We are less than two months out to the kickoff of the 2010 College Football season!

Regrets on not wishing everyone a Happy Independence Day on my blog sooner. It's been a busy 2010 and time hasn't offered as much opportunity to post. The blog has been idle for awhile, but the love and passion for College Football still lives on!

We hope you will keep an eye on our blog as we head into the 2010 College Football season, which is less than two months away! The first game kicks off on Thursday, September 2Nd with Presbyterian at Wake Forest on espn3.com. Plenty of other games kickoff the big Labor Day weekend! The regular season will close out on Saturday, December 4Th with conference title games and final regular season games.

It was a great 2009 college football season and 2010 should be great as well. The news out of the Big 12 Conference and MWC has been very interesting of late. It started with the news that Boise State will leave the WAC after 2010 season to join the MWC. Then, we learned the Big Ten and Pac Ten are both expanding, with Nebraska joining the Big Ten for 2011, while Colorado in 2012 and Utah joining in 2011 the Pac 10 Conference.

We want to welcome Nebraska for accepting an invitation to the Big Ten Conference. For years, we have enjoyed Cornhusker football growing up here in Eastern Iowa watching and following Dr. Tom Osborne. It will be enjoyable seeing Iowa-Nebraska on the gridiron more regularly. The late Bob Devaney would be proud for his Nebraska Cornhuskers.

From our nation's founding fathers to the major conferences in College Football, the landscape continues to evolve in 2010.

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Athlon's Sports likes Iowa #12 in 2010 in College Football

College Football will not kick off until Thursday, September 2, 2010, but Top 25 and College Sports magazines will soon become available at local stores that sell magazines ...

No. 12: Iowa Hawkeyes - Athlon's Sports
No. 12 Iowa Hawkeyes. Editor's Note: We're counting the days until the Athlon Sports 2010 College Football Annuals hit newsstands by releasing one spot in ...

Will the fall out of Arizona's immigration law become part of the back drop for the September 18, 2010 game in Tucson between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Arizona Wildcats?

There will likely be some around the University of Iowa campus that will want to make politics an issue with the upcoming football game approaching this fall.

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'The Mayor' Fred Hoiberg is back in Ames as Iowa State's new head basketball coach

The dominoes have fallen quickly this week, with Oregon hiring Dana Altman from Creighton, causing Iowa State's Greg McDermott to leave Ames for CU ... and suddenly, as fast as Creighton filled Altman's spot, Iowa State and AD Jamie Pollard has filled McDermott's spot, with former ISU star and Ames native Fred Hoiberg.

Congratulations to the Cyclone Nation for bringing Fred Hoiberg back to Ames ...

Fred Hoiberg: Time to bring magic back to Hilton Coliseum‎ - Des Moines Register.com

His message Wednesday was clear: Fred Hoiberg wants to return the magic he helped bring to Hilton Coliseum — and this time he wants to do it as a coach. ...

AD Pollard hired a wrestling star, Cael Sanderson, with little experience. So with a Void in the men's basketball program, why not make it the Fred Hoiberg era at Iowa State University?

Hoiberg to ISU is high risk, too -‎ESPN (blog)
New Cyclones coach Fred Hoiberg doesn't have any coaching or ... That someone is former Iowa State Cyclones star Fred Hoiberg. ...

Hoiberg: Popular and risky hire‎ - Kansas City Star

Fred Hoiberg: Time to bring magic back to Hilton Coliseum‎ - DesMoinesRegister.com

Fred Hoiberg: Stroke of Genius or Kneejerk Reaction?‎ - Clone Chronicles (blog)

Not everything is smelling like a Rose in Ames. Remember Cael Sanderson, well he helped the ISU wrestling program, but he did bolt to Penn State in the Big Ten Conference, when the opportunity arose.

Fred Hoiberg: “The Mayor” is now “The Coach” -‎Gazette Online (blog) - Mike Hlas
Bumping Cael Sanderson up to head wrestling coach, getting someone with Iowa State ties in Paul Rhoads to replace Gene Chizik as the football coach — those ...

Steven M. Sipple: Creighton job better than Iowa St.‎ - HuskerExtra.com
Indeed, Pollard keeps saying goodbye to his key hires — football coach Gene Chizik to Auburn, wrestling coach Cael Sanderson to Penn State and now McDermott ...

Unrelated news from Creighton Unversity ...

McDermott waiting to decide on suspended Stinnett‎ - Greenwich Time
(AP) New Creighton coach Greg McDermott says he hasn't decided whether to reinstate suspended guard P'Allen Stinnett. Former coach Dana Altman suspended ...

Overall:

It appears Oregon, Creighton and Iowa State have likely improved in various ways. The 51 year-old Altman was ready to move up, after flirting with the Arkansas job 3 years ago. McDermott was the right coach for Iowa State over Hoiberg four years ago. But, today, the Iowa State program will likely be very happy to have an 'in-house' guy, while Creighton gets a seasoned Valley coach in McDermott to build on the 16 years, mostly success, under Altman.

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Creighton University: one coach departs, but a new coach is found for the Bluejays

The official announcement will come Tuesday, rather than Monday. Dana Altman officially becomes Oregon's head coach today, and Creighton will replace Altman with Iowa State basketball coach Greg McDermott.

“I know this was a very difficult decision for Greg and his family. The contract
terms that Creighton offered him and an opportunity to coach his son were
significant factors in his decision. We wish Greg the best of luck at
Creighton.” - ISU AD Jamie Pollard

Greg and Doug McDermott are heading to Creighton‎ - Des Moines Register.com
A press conference to introduce Greg McDermott as Creighton's new coach will be held in Omaha at 10:30 am Tuesday. "Very difficult decision," Greg McDermott ...

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Creighton's AD Bruce Rasmussen doesn't take much time: Greg McDermott, former UNI coach and current ISU coach moving West to Omaha as new Jays coach

Oregon hasn't officially announced the hiring of Creighton's head coach Dana Altman yet, but Creighton AD Bruce Rasmussen traveled to Des Moines today to take care of his opening. It will be an exciting day for both the Creighton and Oregon basketball programs with news most likely of a new head coach.

Report: McDermott Takes Creighton Job‎ - WOI -
Entertainment News from AP Entertainment News from AP A media outlet in Omaha is reporting that ISU head men's basketball coach Greg McDermott has accepted ...

Dana Altman's reportedly out; If I'm Greg McDermott, by gosh, I'm ...‎ - DesMoinesRegister.com (blog)

Altman to Oregon‎ - White and Blue Review

Update: What will happen with the buyout on McDermott?

Report: McDermott Leaving ISU - Takes Creighton Job‎ - KCCI Des Moines

McDermott and Creighton: Read the fine print‎ - DesMoinesRegister.com (blog)

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Creighton University's Dana Altman, the dean of The Valley basketball coaches, expected to be named new basketball coach at Oregon

After 16 seasons coaching at Creighton University, the dean of Missouri Valley Conference basketball coaches is headed to the Pac Ten and Oregon reports over the weekend have been ringing ...

Altman spent 16 season at Creighton, finishing with a 327-176 record. He led the
Bluejays to 11 consecutive 20-win seasons before they went 18-16 this year. - ESPN

Dana Altman arrives in Eugene‎ - KVAL
By KVAL News Creighton University's Dana Altman has landed in Eugene after telling his players in Nebraska he would be Oregon's new coach. EUGENE, Ore. ...

It started on Saturday, April 24, 2010, reports Dana Altman was headed west ...

Reports: Creighton's Dana Altman agrees to coach Oregon Ducks ... - ESPN
Apr 24, 2010 ... Multiple media outlets are reporting Creighton coach Dana Altman has agreed to take over at Oregon ...

Reports: Creighton's Dana Altman to be hired as coach at Oregon‎ - USA Today
Creighton coach Dana Altman, who has led the Bluejays to seven NCAA tournament appearances in 16 years, will become the new head coach at the University of ...

The Qwest Center Omaha was built during Altman run ...

Altman was responsible for taking The Valley school from an average attendance of 5,000 fans at the old Omaha Civic Auditorium to moving Creighton to #12 in the NCAA attendance rankings leading fans to the Qwest Center Omaha.

It appears Dana Altman is hard on the recruiting trail already ...

Boys' basketball: Polee to visit Oregon after postponing announcement‎ - Los Angeles Times (blog)
Oregon has apparently selected Creighton Coach Dana Altman to be its new coach, and he has gotten immediately involved in a last-minute bid for Polee. ...

UGA target Dwayne Polee postpones announcement‎ - Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
... in order to take a closer look at Oregon, the Los Angeles Times is reporting. ... with Creighton's Dana Altman to become their new head coach and Altman ...

Decision postponed — again — as Polee will visit Oregon this week‎ - Las Vegas Sun

It was likely time after Sweet 16 years in Omaha ...

Three years ago, the University of Iowa job was open and Dana Altman appeared to be interested. But, Iowa AD Gary Barta appeared to be interested in Todd Lickliter and Kevin Stallings, so Altman, who appeared set to make a move, didn't get the job. Interested in moving on then, Altman got talked into the University of Arkansas job. But, after going through the introduction in Fayetteville, he asked out and asked friend and Creighton AD Bruce Rasmussen for a second chance.

Some Creighton fans were a little taken back by the entire process. Recruiting and player stability seemed to be a little off. Well, now Dana Altman is off to Eugene, Oregon and a new job.

Thanks for 16 great years of memories Dana. It was a good ride ...

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What to look forward to in the Big Ten Conference in 2010 at QB?

The Big Ten Conference ended the 2009 season with four teams picking up at least 10 wins overall and defeating four Top 15 opponents to close out the season in bowl play.

• Ohio State
• Iowa
• Penn State
• Wisconsin

Northwestern, Michigan State and Minnesota all finished in a bowl game, but lost. The Big Ten finished 4-3 in bowls during the 2009-10 bowl schedule. Purdue finished 4-4 in the Big Ten, but didn't get bowl eligible in 2009 under first year coach Danny Hope. Illinois finished 9Th, while Michigan dropped to the cellar with Indiana in 2009.

There is a lot of talent returning in the Big Ten Conference for the 2010 season, including experienced quarterbacks.

Lucky Seven Back Under Center: The Big Ten welcomes back seven starting quarterbacks from the 2009 season, five of which led their teams to bowl appearances. Iowa senior Ricky Stanzi and Ohio State junior Terrelle Pryor each led their squads to BCS victories last January, Stanzi in the Orange Bowl and Pryor in the Rose Bowl. Wisconsin senior Scott Tolzien led the Badgers to a victory in the Champs Sports Bowl, while Minnesota senior Adam Weber guided the Gophers to the Insight Bowl. Michigan State junior Kirk Cousins guided the Spartans' in their 31-point effort in the Alamo Bowl. Also returning in 2010 is the conference's top statistical passer, Indiana senior Ben Chappell, and Michigan sophomore Tate Forcier, the only full-time freshman starting quarterback in the Big Ten last year.

Seven starting QBs do return for the 2010 season in the Big Ten Conference. Quarterback play is often one of the key factors to success in college football. It should be another interesting season in 2010.

• Iowa senior Ricky Stanzi returned from a 2-3 game injury for the Orange Bowl. Stanzi lead Iowa to a 24-14 win over the ACC-champion Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Sophomore James Vandenberg started two games in relief of the injured Stanzi and provides a solid 1-2 punch for the Hawkeyes, if needed.


• Ohio State junior Terrelle Pryor returns, after leading the Buckeyes to the Big Ten championship, the fifth straight, and a 26-17 win in the Rose Bowl over the Pac Ten champion Oregon Ducks.


• Wisconsin senior Scott Tolzien lead the Badgers to 20-14 win over Miami-FL in the Champs Sports Bowl. The Badgers return 10 of 11 starters on offense in 2010. Sadly, projected #2 QB sophomore Curt Phillips has been lost for the 2010 season, due to a knee injury.


• Michigan State junior Kirk Cousins enters the 2010 season as the clear #1, as junior Keith Nichol has been moved the WR, after battling Cousins for the #1 job in the early part of the 2009 season.


• Minnesota senior Adam Weber returns as a three-year starter for the Golden Gophers. But, one has to wonder, if we will see more of sophomore QB MarQueis Gray or redshirt freshman Moses Alipate , after Weber's up and down junior season?


• Indiana senior Ben Chappell returns for the 2010 season to lead Hoosiers, coached by Bill Lynch, now in his fourth season. Chappel's freshman season in '07 was the last bowl appearance for Hoosier program, ending a drought, since 1993


• Michigan sophomore Tate Forcier returns, but will he stay #1 with sophomore Denard Robinson battling again for playing time at QB for the Wolverines? Could true freshman Devin Gardner emerge for coach Rich Rodriquez, who is entering his third season in Ann Arbor?

The other four schools must replace the top signal caller in 2010.

• Northwestern returns junior Dan Persa, who played in relief for departed Mike Kafka, especially the midway part of Northwestern's upset win over Iowa to end Iowa's 13 game winning streak. The Wildcats are coming off a 35-38 OT loss to Auburn in the Outback Bowl.


• Penn State has to find the replacement for two-year starter Daryll Clark, who help lead the Nittany Lions to a share of the 2008 Big Ten title. Sophomores Kevin Newsome and Matthew McGloin will battle with true freshman Paul Jones for the 2010 quarterback job in Happy Valley.


• Purdue looks for Miami-FL transfer sophomore Robert Marve to replace departed Joey Elliott to lead the Boilermakers offense in 2010.


• Illinois will have to replace four-year starter departed Juice Williams at quarterback and former backup senior Eddie McGee has moved to receiver for the Fighting Illini. Look for redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase, son of former Iowa defensive back Nate Creer, to get the first opportunity. Scheelhaase will be backed up by sophomore Jacob Charest.

The 2010 College Football season will kicks off on Thursday September 2, 2010 with three Big Ten programs (Ohio State, Indiana and Minnesota) playing.

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