Earlier today here at SaturdayBlitz.com, the Vontaze Burfict-Kevin Ozier confrontation at Arizona State and the nature of preseason workouts was discussed. From someone who experienced those hardships firsthand, In The Bleachers’ Mike Felder gives his prespective. Preseason polls like the one at OnsideKick.com that both Felder and this blogger are voters on are predicated on what supposed experts anticipate. The coming weeks leading to kickoff are the culmination of months upon months of arduous, and sometimes tedious measures to put together winning football, something even supposed experts lose sight of.
The preseason establishes team chemistry and serves as a final push to harden players for gametime. It’s also an opportunity for players to prove themselves. At Notre Dame, such a competition has taken shape. Dayne Crist must prove worthy the starting quarterback nod over Tommy Rees, who had an impressive spring but at a svelt 6-foot-2 and generous 210 is an injury risk. Slap The Sign has more on Brian Kelly’s quarterback decision.
- The aforementioned Fighting Irish get an extensive breakdown, courtesy of College Football Zealots and by way of The Subway Domer.
- Nebraska escaped the Big 12 iceberg at the right time. The Cornhuskers’ Big Ten tenure kicked off over the weekend, and Husker Corner provides some insight into the initial days of the new era.
- The saga of the Longhorn Network and its place in any future Big 12 plans continues to unfold. Things don’t look great for the conference, per Allen Kenney at Crystal Ball Run.
- Texas, however, should come out smelling like a bed of roses. Everday Should Be Saturday weaves a pop culture-meets-sports tale that puts much of Grantland to shame.
- The Huskers will be sporting this patch to commemorate their inaugural Big Ten season, per Husker Locker (the first SaturdayBlitz.com podcast guest, coming very soon).