Tweet
The Pig Is In The Air!
Marc Lawrence’s 2003 College Football Power Plays
By Marc Lawrence • www.PLAYBOOK.com
Thanks to our 2003 PLAYBOOK FOOOTBALL HANDICAPPERS’ YEARBOOK magazine, hot of the presses and on sale now at newsstands across the country, our freshly windexed crystal ball looks into the prospects of each of the 117 Division 1-A football teams for the upcoming campaign. Journey with us for a date with history as we examine the BEST and the WORST situations and games surrounding each team this season. We’ve penciled in the games of interest, and the parameters surrounding those games. Get your scorecards ready as we look to make a little extra bacon this college football season as we take a look inside the INDEPENDENTS for 2003…
INDEPENDENTS
Attendance in this small-knit fraternity grows smaller with each passing day as the rush for conference-affiliation, and all of its perks, continues. UConn will soon be bolting for the BIG EAST (should they remain in tact), while Troy State also looks forward to the day they begin to pay conference dues. Notre Dame appears to be shopping their services to other conferences and will once again be in the spotlight under 2nd year head coach Tyrone Willingham. Meanwhile, Navy looks to drop anchor on its losing ways under promising head coach Paul Johnson.
CONNECTICUT
Looking forward to joining the Big East Conference in 2005 (provided, of course, there’s still a Big East Conference n 2005), the Huskies are looking forward to playing in their spanking new 40,000 seat Kentshler Field stadium this year. Better news is the same group of QB’s and RB’s who accounted for 100% of UConn’s passing and rushing yards last year are back in tact. The momentum of a 4-0 finish last season should spillover early on in 2003. So should the enthusiasm when Boston College invades, off Penn State with Miami Florida on deck. In a great scheduling sandwich, we’ll bite with the rejuvenated Huskies in their new Dog House. PLAY ON: as DD Dogs vs Boston College
NAVY
Paul Johnson realized that it would be an uphill battle when he assumed the head coaching duties at Navy. “The program didn’t get the way it is overnight, and its not going to change overnight,” Johnson acknowledged. Improvement was apparent last year as the Middies used bookend wins to conclude the 2002 season with twice as many victories as they had registered in the previous two years combined. Johnson, who guided Georgia Southern to a pair of Division 1AA championships before his arrival here, benefits from a schedule that may afford his team the opportunity to perhaps double last year’s effort. Progress is measured in slow, but steady steps. The Middies are marching to the right tune behind Johnson. PLAY ON: vs Vanderbilt
NOTRE DAME
Blessed by Touchdown Jesus in more ways than one last season, the Dame managed to double their victories in a 10-win season under first year head coach Tyrone Willingham despite the fact they managed a meager 313 YPG of offense. They will have to pays for their indiscretions this year, however, when they take on no less than seven bowl opponents in their first eight games of the season. The Holy Water arrives in time during their final four games, however, when they do battle against four losers in a somewhat unbalanced schedule. There won’t be enough rosary beads to pass around should they find themselves favored when Bobby Bowden brings his caravan of do-gooders to town early in November as they figure to pay a penance for last year’s miracle win in Tallahassee. Say hallelujah and give me the Seminoles. PLAY AGAINST: as Favs vs Florida State
TROY STATE
Alabama’s winningest football team since 1994 is in trouble. And we’re not talking about the Crimson Tide. The Trojans of Troy State have logged a 103-41-1 (.714) winning record, the best in the entire state. This year, however, they will definitely be up against it. Taking to the road eight times (for the 2nd straight year), they’ll do so with 71 of the 120 players being either freshmen or sophomores. Only 17 seniors dot the roster (27 last year). On top of it all they will be scrapping last year’s spread attack in favor of a new I-formation. “We are about as depleted as I can remember it on both sides of the ball. There is no question we have a lot of work to do,” says head coach Larry Blackney. PLAY AGAINST: vs Nebraska
EDITOR’S NOTE: Marc Lawrence publishes the 248-page PLAYBOOK FOOTBALL HANDICAPPERS’ YEARBOOK magazine, sold on newsstands nationwide. The 2003 edition examines the 32 NFL teams and 117 Division 1-A college teams in depth. To obtain a copy visit www.PLAYBOOK.com or call 1-800-PLAYBOOK
Marc Lawrence’s 2003 College Football Power Plays
By Marc Lawrence • www.PLAYBOOK.com
Thanks to our 2003 PLAYBOOK FOOOTBALL HANDICAPPERS’ YEARBOOK magazine, hot of the presses and on sale now at newsstands across the country, our freshly windexed crystal ball looks into the prospects of each of the 117 Division 1-A football teams for the upcoming campaign. Journey with us for a date with history as we examine the BEST and the WORST situations and games surrounding each team this season. We’ve penciled in the games of interest, and the parameters surrounding those games. Get your scorecards ready as we look to make a little extra bacon this college football season as we take a look inside the INDEPENDENTS for 2003…
INDEPENDENTS
Attendance in this small-knit fraternity grows smaller with each passing day as the rush for conference-affiliation, and all of its perks, continues. UConn will soon be bolting for the BIG EAST (should they remain in tact), while Troy State also looks forward to the day they begin to pay conference dues. Notre Dame appears to be shopping their services to other conferences and will once again be in the spotlight under 2nd year head coach Tyrone Willingham. Meanwhile, Navy looks to drop anchor on its losing ways under promising head coach Paul Johnson.
CONNECTICUT
Looking forward to joining the Big East Conference in 2005 (provided, of course, there’s still a Big East Conference n 2005), the Huskies are looking forward to playing in their spanking new 40,000 seat Kentshler Field stadium this year. Better news is the same group of QB’s and RB’s who accounted for 100% of UConn’s passing and rushing yards last year are back in tact. The momentum of a 4-0 finish last season should spillover early on in 2003. So should the enthusiasm when Boston College invades, off Penn State with Miami Florida on deck. In a great scheduling sandwich, we’ll bite with the rejuvenated Huskies in their new Dog House. PLAY ON: as DD Dogs vs Boston College
NAVY
Paul Johnson realized that it would be an uphill battle when he assumed the head coaching duties at Navy. “The program didn’t get the way it is overnight, and its not going to change overnight,” Johnson acknowledged. Improvement was apparent last year as the Middies used bookend wins to conclude the 2002 season with twice as many victories as they had registered in the previous two years combined. Johnson, who guided Georgia Southern to a pair of Division 1AA championships before his arrival here, benefits from a schedule that may afford his team the opportunity to perhaps double last year’s effort. Progress is measured in slow, but steady steps. The Middies are marching to the right tune behind Johnson. PLAY ON: vs Vanderbilt
NOTRE DAME
Blessed by Touchdown Jesus in more ways than one last season, the Dame managed to double their victories in a 10-win season under first year head coach Tyrone Willingham despite the fact they managed a meager 313 YPG of offense. They will have to pays for their indiscretions this year, however, when they take on no less than seven bowl opponents in their first eight games of the season. The Holy Water arrives in time during their final four games, however, when they do battle against four losers in a somewhat unbalanced schedule. There won’t be enough rosary beads to pass around should they find themselves favored when Bobby Bowden brings his caravan of do-gooders to town early in November as they figure to pay a penance for last year’s miracle win in Tallahassee. Say hallelujah and give me the Seminoles. PLAY AGAINST: as Favs vs Florida State
TROY STATE
Alabama’s winningest football team since 1994 is in trouble. And we’re not talking about the Crimson Tide. The Trojans of Troy State have logged a 103-41-1 (.714) winning record, the best in the entire state. This year, however, they will definitely be up against it. Taking to the road eight times (for the 2nd straight year), they’ll do so with 71 of the 120 players being either freshmen or sophomores. Only 17 seniors dot the roster (27 last year). On top of it all they will be scrapping last year’s spread attack in favor of a new I-formation. “We are about as depleted as I can remember it on both sides of the ball. There is no question we have a lot of work to do,” says head coach Larry Blackney. PLAY AGAINST: vs Nebraska
EDITOR’S NOTE: Marc Lawrence publishes the 248-page PLAYBOOK FOOTBALL HANDICAPPERS’ YEARBOOK magazine, sold on newsstands nationwide. The 2003 edition examines the 32 NFL teams and 117 Division 1-A college teams in depth. To obtain a copy visit www.PLAYBOOK.com or call 1-800-PLAYBOOK