Uh-oh, the editors are raising an eyebrow, and I see Stewart warming up. Better get the letters started.

Care to revise your thoughts on Notre Dame's ability to absorb a new system? Sure, the Irish didn't score an offensive touchdown, but they dominated a team that was the media darling/Cinderella story of a year ago. All last week I heard "experts" talk about how the talent level in South Bend is down. Since Saturday, I've listened to a number of "experts" talk about the speed of the Notre Dame defense. My, how perceptions change once the wind picks up.
—Jason K., Seattle

Jason, you deserve your "I told you so" moment, so I won't argue.

Feel better? Good.

Notre Dame played better than I expected. What impressed me is that any good team should have beaten Maryland, which was without tailback Bruce Perry, soundly. Notre Dame played as a good team should play, which it hadn't done in a couple of years. But I wouldn't buy your tickets for the Fiesta Bowl just yet. Maryland wouldn't have scored on too many teams last Saturday.

Do you think Notre Dame should try and join the Big Ten or some conference that has an opening and get away from playing a hard-nosed schedule week in and week out?
—Robert R., North Haven, Conn.

The Irish had the chance to join the Big Ten a few years ago. They turned the conference down, and, selfishly speaking, I'm glad. Notre Dame is unique, and as long as the university feels it can maintain its presence as a "national school," I say go for it.

Is anybody in a position to do something about the kind of message that is sent when Ohio State (as an example) will have played four games before students even arrive on campus? Or, more telling, before one of its standout players has attended a class? Are these college events or semi-pro games? (Wait, never mind. Don't answer that.)
—Dave Salisbury, Kettering, Ohio

Dave, I'm nominating you to run the NCAA. The job's open.

It's funny how I've begun to hear administrators discuss the 12th game becoming permanent. When it passed a few years ago, as a once-every-few-years feature, administrators took pains to say that they wouldn't try to expand it. But the camel got his nose into the huddle. Now I'll be surprised if it doesn't pass.

Lou Holtz has been very quiet this year. Do you think he and the Gamecocks are going to surprise some folks in the SEC?
—Brian Connon, St. Marys, W.Va.

I think Lou is slowing down. Not only was he not as funny at the SEC preseason media day, he told the same joke twice. The second time, the silence was so loud I'm surprised he didn't tap the mike and say, "Is this on?"

I'm not questioning whether he can still coach. I'm just saying he's not "on" as much anymore. He's using his energy elsewhere.

Why is it that everybody talks about the Oklahoma defense but not the Texas defense? The Longhorns had the best overall defense last year, and they did it without anybody talking about them. Sure, they lost Quentin Jammer and D.D. Lewis, but they have people like Nathan Vasher and Derrick Johnson to replace them. By the way, both of the latter are on the watch lists for awards at their respective positions. Nothing against Oklahoma's D, because it's great, but I believe Texas' D deserves some talk, too.
—Steven Spreen, San Antonio

Texas had a stifling defense for one year; Oklahoma has done it for two. Plus, Oklahoma held Texas to a field goal last season. I know that the Longhorns defense allowed only one of the Sooners' two touchdowns. But Oklahoma won. Get used to it.

By the way, award "watch lists" are about as exclusive as voter-registration lists. Don't take them too seriously.

I know Miami lost its secondary, but why does Oklahoma get billed as the best defense in the land? Miami's D-line is every team's nightmare, and its linebackers are like wild beasts with helmets that run like the wind and hit like Mack trucks. Unless opposing teams plan on throwing a lot I don't see the secondary as a problem, especially since Miami believes in rotating players when winning and most of the new starters have playing time under their belts.
—Stephen Bury, Richmond, Va.

C'mon, Stephen. Even Larry Coker acknowledged on Monday that having a new secondary is problematic. I agree with everything you say. In fact, an NFL scout told me last spring that Miami's new starters are as talented as the guys who departed for the pros. Still, until they get some experience as starters, I'm reserving judgment. Florida A&M connected on a couple of passes last week that it shouldn't have completed.

Why doesn't BYU receive any respect from the media? Don't the last 20 years of Cougars football warrant some kind of respect from sportswriters?
—David Whelan, Ogden, Utah

David, didn't you get the memo? It's all a big sportswriting plot. We all secretly agreed to diss the entire state. We're boycotting ZCMI. We're refusing to capitalize the V in LaVell. I've given away all my Olympic pins (except for the green Jell-O).

Or it may just be the traditional concerns about the strength of schedule in the Mountain West Conference. Don't talk to me about last year, either. BYU was soundly beaten in its last two games. I'm not saying the Cougars weren't any good last season. But the argument that they belonged in a BCS bowl was refuted by Hawaii and Louisville.

What is the best college football rivalry in the country? And where does the Red River Shootout rank?
—Ryan, Tulsa, Okla.

Having worked in Dallas from 1987 to 1994 -- and who can forget those titanic struggles between the teams of David McWilliams and Gary Gibbs -- I struggle somewhat with the idea of where to place the Texas-OU rivalry among the top. For sheer hate, I'd go with Alabama-Auburn. For quality of talent, I'd pick Florida State-Miami over Texas-OU, although this Oct. 12 may change my mind.

Steve Spurrier is now antagonizing coaches, players and fans in the NFL. Do you see anyone in the college game today who can create the same kind of passion and polarization he did?
—Jack, Bryson CIty, N.C.

Passion and polarization: Now that Bill Clinton has ruled out a talk show, I'd keep an eye on him for the Arkansas job.

The Arkansas Razorbacks return three good running backs, most of the offensive line and a sophomore QB who had plenty of on-the-job training last year. The defense has few holes and a top-notch secondary. I have seen many predictions, and all say Arkansas will finish either first or fifth in the SEC West. Why such a difference? How do you think they will do?
—J. Carl, Pocola, Okla.

I think when a team finishes a bowl game with 50 total yards, as the Hogs did the Cotton Bowl, no one knows what to make of it. I sure don't. Does that mean the OU defense was that good? The Razorbacks offense that bad? Plus, no team in the SEC West has established itself as the leader. LSU, the favorite, looked terrible at Virginia Tech.

With the talk of expanding to a 12-game schedule, would it not behoove the Pac-10 to return to sanity and have all conference members play each other? I mean, Washington State and Oregon State are not playing this year so they can schedule Montana State and Eastern Kentucky, respectively? Gimme a frickin' break! I would think that legitimizing the conference champion and continuing rivalries (Oregon and Washington haven't played for two years, which is an absolute joke) would be more important than a money game against a I-AA opponent. Any chance that the powers-that-be would make a decision based on logic and decency instead of money? I suppose I already know the answer to that question.
—Tim, Tumwater, Wash.

Your idea makes sense, Tim. Don't sell the conference short. The Pac-10 has a habit of doing what it thinks is right, instead of following the crowd. For instance, the league has soundly rejected the idea of expansion. My point is, I wouldn't be surprised if, in a 12-game schedule, the league went to a full round-robin.

With defenses getting faster and faster, are option-oriented offenses (e.g., Nebraska) in danger of becoming obsolete?
—M. Kehm, Sequim, Wash.

No way. The offensive recruits are getting faster and faster, too. In fact, the option actually has returned to favor. It stretches defenses and makes them account for the quarterback.

Where's the love for Michigan State? How about Charlie Rogers up for Heisman? What about Jeff Smoker? It's a stretch now, but when/if the Spartans win the Big Ten, those two have to be up for consideration. Right?
—Rob Mathes, Indianapolis

You got it, Rob. I was late for the Spartan bus, and I'm sprinting like hell to get on it.

I am a Washington State alum and a professor at Colorado State. This means my two favorite D-1 programs perpetually live in the shadow of more "cosmopolitan" schools. What would it take for either WSU or CSU to find its way into the top 10 (and over Washington and Colorado)? Is there a corollary to the "East Coast bias" that requires discrimination against "western cow colleges"?
—Eric Schuck, Wellington, Colo.

Your alma mater will have an easier time of it than your employer, although if the Rams win at UCLA on Saturday, they'll garner the kind of attention Fresno State did last season. Washington State is the Pac-10 favorite, so the Cougars' pub is taken care of it.

Your cow-college theory is interesting, and there's probably something to it. Influential papers are located in cities. Cow colleges, as you call them, are not. I'm sure you could sign on some believers in College Station, Texas; Auburn, Ala.; and Ames, Iowa.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Ivan Maisel covers college football for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Click here to send a question to his Mailbag.

 

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