Random Thoughts

Just some quick hits today on the top stories to start the weekend:

- The defending National Champion Florida Gators made history by receiving the highest percentage of 1st place votes (96.7%) in the history of the AP Poll. This obviously was expected and some people speculated that Florida would be the first unanimous preseason #1 in history but they fell 2 votes short. Without question, I think Florida is the favorite to win the National Championship this year with all the starters they have returning and Tim Tebow coming back. Now I will admit, I really do not like Tebow all that much. I respect his toughness and all, but I see him as the prototypical college QB phenom who will have very little chance at making it big in the NFL. And the guy is just seemingly too perfect...at least that is how the media portrays him. But make no mistake, the guy is a hell of a college player and he has a burning desire to try and win it all again. I only see Texas or Oklahoma being able to make a run at them in the National Championship game. I think everyone else, including USC, will fall short. Getting pretty excited for the start of the season in two weeks. The AP Top 25 breaks down like this:

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Alabama
6. Ohio St.
7. Virginia Tech
8. Mississippi
T9. Oklahoma St.
T9. Penn St.
11. LSU
12. California
13. Georgia
14. Boise St.
15. Georgia Tech
16. Oregon
17. TCU
18. Florida St.
19. Utah
20. BYU
21. North Carolina
22. Iowa
23. Notre Dame
24. Nebraska
25. Kansas

- Brett Favre made his debut with the Vikings last night in a 17-13 Minnesota win. He only played 2 series and was 1-4 for 4 yards. It was definitely weird seeing Favre in Vikings purple, but I am a bit annoyed reading about how he looked rusty and a little shaky...what the hell do you expect?!? He only joined the team on Tuesday and it was his first action! This leads me to believe that the expectations might be too high for him and the Vikings and they could just be destined to fail. Regardless, people should be saving this "rusty" talk until after week 1 of the regular season and see how he looks then. But whatever happens, it should be fun to watch and the Minnesota fans are damn excited judging by the reaction they gave Favre last night.

- There is a report out that Michael Vick has not yet partnered with any animal rights groups in the Philadelphia area to help with anti-dogfighting efforts. Honestly, it seems like we are searching for a juicy story now because it has only been a little over a week since Vick signed with the Eagles. This quote raised an eyebrow for me though: In talking about a Monday meeting between leaders of Philadelphia-area groups and senior Eagles officials, one of the co-directors of one group stated, "There is no guarantee that anybody who goes into that room will be a partner in this." HUH? So all these groups want Vick to be sincere and show remorse and try to make change, but no one wants to give him an opportunity and partner with him? Does that make real sense to anyone?

- Former Indiana Men's Basketball coach Bob Knight will be inducted into the University of Indiana athletics Hall of Fame. Nothing big to talk about here, just wondering if he will throw a chair across the room at the ceremony...hehehe...

- An update to the Ben Roethlisberger injury story from yesterday...it seems that he injured his achilles tendon but there is no major structural damage reported. Damn again LOL...sorry, can't help it! But seriously, the Steelers could be dodging a major bullet because a torn achilles would have finished Big Ben and Pittsburgh's Super Bowl chances for the year. I would hold the guy out until they are 100% sure it is healed because that could be a painfully nagging injury all year if they aren't careful.

- And finally, anyone watch the Cowboys/Titans preseason game last night? It was the debut of Jerry Jones' new $1.2 BILLION Cowboys Stadium and also his gigantic HD screen that hangs over the field. Now there is a debate going on as to whether it will need to be lifted after Titans reserve punter A.J. Trapasso booted a ball into the screen during last night's game. Of course Jerry says it is a non-issue and that a person would have to deliberately kick the ball "straight up and hard" (hehehe) to hit the screen. But talk to someone else...I don't know...say maybe a punter who actually PLAYS the game and they are saying that it could be a major issue with some punters in the league and they are amazed that the screen is not higher. Jerry Jones...always trying to provide shenanigans to the NFL...HOW BOUT DEM COWBOYS! LOL