football season

Russ Spence

Russ Spence

Commercial Pressure Wash Expert
Now that football season is upon us, it's a good time to get in the mood by reading these quotations from well known football personalities!


"At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any." Erk Russell / Georgia Southern.

"Football is only a game. Spiritual things are eternal. Nevertheless, Beat Texas." Seen on a church sign in Arkansas prior to the 1969 game.

"After you retire, there's only one big event left....and I ain't ready for that." Bobby Bowden / Florida State

"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it." Lou Holtz / Arkansas

"When you win, nothing hurts." Joe Namath / Alabama

"Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated." Lou Holtz / Arkansas

"If you want to walk the heavenly streets of gold, you gotta know the password, "Roll, tide, roll!" Bear Bryant / Alabama

"A school without football is in danger of deteriorating into a medieval study hall." Frank Leahy / Notre Dame

"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." Woody Hayes / Ohio State

"I don't expect to win enough games to be put on NCAA probation. I just want to win enough to warrant an investigation." Bob Devaney / Nebraska

"In Alabama, an atheist is someone who doesn't believe in Bear Bryant." Wally Butts / Georgia

"You can learn more character on the two-yard line than anywhere else in life." Paul Dietzel / LSU

"It's kind of hard to rally around a math class." Bear Bryant / Alabama

"No, but you can see it from here." Lou Holtz / Arkansas...When asked if Fayetteville was the end of the world.

"I make my practices real hard because if a player is a quitter, I want him to quit in practice, not in a game." Bear Bryant / Alabama

"There's one sure way to stop us from scoring-give us the ball near the goal line." Matty Bell / SMU

"Lads, you're not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died." Frank Leahy / Notre Dame

"I never graduated from Iowa, but I was only there for two terns, Truman's and Eisenhower's." Alex Karras / Iowa

"My advice to defensive players: Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in a bad humor." Bowden Wyatt / Tennessee

"I could have been a Rhodes Scholar, except for my grades." Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State

"Always remember..... Goliath was a 40 point favorite over David." Shug Jordan / Auburn

"They cut us up like boarding house pie. And that's real small pieces." Darrell Royal / Texas

"Show me a good and gracious loser, and I'll show you a failure." Knute Rockne / Notre Dame

"They whipped us like a tied up goat." Spike Dykes / Texas Tech

"I asked Darrell Royal, the coach of the Texas Longhorns, why he didn't recruit me and he said: "Well, Walt, we took a look at you and you weren't any good." Walt Garrison / Oklahoma State

"Son, you've got a good engine, but your hands aren't on the steering wheel." Bobby Bowden / Florida State

"Football is not a contact sport-it is a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport." Duffy Daugherty / Michigan St

After USC lost 51-0 to Notre Dame, his post game message to his team: "All those who need showers, take them." John McKay / USC

"If lessons are learned in defeat, our team is getting a great education." Murray Warmath / Minnesota

"The only qualifications for a lineman are to be big and dumb. To be a back, you only have to be dumb." Knute Rockne / Notre Dame

"Oh, we played about like three tons of buzzard puke this afternoon." Spike Dykes / Texas Tech

"It isn't necessary to see a good tackle. You can hear it." Knute Rockne / Notre Dame

"We live one day at a time and scratch where it itches." Darrell Royal / Texas

"We didn't tackle well today but we made up for it by not blocking." John McKay / USC

"Three things can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad." Darrell Royal / University of Texas

"I've found that prayers work best when you have big players." Knute Rockne / Notre Dame

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football" John Heisman
 
Yes, Football season is right around the corner.
Florida is a dynasty in the making in the SEC.
WHO can possibly compete with the Boys from the Sunshine State ?
Florida is the nations 3rd largest state in Population, just too much of a talent pool here for other SEC programs to overcome.
Plus, IF you were a Kid, where would YOU want to go to school ?
Because they are winning in a LOT of sports, Florida has become THE place for a young athlete to go.
Every star athlete wants to be on a winning team.'
Success breeds success.
Even I could win coaching at Florida, LOL
The talent level is just too great for other SEC teams to overcome.

Other SEC programs have their own stars, and can be quite well coached.
Unfortunately, Football is a TEAM sport.
And all things being equal, the team with the most OVERALL talent usually wins.

I look for Alabama to improve this year.

I think the SEC overall is the best conference in Football.

Michigan has a LOT of starters returning, and Ohio State is always tuff in the Big Ten.

In the NFL, look for New England to win the conference and the super bowl.

They added Randy Moss, and Wes Welker from Miami and Adolpous Thomas on defense.

The NFC is anyone's guess, but no way the NFC Champion is gonna get past New England in the Super Bowl

Florida Gators will repeat as national champions again.
 
Urban Meyer knew exactly where to turn to help his Florida Gators deal with the challenge of repeating as Southeastern Conference and national champions.

He called on Bill Belichick, who led New England to three Super Bowl titles in four years and visited the team during the spring.

Closer to home were Gators basketball coach Billy Donovan and former star Joakim Noah, fresh from back-to-back NCAA titles. How's that for handy?

"I talk to Joakim Noah a lot about what it takes to compete again and who's going to be gunning for you," safety Tony Joiner said.

The key to a national championship repeat, Joiner said: "Don't bask in your own glory."

If the pep talks and expert seminars don't get the Gators' attention, the rugged realities of SEC football might. Among the obstacles facing Florida:

-- LSU's defense. The Tigers were landslide picks to win the league by SEC media. Not Florida, which lost nine defensive starters.

-- Alabama's new $4 million man, coach Nick Saban. He was lured from the NFL to restore that proud program.

-- Eastern Division rival Tennessee, with seasoned quarterback Erik Ainge and a fan base desperate for its first SEC title since 1998.

-- Arkansas and first-team preseason All-SEC tailbacks -- yes, plural -- Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

-- Auburn, which has quietly won 33 games the past three seasons, behind only Southern California and Texas.

With Saban's return to the league from the Miami Dolphins, the SEC boasts four head coaches with national champion's rings: Saban (LSU), Meyer, South Carolina's Steve Spurrier (Florida) and Tennessee's Phillip Fulmer.

"I don't think there's any question that this is the best league in the country," Fulmer said. "There's nobody else in the country that can talk about four coaches that have won national championships."

Perhaps the most intriguing player is Gators' sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow, who gained more yards rushing (469) than passing (358) last season after a prolific prep career.

Tebow replaces BCS championship game MVP Chris Leak. He brings a rough-and-tumble running style and the mysterious "It" factor.

"He has the 'It.' Everybody wants the 'It' in that position," Meyer said. "That's a competitor, intelligent, a guy that will do anything for the team to help you win." ^A look at the teams in predicted order of finish: ^EASTERN DIVISION:

TENNESSEE -- Ainge might be this season's Leak, a quarterback who put up big numbers but fell short of a title in his first three seasons. ... He lost his three favorite targets from last season, but can hand off to dangerous sophomore RB LaMarcus Coker (6.4 yards per carry). ... S Jonathan Hefney and LBs Jerod Mayo and Ryan Karl combined for 245 tackles.

FLORIDA -- Florida has only 21 upperclassmen on scholarship, fewest in the league. ... WR Andre Caldwell and rushing/receiving threat Percy Harvin return, and the linemen have combined for 65 career starts. ... On defense, Gators must replace 10 of top 12 tacklers, including NFL first-rounders Jarvis Moss and Reggie Nelson. ... DE Derrick Harvey is a big-time playmaker.

GEORGIA -- QB Matthew Stafford made huge strides late in freshman season, but still was intercepted 13 times against seven TDs. ... Kregg Lumpkin leads deep backfield that includes heralded freshman Caleb King. ... O-line could start a freshman and redshirt freshman. ... Five of top six tacklers are gone. FS Kelin Johnson and DT Jeff Owens are among returnees.

SOUTH CAROLINA -- Look out, Spurrier is touting his team as a contender. ... QB Blake Mitchell's career completion percentage (61.2) is tops among SEC passers, but he no longer has WR Sidney Rice. WR Kenny McKinley (880 yards) and RB Cory Boyd (823 yards rushing) are back. ... Defense returns all but one starter, including top six tacklers, led by LB Jasper Brinkley (107 tackles).

KENTUCKY -- Fresh from best season in 22 years (8-5), Wildcats are led by the Big Three on offense: Andre' Woodson (3,515 yards passing), the preseason All-SEC QB, plus 1,000-yard WR Keenan Burton and all-purpose threat Rafael Little. ... Team has eight home games for first time. ... Assistant Steve Brown promoted to run defense that yielded 28.4 ppg last season. ... LB Wesley Woodyard's 122 tackles ranked No. 2 in SEC.

VANDERBILT -- Seventeen starters return, including the entire offensive line. ... Junior WR Earl Bennett needs 48 catches to become SEC's top career receiver. ... QB Chris Nickson is run-pass threat but threw multiple interceptions in five games in 2006. ... RB Jeff Jennings returns after missing season with injury. ... MLB Jonathan Goff (93 tackles) shed a few pounds and could be a step quicker. ^WESTERN DIVISION:

LSU -- Coming off back-to-back 11-win seasons and has 15 returning starters and 24 seniors. ... QB Matt Flynn replaces NFL No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell. ... All-America DT Glenn Dorsey one of nation's top defensive players. ... RB Alley Broussard left team in July, but several solid backs remain along with veteran line and WR Early Doucet. ... Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton replaces Jimbo Fisher.

AUBURN -- King Dunlap is only offensive line starter back. TBs Brad Lester and Ben Tate trying to keep string of top runners intact. Only proven receiver is Rodgeriqus Smith, a former walk-on. ... DE Quentin Groves returns for senior season with shot at Auburn's career sacks mark. ... Twice-suspended LB Tray Blackmon could be a star if he stays out of trouble.

ARKANSAS -- Heisman contender McFadden and Jones provide devastating RB combo for defending SEC West champions. Both topped 1,000 yards last season, but line has only two returning starters... QB Casey Dick is finally unquestioned starter. David Lee is new offensive coordinator. ... Three starters back in secondary, plus pass-rushing end Antwain Robinson (8.5 sacks).

ALABAMA -- Saban inherits 6-7 team with promising QB John Parker Wilson. ... Entire starting O-line returns, but could be shuffled since the unit struggled last season. ... Glen Coffee, Jimmy Johns and Terry Grant vying for RB job. ... WR DJ Hall needs just 153 yards receiving to set Alabama career mark. ... All-SEC CB Simeon Castille, MLB Prince Hall and DE Wallace Gilberry lead defense.

MISSISSIPPI -- Brent Schaeffer and former walk-on Seth Adams battling for QB job. ... RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, a 1,000-yard rusher, has all five top blockers back. ... Coach Ed Orgeron has won seven games in first two seasons. ... Must replace Butkus Award winner LB Patrick Willis. ... MLB transfer Tony Fein is 24-year-old Army veteran who served a year in Iraq.

MISSISSIPPI ST. -- Sylvester Croom's team has won three games in each of the past three seasons, losing four times by three points last season. ... QB Michael Henig, WR Tony Burks and the entire line lead nine returning offensive starters. ... DE Titus Brown returns on defense, but two transfers projected to start on interior line.
 
There's a new savior in Alabama, and new head coaches at 22 other schools.

New rules will mean more football in 2007 -- or at least more plays -- which is never a bad thing. Unless you're playing Southern California. The Trojans are loaded, and that's nothing new

So let's start in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where Nick Saban is king of the Crimson Tide, a storied program that has endured more than a decade of dysfunction while searching for a coach to live up to Bear Bryant's legacy.
For $4 million per year, Saban returned to the Southeastern Conference after two unsuccessful seasons with the Miami Dolphins. That 15-17 NFL record hardly matters to the Tide faithful. They were so pumped up by Saban's arrival that 92,000 filled Bryant-Denney Stadium for the spring game.

"That's the kind of positive energy that I think is going to be important for us to sustain as a program and will be very beneficial to us become successful in the future," he said during SEC media days.

Saban, who won a national championship with LSU in 2003, gives the SEC four head coaches with a national title on their resumes, joining Tennessee's Phillip Fulmer, South Carolina's Steve Spurrier and Florida's Urban Meyer, whose Gators enter the season as defending champs.

Florida was last seen dismantling Ohio State in the BCS national championship game. Most of the defense that dominated in that surprisingly easy 41-14 victory has moved on to the NFL. Also gone is quarterback and championship game MVP Chris Leak.

Florida is now Tim Tebow's team. The fiery, bulldozer of a quarterback appears to be the perfect match for Meyer's spread-option attack. Even with a rebuilt defense, don't expect much of a drop-off from the Gators.

Of course, even the slightest regression might be too much to overcome in the nation's best conference.

LSU, Tennessee, Georgia, Auburn, Arkansas and South Carolina all could stand in the way of a Florida repeat.

Though Saban is the only new coach in the SEC, he's just one of 23 in their first year with a school.

Miami stayed in house to replace Larry Coker, selecting former Hurricanes defensive coordinator and linebacker Randy Shannon to put the program back on track after a 7-6 season.

Louisville wasn't looking to replace Bobby Petrino after the school earned its first BCS bid, but Petrino made like Saban and decided to give the NFL a try when the Atlanta Falcons came calling.

The Cardinals quickly wooed Steve Kragthorpe from Tulsa, who's already scored his first victory by convincing star quarterback Brian Brohm to return to Louisville for his senior season.

Before Saban's hire, North Carolina appeared to have landed the biggest catch, hiring former Miami coach Butch Davis.

Arizona State also turned to a former Miami coach, getting Dennis Erickson to leave Idaho after one season for a third tour of duty in the Pac-10, the home of the best program in college football.

In what was essentially a rebuilding year at USC, Pete Carroll's Trojans went 11-2, contended for a national title, tore apart Michigan in the Rose Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 4.

Most of that team is back, and the Trojans look scary.

"I think SC has to beat themselves," Washington State coach Bill Doba said. "I think he (Carroll) just has to guard against overconfidence or not being prepared or having really, really, really bad luck."

Ten starters return on defense for USC, including stellar linebackers Brian Cushing, Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga. On offense, quarterback John David Booty leads the way. The last two USC quarterbacks -- Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart -- have won Heisman trophies. Booty, who threw 29 touchdown passes in his first season as starter, could make it three in a row.

Booty and Brohm enter the season as two of the top Heisman contenders, but last year's runner-up, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, leads the way.

It's banner year for running backs with Michigan's Mike Hart, Rutgers' Ray Rice, West Virginia's Steve Slaton and Boise State's Ian Johnson among the best.

Johnson and the Broncos became everybody's favorite underdog last season, busting into the BCS from the Western Athletic Conference and knocking off Oklahoma in an overtime classic at the Fiesta Bowl.

Looking for the next Boise State? TCU from the Mountain West Conference is a candidate, as is the Broncos' WAC rivals Hawaii, led by record-breaking quarterback Colt Brennan.

Brennan set an NCAA record with 58 touchdown passes running June Jones' run-n-shoot offense, and this season he'll have more time to break the record.

The NCAA tried shave some time off the ever-increasing length of games last season with new rules that kept the game clock moving more often. Coaches hated the changes, and they've been abandoned. The result should be about seven extra plays per team per game this season.

Now, the NCAA will take a new approach to shortening games. The play clock will be 15 seconds instead of 25 after a TV timeout, which will be shorter. And kickoffs will be from the 30 instead of the 35 to create fewer touchbacks.

Despite all the cries for change, the Bowl Championship Series remains the same. It'll be New Orleans turn to double-host, putting on the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 and the national championship game a week later.

The list of contenders to reach that title game is lengthy and includes many of the usual suspects -- LSU, Florida, Michigan, Texas and Oklahoma. West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin have their sights set on New Orleans, too.

But there's no denying USC, which begins the season as the favorite. Again.

"We're just a bunch of guys trying to put together a terrific team," Carroll said, "and we'll see how far that takes us."
 
It is gonna be a GREAT season, can't wait!
Tim Tebow is a MONSTER.
Yes, Florida lost a LOT of starters.
But word out of Gainesville is this.
The New Florida players are just as good, maybe even better.

Saban is from Michigan, where I was born.
He is a GREAT coach.

He will have Alabama competitive again.

The SEC is THE premier football conference in the country.

Man, if your adrenaline don't get going just THINKING about it, you ain't alive IMHO :confused:
 
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