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Surprise, surprise This year's Oklahoma, Alabama anyone's best guess
Updated: Tuesday May 15, 2001 11:45 AM
College football of today is played in a time of reduced scholarships and increased parity -- one where Oregon State can wallop Notre Dame in a bowl game and hardly raise an eyebrow -- and it could be said there is no such thing as a true surprise anymore. Yeah, right. Try telling that to some of the recipients. More than a few people caught off-guard last year in Tuscaloosa when the beloved Crimson Tide went an unthinkable 3-8, or in Happy Valley during Penn State's worst season under Joe Paterno. And they're still scratching their heads in Austin over that Red River game that ended 63-14 -- in favor of the bad guys. This year's version of Oklahoma (7-5 to 13-0), Iowa State (first bowl game in 22 years) or Alabama (10-3 to 3-8) will likely come out of nowhere. But that doesn't mean it's not fun to guess ...
This year's Oklahoma?Four already decent teams that could suddenly rise up to national-title contender: Georgia Tech: Already deemed Tech's deepest team since its 1990 co-national title run, the sky's the limit if the Jackets finally clear the Florida State hurdle, Sept. 15 in Tallahassee. The biggest question mark is whether QB George Godsey and the offense will continue their recent level of explosiveness under new coordinator Bill O'Brien.
LSU: The Tigers are as good a pick as any in the balanced SEC West. The defense is loaded, and on offense, QB Rohan Davey, RB LaBrandon Toefield and WR Josh Reed are all proven talents. A benchmark game will come Oct. 6 when Steve Spurrier and the Gators visit Death Valley. Northwestern: First of all, if this longtime punching bag actually played for a national title, its numerous alumni sportswriters would jump on the story faster than you can say " Damien Anderson ." Speaking of whom, the runner is one of 10 starters back from an offense that gained 468 yards a game. The defense, though, will need to improve dramatically. Virginia Tech: Any other program couldn't possibly register a "surprise" after going 11-1 two consecutive seasons, but many traditionalists still don't realize the talent didn't start and end with Michael Vick. You may be familiar, for instance, with tailback Lee Suggs. He ran for 1,207 yards and 27 touchdowns last season.
This year's Iowa State?Four previously mediocre teams poised to leap into at least a bowl game. Indiana: Some consider Antwaan Randle El's move to receiver an act of craziness. Coach Cam Cameron considers it a way to get his best 11 players on the field. He better be right -- this is the critical fourth year of Cameron's rebuilding effort, with nothing to show for it so far but a bunch of Randle El for Heisman propaganda. Maryland: The Terps have been teetering on the brink for two years now. They lose all-time rushing leader LaMont Jordan, but they add a proven offensive coach in ex-Georgia Tech coordinator Ralph Friedgen, who seems to have found his latest pet quarterback in senior Shaun Hill. Temple: The Owls, who haven't won more than four games since 1990, are playing with added motivation this year -- their own conference wants to kick them out. Coach Bobby Wallace swears this is the year they'll surprise, thanks to a whopping 20 returning starters, including 1,000-yard rusher Tanardo Sharps. Toledo: The Rockets are why the MAC garnered a second bowl partnership this year, having been shutout last winter despite going 10-1 and winning at Penn State. Coach Gary Pinkel left for Missouri, but Heisman darkhorse Chester Taylor (1,470 yards, 19 TDs) passed up the NFL to return.
This year's Alabama?Four highly ranked teams from last year that could be in for a slide. Florida State: No one's suggesting the Seminoles will slip that far. But 8-3 -- god forbid -- is not out of the question for a program that hasn't finished out of the top four in 14 years. FSU faces its biggest one-year rebuilding job since before that span. Michigan: Losing Drew Henson hurt far more than imaginable for an offense that was already facing life without superstars Anthony Thomas and David Terrell. The Maize and Blue will always have the athletes to be competitive but may take some lumps in this year's Big Ten. Oregon: The Ducks are this year's Pac-10 preseason darlings, which isn't always a good thing. Unfortunately we prognosticators are going largely on their Holiday Bowl win over Texas, in which QB Joey Harrington played far above his previous level. And oh yeah, Oregon lost seven defensive starters. TCU: The Horned Frogs are in for a reality check, and not just because they're taking a step up from the WAC to Conference USA. They're also losing head coach Dennis Franchione, and LaDainian Tomlinson was only one of seven NFL draftees.
Time for a new whipping boyThe days of constantly bashing Kansas State for its cupcake non-conference schedule are over. The school that in recent years brought us the likes of Ball State (76-0), North Texas (55-10) and Utah State (40-0) was already set to begin next season at USC. Now comes word the Wildcats have sought a waiver necessary to face perennial giant-slayer Southern Miss in the BCA Classic. It appears Bill Snyder has either given in to his critics, or is extraordinarily confident in this year's squad. So with one crusade accomplished, who to target next? A few wimp-of-the-year candidates include Oregon State (Fresno State, New Mexico State, Montana State), Mississippi (Murray State, Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee State) and LSU (Tulane, Utah State, Middle Tennessee).
Worth notingSt. Paul, Minn., native and FSU quarterback signee Joe Mauer says he will wait until after next month's baseball draft to decide which sport he'll pursue. His hometown Twins have the top pick in June's baseball draft, and Mauer is the top catching prospect in the country. A recent game of his drew 26 scouts, including Twins GM Terry Ryan. Eerily, Mauer attends the same high school as former baseball player-turned-FSU-QB Chris Weinke. ... Colorado coach Gary Barnett is mystified by his program's penchant for shoulder injuries. Eight of 23 injured players this spring needed shoulder surgery, with 46 such operations over the past five years. "The shoulder injuries seem way out of proportion," said Barnett. "We knew we had a problem a year ago, then it reoccurred this spring." ... During a routine approval of Oklahoma's charter package for the season, school president David Boren said he would write TWA a letter stating OU's preference not to travel during questionable conditions. The motive, obviously, was Oklahoma State's January plane crash that killed 10 members of its basketball team's traveling party. CNNSI.com's Stewart Mandel will offer his latest Offseason Beat notes regularly from now till Kickoff 2001. If you have questions, comments, ideas or scoops for the Beat, click here.
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