It's been some time, but I assure you there is a good reason...not really. This is a really exciting time of year though, and I'm ready to get it started. First of all, the sports desk is back to full strength, with our new editor Cedric Iglehart leading the way. Also my good friend Kevin Alexander, fresh from graduating at Texas A&M, joins us in sports as our design/layout guy. Football season is here as well, and of course football is everything in Texas. Everyone is excited to see if the Cowboys can make it work with the receiving corps they have or if the Texans can pull above the mediocre line for once. For me, I'm just glad Peyton Manning is in training camp this year. In college, it pains me to note that Texas and Oklahoma are 2 and 3 in the preseason poll, with Florida leading the way at No. 1. With a strong defense back, Colt McCoy under center for his senior season and much of the team that probably should have been given a shot at a national championship a year ago, the Longhorns are a legitimate title contender. Once again, Florida will be tough to be because it's the exact same story, except they DID win last year. BUT, I had a dream a few days ago (something that almost never happens) and I vividly saw 'Bama beating Florida in the national championship. Now set aside the slim likelihood that these two teams would actually meet in the championship game since they're in the same conference and opposite divisions. The clear implication of the dream can't be ignored: Alabama will win it all. They went the longest without losing a game last year, and they have the outstanding young receiver Julio Jones to go with a strong defense. I think Nick Saban is one of the most unsavory figures in sports, but you can bank on 'Bama. (Remember, I correctly chose the Tar Heels in my March Madness breakdown.)
Associated Press photo
Will Julio Jones and the Crimson Tide guide 'Bama to a national championship in 2009? Count on it.
Unfortunately, my Aggies are another story. It's a distinct possibility that they could only win one conference game this year (Iowa State) although I would like to believe they can beat Baylor since that will be a home game. It's pretty much the same defense that couldn't stop a convent of elderly nuns last year, and the offensive line will again be patchwork. They have some really great skill players on offense like Jerrod Johnson at QB, Ryan Tannehill, Uzoma Nwachukwu (no I can't pronounce it), and Jeff Fuller at WR and a dangerous tandem of Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael at RB. That should make for some exciting, high-scoring affairs, but that defense won't stop anyone. But hope springs eternal - they could very easily be 7-4 heading into the Thanksgiving Day game against the Longhorns...4-7 seems much more likely, though. My beat will be St. Joseph this year locally, something I'm really looking forward to. I got to know a lot of these guys in the spring during baseball, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do on the gridiron. RB Kamen Ruelas looks like a beast among boys (he said he gained about 25 pounds since last season), and I'm sure he's charged up to make a statement in his senior season. Kevin Daniels is also back at QB, and I'm working on a feature story about him. The Flyers should be good again, but most of the guys are frustrated with the early playoff exits the last few seasons and want to change that in 2009. I'll also be covering the Lady Flyers in volleyball. They have a new coach, Brian Froebel, who just came off winning the NJCAA national championship at Blinn College as an assistant coach. He wants to implement a faster paced, attacking offense, which the players like so far. It will be interesting to see how they transition with a new coach. Well, that should be it for now. Remember: Why pay for free piping, when there's free piping down the street?
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I am always confused when folks make comments about Saban being unsavory, or unethical. He teaches young men that hard work, focus, dedication, and doing your job is the key to success. I wish we had more teachers like him.
August 11, 2009 at 9:30 p.m.