunch that can be overlooked (just ask BC). After a stat-amassing scrimmage against Western Carolina, the Wolfpack will have to be on guard Saturday.

Last Call At Halftime
I'm told that beer sales will be cut off after halftime at Fresno State. That's to (hopefully) cut down on the fans' nastiness surrounding the visit by Oregon State. The Bulldogs and Beavers have become ill-tempered rivals the last two years, starting with Fresno State's cheap shot on an Oregon State punt returner in a Bulldogs' win. Last year, Oregon State retaliated and also took Fresno behind the woodshed, 59-19. Now, the scene shifts back to the Bulldogs' rowdy stadium. It won't be dull, but let's hope the action stays on the field.

Ringside For Classic Bouts
I mentioned here last week that this is the tenth anniversary of GameDay's on campus shows. We have had the privilege of witnessing from the sidelines some of the most hyped and most exciting games of the last decade. I can't tell you how fortunate we feel. Here are my regular season favorites:

1993: No. 2 Notre Dame as a home field dog upended No. 1 FSU. The matchup, the setting, the November time frame, the visit by Heisman guy Charlie Ward all added up to the most anticipated regular season game that I still have ever witnessed.

1995: We saw three straight classics in the unsurpassed Alabama-Auburn rivalry. The '95 edition at Auburn was epic, climaxing in four straight Tide incompletions in the end zone, each one more agonizing for the Bama faithful, and each one producing a more deafening roar from the Tigers' crowd.

1997: Michigan 20, Ohio State 14. It was the first time I'd seen in person the rivalry I had most cherished growing up in the Midwest. The Wolverines secured a spot in the Rose Bowl and Charles Woodson won over Heisman voters with his unforgettable punt return down the sideline four feet from me.

1997: LSU 28, Florida 21. More memorable for the scene than the quality of play. The Tigers stunned the top-ranked Gators as 17-point underdogs -- another epic night on the Bayou.

1998: Miami 49, UCLA 45. The 'Canes were big underdogs, but slashed through the Bruins' porous defense and outscored Cade McNown in a classic that started an incredible sequence of dramatic events. Later that night, Kansas State blew a 15-point 4th quarter lead to Texas A&M. When Tennessee just held on to beat Mississippi State, the first BCS game was on: the Vols and the very lucky Seminoles.

1998: Earlier that year, UCLA had to survive a wild shootout with Oregon, 41-38 in overtime. It was vintage Pac-10 in the sun splashed Rose Bowl.

2000: Miami 27, FSU 24. It was Dorsey to Shockey for the game winner, spoiling an epic effort by Chris Weinke. The Orange Bowl was pure bedlam. When the BCS spit out its' final rankings, head-to-head meant nothing.

2000: Oklahoma 35, Texas A&M 31. This was a very good year, the best we've had for drama. In October, Oklahoma was on the ropes and Kyle Field was unhinged when Torrance Marshall changed the direction of the Sooners' national championship season with a pick returned for a touchdown. Great game.

2002: Ohio State 14, Michigan 9. It was pure tension in the old Horseshoe for three hours -- but then, they'd been tense about this game for about 12 months! Each yard was precious, each first down a relief. Then, when the final UM pass was picked off, there was a release of pent up emotions from 100,000 people that I have never before seen. It was a scene I will never forget. The postgame scene was basically under control, until a few security folks got overzealous.

There it is. It wasn't easy to limit, but thanks for tolerating the navigation of memory lane.

I hope you'll join us from Tuscaloosa this Saturday morning ... then, it's off to Ann Arbor if both Michigan and Notre Dame take care of business.

Chris Fowler is host of ESPN College GameDay