WVU's defensive backfield will be counted on as it has rarely been before during the 2009 season; defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel has promised more blitzing, putting his defensive backs in more one-on-one situations. The good news is, the defensive backfield in WVU's unusual 3-3-5 odd-stack defense is experienced. The starting cornerbacks will be junior Brandon Hogan on one side and redshirt sophomore Keith Tandy (seen hanging onto Hakeem Nicks's leg, above) on the other. In ...

Text messages are the new rave and athletes everywhere seem to be joining in on the fun, using their cell phones to post humorous updates to their twitter or facebook accounts. Fans all over the nation will be texting this year as well, and Notre Dame football games will offer some unique texts from their fans. Among the possible text messages you will receive (or send) this season while at a Notre Dame football game:   "Dude, how do ...

The strength of a chain is proportionate to it's weakest link. And so it goes with team sports. Stating the obvious, Washington State football sank to record setting depths last season in large part because the offense was grossly undermanned. That was then. This is now. Coach Paul Wulff isn't boasting of Pac-10 championships this season, but is quietly confident that his team is moving toward that goal. Coach Wulff did manage a smile on the sidelines one time last ...

Unlike some of the other conferences, the Big Ten does not vote on a preseason all-conference team. Why not? I am not sure if we want to know the answer. After all, the Big Ten is the same conference that fails to play a single football game after Thanksgiving. But, in order to honor the best the Big Ten has to offer, here is the 2009 preseason All-Big Ten team.   First Team Offense QB - Daryll Clark, Penn State RB - Evan ...

The Big East... you are "the weakest link." If being excluded from the USA Today/Coaches Poll Top 25 wasn't embarrassing enough for the beleaguered Big East conference, it got even worse on Saturday. The AP Top 25 released its preseason poll over the weekend with one glaring omission; no Big East. While the AP poll has no bearing on the BCS, it does at least provide a snapshot of national perception. A perception that can be very difficult ...

College football starts officially in two weeks, and for Oklahoma State University, it couldn't come any sooner.  The Cowboys are coming off their finest season in school history, winning nine games and finishing ranked in the top 25.  And as the Cowboys return to newly renovated Boone T. Pickens Stadium for practice, they bring with them a very bright spot light.  The Cowboys return with the most explosive offensive trio in the country: duel threat quarterback Zac Robinson, ...

Do coaches really mean all the things they say? One of the things coaches always say is, "This game will not make or break our season." The truth is, for the most part that just isn't so. In a match between two top 10 teams like the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Virginia Tech Hokies, the winner will reap all the rewards, and the loser will be left to pick up the proverbial pieces. This important game is ...

Excuse me, Rich Rodriguez—what did you just say?I'm sorry, really I am...but I must not have heard you right.It sounded like you just said your football team would play three quarterbacks next weekend against Western Michigan. Obviously, I misunderstood you.  Or maybe you misspoke.  Because there's no way th... Oh, I'm sorry.  Apparently that IS what you said.  Now are you sure that's what you MEANT to say?Because that's insane.  Crazy.  Ridiculous.  Unbelievable.   (Pardon me while I ...

As the Vol universe focused on who the starting QB will be in a battle of Senior Jonathan Crompton and Junior Nick Stephens, several Tennessee freshman made their case for playing time as the Vols prepared to begin the 2009 season on September 5th by scrimmaging this past Saturday in front of thousands of excited fans at Neyland Stadium. More on the quarterback battle in a moment as well as the drama surrounding freshman phenom Bryce Brown. Saturday’s ...

Reports abound about a fishing trip that Julio Jones and Mark Ingram were invited to last spring. No booster was involved. The rumor mill suggests that the person was an Auburn alumni. This is not confirmed and likely not true. The University is aware of the situation and did an internal investigation. The NCAA has been notified by the University. No one should jump to conclusions about anything until the reported facts are made available to the general public. According to ...