College Football Preview: Week 1

After a long summer of unpleasant headlines, such as players from all over the nation behaving badly, and of course the non-stop soap opera that has been Texas A&M quarterback and defending Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, college football fans such as myself finally have reason to rejoice as the 2013 campaign gets underway Thursday night.

Of course this is not totally great news to everyone who knows and loves yours truly, as I tend to become a totally different person when it comes to college football, one of the main passions of my life, and this is not a person that many are frankly crazy about.

I tend to get very intense and competitive during a college football Saturday, and have been known to scream and throw various things, including remote controls, especially if things are not going particularly well for team that I have a deep rooting interest in. It's not pretty, and if a team that I love happens to go down to defeat on Saturday, you should know that I am pretty much no good to anyone the rest of that respective weekend.

All that being said, I think all of us who live and breathe college football are beyond ecstatic that the games are actually here, and I know I am definitely hype fatigued after weeks of reading preseason magazines and watching countless ESPN football specials and replays of 2012 games. I am sure that 2013 will be another season of close battles, mammoth upsets and unbelievable plays, as well as a little controversy thrown in for good measure. But isn't that what makes college football the great game that it is?

Before I jump into previewing the games of Week 1 involving SEC teams, I want to comment a little about the "suspension" of Manziel, the subject of my most recent blog.  Manziel's first-half suspension for the Aggies' opener against Rice can only be called a joke, and the fact that Texas A&M was able to basically broker a deal with the NCAA to ensure Manziel's services is beyond ludicrous and unacceptable.  No one can convince me that Manziel is being suspended simply to issue a point to him about the dangers of signing vast numbers of autographs due to the possibility of those being sold. If Manziel was not at least partially guilty of profiting marginally from the sales of his signature, then there would simply be no need for any type of suspension, and I am sure that Manziel, as well as his teammates, have already been very well-versed about the issue of signatures and the lucrative nature of them. And we wonder why Manziel carries himself with such a cocky and seemingly entitled attitude.  I believe the Aggie program threw the NCAA a small bone which would allow its record-breaking quarterback to stay on the field and have the issue regarding Manziel's autograph-hawking exploits to be simply swept under the rug, and I also believe the whole resolution has a totally foul odor.

Thursday's Games:

North Carolina at South Carolina: A very intriguing matchup between Larry Fedora's up and coming Tar Heels and Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks, a team which many are picking to win the SEC East Division and perhaps even contend for a national title in 2013. Do not sleep on the Tar Heels as I feel they will definitely be a key challenger in the ACC race this season, but the friendly confines of Williams Brice Stadium and a smothering defense led by the incredible Jadeveon Clowney will propel the Gamecocks to a nice opening win. SOUTH CAROLINA 27, NORTH CAROLINA 17

Ole Miss at Vanderbilt: Although Hugh Freeze's Rebel program appears to be very much on the upswing due to a nice finish in 2012 as well as arguably the strongest recruiting class in Rebel football history, the Commodores have actually proven to be quite the nemesis for Ole Miss over the past few years. This is a pivotal early SEC game for both programs, hoping to get off to a strong conference start while also attempting to prove that the success of last season was no fluke. Vanderbilt will likely struggle, however, on offense early in the season as the Commodores are having to replace key leaders at quarterback and at running back. I think this will prove to be the difference in a season-opening win for Freeze's Rebels.  OLE MISS 24, VANDERBILT 14.

Saturday's Games:

Alabama vs Virginia Tech (Atlanta) : After being proclaimed as the overwhelming preseason choice as the No. 1 team in the land by most scribes and analysts, Nick Saban's two-time defending national champion Crimson Tide finally begin its march toward another hopeful championship season, a milestone which would assure the Tide's status as perhaps the sport's greatest dynasty ever with four crowns in five years. While many Tide fans are no doubt already focusing on Alabama's second contest, a Sept. 14 showdown with Texas A & M at Kyle Field, Frank Beamer's Hokies have enough talent, at least defensively, to make this game interesting for awhile anyway. Despite its numerous weapons at running back and receiver, and of course with senior signal-caller AJ McCarron, Alabama's offense may struggle at least in the early stages of the contest due to an offensive line that no doubt will take some time to round into form due to the loss of three All-Americans. Fortunately for Saban's team, a still-strong Alabama defense should have little trouble with a limited and injury-plagued Virginia Tech offensive unit. ALABAMA 31, VIRGINIA TECH 10

Kentucky vs Western Kentucky: A new era begins with the Wildcats, with Mark Stoops looking to revive football fortunes in Lexington. It will not be an easy task, at least in Stoops' first season at Commonwealth Stadium. The Wildcats open the season against a Western Kentucky team also with new leadership as the ever-controversial Bobby Petrino returns to coaching. Although Kentucky is a slight favorite in the contest, Western Kentucky has some talent, and I am guessing that Petrino comes out with a few tricks in trying to make a strong opening statement against an in-state opponent.  WESTERN KENTUCKY 28, KENTUCKY 21

Mississippi State at Oklahoma State: Bulldog coach Dan Mullen is beginning to feel a little heat in Starkville, especially after a strong start last season ended with a disappointing finish, including season-ending losses to Ole Miss and Northwestern. It could be a pivotal season for him as he struggles to maintain support with the Bulldog Nation. The season begins in difficult fashion for the Bulldogs as they travel to Stillwater to battle Mike Gundy's high-powered Cowboys.  Oklahoma State is a big home favorite, and I think the chances of a MSU upset are remote at best. OKLAHOMA STATE 31, MISSISSIPPI STATE 20

Toledo at Florida: Will Muschamp continues to build a strong future powerhouse with the Gators and that included a strong season a year ago, one that, however, ended in disappointing fashion with an anemic loss to Louisiville in the Sugar Bowl. While Florida should be strong defensively once again, Muschamp is still looking for more offensive consistency with his Florida team. Fortunately for the Gator Nation, Toledo should not provide much opposition as the Gators roll to a big season-opening triumph.  FLORIDA 31, TOLEDO 6

Louisiana-Lafayette at Arkansas: One of the most intriguing coaching moves in the nation was Bret Bielema leaving a highly-successful Wisconsin program to take over a Razorback program that had fallen into disarray. Although the Razorbacks have a host of question marks, Bielema's Hogs should have no problem giving him a big win in his Arkansas debut.  ARKANSAS 31, Louisiana-Lafayette 13

Washington State at Auburn: The Gus Malzahn era begins on The Plains as Mike Leach brings his Cougars into Jordan-Hare Stadium following an abysmal season a year ago. While Leach will no doubt have a few tricks waiting for the Tigers, I am expecting Auburn to be a much improved team from last year's horrendous 3-9 squad, and definitely a much better coached team.  I think Auburn will at least get back to a decent bowl in 2013. While many eyes will be on recently-named Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall, I am interested to see if there is significant improvement with the Auburn defense, a defense that was routinely shredded a year ago. I am not expecting Malzahn's team to have much difficulty Saturday. AUBURN 31, WASHINGTON STATE 18.

Georgia at Clemson: In what is perhaps the best matchup of the opening week of games, two preseason Top 10 teams meet in what should be a shootout in Death Valley. Both teams have high aspirations heading into the season, especially Mark Richt's Bulldogs, who are no doubt still smarting from being five yards away from a national championship showdown with Notre Dame a year ago. While I expect both dynamic offenses, with quarterbacks Aaron Murray and Tajh Boyd leading Georgia and Clemson respectively, to have their share of big plays, I have slightly more confidence in the Georgia defense to make just a few more crucial plays in the contest. GEORGIA 28, CLEMSON 24

LSU vs TCU (Arlington, Texas): Another intriguing matchup as Gary Patterson's Horned Frogs take on Les Miles' Tigers, a team which may enter the season with somewhat of a chip on its shoulder due to slightly lowered expectations. I am thinking, however, that the Tigers have been somewhat underrated, as there is still talent aplenty in Baton Rouge, especially offensively.  I think another strong season begins with a convincing win over a very solid first-game opponent. LSU 30, TCU 20

What To Do About Johnny Football

With less than three weeks remaining before the college football season begins (and can we all do a group hug and high five right quickly to celebrate that?), players and coaches all over the nation are in the final stages of getting things polished up before it's time to tee it up for that first "real" game of the 2013 campaign. 

Of course, this also includes College Station, home of Kevin Sumlin's Texas A & M Aggies, who were hoping last year's surprising 10-win introduction to the Southeastern Conference might lead to even bigger things this coming season......such as possibly even contending for a national championship behind a talented roster which includes sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel. Manziel, AKA "Johnny Football," is of course the returning Heisman Trophy winner after amassing an obscene set of numbers both passing and running to help guide the Aggies to a prolific season which included an upset of eventual national champion Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

But besides using fall practice to put the final touches on various Xs and Os strategy and personnel issues, Sumlin, no doubt, is also having to continuously keep up with his on-field "leader" (and I really use that term loosely with Manziel) and make sure he is not off selling autographs again, in jail or perhaps in a frat house fight somewhere. 

Unless you have been in a cave this off-season, then you are well aware that no athlete, other than maybe Alex Rodriguez, has been under the microscope more than Manziel, the ever cocky one.......And not many of the headlines regarding Manziel have been very pretty. 

Whether it be his misguided Twitter ramblings, his abrupt departure from the Manning Quarterback Camp, his drunken frat house adventures, his unflattering cover stories in both ESPN The Magazine and Sports Illustrated and now his alleged profiting from sales of his autographs, Manziel's image has been left basically in tatters and his escapades have also put a promising Aggie season in serious limbo. 

Various stories have alluded to Manziel's problems with alcohol and his temper, as well as an often defiant and entitled attitude. That defiance, as well as his apparent disregard for rules and authority, may come back to haunt him and his teammates if he is actually suspended for all or parts of the 2013 season because of his alleged dealings with autograph merchandisers. 

Of course many people have not been shy about quickly voicing their opinions about Manziel, with most of them characterizing him as a spoiled, rich, cocky brat.  I would tend to agree with many of those characterizations at this point. 

I would also say that Manziel has definitely appeared to live down to the stereotypes that many people tend to have of college students, especially frat boy types, in regard to his partying, his use of alcohol and his apparent disregard for responsibility and authority. Of course all college students do not fit this description, but unfortunately there are also plenty like Manziel who do embrace those stereotypes and in turn put a dark light on the college population in general. I think you probably already know by now from reading this how I pretty much feel about a lot of frat boy types, so it's probably best to just move on for now. Some frat boys are not that bad either, though.

While Manziel has pretty much made his own bed with his various actions and comments over the past few months, the people that you truly have to feel for in this whole soap opera are his parents, his teammates and his coaches. 

If you have read the compelling piece on Manziel in ESPN The Magazine by Wright Thompson, then you are aware of the concern expressed by Manziel's father and other people regarding his son's temper and alcohol use among other things. Of course many people might argue that Manziel's parents contributed heavily to their son's behavior by perhaps giving him everything that he ever wanted, but it is still a heartbreaking read in some ways. There is no doubt from reading the article that Manziel's parents love him dearly and are extremely worried about the road in which the superstar quarterback is possibly traveling. 

Then there are Sumlin, his coaching staff and the 2013 Aggie players.  These are the people who have dedicated themselves this whole offseason to fulfilling many of the huge expectations that the Aggie program has created for itself, but have had to deal with nothing but distraction after distraction from the student-athlete who is face of the program, and who is supposed to be the team's unquestionable leader. All Manziel has done, however, is portray himself as a stressed-out victim who is "only" 20-years-old. Sorry Johnny, I have known plenty of 16 and 17-year-old types who have demonstrated a lot more maturity than you have during the past few months. 

Of course, during the recent SEC Media Days in Hoover, much of the spotlight and media scrutiny was focused right there on "Johnny Football," and it grew ever tiresome watching Manziel trying to squirm out of responsibility for his actions, and justifying them because of his age. I have NO doubt that the other Aggies on hand at the media session were asked incessant questions about their quarterback, and I also have no doubt that his teammates have grown very weary, if not totally irritated and exhausted, about responding to inquiries about their misguided signal-caller. 

Now comes the question about what should happen to Manziel, if it is proven that indeed he did profit from the sale of his autographs. Of course some perhaps-insane journalist types have compared Manziel to iconic civil rights figure Rosa Parks in calling him the poster child for leading the movement for student-athletes to be paid. Of course this is absurd, as Manziel does not seem to be a poster child for anything other than deviant behavior.

Some have commented that they feel Manziel should not be suspended if the allegations are true about his being paid for his signatures, noting that perhaps a fine would be sufficient or that the case would be solved simply by Manziel or his family returning any money that he gained from the signatures. 

I know that many Alabama fans would love to see Manziel on the field on Sept. 14 at Kyle Field, as Nick Saban's Crimson Tide seeks payback for its only defeat during its national championship season of 2012.

I don't agree, however. No one can tell me that college athletes are not very well-versed about the issues of dealing with agents, boosters or anything that might translate into them profiting in any way. By the way, I am also TOTALLY opposed to college athletes receiving any type of income. They are already given numerous advantages, and plenty of luxuries  that their fellow college peers are not afforded, and this has always been the case. If they stay out of trouble, work hard and keep their noses clean, they will eventually have their opportunity to play for pay down the road.

If it is indeed proven that Manziel profited from the sale of his signatures, he should not be allowed to represent Texas A & M on the field, because it will then be apparent that the quarterback knew about the rules, but chose to defiantly disregard them. No player, no matter how important he is to his team, and how widely popular he is, is above the rules, and that is the message which should be sent. LSU coach Les Miles needs to think about that too if he is even thinking about allowing star running back Jeremy Hill to play in the Tigers' opener against TCU, if at all this season.