It’s the first full Saturday of college football.
Back home in the South, this day is called Christmas. It’s a day
when all is right with the world.
It’s the first full Saturday of college football.
Back home in the South, this day is called Christmas. It’s a day when all is right with the world.
Until, of course, your team loses. And then, of course, all is wrong with the world.
Man, I’m going to miss that psychotic mindset.
The NFL is bigger than college football in this area. So is the high school game.
I understand that. I love both of those, too, and you’ll see plenty of each in these pages this fall.
But on a day when Cal opens as the No. 13 team in the country and Stanford and San Jose St. open against each other, I believe college football deserves at least a mention.
We’ll have plenty of time to talk about the area high school scene once I actually learn a little about the area high school scene.
And we’ll have plenty of time to talk about the NFL once the Niners lose their eighth in a row and the Raiders stage their first mutiny.
Just give it time.
For the moment, though, I present to you a few fearless predictions regarding the area’s three major college football programs…
California: If the Golden Bears win the national championship and Bush is re-elected, a group of Berkeley students will protest the team’s visit to the White House … Um, the Golden Bears won’t win the national championship … They’ll settle for nine wins and a second-place finish in the Pac-10, which is not bad for a program that used to consistently produce nine wins a decade … Look out for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Geoff McArthur. They are the real deal … After the season, some sorry NFL team (looking your way, San Diego) will drool out millions to entice the offensive genius that is Cal coach Jeff Tedford, who will act interested just long enough to earn himself a hefty pay raise from the university … Somewhere, a group of Berkeley students will protest.
Stanford: With exactly one senior or junior on the offensive line, the Cardinal’s supposed Fun ‘n Gun offense will morph into the always-fun Duck ‘n Run … In October, the program will place a want ad in the campus paper, pleading for someone who can play receiver. A pair of hands and feet will be the only prerequisite … In the all-important Battle for Santa Clara County, Stanford will defeat San Jose State tonight, but will sadly fall just short in a winner-takes-all playoff with Aragon High … Listening to the P.A. guy announce defensive starters Babatunde Oshinowo and Oshiomogho Atogwe will clearly be the highlight of the season … After a 1-7 conference record, head coach Buddy Teevens will not be offered a hefty pay raise. He’ll be offered a one-way ticket out of town … Somewhere, a group of Berkeley football fans will protest.
San Jose State: University officials will continue to debate whether the school should have a Division I football program in the future, which will send shockwaves throughout much of the country. See, most fans don’t know San Jose State has a Division I football program in the present … To cheer on our hometown star Sean McNamara, a group of 25-30 Gilroyans will make the trek to Spartan Stadium for each home game. On most Saturdays, they’ll make up at least 25-30 percent of the crowd … By the team’s third win, the university will have gone through two more presidents … In preparation for their future life, the Spartans will defeat Division I-AA opponent Morgan State on Sept. 18. Feeling confident, the program will use its bye week to challenge bitter rival San Jose City College … They will lose … Pouncing on the opportunity, university officials will cancel football. And somewhere, Spartan football fans will protest … Both of them.
– Brett Edgerton is a columnist for South Valley Newspapers. Any and all hate mail can be directed to [email protected].
