FOOTBALL

Burning Questions 
 Fiesta Bowl, Hot Teams, Heisman, Fight Songs

We asked our pollsters the following burning questions about college football 2002. Related: Our Top 25

Which two teams will play in the Fiesta Bowl for the national title and who will win? Rob:  Oklahoma will meet defending national champion Miami on Jan. 3 and the Hurricanes will win their second consecutive crown. Steen: Miami and Oklahoma. Last year I had Miami picked to play for the championship (the only one to do so I might ad) and sadly did not pick them to win the game. This year I will make the same potential mistake and go with Oklahoma. Defense Rules! Richie: Oklahoma will play Florida State for the national championship this year in the Fiesta Bowl. Bobby Bowden's boys will be back and rearing to go after a disappointing season last year; Bob Stoops' team never seems to lack in talent or desire to win it all. Fortunately when you bet in Vegas this preseason on the winner of the Fiesta Bowl Miami is the favorite, so I'm putting money down on both Oklahoma and Florida State with 5-1 odds of winning. Ten bucks on each and my bets are covered if either team wins! If I had to choose, I'm going with Oklahoma.

Who will win the Heisman and why?  Rob: Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey will narrowly win the Heisman, edging out Florida QB Rex Grossman.  If the Canes finish the regular season unbeaten, there is no way that Dorsey shouldn't win the Heisman.  If you're the unquestioned leader on consecutive national champs, you deserve it. Steen: Rex Grossman, Florida, I see no reason for the voters to get off the beaten path of giving the award to a high profile QB playing a high profile offense. Richie: It's a shame Lee Suggs from Virginia Tech tore his ACL last season, otherwise he'd be my preseason forerunner for the Heisman. He's a great running back with the ability and drive to continue breaking Virginia Tech and Big East rushing records. This season I think a QB from a conference that will not make it into the BCS title game will win the Heisman. Spurrier may have left the Gators to prove his offensive system works in the NFL, but he left behind a great quarterback. Give the little bronze boy to Rex Grossman.

Who should win the Heisman but won't? Rob:  Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich will suffer the same fate Fresno State’s David Carr did last year.  You can lead the nation in touchdowns and total yardage and become the #1 player selected in the NFL, but you can’t win the Heisman these days unless you play for a BCS school. Steen: Dave Ragone. The QB sensation at Louisville is certainly the best player that we will only get to see a few times this year. If he can light up the FSU defense on Sept. 26 then he might have a shot at getting invited to the ceremony at least. Richie: Just like last year, one of my picks for who should win the Heisman will be given to someone who absolutely cannot win the Heisman award: Coach Ralph Friedgen. He's done more for Maryland than any player in recent history who called himself a Terp.

Based on looks, what would your national title game be?  Rob: Air Force and USC.  When I was able to see the Air Force team up close at a Silicon Valley Bowl pep rally two years ago, the team was practically an Abercrombie & Fitch catalog come to life. Steen: First off I will pick Illinois. In a down year for hot QBs they have two decent ones in Dustin Ward and John Beutjer. They also have something for everyone especially Eugene Wilson and for bear lovers Tony Pashos. For my second team I will take Ole Miss led by everyone's favorite little brother Eli Manning. Maybe the Rebels can show the Illini a little Southern Comfort. Richie: Chris Rix (Florida State) and Shawn Witten (Virginia Tech). Until Rix graduates or departs early for the NFL, he's always going to be on my TV screen -- such a same he plays for the Seminoles. Sean Witten is my "hot boy" pick of the year. Hopefully his game-time playing ability will be just as good.

What games are you most looking forward to?  Rob: Fresno State at Oregon, Sept. 7.  Too bad we can’t have the matchup of David Carr vs. Joey Harrington, but the game still promises to be a great one.  My alma mater beat Big 12 champ Colorado on the road last year, but can they pull it out against the Ducks in one of college football’s most intimidating stadiums this season?  I'm going to love finding out. Steen: I think the FSU – Louisville game should be a lot of fun to watch, especially if the Cardinals put the whack on ol' Bobby.   Richie: Virginia Tech at Texas A&M. When this game was announced a few seasons ago, my mouth started watering with the possibility of watching these even-keeled teams meet on the gridiron. This season I'm making a dream come true by watching a game at Kyle Field. Never did I image the Hokies would be in that game. It's going to be amazing strolling into the stadium before kick-off and experiencing first hand what the "twelfth-man" is really like.

Who are your Top 5 non-BCS teams? Rob: 1.  Louisville   2.  Marshall    3.  Southern Mississippi  4.  Fresno State   5.  Colorado State Steen:  Louisville, Marshall, Colorado State, Southern Miss and South Florida. Richie: Both the MAC and Conference USA do not get enough credit for the couple of good teams that are in their leagues. Marshall this year is the cream of the non-BCS conference crop with Louisville close behind. I'd put Notre Dame third on my list followed up with Boise State and for kicks-and-giggles lets say UNLV.

What  is the nation's best conference? Rob: The Big 12 is slightly stronger than the Pac-10.  Not many leagues can claim four teams (Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, Texas) with a legitimate shot to win the national title.  Steen: Big 12, I shouldn't even have to justify it with comments. Richie: This year it will be the Big 12. Oklahoma is going to take the crown while Nebraska, Texas, Texas A&M, Colorado, and Kansas State all have good shots of being in the top-25 come season's end…and possibly 4 of those teams in the top-12.

What is the most overrated team? Rob: USC.  Though the Trojans are in several preseason Top 25 polls, you have to wonder why.  USC only won one game last season versus a team with a winning record, and failed to beat a single team that advanced to a bowl.  QB Carson Palmer has never lived up to the hype. Steen: I think in the end we will find that one of the SEC teams like Florida or Tennessee was overrated. Richie: I've got a triplet of teams for you, the avid reader, to pick from: Penn State, USC, and Notre Dame. Joe Pa needs to figure out how to win games again; USC has been disappointing since about 1998 appearing in every preseason poll I can remember and vanishing from the top-25 come the end of the season; Tyrone Willingham will be good for Notre Dame in the long run, but for now the darling of NBC will still be overrated and stealing bowls from the Big East teams who deserve them even more.

What school has the best fight song? Rob:  Tennessee.  There’s something cool about hearing “Rocky Top” and seeing 100,000 people clad in orange standing and cheering along! Steen: This is such a loaded question. There are many great fight songs. Believe it or not I have actually performed all the Big 10 songs and sadly know many of the others. So here is a lengthy but expert opinion. Most Rousing: Tie Wisconsin's "On Wisconsin" and Michigan's "The Victors"\ Oldest School Song: Illinois' "Illinois Loyalty"\ Most Overexposed: That song Notre Dame Plays\ Happiest Song Tennessee's "Rocky Top"\Best Rally Song: The song USC uses that sounds like it came from gladiator movie. I could go on and on. Richie: My bias says Virginia Tech with the Marching Virginians playing "Tech Triumph.". Michigan's "Hail To The Victor" comes in a close second. I almost hurled when I saw a CD single of "Rocky Top" in a music store and reading there actually are dance & radio edit remixes of the song. C'mon Vols…I know it's hard and would require some skill, but come up with another song to play in your stadium. "Rocky Top" had it's day and now it's done.

Bowl system or playoff--which is best?  Rob: I like the concept of a playoff system because there will always be controversy as long as computers are selecting the teams playing for the national title.  I like the idea of a 16-team playoff with two teams each from the Big 12, SEC, Pac-10, Big 10, ACC and Big East, along with four at-large spots.  I’d also make it a requirement that at least one at-large spot would have to be filled by a non-BCS team.  With that said, I don’t foresee the bowl system being eliminated for years because it’s too lucrative to the host cities. Steen: I would kill to see a real playoff system. As much as I love the tradition of the bowls and long to see my Illini play in the Rose Bowl, I think we need to have a real championship. In a few years we'll forget all about the bowl games. Richie: I'm really inclined to the idea of a playoff system. Every sport has one but Division I-A NCAA football. Playoffs make the regular season just as important since you got to win to make it. And playoffs allow for an underdog team that might not be in one of the "privileged" conferences to have a shot at winning the title. And for sheer fun for the fans, look at the amount of excitement that builds around the NCAA basketball tournament every season. Bowl games are fun, but a tournament lasts longer and is more enjoyable by the public at large.

Who should we watch for in both on- and off-field appeal?  Rob: Steve Later, running back, BYU.  I have no idea if he will be a star on the field, but my friend Winston swears he looks just like Kirk Herbstreit in person! Steen: I have to say that this year has to have the ugliest crop of QBs I can remember in a long time. Look at the pictures of the top players on the better team and be prepared for a shock. Ken Dorsey is about the only one of the top guys I think is cute and he does have that super close relationship with his fey brother who I think attends FSU. Richie :Has anyone taken a look at the Virginia Tech punter Jon Mollerup? I mean, *really* taken a look? His picture on the VT roster page has this cute little "I know something you don't know" smirk on his face! I can just imagine what he's thinking, or what he *might* want to be thinking! (Disclaimer: I'm making all this up by the smile on his face. I've never met Jon, though I'd love to one day before he graduates!)

About Our Pollsters Rob is a graduate of Fresno State who works as a graphic designer and lives in San Francisco.  He's a former sportswriter at The Fresno Bee, where he covered the WAC, Pac-10 and Big West conferences.  His favorite sports personalities include Jerry Tarkanian and Pittsburg Pirates outfielder Armando Rios.  His least favorite sports personalities include John Rocker and Fresno State atheltic director Scott Johnson. Steen is a Sales and Marketing Manager for a Digital Printing company in Phoenix. His partner John and he have been together for over two years and they have two Havanese show dogs. Steen went to University of Illinois where he became a college sports fan. Here in Phoenix, he is one of the few and proud season ticket holders for the Arizona Cardinals who are showing signs of improvement. Richie has been a college football fan since 1995, his freshman year in college. He lives in Seattle cheering on his favorite team (Virginia Tech) from across the country. Every football Saturday Richie and his roommate have a party for all the Hokies they know of out here in Seattle watching games from 9 a.m. until the PAC-10 game of the week on Fox Sports Net starts to get boring. (Honestly, the PAC-10 games aren't all that much fun to watch unless you're with people who are die-hard fans for that team. The only fun comes from watching Washington win a game in the 4th quarter after being down by a touchdown or two…but that only happens three or four times a season.) Every week this season Richie is going to try and add his thoughts about the college football world to his Web site, so be sure and check it out!