Wreck Ramblin

Things you'll see and miss this season

[LINK] David Fox, Rivals

As fall practice approaches, 2006 has already been busy for college football's higher-ups. They approved a new national championship game, added a few new bowl games and even tweaked instant replay to allow a coaches' challenge.

As the summer winds down, let's take a moment to catch up on 10 new things coming to college football and five things on their way out this season.

CofC arena

[LINK] Charleston.net

After an idea to turn the Gaillard Auditorium into a basketball facility was thwarted by area residents, after plans for a combination civic and sports arena on upper Meeting Street failed to take root, after a delay stretching nearly a decade, the College of Charleston is accepting bids from contractors to build the $36 million, 5,000-seat Carolina First Center, which will be adjacent to the existing John Kresse Arena. The lowest of the sealed bids will be revealed Sept. 7.

ACC's Swofford talks about '06 football

[LINK] Tim Peeler, theACC.com, 7/25

ACC Commissioner John Swofford detailed some of the many changes - some instituted by the NCAA, some by the league - that will be in effect this coming season at his annual ACC Football Forum Tuesday morning at the conclusion of the 2006 ACC Football Kickoff.

CFN interviews CJ

[LINK] Pete Fiutak, CFN

Calvin Johnson burst on the college football in his first big game catching eight passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns in a thrilling 28-24 win over Clemson. Ever since, his rare combination of size and athletic ability have made the NFL scouts drool. Even with 102 catches for 1,725 yards and 13 touchdowns in his first two seasons, he's still relatively raw with the potential to do far more. He could do more to use his size to his advantage. He still needs to prove he can be an unstoppable machine even when opposing defenses focus solely on taking him out of the gameplan. Yeah, he still needs work, but he'll still be one of the nation's best offensive weapons.

Reis and the Falcons

[LINK] Adam Van Brimmer, Morris News

Every NFL training camp is full of long shots, guys whose main goal is to make the team, not the Pro Bowl.
They know the math: 91 players, 53 spots. Rookie or veteran, they get treated the same.
The Atlanta Falcons opened training camp Thursday with four Georgians, natives who played their high school and college football in the state.
Keith Brooking, a starting linebacker whose roster spot is assured, is one.
The other three — quarterback D.J. Shockley, safety Chris Reis and defensive end Josh Mallard — will hustle and hope for the next month, longing for one of those 53 spots.
All three face different challenges in making the roster. And all three relish their opportunities.

Matthews is a Duck

[LINK] Scout open article

"I cut my list down to Oregon, Georgia Tech, and Cal this past weekend. And I knew that I wanted to get my decision over with sometime before the season. With Oregon, I felt that I got the best of everything. They have great coaches, facilities, fans, and overall college atmosphere in Eugene."

Matthews is an ILB from Westlake Village, CA.

Can't win them all.

Coker gives Miami a makeover

[LINK] John Fineran, Sun Herald

... following a 40-3 loss to Louisiana State in the postseason Peach Bowl, a loss that ended a 9-3 season that included a stunning 14-10 loss to Georgia Tech in late November at the Orange Bowl that ended the Hurricanes' title aspirations in the ACC and nationally, Coker knew some changes were in order for the program. He talked about them Saturday at the Florida Sports Writers Association College Football Media Days at the Marriott Waterside.

O'Leary expects UCF to compete with big Florida schools

[LINK] Palm Beach Post

After last season's success, there is a new attitude around the UCF program thanks to O'Leary, who remained positive despite losing his first 13 games at UCF.

Now instead of talking about making it to bowl games, O'Leary is talking about eventually bringing UCF to the level of Florida - which the Knights will play on Sept. 9 - and Florida State and Miami.

Frank Broyles featured on "Legends"

[LINK] NW Arkansas Times

Frank Broyles has done it all. The Georgia native experienced life as a college quarterback, coach, broadcaster and now at age 81, is the current University of Arkansas athletic director.

Episode three of “ Aaron’s Football Saturdays in the South, ” presented by Lincoln Financial Sports, highlights Broyles and his 49 years of service to the Razorbacks.

The program, hosted by Tim Brando, aired Saturday.

Frank Broyles attended Decatur High School and played for Georgia Tech.

Another coaching stress article

[LINK] Greg Wallace, Andersen Independent-Mail

When Bobby Bowden, as he often does, speaks to younger football coaches, he has a simple message for surviving in coaching.

"I tell coaches, ‘Don’t make football your God,’" Bowden, Florida State’s veteran head coach, relayed this week. "Because if you do, it’s liable to get you."