PRESS PICKS (Week 4): Raise a glass to the start of college football
STAFF REPORT
We raise a glass to the opening of college football… that is the real opening of college football.
What was last week? A tuneup? A tryout? Practice? Are we talking about practice?
It was none of that and get ready for more. In the future, as teams add better opponents to the out-of-conference schedule, they want more time to prepare. That means another off week during the season.
It will happen. Playing in August is no big deal. So what if fans are passing out in the stands. So what if players are getting dehydrated in warm ups. It’s what ESPN wants, right?
As rumors go, ESPN wants to open the 2023 season with a seven-day pilgrimage of college football starting with the last Saturday of August and leading up to the first true weekend which is Labor Day. (Do you realize that the regular season used to start the third week of September? Then when an 11th game was added, the second weekend of September?)
That makes for hot and humid days and nights at the stadium. And it doesn’t matter if you are attending a game in Tuscaloosa, Waco Texas or Madison, Wisc. It’s hot everywhere the last week of August.
But there is a demand and plenty of supply to make it happen.
People will watch football at any time… maybe. The USFL didn’t exactly take off this past spring. Fox did everything it could to make it a big deal. But the football didn’t meet the expectations, whatever that was.
As long as money can be made, college football will roll with the decisions and the NCAA will turn away and cover its ears. If Jacksonville State is willing to come to Montgomery and play for a couple of thousand dollars, some team in northern California will do the same. Just wait and see.
Graham Dunn and Doug Amos are the top two of the panel after three weeks. Mike Peacock had a near perfect week and moved up the standings.
2022 Overall Standings (Week)
1. Graham Dunn 16-4 (9-1) .800
2. Doug Amos 15-5 (7-3) .750
3. Tim Gayle 14-6 (8-2) .700
4. Mike Peacock 13-7 (9-1) .650
5. Rosie Langello 12-8 (5-5) .600
Rick Hendrick 12-8 (6-4) .600
Wesley Lyle 12-8 (8-2) .600
8. Michael Butler 11-9 (6-4) .500
9. Barry McKnight 10-10 (6-4) .500
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
16-4 (9-1) .800
Park Crossing vs. G.W. Carver (Thur.) – Carver
Wetumpka at Pike Road -Pike Road
Jeff Davis at Sidney Lanier - Lanier
Prattville Christian at St. James –St. James
Central-Clay County at Tallassee –Tallassee
Utah St at Alabama -Alabama
Mercer at Auburn– Auburn
Troy at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Oregon vs. Georgia (Atlanta) - Georgia
Cincinnati at Arkansas–Arkansas
Utah at Florida - Florida
Florida St vs LSU (New Orleans) - LSU
Memphis at Miss St - Miss St
Notre Dame at Ohio St - Ohio St
West Virginia at Pitt (Thur) - Pitt
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Fox 20)
15-5 (7-3) .750
Park Crossing vs. G.W. Carver (Thur.) – Carver
Wetumpka at Pike Road -Pike Road
Jeff Davis at Sidney Lanier - Lanier
Prattville Christian at St. James –St. James
Central-Clay County at Tallassee –Tallassee
Utah St at Alabama -Alabama
Mercer at Auburn– Auburn
Troy at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Oregon vs. Georgia (Atlanta) - Georgia
Cincinnati at Arkansas–Arkansas
Utah at Florida - Florida
Florida St vs LSU (New Orleans) - LSU
Memphis at Miss St - Miss St
Notre Dame at Ohio St - Ohio St
West Virginia at Pitt (Thur) - Pitt
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
14-6 (8-2) .700
Park Crossing vs. G.W. Carver (Thur.) – Carver
Wetumpka at Pike Road -Pike Road
Jeff Davis at Sidney Lanier - Lanier
Prattville Christian at St. James –St. James
Central-Clay County at Tallassee –Tallassee
Utah St at Alabama -Alabama
Mercer at Auburn– Auburn
Troy at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Oregon vs. Georgia (Atlanta) - Georgia
Cincinnati at Arkansas–Arkansas
Utah at Florida - Florida
Florida St vs LSU (New Orleans) - LSU
Memphis at Miss St - Miss St
Notre Dame at Ohio St - Ohio St
West Virginia at Pitt (Thur) - Pitt
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
13-7 (9-1) .650
Park Crossing vs. G.W. Carver (Thur.) – Carver
Wetumpka at Pike Road -Pike Road
Jeff Davis at Sidney Lanier - Lanier
Prattville Christian at St. James –St. James
Central-Clay County at Tallassee –Clay Central
Utah St at Alabama -Alabama
Mercer at Auburn– Auburn
Troy at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Oregon vs. Georgia (Atlanta) - Georgia
Cincinnati at Arkansas–Arkansas
Utah at Florida - Florida
Florida St vs LSU (New Orleans) - LSU
Memphis at Miss St - Miss St
Notre Dame at Ohio St - Ohio St
West Virginia at Pitt (Thur) - West Va
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
12-8 (5-5) .600
Park Crossing vs. G.W. Carver (Thur.) – Carver
Wetumpka at Pike Road -Pike Road
Jeff Davis at Sidney Lanier - Lanier
Prattville Christian at St. James –St. James
Central-Clay County at Tallassee –Tallassee
Utah St at Alabama -Alabama
Mercer at Auburn– Auburn
Troy at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Oregon vs. Georgia (Atlanta) - Georgia
Cincinnati at Arkansas–Cincinnati
Utah at Florida - Utah
Florida St vs LSU (New Orleans) - LSU
Memphis at Miss St - Miss St
Notre Dame at Ohio St - Ohio St
West Virginia at Pitt (Thur) - Pitt
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
12-8 (8-2) .600
Park Crossing vs. G.W. Carver (Thur.) – Carver
Wetumpka at Pike Road -Pike Road
Jeff Davis at Sidney Lanier - Lanier
Prattville Christian at St. James –St. James
Central-Clay County at Tallassee –Central Clay
Utah St at Alabama -Alabama
Mercer at Auburn– Auburn
Troy at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Oregon vs. Georgia (Atlanta) - Georgia
Cincinnati at Arkansas–Arkansas
Utah at Florida - Utah
Florida St vs LSU (New Orleans) - LSU
Memphis at Miss St - Miss St
Notre Dame at Ohio St - Ohio St
West Virginia at Pitt (Thur) - Pitt
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA for Montgomery Biscuits)
12-8 (6-4) .600
Park Crossing vs. G.W. Carver (Thur.) – Park Crossing
Wetumpka at Pike Road -Wetumpka
Jeff Davis at Sidney Lanier - Jeff Davis
Prattville Christian at St. James –St. James
Central-Clay County at Tallassee –Tallassee
Utah St at Alabama -Alabama
Mercer at Auburn– Auburn
Troy at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Oregon vs. Georgia (Atlanta) - Georgia
Cincinnati at Arkansas–Arkansas
Utah at Florida - Florida
Florida St vs LSU (New Orleans) - LSU
Memphis at Miss St - Miss St
Notre Dame at Ohio St - Ohio St
West Virginia at Pitt (Thur) - Pitt
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
11-9 (6-4) .500
Park Crossing vs. G.W. Carver (Thur.) – Carver
Wetumpka at Pike Road -Pike Road
Jeff Davis at Sidney Lanier - Lanier
Prattville Christian at St. James –St. James
Central-Clay County at Tallassee –Tallassee
Utah St at Alabama -Alabama
Mercer at Auburn– Auburn
Troy at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Oregon vs. Georgia (Atlanta) - Georgia
Cincinnati at Arkansas–Arkansas
Utah at Florida - Florida
Florida St vs LSU (New Orleans) - LSU
Memphis at Miss St - Miss St
Notre Dame at Ohio St - Ohio St
West Virginia at Pitt (Thur) - Pitt
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
10-10 (6-4) .500
Park Crossing vs. G.W. Carver (Thur.) – Carver
Wetumpka at Pike Road -Wetumpka
Jeff Davis at Sidney Lanier - Lanier
Prattville Christian at St. James –St. James
Central-Clay County at Tallassee –Central Clay
Utah St at Alabama -Alabama
Mercer at Auburn– Auburn
Troy at Ole Miss - Troy
Oregon vs. Georgia (Atlanta) - Georgia
Cincinnati at Arkansas–Cincinnati
Utah at Florida - Utah
Florida St vs LSU (New Orleans) - LSU
Memphis at Miss St - Miss St
Notre Dame at Ohio St - Ohio St
West Virginia at Pitt (Thur) - Pitt