Perspective PieceFlorida vs. Georgia, Oct. 29By Matthew Zemek
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Oklahoma-Texas, one of the three great neutral-site, split-field rivalries in college football, didn’t offer much of anything this season, much to everyone’s surprise. Maybe Army-Navy will be tight this year.Georgia-Florida, on the other hand, doesn’t figure to disappoint in 2005. This year’s version of The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, now that it’s finally at hand, offers a level of drama worthy of this SEC classic... even though D.J. ---College Football---
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Shockley’s injury means we could see a repeat of Alabama’s 6-3 win over Tennessee, forcing Verne Lundquist and Todd Blackledge to think hard about the last time they saw good offense by two SEC teams in the same game..History, intrigue, coaching questions, revenge, visions of an upset—these and other time-honored components of this border war in Jacksonville are on full display in the Cocktail Party, a rivalry that has been ruthlessly and consistently competitive over the past several seasons. 1998 was the last time these two teams didn’t play a game that was competitive in the fourth quarter. ---College Football---
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The cutthroat nature of Dawgs-Gators suggests that even with Georgia’s pedigree and legitimate national title aspirations, the boys from Athens will get a fierce test... yes, even from a Florida team that is struggling to find its footing under first-year coach Urban Meyer.There are a few years you need to keep in mind when contemplating this year’s Cocktail Party and the backdrop that accompanies it.Saturday’s Georgia-Florida game could be compared in many ways to 1980. A great Georgia team entered unbeaten against a solid but nicked up Florida squad.---College Football---
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The Gators took the fight to Herschel Walker, Buck Belue and the rest of Vince Dooley’s charges, but with the Dawgs on the ropes in the waning moments, UGA receiver Lindsay Scott outjuked and outran the Florida secondary en route to a stunning 93-yard touchdown reception for a 26-21 win. The three most memorable words in the history of this storied rivalry are Larry Munson’s; merely mentioning “Run, Lindsay, run!”, an echo of the Bulldog radio announcer’s unforgettable call of Scott’s play, makes Georgia fans taste heaven while sending Gator Nation into a dark, hellish depression. ---College Football---
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1980 has a clear connection to this year’s game because a Georgia team that will wear the designated road whites (just as it did 25 years ago) will be gunning for an undefeated season and a national championship. Dawg fans hope their team will come out on top once again.Another year to remember with respect to this season’s Party is 2002. This is the flip side of 1980.---College Football---
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Like the “Run, Lindsay, run!” game, Georgia strolled into Jacksonville without a blemish against a struggling, sagging Gator team. On this occasion, however, Florida managed to stop the Dawgs on the strength of a clutch defense and a resilient Rex Grossman. As an especially fitting counterbalance to 1980, the game was made memorable by UGA receiver Terrance Edwards’ anti-Scott exhibition, a drop of a pass that could have produced a tying touchdown in the game’s final minutes. Without that loss to the Gators, Mark Richt’s 2002 SEC champions just might have found themselves playing Miami in that season’s Fiesta Bowl instead of Ohio State. ---College Football---
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But as things turned out, the Gators played the spoiler role in ’02, doing what Charley Pell’s boys failed to do 22 years earlier. 2002 is also significant because it marked Ron Zook’s first Cocktail Party as a head coach; much of Gator Nation has reason to be confident heading into this game because Meyer, despite some first-year growing pains, has clearly demonstrated much more aptitude, acumen and all-around competence than Zook did in his three seasons in Gainesville. ---College Football---
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If the Zooker could make use of the bye week the Gators regularly have before the Cocktail Party (a big reason why they’ve been able to thrive even as an underdog in this series), Gator fans think that Meyer will be able to do even better.---College Football---
But then there’s 2004, another Party to remember when contemplating this rivalry and Saturday’s renewal of it. Florida had the same hope that its hex was about to work wonders again. Despite the program’s enormous struggles and the knowledge that Zook would not be coach after the end of the season, Florida still had the ability to reach into the well for one game, recall the power of their mental whammy over the Dawgs, and give Georgia a battle. However, those hopes were dashed, as David Greene—a senior in need of a win over Florida before his career in Athens ended—made enough plays, particularly to tight end Leonard Pope, to carry the Dawgs to victory.---College Football---
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Florida realized that it couldn’t count entirely on history to defeat Georgia; an identity crisis and a general lack of execution doomed the Gators in a rivalry where their deficiencies caught up to them.It’s that last package of realities that magnifies this year’s game. With Georgia having won last season, Florida’s players can no longer count on a history of dominance to propel them in battle. Furthermore, the Gators and Chris Leak enter Jacksonville with more questions than certainties, more of a track record of sloppiness than a portfolio of potency. ---College Football---
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The Gators can’t play a B-minus football game and expect to beat the Dawgs, which is what often happened in the Steve Spurrier era. Even with Joe Tereshinski and not Shockley at quarterback, Leak and the rest of the Gators will need to be in top form against a team, a head coach and a defensive coordinator—UGA’s Willie Martinez—who have authoritatively answered every challenge that’s come their way in 2005.

With Shockley out, it’s merely one more chance for the Dawgs to thumb their noses at the doubters, to find an even deeper source of motivation on the journey to Atlanta and beyond.1980 points the way to a perfect regular season for Georgia.2002 shows that Florida, with a first-year head coach, has been able to ruin the Dawgs’ season before.2004, though, reveals the most important thing about Dawgs-Gators: Florida is a deficient team whose offense needs to bring its A-game against a world-class defense.You can expect a competitive game, but unlike past years, you can’t expect Florida to naturally take control in the fourth quarter while the Dawgs make mistakes. ---College Football---
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The landscape of this series has changed, the mental whammy is absent in Athens, and Mark Richt’s team has a surer sense of self as it confronts its old enemy near the banks of the St. John’s River.One will raise a toast, the other will cry in its beer. Which history will win out? Will Chris stop the Leakage in his up-and down season? Time to find out at a Cocktail Party that is likely to deliver a lot more drama than the Sooners and Longhorns provided in Dallas a few weeks ago. The crowd—just like the verdict on this game—might be split, but it’s just about unanimous that this should be a tight and dramatic game that will be decided in the final minutes.
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Big Ten Fearless Predictions
Oct. 29 - Week Nine
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Big Ten | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Michigan | Michigan State
Minnesota | Northwestern | Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Wisconsin
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Big Ten picks Sept 3 | Sept 3, Part 2 | Sept 10 | Sept 10, Part 2 | Sept. 17 | Sept 17, Part 2
Sept 24 | Sept 24, Part 2 | Oct 1 | Oct 1, Part 2 | Oct 8 | Oct 8, Part 2 | Oct 15 | Oct 15, Part 2
Oct 22 | Oct 22, Part 2 | Oct 29, Part 2
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CFN Big Ten Record: 43-15 straight up, 23-31 ATS
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Make your picks for all the big games
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Big Ten Game of the Week---college football---
Michigan (5-3) at Northwestern (5-2) 7 pm ET ESPN
Why to watch: The winner will be alive and well in the Big Ten title hunt, while the loser will still have some work to do to become bowl eligible. Michigan has the easier road ahead getting Indiana next week before finishing with Ohio State in the Big House, but it can't afford to slip up against the red hot Wildcats. For the first time since 1959, Northwestern is the higher ranked team going into the Michigan game, and for good reason after thrilling wins over Wisconsin and Purdue along with the stunning blowout at Michigan State. The offense is humming on all cylinders, while Michigan is starting to roll with great wins over Penn State and Iowa. These two have played some classics over the years, and this has all the makings of another one. ---college football---
Why Michigan might win: Northwestern's defense finally showed up against Michigan State coming up with several big plays, but it's still the worst in college football allowing 504 yards per game with a pass defense that's not even coming close allowing 316 yards per game. Michigan QB Chad Henne isn't throwing for big yards, but he has been effective with ice water in his veins in crunch time throwing key late passes in back-to-back weeks in the wins over Penn State and Iowa. The Michigan receivers should be able to make big plays at will on the Wildcat secondary. Northwestern is tied for dead last in America in sacks and won't get any pressure in the Wolverine backfield, but ...
Why Northwestern might win:... it's not like Michigan is generating much of a pass rush, either. The Wolverine defense hasn't stopped anyone cold since the 55-0 win over Eastern Michigan, and it's not going to be able to do much to slow down the nation's hottest offense without getting pressure on QB Brett Basanez, who has only been sacked five times all year. Michigan State was able to crank out 455 yards of total offense on the Wolverines, and Northwestern is playing at an even higher level at the moment. The Michigan run defense isn't playing up to its capabilities and could get shoved around by Zach Strief and the solid Wildcat offensive line.---college football---
Who to watch: Northwestern's defense might stink, but don't tell that to LB Tim McGarigle. The senior is having an enormous year with 79 tackles, two sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss and three broken up passes in seven games. He has to make most of the plays thanks to a porous offensive line, but the defensive stats would be even more pathetic without him. Of course, it's all about the Wildcat offense at the moment, and no one is playing better than Basanez, who's averaging 428 yards of total offense with eight touchdown passes, four touchdown runs, and no interceptions over the last three games. He has to put on a similar show Saturday night for the Cats to come away with the win.
What will happen: With the way these two teams are playing, it'll be a shock if its anything but a shootout that goes down to the wire. Michigan has the attitude and the momentum after two straight tough wins to pull this out, but there's something magical about Northwestern at home when the spotlight is on.---college football---
CFN Prediction: Northwestern 38 ... Michigan 34 ... Line: Michigan -3 | Make your pick and compete against others ---college football---
Must See Rating: (5 lock yourself in a room to watch - 1 Commander in Chief) ... 5---college football---
Final Score: ---college football---

Indiana (4-3) at Michigan State (4-3) 12 pm ET GamePlan---college football---
Why to watch: Is Michigan State's annual second half collapse going to continue? The Spartans lost four of their final five games in 2003 and 2004, six of their last seven in 2002, three of their last five in 2001, and six of their last eight in 2000. After tough losses to Michigan and Ohio State, MSU soiled itself against Northwestern in an unfocused 49-14 loss. With road games at Purdue and Minnesota ahead and finishing with Penn State, a win against IU is a must. The Hoosiers are still in the hunt for a bowl game, but they're coming off two straight losses including a humbling 41-10 loss to Ohio State that wasn't nearly as close as the final score would indicate.
Why Indiana might win: This is Michigan State we're talking about; there's always going to be the flake factor to count on. IU's passing game was stopped cold by Ohio State gaining a mere 95 yards, but this is still an explosive team that can push the ball deep. The Spartan pass defense is 112th in the nation allowing 287 yards per game, and it's almost as bad in pass efficiency defense. IU QB Blake Powers has already thrown for 20 touchdowns this year, and he should be able to put at least three on the board. The Spartan secondary can't tackle, so watch out for big yards after the catch. ---college football---
Why Michigan State might win: Oh sure, Indiana was able to pull off wins against teams like Illinois and Kentucky, but Michigan State, despite all the problems, still has one of the nation's best offenses ranking third in the country averaging 528 yards per game. After a horrible outing against the miserable Northwestern defense, expect MSU's balanced attack to be crisper with more running from QB Drew Stanton and some huge plays from ...---college football---
Who to watch: ... WR Matt Trannon. The former basketball player hasn't done much over the last three games, but he owns Indiana making 12 catches for 176 yards over the last two seasons. Ohio State and Wisconsin, the only two teams IU has faced with any talent at receiver, threw at will on the Hoosier secondary, and so will MSU, but RB Javon Ringer will also have to be a major factor. He has rushed 584 yards on the year with 104 yards last week against Northwestern, but he hasn't scored since week two.---college football---
What will happen: Indiana will throw for well over 300 yards, but the Spartan offensive machine will get back on track.---college football---
CFN Prediction: Michigan State 41 ... Indiana 20 ... Line: Michigan State -19 | Make your pick and compete against others ---college football---
Must See Rating: (5 lock yourself in a room to watch - 1 Commander in Chief) ... 2.5---college football---
Final Score: ---college football---

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Wisconsin (7-1) at Illinois (2-5) 12 pm ET ESPN---college football---
Why to watch: It hasn't always been pretty and is sure hasn't been dominant, but Wisconsin is 7-1 and controls its destiny in the Big Ten race. But before the showdown at Penn State next week, the Badgers can't fall for the trap against an Illinois team getting worse and worse by the week coming off a 63-10 pounding by Penn State that could've been 103 to 10. Ron Zook's club has lost five straight by a combined score of 230 to 64 (an average of 46 to 12.8), and things don't look much better after this week going on the road to face Ohio State, Purdue and Northwestern. ---college football---
Why Wisconsin might win: Illinois has no pass rush whatsoever. Badger QB John Stocco should be able to sit back, relax, have a latte, and bomb away to his heart's content. Worse yet for Illinois, the run defense is the worst in the Big Ten allowing 227 yards per game. This is the game the Badger ground game should get its groove back and crank out a punishing 350 yard day.---college football---
Why Illinois might win: The Badgers are living by the big play, but they'll also give them up by the bunches. The defensive back seven gives up more home runs than Brad Lidge. It took a miracle blocked punt to beat Minnesota and two interception returns for touchdowns to beat Purdue. The UW defensive line has been decimated by injuries and won't get much of a push into the backfield. The Illini has the backs to control the tempo and the clock while keeping its defense off the field. ---college football---
Who to watch: Up until he started throwing pick sixes, Purdue QB Curtis Painter gave Wisconsin fits rushing for 60 yards and a touchdown and throwing for 212 yards. Illinois QB Tim Brasic was benched for Chris Pazan last week, but he'll hang on to the starting spot and should give the Badgers a hard time with his running skills. He has 242 rushing yards on the year along with 1,320 yards passing. He'll take a page from Painter's book and run a little option to keep the Badger defense on its toes.
What will happen: This smells like one of those Wisconsin games dominated by t---college football---he offensive line. The Illinois offense will come up with at least two big plays, but the defense will have too many problems getting steamrolled over.
CFN Prediction: Wisconsin 38 ... Illinois 13 ... Line: Wisconsin -19 | Make your pick and compete against others
Must See Rating: (5 lock yourself in a room to watch - 1 Commander in Chief) ... 2---college football---
Final Score: ---college football---

Semi-pro football a fun way to get noticed
League gives players another chance

By BRIAN SMITH
Special to The News Journal

The dreams are big for the Claymont Buccaneers and the LaBelle Community Football League.
The Buccaneers are in their second year in the LCFL, which has divisions in the Philadelphia area and in California. For some Buccaneers players, there's always the hope that playing semi-profootball will lead to a chance in the NFL or the Arena Football League.

"Our play at this level is as high as you can imagine," said Isaac Carn, 33, of New Castle, the owner and coach of the Buccaneers. "We've got Arena players playing in our league and ex-NFL players still playing in our league. Last year, I owned the team, but I played middle linebacker. So ... I could tell you about the talent out there. - College Football -

"Some of these players could be in the NFL, but they were in the wrong place at the wrong time." - College Football -

The third-year LCFL is backed by singer Patti LaBelle and counts several current and former NFL players among its supporters. It hopes to expand next year to the Atlanta area, Florida and the Maryland/Virginia area, and eventually become nationwide.

This year, the champion of the Philadelphia division will take on the champion of the West Coast division in the league championship game.

The Buccaneers, 4-1 after Saturday's 6-0 overtime loss at the Long Island (N.Y.) Panthers, lead the Philadelphia division. They play Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Haddington Bengals at Baynard Stadium. - College Football -

The league's 21 teams have rosters made up of players with a wide variety of ages and abilities. The Buccaneers players range from 20 to those approaching their 40s.

The Buccaneers season started in September and runs 10 weeks, through mid-November. The playoffs will take another two or three weeks. Players attend practice twice a week, and games are held on weekends.

Many of the players are on the team just to stay active in the game. That includes Chris Hewitt, 26, of Earleville, Md., a linebacker who drives 45 minutes to an hour each way for games and practices. - College Football -

"Most people who come out and watch the games tell me they'd rather watch one of our games than a college or pro game," Hewitt said. "It's hard-hitting and they're good games, and the majority of guys come out because they love the game.

"Some of the guys would definitely like to move on, but what it all comes down to is, we love the game. We don't care what everybody thinks, we just go out there and put a game on."

Tavares Walters, 26, of Dover, is hoping for a chance at the NFL. Carn said the 6-foot-3, 200-pound wide receiver has scored a touchdown in nearly every game in team history and averages 100 to 150 yards per game. - College Football -

Walters played at Delaware State and has played in the Arena Football League with the Richmond Speed. He once was invited to training camp by the San Diego Chargers, but he couldn't attend because of injury.

"I'm sure I can play at least [in the Arena league]," Walters said. "It's just a matter of someone seeing me and me getting the opportunity to prove myself. " - College Football -

The LaBelle league prides itself on being involved in the community. The Buccaneers do work with the Police Athletic League and are involved with the Jewish Community Center of Wilmington's NFL FlagFootball program.

"It's probably one of the nicer leagues I've been in," Hewitt said of the LCFL. "You get a little more hands-on. The commissioner actually owns one of the teams, so you get to talk to the [key people] more often. - College Football -

"They try to keep the community involved, which is nice. Some of these leagues don't care; they want their money, and that's it. It's not like that with these guys."

But when the teams take the field, the competition is fierce. Lamont Brown, 25, a teacher at A.I. du Pont Middle School, is a Buccaneers wide receiver and is playing in pads for the first time since high school. - College Football -

"For me, it's very competitive," Brown said. "The league is very balanced, and fortunately the leadership on our team, I think, is the best in the league.

"It's definitely not like a [recreation] softball league. It's very competitive, with hard practices and a lot of commitment from the team." - College Football -

Copyright © 2005, The News Journal.

College football notebook: Alabama defense prepares for Gators

By The Associated Press

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Florida's unstoppable offense. Quarterback Chris Leak's dazzling exploits. Coach Urban Meyer's brilliant system. - College Football -

Alabama linebackers DeMeco Ryans and Juwan Simpson aren't quite sure what all the fuss is about.

"I don't see what's so special about this kid," Simpson said of Leak.

"It's nothing special. Everyone keeps saying that it's a special offense," Ryans said. "They're a five-wide, spread offense. We've just got to come up with a defense to stop it."

The 15th-ranked Crimson Tide defenders said plenty of complimentary things about the No. 5 Gators and their quarterback entering today's game, too. - College Football -

But the gist of the message from Simpson and Ryans is: Don't forget our defense is pretty good, too.

Alabama (4-0 overall, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) will find out just how good against the Gators (4-0, 2-0), who provide easily the Crimson Tide's toughest test so far this season.

Even though Florida's offense has been among the league's best, this isn't quite one of those 1990s matchups between the Gators' high-flying offense versus the Tide's heralded defense.

There's more to it than that. - College Football -

For all the hype focused on Meyer's offense and Leak's statistics, the Gators' defense ranks fifth nationally (Alabama is seventh). And the Tide's offense is only a couple of spots below Florida on the SEC stat sheets.

The Gators are allowing a mere 223 yards and 13 points per game.

"They're an extremely talented group — one of the best, if not the best, we'll play all year," Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle said. "They're fast, they're big, physical.

"They don't show any tendencies on their blitzes. They bring anybody at any point in time."

Meyer said Alabama's secondary is the best his team has faced. - College Football -

Ryans thinks the key could come down to turnovers.

Alabama has forced at least one in 21 consecutive games and the offense has lost a mere one fumble this season and has two straight turnover-free games. Florida has yet to throw a pass that has been intercepted. - College Football -

Copyright © 2005 The Seattle Times Company

FSU fans must be ready to hit road, spend money
Tallahassee is a long trip for supporters, and hotels and gas drive up the cost.
Steve Elling and Tania Deluzuriaga
Sentinel Staff Writers

TALLAHASSEE -- When it comes to supporting Florida State, there are two things fans need: a good set of tires with a thick tread or a comparably fat wallet. Better still, both.

Fans packed the house on Labor Day to watch Florida State's season opener against Miami. For most, the logistics involved in attending any FSU home game qualify as a true labor of love.
Unlike earlier stops for games at South Carolina and Florida, Florida State is both geographically isolated and prohibitively expensive onfootball weekends. On the final leg of this 10-day college football road trip, we weren't the only ones who drove 1,200 miles and spent thousands of dollars to attend the game. - College Football -

Gas prices are sky high, area hotels boost prices and the campus is located 160 miles from the nearest major city, Jacksonville. If you want to attend an FSUfootball game, you're going to pay the price. Emphasis on pay.

"Are you gonna be tough, or are you going to be tough?" said Dwight Howard, who drove 21/2 hours home to Niceville after the game, which ended around midnight.

Given the popularity of the program, tens of thousands of fans were making similar jaunts for every home game. Some have to get creative when it comes to financing such ventures.

Mark Clark, 27, from Athens, Ga., and his best friend, Jeremy Cathem, 30, from Loganville, Ga., make the six-hour trek to every FSU home game. Clark, a student at the University of Georgia scalps his student tickets at two or three times their face value to help pay for his trips to Florida State, while Cathem padded his student loan to help cover his expenses.

"It was only $3.99 for 18-packs of Miller Lite so I'll save some money that way," Clark said.

By land or by air, the FSU devotees are paying a steeper price than ever. Russ Plumb, a Miami fan who lives in the Dallas area, spent about $600 on hotel and airfare to watch the game along with a couple of buddies. - College Football -

"Plus beer," he said. "Put a big question mark on the cost for that."

Since the game was on Monday night, the three-day weekend still wasn't long enough for many fans, who had to ditch work today while traveling home.

And if a cursory glance around one of the Doak Campbell Stadium parking lots is any indication, they travel from far and wide.

License plates from six states were seen in a span of 30 minutes, including the North Carolina tags of former FSU tight end Ryan Sprague. A starter on the 1999 national championship team, Sprague drove 71/2 hours to the opener with two infant children in tow. - College Football -

Now 27, he appreciates what fans went through for all those years watching him play.

"I remember them talking about that when I was here," he said. "There are no major towns, no airports, only one interstate."

Seeing as the highway in question, Interstate 10, is closed in three neighboring states, getting to the game was an even bigger challenge for some. What should have been a seven-hour drive for Tom Berniard turned into a 14-hour grind, including a 11/2-hour wait for gas in his hometown of Lafayette, La. - College Football -

"We had a real guilty feeling with all that's going on in New Orleans," said Berniard, whose son Geoff is on the team. "But we figured family is more important."

Once fans finally arrived in Tallahassee, the price tag keeps on climbing. As they have for years, many hotels require a two-night stay duringfootball weekends, frequently doubling or tripling the usual nightly rate.

"That should come under the state's price-gouging law," Howard said.

Demand clearly exceeded supply over the weekend because numerous hurricane evacuees had relocated to the area last week. - College Football -

Copyright © 2005, Orlando Sentinel

The West Coast paradox

Left of the Rockies, NCAA football just isn't as popular

Why isn't college football West Of the Rocky Mountains (or WORM) more popular, locally and nationally?

Is it because the nation's top-ranked team does not play WORM? No, that would be Southern California.

Is it because the defending national champ does not play WORM? Again, no, it's USC.

Is it because there's only one great team WORM? No. Utah finished 12-0 last season and Boise State had an 11-1 mark. I-AA Montana was 12-2, advancing to that division's national championship game.

Is it because the Heisman Trophy winner does not play there? No, that would be the Trojans' Matt Leinart (you see where this is going, but play along, hunh?).

Is it because the guy whom most observers consider to be the best player in college football does not play WORM? No, that's Reggie Bush.

Is it because the NFL never pays attention to anyone WORM? The top pick in the 2005 NFL Draft was quarterback Alex Smith of Utah.

Is it because no memorable moments occur WORM? No. Remember the play known simply as "The Play," between Cal and Stanford?

Is it because no great broadcasters live or attended college WORM? I give you Keith Jackson, who lives in SoCal and graduated from Washington State.

Is it because they never play entertaining games WORM? Did you see Cal-USC last year (the last two years, in fact?) or even BYU-Boise State?

Is it because no significant tactical development has ever come from WORM? Have you ever heard of the West Coast offense?

Is it because no significant records are ever broken WORM? Last year Hawaii's Timmy Chang became the NCAA's all-time career passing yardage leader.

Is it because the stadiums and atmosphere WORM lack charm? No, not that. I give you Tightwad Hill at Cal, Boise State's smurf turf, sail-gating at Washington, the USC-UCLA rivalry and Oregon's bicycle corral.

Is it because no significant games will be played WORM this season? The Rose Bowl, the "Granddaddy of 'em all," will decide the BCS national champion in January.

And yet, with all of those things going for it, there seems to be a continental divide between college football proper and that game out West (in fact, there is a Continental Divide between the two). College football is thought of as being roosted in places like Happy Valley and Death Valley, not the San Fernando Valley. We're more attuned to Camp Randall than the Idaho Vandals.

And, as someone who was raised in a Pac-10 town (Tempe, Ariz.) but now lives back East, I am not ready to blame all of this on East Coast bias, the folks here at Sports Illustrated in New York or at ESPN up in Bristol, Conn. I blame, more than anything, the nature of what constitutes a "college town."

Twenty-seven years ago, on Oct. 14, 1978, I sat with 71,137 fans at Sun Devil Stadium as Arizona State upset then-No. 1 USC, 20-7. The Trojans went on to win a share of the national title with a 12-1 record. At the time metropolitan Phoenix (Tempe is directly adjacent) had less than half the population it does today, and yet 70,000-plus crowds were the norm for the Sun Devils (they averaged 70,208 that year), even though Sun Devil Stadium had fewer seats then (70,491) than it does now (73,379). Last year, with a larger stadium, a metropolitan area ranked No. 5 in the nation (and growing every hour, it seems) and a team that finished 9-3, the Sun Devils averaged 62,641 fans, or 85 percent capacity.

But that's not a Sun Devil problem, it's a Pac-10 problem. Last year 18 schools filled their stadiums to 100 percent (or greater, somehow) of capacity: six were Big Ten schools, four were Big 12, three were ACC, two were SEC and one was Notre Dame.

The Pac-10 had two: Oregon (which finished 5-6) and Oregon State (7-5). The third-highest attendance, in terms of percent capacity, was Washington State, at 99.3 percent, despite the Cougars' 5-6 record.

What are the three smallest towns in the Pac-10? Pullman, Wash., Corvallis, Ore., and Eugene, Ore.

WORM college towns also happen to be the WORM's major metropolises: Los Angeles, Phoenix, the Bay Area, Seattle, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Las Vegas. What is there to do on a fall Saturday in South Bend or Tuscaloosa? Now, what is there to do on a fall Saturday in San Diego or San Francisco?

Is it any wonder that of all the BCS conference schools, Stanford had the lowest attendance percentage (42.04) last season? Or that of the 117 Division I-A schools, San Jose State had the worst attendance percentage (22.44)? This, despite the fact the Spartans hosted undefeated Boise State in one of their games. Now, true, that game began at 9 a.m. local time. Yes, you read that right. But that's only because ESPN, to its credit, wanted to let the nation see Boise State play in the afternoon. But if San Jose State were a real football school, its fans would have never stood for a 9 a.m. start.

It should come as no surprise, by the way, that two schools ranked in the top 14 in terms of attendance percentage last year were Idaho (No. 5, at 103 percent capacity) and Boise State (No. 14, at 101.66 percent). Granted, neither of their stadiums seats more than 31,000 (an end zone's worth of fans at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.), but I think those filled seats have a lot more to do with the campuses being located in Moscow, Idaho, and Boise, Idaho, respectively, than with how good the teams were (the Vandals were 3-9).

Sure, it's a lot to ask Southern Cal to fill a Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum that seats more than 90,000 for every home game. The Trojans only fill it to 93 percent capacity, about 85,000 fans per game. But the Trojans are defending national champs, have the nation's top two marquee offensive stars and play in the belly of the nation's second-largest city. You think the folks in Ann Arbor, Mich., or Lincoln, Neb., would have any trouble filling up the Coliseum?

No, and that's the point. Even though it seems to be a paradox, the verity of college football is: The smaller the town, the more filled the stadium.

That's not a Best-Case Scenario. That's not a Worst-Case Scenario. That's a West-Case Scenario.

Copyright © 2005 CNN/Sports Illustrated.

A Seminole's guide to Florida State football

Since attending Florida State for the past three seasons, I have seen a lot of students treat football games more so as an event to be "seen" at and not view them in the proper manner of one of the most prestigious honors given only to those who love the Garnet and Gold. Looking at the list of teams visiting Doak this year, I have heard a lot of people say that after Miami, there are no good games at home.
Well, I hope people didn't forget that three of our last six home games are vital to winning the division and our homecoming opponent, Maryland, defeated us a year ago. In order to give every game the extra boost in anticipation, I have comprised a list of do's and dont's for a Florida State football game.
Do: Tailgate before every game. Tailgating is one of the best reasons for attending home football games. Socializing with friends, eating great food and watching other games on a six-inch TV is, arguably, one of the reasons football has become the pastime of the college student.
Don't: Drink a lot at the tailgate and wander in the stadium drunk. There is nothing wrong with having a beer before the game but do not overdo it. The next day of class when everyone is talking about how FSU dominated Miami, you wouldn't be able to relive the memories because you were too busy trying to stay balanced and not puke over the people in front of you. Do: Make noise when the Seminole defense is on the field. In order to enjoy the game when FSU is on defense it is best to scream at the top of your lungs and stomp your feet to confuse the offense. This is where the student section needs to step up because the alumni feel they are too old to get too involved in the game.
Don't: Make noise or celebrate while the Seminole offense is playing (unless the play is over). One of the biggest trends I have seen for the past couple of years, is fans doing the wave -- WHILE WE ARE ON OFFENSE! Not only does it show we are not fully focused but it also can distract the players. I once went to acollege football game where the fans of the team on offense were doing the wave and the team was so distracted that they fumbled the ball and eventually lost the game.
Do: Celebrate and congratulate the team when the clock hits triple zero, or the game is far out of reach in the final quarter. Once the game is over, it will be time to begin the serious trash talk. It will be time to start thinking up the one-liners and songs that really irritate our visitors.
Don't: Start to think up the victory cheers when the game is at a stalemate and can still go to either team. Some of the students are guilty of bringing out the keys in the fourth quarter of the FSU/Florida game last year. The problem was FSU LOST the game. Hopefully, the Seminole faithful can remember some of these pointers and enjoy this 2005 season. Personally, I hope all the negativity that has happened during the offseason is a precursor to one of the greatest FSU football seasons since 1999.

Brandon Hudson