New kick-off rule is good move for college

BY BILL SPICER
Welcome to the pageantry, the tradition, the spectacle, that is COLLEGE FOOTBALL!
Kudos to the NCAA competition committee: In a rare case of actually making the game better, the new kick-off rule has added excitement. By moving the kick-off spot back five yards, teams are now encouraged to return the kick, as opposed to ‘downing’ the ball in the end zone. Last season 67 percent of kick-offs were returned, over this past weekend 92 percent have been returned!

LOCALLY the picture looks ‘rosy’ in LA. Not to worry USC fans, the lackluster victory in the home opener isn’t indicative of head coach Pete Carroll, and with a week off to prepare for the Trojans next game at Nebraska September 15th, all will be restored.
The real story is from the other side of town, as UCLA quarterback Ben Olson tossed five TD’s in Bruins season opening victory over Stanford. The backdrop for today’s game is heavy with intrigue; Olson once played for BYU, the Bruins opponent today, but after returning from his Mormon Mission, transferred to UCLA, yet last year his season was cut short after one month due to injury. Now as a fifth-year senior he appears poised to shoulder the hype that surrounds the program. With expectations running high in Westwood, this is the year that will define the Karl Dorrell era.
The PAC 10 is off to a strong start in looking to shed its reputation for being ‘soft.’ California’s decisive redemption win over Tennessee under the national spotlight has served as notice that the Golden Bears intend/want to compete on the national level. Today the Bears are at Colorado State. Last Saturday Oregon weathered a slow start for an eventual blowout of the Houston Cougars behind the efforts of enigmatic QB Dennis Dixon.
Today the Ducks are one of our ‘Games 2 Watch’ as they face some wounded Wolverines at the Big House in Michigan. The Fan(atic) predicts it’s one of two paths for Michigan: Either the Wolverines rally around their unprecedented drop in the polls and come out fighting, or else Coach Lloyd Carr has already lost this team and we are going to watch him and the season twist in the wind. Game On channel 3, at 12:30pm.
Not on the radar or TV, but of interest, Washington hosts the Broncos of Boise State today. Are the Huskies making enough progress under coach Tyrone Willingham? By the look of their freshmen QB Jake Locker they could be, and there may be reason to smile in Seattle. But not today if the Broncos can continue to dance in Cinderella’s BCS slipper. Should be a great early season test for both teams.
With 14 games on regular TV and cable today, here is what the SuperFans call our Games 2 Watch!
Miami @ Okalahoma: the morning pick-me-up
Oregon @ Michigan: Who is showing up for each team?!
BYU @ UCLA: The Cougars have beaten their last two Pac 10 opponents.
VA Tech @ LSU: The Handsome Man, Kirk Herbstreit and the ESPN Game Day crew are calling this one. The Fan says, LSU wins big.
Colorado @ Arizona State: slightly off radar, but a bell weather game for the Buffaloes.
Notre Dame @ Penn State: EXPOSED! The Irish aren’t any good, and PSU is!
South Carolina @ Georgia: The ‘ol ball coach has always got game.