Week 2 kicks off Friday night with one Top 25 on the Field

Friday, September 7th

#16 TCU at SMU
7:00 pm
ESPN2 

Horned Frogs look to get to 2-0 ahead of Week 3 showdown with #6 Ohio State in Arlington.

Two down, so who will be next as Kansas joins SMU with interim coach in football for 2014

Lawrence, Kan. - Charlie Weis has been relieved of his duties as Head Football Coach at the University of Kansas, KU Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger announced Sunday.  Weis was in the third year of a five-year contract.

Zenger named KU defensive coordinator Clint Bowen interim head coach.

"I normally do not favor changing coaches mid-season," Zenger said.  "But I believe we have talented coaches and players in this program, and I think this decision gives our players the best chance to begin making progress right away.

"I appreciate what Coach Weis did with several facets of our football program," Zenger continued.  "But we have not made the on-the-field progress we believe we should.  I believe new leadership gives our coaches and players the best chance to make a fresh start."

Zenger informed Weis of his decision Sunday morning, and then spoke to the rest of the coaching staff.  "I am grateful for the KU fans, alumni and donors who continue to support our coaches and players."

"As we continue to elevate the national stature of the University of Kansas, our pursuit of excellence extends beyond our research and instructional missions," said KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. "KU alumni, students, fans and supporters expect that Kansas Football will match the other areas in which we excel as a university.  After consulting with Dr. Zenger, I am in agreement that it is time for new leadership of our football program." - KUAthletics.com

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Prior to Charlie Weis's dismissal this weekend, SMU head coach June James walked out of his Dallas office, after an 0-2 start to the 2014 season. The Mustangs couldn't find enough offense, in back to back road losses at Baylor and North Texas.

Jones was in his seven season at SMU and 16th overall at a FBS program. He had lead SMU to four striaght bowls, after 1-11 his first season, but fell to 5-7, 4-4 in the first season in the American Athletic Conference.

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Charlie Weis was a rather peculiar hire by Kansas. His success at Notre Dame was 35-27, but his roots were far more linked to his work as a coordinator in the NFL.

With two gone as September ends, what will October bring in 2014 on the coaching chopping block?

Last year, we saw 20 coaches retire, get fired, resign or move onto other venues.

Could we witness a Major Upset on Thursday Night College Football?

Thursday, October 18th

Houston at SMU, 7:00 p.m. on FSN affiliates (HD) - a Thursday night C-USA showdown... Go Mustangs, as former SWC foes meet in Dallas

#2 Oregon at Arizona State, 8:00 p.m. on ESPN (HD) - The Sun Devils look to earn there way into the Top 25, as leaders of the Pac 12 North and Pac 12 South meet in Tempe.  Do the Ducks stay clean for BCS title run?

Game Day Sunday: Rare for College Football, but popular for some as kickoff of 2012 season continues

Sunday, September 2

KENTUCKY at Louisville 2:30 p.m. ESPN (HD)

Southern Methodist at BAYLOR 5:30 p.m. FSN (HD) / FCSC (cable)

No Top 25. teams in our preseason polls are In actIon, but Baylor was one in 2011, wIth RGIII at QB, and Louisville is #25 in one of the major preseason polls entering the 2012 College Football season.

The NFL kicks off this week, along with the DNC in Charlotte.  So, are you ready for some football on Sunday?  You will not see BYU playing.

Baylor will begin life after Heisman QB Robert Griffin III, as senior Nick Florence becomes the starting QB, like the seven games Griffith missed, due to injury.

Plenty of games played on Saturday, now 3 games on Labor Day Sunday in College Football!

Three games impacted by lightning on Saturday across the Midwest. What a storm!

• Iowa wins 34-7, though an 1-1/2 hour interruption, delayed the expected outcome vs. Tennessee Tech


• South Florida overcomes weather delay and Notre Dame comeback to win 23-20 in South Bend


• Michigan-Western Michigan game was suspended in Ann Arbor, official score will be Michigan 34, Western Michigan 10

There are three games up for Sunday, September 4Th in College Football!

• Howard at Eastern Michigan 11:00 a.m.


• Marshall at West Virginia 2:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3


• SMU at Texas A&M 6:30 p.m. FSN (HD) / (Click for DirecTV channels)

Plenty of College Football to talk about, but that will have to come later. It should be an interesting year in 2011. Plenty of thunder and lightning, indeed!

Friday Night College Football Today

The first weekend of college football continues tonight with two games on tap...

Friday, August 29th
Temple at Army
6:00 p.m.

ESPN Classic / ESPN 360
SMU at Rice
7:00 p.m.
(ESPN) (HD)

A chance to see some East Coast and Texas college football. Coach Al Gordon is an up and comer for Temple. SMU welcomes the debut of of coach June Jones, who departed Hawaii for SMU this past off season.

peace

It's not basketball, so will the 2008 C-USA season be relevant nationally?

The Conference USA nearly won the basketball crown last season, with the University of Memphis' Tigers falling short vs. the University of Kansas in the NCAA Title Game. But, what about football in 2008 for the Conference USA? Will the Conference USA be relevant on a national level in 2008?

The C-USA has never been relevant in the BCS. Unlike Memphis in basketball, there really isn't a marquee name in the conference at a national level in college football. Tulsa is about the only consensus type team in the conference... the top pick in the C-USA West. One preseason magazine picked a C-USA team in the Top 25, with Gold Sheet picking Eastern Carolina #25. Tulsa is my preseason #25 team, with a strong offense under coach Todd Graham, entering his third season.

Top 20 C-USA OOC games for '08:

1. West Virginia at East Carolina
2. Louisville at Memphis
3. Cincinnati at Marshall
4. East Carolina at Virginia Tech in season opener
5. Marshall at Wisconsin
6. Tulsa at Arkansas
7. Marshall at West Virginia
8. Central Florida at Boston College
9. East Carolina at Virginia
10. Central Florida at Miami-FL
11. East Carolina at North Carolina State
12. SMU at Texas Tech
13. UTEP at Texas
14. Memphis at Mississippi in season opener
15. Southern Mississippi at Auburn
16. Houston at Oklahoma State
17. Rice at Vanderbilt
18. Tulane at Alabama in the Green Wave's season opener
19. Tulane at LSU
20. UAB at Tennessee

Street & Smith's Preview asked: And what does a Conference USA team have to do to sneak into the BCS Party?

"You have to go undefeated and win all your games," (new Southern Miss coach
Larry) Fedora says.

Tulsa appears the best candidate to go undefeated, but they were 3 games short in '07, so they have a lot of ground to cover in '08.

Who are the top teams in '08 for the C-USA in football (my picks):

C-USA East

1. East Carolina ( 6-2 C-USA in '07)
2. Central Florida (7-1 C-USA in '07)
3. Memphis (6-2 C-USA in '07)
4. Marshall (3-5 C-USA in '07)
5. Southern Mississippi (5-3 C-USA in '07)
6. UAB (1-7 C-USA in '07

C-USA West

1. Tulsa (6-2 C-USA in '07)
2. Houston (6-2 C-USA in '07)
3. UTEP (2-6 C-USA in '07)
4. SMU (0-8 C-USA in '07)
5. Rice (3-5 C-USA in '07)
6. Tulane (3-5 C-USA in '07)

• Biggest Game in '08: Oct. 26th - UCF at Tulsa (Sunday game)
• Biggest Game in C-USA East: Nov. 2nd - East Carolina at UCF (Sunday game)
• C-USA Title Game Prediction: Tulsa over East Carolina
• Coach of the Year: Todd Graham, Tulsa

C-USA has a lot of ground to cover to get to the level the WAC and Mountain West. Those other two leagues have crashed the BCS bowl party. It's been four years, since major realignment of the C-USA. Tulsa may sneak into the Top 25, but I see them more like TCU in previous years and coming up short.

peace