Take Your Marks

8 long months and now, and finally football…glorious football. Oh how I’ve missed you.

Be sure to check back tomorrow morning for in-depth (ok, that’s a stretch) analysis and key breakdowns of all the panic points as we bring sexy back to college football blogging. God forbid the Hicks lose, and you’ll know exactly where to turn as the tears continue to fall. In the meantime, a few random notes:

- Something tells me Rich Rodriguez isn’t going to get off to such a hot start in Ann Arbor. Look for the Weasels to struggle early, as they always seem to do. NOBODY is going to go out and day one run that offense effectively.

- My key to the game for Mizzou vs. Illinois? Tommy Saunders. Coffman and Maclin will draw coverage all night long, look for Saunders to have a big night going one on one with one of Illinois young DB’s. Illinois is going to have to control the clock and find somebody to run the football. It seems this game often showcases some freshman that comes out of nowhere. Eddie McGee and Jeremy Maclin last year. Brad Smith a few years before that. Should be pretty good.

- My key to the game for Nebraska: Stop Jamarko Simmons. This is a nightmare scenario for the Hicks, as they go up against a top-flight wide receiver right out of the shoot. You can damn well bet your overalls that if Steve Pederson was in charge, he would have swapped the date out with San Jose State to give NU a little better start. It’s going to take a lot for the Broncs to win, because I don’t think they’re going to stop the NU running game…but if they stay in it throughout the first half…look out.

- Upset alerts? East Carolina vs. Virginia Tech, Kent State vs. Boston College.

- One last thing, since you all know I’m a politics junkie: Kudos to John McCain for either making the most idiotic or brilliant move in the history of politics. In one morning, the guy single handedly electrified an already crazy upcoming campaign season. As for Palin, you can look at her two ways. (Three if you count the hot “naughty librarian” look she was sporting yesterday.)

First, she could be devastating because some of you are nearly as qualified as she is. It’s absolutely stunning to go from PTA leader to THIS level of government in this short of time. It’s never been done before, let alone by a woman. She is going to get grilled over like no other on the way to 11/4, and she doesn’t have that much time for the American public to get to know her. (And who knows, maybe they won't)

On the other hand, it’s brilliant, because it kills 3 birds with one stone. (From what I’ve read on her, she’s also a lot sharper than people think) First, it re-energizes the GOP. Second, it reaches out to those who feel like McCain is same old, same old. And finally, this lady has insight into two gigantic issues that the other three guys don’t. Her experience taking on big oil companies and her son is shipping off to Iraq.

I have no idea if it was a good move or not…and it very well may be political suicide. But if it works, John McCain singled handedly will have pulled off the greatest move in the history of modern politics and pretty much changed it forever. The old-school good-ol-boy network will have been gone, and the door will be open to an army of younger, non-traditional politicians seeking office. In the end, I know the democrats are feeling giddy about the pick. But then again, weren’t they feeling giddy when President Bush was running with a 35% approval rating in mid 2004? Moral of the story…never underestimate the power of the GOP camp. They may be unethical and sneaky..but they’re very good at getting their people elected.

It should be absolutely fascinating to watch.

Enjoy the games.