NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
The sun is starting to set sooner and the days aren’t as hot as they use to be for some of us. To me, that means fall is coming soon and the return of College Football. Last season like the entire year of 2020 was CRAZY and in the end somehow a season was played and the Alabama Crimson Tide walked away with national championship number 18 and the goat Nick Saban ring number 7. The offseason has been full of excitement and shakeups. We have FINALLY seen the doors open to have players earn money for their name, image, and likeness aka NIL, transfer portal is a whole other article and conference shakeups. With a vaccine, readily available fans will make their return to the stands and we will have that Saturday atmosphere CFB fans love. Take one look at some of these games and you can feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up. I’m talking Clemson vs Georgia, Oregon vs Ohio State, Notre Dame vs Wisconsin just to name a few. As with every season, questions need to be answered for most college students or fans fall Saturdays involve some type of six-pack and why would this be different? Cracking open a cold one and asking 6 questions I have for CFB 2021.
- Will Jim Harbaugh make it through the season? How many lives does Mr. Kaki have? We enter year 7 of the Harbaugh era coming off a season that saw the Wolverines not win one home game. The matchup against Ohio State has been a joke, and the team has been all hype and no wins. ESPN’s own Paul Finebaum thinks he should just be fired now and save the agony for fans. Yes, he signed an extension but another year of losing could it be over for him? Who’s got it better than us? Sure looks like the rest of the Big10 does.
- Is Spencer Rattler the next great OU quarterback? I first peeped this young man on the football reality series QB1. With a super soft schedule and teams in the Big12 treating defense like it’s a mask mandate, he should put up huge numbers. The Sooners have talent at the receiver spot and at running back. Will the voters hold that against him? Time will tell but trust me he will be posting video-game-like stats all year long.
- Will anyone crash the College Football Playoff party or will the guest’s list be the same? We all love the big boys like Alabama, Ohio State, and the rest but who doesn’t love an underdog? Is this the year the Georgia Bulldogs breakthrough? What a way to start by facing off versus Clemson. What about a team like Cinncinati wearing the glass slipper. If I have to see Notre Dame make it and get blown out one more time! I could see LSU, Oregon, or Wisconsin making an appearance and not be too shocked.
- How much of an impact on the season will Covid have? Despite what we as fans want we are still in the mists of a global pandemic and that isn’t something CFB can avoid. If there is one thing programs can lean on it’s that they did this last year and have data and experience to use. It will also go into the stands as teams such as LSU are requiring proof of vaccination or recent negative test. How will THAT conversation go when an LSU or Texas fan wants in for the big game after a day of tailgating?
- Who wants Bama? It’s one thing to hold up a sign at a game after a good win, it’s another thing to strap it up and faceoff against the Crimson Tide. Bryce Young takes over for Mac Jones, who is the new stud on the O-line, and which star freshmen will become the next star? Known for having great defensive backs write down this name Kool-Aid McKinstry. Yes, that’s his real name and also at wideout true freshmen Agiye Hall. Starting the season off with an up-and-coming Miami team is one way to find out what you have quickly.
- Which former blue blood program is REALLY back? Plenty of candidates for this and these fan bases have been waiting a long time to be back among the big boys. Who is still not quite ready for prime time and who is? Programs like Texas, Miami, Florida State, and Virginia Tech can’t live off late 90’s ear;y 2000’s success forever.
A great night out with friends always includes a solid shot or 3 of something strong in a small glass. For the purpose of this article, I will say my shot is for UCF transfer QB McKenzie Milton who is at Florida State this year. Milton dislocated his right knee and suffered ligament, nerve, and artery damage during a game against USF in November 2018. He hasn’t played since and it would be AWESOME to see him run out on the field when the Notre Dame game kicks off.
With week zero in the rearview mirror NOW the fun begins and the journey which is the 2021 college football season starts. Let’s be safe and enjoy it for all its glory. Get game day ready with your college football gear here
For more sports talk, movie quotes, and coffee talk follow me on Twitter @JoeCardoso301
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