In March 2009, Yahoo! Sports broke a story that accused UConn of committing major violations in their pursuit of recruit Nate Miles.

The violations centered on the actions of agent wannabe Josh Nochimson, a former student-manager for the men's basketball team.

As a result of the Yahoo! story, the NCAA launched an investigation into the UConn men's basketball program and delivered a list of allegations.

They are summarized as follows:

• Between June 2005 and February 2009, members of the men's basketball staff violated the provisions of NCAA recruiting communication legislation by exchanging at least 160 impermissible telephone phone calls and sending at least 191 impermissible text messages to prospective student-athletes;
• During 2007 and 2008, Nochimson, representative of UConn's athletics interests and then certified professional basketball agent, provided a prospective student-athlete with impermissible benefits. Included was the surgery on Miles in December 2007 as I reported.
• On Feb. 29, 2008, Beau Archibald, director of men's basketball operations, provided an impermissible benefit to a prospective student-athlete;
• Archibald failed to deport himself in accordance with the honesty and integrity associated with the administration of intercollegiate athletics as required by NCAA legislation for providing false and misleading information to the NCAA enforcement staff and institution.
• Assistant Pat Sellars failed to deport himself in accordance with the honesty and integrity associated with the administration of intercollegiate athletics as required by NCAA legislation for providing false and misleading information to the NCAA enforcement staff and institution.
• In 2007 and 2008, members of UConn's men's basketball staff provided a total of 26 impermissible complimentary admissions or discretionary tickets to high school basketball coaches, individuals responsible for teaching or directing an activity in which a prospective student-athlete is involved, or a friend of a prospective student-athlete;
• The scope and nature of violations detailed in the first two allegations demonstrate between 2005 and 2009 that head coach Jim Calhoun failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance in the men's basketball program and failed to adequately monitor the program to ensure compliance with NCAA legislation regarding telephone calls, text messages, and benefits provided by a representative of the institution's athletic interests;
• Between 2005 and 2009, UConn failed to adequately monitor the conduct and administration of the men's basketball staff in that it failed to (a) review the men's basketball staff's telephone records to ensure the staff was not making impermissible telephone contacts with prospective men's basketball student-athletes; (b) monitor the conduct of Nochimson, which led to violations; and (c) review complimentary admissions and discretionary tickets provided by the men's basketball staff to ensure the staff was not violating entertainment restrictions.

Key in its absence from the list of NCAA allegations is the phrase "lack of institutional control."

As you probably know, the recruit in question, known by all to be Nate Miles, never played a game for the Huskies. He was expelled in October 2008 for violating a restraining order. This is good for two reasons. First, forfeiture of victories will not be one of the punishments. Second, the kid sounds like a creep and probably shouldn't have been in the school in the first place, let alone on the team.

The university is going to formally respond to the NCAA in writing on September 3, 2010. Basically, they are going to show the NCAA that they take the charges seriously, admit some wrongdoing, and self-impose some punishment that will likely appease the NCAA.

How are they likely to respond?

The first part of the response will obviously be to point out that both assistant coaches named in the allegations have been dismissed. They will also point out that they have hired a well-respected former head coach to, among other duties, be in charge of compliance.

Both of these actions go to the "we take this stuff seriously" part of their answer.

UConn will probably admit to wrongdoing on most of the charges and then present a suitable punishment.

There is no question that recruiting restrictions will be a part of the self-imposed penalty. Limitations on off-campus recruiting, loss of some phone call privileges, and possibly the loss of a scholarship or two are all likely at stake.

The university will also likely seek to place itself on a probationary period of one to three years.

The allegations made by the NCAA are certainly serious. Nochimson was clearly swimming in a cesspool and doing his former school no favors. Miles, however, had no business at UConn. That said, I would be hard pressed to envision any sanctions or penalties other than those I presented.

The loss of multiple scholarships is generally reserved for big-league misdeeds, like those involving Reggie Bush and USC. We're not talking about an active player being paid or a player receiving payment to attend the school (O.J. Mayo). We're not talking about a player with essentially a phony transcript getting into college (Eric Bledsoe, UK). We're also not talking about a pattern of behavior. 

The notion that there will be a postseason ban or the loss of multiple scholarships over two or more years is just silly. There will be penalties, the NCAA will accept UConn's response (naturally, they will take their time with that), and we'll move on.

The biggest hit from these allegations will remain the bad publicity UConn has received. Unless Jim Calhoun is able to somehow engineer a deep NCAA tournament run this season (winning cures many ills), the publicity sting will be felt for several years to come in the area of recruiting.

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My similar games model takes six years of data to rank each of the 120 FBS football teams.  A team is ranked based on how they fare against how they should fare.  For example, based on a team's rank and whether they are home or away will determine what they should win or lose by. 

Therefore, a team who wins but not by as much as they should or by allowing too many points can actually lose rank even though they won.  The same is true for a team that loses but does not lose by much or does not allow many points. 

Unfortunately, though, is my predictor does not take into account player suspensions or injuries.

So based on this ranking, I look at the most current two to three years of games and find the closest matching 15 games.  Then, I predict the outcome of the current game from these 15 games' outcomes.  I base my factors of matching on in or out of conference matchup, the rank of the home team vs the rank of the away team, neutral site game or not.

For 2009 I finished at 75% correct for win-loss prediction and a little over 52% for against the spread.  I am using this same algorithm to predict the games for 2010.  I am only able to predict the games for the current day since a future game might depend on the game today since I am using similar games model.

For Thursday. we have seven games to predict.  Let's get started:

1) Marshall at Ohio St (7:30 PM EST) Spead Ohio St -28.5

    Ohio St - 26   Marshall - 0   Ohio St does not cover the spread

2) Minnesota at Middle Tennessee St (7:30 PM EST) Spread Minn -3

    Middle TN St - 39   Minnesota - 20    Minnesota does not cover the spread (kinda concerned on this since star QB is suspended for Middle TN St

3) Southern Mississippi at South Carolina (7:30 PM EST) Spread South Carolina -14

    South Carolina - 22    Southern Miss - 0  South Carolina does cover the spread

4) Florida Atlantic at UAB (8:00 PM EST) Spread UAB -15

    UAB - 26    Florida Atlantic - 18    UAB does not cover the spread

5) Northern Illinois at Iowa State (8:00 PM EST) Spread Iowa St -3.5

    Iowa St - 18    Northern Illinois - 7    Iowa St does cover the spread

6) Pittsburgh at Utah (8:30 PM EST) Spread Utah -3

    Pittsburgh - 26    Utah - 11    Utah does not cover the spread

7) Southern Cal at Hawaii (11:00 PM EST) Spread USC -21

    Southern Cal - 23    Hawaii - 7    Souther Cal does not cover the spread

Come back tomorrow for Friday's picks and see how these picks fared.

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Now it's time to predict how it will play out on the gridiron.

Throughout the post-expansion process, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany repeated the Big Ten's desire to protect old rivalries in the new format, which worked better in some cases than in others.

Most notably, Iowa will no longer have a protected rivalry game with Wisconsin. Instead, the Hawkeyes will meet cross-divisional foe Purdue every season going forward.

Despite being separated, Ohio State and Michigan will continue to square off annually on the final game of the regular season.

That's the good news. 

The bad news is the possibility of a rematch the very next week in the Big Ten Conference Championship game.

With this new format set to begin in 2011, here's a very early look at how the teams might finish in the first season of divisional play.

Begin Slideshow

Miami. Florida State. ACC Championship.

While it has taken nearly seven years for Florida State and Miami to get their acts together simultaneously, it would appear that Commissioner John Swofford's dream-matchup of the Hurricanes and the Seminoles may finally come true—in his own North Carolina back yard no less.

In a season where expectations are remarkably high in both camps; both the 'Noles and 'Canes seem to have their teams well prepared for the upcoming gauntlets that each will face.

While Miami faces an early test against the 2nd Ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on September 11th, the Seminoles will be preparing for a similar daunting task against the 5th Ranked Oklahoma Sooners. Many fans may remember that both the Buckeyes and the Sooners defeated Miami and Florida State respectively, in the 2000 and 2002 BCS National Championships. Miami, still seeking revenge for the questionable "call" that cost them a repeat title, will have to travel to one of the most hostile settings in Columbus' Horseshoe Stadium. Meanwhile, the Seminoles must travel to Norman's Memorial Stadium, where the Bob Stoops' Sooners have not lost, in over two years.

The good news? By and large, unless considering overall wins, these games do not matter. Unless FSU and/or Miami are planning to play for a BCS title this season—which would be overly optimistic by any pundit's predictions, FSU and Miami fans can consider the early season juggernauts a good learning lesson, and a good opportunity to play at an elite level against formidable competition.

Miami will follow up their Oklahoma contest with games against #15 Pitt, and Atlantic Division Contender Clemson. On the other side of the coin, the Seminoles will follow up Oklahoma with a tough game against BYU, then a couple of ACC match-ups against Wake Forest and Coastal Division cellar-dweller Virginia.

After the high octane affair between Jacory Harris and Christian Ponder, all will still be moderately undetermined as both teams still face another five games or so against ACC foes.

All expectations should be moderately high that both teams conclude their early October contest with no more than two losses each. Florida State will then begin a long road of ACC contenders in a Marvin Austin-less North Carolina, as well as a Thursday night contest in Raleigh against Russell Wilson's Wolfpack. FSU draws dark-horse Boston College at home mid-October, and Clemson pays the 'Noles a visit in mid-November, before FSU makes it's final road trip to bottom feeder Maryland in College Park. With any luck, FSU should finish up the ACC slate with two ACC losses.

Likewise, Miami should handle Duke at home, and while North Carolina on the road may pose a speed bump, Miami should finally handle that hurdle after several tough fought contests over each of the last three seasons. Another trip to Virginia should be an easy "W," and a hope practice against Maryland will pose little challenge for the 'Canes. The two equalizers back-to-back come in Georgia Tech (away,) and then a home stand against Virginia Tech. If Miami has no more than two losses in ACC play coming into the Virginia Tech matchup, regardless of VT's record, look for Miami to win this contest, upset or not.

Should FSU and Miami both live up to expectations, with the winner of the first contest winning a few key upsets, the stage for the ACC Championship could very easily create National Championship implications come December. With the ACC's dismal record in BCS Bowls, this contest should shape the ACC picture for the rest of the season.

Look for Christian Ponder and the Seminoles Offense to create waves in 2010, while Miami forces it's way through a much tougher ACC Coastal Division.

If this happens, you can almost assuredly bet that the College Football World will be watching on December 4th.

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9/2-   Ohio St.  v. Marshall- 7:30 P.M., Big Ten Network

9/11-  Ohio St.  v. Miami (FL)- 3:40 P.M. , ESPN

9/18-  Ohio St. v. Ohio- 12:00 P.M. , Big Ten Network

9/25-  Ohio St. v. Eastern Michigan- TBD

10/2-  Ohio St. @ Illinois- TBD

10/9-  Ohio St. v. Indiana- TBD

10/16- Ohio St.@ Wisconsin 7:00 PM ET ESPN/ ESPN 2

10/23- Ohio St. vs Purdue 12:00 PM ET 

10/30- Ohio St. @ Minnesota 8:00 PM ET ESPN/ ESPN 2/ ABC

11/13- Ohio St. v. Penn St. - TBD 

11/20 - Ohio St. @ Iowa- TBD 

11/27 Ohio St. V. Michigan- TBD 

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There was an additional small reward over the summer with the release of a movie that center staged Alabama's Football program and their new favorite citizen, Nick Saban.

But if you paid any attention to the ESPN series that put Coach Saban front and center of the educational process that takes place on the practice field, then you know that despite their young age, the talented players on defense for Alabama will be taught what they need to succeed.

Plain and simple, the time is ready to get it on!

Attrition occurs every year during the fall camp. New talent percolates to the forefront and players who were patient, worked hard as a scout team player, ate the right things, and camped in the weight room during the offseason have seen the extra effort pay off.

For players like DeQuan Menzie, Damien Square, Dont'a Hightower, and a few others coming off critical injuries, it's time to enjoy the success of rehabilitation.

It's time to feel the peacefulness that comes from enduring the extremes on the emotional roller coaster. Highs and lows are put aside for the even tempo of a life back to normal and the confidence that comes from knowing that your coach has listed you as a starter.

No real surprises in the starting lineup and depth chart for the Crimson Tide.

What is amazing is that at nearly every position, this coaching staff has developed a depth of talent that reaches three or four men at every position. This is the first year in two decades that any coach can claim that type of success with the roster.

And what Saban said about "talent," he was quick to remind others of the meaning. He stated: "Talent is what you are capable of doing, your motivation is what you do (compels you to take action), and your attitude reflects how you do it."

He went on to say, "Regardless of talent, that's just part of the equation, what a persons motivation and commitment is, and what their attitude is at the time the demands are made on them will determine more how they perform on a consistent basis."

He added: "And that won't be determined by one game. It's a long season, a tough mountain to climb, and that is what we have to look forward to in this season."

Mark Ingram and Wesley Neighbors are out for this season opener. There is still no decision on the role for Marcel Dareus in the opener, but plan B is already being put into place if there is no answer by game time.

The NCAA is stalled on their decision for Marcel Dareus and many other players awaiting their review and outcome of the "agent-gate" episode that occurred in South Florida last summer. Not just Dareus, but many other athletes around the Southeast and East Coast await the outcome of that investigation.

Regarding players like Mark Ingram, who show exemplary character and integrity, Saban was quick to say, "Mark had a great camp, and because of his character, he has set out a great example for our younger players to observe in terms of his work ethic, his demeanor and how he manages his situations, striving to be better."

Saban added, "What's really unfortunate is that Mark, near the end of camp, was playing better than he had played all of last year and I am sure that he will get back to that level of competition and performance when his recovery is complete and we get him back on the field."

On the impact for coaches, Saban said of Ingram, "It sure makes it a whole lot easier when you have good players that are good guys. It makes a big difference for the team."

DeQuan Menzie is not in the type of condition that others are on the team because of the way he had to participate in rehabilitation during the spring and fall.

He was not able to run freely until the last two or three week. Saban added, "He is a very good special teams player but we won't play him on special team because of his current conditioning. We expect to see progress as the season moves forward."

On William Valachos, Saban is impressed with his intelligence and his willingness to compete on every play.

Saban commented, "He is smart, He is strong and plays with really good leverage. He makes all the line calls, prepares for his assignments every week, he is confident and makes good adjustments."

Saban couldn't say enough, "He missed time in the spring because of his foot injury and did not skip a beat when he came back. His knowledge, strength, his power, in all those areas, he has gotten a little bit better. You are talking about a guy who has pride in performance, he tries to do everything he does the right way."

"When you talk about talent motivation and attitude, there is no question about this guy's motivation and attitude and how he goes about doing what he does and how he gets the result that he gets."

On a follow up question from the media on how he influences the line, Saban went on to talk of Valachos but included accolades for Barrett Jones, "William and Barrett can pull from a good fund of game knowledge and experience. They make it a lot easier for the other guys to play."

Saban went on to recognize their contributions to the offensive line play, "I know that Barrett makes it easier for the right tackle and William makes it a lot better for the entire left side of our line. When it's a difficult preparation because you don't know what you're gonna see (in the case of San Jose State) these guys can read the defenses and recognize those thing and make game time adjustments. That is when it's probably most important."

In the last press conference of the year, Saban seemed confident in his team.

It's a long way 'til the first week in December, but his team is prepared and they are ready to take the field. Mark Ingram and Wes Neighbors will be on the sidelines supporting their teammates.

It's leadership like that, says Saban, that will make a difference for this team during the next 14 weeks.

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The trip is being heralded as a homecoming for the Beavers' two stars, Heisman candidate RB Jacquizz Rodgers and his older brother WR James Rodgers.

The Rodgers brothers combined for over 1,700 yards rushing and over 1,500 yards receiving last season as the Beavers came up just short in their campaign for a Rose Bowl berth.

The Rodgers brothers face what may turn out to be their most significant test of the year as they face the Horned Frogs defense that finished the last two seasons as the top defense in the country.

Moreover, Oregon State enters this contest with an inexperienced quarterback.

Jacquizz Rodgers burst into the national scene with a memorable and dominating performance against USC in 2008, where he devastated one of the top defenses in the country on the way to one of the best upsets of that season. Since then, he has continued to put up impressive numbers and should do so again this season.

But can he do it against TCU?

Looking back at last season, Oregon State struggled against the better run defenses it faced. Excluding the opener against FCS Portland State, the Beavers ran below their opponents' average allowed rush yards in seven of 12 contests.

In their four contests against top-30 run defenses, the Beavers averaged a paltry 91.25 yards per game and lost three of the four contests.

TCU finished 2009 with the No. 1 total defense, the No. 3 run defense, and the No. 6 pass defense. TCU dominated common opponents UNLV and BYU.

While TCU lost stars DE Jerry Hughes and LB Daryl Washington from its defensive front, TCU had only one returning starter among the front six in 2009 and still managed to hold opponents to 80 yards per game rushing.  

TCU's pass defense should continue to be impressive and should be more than enough to control Oregon State's young quarterback.

TCU should be able to keep Oregon State to under 15 points.

On offense, TCU returns the No. 5 running attack in the country combined with the veteran leadership of QB Andy Dalton. TCU's powerful ground assault eats up clock time and opens up TCU's opportunistic passing attack.

Can Oregon State Pull an Upset?

We can be assured Beavers coach Mike Riley has been watching the tape of the Fiesta Bowl repeatedly in order to look for clues about stopping TCU. Boise State took TCU out of its game plan and stopped the TCU offense. 

TCU, while still in the game until the final interception, never found its groove on offense and was forced by Boise State to rely on its passing game.

In order for Oregon State to repeat Boise's success, it must spread confusion on defense and offense. With the speed of the Rodgers brothers, trick plays could be effective. On defense, stopping the TCU run attack will give the Beavers a chance to stay in the game.

Ultimately, if TCU can unleash its impressive array of running backs and stop the Rodgers brothers, this game will be as one-sided as the current Vegas line. But Riley does well as an underdog, so do not be surprised if the game is closer than the Vegas line.

TCU 31, Oregon State 18

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Depending on injuries, luck and a bounce or two here or there, any one of seven teams could conceivably win the conference in 2010.

Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Arizona, California, Stanford and even a depleted USC team will contend for the league's BCS bowl bid. Four of these teams will be led by star quarterbacks.

Washington's Jake Locker has been touted as a potential No. 1 NFL draft pick for two years now. Stanford's Andrew Luck, only a sophomore, is a legitimate Heisman candidate and many think he'll continue to flourish under popular coach Jim Harbaugh despite the loss of Toby Gerhart.

EXTRA: College Football Preview Section

Golden Boy Matt Barkley leads the post-Pete Carroll era at Southern Cal. Outside of his many physical tools, word out of Troy has it that Barkley, also just a sophomore, has grown into a true team leader for new coach Lane Kiffin.

The least talked-about of the bunch is Arizona's Nick Foles, perhaps because his Wildcats are the least likely of these seven teams to win the conference. But he leads an offense that returns eight starters from a unit that scored 27 points per game a year ago. Look for even more offense from Arizona, but the defense is equally inexperienced, so the Wildcats will give up plenty of points as well.

The funny thing is that a team with a huge question mark at quarterback is who most, including this site, are picking to win the league. Despite the dismissal of star signal caller Jeremiah Masoli, the Oregon Ducks look to be the team to beat. Nine offensive starters return, including Heisman candidate LaMichael James in the backfield. Eight regulars are back on defense, so improvement is expected on that side of the ball.

Oregon State will be a factor for one reason—coach Mike Riley, who consistently gets more out of his players than most coaches do. The Beavers introduce new quarterback Ryan Katz, but with the Rodgers brothers back at the skill positions and an experienced offensive line points should be available in bunches in Corvallis. OSU brings back seven starters from an average defense. Does anyone play defense in the PAC 10? The Beavers will need to because they play both non-AQ darlings Boise State and TCU in September.

Perhaps this preview would be more informative by just rolling out the teams that won't contend. UCLA hasn't been relevant in a while, Arizona State has disappeared and Washington State, well, come on now.

Predicted Order Of Finish:

Oregon
USC
Oregon State
Washington
Arizona
Stanford
California
UCLA
Arizona State
Washington State

Interesting Storylines: Will the probation-saddled Trojans play with a chip on their shoulders like everyone is expecting? With such parity in the league, will 6-3 be good enough to win it? Supporting casts are great, but which of the great quarterbacks is best equipped to carry a team?

One Game You Can't Miss: Oregon at USC, Oct. 30

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Dennis Dodd said that the conference has quickly become Florida, Alabama and the 10 dwarfs.  This isn't far from the truth.  This year could shake things up very quickly. 

Each team is followed by the record, Associated Press ranking, and last weeks power ranking, which will be N/A this week, for obvious reasons.

1.  Alabama (0-0, AP #1, LW N/A)

Alabama is the king until proved otherwise.  Mark Ingram has a knee injury, but Trent Richardson may be even better then Ingram. 

If the defense can maintain its dominance with nine new starters, then this team could roll to Atlanta.

2.  Florida (0-0, AP #4, LW N/A)

Florida has a chance to be a very explosive team.  If John Brantley is the quarterback that most people think that he is, he could (dare I say it) make the team an even better passing team. 

This is the team with the largest upside.  They are young, fired up, and prepped for a run. 

3.  Auburn (0-0, AP #22. LW N/A)

Auburn is another team on the rise.  Gene Chizik is an excellent coach, and there is a ton of offensive potential here.  Look for Auburn to seriously challenge Alabama this year.

Auburn is most like the dwarf "Sleepy".  Once this sleeping giant wakes up, there may be a new west champion.

4.  South Carolina (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

Yes, a very biased pick.  So sue me.  However, South Carolina returns most of their starting lineup from a talented (and underachieving) team.  A highly motivated team, South Carolina hopes to make up for its awful showing in the "Pizza Bowl".

South Carolina's dwarf would be "Grumpy".  Spurrier is an angry, angry man right now due to its last bow game, and this team has the look of a team on a mission.  Hopefully, that fire can last. 

5.  Arkansas (0-0, AP #17, LW N/A)

Ryan Mallet has the look of an NFL quarterback.  So did Javon Snead of Ole Miss.  Honestly, based on sheer talent, Arkansas could be third or fourth on this list. 

I just have a bad feeling about this year for them.  They have talent.  Are they too reliant on the passing game?  Defensively, there are many holes. 

Arkansas's dwarf?  I would go with "Bashful".  It seems like every time they are poised for a breakthrough, they choke.  Its like they shy away from the spotlight.  This could be the year though.

6.  Georgia (0-0, AP #23, LW N/A)

Georgia is relying on a freshman quarterback.  Usually a recipe for disaster in the SEC.  However, Aaron Murray could be different.  Georgia's defense, which was horrible last year, could show major improvement. 

Week two against South Carolina will decide who gets second in the east, with a chance to dethrone Florida.

"Happy" seems like a good dwarf fit.  The overall feeling for Georgia fans is that they are young enough and talented enough to rise back to the top.  The early season hype of UGA being ranked is enough for this team to feel good coming into the season.

7.  LSU (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

This year could mean more transition for LSU, who has disappointed as of late.  Gone is the explosive playmaker Brandon LaFell, an early candidate for starting receiver for the Carolina Panthers.

Defensively, LSU was stout.  However, they must improve on the 110th ranked offense.  The quarterback needs to continue growing after a decent year. 

This team's history, pride, and ability lead me to say that this team is comparable to "Doc".  However, they have also relied a bit on the status quo.  Hopefully, Les Miles opens up the offense. 

8.  Kentucky (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

There are plenty of playmakers on offense for this team.  Derrick Locke has the look of a star, and Mike Hartline could be very good this year. 

Defensively, the team is still weak, and no one is sure if Joker Phillips can step into the highly regarded Rich Brook's shoes. 

I have to go with "Sneezy", in terms of Kentucky's "dwarfdom".  It seems like every once in a while, like a violent sneeze, they get really good.  Then, suddenly, they go back to being average. 

Yep.  That's the best I can do.  

9.  Tennessee (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

Tennessee is up for a really tough year.  With player drama (yes, more so even then South Carolina and Alabama) and strange "goings ons" (Bryce Brown's issues, open letter to fans asking them to bear with them, oh, and Lane Kiffin's drama) it almost makes everyone else feel sorry for them.

New coach Derek Dooley has the potential to be a good coach.  Tennessee can always recruit well.  Once the stink from the pain train that is Lane Kiffin is gone, this program will be back on the map.  This year, look for a struggle. 

Sorry Tennessee fans... I have to go with "Dopey" here.  Why?  Well, because the school fell for the Kiffin thing last year. 

Until they rebuild, that make look like the worst coaching hire of all time... not based on the field product, but the damage done to the actual program. 

10.  Ole Miss (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

I am out of dwarfs.  Oh well. 

Ole Miss would be higher on this list if its criminal mastermind new quarterback could play this year.  However, he is still a year away.

They didn't prepare particularly well for the post-Javon Snead era... they didn't prepare well for the during Javon Snead era either.  This team will jump up the rankings once Jeremiah Masoli arrives.  Until then, this will only be the best team in Mississippi. 

Wait, that distinction belongs to Southern Miss.  Sorry. 

This team in like the evil dwarf in Narnia.  No one likes Houston Nutt, and no one likes Jeremiah Masoli.  Ginarrbrik, according to Google. 

11.  Vanderbilt (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

Wait... what?  Vanderbilt isn't the worst team in the SEC? No.  They have had a heartbreaking off season, losing a beloved coach in Bobby Johnson.  He made Vanderbilt relevant.

Not only do they have a bit of talent on the team, but they also have great academics. 

This team is a bit like "Frodo Baggins" from Lord of the Rings.  Tough to hate, easy to root for.  Not a particularly tough fighter, but scrappy.

Yes, I know he's not a dwarf.

12.  Mississippi State (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

Mississippi State gets less press then Vanderbilt.  They also have less ability.  Given the fact that the Western Conference is brutal this year, and their schedule is BRUTAL.  Only Memphis, Alcorn State, and UAB are games where they should be favored.

Alcorn State is the only "gimmie". 

With Georgia and Houston on the schedule this year, plus the rest of the west, look for a 2-3 win season. One of my good friends is a Mississippi State fan, and even he agrees. 

Mississippi State is Verne Troyer. 

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Some wait patiently, looking up into the sky with great anticipation, as others restlessly pace the turf wondering frantically about what lies ahead.   

Affiliates of this prestigious band can be found all over the globe; coming together from ordinary and extraordinary places such as Paducah, Conroe, New Waverly, Tokyo, Ballinger, Plano, Burnet, Santa Fe, Blackwell, London, Dayton, Madrid, and Aubrey.

They come from an endless variety of cultures, lifestyles, income levels, and faiths, but are bound together closely by a brand of intense fanaticism intertwined with hope and love. 

This is a devotion that can only be drawn from a secret, well-located, deep in the heart of God’s country—entrenched within the hidden recesses of a place known as Lubbock, Texas.

Yes, it is the Red Raider Nation that lies in waiting, with the great anticipation that comes with the dawn of a new football season. 

As the summer sun warms to an alarming pitch, this race of football aficionados prepare themselves for yet another campaign upon the gridiron. 

Some very logically and realistically analyze the upcoming program of worthy opponents and predict probable victories and defeats, while others fantasize longingly of the glorious triumphs that will surely, finally be theirs at the close of another autumn. 

Regardless of any preconceived notions or of the individual approach; as the glaring summer sun begins to fade and gives way to the foliage and crisp mornings of fall, all constituents of the Red Raider Nation begin to feel the magic associated with the triumphant return of Texas Tech Red Raider Football.

Drawing on a special, secret part of our hearts, we can feel the brisk Lubbock wind in our faces as we happily traverse across our magnificent campus. Yes, as we trod happily towards our ultimate goal, the sound of the Goin’ Band from Raiderland becomes clearer and louder with each step.

We stride pass the old Tech Bookstore, the 1970’s architecture of the library, the U.C. (now the Student Union), the gracefully towered administration building and Holden Hall. Suddenly names like Horn, Murdough, Sneed, Bledsoe, Chitwood, and Hulen come forth from our hearts and find their way to be sung upon our wind whipped lips.

Wait my friend...Hark! There it is in our sights, our prize awaits us, the backside of the Double T scoreboard. Yes, we have arrived at that sacred site of football glory, that gridiron Mecca that calls us home from around the globe.  

Undeniably, even if we can reach this destination only in a mental rather than physical sense, we are at Clifford B. and Audrey Jones Stadium, Jones SBC Stadium, Jones AT&T Stadium—The Jones.

Yes, let them laugh in Austin, in College Station, in Norman and in Stillwater. Let them have a good chuckle as they all anticipate their match up with Texas Tech. Let them prematurely and in preseason count it as a win, and let the flock of national and local sports writers pick us, yet once again, to finish fifth in the Big 12 South. 

But also, let our rivals secretly lose sleep in the week before their showdown with the Red Raiders in Lubbock, or at any venue for that matter. 

Let them subconsciously fret about playing “that little school from Lubbock,” let them hope that for them it is fast and painless, that defeat comes quickly and in the night. Indeed, let them get their excuses ready early this year for why they couldn’t beat a school with less access to state funds, and less support from a faltering press core. 

Yes, my dear friends, my Red Raider compatriots, let them laugh nervously when we bring up the game at a cocktail party, baby shower, office coffee room, or casual chat on an airplane, and please prepare them to mention those so called demons in black and white stripes who “gave us the game” once again. 

Let us call on one another, in the spirit of our shared passion, oh fellow members of the great Red Raider Nation, to commit this year and in the years ahead of us to expand our dream.

Inflating our fantasy beyond that of a few upsets, a few close games with prestigious football teams, yes, let us take the next progressive step and raise our expectations to a new level.

Let us dream of a glorious Big 12 South title with an opportunity to play for the Conference Championship. And let us build on our postseason successes of the past and dream of bigger and better bowl encounters that will eventually give us the opportunity to compete for a national title. 

Yes, I did say, n-a-t-i-o-n-a-l  t-i-t-l-e, and in doing so I am completely prepared to ignore those sports “experts” who deem my unstable mental condition to be caused by visiting the “Fantasyland” section at Disneyland one too many times.

For, I am not a crack smoker, a tainted Kool Aid drinker, or a delusional cerebrally challenged fool; I am a Red Raider football fanatic.

Let this superior vision, these increased expectations, not be limited to only our football team; but let it bleed over to our athletic programs on the whole, and finally to our entire great University. 

For it is we, the alumni, the students, the faculty, the fan base, the entire Tech community; hence, the Red Raider Nation who has the responsibility of deciding ultimately just what kind of University we will be.

The time has come, oh great Red Raider Nation, to prepare for the awakening associated with another stoic season of collegiate football. 

Let us prepare our scarlet and black war paint, let us fire up the deep fat fryer and defrost the chicken wings, let us fetch our Red Raider gear from the closet.

Indeed, let us arm ourselves with pride, dignity, and spirit, let us gird our loins with fair play, competitiveness, sportsmanship, and, above all. let us raise our expectations as we prepare to bravely approach the season that awaits us with the rising of the magnificent west Texas sun.

Open the trophy case, call forth the Saddle Tramps, and make ready the Victory Bell! This may finally be the season we have waited a lifetime for.

Come hither, let us walk into the daylight together, arm in arm; awaken, awaken oh Red Raider Nation!

“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

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