Let 'er Rip

First a Few Words...

As Larry King might say, Marcus Houston, hello...which is our way of introducing this college football season, one that heralds the de-, buts of both the aforementioned Colorado freshman running back (rated the nation's top high school rusher in 1999) and Brigham Young starting quarterback Bret Engemann, who happens to be King's brother-in-law. And so, with apologies to our favorite USA Today columnist, here goes:

My two cents.... Call me crazy, but if quarterback Major Applewhite sets single-season records at Texas for passing yardage, touchdown passes and total offense and beats Nebraska, all of which he did last season, shouldn't he be the Longhorns' starter? And while I'm on the subject, understudy Chris Simms not only wants the job, he changed his jersey number from 8 to 1 in the off-season—talk about cocky.... If you thought Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch was a two-way threat on the field, you should have seen him sing and act in the musical Surprise! on July 29 at Omaha's Jewish Community Center. Insiders say that the Husker is in negotiations to perform in a revival of Oklahoma! on Oct. 28 in Norman.... You heard it here first, gang: Navy will defeat Notre Dame for the first time since 1963.... How desperate are the Irish? They signed a kid at running back named (Garron) Bible.... This just in: Two of Mississippi State's stalwarts are Pig Prather and Pork Chop Womack. Shouldn't they be playing for the Razorbacks?... Call me old-fashioned, but I'm not about to get excited about the inaugural galleryfurniture.com Bowl, to be played on Dec. 27 in the Astrodome.... Marshall coach Bob Pruett is 50-4 in his first four seasons in Huntington, W.Va. Can this guy coach or what?... Whatever happened to Elvis Peacock?... Nittany Lions quarterback Rashard Casey could get hit with prison time for allegedly committing aggravated assault. Has anyone ever gone directly from Penn State to the state pen?...

Enough. Enough. King, who has dropped his in-law's name in his Monday column on more than one occasion, is understandably enthused about BYU's approaching season. However, the Cougars open in prime time against defending national champion Florida State on Aug. 26 in Jacksonville. You can be sure that Bobby Bowden will mention to his Seminoles that BYU has a current streak of 312 straight games without being shut out, an NCAA record dating to October 1975. And you can be sure the Seminoles will be trying to terminate it.

Bad Things Happen in Threes

If the national championship were like Survivor, one sure way to get voted off the island would be to schedule back-to-back-to-back games against powerhouses. The tiki torch will be extinguished for these teams.

Colorado (Sept. 9, 16, 30) At USC, then Washington and Kansas State in Boulder. CU...later Buffaloes.

Georgia Tech (Aug. 27, Sept. 2, 9) at Virginia Tech, home against Central Florida, at Florida State. (The Golden Knights, in case you're wondering, aren't half bad.)

Missouri (Sept. 9, 16, 30) at Clemson, home against Michigan State, at Nebraska. (The Tigers, suffering a scheduling anxiety attack, have canceled dates with UCLA in 2001 and 2002.)

Notre Dame (Sept. 2, 9, 16) Irish wage a stay-at-home crusade versus Texas A&M, Nebraska and Purdue.