FanHouse Colorado Football

Soon to be named after a lawncare device, or maybe a juicer.

The scourge of corporate naming pollution that have given us things like the "TD Banknorth Garden" and "Enron Field" has mercifully passed college football by. A couple teams (Pitt and USF most prominently) play at corporately-named pro stadiums and Minnesota will name its new open-air on-campus stadium after a bank, but no team has just thrown up its hands and asked for money to rename an old, beautifully-named stadium.

Until now:

The University of Colorado is exploring selling stadium naming rights to Folsom Field under the condition that any potential buyer agree to include the current name in the future moniker, Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson said.

Colorado hopes to nail down 15 million dollars over 15 to 20 years for turning their stadium, named after legendary Colorado coach Frederick Folsom in 1944, into a monument to some corporation's stupidity. Sure, the'y keep "Folsom" as part of the name, but Denver-area fans are no doubt thinking of "StupidCorporation Field at Mile High" right now and gritting their teeth.

The Big 12's annual meetings are currently taking place in Colorado Springs and league commissioner Dan Beebe has a lot on his plate. But one agenda item that he is pushing strongly is a fifth year of eligibility for football players. He hopes the proposed change will get some attention from the NCAA rules committee.

The proposal for a fifth year of eligibility would eliminate redshirting, instead giving college football players five years to compete on the field. Under current rules, players have a five-year window in which to complete four years of playing time. This isn't the first time this change has come up, but opponents have argued that eligibility rules need to standard across sports. Big 12 commissioner Beebe, disagrees.

Beebe, however, said he thinks football should be seen as unique because it has a high rate of redshirts and injuries.

"Injuries happen and coaches have players who could contribute, but they don't want to play someone on a limited basis and burn a redshirt year," Beebe said. "And you have kids during their redshirt year who are getting the heck beat out of them in practice every day with no hope of playing."

The rule change would certainly eliminate the need for coaches to agonize about redshirting decisions. In addition, it would seemingly end the need for athletes and schools to file medical hardships in the wake of injuries. Lastly, given that the average college football player takes around 4.7 years to graduate, the five-year eligibility window could help improve graduation rates.

A group of former Colorado Buffalo football players have created a network of ex-players designed to forge their allegiance to the school. The Buffs 4 Life Foundation has already reached out to several former players in need.

"Anthony got sick and that moved us forward," [Lance] Carl said. "That was the impetus that really started things rolling."

"Anthony" was former CU running back Anthony Weatherspoon, who was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder in 2004. Weatherspoon died in 2005, and in 2006, Buffs 4 Life held their first charity golf tournament, with proceeds going to Weatherspoon's family.

That got the ball rolling and it hasn't stopped. Last year, tournament proceeds benefitted former Buff quarterback John Hessler.

This sounds like a great organization and one devoted to far more than just reminiscing about the "glory days." The former players have united and found away to give back to the community and the university that oversaw a significant portion of their growth and development. The group posts job listings and resumes of members and is looking to continue its commitment to the university.

"Every guy that ever walked up that hill from the practice field to the locker room has something in common," Embree said. "That's a bond that won't go away. We want that to be a lifetime bond -- and it's important that we continue that bond."

The Watch List for the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been released by the Football Writers Association of America. The Nagurski Trophy is presented annually to the best defensive player in college football and is sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

According to the press release:

"The Charlotte Touchdown Club will hold the 2008 banquet on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte. For the eighth straight season, the FWAA will also pick a Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week beginning with games on Aug. 30 and running through the middle of November. And a Bronko Nagurski Legends Award winner will also be selected from the FWAA's 1967 All-America team.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been presented since 1993 and is awarded in memory of the legendary Nagurski, a former All-America lineman at Minnesota in 1927-29 and a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s."

This year's watch list includes eight players from Big 12 schools, led by Oklahoma, which places three Sooners on the list. The Big 12 players on the Nagurski Watch List are:

George Hypolite, Colorado

Joe Mortensen, Kansas

Ian Campbell, Kansas State (pictured at right)

William Moore, Missouri

Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri

Auston English, Oklahoma

DeMarcus Granger, Oklahoma

Nic Harris, Oklahoma

Since its inception in 1993, three Big 12 players have won the Nagurski Trophy. Oklahoma defensive back Roy Williams took home the award in 2001. The Big 12 then had back-to-back winners in 2003 and 2004 in Oklahoma's Derrick Strait and Derrick Johnson from Texas.

Spring practices are known for position changes and some are certainly more unusual than others. But if you leave things up to Dan Hawkins, they get really strange in a hurry. Just ask Kai Maiava. Maiava was recently moved by Hawkins from offensive guard to fullback.

"I always was a little undersized for a lineman, so I think that's what pushed coach towards making me a fullback. So I can still block for them," Maiava said.

As Maiava continues to try the new position, he said his comfort level is not what it used to be. However, he was quick to point out his willingness to try a new spot.

"I thought it would be cool to at least try it out, and if I didn't like it, I could probably switch back during the summer," Maiava said. "But I thought I'd try it out, and I'm starting to like it... (but) I'm fairly uncomfortable. I don't really know the plays yet. I don't even know where to line up half the time. But I'm sure once I learn everything I'll begin to like it."

This switch is even more bizarre given the accolades Maiava had earned at his previous position. Maiava made the Scout.com freshman All-America team and was also the recipient of the Lee Willard Award, which is awarded annually to the Colorado's top freshman. So it seems Maiava had a ton of talent at guard. The type of talent would allow you build an offensive line around in the years to come.

But that type of thinking makes little sense to Dan Hawkins.

"I'd like him to be an offensive guard in the backfield," Hawkins said. "We want him to pick up blitzes, be a lead blocker and maybe catch three passes this year."

And when Dan Hawkins wants an offensive guard in the backfield, that's what Dan Hawkins gets.

via EDSBS

Yes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but this is getting ridiculous. First, Colorado announced its intentions to utilize a no-huddle offense in 2008. Now we get more information about Oklahoma and their desire for a speedier offensive approach. These two teams join Missouri, Texas Tech and Kansas as other Big 12 teams running some version of a no-huddle approach.

The shift to a quicker offensive tempo is based in large part on the success that this sort of attack has had in recent years.

The top eight college football offenses in 2008 ran versions of a no-huddle. Four of those -- Missouri, Houston, Texas Tech and Tulsa -- ran more than 1,000 plays (OU ran 975). Tulsa (1,126) and Missouri (1,112) led the nation in total plays.

This means we can probably expect more in the way of outrageous scoring come Big 12 play. 76-39? 65-51? 59-43? But other than concession vendors who can complain about more plays and more scores per contest?

Back in Oklahoma, the Sooners have been slowly implementing the no-huddle this spring. In the team's most recent scrimmage the up-tempo attack led to "volatile" results.

Keith Nichol and Mossis Madu produced back-to-back gainers of 20 and 12 yards, then Nichol threw an interception to Jonathan Nelson.

Without a scholarship and without notoriety, hundreds of walk-ons are doing their best to carve out a spot on Division IA rosters. Spring practices, which take place without graduating seniors, and before the bulk of incoming freshman arrive, promise plenty of reps. If local media outlets are to be believed it seems a host of walk-ons are serving notice this spring in the Big 12.

At Oklahoma, tight end Trent Ratterree is living out his boyhood dream as he tries to earn the #3 spot on the TE depth chart.

"I'd been an OU fan all my life," Ratterree said. "I dreamed of it my whole life."

He came to Norman at 215 pounds and was thrown into Jerry Schmidt's boot camp.

"It's tough physically," Ratterree said. "Nothing can get you ready for Schmidtty."

But Ratterree got through it and was rewarded; he suited up for home games last season.

"I never felt, like you see in 'Rudy,' where they were pushing him around," Ratterree said. "They never made me feel like a low-down walkon. You're treated really good here."

"Rudy" was also mentioned at Missouri, where 5-foot-7, Titus Wonsey is trying to find a home in a crowded Tiger backfield. His efforts have not gone unnoticed by head coach Gary Pinkel (pictured at right).

While he's hinted at the possibility in the past, Dan Hawkins is officially implementing the no-huddle offense at Colorado this spring.

"The Buffs are working on a no-huddle attack in the mold of Big 12 Conference rivals Missouri and Kansas, in which players go to the line of scrimmage and look to the line of scrimmage for the next play call. CU's three quarterbacks, Cody Hawkins, Nick Nelson and Matt Ballenger, signal in the plays called by offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich.

Coach Dan Hawkins has talked several times during his first two seasons in Boulder about his interest in using a no-huddle on occasion and taking advantage of the altitude to wear down defenses. But CU has lacked the personnel and overall team experience the past two years to pull it off in the way Hawkins envisions."

Efforts to speed up the game, combined with the altitude in Boulder could make things interesting for Big 12 defensive coordinators. In addition, if Hawkins can quickly put his improved recruiting efforts to work on the field, the Buffaloes might be poised for a move in an unsettled Big 12 North division.

The move to the no-huddle should also surprise few who have been paying attention to the antics of Hawkins since his arrival at CU. They guy blogs, skydives, and denigrates intramural sports at an insane volume. Let's face it the guy is already living a no-huddle life. So why shouldn't his offense reflect his larger than life persona?

...I think. Does "snitching" imply veracity? I need a ruling from someone who watches more hip hop videos than I do.

St Bonaventure High School has a "recruiting coordinator" -- kind of odd for a high school to have, but whatever -- named Roger Sonsini. Or, rather, had. Sonsini had the ill fortune to say this in the aftermath of Darrell Scott's surprising decision to pick Colorado:

"Colorado came in on Friday and said and did something and offered something that Darrell and his mom couldn't pass up."

If this seems like a good way to lose your job, you win a prize:

Roger Sonsini, also an assistant coach at Ventura (Calif.) St. Bonaventure High School, said he was terminated Friday but refused further comment.

Awww, you got fired. Now is the time to comment, comment like you're a guest on Jerry Springer. Comment like you're Maurice Clarett. Maybe the Scott family's retention of a lawyer who "who specializes in First Amendment law, defamation and civil litigation" has contributed to Sonsini's sudden reticence.

More adventures in iffy scheduling. As for the culprit, where else but a school down south lightening the load.

Florida State has begun recent football seasons against the likes of Miami and Clemson, but because of an academic fraud scandal that will leave Coach Bobby Bowden's team short-handed, the Seminoles will open their 2008 season against two of the weaker teams they've played in recent memory.

FSU on Friday released its 2008 schedule, which features season-opening games at home against Division I-AA teams Western Carolina, on Sept. 6, and Chattanooga on Sept. 13.

I'm all for free enterprise so I'm not here to demand a banning of the whole scheduling of I-AA opponents thing. However, I am here to shame schools like Florida State and LSU who try, no matter their reasons. Money talks and a suitable opponent could have been found.

As made clear in the article, Western Carolina and Chattanooga are a helplessly impoverished man's Appalachian State. They combined to go just 3-21 last year in I-AA. To be fair, the Seminoles do face Colorado in Jacksonville this year after having tripped out to Boulder to play the Buffs last year.

Also: Miami fans already hold a grudge over Florida's general unwillingness to play them. Now Florida State's off the schedule. Not good. What has happened to the state of football in Florida when these schools can't get together? This is the stuff that creates real opportunity for UCF, Florida International and USF to emerge from the shadows. Retracted, amended . . . I know.
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