Getting back in the thick of things

Not too much to report on today - I'm finally moved back into Mount Pleasant for the next nine months, so expect more regular updating, especially once the season begins next week.

I do want to bring this up, though, courtesy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Georgia fans are talking about the opener with Georgia Southern on Aug. 30. Then they are talking about the all-important trip to South Carolina on Sept. 13. But waiting in the middle on Sept. 6 is a game with Central Michigan, the two-time defending MAC champions.
About right now a bunch of you are snickering and saying: “Barnhart, please! Get a grip! It’s just the MAC!”

But consider this: Remember how Troy and QB Omar Haugabook came to Sanford Stadium and rolled up 488 total yards last season? Haugabook had 310 yards passing against a very good Georgia defense. Georgia needed four turnovers to pull away and win 44-34.

LeFevour is better than Haugabook. Last season he became only the second player in Division I-A history to pass for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards. He had 4,774 yards of total offense. By contrast Tim Tebow, the Heisman Trophy winner, had 4,184 yards of total offense (3,286 passing, 895 running).

I know. The competition level is much different. But a hot quarterback can be a great equalizer (see Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State vs. Michigan).


Although virtually everybody is looking at Georgia as CMU's only sure loss, he brings up some good points. And this is coming from me, who had the privilege to drive 13 hours to South Carolina and back for Clemson's 70-14 beatdown of CMU last season.

After that game, I talked with Tommy Bowden, who knew from the get-go that I was a Central Michigan reporter ("I can tell," he joked). He said CMU caught Clemson at a bad time- his team was coming off two disappointing losses and a bye week, meaning two weeks to prepare for CMU. Not only that, but it was Homecoming, which gives added motivation to the team and the 80,000 screaming fans in Orange.

Georgia, despite entering the season No. 1, doesn't have an extra week. And unless Georgia Southern pulls off the near-impossible, it won't enter its CMU game with a chip on its shoulder. We all know the tendency of Central to have slow starts to a season, but there are plenty of reasons for that to change this year (No turnover in the coaching staff, many starters returning, two days of extra rest for the game since it plays EIU on a Thursday).

I'm not saying it's a good upset pick - we ARE talking about No. 1 Georgia, and we know CMU doesn't exactly wake up well to BCS games outside the Big Ten. And if you think a high-powered offense is enough for a mid-major to overtake the Bulldogs, just look at what their defense did to Hawaii and quarterback Colt Brennan in the Sugar Bowl last year. But the possibility of the Chippewas knocking off the Bulldogs is certainly there. And if it does happen, you can kiss the lack of national respect goodbye.

Oh, and last note: I have a new poll up. Apparently the last poll wasn't a very good question, since all 11 voted 1st place in the MAC West. This one's a little tougher, I think.