The College Quarterly

Hello Sports Fans!

In today's post I'll be recapping the college football season's first quarter. From upsets to trophy picks its all here.

First thing's first, every week this season we've had a top five team fall. Interestingly enough, this season hasn't been the same heart pounding pace of last...yet.

Heisman Watch

1. Tim Tebow (QB, UF): We'll have to see how he responds to this concussion, but he has given us no reason to believe he isn't the Heisman winner...yet. The schedule has been very generous to Tebow and his Gators. However, if he manages to stay undefeated putting up the numbers he's capable of, with less talent than ever from the WR and RB positions; He will be the Heisman trophy winner.

2. Case Keenum (QB Hou): This is a product of his "WOW" abilty. Normally I'd put Colt McCoy here, but Keenum has led his undefeated Cougars to 12th in the latest AP poll with a huge win (the biggest of any Heisman candidates) against then No. 5 Oklahoma State. This guy is clutch. He boasts an 8:2 TD:INT ratio plus three more TD's on the ground. And he seems to have all of the intangible skills of the sometimes overhyped Tebow.

3. Colt McCoy (QB, Texas): This is mainly based on past success and the hope that he will match it. The stats aren't terribly. Some can argue they are great. The fact of the matter is, the nation is expecting more from Colt this season. 9 TDs to 5 INTs isn't exactly the Colt we all imagined. He's lacking a bit rushing the ball this year as well, perhaps only because he doesn't have to as much. Either way, He's in the conversation and will be all season long.

4. Montario Hardesty (RB, Tenn): This is my Heisman Sleeper pick this year. With the campaign Tennessee has laid out for Eric Berry, their best offensive weapon is being drastically overlooked. He ranks seventh this season in rushing yards, over fellow RB Jahvid Best of Cal. While Best has more rushing TDs, I rank Hardesty above him based on his overall importance to the team. Without Hardesty, Tennessee does not have an offense. He's averaging 120 yards per game and if that keeps up in the tough SEC, we could be hearing his name in this race later in the year.

5. Jahvid Best (RB, Cal): As mentioned before Best leads the NCAA in rushing TDs. However, in last week's game vs Oregon, I believe a blue print was laid out to stop him in the future. For now he's in the Heisman talks, but unless he can overcome 8-9 men in the box, he could quickly be forgotten about.

Coach of the Year

1. Kirk Ferentz (Iowa): After almost blowing their entire season in week 1 against FCS Northern Iowa, he proved that there's a reason he's been head coach at Iowa for 10 years. Two years in a row he's knocked off a much better Penn State team dashing their hopes at a National Championship run. This year however, 4-0 and ranked 13th in the AP poll, he's put his own team in position to play for that same bowl.

2. Brian Kelly (Cincinatti): Cincinatti is currently ranked 10th in the AP poll. Tony Pike, their QB, is by most considered a Heisman caliber player. Brian Kelly, has taken this team in just three short years and put them on the national stage. Currently undefeated, and rolling over the Big East, this coach has his team right in the thick of things.

3. Chris Petersen (Boise State): I'm lovin' the little guys this week. True, Boise has only beaten one ranked team this season. However, they did demolish said team. Petersen is looking in all probability at an undefeated season. And being that his team's current rank is 5th, he's got the best shot at a non-BCS National Champion.

Biggest Upset:

The Biggest upset of the young season is not what most people think. I believe that it happened last weekend as Iowa defeated Penn State in Happy Valley. For the second straight year Iowa upsets PSU, and this time on the national stage during a white out. I know a lot of people think USC losing to Washington was big. It was, however we've come to expect at least one PAC 10 loss for the Men of Troy. And it seems that this year's Washington squad led by Locker is a bit better than we all thought coming off of terrible season.

My National Championship Pick

Call me crazy but based on team's performances through the first 3-4 games I think the National Championship will be played between...

Alabama and Boise State.



Let's hear it Sports Fans, What do you think?


Douglas