Fearless forecasting, Week 1

August 30, 2007

Drew Champlin

In case you don’t get our print edition, we do a fearless forecasters graphic every Thursday, where all five of us predict 8 high school games and 8 college games.

Here’s what I predicted:

Houston Academy over Rehobeth
Wicksburg over Ariton
Cottonwood over Slocomb
Jeff Davis over Dothan
Northview over Robert E. Lee
Pike County over Andalusia
Ashford over Houston County
Providence Christian over Isabella

Arkansas over Troy
Alabama over Western Carolina
Auburn over Kansas State
Georgia Tech over Notre Dame
California over Tennessee
Clemson over Florida State
LSU over Mississippi State
Georgia over Oklahoma State

Thursday links

Drew Champlin

From me, Sean Dawkins is ready to get back into the game.

From the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, defensive end Chris Wade doesn’t want to be embarrassed like he was against USC.

Here’s some notes from the NW Arkansas Times, including cornerback Jerell Norton looking to make good in his first start.

The Morning News also has a feature on Chris Wade, plus an update on Marcus Monk, who is injured but in good spirits.

Offensive line

Drew Champlin

Just so you guys will really think sports writers wake up at 6:48 a.m.....(I didn’t, but set the time for this morning)

Here’s some offensive line stuff, most of which came after a conversation with offensive coordinator Tony Franklin Wednesday night. I’ve got an offensive line story planned for Friday.

***It looks like Wes Potter, a JUCO transfer from Snow JC in Utah, will start at right guard Saturday against Arkansas because Steven Merkel is battling a high ankle sprain and hasn’t practiced in the last week. I’m betting Merkel sees some action Saturday because sprains usually magically heal for big games. Who knows, though. Coaches feel like Potter is a pretty good player, but needs to lose some weight to be able to play more snaps. He’s listed at 6-foot-5, 339 pounds but that was a month ago.

Will Chambliss is a guy that has been around for a while and the 6-foot-6, 304-pounder is set to begin his redshirt junior season as the starter at left guard. Here’s some stuff from him that won’t make it into tomorrow’s story, but I wanted to put on here.

On making his move to the top and being a guy with tackle-size, but playing guard.
I know everybody expects it out of me, so I need to do it. I want them to feel like they got their money’s worth out of me. I personally want to do good and succeed.

From a coaching point of view, they think I’m more comfortable inside. I like playing inside – I like the comfort of having one guy here and one guy there. You have to watch the linebackers more.

It’s an unproven line, but Chambliss feels like they’ve meshed
There’s unity in that – that’s what you have to have on the offensive line, unity and trust. I really think we’re ready as an offensive line and I think we’re going to end up being better than in years past.

Chambliss’ only career start was last year at Nebraska when James Gardner was hurt. On being ready for full-time duty
I think I’m more ready now. Not to say I wasn’t ready then, but at the same time I can definitely see the difference with how I felt then and how I feel now.
I’m ready for it. I’ve worked too hard with technique and strength.

Red Owl Plantation

August 29, 2007

Drew Champlin

If you’re sitting in the Stadium Club for Troy home games, you’ll see a new vendor - Red Owl Plantation.

Here’s a story on that from our Accent editor, Linnea McClellan.

At the bottom of the link is a menu for all five games.

Sun Belt picks week 1

Drew Champlin

Figured I’d better get around to this since the first game is Thursday night.

Thursday
Tulsa@UL-Monroe, 6 p.m. (ESPN2): The Warhawks want to make a statement on ESPN2 tonight. With a ULM win, it would be the second straight Sun Belt win over Todd Graham, the new Tulsa head coach. Troy waxed his Rice Owls last year in the New Orleans Bowl. Paul Smith is a good senior leader and usually those take over. I wish I could see the game, and ULM has a great chance, but....Tulsa 30, ULM 27

Saturday

Florida International at Penn State, 11 a.m. (Big 10 Network): Unfortunately, the woes keep going for FIU. At least early on. Penn State 42, FIU 7

Middle Tennessee at Florida Atlantic, 3 p.m. I’ve said all along FAU is my surprise team in the Sun Belt and MTSU will finish in the middle of the pack. Now is the time for the Owls to make a statement. FAU 21, MTSU 17

North Texas at Oklahoma, 6 p.m. (FSN): Sooners have a redshirt freshman quarterback, but should pound their way to a relatively easy win, but won’t cover. Oklahoma 38, North Texas 7

Arkansas State at Texas, 6 p.m.: ASU should put up a fight because they have a good defense. Texas will win, but won’t cover. Texas 35, ASU 10

UL-Lafayette at South Carolina, 6 p.m.: Gamecocks start a redshirt freshman quarterback. Cajuns keep it close. South Carolina 24, ULL 17

finally…

Troy at Arkansas, 6 p.m.: I like Troy’s team a lot and Arkansas is an unknown. If Troy can move the ball on the ground and protect, they can score some points. Usually in games like this, enough intangibles happen for the home team to escape with a win. Not impossible for Troy to go in there and win, but....Arkansas 24, Troy 20.