ACC ACC Preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 NC State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 North Carolina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Duke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Wake Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Virginia Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Team Schedules . . . . . . . . . 13,16 ACC Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARYLAND
CONF. USA East Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
CIAA Preview & Schedule . . . . . . . . 22
NFL
PHOTO COURTESY OF DUKE
Weekly Schedule . . . . . . . . 24-25 Carolina Panthers. . . . . . . . . . 26 The Big 10 Questions. . . . . . . 28
14 PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH CAROLINA
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ACC Preview ATLANTIC
If “it” doesn’t happen in 2008, it’s never going to happen. “It,” is Clemson playing in the ACC Championship Game. The Tigers, under Tommy Bowden, always seem to get the least out of every season - think Phil Mickelson at a major championship. With the best returning QB (Cullen Harper) and the two best RBs in the ACC (James Davis and CJ Spiller), plus seven returning starters from a very good defense, there are no excuses to be found under Frank Howard’s Rock. Clemson’s opponent? How about Virginia Tech,led by Frank Beamer. The Hokies always seem to get the most out of Beamer Ball with their special teams + defense formula that usually equals doubledigit wins. Don’t be fooled by the fact that there are just four returning starters on defense. There is plenty of talent on hand for DC Bud Foster. Who will challenge the Tigers and Hokies? In the Atlantic, Clemson will be pushed by Florida State and Wake Forest. Sure, the Seminoles have finished the last two seasons out of the Top 25, but 15 of 22 starters return including QB Drew Weatherford, and they should be strong defensively with upperclassmen slated to start at every position. Wake Forest will also have something to say about the Atlantic division. Riley Skinner leads an offense that does just enough to get the job done, and will be aided by a big-play defense that was among the best in the league in creating turnovers. Year two of the Butch Davis era could be impressive. The Tar Heels return 10 of 11 starters from an offense that accounted for just about every yard during the 2007 season. Defense could be an issue, but DT Marvin Austin could be one of the best in the league. Miami is coming off of a losing season for the first time in 10 years. However, the Canes have
COAST
CONFERENCE
talent and speed to burn. The biggest problem area will be at QB where none of their potential starters have a career pass attempt. Thankfully, they should be able to run the ball better, and with every one of their tough league games at home, even a mediocre season could see six ACC wins. The ACC does have nine potential bowl slots to fill, so where are the rest coming from? Both of the best candidates are from the Atlantic Division; Maryland and NC State figure to be good, but not great. The Terrapins have to replace a lot of parts on defense, especially the D-line, and the Wolfpack have to decide between four QBs heading into the season. Look for Daniel Evans to emerge as long as he’s healthy. The remaining quartet of teams is not without intrigue. Boston College only has to replace the #3 pick in the draft in QB Matt Ryan and Virginia lost the #2 selection in do-everything DE Chris Long. How the Eagles and Cavaliers respond without those leaders is going to be interesting to watch. Everything went right for each school last year and it’s going to be very tough for either to come close in 2008. At Georgia Tech and Duke, we have new head coaches in place. Paul Johnson brings his spread option to Atlanta from Annapolis and it remains to be seen if that offense will work in a BCS Conference this century. The Blue Devils chose to hire one of the top offensive minds in the college game with David Cutcliffe. He arrives from Tennessee to play the role of archaeologist and dig up a real football program in Durham. Sadly, Archie and Olivia Manning are done producing QBs, and it’s going to take a lot more than a fresh coat of paint to make Duke football look good in 2008. By Adam Gold
03 PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK CRAMMER
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PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDA STATE
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NC State NC
• INSIDE THE WOLFPACK •
Stadium: Carter Finley (57,583) Head Coach: Tom O’Brien (2nd year) Overall Coaching Record: 80-52 2007: 5-7 (3-5 ACC) #6 in Atlantic Div Last Bowl: 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl, Won over South Florida 14-0 Returning Starters: 6 offense, 5 defense
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
If you could base the success of an offense just on the talent in the backfield, chalk up an ACC title for the Pack. Jamelle Eugene will lead the way with Andre Brown and Toney Baker ready to carry the rock. Just imagine the two back sets coach O’Brien will be throwing at the competition. All three would be starters anywhere else and will push each other in practice to earn reps on Saturdays. The QB slot will come down to 2007 starters Daniel Evans, Mike Glennon, Harrison Burke and Russell Wilson. Starter is still to be determined. The O-line will hold the fate of the Pack’s fortune. Averaging 310 lbs., the group returns only two starters so the coaching staff moved some defensive beef over to add depth. O’Brien is known for developing outstanding linemen, but year two may be a little early to see the fruits.
STATE
WOLFPACK
Nate Irving and Ray Michel will be first-time starters in the heart of the defense. DeAndre Morgan and Jeremy Gray return to the Pack’s secondary and should help solidify the defensive backfield.
BEST CASE
The Wolfpack survive two early tests with South Carolina and Clemson and the first time starters play like veterans. The team takes care of the football on offense and the big uglies up front open large holes for the best backfield in the ACC.
WORST CASE
The inexperience will turn 2008 into a full fledged building year. The schedule is nothing to sneeze at and eight losses is a real possibility. By Morgan Patrick
PHOTO COURTESY OF PEYTON WILLIAMS
PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC WILSON
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
There is plenty of room for improvement here. The Pack finished 5-7 and gave up an average of 28 ppg in 2007. The big unknown on this side of the ball for State will be at LB. Robbie Leonard,
2008 WOLFPACK GAME 08.28 @ South Carolina 09.06 William and Mary 09.13 @ Clemson back to table of contents
09.20 ECU 09.27 South Florida 10.04 Boston College
05 10.16 Florida State 10.25 @ Maryland 11.08 @ Duke
11.15 Wake Forest 11.22 @ North Carolina 11.29 Miami
North Carolina N O R T H
C A R O L INA
TARHEELS
• INSIDE THE TARHEELS •
Stadium: Kenan Stadium (60,000) Head Coach: Butch Davis (2nd year) Overall Coaching Record: 55-28 2007: 4-8 (3-5 ACC), #4 in Coastal Div Last Bowl: 2004 Meineke Bowl, Lost to Boston College 37-24 Returning Starters: 10 offense, 9 defense
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Head Coach Butch Davis begins year two in Chapel Hill with experience on both sides of the ball. Of the 19 returning starters, 10 come on offense giving the Heels one of the more experienced groups returning in the ACC. The emergence of RB Greg Little toward the end of 2007 sets up well
PHOTO COURTESY OF UNC
for 2008. During the 2007 shuffle of personnel, Little switched from WR to RB and coach Davis and his staff found themselves a starter heading into this campaign. T.J. Yates will be the starter at QB despite the sophomore coming off of shoulder surgery. Yates racked up over 2,600 yards passing last season, a single season record for UNC. Receiving corps will be headed up by senior Brandon Tate and junior Hakeem Nicks giving Yates a pair of nice targets. However, the real foundation for offensive success falls with the O-line. Heel fans should feel good about a base that includes four returning starters.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Eight starters return on a defense that will have had time to adjust to the new scheme. The defense will be anchored by E.J. Wilson at DE , and Aleric Mullins and Marvin Austin at the tackles. All four of the DBs are returning starters with senior S Trimane Goddard leading the way. The talent is in place, but the overall experience level is young. Coach Davis played a lot of youth in year one and the return on that investment could come in year two.
BEST CASE
Butch Davis has brought the swagger back to Tarheel football and his second year could pay dividends. The experience that is returning despite being young, could help this team grab at least six wins and go bowling. The Heels have a chance to be very competitive.
WORST CASE
A tough out of conference schedule that includes Rutgers, Connecticut, and Notre Dame could be stumbling blocks on the way to the promise land of postseason football. The month of September however, with road games at Rutgers and Miami, along with a home tilt vs. Virginia Tech in between will prove to be the toughest stretch. By Morgan Patrick
06 08.30 McNeese State 09.11 @ Rutgers 09.20 Virginia Tech back to table of contents
2008 TARHEELS GAME SCHEDULE 09.27 @ Miami 10.04 Connecticut 10.11 Notre Dame
10.18 @ Virginia 10.25 Boston College 11.08 Georgia Tech
11.15 @ Maryland 11.22 NC State 11.29 @ Duke
Duke D U K E
B L U E
D EVILS
• INSIDE THE BLUE DEVILS •
Stadium: Wallace Wade (33,941) Head Coach: David Cutcliffe (1st year) Overall Coaching Record: 44-29 2007: 1-11 (0-8 ACC), #6 in Coastal Div Last Bowl: 1995 Hall of Fame Bowl (now Outback Bowl), Lost to Wisconsin 34-20 Returning starters: 7 offense, 10 defense
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
This was the year former head coach Ted Roof proclaimed his team would have a breakout season and go bowling. Too bad the coach won’t see that to fruition as David Cutcliffe has taken over after Roof was relieved of his post in the offseason. If you aren’t familiar with Cutcliffe, his coaching pedigree has allowed him to mentor two QBs with the last name Manning. That should have Thaddeus Lewis ecstatic. Lewis has the fourth most career passing yards in conference history by a sophomore, and that was without the guy who taught the last two Super Bowl MVPs. Look for Lewis and WR Eron Riley to be a popular combination now that the surehanded WR Jomar Wright has graduated. Riley led the team in receiving yards the past two seasons (643 yds & 830 yds), and has the size and speed to break 1,000 yds receiving this year. RBs Justin Boyle and Ronnie Drummer are gone,
so that makes it senior Re’Quan Boyette’s backfield. No pressure, but the Blue Devils haven’t had a 100 yard rusher over the past 16 games. All five starters returned to the O-line last season only to allow 45 sacks and 64 yards rushing per game. With the C and LG from that line departed, the line can only get better with the shake-up.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
All four players who started the final six games of the season on the D-line return, and this is the most experienced LB corps Duke has seen in years. Gone from the secondary however, are S Chris Davis and CB Rodney Ezzard, with Davis being the harder loss to swallow. Overall, this Duke defense is in great shape and on paper has no problem improving from the 12.8 ypp average from last season. The defense, anchored by LB Mike Tauiliili needs to help the offense in one key area: turnover margin. The Blue Devils finished at -3 last season. One aspect of Duke’s game that should see some immediate improvement is the special teams. Oh, how far a team can come in one year. Just a season ago, when it was costing them games, Duke held open tryouts for kickers. Cutcliffe’s experience won’t allow that facet of the Blue Devils to lose close games like they did last year.
BEST CASE
I don’t know about Roof’s prediction, but Miss Cleo said the Blue Devils could win four games (she’s a professional). Given their schedule, and restructuring of the coaching staff led by Cutcliffe, I think three or four games is doable for this squad. But they have to come before November.
WORST CASE
Cutcliffe can’t right the ship in his first season as head coach, and only could with “his” players. Duke still yearns for a winning season in the ACC; they only have three conference wins over the past eight years.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DUKE
08 08.30 JMU 09.06 Northwestern 09.13 Navy back to table of contents
2008 BLUE DEVILS GAME SCHEDULE 09.27 Virginia 10.04 @ Georgia Tech 10.18 Miami
10.25 Vanderbilt @ Nashville 11.01 @ Wake Forest 11.08 NC State
11.15 @ Clemson 11.22 @ Virginia Tech 11.29 North Carolina
Wake Forest WAKE
• INSIDE THE DEACONS •
Stadium: BB&T Field (31,500) Head Coach: Jim Grobe (8th year) Overall Coaching Record: 79-72-1 2007: 9-4 (5-3 ACC), #2 in Atlantic Div Last Bowl: 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl, Won over Connecticut 24-10 Returning Starters: 5 offense, 9 defense
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Let’s start with the positives as Wake Forest returns one of the top QB-RB tandems in the entire ACC. Junior Riley Skinner is easily one of the top three or four returning passers in the league as evidenced by his 72.4 percent pass completion rate: number one in the NCAA! Josh Adams nearly cracked the 1,000 yard barrier as a redshirt freshman despite sharing the workload with nowdeparted seniors Micah Andrews and multi-dimensional Kenneth Moore. Adams also caught 34 passes out of the backfield. However, the Deacs do have questions with the ball. For instance, to whom will Skinner throw now that Moore is gone? Look for Jordan Williams to emerge as a deep threat. The O-line must replace three starters, most notably do-it-all C Steve Justice, and both tight ends. Fortunately, powerful PK/P Sam Swank is around for his senior season.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
I know this is going to sound funny, but Wake could win the Atlantic Division on the strength of their defense. Wake returns all seven starters from LB and secondary corps, including two of the best at their respective positions in OLB Aaron Curry and CB Alphonso Smith. Smith can also be
FOREST
D EMON
DEACONS
considered an offensive weapon as he returned three of his eight interceptions for touchdowns a year ago. The only worry is up front where just two starters return. One of those, however, is mammoth NT Boo Robinson (6’2” 325 lbs.) who was a main reason why teams rushed for just 3.2 ypc against Wake a year ago.
BEST CASE
As long as the O-line and D-line don’t become negatives for the Deacs, this is a team that could easily challenge for the Atlantic Division crown. We’ll know the answer to that question for certain as PHOTOS COURTESY the two main challengers, OF WAKE FOREST Florida State and Clemson, are part of Wake’s first five games on the schedule. Either way, it’s hard to see this team winning fewer than eight games, which would mean a third consecutive winning season (and bowl trip) for the first time in school history.
WORST CASE
The losses in the trenches prove too much to overcome. No WRs emerge to take the pressure off the running game and Wake stumbles out of the gate at Baylor. However, even a worst case scenario probably sees the Deacons winning six times. That’s just how they roll now in Winston-Salem. By Adam Gold
2008 DEMON DEACONS GAME SCHEDULE 08.28 @ Baylor 09.06 Mississippi 09.20 @ Florida State back to table of contents
09.27 Navy 10.09 Clemson 10.18 @ Maryland
10.25 @ Miami 11.01 Duke 11.08 Virginia
09 11.15 @ NC State 11.22 Boston College 11.29 Vanderbilt
Virginia Tech VIRGINIA
• INSIDE THE HOKIES •
Stadium: Lane Stadium (66,233) Head Coach: Frank Beamer (21st year) Overall Coaching Record: 209-108-4 2007: 11-3 (7-1 ACC), Conference Champion Last Bowl: 2008 Orange Bowl, Lost to Kansas 24-21 Returning Starters: 6 offense, 5 defense
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Virginia Tech only returns six starters, but if you had to place the six, they’re looking good. QB Sean Glennon will run the show with four linemen and a TE all back. Freshman RB Darren Evans will get a chance to star right out of the box with a veteran line in front that could cause problems for the other guys. Glennon lost his starting receivers and the air attack will be a work in progress. The talent level being brought in for the Hokies should limit the amount of drop-off, but moving from backup to starter could slow them down.
TECH
HOKIES
BEST CASE
This is Virginia Tech: a consistent player in the upper crust of college football. Talent is there to compete once again for an ACC title. Hokies are the heat until someone cools them off. Nine to ten wins again should be in their sights.
WORST CASE
Injuries to key starters on offense derail the Hokies in the bigger games. If that happens this group might fall to 8-4. By Morgan Patrick
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
The phrase that’s coming out of Blacksburg this year is “question marks” and that will only be answered by suiting up. The talent level assures Coach Frank Beamer that, athletically, he can match up with anyone. The experience level could be the defining aspect. CB Victor “Macho” Harris will lead a pretty green defense.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH
2008 HOKIES GAME SCHEDULE 08.30 ECU @ Charlotte, NC 09.06 Furman 09.13 Georgia Tech back to table of contents
09.20 @ North Carolina 09.27 @ Nebraska 10.04 Western Kentucky
10.18 @ Boston College 10.25 @ Florida State 11.06 Maryland
11 11.13 @ Miami 11.22 Duke 11.29 Virginia
ACC Schedules ATLANTIC
COAST
CONFERENCE
VIRGINIA 08.30 Southern California
10.18 North Carolina
09.06 Richmond
10.25 @ Georgia Tech
09.13 @ Connecticut
11.01 Miami
09.27 @ Duke
11.08 @ Wake Forest
10.04 Maryland
11.22 Clemson
10.11 ECU
11.29 @ Virginia Tech PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA
MARYLAND 08.30 Delaware
10.18 Wake Forest
09.06 @ Middle Tenn. State
10.25 NC State
09.13 California
11.06 @ Virginia Tech
09.20 Eastern Michigan
11.15 North Carolina
09.27 @ Clemson
11.22 Florida State
10.04 @ Virginia
11.29 @ Boston College PHOTO COURTESY OF MARYLAND
MIAMI 08.28 Charleston Southern
10.18 @ Duke
09.06 @ Florida
10.25 Wake Forest
09.20 @ Texas A&M
11.01 @ Virginia
09.27 North Carolina
11.13 Virginia Tech
10.04 Florida State
11.20 @ Georgia Tech
10.11 UCF PHOTO COURTESY OF MIAMI
13
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Erin
Erin
ACC Schedules AT L A N T I C
C O AST
CONFERENCE
BOSTON COLLEGE 08.30 09.06 09.20 09.27 10.04 10.18
Kent State @ Cleveland Georgia Tech UCF Rhode Island @ NC State Virginia Tech
10.25 11.01 11.08 11.15 11.22 11.29
@ North Carolina Clemson Notre Dame @ Florida State @ Wake Forest Maryland
PHOTO COURTESY OF BOSTON COLLEGE
FLORIDA STATE 09.06 09.13 09.20 09.27 10.04 10.16
Western Carolina Chattanooga Wake Forest Colorado @ Miami @ NC State
10.25 11.01 11.08 11.15 11.22 11.29
Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech Clemson Boston College @ Maryland Florida
PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDA STATE
CLEMSON 08.30 09.06 09.13 09.20 09.27 10.09
Alabama The Citadel NC State South Carolina State Maryland @ Wake Forest
10.18 11.01 11.08 11.15 11.22 11.29
Georgia Tech @ Boston College @ Florida State Duke @ Virginia South Carolina
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLEMSON
GEORGIA TECH 08.28 09.06 09.13 09.20 10.04 10.11
Jacksonville State @ Boston College @ Virginia Tech Mississippi Duke Gardner-Webb
16
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10.18 10.25 11.01 11.08 11.20 11.29
@ Clemson Virginia Florida State @ North Carolina Miami @ Georgia
PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGIA TECH
ACC
SCHEDULE
Thursday, August 28
Saturday, September 27
2 0 0 8
C O M P O S ITE
Jacksonville State at Georgia Tech Charleston Southern at Miami NC State at South Carolina, ESPN Wake Forest at Baylor
Saturday, August 30
Boston College at Kent State (Cleve.) Alabama vs. Clemson (Ga. Dome) James Madison at Duke Delaware at Maryland McNeese State at North Carolina Southern California at Virginia Virginia Tech at East Carolina (Charlotte)
Saturday, September 6
Georgia Tech at Boston College The Citadel at Clemson Northwestern at Duke Western Carolina at Florida State Georgia Tech at Boston College Maryland at Middle Tennessee St. Miami at Florida William & Mary at NC State Richmond at Virginia Furman at Virginia Tech Mississippi at Wake Forest
Thursday, September 11
North Carolina at Rutgers, ESPN
Saturday, September 13
NC State at Clemson Navy at Duke UT Chattanooga at Florida State Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech California at Maryland Virginia at Connecticut
Saturday, September 20
UCF at Boston College SC State at Clemson Wake Forest at Florida State Mississippi State at Georgia Tech Eastern Michigan at Maryland Miami at Texas A&M Virginia Tech at North Carolina East Carolina at NC State
Rhode Island at Boston College Maryland at Clemson Virginia at Duke Colorado vs. Florida State (Jacksonville) North Carolina at Miami South Florida at NC State Virginia Tech at Nebraska Navy at Wake Forest
Saturday, October 4
Boston College at NC State Duke at Georgia Tech Florida State at Miami Maryland at Virginia Connecticut at North Carolina Western Kentucky at Virginia Tech
Thursday, November 6
Maryland at Virginia Tech, ESPN
Saturday, November 8
Notre Dame at Boston College Clemson at Florida State NC State at Duke Georgia Tech at North Carolina Virginia at Wake Forest
Thursday, November 13
Virginia Tech at Miami, ESPN
Saturday, November 15
Boston College at Florida State Duke at Clemson North Carolina at Maryland Wake Forest at NC State
Thursday, October 9
Thursday, November 20
Saturday, October 11
Saturday, November 22
Clemson at Wake Forest, ESPN Gardner-Webb at Georgia Tech UCF at Miami Notre Dame at North Carolina East Carolina at Virginia
Thursday, October 16
Florida State at NC State, ESPN
Saturday, October 18
Virginia Tech at Boston College Georgia Tech at Clemson Miami at Duke Wake Forest at Maryland North Carolina at Virginia
Saturday, October 25
Boston College at North Carolina Duke at Vanderbilt Virginia Tech at Florida State Virginia at Georgia Tech NC State at Maryland Wake Forest at Miami
Miami at Georgia Tech, ESPN Boston College at Wake Forest Clemson at Virginia Duke at Virginia Tech Florida State at Maryland NC State at North Carolina
Saturday, November 29 Maryland at Boston College South Carolina at Clemson North Carolina at Duke Florida at Florida State Georgia Tech at Georgia Miami at NC State Virginia at Virginia Tech Vanderbilt at Wake Forest
Saturday, December 6 Fourth Annual Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game (Tampa, FL)
Saturday, November 1
Clemson at Boston College Duke at Wake Forest Florida State at Georgia Tech Miami at Virginia
18 PHOTO COURTESY OF DUKE
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PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH
PHOTO COURTESY OF NC STATE
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East Carolina E A S T
C A R O L I NA
PIRATES
• INSIDE THE PIRATES •
Stadium: Dowdy Ficklen (43,000) Head Coach: Skip Holtz (4th year) Overall Coaching Record: 54-40 2007: 8-5 (6-2 in Conference USA) Last Bowl: 2006 Hawaii Bowl, Won over Boise St 41-38 Returning Starters: 6 offense, 5 defense
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Skip Holtz received bad news before the 2007 season ever started thanks to Rob Kass getting a DUI in August. Forced into an alternating QB rotation against Virginia Tech, the Pirates showed grit but ultimately lost. Patrick Pinkney would eventually take over the position, but his inconsistent play gave Kass an opportunity to get the job back. In spring, the position was split between Kass and Pinkney, and the starting job will likely be determined well into fall practice. At RB, the job of replacing all-purpose yard machine Chris Johnson will fall on Dominique Lindsay. The senior will have a tough task matching Johnson’s 1,423 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns from last season, but the production has to be there for the Pirates to have a another successful season. Helping Lindsay out is a more experienced O-line, with many pundits believing this group has the potential to be the best in Conference USA.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
The Pirates were +17 in turnover margin last year, which put the team in great position to win those close games. Most of the defense that forced turnovers and got to the opposing team’s QB 27 times last year returns, including a stout D-line that only lost one starter from last year. Senior DE Marcus Hands will be putting an injury-shortened year behind him, while DE Khalif Mitchell likely wants to put a successful stamp on a college career that saw him transfer from John Bunting’s program at North Carolina.
BEST CASE
Keep on bowling. The Pirates can string together three straight bowl appearances under Holtz with another winning season, and possibly have a shot at the CUSA title game if they get the ball to bounce the right way. Last year, the Pirates got stung by last second losses to the likes of Southern Miss and Rice. The season opening rematch against Virginia Tech can set the tone.
WORST CASE
Starting off the year against Virginia Tech and West Virginia could easily mean a 0-2 record and no mojo. Close losses are still a loss in the record books, so the Pirates need to avoid another year filled with breathless wins and gut wrenching losses if they want to take the next step as a program. By Joe Ovies
PHOTO COURTESY OF EAST CAROLINA
2008 PIRATES GAME SCHEDULE
20 08.30 Virginia Tech @ Charlotte, NC 09.06 West Virginia 09.13 @ Tulane
09.20 @ NC State 09.27 Houston 10.11 @ Virginia
10.18 Memphis 11.02 @ UCF 11.08 Marshall
11.15 @ Southern Miss 11.22 @ UAB 11.28 UTEP back to table of contents
CIAA AT L A N T I C
C O AST
CONFERENCE
The Shaw Bears closed out the CIAA season by capturing their second conference title since 2004 with a come from behind 31-24 double-overtime victory over Virginia Union. Last year marked the departure of powerhouse NCCU from the conference. Now, the door is open for a new team to claim dominance over this league. There are no two better candidates then a rematch of this past year’s championship game. VUU (9-2) will again boast a potent lineup with the CIAA Offensive Player of the Year, QB Lamar Little, back under center. Little led the conference in passing average per game, pass efficiency and in total offense per game. All signs point to 2007 CIAA COY, Arrington Jones, to have his Panthers competing late into the postseason.
Their likely opponent will be The Shaw Bears. While VUU has QB Lamar Little, Shaw (8-3) returns the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, Louis Ellis. The junior defensive lineman ranked third in the nation in tackles for loss per game and recorded eight sacks. Besides the aforementioned award winners, both teams also have a number of selections on both the first and second all-conference teams. I’m not saying that other players won’t emerge this go around that will raise some eyebrows across that CIAA, but proven talent goes along way, especially in D1AA ball. In its first foray away from Durham, this past season’s championship bout was held in front of a great crowd at Charlotte’s American Legion Memorial Stadium. By Mike Stangl
COMPLETE 2008 CIAA SCHEDULE
22
AUGUST 28 Virginia Union vs. East Stroudsburg AUGUST 30 Virginia State vs. Norfolk State Lincoln vs. George Mason Elizabeth City vs. Chowan Shaw vs. Albany State Livingstone vs. Concordia Johnson C. Smith vs. N.C. A&T State Bowie State vs. Cheyney Saint Augustine’s vs. Catawba Saint Paul’s vs. Wingate AUGUST 31 Fayetteville State vs. N.Carolina Central SEPTEMBER 6 Virginia State vs. Johnson C. Smith Lincoln vs. Southern Virginia Elizabeth City vs. Catawba Fayetteville vs. Presbyterian College Shaw vs. Edward Waters Livingstone vs. Savannah State Virginia Union vs. W. Virginia Wesleyan Bowie State vs. Shepherd Univ. Saint Augustine’s vs. U. of Charleston Saint Paul’s vs. Chowan SEPTEMBER 13 Saint Paul’s vs. Webber International Elizabeth City vs. Tusculum Livingstone vs. Catawba Johnson C. Smith vs. Edward Waters Virginia State vs. St. Joseph’s
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SEPTEMBER 13 cont. Lincoln vs. Fayetteville State Shaw vs. Texas Southern Virginia Union vs. Fort Valley State Bowie State vs. Nicholls State Saint Augustine’s vs. Mars Hill Chowan vs. Brevard SEPTEMBER 20 Virginia State vs. Saint Augustine’s Lincoln vs. Shaw Elizabeth City vs. Wingate Fayetteville State vs. Saint Paul’s Livingstone vs. Bowie State Johnson C. Smith vs. Virginia Union Chowan vs. Virginia Military Institute SEPTEMBER 27 Virginia State vs. Fayetteville State Lincoln vs. Livingstone Elizabeth City vs. Saint Augustine’s Shaw vs. Bowie State Johnson C. Smith vs. Saint Paul’s Virginia Union vs. Chowan OCTOBER 4 Virginia State vs. Elizabeth City Lincoln vs. Bowie State Fayetteville State vd. Chowan Shaw vs. Saint Augustine’s Livingstone vs. Johnson C. Smith Virginia Union vs. Saint Paul’s
OCTOBER 11 Virginia State vs. Saint Paul’s Lincoln vs. Virginia Union Elizabeth City vs. Bowie State Livingstone vs. Chowan Johnson C. Smith vs. Saint Augustine’s OCTOBER 12 Fayetteville State vs. Shaw OCTOBER 18 Bowie State vs. Saint Paul’s Virginia State vs. Virginia Union Lincoln vs. Elizabeth City Fayetteville State vs. Johnson C. Smith Shaw vs. Chowan Livingstone vs. Saint Augustine’s OCTOBER 25 Virginia State vs. Lincoln Elizabeth City vs. Saint Paul’s Fayetteville State vs. Saint Augustine’s Johnson C. Smith vs. Chowan Virginia Union vs. Bowie State Shaw vs. Livingstone NOVEMBER 1 Virginia State vs. Bowie State Lincoln vs. Saint Paul’s Elizabeth City vs. Virginia Union Fayetteville State vs. Livingstone Shaw vs. Johnson C. Smith Saint Augustine’s vs. Chowan NOVEMBER 8 CIAA Championship Game
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NFL 2 0 0 8
N F L
G A ME
WEEK 1
Thursday, Sept. 4 Washington at New York 7:00 pm Sunday, Sept. 7 Cincinnati at Baltimore 1:00 pm New York at Miami 1:00 pm Kansas City at New England 1:00 pm Houston at Pittsburgh 1:00 pm Jacksonville at Tennessee 1:00 pm Detroit at Atlanta 1:00 pm Seattle at Buffalo 1:00 pm Tampa Bay at New Orleans 1:00 pm St. Louis at Philadelphia 1:00 pm Dallas at Cleveland 4:15 pm Carolina at San Diego 4:15 pm Arizona at San Francisco 4:15 pm Chicago at Indianapolis 8:15 pm Monday, Sept. 8 Minnesota at Green Bay 7:00 pm Denver at Oakland 10:15 pm
WEEK 4
Sunday, Sept. 28 Cleveland at Cincinnati Houston at Jacksonville Denver at Kansas City Atlanta at Carolina Arizona at New York San Francisco at New Orleans Green Bay at Tampa Bay Minnesota at Tennessee San Diego at Oakland Buffalo at St. Louis Washington at Dallas Philadelphia at Chicago Monday, Sept. 29 Baltimore at Pittsburgh
1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:05 pm 4:05 pm 4:15 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm
WEEK 7
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Sunday, Oct. 5 Buffalo at Arizona Tennessee at Baltimore Kansas City at Carolina Indianapolis at Houston San Diego at Miami Chicago at Detroit Atlanta at Green Bay Seattle at New York Washington at Philadelphia Tampa Bay at Denver Cincinnati at Dallas New England at San Francisco Pittsburgh at Jacksonville Monday, Oct. 6 Minnesota at New Orleans
4:15 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:05 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm
BYE: St. Louis, New York, Cleveland, Oakland
1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:05 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm
Sunday, Oct. 26 San Diego at New Orleans (London, England) Oakland at Baltimore Buffalo at Miami Kansas City at New York Arizona at Carolina Tampa Bay at Dallas Washington at Detroit St. Louis at New England Atlanta at Philadelphia Cleveland at Jacksonville New York at Pittsburgh Seattle at San Francisco Monday, Oct. 27 Indianapolis at Tennessee
WEEK 3
Sunday, Sep. 21 Kansas City at Atlanta Oakland at Buffalo Cincinnati at New York Miami at New England Houston at Tennessee Tampa Bay at Chicago Arizona at Washington Carolina at Minnesota New Orleans at Denver Detroit at San Francisco St. Louis at Seattle Jacksonville at Indianapolis Pittsburgh at Philadelphia Cleveland at Baltimore Dallas at Green Bay Monday, Sept. 22 New York at San Diego
1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:05 pm 4:05 pm 4:05 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm
WEEK 6
WEEK 8
BYE: Philadelphia, Atlanta, Arizona, Jacksonville
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WEEK 2
Sunday, Sept. 14 Tennessee at Cincinnati 1:00 pm Buffalo at Jacksonville 1:00 pm Oakland at Kansas City 1:00 pm Indianapolis at Minnesota 1:00 pm Chicago at Carolina 1:00 pm Green Bay at Detroit 1:00 pm New York at St. Louis 1:00 pm New Orleans at Washington 1:00 pm Atlanta at Tampa Bay 4:05 pm San Francisco at Seattle 4:05 pm New England at New York 4:15 pm San Diego at Denver 4:15 pm Miami at Arizona 4:15 pm Baltimore at Houston 4:15 pm Pittsburgh at Cleveland 8:15 pm Monday, Sept. 15 Philadelphia at Dallas 8:30 pm
WEEK 5
BYE: New York, Detroit, Miami, Seattle, New England, Indianapolis
Sunday, Oct. 19 San Diego at Buffalo Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Tennessee at Kansas City Baltimore at Miami New Orleans at Carolina Minnesota at Chicago San Francisco at New York Dallas at St. Louis Detroit at Houston Cleveland at Washington Indianapolis at Green Bay New York at Oakland Seattle at Tampa Bay Monday, Oct. 20 Denver at New England
SCHEDULE
Sunday, Oct. 12 Miami at Houston Baltimore at Indianapolis Cincinnati at New York Oakland at New Orleans Chicago at Atlanta Detroit at Minnesota Carolina at Tampa Bay St. Louis at Washington Jacksonville at Denver Green Bay at Seattle Dallas at Arizona Philadelphia at San Francisco New England at San Diego Monday, Oct. 13 New York at Cleveland
1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:05 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm
BYE: Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Kansas City
WEEK 9
1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:05 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 8:30 pm
BYE: Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Houston, Denver
Sunday, Nov. 2 New York at Buffalo Jacksonville at Cincinnati Baltimore at Cleveland Houston at Minnesota Detroit at Chicago Tampa Bay at Kansas City Arizona at St. Louis Green Bay at Tennessee Miami at Denver Dallas at New York Philadelphia at Seattle Atlanta at Oakland New England at Indianapolis Monday, Nov. 3 Pittsburgh at Washington
1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:05 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm
BYE: Carolina, New Orleans, San Francisco, San Diego
2008
WEEK 10
Thursday, Nov. 6 Denver at Cleveland Sunday, Nov. 9 Tennessee at Chicago Jacksonville at Detroit Cincinnati at Houston Buffalo at New England New Orleans at Atlanta Seattle at Miami Green Bay at Minnesota St. Louis at New York Carolina at Oakland Indianapolis at Pittsburgh Kansas City at San Diego New York at Philadelphia Monday, Nov. 10 San Francisco at Arizona
WEEK 11
8:15 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:05 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm
BYE: Dallas, Washington, Tampa Bay, Baltimore
WEEK 13
Thursday, Nov. 27 Tennessee at Detroit 12:30 pm Seattle at Dallas 4:15 pm Arizona at Philadelphia 8:15 pm Sunday, Nov. 30 Indianapolis at Cleveland 1:00 pm Baltimore at Cincinnati 1:00 pm Denver at New York 1:00 pm Miami at St. Louis 1:00 pm San Francisco at Buffalo 1:00 pm Carolina at Green Bay 1:00 pm New Orleans at Tampa Bay 1:00 pm New York at Washington 1:00 pm Atlanta at San Diego 4:05 pm Pittsburgh at New England 4:15 pm Kansas City at Oakland 4:15 pm Chicago at Minnesota * 8:15 pm Monday, Dec. 1 Jacksonville at Houston 8:30 pm
WEEK 16
Thursday, Dec. 18 Indianapolis at Jacksonville 8:15 pm Saturday, Dec. 20 Baltimore at Dallas 8:15 pm Sunday, Dec. 21 Cincinnati at Cleveland 1:00 pm Buffalo at Denver 1:00 pm Miami at Kansas City 1:00 pm Pittsburgh at Tennessee 1:00 pm Philadelphia at Washington 1:00 pm Arizona at New England 1:00 pm New Orleans at Detroit 1:00 pm Atlanta at Minnesota 1:00 pm Carolina at New York 1:00 pm San Francisco at St. Louis 1:00 pm New York at Seattle 4:05 pm Houston at Oakland 4:05 pm San Diego at Tampa Bay * 8:15 pm Monday, Dec. 22 Green Bay at Chicago 8:30 pm back to table of contents
NFL
Thursday, Nov. 13 New York at New England 8:15 pm Sunday, Nov. 16 Denver at Atlanta 1:00 pm Houston at Indianapolis 1:00 pm Tennessee at Jacksonville 1:00 pm Oakland at Miami 1:00 pm Baltimore at New York 1:00 pm Detroit at Carolina 1:00 pm Philadelphia at Cincinnati 1:00 pm Chicago at Green Bay 1:00 pm New Orleans at Kansas City 1:00 pm Minnesota at Tampa Bay 1:00 pm St. Louis at San Francisco 4:05 pm Arizona at Seattle 4:05 pm San Diego at Pittsburgh 4:15 pm Dallas at Washington * 8:15 pm Monday, Nov. 17 Cleveland at Buffalo 8:30 pm
WEEK 14
Thursday, Dec. 4 Oakland at San Diego Sunday, Dec. 7 Jacksonville at Chicago Houston at Green Bay Cincinnati at Indianapolis Cleveland at Tennessee Washington at Baltimore Minnesota at Detroit Philadelphia at New York Atlanta at New Orleans Miami at Buffalo (Toronto) Kansas City at Denver New York at San Francisco Dallas at Pittsburgh St. Louis at Arizona New England at Seattle * Monday, Dec. 8 Tampa Bay at Carolina
Week 17 Sunday night game TBD
SCHEDULE
WEEK 12
Thursday, Nov. 20 Cincinnati at Pittsburgh Sunday, Nov. 23 Houston at Cleveland Buffalo at Kansas City New England at Miami New York at Tennessee Carolina at Atlanta Philadelphia at Baltimore San Francisco at Dallas Tampa Bay at Detroit Minnesota at Jacksonville Chicago at St. Louis Oakland at Denver New York at Arizona Washington at Seattle Indianapolis at San Diego * Monday, Nov. 24 Green Bay at New Orleans
8:15 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:05 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm
WEEK 15
8:15 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:05 pm 4:05 pm 4:05 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm
WEEK 17
Sunday, Dec. 28 Cleveland at Pittsburgh Tennessee at Indianapolis New England at Buffalo Jacksonville at Baltimore Kansas City at Cincinnati Miami at New York Oakland at Tampa Bay Dallas at Philadelphia New York at Minnesota Chicago at Houston St. Louis at Atlanta Detroit at Green Bay Carolina at New Orleans Denver at San Diego Washington at San Francisco Seattle at Arizona
NFL
GAME
1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
Thursday, Dec. 11 New Orleans at Chicago Sunday, Dec. 14 Pittsburgh at Baltimore Denver at Carolina Tennessee at Houston San Diego at Kansas City Buffalo at New York Tampa Bay at Atlanta Washington at Cincinnati Detroit at Indianapolis Green Bay at Jacksonville San Francisco at Miami Seattle at St. Louis Minnesota at Arizona New England at Oakland New York at Dallas * Monday, Dec. 15 Cleveland at Philadelphia
8:15 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:05 pm 4:15 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm
POSTSEASON Wild Card Weekend Sat-Sun, January 3-4, 2009 Divisional Playoffs Sat-Sun, January 10-11, 2009 Conference Championships Sunday, January 18, 2009 Super Bowl XLIII Sunday, February 1, 2009 (Tampa, FL) AFC-NFC Pro Bowl Sunday, February 8, 2009 (Honolulu, Hawaii) * Note: Sunday night games in Weeks 11-17 subject to change.
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Carolina C A R O L I N A
PA NTHERS
• INSIDE THE PANTHERS •
Stadium: Bank of America Stadium (73,298) Head Coach: Butch Davis (7th year) Overall Coaching Record: 51-45 2007: 7-9 (2nd in NFC South), missed playoffs
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Last year marked the first for new Offensive Coordinator Jeff Davidson. It was a rough go as QB Jake Delhomme went down with an elbow injury in week three and left Carolina in a terrible situation. The Panthers quickly realized that backup QB David Carr, wasn’t the solution and pulled QB Vinny Testeverde off his Long Island, NY couch, but that wasn’t much help. They lost five straight after their bye week, and 2007 was another season without playoff football in the Carolinas. The Panthers tried to bolster their running game in the draft by selecting Oregon rusher Jonathan Stewart and gave up their first round pick in 2009 to get back into the first round to take Pitt OT Jeff Otah. It is a risk to give up a first round pick for next year, but if the Panthers fail to make the playoffs, it isn’t likely to be either Fox or Hurney’s problem to worry about. On the positive side of things, Delhomme’s elbow surgery seems to have been a success and Carolina gave the passing game a lift by bringing in experienced receivers Mushin Muhammed and DJ Hackett to help take some of the load off of Steve Smith. The O-line has been rebuilt with Otah expected to start at RT, Jordan Gross moved to LT, Travelle Wharton to LG and Ryan Kalil installed as the starting C. There is a little uncertainty at RG, but free agent and former Pro Bowl G Toniu Fonoti did have some observers talking during the spring. There are high hopes in Charlotte that Stewart’s banging style of running the ball will be able to give the Panthers a balance to the speed and maneuverability of DeAnelgo Williams.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
2007 was a terrible year for DE Julius Peppers (2.5 sacks). Also Kris Jenkins was traded and stalwart Mike Rucker retired. To make up for the loss of
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09.07 @ San Diego 09.14 Chicago 09.21 @ Minnesota 09.28 Atlanta back to table of contents
Rucker, the Panthers brought in Raiders castoff Tyler Brayton. Brayton has some ability against the run, but he hasn’t lived up to being a first round draft pick in his previous five seasons in the league. This is not an amazingly talented group up front and unless Peppers can rediscover his “motor,” the D-line might be a question all season long. The rest of the defense should have Carolina fans feeling pretty encouraged. The Panthers are deep at LB going into 2008 with Jon Beason coming off an impressive rookie year, Thomas Davis improving his numbers over the course of last year, and Na’il Diggs who could either be a starter or a solid backup. The Panthers added Landon Johnson, who led the Bengals in tackles over the last three seasons, and might have gotten a steal from the draft when Penn State LB Dan Conner fell to the third round. The secondary looks like another solid part of the Panthers defense with Ken Lucas, Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall. The team also added local-favorite Terrence Holt to the secondary at S.
BEST CASE
Jake Delhomme stays healthy and the Panthers’ reemphasis on running the football helps the offense find the balance it has been missing for the last handful of years. The sum PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLINA PANTHERS of the Panthers Dline turns out to be better than its individual parts, led by a revitalized Julius Peppers. Carolina makes the playoffs and no one has to clean out an office.
WORST CASE
A repeat of last season’s injuries and underachieving dooms Carolina to another .500 or worse finish. There will be consequences for failure.
By Chris Clark
2008 PANTHERS GAME SCHEDULE 10.05 10.12 10.19 10.26
Kansas City @ Tampa Bay New Orleans Arizona
11.09 11.16 11.23 11.30
@ Oakland Detroit @ Atlanta @ Green Bay
12.08 12.14 12.21 12.28
Tampa Bay Denver @ New York Giants @ New Orleans
NFL 2008 T H E
B I G
T E N
QUESTIONS
1 WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PATRIOTS THIS YEAR? Last season, New England was a juggernaut, rolling over the rest of the NFL…until the Super Bowl. Teams that lose in the Super Bowl have a habit of missing the playoffs the next season. It’s hard to think that rule of thumb will apply to the Patriots, but falling just short of completing a historic season (18-1) could either motivate New England in 2008 or it could linger like a bad hangover. 2 WHAT DO THE GIANTS HAVE FOR 2008? The off-season hasn’t been easy for the reigning Super Bowl champs. The Giants have lost Michael Strahan to the TV booth, Plaxico Burress has been complaining about his contract, Ahmad Bradshaw had to spend a few days in the clink, and Jeremy Shockey was last seen in a shouting match with a member of the front office. Factor in the strength of the NFC East and New York might go the way of the 2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, from the defending Super Bowl champions to missing the playoffs the next season. 3 ROGERS OR FARVE? Aaron Rogers stepped behind C in Green Bay during the off-season, when something strange happened...the other guy wasn’t totally “retired”. Favre pushed the Packers for a return or a release and put Rogers into an even tougher situation. It’s never easy to be “theguy-after-The-Guy,” but try being the guy that the team dumped a future Hall of Famer for. Meanwhile, what’s the future for Favre for 2008? Playing? Not playing? More tearful press conferences? John Madden waits with baited breath. 4 HOW MUCH OF A CHANGE WILL THE DOLPHINS HAVE NOW THAT THEY’RE SWIMMING WITH THE TUNA? Miami was an unmitigated disaster last season. So, as Bill Parcells begins his rebuilding project, it’s easy to say that he’s starting at the ground floor. Parcells does have an incredible track record of coming to organizations that are failing and making them competitive (see: Giants, Jets, Patriots and Cowboys). Parcells has already feuded with his best defensive player/celebrity dancer Jason Taylor and still needs a better QB than John Beck.
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5 WILL LABOR ISSUES BE A BIG STORY THIS SEASON? The NFL’s owners voted to extend the CBA with the NFLPA just two years ago, but this off-season, the league’s owners decided that they couldn’t live with the deal any longer and voted 32-0 to opt out of the agreement early. Fans are guaranteed football for at least three seasons, but after that? 6 WHO WILL BE THE “SURPRISE TEAM” OF 2008? A short list of teams that might be better than what people expect: the Cleveland Browns, the Carolina Panthers, the Oakland Raiders, the Washington Redskins, the Minnesota Vikings and the St. Louis Rams. Some were close last season (Cleveland at 10-6 missed the playoffs), some were too hurt to compete (Carolina and St. Louis) and some have schedules that are conducive to a big improvement (Oakland). 7 WILL DALLAS MAKE THE SUPER BOWL? Were it not for the loss by the Patriots in the Super Bowl, the NFL off-season microscope would be bearing down on the Dallas Cowboys for their failure to win the NFC. Dallas finished 2007 at 13-3 and led all teams in the league with 11 Pro Bowl selections. With all of that talent, it was a surprise that the Cowboys lost to the Giants 21-17 in the divisional round of the playoffs in Dallas. 8 WHAT IS THE TOUGHEST DIVISION IN THE NFL? The easy answer would be the NFC East. The Cowboys were a beast in 2007 during the regular season, the Giants won the Super Bowl, and the Redskins and Eagles are capable of making the playoffs this year as well. However, don’t overlook the AFC South. The Colts are always competitive, while the Jaguars and Titans both finished with double digit wins and made the playoffs. 9 WHO WILL BE THE IMPACT ROOKIE THIS SEASON? Last year, Adrian Peterson bowled over NFL observers as easily as he did tacklers. This season, keep an eye on the defensive side for first-year stars-to-be like LBs Jeyrod Mayo in New England and Keith Rivers in Cinncy and DT Glenn Dorsey of Kansas City. 10 SUPER BOWL PREDICTION: Once again, we caution that this is just a guess in the middle of the off-season…Indianapolis 31, Dallas 21. By Chris Clark
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