THE CFI TOP 25 COUNTDOWN: #10 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

BY DANIEL MOGOLLON
CO-FOUNDER
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDERS



2006 RECORD: 6-7; SEC: 2-6
Lost Independence Bowl vs. Oklahoma St. 31-24
LOCATION: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
STADIUM: Bryant-Denny (92,138)
HEAD COACH: Nick Saban
OVERALL: 91-42-1 (11 seasons)
AT ALABAMA: 0-0 (0 seasons)

Roll Tide Roll…I may be the first to put the Crimson Tide in the top ten, but something tells me I will not be the last. Alabama returns 14 starters and brings in another talented class, which will make for a very successful inaugural campaign in Tuscaloosa for new headman Nick Saban, who has rejuvenated the base to use political terms. How often do schools sell out their spring games and have to turn people back for a scrimmage? Speaking of politics…I think I might be able to run for office in the State with this love I am showing the Tide, although I would run under the party represented by the donkey, not the elephant…I guess no one’s perfect…Roll Tide.

WHEN THE TIDE HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Major Applewhite (1st Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 9
KEY LOSSES: Ken Darby, Le’Ron McClain, Tim Castille

Why is Alabama going to be better than people believe? Because they return nine starters on offense, including their entire offensive line. At left tackle, Andre Smith started all 13 games as a true freshman, with junior center Antoine Caldwell coming into his third year as a starter and both are ready to earn some All-SEC honors. If they provide the pass protection I expect, Bama’s aerial attack will surprise many this season. John Parker Wilson is ready to blossom this season, as underrated a signal caller as there is in the nation and he has weapons to boot. DJ Hall set the school’s single season record for receiving yards last season, with Keith Brown a deep threat who is tough to cover one-0n-one, each is a senior and both stand at 6’3”. Backing them up are the trio of Matt Caddell, Will Oakley and Nikita Stovall, all of whom displayed last season they can contribute. Junior tight end Travis McCall could emerge as a weapon as well. They are unproven at running back, however they are never short on talent at tailback, look for Jimmy Johns and Terry Grant to provide a one-two punch.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Andre Smith (SO), 2) DJ Hall (SR), 3) Keith Brown (SR), 4) Antoine Caldwell (JR), 5) John Parker Wilson (JR), 6) Justin Britt (SR), 7) BJ Stabler (JR), 8) Terry Grant (FR)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Kevin Steele (1st Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 5
KEY LOSSES: Juwan Simpson, Jeffrey Dukes, Ramzee Robinson, Terrance Jones

This is where Nick Saban must work his magic implementing his 50-defense. The key is how newcomers step in and perform. Redshirt freshman Brian Motley has shifted over from center to take over the critical nose guard position, clearly having impressed Saban. Playing behind him is true frosh Rolando McCain, a speedy linebacker with the ability to be an impact player and the size (6’4”/245) to handle playing on the inside in the 3-4. This is not to say they do not have any returning talent, because they do. Inside linebacker Prince Hall is a stud in the making, their best defender in 2006 as a freshman, with senior Simeon Castille a potential first round pick with deft cover skills. Providing backup is speedy safety Marcus Carter, with two more seniors Bobby Greenwood and Wallace Gilberry manning the defensive end positions.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Prince Hall (SO), 2) Simeon Castille (SR), 3) Rolando McClain (FR), 4) Wallace Gilberry (SR), 5) Keith Saunders (SR), 6) Marcus Carter (SR), 7) Eric Gray (SR), 8) Bobby Greenwood (SR), 9) Brian Motley (FR)

THE SCHEDULE

Nick Saban has the schedule set up with some home cooking this season. Not that their schedule is an easy one, but they do not face a tough road test until they visit Auburn for the season finale. SEC West contenders LSU and Arkansas both come to Tuscaloosa, as do East rivals Tennessee and Georgia. With over 92,000 coming to see a spring scrimmage you bet they will have a rabid crowd for all of their rivalry games. Furthermore, if they ever get any momentum going, they will just continue to ramp it up more and more as the season goes along. They also play Florida St. out of conference at a neutral site.

PIVOTAL POINT

Nick Saban is the easy answer, however I am going with their play in the trenches. Last season, they averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and allowed 28 sacks. With the same players returning why should they be better, you might ask. Smith was a true freshman playing the most important position on the line, left tackle, and he should be ready to step up and dominate. Britt was also in his first season as a starter after playing his first two years on the defensive side of the ball. Furthermore, in Caldwell and Stabler, you have a duo that the previous staff may have rushed into duty as freshman in 2005 out of necessity, but are now well-seasoned players coming into their third years as regulars. Finally, with Saban and O-Line coach Joe Pendry (19 years in the NFL) improvement is inevitable. Defensively, neither Wallace Gilberry, nor Bobby Greenwood (both ends), have fulfilled the promise they displayed when making the All-SEC freshman team in 2004. Saban knows how to get the most out of his players.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

I could be way off, but I cannot help but wonder if part of the reason that David Shula was fired is that the powers that be were worried he would have a big season in 2007. Not to say that adding Saban was not a coup…because it was. Last year, they lost at eventual SEC West Champ Arkansas by one point in double OT, at Tennessee by three points and they out-gained Auburn by over 100 yards in their loss to the Tigers -- they will win those types of games this season.

Check back tomorrow to see who is #9 in CFI’s Top 25 Countdown

FUTURE BRIGHTER THAN PRESENT FOR GOPHERS

BY SHAWN ZOBEL
CFI BIG TEN WRITER

The last time the Minnesota Golden Gophers won the Rose Bowl was in 1962, 45 years ago. This is why, when new Gophers head coach Tim Brewster stated that his immediate goals for the program were to "win the Big Ten championship" and to "take the Gopher Nation to Pasadena", many fans chuckled and rolled their eyes, with good reason.

With a team that lost starters at quarterback (Bryan Cupito), wide receiver (Logan Payne), and tight end (Mackey Award winner Matt Spaeth), there doesn't seem to be much hope. Offensively, there still is not an established starting quarterback for the 2007 season. Leading the running back position, without Marion Barber, Laurence Maroney, or Gary Russell, will be Amir Pinnix. Along the offensive line, the Gophers feature one of the top centers in college football in Tony Brinkhaus and an underrated left tackle in Steve Shidell. At tight end, they will attempt to replace Spaeth with junior Jack Simmons. With seven catches for 134 yards in the 2006 Insight Bowl, Simmons has given the Gophers coaching staff some optimism. Outside of sophomore Eric Decker and inconsistent but talented senior Ernie Wheelwright, Minnesota’s receiving corps doesn’t have much to offer.

Things became bleaker when on Sunday, July 15, strong safety Dominic Jones was arrested and charged with felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct for allegedly raping an 18-year-old woman in April. This came after three other players, defensive end Alex Daniels, cornerback Keith Massey, and running back E.J. Jones were arrested on Friday, April 6th, accused of sexual assault. By July 18, Brewster had kicked all four players off the team for their involvement in the incident.

On the field, this was a huge hit. Jones was the heart and soul of the Gophers defense. He was one of the hardest hitting players on the team and one of the best kick returners in the country. As for the other three players, the coaching staff moved Daniels from linebacker last season to running back, then to defensive end. His presence will be missed. Massey was expected to be one of the team’s top cornerbacks, while E.J. Jones was a backup running back.

Considering their losses, the scouting report for the defensive side of the ball is not too promising. Their top player, Jones, is gone, and their defensive backfield is expected to be one of the worst in the Big Ten. Along the defensive line, the Gophers feature All-Big Ten defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg, who recorded 10 sacks in 2006. It will be hard to replace Daniels, who was expected to start opposite of VanDeSteeg. You could argue that the Gophers most experienced position is linebacker where seniors Mike Sherels and John Shevlin will line up alongside junior Steve Davis. Junior backup linebacker Deon Hightower is also a solid player. After finishing 113th nationally in total defense in 2006, this season could actually be worse defensively.

Glenn Mason’s tenure as headman at the University ended on December 29, 2006, when the Gophers became the laughing stock of college football. After the Gophers took a 38-7 with 7:47 remaining in the third quarter, everyone wearing the Maroon and gold were giddy, that is until Texas Tech rallied to score 31 unanswered points to send the game to overtime. The Gophers scored a field goal to open up the extra period, but the Red Raiders responded with a touchdown to win the Insight Bowl.

The Gophers had allowed the Red Raiders to make the largest comeback in NCAA bowl history. Two days later, the University officially fired Mason.

This is the same Gophers team that coach Brewster feels will, "win the Big Ten championship" and "take the Gopher Nation to Pasadena."

On the bright side, the Gophers have a new stadium opening in 2009, which should bring new opportunities to recruiting and Gopher fans should be happy that it appears Brewster won’t stop working until his team succeeds. He has begun to set a solid base in trying to recruit Minnesota’s best high school players and not let them leave the state.

For the 2007 season, I would not expect a whole lot. The Gophers bring in a brand new coach, different systems to learn, and lose several players. They could very well take last place in the Big Ten, and a bowl game seems out of the question. However, with Brewster at the helm, the future appears to be brighter for the Gopher Nation.

DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPION GRAND VALLEY STATE BEGINS THE 2007 SEASON AT NO. 1 IN THE FIRST AFCA DIVISION II COACHES’ POLL

WACO, TEX.-- Defending national champion Grand Valley State opens the season at No. 1 in the 2007 preseason American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll.

Grand Valley State received 25 of a possible 28 first place votes and will look to win their fifth national title in six years in 2007. Last year’s runner-up, Northwest Missouri State, received two first place votes and begins the season where it finished last year, at No. 2. North Dakota slides in at No. 3 and received the final first place vote. No. 4 North Alabama begins defense of its Gulf South Conference title on Sept. 8 versus Tusculum while No. 5 Chadron State opens its season against No. 25 Washburn this coming Saturday.

Valdosta State opens the season at the same spot it did last year, at No. 6. Pittsburg State enters this year’s poll at No. 7 after finishing 15th last season, while Shepherd starts exactly where it left last year, at No. 8. No. 9 Bloomsburg will look to get a step further in the playoffs in 2007 after losing in the semifinals last season. No. 10 South Dakota looks to supplant preseason favorite North Dakota as the top team in the North Central Conference.

Abilene Christian begins 2007 at No. 11 after finishing 10th in 2006. No. 12 Delta State will look to improve on their semifinal appearance and No. 3 ranking from last season. No. 13 Nebraska-Omaha starts its season on September 1 against instate rival Nebraska-Kearney. No. 14 Northwood and No. 15 Carson-Newman will look to improve on identical 8-3 records from last season.

Newberry starts defense of its South Atlantic Conference title as the 16th ranked team in the Division II Coaches’ Poll. West Chester finished last season at No. 24 with a 9-4 record, but begins 2007 at No. 17. Southeastern Oklahoma State was unranked at the end of the 2006 season, but starts this year at No. 18. No. 19 Bemidji State is the preseason favorite in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while No. 20 Albany State is once again the favorite in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Elizabeth City State and California start 2007 tied at No. 21. Midwestern State is looking to improve on their 10-3 mark from a year ago and starts the season at No. 23, while conference rival West Texas A&M comes in at one spot below at No. 24. Washburn was unranked at the end of the 2006 season, but begins this year in the final spot of the Coaches’ Top 25 poll.

Conference Breakdown: The Lone Star Conference (Abilene Christian, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Midwestern State, West Texas A&M) has the most representatives in the preseason AFCA Division II Coaches’ Poll with four. Other conferences represented include: Gulf South-3 (North Alabama, Valdosta State, Delta State); MIAA-3 (Northwest Missouri State, Pittsburg State, Washburn); North Central-3 (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska-Omaha); Pennsylvania State Athletic-3 (Bloomsburg, West Chester, California (Pa.)); Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic-2 (Grand Valley State, Northwood); South Atlantic-2 (Carson-Newman, Newberry); Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association-1 (Elizabeth City State); Northern Sun Intercollegiate-1 (Bemidji State); Rocky Mountain Athletic-1 (Chadron State); Southern Intercollegiate-1 (Albany State); West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic-1 (Shepherd).

The Poll

The AFCA Division II Coaches’ Poll follows the same format as the Division I-A and Division III polls. A Division II Board of Coaches made up of 28 AFCA-member head coaches from NCAA Division II schools around the country will vote each Sunday for the top 25 teams in the division. All Division II football-playing conferences are represented on the voting board, as well as independent schools. The poll will be released on Tuesdays during the regular season, see the results at www.afca.com.

Poll Points

Forty-three schools spent at least one week ranked in the 2006 AFCA Coaches’ Poll ... Thirteen schools were ranked in the Top 25 all 14 weeks the poll was released in 2006 (Grand Valley St., Northwest Missouri St., North Alabama, North Dakota, Valdosta St., Bloomsburg, Pittsburg St., West Texas A&M, Nebraska-Omaha, South Dakota, Shepherd, Winona St., Northwood) ... Eventual 2006 national champion Grand Valley State was ranked No. 1 at the beginning of the 2006 season ... Since the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 debuted in 2000, Grand Valley State has been ranked No. 1 for 56 weeks, including their top ranking in this year’s preseason poll ... The other six schools which have appeared No. 1 in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 poll are Northwest Missouri State (12 weeks), Valdosta State (nine), Delta State (seven), Pittsburg State (four), Saginaw Valley State (three) and North Dakota (one) ... Pittsburg State is the only school to have appeared in every Top 25 poll since it was first released in 2000.

American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll

Line One: Rank School (1st votes), 2006 Rec., Pts., 2006 Rank; Line Two: Season Opener, Head Coach

1. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) (25) 15-0 694 1
Aug. 30 vs. St. Joseph’s (Ind.) Chuck Martin
2. Northwest Missouri St. (2) 14-1 672 2
Aug. 23 vs. Arkansas Tech Mel Tjeerdsma
3. North Dakota (1) 11-2 606 7
Aug. 23 vs. Humboldt St. (Calif.) Dale Lennon
4. North Alabama 11-1 594 6
Sept. 8 vs. Tusculum (Tenn.) Mark Hudspeth
5. Chadron St. (Neb.) 12-1 484 5
Aug. 25 at No. 25 Washburn (Kan.) Bill O’Boyle
6. Valdosta St. (Ga.) 8-2 446 14
Sept. 1 vs. No. 20 Albany St. (Ga.) David Dean
7. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 10-2 436 15
Aug. 25 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce Chuck Broyles
8. Shepherd (W.Va.) 11-1 373 8
Aug. 25 vs. Millersville (Pa.) Monte Cater
9. Bloomsburg (Pa.) 12-2 356 4
Sept. 1 vs. C.W. Post (N.Y.) Danny Hale
10. South Dakota 9-4 349 13
Aug. 30 at No. 24 West Texas A&M Ed Meierkort
11. Abilene Christian (Texas) 8-3 346 20
Sept. 1 at Central Oklahoma Chris Thomsen
12. Delta St. (Miss.) 12-3 343 3
Sept. 1 at Jackson St. (Miss.) Ron Roberts
13. Nebraska-Omaha 8-3 333 11
Sept. 1 at Nebraska-Kearney Pat Behrns
14. Northwood (Mich.) 8-3 313 18
Sept. 1 vs. Mercyhurst (Pa.) Pat Riepma
15. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 8-3 293 NR
Aug. 23 vs. Virginia St. Ken Sparks
16. Newberry (S.C.) 11-2 260 12
Sept. 1 vs. Chowan (N.C.) Zak Willis
17. West Chester (Pa.) 9-4 248 24
Sept. 1 at Edinboro (Pa.) Bill Zwaan
18. Southeastern Oklahoma St. 6-4 227 NR
Aug. 30 vs. Northwestern Oklahoma St. Ray Richards
19. Bemidji St. (Minn.) 9-3 194 23
Sept. 1 at Minnesota-Duluth Jeff Tesch
20. Albany St. (Ga.) 8-3 191 NR
Aug. 25 vs. North Carolina Central Mike White
21T. Elizabeth City St. (N.C.) 9-3 185 21
Sept. 1 vs. Catawba (N.C.) Waverly Tillar
21T. California (Pa.) 8-3 185 NR
Aug. 27 at East Stroudsburg (Pa.) John Luckhardt
23. Midwestern St. (Texas) 10-3 174 17
Aug. 25 at Adams St. (Colo.) Bill Maskill
24. West Texas A&M 11-2 148 10
Aug. 30 vs. No. 10 South Dakota Don Carthel
25. Washburn (Kan.) 7-4 86 NR
Aug. 25 vs. No. 5 Chadron St. (Neb.) Craig Schurig

*– Ranking in final AFCA Division II Poll of 2006

Others Receiving Votes: Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 79; Tiffin (Ohio), 70; Missouri Western St., 59; Southern Connecticut St., 53; Indiana (Pa.), 36; Tuskegee (Ala.), 36; Southwestern Oklahoma St., 26; Winona St. (Minn.), 26; St. Augustine’s (N.C.), 25; Tarleton St. (Texas), 22; Humboldt St. (Calif.), 20; Nebraska-Kearney, 12; C.W. Post (N.Y.), 9; Catawba (N.C.), 9; Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 9; Central Washington, 8; Ferris St. (Mich.), 7; Wingate (N.C.), 7; Arkansas Tech, 5; Bowie St. (Md.), 5; Mary (N.D.), 5; Henderson St. (Ark.), 4; North Greenville (S.C.), 3; Western Washington, 3; Kentucky St., 2; Minnesota-Duluth, 2; Lane (Tenn.), 1; Merrimack (Mass.), 1; Texas A&M-Kingsville, 1.

For more information on the AFCA and its programs, log on to the AFCA’s website at www.afca.com.

THE CFI TOP 25 COUNTDOWN: #11 TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

BY DANIEL MOGOLLON
CO-FOUNDER
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDERS




2006 RECORD: 9-4; BIG EAST: 5-3
Lost Outback Bowl vs. Penn St. 20-10
LOCATION: Knoxville, Tennessee
STADIUM: Neyland (102,038)
HEAD COACH: Phillip Fulmer
OVERALL: 137-41 (15 seasons)
AT TENNESSEE: 137-41 (15 seasons)

The Vols have dropped 13 games in the last three seasons and there is little doubt in the mind of many that they have taken a step back as a program. They suffered heart breaking fourth quarter losses to Florida and LSU, with Erik Ainge missing most the game against the Tigers, as well as their loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks. Phillip Fulmer was much closer to pulling out an 11-1 regular season than it may have appeared. Make no mistake…the Vols still have the horses to join the elite…a top ten finish and even a Southeastern Conference Championship are not out of the question.

WHEN THE VOLS HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINAROR: David Cutcliffe (2nd Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 6
KEY LOSSES: Robert Meachem, Jayson Swain, Brent Smith, Arron Sears

Naysayers lament their lack of a running game last season, as well as the departure of their top three receivers, however there is hope for the Tennessee offense. David Cutcliffe did an excellent job of rebuilding Erik Ainge, who is poised to finish out his career in Knoxville with his best season yet. In Eric Young, they actually could have an upgrade over Arron Sears at left tackle and they may have the most depth at tight end of any team in the country. Chris Brown and Brad Cottam are future NFL draft picks, with Brad’s younger brother, sophomore Jeff Cottam showing promise as well. They are unproven at receiver, but do not count out Junior College transfer Kenny O’Neal or highly touted freshman Ahmad Paige, two of several talented prospects in the receiving corps. What can make a difference this season is a more explosive running attack. In Arian Foster, Montario Hardesty and LaMarcus Coker, they possess three backs that have all displayed flashes of brilliance, but none of them, is a proven feature back. Coker has the most potential, making his off the field issues, which have put his season if not career in jeopardy, a major blow to the Vols chances.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Eric Young (SR), 2) Erik Ainge (SR), 3) LaMarcus Coker (SO), 4) Brad Cottam (SR), 5) Chris Brown (SR), 6) Jeff Cottam (SO), 7) Josh McNeal (SO), 8) Chris Scott (SO), 9) Jacques McClendon (SO), 10) Montario Hardesty (SO), 11) Arian Foster (JR)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINAROR: John Chavis (13th Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 5
KEY LOSSES: Justin Harrell, Turk McBride, Jonathan Wade, Marvin Mitchell, Demetrice Morley

Leading the defense is a trio of potential superstars in the back seven: senior safety Jonathan Hefney, junior MIKE Jerod Mayo and sophomore WILL Rico McCoy. They are the three best tacklers on the defense and each brings playmaking potential, Hefney as a ball-hawk, with backers Mayo and McCoy making their way across the line of scrimmage. Ryan Karl gives them a veteran presence at the SAM position, while newcomers will have to rise to the occasion at corner. Similar to receiver, they could field one JC transfer, DeAngelo Willingham, as well as a heralded true freshman, Eric Berry, who many believe is the best incoming corner. They have solid depth at defensive end, with the play on the inside a spot where they can elevate the level of play of the entire defense. Junior Demonte Bolden has as much ability as any of their defenders and JT Mapu is ready to have a big senior season after having some trouble assimilating back to football following a Mormon mission.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Jerod Mayo (JR), 2) Jonathan Hefney (SR), 3) Rico McCoy (SO), 4) Xavier Mitchell (SR), 5) Demonte Bolden (JR), 6) Antonio Reynolds (SR), 7) Ryan Karl (SR), 8) Eric Berry (FR)

THE SCHEDULE

Early season road tests will dictate what type of season the Volunteers will have. In week one, they travel all the way to the West Coast to take on the Cal Golden Bears, whom they took care of rather easily to open up 2006. A win over the Bears will show the Vols are for real, which they can cement when they visit the Swamp just two weeks later. With Georgia coming to Knoxville, a victory at Florida would put them in the driver’s seat to win the SEC East. A 3-0 start could spark a run at a SEC crown, while a 1-2 record could bring back some of that self doubt and put the rest of the season in jeopardy. How they might react to two September losses is anyone’s guess.

PIVOTAL POINT

To reach their potential, they must find consistency and stay away from making mistakes on and off the field. Coker’s problems are already strike one, as potentially losing their top back is not the way they wanted their season to start. Furthermore, will the new offensive lineman make all of their assignments? Can Erik Ainge stay away from the mistakes that plagued him as a sophomore? How about the newcomers at both wide receiver and corner -- are they ready to play SEC football? Mistakes on defense led to their losses to Florida and LSU, so if they clean it up, the sky is the limit at Rockey Top.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

Losing Coker could truly curtail Tennessee’s chances, as he was expected to be the offense’s top breakaway threat. I am not too worried about the receivers…as long as Ainge plays at a high level their passing game will be just fine. With eight of their two-deep back along the offensive line and experience on the defensive line, they should be better in the trenches than they were in 2006, which will translate into more wins. A second season under Cutcliffe will surely help the offense and you can be sure Coach Fulmer is tired of hearing his doubters -- I expect the Vols to be motivated to getting back among the SEC’s elite.

Check back tomorrow to see who is #10 in CFI’s Top 25 Countdown