The 2010 STN Preseason Top 10: #8 - Texas

By Dan Harralson

The 2009 season for Texas was supposed to be Colt McCoy's runway party to Pasadena after taking his lifetime achievement award home (The Heisman Trophy.) Marcel Darieus, Mark Ingram, and Nick Saban knocked him out of a championship and a Heisman Trophy. Texas returns a lot of talent in 2010 (like always.) Replacing McCoy is somewhat easier now that Garrett Gilbert gained a lot of national championship game experience. Gilbert will be tested quick beginning with a road game at Rice followed by road games against Nebraska and Texas Tech. Tough home games include UCLA, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M (don't forget about that game in Dallas against some Sooner team, too.) Offensive tackle, Kyle Hix, will be the leader on offense. He has to allow the offense to gel around him and the entire offensive line. Texas has a solid run game in which Gilbert will need to get used to a run-first type offense. The defense will be led by linebacker, Sam Acho. Newcomers Tevin Jackson and Jordan Hicks will fit in nicely for a dangerous (but young) linebacker core. Look for the Horns to finish the 2010 regular season at 9-3.

The 2010 STN Preseason Top 10: #9 - Florida

By Dan Harralson

The Florida Gators have been on top of the college football world since 2006. Going into the 2009 season, Florida was dubbed as one of the greatest four-year runs in college football history: Insight of three national championships in four years and two Heisman Trophy's for Tim Tebow. As we all know, Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide ended any talk of that happening and we have seen the Florida Gators in a different spotlight now. There is no question that the Gators still have plenty of talent to be a top ten team. John Brantley replaces Tebow at quarterback and has a lot of promise going into 2010. With the SEC East as down as it is, Brantley may perform mediocre and the Gators still can land in Atlanta to rematch the Tide. Barring Stephen Garcia, that is clicking on all cylinders for the Gamecocks, The Gators are sitting fairly well this season in the SEC East. The offensive line will have to step up more than Brantley will in 2010. The Gators have a solid core of running backs that will show the identity of the Florida offense this season. Led by Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, and Emmanuel Moody; big-time recruit Mack Brown joins the running back core. The defense will be quick again and ready to go. The Gators will have the best defense in the SEC East and will be led by safety, Ahmad Black. Look for the Florida Gators to finish the 2010 regular season with a 9-3 record.

Top 25 Attendance's for 2010 NCAA Spring Football Game's

By Dan Harralson

1. Alabama: 91,312
2. Nebraska: 77,936
3. Ohio State: 65,223
4. Auburn: 63,217
5. Penn State: 55,000
6. Florida: 51,500
7. Florida State: 51,000
8. Texas: 44,000
9. Virginia Tech: 41,000
10. Georgia: 38,472
11. Michigan and Tennessee: 35,000
13. Mississippi State: 34,127
14. Ole Miss: 30,229
15. Arkansas and Michigan State: 30,000
17. North Carolina: 29,000
18. Notre Dame: 27,241
19. Clemson: 27,000
20. N.C. State: 25,372
21. Iowa and Oregon: 25,000
22. Wisconsin: 23,567
23. LSU: 23,000
24. South Carolina: 22,000
25. West Virginia: 21,029

The 2010 STN Preseason Top 10: #10 - Wisconsin

By Dan Harralson

The Wisconsin Badgers finished the 2009 campaign with an impressive Champs Sports Bowl win over Miami. Bret Bielema guided the Badgers to an overall 10-3 record and going 5-3 in the Big Ten. 2009 was bounce-back season after posting a 7-6 record in a much expected 2008 season. After Ohio State, Wisconsin is the favorite to finish second in the much improved Big Ten. If the Buckeyes do play in the BCS National Championship Game, a second place Big Ten finish will land the Badgers in Pasadena. The 2009 Wisconsin team was young and there are very few replacements in 2010. The talented youth will be more mature and game tested against Ohio State, Northwestern, and Iowa (all teams who defeated Wisconsin handedly in 2009.) Last year's young team showed how to win close games against Fresno State, Northern Illinois, Michigan State, and Indiana. Other than the Buckeye-led offense under Terrelle Pryor and an under-the-radar Michigan offense; this 2010 Wisconsin offense will be the best in the Big Ten. The Badgers return every offensive starter (including co-starter TE, Lance Kendricks.) Running back John Clay is coming off an excellent 2009 campaign and will look to have another solid 2010 season. David Gilreath and Nick Toon will solidify the running game as a solid one-two receiving punch for quarterback, Scott Tolzien. On defense, the Badgers will have to replace O'Brien Schofield at defensive end with J.J. Watt. The corner play will have to tighten up if they want to contend any big pass plays. In 2009, dink and dunk pass plays hurt the Badgers and in order for a rebound it starts with leader Jay Valai. Overall, Wisconsin has too many weapons on offense to overlap any major defensive mistakes in 2010. The Wisconsin Badgers should finish with a 10-2 regular season record.

2010 Spring Practice Dates and Spring Game Dates

By Dan Harralson

SEC: Spring Practice Begins/Spring Game Date
Alabama: 3/12: 4/17
Arkansas: TBA: TBA
Auburn: 3/23: 4/17 *practice ends 4/18
Florida: 3/17: 4/10
Georgia: TBA: 4/10
Kentucky: 3/31: 4/24
LSU: 2/25: 3/27
Mississippi State: 3/23: 4/17
Ole Miss: 3/27: 4/17
South Carolina: 3/16: 4/10
Tennessee: TBA: TBA
Vanderbilt: TBA: 4/10

ACC: Spring Practice Begins/Spring Game Date
Boston College: 3/18: 4/24
Clemson: 3/8: 4/10
Duke: 2/15: 3/27
Florida State: 3/16: 4/10
Georgia Tech: TBA: 4/24
Maryland: 3/23: 4/24
Miami: 2/23: TBA
North Carolina: 3/15: 4/10
N.C. State: 3/9: 4/17
Virginia: 3/15: 4/10
Virginia Tech: 3/31: 4/24
Wake Forest: 3/16: 4/17

Big East: Spring Practice Begins/Spring Game Date
Cincinnati: TBA: 4/24
Connecticut: 3/16: 4/17
Louisville: 3/24: 4/16
Pittsburgh: 3/18: 4/17
Rutgers: TBA: 4/24
USF: 3/16: 4/17
Syracuse: TBA: TBA
West Virginia: 4/6: 4/30

Big Ten: Spring Practice Begins/Spring Game Date
Illinois: TBA: 4/24
Indiana: 3/23: 4/17
Iowa: TBA: 4/17
Michigan: 3/14: 4/17
Michigan State: TBA: TBA
Minnesota: TBA: 4/24
Northwestern: 3/29: 4/24
Ohio State: 4/1: 4/24
Penn State: 3/26: 4/24
Purdue: 3/24: 4/17
Wisconsin: 3/13: 4/17

Big 12: Spring Practice Begins/Spring Game Date
Baylor: 3/15: 4/10
Colorado: 3/8: 4/10
Iowa State: 3/23: 4/17
Kansas: 3/27: 4/24
Kansas State: 3/21: 4/24
Missouri: 3/9: 4/17
Nebraska: 3/24: 4/17
Oklahoma: 3/9: 4/17
Oklahoma State: 3/8: 4/17
Texas: 2/26: 4/4
Texas A&M: TBA: 4/17
Texas Tech: 3/2: 4/3

Pac-10: Spring Practice Begins/Spring Game Date
Arizona: TBA: TBA
Arizona State: 3/30: 4/24
California: 3/6: There is no Spring Game *practice ends 4/17
Oregon: 3/30: 5/1
Oregon State: 3/29: 5/1
Stanford: 2/22: 4/10
UCLA: 4/1: 4/24
USC: TBA: TBA
Washington: 3/30: 4/30
Washington State: 3/25: 4/24

Conference USA: Spring Practice Begins/Spring Game Date
East Carolina: 3/15: 4/17
Houston: TBA: TBA
Marshall: TBA: TBA
Memphis: 3/15: 4/17
Rice: 2/22: 3/27
SMU: 3/29: 4/24
Southern Miss: 3/3: 4/10
Tulane: 3/22: 4/24
Tulsa: 3/9: 4/17
UAB: 3/24: 4/17
UCF: 3/18: 4/17
UTEP: 3/25: 4/24

MAC: Spring Practice Begins/Spring Game Date
Akron: TBA: TBA
Ball State: 3/24: 4/17
Bowling Green: 3/19: 4/16
Buffalo: 3/20: 4/24
Central Michigan: 3/18: 4/17
Eastern Michigan: TBA: TBA *practice ends 4/16
Kent State: 4/5: 4/30
Miami: 3/20: 4/10
Northern Illinois: 3/23: 4/24
Ohio: 3/13: 4/14
Temple: 3/16: 4/17
Toledo: 3/17: 4/16 *practice ends 4/19
Western Michigan: 3/18: 4/17

Mountain West: Spring Practice Begins/Spring Game Date
Air Force: 2/18: No Spring Game *practice ends 3/17
BYU: 3/15: 4/10
Colorado State: 3/26: 4/24
New Mexico: 3/23: 4/17
San Diego State: TBA: 3/20
TCU: 3/4: 4/10
UNLV: 3/15: 4/17
Utah: 3/9: 4/17
Wyoming: 3/6: 4/17

Sun Belt: Spring Practice Begins/Spring Game Date
Arkansas State: 3/29: 4/24
FAU: 3/31: 4/24
FIU: TBA: TBA
Louisiana-Lafayette: 3/3: 3/27
Louisiana-Monroe: 3/15: 4/24
Middle Tennessee: 3/16: 4/10
North Texas: TBA: TBA
Troy: 3/15: 4/3
Western Kentucky: TBA: TBA

WAC: Spring Practice Begins/Spring Game Date
Boise State: 3/8: 4/17
Fresno State: TBA: TBA
Hawaii: 4/1: 4/30
Idaho: TBA: 4/23
Louisiana Tech: TBA: TBA
Nevada: TBA: 4/3
New Mexico State: 4/5: 5/1
San Jose State: TBA: TBA
Utah State: 3/23: 4/24

Independents: Spring Practice Begins/Spring Game Date
Army: 2/17: 3/27
Navy: 3/29: 4/23
Notre Dame: 3/26: 4/24

SENIOR BOWL PICS FROM THE NETWORK

Breaking News: Ruffin McNeill has been named ECU's next head coach

By Dan Harralson

The Sports Times Network has just learned that East Carolina has named Ruffin McNeill as their next head football coach. Ruffin is replacing Skip Holtz whom left to become South Florida's head football coach.

Tom McClellan, ECU's Assistant Athletics Director/Media Relations, says "Shula is not a candidate"

By Dan Harralson

Former Alabama head coach and current Jacksonville Jaguars assistant coach, Mike Shula, has been rumored to be the leading candidate to replace Skip Holtz at East Carolina. We have learned that Ruffin McNeill is the leading candidate at this hour. Tom McClellan, Assistant Athletics Director/Media Relations for East Carolina University, has informed The Sports Times Network that "Mike Shula is not a candidate." McClellan added, "Don't put the horse ahead of the cart, Mike Shula is not on our radar." The Sports Times Network will be updating the head coaching search periodically in Greenville, North carolina.

Troy Calhoun discusses the Tennessee job and The Armed Forces Bowl victory over Houston

By Dan Harralson

Troy Calhoun took the time to give Nick Taylor and myself an interview in the middle of a busy day today. Coach Calhoun is out on the recruiting trail today and answered questions about the Tennessee head coaching offer, as well as the big bowl win over Houston. Coach Calhoun is a great friend and is a class act coach. Here are the videos from today.

Interview by Dan Harralson and Nick Taylor
Promo:

Interview:

DERRICK DOOLEY INTRODUCED AS TENNESSEE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH-STORY BELOW INCLUDING A LINK TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE...

BY NICK TAYLOR

AFTER BEING DESERTED BY LANE KIFFIN, WHO WAS THE VOLS COACH FOR BARELY MORE THAN A YEAR... THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HIRED 41 YEAR OLD DERRICK DOOLEY TO BE THEIR NEXT HEAD FOOTBALL COACH ON FRIDAY JANUARY 15.DOOLEY, WHO IS THE SON OF FORMER GEORGIA COACH AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR VINCE DOOLEY, HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT LOUISIANA TECH THE LAST THREE SEASONS...

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH DOOLEY BECAME KNOWN AS A COACH DURING HIS STINT AS AN ASSISTANT AT LSU UNDER CURRENT ALABAMA HEAD FOOTBALL COACH NICK SABAN... DOOLEY INTIALLY SERVED AS THE RECRUITING CORDINATOR AT LSU DURING THE 2003 SEASON, A SEASON IN WHICH LSU WON THE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

DOOLEY REMAINED ON SABAN'S STAFF AT LSU AND EVEN FOLLOWED SABAN TO THE MIAMI DOLPHHINS, DOOLEY REMAINED WITH SABAN UNTIL SABAN LEFT THE DOLPHINS TO BECOME THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA...

DOOLEY AND SABAN BOTH SPEND TIME TOGETHER EVERY SUMMER AT LAKE BURTON,WHERE THE TWO FRIENDS OWN SIDE-BY-SIDE CABINS IN THE NORTH GEORGIA MONUNTAINS. DOOLEY CONTACTED SABAN TO ASK HIM WHETHER HE THOUGHT HE SHOULD TAKE THE JOB OR NOT. WHILE THE EXACT CONTENTS OF THE CONVERSATION REMAIN PRIVATE BETWEEN BOTH MEN, DOOLEY ADMITTED SABAN WAS HAPPY FOR HIM AND THAT HE THOUGHT TENNESSEE WAS A GREAT PROGRAM. DOOLEY AND SABAN WILL BE RIVALS ON THE FIELD BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS BE FRIENDS. THE SPORTS TIMES NETWORK THINKS DERRICK DOOLEY HAS ALOT OF CLASS AND WE WISH HIM THE BEST OF LUCK. WE HOPE THAT WITH DOOLEY'S HIRING AT TENNESSEE MEANS THAT THIS RIVALRY CAN RETURN TO A FIERCE COMPETION ON THE FIELD AND ALSO RETURN TO A RIVALRY IN WHICH BOTH SCHOOLS CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITH CLASS AND CAN RESPECT EACH OTHER FOR THE GREAT PROGRAMS AND UNIVERSITIES THEY BOTH ARE!!!

CLICK HERE... TO VIEW THE VIDEO OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE...

TROY CALHOUN CALLS TEAM MEETING AT AIR FORCE

BY NICK TAYLOR & DAN HARRALSON

ESPN reportedly misquoted AIR FORCE COACH TROY CALHOUN about his situation with the UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE and after talking with Calhoun our source believes the AF coach will take the TENNESSEE JOB.... THE TEAM MEETING WILL BE AT SIX EASTERN...

AIR FORE SOURCE SAYS UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE WILL LIKELY RECONSIDER WAITING ON MIKE LEACH AFTER TROY CALHOUN REPORTEDLY WILL REMAIN AT AF FOR FAMILY REASONS...

BY NICK TAYLOR AND DAN HARRALSON

In a move that stunned our source at AIR FORCE, Troy Calhoun has reportedly decided not to take the TENNESSEE JOB and that the vols will likely reconsider waiting on MIKE LEACH... Widely-known sports agent Jimmy Sexton has just interestingly linked his client and current ARKANSAS COACH BOBBY PETRINO to rhe job. We at the SPORTS TIMES NETWORK believe it will be Leach since even our AIR FORCE source said Monday that Leach was UT'S top choice and that Calhoun was a secondary option if they didn't feel the Leach situation could be worked out in a timely manner...

TROY CALHOUN TO BE THE NEXT FOOTBALL COACH AT TENNESSEE

BY NICK TAYLOR & DAN HARRALSON

OUR SOURCES AT AIR FORCE TOLD THE SPORTS TIMES NETWORK THAT AIR FORCE COACH TROY CALHOUN WILL BE NAMED THE COACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AS EARLY AS LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON.... AT WHICH TIME AT PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT AROUND 4 ET FRIDAY ACC TO OUR SOURCES....

Breaking News: UT offers Mike Leach; Troy Calhoun second in-line

By Dan Harralson and Nick Taylor

The Sports Times Network has learned today, through a close source, that The University of Tennessee will ask Mike Leach to become the next head coach of the Vols. If for what ever reason Leach were not to accept the offer, second in-line is Air Force's head coach Troy Calhoun. Coach Calhoun is a great friend of The Sports Times Network and is a class-act. We hope the best for him if he accepts an offer by Tennessee (which we were told he will if Leach does not) or stays with The Air Force Academy (if Leach were to accept UT's offer.)

God Bless,

The Sports Times Network

The Sports Times Network's Final 2009 Football Poll

Congratulations to the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Boise State Broncos for winning the 2009 NCAA Football National Championship! Here is the complete final 2009 final poll:

1 Alabama & Boise State
3 Texas
4 Florida
5 Ohio State
6 Iowa
7 Penn State
8 Cincinnati
9 TCU
10 Virginia Tech
11 Oregon
12 Nebraska
13 Georgia Tech
14 Wisconsin & Pittsburgh
16 LSU
17 Utah
18 BYU
19 Miami
20 Central Michigan
21 Southern Cal
22 Ole Miss
23 Oklahoma State
24 Texas Tech
25 Clemson

Breaking News: Tommy Tubberville Takes the Texas Tech Job

The Sports Times Network has closely learned that Tommy Tubberville has taken the Texas Tech head coaching position, replacing fired Mike Leach.