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Thursday TIME: US | UK WEATHER: US | UK THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE ONLINE Back Issues WHAT'S ON Diary Dates SPORTS Features & Blogs FEATURES Politics blog THE NEIGHBORHOOD "Life in the UK" American Groups Essential Contacts Money Education Driving Property |
PREVIOUS SPORTS • Sideline: Yes, Non–Conference Games DO Count • NCAA Preview 2009 • Sideline: Time For The Talking To Stop • Sideline: In Memory of Air McNair • Sideline: Will Goodell Hand Out Hard Time? • Sideline: Marshall's Not Joshing • NFL Draft: No Rush To Judgment • NFL Draft Analysis 2009 (Part 2) • Sideline: NFL Draft Thoughts (Part 2) • Sideline: NFL Draft Thoughts • Sideline: Will Play For Food • Sideline: Wonderlic Scores • Sideline: Manning and Sanchez • Sideline: 2010 Leagues Sci–fi, or Fantasy? / March Madness • Sideline: Break Out The Brackets • Sideline: LaDainian Tomlinson On The Record • Sideline: The Incredible Sulk Continues • Sideline: Guildford Heat Fired Up • Sideline: Super Bowl thoughts from the Valley of the Sun • Sideline: I know I came in here for something • Sideline: College Football National Signing Day • Sideline: 27 Points — 27 Super Bowl thoughts • Sideline: An Epic QB Matchup? • Sideline: Appreciating Arizona for What They Were • Sideline: NFL Divisional Weekend Preview • Sideline: Bowl Season Hangover • Sideline: Six weeks Later • Sideline: Wildcard Weekend Preview • Sideline: Santa's Sackings • Sideline: A Weis Decision ...for Now • Sideline: Eye on the Ticker • Sideline: Lions — An Anagram of Losin • Sideline: Ready for the Turkey • Sideline: Making it to the Big Dance • Sideline: Brighter Days Ahead for Chargers? • Sideline: Unnecessary Hits To The Pocket / Upset: BYU • Sideline: Romo's Pause / Seattle Seahawks • Sideline: Weekend Prep: Red River and More • Sideline: College Football's 'Crossroads' Weekend • Sideline: Gramatical Error • Sideline: Turning The Page • Sideline: So Cal 'Quizzed • Sideline: 3rd Tuesday Panic / Forté Yard Dash • Sideline: Two and Oh; Oh and Two • Sideline: No More NCAAffeine • Sideline: Week 1 College Football • Sideline: How To Spell Heisman / Chad Ocho Cinco • Sideline: A Second Slice • Sideline: The Favre story STILL won't go away • Sideline: Olympic Notes / Ricky's Still Relevant • Sideline: Committee Meetings • Sideline: Let the QB Battles Begin • Sideline: Slinging The Slinger — More Favre • Interview: Clint Dempsey • Sideline: Welcome to the 2008 season • Sideline: Plus One • 2008 NFL Draft Review • Sideline: Draft: The Morning After • Sideline: Draft: Thinking the Unthinkable • Sideline: Draft: Ready For The Long Haul • Sideline: Sofa–bound Sport • Sideline: Post–Winter Wonderland • Sideline: Six Impossible Things • Sideline: Brady's Misdirection Play • Sideline: Colorful Language • Sideline: Let the Romo–bashing begin • Sideline: Bowl Bites: The Wrap • Sideline: All About The Coaches • Sideline: Bowl Bites 3 • Sideline: Bowl Bites 2 • Sideline: Bowl Bites 1 • Sideline: Coach Situations Vacant • Sideline: For Some, The Playoffs Are Now • Sideline: A Certain Lack Of Welcome • Sideline: Unrelated Notes • Sideline: Two Thanksgiving thoughts • Sideline: Halftime: NFC • Sideline: Halftime: AFC • Sideline: London / A Tale of Two Chads / Intimidation • Sideline: Damp Squib / Other London Notes • Sideline: Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em / Dolphins – The Aftermath • Sideline: The Dolphins Did What? • Sideline: Notes on the Defenses • Sideline: Habits to be Broken • Sideline: Overtime • Sideline: This Week's Starters • Sideline: USF: Covering The Spread / Fantastic Football • Sideline: Grossman: The Final Act? / McNabb, the Epilogue • Sideline: Eagles QB in Slight Controversy • Sideline: Leftwich's Parting Gift / Boos cruise • Sideline: Notre Dame M.I.A. • Sideline: Looking Beyond NFL Wk. 1 • Sideline: Best Hope For Heisman • Sideline: Coaching Hot Seats / AP Poll Feeling ’Appy • Sideline: The NFL’s Prime Cuts • Sideline: Michigan Falls to Killer Apps • Sideline: Look Out Couch / The Taint's On You, Bud |
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SPORTS SIDELINE 
Observations, Opinion & Occasional Silliness by Richard L Gale Week 1 College Football Notes Things have been a little hectic, what with 120 college preseason capsules and some last minute, wild and wacky NFL predictions to post before each team kicks off (missed them? click here ). This blog will resume its normal in–season spontaneity any day now, but before the season kickoff overtakes me, some thoughts from the opening week of college football and beyond... South Carolina's Tommy Beecher threw four interceptions in the Gamecocks' game against NC State. Kevin Craft also threw four picks for UCLA against Tennessee. Both teams won. You won't see that happening twice in the same weekend very often. Week one was inevitably full of blowouts as the big boys took on kindergartens in the home of securing a 1–0 start, so which lopsided laughers were noteworthy? Well, for one thing, Buffalo looked a lot better than a bottom feeder as they rolled UTEP 42–17. QB Drew Willy was sharp and RB James Starks may work his way onto the NFL's watch list after the 6–2 215lb junior put up 179 yards while splitting time with Brandon Thermilus. This year's Texas–Oklahoma game looks like being one for the ages, if their week one games are anything to go by. The Sooners beat Chattanooga 57–2 and the Longhorns downed Florida Atlantic 52–10. Neither opponent can be considered elite — although FAU were a bowl team last year — but Texas and Oklahoma both seemed in mid–season form. To anybody writing off Rutgers after they lost to Fresno State 24–7, I say think again. The passing and rushing games seemed to be a fingertip off, a half–block away all day for the Scarlet Knights, and they shut out Fresno in the second half. By comparison, Pittsburgh were everything I suspected — what were you thinking, sports experts? This is the Wannstedt! Week 2 should supply even more one–sided games, and a few less quality battles, but there will some stories to watch: Ohio v Ohio State will be on our screens, and those expecting a tight contest better look away — last time Ohio State lost to an in–state rival, the Charleston was still the latest dance craze. Nonetheless, those looking forward to Ohio State v USC should be intrigued to see how the depth chart looks behind the resting Chris Wells. An entertaining early game could be Southern Miss at Auburn. Sure, the Tigers should win solidly, but Southern Miss put up 51 points last week against Louisiana–Lafayette, and could be a better test of Auburn than Louisiana–Monroe, who the Tigers blanked with their running game. Expect Auburn to inject more of their spread passing game this week. Florida–Miami is obviously the game of the day, but keep an eye on another in–state rivalry, as South Florida take on Central Florida. The recruiting battle in Florida can never be under–estimated, and right now Miami and Florida State seem to be slipping back as programs. With UCF a C–USA contender and South Florida a ranked team that flew as high as no.2 last season (hey, didn't everybody?), these two games will be the channel–hop highlights for Floridian recruits. If the Gators make Miami look like minnows, it could be a very good recruiting day for the South Florida Bulls. Stepping away from football for a moment: the LPGA has recently been proposing making English its official language, suggesting players who lack proficiency are not allowed on tour. "This is an American tour" said Kate Peters, tournament director of the LPGA State Farm Classic (apparently overlooking the fact that English still isn't the official language of the US). However, in related comment, LPGA deputy commissioner Libby Galloway described the LPGA as a "global tour". Communications problems? Hmm. The LPGA has now rescinded the embryonic edict. That's probably wise. |
