A brisk 52 degrees this morning with the sun about to split Little Cottonwood Canyon in half as it begins its daily journey up and over the Wasatch Front. In just two to three minutes, the first drippings of golden sun will tickle the tops of the different, elms, oaks, conifers, fruit trees and sporadic aspens that line the neighborhood streets. My simple mesh and plastic chair situated next to my grill/ firepit is about as perfect as it gets as I watch each morning begin.
This morning is slightly different from normal mornings for me, however. Instead of listening to the many different bird songs as they celebrate the rising sun and the chance to fly another day, which is my usual pre-work routine, I am listening to a podcast previewing the upcoming college football season. Which podcast? The only college football centered one worth listening to in my opinion, or at least as of 2022 which is the last time I listened to them regularly. (coming from a guy that rarely listens to podcasts anymore)
This podcast features college football takes from the perspective of four very different men that share the same passion and love for the sport, but from different angles and for different reasons. I don’t agree with all of their takes, but in terms of education and thorough explanation, mixed with a heavy dose of sarcasm and good humor, the guys of the COVER 3 podcast deserve a listen. I used to take pride when I would tune into their live shows and there would be a couple of hundred at the most listening, and I would think “I’m one of the few special people that get to listen to these guys.” Well, I am glad they are still here for me to re-educate me and introduce me to this upcoming college football season, and that thousands of others get to enjoy them as well.
As I said, there are four characters on this show. Chip is upbeat and keeps the train moving, Bud has stats on players that their own mothers barely know their names, DK loves to playfully needle each conversation, and Tom…well, I could listen to Tom narrate the phonebook. Velvet, smooth voice like a cello that can speak. Not just speak. Articulate in such a way that he captures every detail and preserves the romance of each specific moment. Specifically, in relation to college football. Not to say I like one guy more than the other, but Tom, in terms of listening pleasure, gives off that ‘after midnight’ radio DJ vibe that helps soothe the minds and souls of their listeners that include mostly insomniacs, tweakers, and overnight shift workers. He sounds like the kind of guy that is holding a cup of hot black coffee, a Camel non-filter—with three burning in the tray, wearing tinted glasses and comfy shoes and who just has it ‘all figured out.’ You can call this DJ with your problems, your sorrows, your nightmares, and he will tell you “it’ll all be ok” or “I’m sure you misunderstood your friend when they hurt your feelings,” all with that slow Vermont Maple Syrup in the fall kind of voice. On this show, he meshes perfectly with the other three, and his descriptive words are just as enjoyable projected into his microphone as they are to read in his many articles.
So, what is there to expect this weekend regarding the opening college football slate? Well, for starters, I just discovered that games were played last weekend. And not just the typical Eastern Washington Fighting ‘Cowherds’ vs the Central Washington ‘Jon Kitnas’ or UT Chattanooga vs Florida A & M, although it looks like there were a few of those sorts of matchups Montana st vs New Mexico being one, but a “top 10” team in Florida State played Georgia Tech and were defeated in a low scoring game (24-21). Well, low for the college game that is and for a Mike Norvell coached team. He’s always been aggressive offensively and I appreciate that. Good coach to bet on overs back in the day.
So, with a “ranked” team already gone down this season, I would say its only fair that’s it has already begun and this weekend is more like the continuation of the opening week of college football as opposed to me calling it the ‘opening weekend.’
Just going to go ahead and say it, this weekend’s college matchups drew very little to zero interest from me when I first glanced over the schedule. Sure, Clemson/ UGA, Penn st/ WVU, Notre Dame/ A & M and LSU/ USC (Sunday night) are flashy big name matchups, but it was difficult to feign interest further than that.
I first looked at the teams surrounding my old hometown of Memphis. Well, Memphis is playing North Alabama, Ole Miss/ Furman, Mississippi St/Eastern Kentucky, ‘Sabanless’ Alabama/ Western Kentucky, Arkansas/ Arkansas Pine Bluff (Thursday night) and so on. These aren’t necessarily worth anyone’s time except maybe the players families, season ticket holders, and of course degenerate gamblers—I mean, investors. Then, I looked at the two teams that play here locally, and they are playing Southern Illinois and Southern Utah. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to see how well they perform, but let’s face it, unless I’m there in person, (and I’m trying to weasel a free ticket to tonight’s game out of someone) I’m not tuning into that. Then, I looked at the other “ranked” teams playing: Nc State, Mizzou, Kansas…wait Kansas? Ranked? What is this 2007? Wrecking ball Mark Mangino back on the headset? Kansas and Mizzou 2007. Both teams were fun to watch in that wild west dodge cityesque Big 12 conference of old. Where was I? Oh yes, “ranked” teams: Oklahoma St, Kansas St, Oregon, Ohio St and Texas. Their matchups include: Western Carolina, Murray St, Lindenwood Lions (I swear I didn’t make that one up), South Dakota St, UT Martin, Idaho, Akron, and Colorado St. Again, not worth a ‘casual’ like myself, to straiten the rabbit ears for.
Now, I’m not trying to come off as a crotchety aging mountain hermit complaining about change and longing for the ‘good Ol days,’ so I’ll tell you the couple of games that truly did pique my interest once I looked closer at the schedule, and none of which I just listed. I will keep half an eye on all of the action this weekend
North Carolina at Minnesota (Thursday Night 8 est on big FOX)
Interesting to me because one, I love watching Golden Gopher home games at primetime and watching their teethy defense win the hard way. The Maroon and Gold mass of fans have great energy and I’d love to see them live one day. Two, freaking Mack Brown man. He just knows how to coach fun teams to watch. He lost his stud gunslinger to the NFL but he’s still a great coach and the Tarheels usually can score points…in fact, I just looked it up and North Carolina kicked this same Gopher defenses teeth in last year 31-13. Hoping tonight is one of those 24-22 final scored games, and that the home team wins. I don’t know why, but I’ve gravitated to that team for years.
You know, it probably goes back to 2002. I saw them in the Music City Bowl against the Houston Nutt, Matt Jones led Razorbacks. I’ll never forget it. Sitting about 15 rows up from the endzone at about the twelve yard line. The friends I had tagged along with were all Arkansas fans as was probably 80 percent of the crowd inside the Titans home stadium. I rooted along with them, sang my first live “Pig Sooiiee” chant, and went along with the crowd. The energy was high, the game kicked off…dang, I really remember exactly how this happened. —Arkansas gets the ball to start the game and first play, BOOM, big completion for like thirty yards takes them about to midfield. Then a series of plays, maybe 5 or so, took them inside the five yard line, and the next play, Matt Jones (the only player I knew on that team at the time) completed the short pass for an opening TD. It was so smooth. So easy, and that stadium was louder than any Titans game I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to some electric ones. (Another story, another time) Arkansas fans were sitting high on the hog 5 minutes into the game. I wish someone would’ve told them that they wouldn’t score again until the last 5 minutes of the game because the mood in that stadium soured from that early TD on. That’s right, Arkansas scored on their first and last possessions of the game. They were absolutely obliterated by the stingy Minnesota defense and field goal kicking, along with their own plethora of offensive blunders and lost 29-14. Maybe I respected Minnesota’s gritty style even way back then. Moving on.
Miami at Florida (1:30 PM ABC)
This one is a bit more obvious. This game has Big School name recognition, tradition, the freaking Swamp (wish it was at night, but Miami doesn’t), in state rivalry, and two teams with equal acclimation to the boiling Gainesville humidity. I want this one to live up to the name. Who remembers Kenny Kelly at Miami back in the late 90’s? He was exciting, flashy, athletic for a split second before Ken Dorsey came in a took his job. I was like twelve and I was pissed. Kenny Kelly was awesome to watch. Oh well, Kenny for sure got over it quickly as he moved onto baseball and had an up and down Major League career for about five years. He was more exciting to watch as a gunslinging qb. I think he threw the most td’s and interceptions the same season, and as a neutral that makes a game fun. I’m glancing at the rosters now and I see Billy Napier has Graham Mertz at the helm…what? When I see that name all I can picture is the guy from Wisconsin. With a slow release, slower feet, and seemed to love to throw it anywhere but his receiver’s hands. Guess I’ll see if he’s improved and truthfully, I hope he has. These are college kids. I’m rooting for about every one of them in one since. Also worth watching for, and I just saw this on the depth chart, Senior Desmond Watson DT Florida is 6’ 5” and listed at 449lbs!! Behemoth. Let’s watch this dude eat Saturday afternoon.
On the other side, Mario Cristobal’s Hurricanes seem to be talented and being on the road in that environment isn’t going to scare them at all. Ol Mario better win at least 10 this season. I’ll probably go with 33-16 final in favor of the Canes. Remember, I know nothing.
Fresno St at Michigan (5:30 NBC)
I like the Big House at night. I’m curious every season what the Wolverines will look like. There will be another day to tell the stories of the fall I was accidentally forced to be a Michigan fan. Truthfully, this game is more intrigue than anything. Can Fresno st pull an App st? 99.9 likely that they will not. Also, NBC usually covers sporting event better than other networks. Hopefully, that’s still the case. I’d be a fool not to keep an eye on the other game just a few clicks of the dial over on ABC playing at the same time.
It’s lunchtime now, and I’m about to post this. Truth is I turned off the Cover 3 pod about 20 minutes in. Content was good, information was plenty, but rather than listen to their expert opinions going into this weekend, I wanted to be as naïve as possible, and just let the stories unfold. I enjoy things more when I don’t put expectations on them. Also, Tom maybe has a new microphone because he sounds clearer, higher quality, and more professional which are all good things, but takes away from his ‘late night’ sound. Seriously, listen to these guys for real opinions and certainly read Tom Fornelli. He’s one of my favorite all time sports writers.
Maybe I’ll fire up the word processor and live blog my most likely disgruntled feelings about something during one of the games… College football is back!
Find the humor and keep on moving
Whit W.