For years, it has become common in college football for a quarterback to lead his school to double-digit win seasons, a BCS bowl victory and gaudy statistics – only to either be completely ignored by NFL teams come draft time, or to be selected late and eventually spend a career stylishly holding a clipboard.

So how does that thought process translate to some of the best draft-eligible college quarterbacks in college football today?

In particular, let’s say for the Top 25 Draft-Eligible Quarterbacks according to Phil Steele – who if you haven’t read him, is the best in the business when it comes to preseason college football rankings and projections.

Will each of these players be remembered for their time as an NFL quarterback, or instead as the “Big Man On Campus”?

Certainly, with examples like Ryan Leaf at the top of an NFL Draft, or Tom Brady near the bottom of one – it can be an inexact science predicting QB success – but let’s give it a shot anyway:

Top 25 Draft-Eligible QB’s in College Football: Future NFL Star or Just BMOC?

25. Kevin Prince – UCLA – 6-2 229

Prince has the size and frame as a pro-style quarterback, but has been injury prone throughout his career with the Bruins thus far – and hasn’t impressed with his numbers, either.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

24. Adam Weber – Minnesota – 6-3 221

Sure, he’s 6’3” and has pocket presence, but with more picks than touchdowns in ’09, one has to wonder how much it was Eric Decker (pre-injury) saving him more than anything else.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

23. Scott Tolzien – Wisconsin – 6-3 208

Tolzien is often overlooked with John Clay also in the Wisconsin backfield.  Still, he struggled against big boys Iowa and Ohio State, so he could easily be compared to Penn State’s Daryll Clark, who had the same struggles – and wasn’t drafted.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

22. Jordan Jefferson – LSU – 6-5 220

First thing’s first: Eliminate the fact that Ryan Perrilloux and JaMarcus Russell were packed with hype – and will likely jade your image of LSU QB’s.  That, plus Jefferson himself hasn’t been anything short of mediocre, but he does have the frame of an NFL quarterback – and has limited his mistakes, so there’s still a good chance he could turn things around… but for now…

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

21. Pat Devlin – Delaware – 6-4 217

Many forget that Devlin led a game-winning drive for Penn State on the road against the Buckeyes a few seasons ago.  He transferred that offseason and wound up at Delaware, the same place where Ravens QB Joe Flacco played in college.  He also possesses an arm and talent similar to that of Flacco, too.

NFL QUARTERBACK

20. Kirk Cousins – Michigan State – 6-3 202

Cousins is a 6’ 3” pro-style guy who – with all the talent around him – could develop his game at Michigan State, but for now, unless he can improve on his completion percentage and be more consistent, he’ll just be another one of Dantonio’s solid signal callers.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

19. Kevin Riley – California – 6-2 223

Riley has decent size for a prospect, but no skills that immediately jump off the page and scream pro star.  It will also be interesting to see how he performs without Jahvid Best this coming season – and at this point, an elite NFL career would be a surprise.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

18. Jacory Harris – Miami – 6-4 190

Harris has been arguably the most inconsistent college quarterback – featuring moments of explosiveness in one game, mixed with inconsistency and poor decisions in another.  That kind of mobility coupled with inaccuracy makes me think of a guy like Quincy Carter, who was a bust at the pro level.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

17. Nick Foles – Arizona – 6-5 245

Foles has a large intimidating presence in the pocket – and certainly could continue to develop and improve on his game, but an awful performance in last year’s Holiday Bowl is the freshest thing in many minds.  He’ll need to play that performance out of critics’ heads.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

16. Landry Jones – Oklahoma – 6-4 216

The Sooners suffered a number of injuries last season – including one to star QB Sam Bradford, which paved the way for Landry Jones to get a shot – and some experience.  With some extra time under center at OU, he’s only going to get better – and has the skillset and the frame to become something special years down the road.

NFL QUARTERBACK

15. Tyrod Taylor – Virginia Tech – 6-1 217

Taylor is drawing comparisons to Mike Vick – mostly due to his size, mobility and the fact that he’s also a Hokies QB.  Still, while he can throw the deep ball fairly well, his game suffers when the running game isn’t clicking – and a Vick-like NFL career seems possible… hopefully without the additional drama.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

14. John Brantley – Florida – 6-3 218

Following in the footsteps of a legend like Tim Tebow can derail some players, but Brantley doesn’t appear to be one of those types.  He has the skills to succeed and the talent around him to assist with his development.  With Tebow fresh in Gator minds, it’s safe to say Brantley will be more known for his pro career, no matter what happens.

NFL QUARTERBACK

13. Greg McElroy – Alabama – 6-3 225

He doesn’t blow you away with any of his skills, but that doesn’t mean that he couldn’t stick around in the NFL for a number of years.  Still, with one national title already – and a top ranking heading into 2010, it’s more likely that McElroy will be remembered as the BMOC – and not for his accomplishments in the pros.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

12. Kellen Moore – Boise State – 6-0 186

Many will quickly dismiss Moore for his size and frame, saying that he’d never make it in the NFL.  But take a look at the success of Super Bowl-winning QB Drew Brees, and also Colt McCoy – who got drafted and could get a shot with the Browns in the near future.  Moore is extremely accurate, and has been a great leader.  My gut tells me he could be the next undersized quarterback to become something.

NFL QUARTERBACK

11. Ricky Stanzi – Iowa – 6-4 230

Stanzi has the size and frame to make an impact in the NFL – and while he certainly kept Iowa in a lot of games last season, he also made way too many mistakes passing the ball.  In the end, an average NFL signal caller like a Chris Chandler comes to mind more than anything.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

10. Andy Dalton – TCU – 6-3 215

He certainly doesn’t have the biggest frame of all the quarterbacks that will enter his class, but Dalton is hard-nosed player that has become a proven winner for a program that made a BCS bowl last year – and open in the top ten this year.  Success in the NFL could definitely happen.

NFL QUARTERBACK

9. Blaine Gabbert – Missouri – 6-5 240

He may be the most underrated QB in the college game – and if it wasn’t for an ankle injury last season, he could have posted the best numbers in his conference.  Gabbert will need to improve on his completion percentage to eventually make it in the pros, but his size and talent is enough to get him there if he can stay healthy.

NFL QUARTERBACK

8. Colin Kaepernick – Nevada 6-6 215

No quarterback in the college game combines this kind of height with this kind of mobility, and that’s the kind of trait that will draw NFL scouts towards him.  If he’s drafted into the right situation, an NFL team could certainly find a way to hone his skillset, get him to learn a pro offense and turn him to a legitimate NFL QB.

NFL QUARTERBACK

7. Terrelle Pryor – Ohio State 6-6 233

Many say Pryor grew into something special late last season – specifically against Penn State and Oregon.  But while the talent and athleticism has always been there, one can’t help but think of how he succeeded against the Nittany Lions – in some cases with deep passes that were nowhere near on target, but the receivers were just that wide open, that the receptions were made anyway.  NFL superstar?  Don’t see it, but that could change after this year.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

6. Jerrod Johnson – Texas A&M 6-5 243

If you saw Johnson against the Longhorns last year, you will know how good he can be.  Featuring big-play ability, plus an NFL frame, it’s a good bet that Johnson could wind up as one of the better – if not the best – quarterbacks in his draft class.  He’s a darkhorse – and you heard it here, first – but just as long as he can translate his game and learn a pro system.

NFL QUARTERBACK

5. Christian Ponder – Florida State 6-3 227

He has a pro-style QB frame, combined with the smarts that could allow for him to easily learn in an NFL system, but there has been a lot of inconsistency at times throughout his college career – which in the end might be what he’s most known for.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

4. Case Keenum – Houston 6-2 210

Keenum has done nothing but light up the scoreboard at Houston, posting gaudy statistics that most college quarterbacks would never come close to seeing in a career – let alone one season.  Still, while he has a lot of tools to become a solid NFL quarterback – he seems to be more of a product of his school’s system, instead.

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

3. Ryan Mallett – Arkansas 6-7 238

Let’s see, the kid has the kind of frame, coupled with a cannon arm that NFL scouts will just drool over – and many have slated him as a potential top pick in next year’s draft.  The biggest strike against him has been some injuries over the last few years – but all in all, whether he pans out or not, he does seem destined to be a high NFL draft pick with loads of hype.

NFL QUARTERBACK

2. Andrew Luck – Stanford 6-4 235

Luck already has the talent and the frame of an NFL quarterback – and combine that with being under the tutelage of Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh, one can point towards a successful pro career in his future.

NFL QUARTERBACK

1. Jake Locker – Washington 6-3 226

Locker is quite mobile and also possesses top-notch arm strength.  If he can stay healthy and continue to grow within Coach Sark’s system, Locker also has an outside shot to be the top pick in the NFL Draft.

NFL QUARTERBACK

* Also posted to my B/R page

As last year’s football season came to its end, the Big Ten conference shunned away from being the familiar obedient dog that rolled over and played dead, particularly upon January’s arrival.

Guess there won’t be Ubu (of 80’s sitcom fame) earning any endorsement deals as the future Big Ten mascot.

Certainly, the conclusion of the 2009 season was a positive one, what with Ohio State and Iowa reeling in BCS victories, Penn State knocking out the SEC’s LSU Tigers on New Year’s Day and other teams pushing teams to the brink during the bowl period.

Entering 2010, there are a handful of Big Ten teams that are considered to be in the mix for the national championship game – specifically The Ohio State University, plus teams such as Iowa and Wisconsin could be darkhorses, too.

So what are some possible factors that could keep the door shut on the Big Ten conference’s chance at a national championship? These first came to mind:

7 Factors That Could Lock Big Ten Champion Out of BCS Title Game

SEC Bias

Let’s face it: The majority of voters covet the SEC powers like JaMarcus Russell craves two-dozen donuts washed down by an ice-cold glass of “purple drank”.

That’s why there’s a likely shot that unless the conference beats itself to a pulp – trading loss after loss – the SEC will flill in one of the title game spots, leaving the doorway that much smaller for the Big Ten champ.

Specifically, there’s a deep pool of talent in the SEC again – with many critics picking Alabama and Florida to again face off in the SEC title game.

Boise State Runs the Table

QB Kellen Moore is of 1 of 21 starters returning for Boise State in 2010

Let’s toss out some numbers that will further cement the idea of Boise State heading to the big game.  First, it’s likely that the Broncos will start the season ranked in the top five.

Next, Boise State returns 21 starters from last season – and yes, that’s no typo.  Only five lettermen are departed from last year’s team – which is a stat that puts the “smurfy” in Idaho’s “Smurf Turf”.

To top it off, if Boise State knocks off its two legit BCS opponents in Virginia Tech and Oregon State, that further adds credibility to the team’s strength of schedule.

Afterward, it would be a cruise through the conference schedule leading to November, when the Broncos will need to get by Fresno State at home, followed by Nevada on the road.

TCU Goes Undefeated

Like Boise State, the Horned Frogs are a talented bunch that will likely land themselves near the top of the polls when the season begins – likely in the top ten.

TCU returns 17 starters from last year’s team and also has Oregon State on its pre-conference schedule (the Beavers are a glutton for punishment, apparently).

Then on, the Horned Frogs’ biggest roadblocks are October 16^th vs. BYU and a November 6 road game at Utah.

Oregon Dominates the Pac-10

Sure, while the gifted troublemaker Masoli is gone and there have been a number of other off-the-field distractions, the Ducks are still loaded with talent – returning 17 starters, including the beastly back LaMichael James.

With the Trojans bagged from the postseason – and chock full of their own issues – the doorway is open for Oregon to take control of the conference, potentially going as far as the national championship game.

The biggest challenge for the Ducks will be its road schedule, featuring Tennessee, Arizona State, USC, Cal and – you guessed it – those pesky Oregon State Beavers again.

Miami Clinches ACC, Hands Buckeyes A Loss

Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes will have their hands full with Miami

The ‘Shoe is a tough place to play, but road teams can and do win there – and it’s possible to clip the Bucks early in the season when the team isn’t quite in sync yet.

The Miami Hurricanes – a team that hasn’t had a double-digit winning season since 2003 – are becoming relevant again.

This very talented ‘Canes team has a legitimate chance to upset the Buckeyes in Columbus – but only if QB Jacory Harris can limit his mistakes and post one of the best games in his career.

Combine that win with being the class of the ACC, and the Hurricanes – with their tough schedule – could pass any of the Big Ten powers in the polls.

Big 12 Champ Finds A Way

It’s no secret that the Big 12’s elite teams have lost significant pieces from last season – Oklahoma losing Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham, Texas losing Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley and Nebraska losing Ndamukong Suh.

However, each team features loads of talent heading into 2010 – and any of these three could emerge as a clear conference title winner – potentially pushing it to the big game.

Specifically, Nebraska still has a loaded defense, plus a schedule that doesn’t feature Oklahoma, yet has both Missouri and Texas at home.

Texas QB Garrett Gilbert got priceless national championship experience when McCoy went down – and can translate that onto the field in 2010.

Finally, Sooners QB Landry Jones also got plenty of experience and has 8 other starters returning on the offensive side of the ball.

The Big Ten Beats Itself

Finally, there’s the roundabout reason that the Big Ten gets locked out of the championship game – that being that the conference beats itself.

Look at some of the obvious choices for the Big Ten’s best teams and what will likely keep them from the national championship:

Penn State: Inexperience at QB, plus a brutal road schedule that features 3 BCS winners from last year in Alabama, Iowa and Ohio State.

Wisconsin: Returning 17 starters and not having to face Penn State is a PLUS, but returning only 6 defensive starters and facing Ohio State and Iowa during back-to-back weeks is going to be a major challenge.

Iowa: Sure, the Hawkeyes have all the conference powers at home this season, but this is a team that escaped a number of times in 2009 – and that good fortune may not translate to the 2010 squad.

Ohio State: The home game against Miami will be tough during the second week, and road tests against Wisconsin and Iowa are no cakewalk either.

* Also posted to my Bleacher Report page

Sure, the NCAA preaches sportsmanship and quality competition, but that doesn’t mean that it shows up on the field 100 percent of the time.

Who doesn’t enjoy a little bit of carnage every now and again, spicing things up?  Well, just as long as no one is seriously hurt, of course.

College football has seen its share of unleashed fury over the years – some in the form of quick outbreaks and others… nasty, violent brawls.

So, which were the nastiest?

Well, the forthcoming “dirty dozen” may not all be the worst of all-time, but they are the most recent to be caught on video (and displayed via You Tube).

Without further ado… here they are in no particular order – though the worst are saved for last:

“The Dirty Dozen”: 12 of College Football’s Nastiest, Filthiest Brawls

Notre Dame and Miami (1988)

The game – a 31-30 victory by Notre Dame – was considered one of the best games in the 1980’s.  Also referred to as “The Catholics vs. The Convicts”, the teams started up quite the frenzy before opening kickoff, igniting a pre-game fight in the tunnel.

Notre Dame and USC (1971)

The result of this game was a 28-14 upset victory by unranked USC over the Irish, who headed into the game ranked 6^th in the country.

However, this game wound up being more famous for the approximately 20-minute delay due to an on-the-field brawl.

Miami and South Carolina (1987)

This brawl started on a routine pass play where the pass protection broke down, South Carolina’s quarterback scrambled back, and instead of being sacked – he was slung to the turf like a rag dolll.

The result of that play was some pushing and shoving, a few bodies flailing for the ball and the next thing you know, the benches had cleared.

LeGarrette Blount (Oregon) vs. Byron Hout (Boise State) – 2009

OK, so this wasn’t much of a brawl – but it was last season and fresh in everyone’s mind.

Blount – who talked a lot of trash pre-game – couldn’t hold up his end of the bargain as Boise State manhandled the Ducks.

In the end, Hout couldn’t resist opening his mouth during the post-game, and the result was Blount delivering a cheap shot and losing his cool later – eventually leading to a team suspension.

Ole Miss and Mississippi State (1997)

Don’t let the soft-boiled Egg Bowl name fool you – these two teams hate each other, especially during the 1997 game, which started out as a pre-game brawl and ended with a 15-14 victory by Ole Miss.

It isn’t the highest quality video, but you get the idea – that a few shells were definitely cracked during this rivalry grudge match.

UCLA and USC (2009)

Rick Neuheisel and Pete Carroll brought fire back to this rivalry, especially in last year’s match – when a late-game timeout by UCLA turned into a long bomb for a TD by USC.

After all was said it done, the teams were on the field ready to fight – and while this didn’t turn into much of anything, it certainly could have.

Western and Eastern Arizona (2009)

Sure, they’re smaller football schools – but judging by the video, “you throw out the records when these two face each other”, as the popular phrase goes.

It all appeared to be a routine scrub, until a few cheap shots by players on each team resulted in a much more aggressive dogpile of players that seemed to migrate across the field toward the end zone.

Maritime and Kings Point College (2007)

Here’s yet another scrum between smaller schools, though it’s almost “Oregon Blount-like” in nature – except when the one player landed the punch, his opponent was borderline laid out.

I mean, that guy didn’t have a chance – he fell like a load of bricks.  If that kid didn’t make it in football, then he should’ve also considered boxing for a second career.  Here’s the video:

Georgia and Georgia Tech (2008 and then some)

This video features more of a montage instead of a single melee, which just goes to show that the hatred runs pretty deep in this in-state rivalry between the Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets.

If you don’t buy it, then take a look for yourself.

Houston and Hawaii (2003)

Hawaii also had a major brawl with Cincinnati during the 2002 season, so it’s safe to say that the Warriors were a bit of a feisty bunch over recent years – not what you would expect from a place where so many travel to for laid-back vacations.

The 2003 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl wasn’t just a wild one for the brawl that occurred once the game was over, but also for the game itself – a 54-48 win by Hawaii.

Clemson and South Carolina (2004)

Lou Holtz – South Carolina’s coach at the time – did the best he could to keep this brawl from happening, but there just was too much boiling over from a rivalry like this that has been going on for as long as it has.

The incident happened with less than six minutes to go in the game, and has often been referred to as one of the worst moments in the rivalry’s history.

In fact, each of the schools reacted to the incident as such – with both administrations swiping away postseason berths, while also each suspending six players apiece.

Florida International and Miami (2006)

This was arguably one of the worst brawls in college football history – featuring kicks to the head with cleats and players using helmets as a weapon.  Certainly, a number of charges and suspensions were added after the dust settled – 31 to be exact.

FIU also dismissed a few players from the team entirely.

The video shows just how bad it was – and quite honestly, this was the most fight each of these teams showed that during particular season.  It’s just a shame that it had to be in this negative of a manner.

* Also posted to my B/R page

Freshmen in college, rookies in the NFL – they all get hazed to some degree.

So what about rookie coaches in college football?  They get a deal, a few years to prove their worth and then either find barrels of success or get hazed themselves – leading to a swift kick in the tailpipe, a clean desk and a set of walking papers.

That takes us to 11 rookie coaches – all in a new town, heading up a new program within the BCS system.  The question remains: will it be the success or the swift kick in the you-know-what?

Which Rookie Coach Will Have the Worst 2010 season?

11. Jimbo Fisher – Florida State

Think the weight of filling the shoes of a coaching legend will be added pressure?

Stop it.  Bowden had been the driver of a “cash for clunker” set on cruise control for the last few years.

Jimbo Fisher will be fine – securing a top ten recruiting class and bringing new hope to Tallahassee.

The schedule will be a challenge though, with road games against Miami (FL) and Oklahoma, plus BYU, Clemson and Florida at home.

10. Skip Holtz – South Florida

Holtz is taking over a program buried in controversy left behind by Jim Leavitt.

But that won’t mean a thing, as Skip has gotten the best out of minimal talent for years – leading East Carolina to four straight bowl games and back-to-back nine win seasons.

That, plus he knocked off Boise State in 2007 and both Virginia Tech and West Virginia during the 2008 season.

The move from Conference USA to the Big East won’t be that big of a jump considering Holtz will be joining the red-headed stepchild of the BCS power conferences.

9. Brian Kelly – Notre Dame

(AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

Sorry, Charlie – but Coach Kelly is going to make you a distant memory soon.

Brian Kelly was 34-6 as a coach at Cincinnati, and he also led Central Michigan to the top of the MAC in his previous job with the Chippewas.

Now he trades talent that was 60^th in recruiting for a top 15 class, plus a school that wants to win more than any in college football.

When it all comes down to it, everyone in South Bend – including Touchdown Jesus – will have their eyes on Dayne Crist, recovering from a knee injury and carrying Coach Kelly’s success in his own two hands.

8. Derek Dooley – Tennessee

For those that want to point out (and hate on) the fact that new Vols coach Derek Dooley had a career coaching record of 17-20 with Louisiana Tech, I have two words for you: Gene Chizik.

In his first season at Auburn, Chizik was 8-5 (after going 5-19 in two years at Iowa State).  Sometimes, you just need a chance – and some talent.

That’s exactly what Dooley has, left some players via recruiting masterminds like Ed Orgeron – plus a top ten recruiting class (9^th via Rivals.com).

Don’t worry Rocky Top: soon you’ll be dropping the ‘Eff-U’ for “Lane Who?”

7. Lane Kiffin – USC

There’s no expectation that Kiffin will be bringing home any humanitarian awards in the upcoming months – but the point of the matter is this: Kiffin has legendary defensive-minded Dad in tow, plus aforementioned recruiting machine Ed Orgeron.

On top of that, the Trojans have a boatland of talent still in play.  The issue last season was the defense, and Monte Kiffin will improve on that.

So, it should be a solid year for USC – and oh yeah, because this is his dream job – Kiffin may not even leave before the year is over with.

6. Joker Phillips – Kentucky

With Calipari and Co. roaming the campus, it’s likely that fans may see their new football coach and say, “Who’s this Joker?”

OK, so unlikely, considering Phillips was a former wide receiver, and a coach on the staff for the last half dozen years.

But this Kentucky football team should take a backseat to no one – making four bowl games in the last five seasons.

Still, Joker’s first season is no laughing matter, with road tests at Florida and Tennessee.

5. Butch Jones – Cincinnati

With Brian Kelly off to Notre Dame, Butch Jones takes over for the Bearcats.

Cincinnati is going to miss players like Tony Pike and Mardy Gilyard.

Even though Zach Collaros and Isaiah Pead are still around to shoulder some of the load, a schedule that has a road opener at Fresno State and Oklahoma three weeks later – this year likely could result in the Bearcats heading back in the Big East pack by season’s end.

4. Mike London – Virginia

Al Groh’s rollercoaster career at Virginia is over, leaving Mike London to take his place.

In two years at Richmond, London was 24-5, incliuding an FCS Championship.

2010 is going to be a challenge, not only losing a lot of senior leadership at the LB, QB and TB positions, but also a recruiting class that was ranked lower than schools such as Colorado State, Hawaii and Memphis (per Rivals.com).

Add in a rematch with his former team, plus a trip to USC the following week, and it will be London’s career record falling down.

3. Turner Gill – Kansas

Mangino leaves a black cloud over the program, a number of seniors have moved on (headlined by QB Todd Reesing) and the team finished the season with seven straight losses.

Piece of cake, Turner – after all, you had some success at Buffalo.  That’s some success – building from a two-win season to 8-6 and the International Bowl in 2008.

But we’ll see how Gill adjusts from the MAC to the Big 12 conference – especially when he has to travel to Nebraska on November 13^th.  It’ll get ugly before it gets pretty.

2. Charlie Strong – Louisville

It seems so long ago that Louisville consistently churned QB’s through to the NFL.

Coach Kragthorpe left the Cardinals in shambles, having zero winning seasons over a three-year span, finishing no higher than 5^th in the conference.

Enter Charlie Strong, who has been surrounded by great staff and players at Florida – so he should right the ship, but it won’t happen right away.

In fact, midway through an ugly 2010, he’ll likely wish he pulled a Billy Donovan or Urban Meyer, retracting the Florida depature in the first place.

1. Tommy Tuberville – Texas Tech

Tuberville is going to switch and adjust to the spread offense, similar to the one that Leach previously used at Texas Tech.

The key difference: He wants defense, too.

Tommy T. plans to mainly use a 3-4 defense – and due to the adjustments – required a number of defensive recruits to come on board in a short period of time.

In the end, the major adjustment to the system – combined with a schedule that features Big 12 powers Oklahoma, Texas and Oklahoma State – will lead to multiple headaches in year one.

If the changes don’t translate into victories quickly, Tuberville may find himself back on the golf course sooner rather than later.

* Also posted to my Bleacher Report page

Put on that game face.  Football is coming.

I CAN’T HEAR YOU.

Aren’t you in pain from a summer of So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Got Talent?  Sure you are, but quit crying over that open wound left from excessive Gosselin gossip.

RUB SOME DIRT ON IT.

College football is just a hair over two weeks away – a stone’s throw from a heck of an opener between #14 Oregon and #16 Boise State – on the “Smurf Turf”.  If the coma-inducing jerseys and field aren’t enough, just look at the talent and implications of game one, as the Ducks could easily challenge USC for the Pac-10, while the Broncos could be this year’s BCS darling.  Heck, one dream alone can be crushed before the opening weekend.

Can I get a “Statue of Liberty” play?  Don’t roll your eyes at me, Bob Stoops.

If the Thursday opener on September 3rd isn’t enough, then look no further than two days later, when #5 Alabama faces #7 Virginia Tech, #3 Oklahoma takes on BYU, and #13 Georgia clashes with #11 Oklahoma State.

OK, so to rehash, that’s an intense Nick Saban leading ‘Bama against the Hokies and Frank Beamer, two Heisman candidates facing off in Max Hall (BYU) and Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), and a Stafford-free Georgia squad going against the Cowboys and Mike Gundy… the man, who’s now 41.

Are you fired up now, football fan?

If not, then look at the implications of these big games – not just to each school playing in these games, but other conferences.  Take the Big Ten for example, a conference that opens the season with three teams in the Coaches Top 25 (#6 Ohio State, #8 Penn State, and #21 Iowa).

Fine, the Nittany Lions open with Akron – not exactly a blockbuster movie with shoot ‘em up action, I get it.  The Buckeyes have Navy – yeah, the Midshipmen will likely be sunk.  Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes have Northern Iowa – right, not the sexiest matchup on paper.

But it’s football, it’s big time games, it’s big time matchups with major implications.

BCS implications – because a number of the prognosticators have the likes of Oklahoma, BYU, Boise State, Oregon, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, and Alabama, all in heavy contention for a BCS berth by season’s end.

When top-notch teams face off this early, some dreams could take a major hit, heck, just ask Clemson last season.  The result is a doorway for teams in the polls (like the aforementioned Big Ten trio) to move on up – as well as open the doorway for other unranked teams such as Michigan State, Illinois, or even Minnesota.

This is your TV now, football fan.  Mowing the lawn can wait, are you kidding me?

I want you to grab your leather chair.  I want you to get an ice-cold beer.  I want you to have the remote in your hand, and no one else’s.

Your time is now.

Turn on that high-def channel and suck yourself in – put yourself there trampling through the grass, the mud, the rain, the snow – the elements.

I want you to grab your tailgate gear, toss it in your truck, litter the back of your car with school pride, and take off for the stadium. I want you to toss a steak on the grill, and cook it up until the neighbors salivate in unison around you.

Nittany Lions fans, can I get a “WE ARE PENN STATE”?  Michigan crew, can I get a “Go Blue”?  Buckeye faithful, can I get a, “O-Hi-O”?

This is your time, football fan.

Football is upon us, so get up off your feet and make some @#$% noise already!