Are you one of those who has been experiencing sleepless nights? Cold sweats? An unusual appetite? Your mind drifting from normal-day activities?
If so, you are probably like me. Don’t bother making an appointment with your doctor for I doubt there is any magic pill that will cure what ails us. No, it’s simply symptoms of withdrawal for football junkies — like myself — who are in need of a fix.
I haven’t even been able to find a preseason magazine yet although I can assure you I have been glancing at the magazine displays at various places I shop. “Any week now,” I keep telling myself.
Football has always been a passion for me. I love it at any level. However, I think the college game is where my ultimate passion lies. I’m one of those who can watch any team from any part of the country. East Coast, West Coast, Any Coast. If it’s a college football game, I can watch it.
The two teams I follow most closely are Wake Forest (long time admirer of what Jim Grobe has done) and Vanderbilt (my better half Pam’s favorite team which I have also become a strong supporter of.)
Yet, I like to think I keep a pulse on the game as well as anybody. As we move into the final portion of the offseason, here are a few observations at this point:
•It will be interesting to see how the University of Georgia does this fall. Head coach Mark Richt gave into the Coaches in the Stands after 2009 and let several defensive assistants go. The next football coach at UGA to be cooked over the fire by fans will be Richt himself (and some die-hard fans are already digging the pit.)
•Paul Johnson should continue to roll right along on The Flats. Johnson also made a change on the defensive side of the football bringing in Al Groh, a former NFL and college head coach, most recently at fellow ACC school Virginia. The triple option should continue rolling so it will be up to Groh to shore up the other side of the football.
•On paper, Notre Dame made a strong hire in Brian Kelly as its new head coach. Kelly has worked his way up the college coaching ranks and has had success at all levels from Division II and up. Notre Dame will never be able to dominate like it used to, but I think Kelly may be the one to take the Irish to a higher level.
•Steve Spurrier may be at a crossroads at South Carolina. Without the talent rich state of Florida to handpick from like he did when he was the coach of the Gators, Spurrier has had a harder time with the Gamecocks. The state is small and there simply isn’t that much talent, which is already being split with Clemson. If Carolina doesn’t win at least nine games, I predict the Old Ball Coach will hang up the whistle.
•Nick Saban will continue to roll along at Alabama and the Crimson Tide is my preseason pick as No. 1. I don’t care how many players Saban lost to graduation, this man has become the best at what he does. The only downpart for Alabama fans: how long before Saban is tempted by another try in the NFL? Don’t rule it out.
•A final prediction: Lane Kiffin will do just fine at USC, which better suits his coaching style anyway.
Chris Bridges is the sports editor of the Barrow Journal. Send comments about this column to cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
