Ballah's College Football Preview pt 3

Every college football season seems to bring in a new regime of impact freshmen. This years class, like many others are packed with blue chippers. I've put together a list of a few individuals who I believe will arrive to stardom, sooner rather than later.

Here is our Facebook Freshman Class ...(expect lots of hits on the field and facebook pokes off)


OFFENSE:

QB: Andrew Luck, Stanford

Look for former NFL Pro Bowl QB and head coach Jim Harbaugh to take Luck under his wing and develop him into a premiere college Quarterback.

RB: Darrell Scott, Colorado

The young Buffalo offense gelled late in 2007. Their only knock was the lack of speed and production at the RB, in which their leading rusher ran for 400 yards. Scott possesses a great combination of size and speed, and will cause havoc in the Big 12 for years.

WR: Julio Jones, Alabama

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Anything less than stellar would make this kid a bust:

 A SEC coach said "Jones is a combination of Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald."

Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

In 2007, Notre Dame was ranked 117th in scoring offense for Division I-A college football teams. Look for Blue chipper Michael Floyd to help with his big play ability.

TE: Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame

As I stated for Michael Floyd, Notre Dame needs all the help they can get. Rudolph has it all the size, the skills, he will make things happen in the red zone.

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DEFENSE:

DE: DaQuan Bowers, Clemson

The most dominate Freshmen on defense in quite sometime. He will give ACC offensive Coordinators nightmares for years. He has the strength to stuff the run, but also possesses the speed to terrorize off the edges.

DT: Marcus Forton, Miami

After dominating against the Nations best during the Army All-American week, Forston all but solidified himself as the best down lineman. He has the size, the strength, and quickness to help right the wrongs in Miami.

LB: Nigel Bradham, FSU

Noles best breaking line breaker since Derrick Brooks. He approaches the game with the willingness to dominate in every aspect (physically, mentally and instinct.)

CB: Patrick Johnson, LSU

The tigers collectively had one need, and one need only, the secondary. Johnson is more than just a big hitter, he can flat out cover. He may share minutes between CB and Safety.


S: Will Hill, Florida
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Florida's young secondary had its share of struggles in the 2007 season. Look for Hill to come in and make a immediate impact. To a young but talented defensive group. 

He is extremely versatile and will be used in offensive sets as well as special teams.

Next Up - 

Conference Predictions 

S. Ballah

Ballah's College Football Preview pt 2

Men on Fire:

If you haven't noticed our government is currently in a recession, in short no job is a sure thing. That goes for any occupation, from accountants to coaches:

Tyrone Willingham, Washington:

What more can a coach ask for? Seattle has it all, superb facilities, administrative staff support, a firm recruiting base…What aren't we competing in bowl games? Correction, why aren't we contending for a Pac-10 title? Step your game up homie!

Ron Prince, Kansas State:

Let me start by saying, he managed to secure a recruiting class full of Junior College players. Okay I'm done.

Mike Stoops, Arizona:

Another 4-5 season wont cut it. In fact, if the Wildcats don't smell a bowl game. It's over for Stoops.

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa:

When your getting $2.8 million per season, there will be certain expectations you must meet.

Charlie Weis, Norte Dame:

After going 3-9, with one of those losses coming from Navy, YES I SAID NAVY. Weis is beginning to make Ty Willingham's stint with the Fighting Irish look brilliant. Don't believe anything you hear about his job security. The clock is ticking…

Greg Robinson, Syracuse:

Note to Coach R, your now 7-28 With the orange men. Last season things got ugly quick. By week 3, a loss vs. Pitt, the Carrier Dome was calling for your head. This season same rules apply, winning early is a must. I think It's time for change.

Honorable mention:

Ralph Friedgen, Maryland

Doug Martin, Kent State

Todd Dodge, North Texas

Dave Wannstedt, Pitt

David Bailiff, Rice

Neil Callaway, UAB

Robb Akey, Idaho

Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt

Mike Sanford, UNLV

JD Brookhart, Akron

Randy Shannon, Miami

Tim Brewster, Minnesota

Hal Humme, New Mexico State

Mark Snyder, Marshall

Brent Guy, Utah State

Joe Glenn, Wyoming

Charlie Weatherbie, La. Monroe

Mike Price, UTEP

Steve Kragthrope, Louisville

Ricky Bustle, La. Lafayette

Tom Amstutz, Toledo

Chuck Long, San Diego State

Gene Chizik, Iowa State

Stan Brock, Army

Freshmen To WATCH!!!

Next Up ---------------------------------------->>>

 

Mr. Jones 

S. Ballah

Ballah's College Football Preview pt 1

In the minds of College Football fanatics, the start of a new season beings in January, the day after the National Championship.

August has finally returned!

Before we get into This upcoming 2008 season, lets discuss some coaching changes made after the 2007 college football season.

Ranking The Coach Hires:

1. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech:

Johnson is a very good football coach who has simply won everywhere (Navy, SMU). He's been waiting years for this type of opportunity. He approaches the game with a contagious attitude. Johnson is a X's and O's type of guy, one of the best. Look for Johnson to assemble a strong staff. With an opportunity to recruit superior athletes, look for Johnson, THE OPTION KING to install the triple option offense (similar to his Navy days).

2. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan:

Rodriguez appears to be more than a consolation

prize here. In four of the last five seasons, he has lead West Virginia to 4 conference championships, going 60-26 overall. His key to building West Virginia into a Big East Power was recruiting players that wanted to play for West Virginia. Can Coach Rod work his magic in Michigan?

3. Rich Neuheisel, UCLA:

Neuheisel has returned to his familiar stomping grounds, where he quarterbacked the 1984 Bruins to a Rose Bowl win. He comes to the Bruins with lots to prove. With some great years at Colorado and Washington under his belt , despite both gigs ending on a sour note. Colorado went on probation because of Neuheisel and he was axed in Washington for participating in a NCCA Tournament Pool. Most recently, a brief stint with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens as QB coach and offensive coordinator. Finally, the Bruins have found their "Guy", who wants to compete, and who wants it in the worst way.

4. Houston Nutt, Ole Miss:

Nutt comes to the SEC after putting in 10 years at Arkansas. He's quite familiar with the SEC, he knows what it takes to win. Can Nutt who accomplished a lot with a little, take advantage with prized recruits? How soon will the Rebels become SEC contenders again?

5.Bobby Petrino, Arkansas:

I wasn't feeling the way things went down with the Atlanta Falcons, despite three games remaining in the NFL regular season, Petrino bolted with no remorse. You cant be entirely mad at the situation, he did sign up to Coach the NFL's most exciting offensive weapon in Michael Vick. When it was clear Vick was no longer in the teams plans, he made his move. The fact remains, Petrno is an offensive genius, and there are few with the ability to create a better offense. Petrino has always been an SEC type of guy, and he has the chance to regain any lost respect he suffered from his brief NFL experiment. Critics want to know, can the best player caller in the game bring championships: conference and national, to Fayetteville?

6: Art Brilles, Baylor:

After turning Houston into one of the more elite of the non-BCS schools, I believed BCS job offers would've been pounding on Brilles door. In the end, a move a few hours north, and a takeover of a struggling Baylor program , proved enough to secure one of the games brightest offensive minds, in Brilles. What makes the Baylor job challenging, is the fact that its in the same neighborhood as schools like Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma. How does that make for recruiting? With all that being said, Briles is a Texas guy. Having someone who is familiar with Texas recruiting could be an asset.

7. Bo Pelini, Nebraska:

Despite no head coaching experience, there is something about Pelini that Dr. Tom Osborne loves. We'll have to trust him on this one. Pelini has served as an assistant in the NFL and he ran the husker defense in 2003 and served as interim head coach for Nebraska's bowl win over Michigan State that year.

8. Kevin Sumlin, Houston:

Great offensive mind who has held coaching positions for all skilled positions. He's a excellent communicator and recruiter, it wont be long that he proves his most recent work at Oklahoma was no fluke. Houston has arrived.

9. June Jones, SMU:

Jones has went 76-41 in his nine seasons at Hawaii, ending with a BCS bowl loss to Georgia in the 2007 Allstate Sugar Bowl. This offensive specialist, and former NFL head coach could not pass up a five year deal that makes him the highest paid coach in Conference USA.

10. Steve Fairchild, Colorado State:

For Fairchild, there really is no place like home. He will return to his alma mater, where he once quarterbacked and served as an assistant coach. He walked away from a great start to what seemed to be a promising NFL career. I guessing being a NFL offensive coordinator (Bills) was not as appealing as rebuilding his ala mater.

11. Mike Sherman, Texas A&M:

Look for Sherman to bring a pro-style offense, along with experienced coaching staff. Joe Kines will join Sheman's staff as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator. It's only a matter of time before Aggies push Texas and Oklahoma.

12. Jerry Kill, Northern Illinois:

Heading to a decent program after earning his stripes in a lower division.

13: David Cutcliffe, Duke:

Duke has been at the bottom of ACC football for quite sometime. Look for Offensive genius Cutcliffe, to turn things around in one of the nations toughest jobs. Although Cutcliffe is not known for rebuilding, but the Dukies will contend for a bowl game in the near future??


Notable mentions:

Ken Niumatalolo, Navy

Greg McMackin, Hawaii

Bill Stewart, West Virginia

Larry Fedora, Southern Miss

Paul Wulff, Washington state

Next UP...

Coaches on FIRE!!!

S. Ballah

8-28-63... "I Have A Dream"

On this day, August 28th 1963 the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have A Dream" speech on the National Mall in Washington D.C.  

I have had the pleasure to go to the exact spot where the speech took place and look out along the National Mall Area... It is truly moving, and a presence is felt in the wind.  The March on Washington saw over 300,000 people, white and black, male and female, join together at a time when unity was not apart of the future.

I recommend and encourage EVERYONE to go to the National Mall and take in that part of history.  

It was a defining moment, and one that still resonates with people everywhere.

And for your viewing pleasure... The Man of the Hour

Some special points...

"Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a

 beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual."

"The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people. For many of our white brothers as evidenced by their presence here today have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We can not walk alone."

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood."

"Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring—when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children—black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics—will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

For those that wanted to hear the most famous parts... here is the abridged version... short but still motivating and moving..

It is 2008 Ladies and Gentlemen, please...

RACIAL HATRED SHOULD NOT STILL EXIST...