Huskers need on-field leadership
Posted: Thursday September 03, 1998 04:55 PM
Trev Alberts, College Football analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated, dipped into his e-mailbag to answer questions from CNNSI.com users.
To ask Trev a question, click here.
Q: First of all, I want to say I was a big fan of yours when you were at Nebraska, and I sure miss your style of play. OK, what do you think the chances of NU winning another national championship are?
Scott Faytok
Avenel, New Jersey
Trev says: After watching the game against Louisiana Tech, it seems pretty clear that Nebraska is again loaded with great athletes. I think that the thing that this team is lacking is the leadership of a Grant Wistrom and Jason Peter. This team is relatively young and needs Chad Kelsey to step up and be the vocal leader he can be. If he does, Nebraska should challenge.
Q: What are the early predictions of the West Virginia-Ohio State game? Every five years, the Mountaineers put it all together. I would not want to be rated No. 1 in the preseason and then look at an opening game in Morgantown. Whew! Especially not this year!
Ted Smith
Charleston, West Virginia
Trev says: I'm a fan of this years West Virginia team. You mentioned the opener at Morgantown. I would not want to be Ohio State right now. Ohio State has nothing to gain and everything to lose. Most people have heard of the weapons that Ohio State boasts on offense, but if you look at West Virginia they can match that offensive firepower. The only question is how well the West Virginia defense will play. Do not be surprised of West Virginia wins this game.
Q: We know Michigan is one of the top teams in the country. Will they be able to repeat as national champion, and if they do, which QB will take them there, Henson or Brady?
Joel Wertheimer
Burlington, Vermont
Trev says: I talked to Jim Hermann last year, and he told me that his team was special. The defense had excellent leadership. His players decided that they were tired of 8-4 and were determined to find a way of reversing the trend. Last season was magical. Can they find a way to keep that going? I think they can. I like the new attacking defense that Hermann installed. As for the quarterback, I like Brady. He nearly beat out Brian Griese last year, and looks to be the QB of the future. All he needs to do is realize that he doesn't have to win a single game.
Q: I am a huge Notre Dame fan and I was wondering what their chances are this year of competing for a national championship. Also, how good is tailback Autry Denson. And is Bob Davie's job on the line if he doesn't have a winning season.
Gary Williams
Toronto
Trev says: Notre Dame will have one of two outcomes this year. Either a coming together and a commitment to excellence, or a free for all in the loss column. Autry Denson is an excellent back, and needs to be the focus of the offense. Another killer schedule leaves Notre Dame dreaming of years past.
Q: Don't you think the preseason ranking for the ASU Sun Devils may be too overrated? Granted they return eight starters on offense, but we all know defense wins games and they only returned four starters. Some people have ranked them as high as No. 2 and I don't see anything that would justify this. I still remember that embarrassment of a game against Arizona and how they were beaten in every aspect of the game by a young BYU team. Last year's schedule wasn't the toughest. Why do you think they are ranked so high?
Roman Garcia
Tempe, Arizona
Trev says: I don't think that the preseason ranking is out of line for ASU. I love the job that coach Synder has done. Offensively this team will have the best weapons of any team in the Pac-10. Ryan Kealy looks poised to be the Jake the Snake of the past. I can't wait to see J.R. Redmond. I think this guy is underrated in his ability to make a game break wide open. The schedule is favorable, with UCLA not on the schedule and most tough games at home.
Q: FSU has a strong defense despite losing strong players to the NFL and an unproven QB that hasn't taken a snap in years. However, they're near the top in everyone's polls. Auburn is in the same situation, but their QB has been around the program for two years. They are ranked 25th or worse in most polls. Why isn't Terry Bowden given any respect coming off a 10-3 season?
Kevin Grabow
Charlotte, North Carolina
Trev says: Make no mistake there should be no comparison between the athletes coming back at FSU versus what Auburn has. Terry Bowden is a great coach, but the fact is that his roster doesn't contain the level of athletes that his father's does. Quarterback is an important position for all teams, but usually the athletes surrounding the QB is what is really important in the
development of the QB. FSU would beat Auburn 9 out of 10 times.
Q: How much of a change is at Nebraska with Frank Solich leading the team? Even though he was not your position coach, what do you think of Frank?
Jeff Winters
Omaha, Nebraska
Trev says: I think that Frank was the only one for the Nebraska job. His demeanor, both on and off the field, looks to serve the Cornhuskers for years to come. The players really respect Frank, and I think that is the key. Tom Osborne was a master of making the necessary adjustments. Can Frank continue that? We will have to wait and see.
Q: Hey Mr. Alberts! I was born and raised an Iowa Hawkeye fan, but I'm afraid this year I might have to settle for mediocrity. I was wondering, however, if you had any thoughts on DL Jared DeVries. What does he need to do this season to be a frontrunner for the Lombardi and secure himself as a top '99 draft pick?
Todd Smidt
Waukee, Iowa
Trev says: I really like players like Jared DeVries. His hustle and commitment to the Iowa program is what Hayden Fry needs if he will ever get out of the mediocrity mode. Jared is ranked the No. 1 defensive prospect for the NFL. That means he has them taking notice. He still needs to go out and
produce. He will face more and more double teams and really doesn't have
great talent around him. Iowa seems to be content with a team that will
challenge and get to a bowl game, but will never get to the championship
level. A young coach with Iowa ties will be needed to get Iowa to the next
level.
Q: Do you think the University of Miami and Butch Davis are heading in the right direction towards becoming a national powerhouse again? If so, how far away is Miami from realistically competing for a national championship?
Eric L.
Miami
Trev says: With the kind of probation that Miami got, it will continue to take time. Scholarships are the key. Miami will need another five years before they will be playing for the national championship. Butch Davis is a great coach and is the right man. He has changed people's perception about the athletes at Miami, but no national championships.
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