PRESS PICKS (Week 0): The way we were - final season of college football like we know it
STAFF REPORT
After a topsy-turvy off season, we have football, actual games, to discuss.
While there are only a handful of college contests present on the docket, none of which are worth spending time on in discussion, the smattering still allows us some satisfaction that we are finally at the point of sheer joy and delight… pleasure unmeasured like the soul is intended.
Enough poetry… the landscape is subtle now but don’t get used to it.
It’s hard to believe that, more than likely, there will be no more Pac-12 conference at the end of the school year. Texas and Oklahoma will finally arrive to the Southeastern Conference and the Big 10 will have swelled to touch nearly every body of water near the continent.
Most don’t like change but it’s here, whether or not it’s good remains to be seen. But the prospects of college football ever being a “regional” sport are all but gone.
There is sadness, when you think about it. At least for the traditional sages, there was a certain tempo to the season. We knew when to pay attention to Stanford or Washington as they rambled through the first half of the season only to usually falter to a USC or Oregon. We knew what it meant for Minnesota to have a good start but then run into mighty Ohio State with a chance to prove itself.
The SEC has run through Alabama or LSU or Georgia in the last several years. Now, Texas might be an excursion that adjust our thinking (at least in the future).
No more divisions. No more “if we had another shot..”comments. It all plays out with a new 12-team playoff.
But that’s next year. Georgia seems destined to win a third straight national title, if based on its effortless schedule alone. Michigan may indeed be ready to reach the Winner’s circle, if the Wolverines can figure out a way to win in the post season. Ohio State, Alabama and others are breaking in new quarterbacks. But so is Georgia but apparently the Bulldogs are exempt from that questioning since they are so strong on defense.
What about the other contenders? Take your pick but there might be a TCU lurking out there.
It sets up for the grand finale of what we’ve been used to regarding college football. May it ever rest after the 2023 season.
Graham Dunn is the defending champion after his comeback in the bowl season. Also, we welcome a new member to the panel, Lindsey Bonner, sports director of WAKA.
2022 Final Overall Standings (Bowl picks)
1. Graham Dunn 180-81 (20-11) .690
2. Doug Amos 176-84 (15-16) .674
Tim Gayle 176-84 (15-16) .674
Wesley Lyle 176–84 (22-9) .674
5. Michael Butler 174-86 (17-14).667
6. Mike Peacock 165-95 (14-17) .632
7. Rick Hendrick 164-96 (15-16) .628
8. Rosie Langello 159-101 (14-17) .609
9. Barry McKnight 157-103 (15-16) .601
10. Lindsey Bonner 0-0 (0-0) .000
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Lee (P. Julian) vs Lanier (Saturday@ Tuskegee) - Lee (Julian)
G.W. Carver at Gadsden City - Gadsden City
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell - Wetumpka
Prattville at Foley - Foley
Montgomery Academy at St. James - St. James
Catholic at McGill-Toolen - Catholic
Trinity at B.T. Washington - Trinity
Tallassee at Reeltown (Thur) - Tallassee
Elmore County at Marbury - Elmore County
Opelika vs. Thompson (Champions Classic) - Thompson
Navy vs. Notre Dame (Dublin, Ireland) - Notre Dame
Hawaii at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
UTEP at Jacksonville St - Jacksonville St
San Jose St at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Mercer vs North Alabama (Cramton Bowl) - Mercer
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director WAKA Ch. 8)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Lee (P. Julian) vs Lanier (Saturday@ Tuskegee) - Lanier
G.W. Carver at Gadsden City - Gadsden City
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell - Wetumpka
Prattville at Foley - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at St. James - St. James
Catholic at McGill-Toolen - Catholic
Trinity at B.T. Washington - Trinity
Tallassee at Reeltown (Thur) - Reeltown
Elmore County at Marbury - Elmore County
Opelika vs. Thompson (Champions Classic) - Opelika
Navy vs. Notre Dame (Dublin, Ireland) - Notre Dame
Hawaii at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
UTEP at Jacksonville St - Jacksonville St
San Jose St at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Mercer vs North Alabama (Cramton Bowl) - Mercer
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Lee (P. Julian) vs Lanier (Saturday@ Tuskegee) - Lanier
G.W. Carver at Gadsden City - Carver
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell - Wetumpka
Prattville at Foley - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at St. James - St. James
Catholic at McGill-Toolen - Catholic
Trinity at B.T. Washington - B.T. Washington
Tallassee at Reeltown (Thur) - Tallassee
Elmore County at Marbury - Elmore County
Opelika vs. Thompson (Champions Classic) - Thompson
Navy vs. Notre Dame (Dublin, Ireland) - Notre Dame
Hawaii at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
UTEP at Jacksonville St - Jacksonville St
San Jose St at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Mercer vs North Alabama (Cramton Bowl) - North Alabama
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Lee (P. Julian) vs Lanier (Saturday@ Tuskegee) - Lanier
G.W. Carver at Gadsden City - Carver
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell - Benjamin Russell
Prattville at Foley - Foley
Montgomery Academy at St. James - St. James
Catholic at McGill-Toolen - Catholic
Trinity at B.T. Washington - B.T. Washington
Tallassee at Reeltown (Thur) - Tallassee
Elmore County at Marbury - Elmore County
Opelika vs. Thompson (Champions Classic) - Thompson
Navy vs. Notre Dame (Dublin, Ireland) - Notre Dame
Hawaii at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
UTEP at Jacksonville St - Jacksonville St
San Jose St at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Mercer vs North Alabama (Cramton Bowl) - Mercer
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Lee (P. Julian) vs Lanier (Saturday@ Tuskegee) - Lanier
G.W. Carver at Gadsden City - Carver
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell - Wetumpka
Prattville at Foley - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at St. James - St. James
Catholic at McGill-Toolen - Catholic
Trinity at B.T. Washington - BTW Tuskegee
Tallassee at Reeltown (Thur) - Tallassee
Elmore County at Marbury - Marbury
Opelika vs. Thompson (Champions Classic) - Thompson
Navy vs. Notre Dame (Dublin, Ireland) - Notre Dame
Hawaii at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
UTEP at Jacksonville St - Jacksonville St
San Jose St at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Mercer vs North Alabama (Cramton Bowl) - Mercer
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Lee (P. Julian) vs Lanier (Saturday@ Tuskegee) - Lee (Julian)
G.W. Carver at Gadsden City - Carver
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell - Wetumpka
Prattville at Foley - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at St. James - Montgomery Academy
Catholic at McGill-Toolen - Catholic
Trinity at B.T. Washington - Trinity
Tallassee at Reeltown (Thur) - Tallassee
Elmore County at Marbury - Marbury
Opelika vs. Thompson (Champions Classic) - Thompson
Navy vs. Notre Dame (Dublin, Ireland) - Notre Dame
Hawaii at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
UTEP at Jacksonville St -UTEP
San Jose St at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Mercer vs North Alabama (Cramton Bowl) - Mercer
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Lee (P. Julian) vs Lanier (Saturday@ Tuskegee) - Lanier
G.W. Carver at Gadsden City - Carver
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell - Wetumpka
Prattville at Foley - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at St. James - St. James
Catholic at McGill-Toolen - Catholic
Trinity at B.T. Washington - BTW Tuskegee
Tallassee at Reeltown (Thur) - Reeltown
Elmore County at Marbury - Elmore County
Opelika vs. Thompson (Champions Classic) - Thompson
Navy vs. Notre Dame (Dublin, Ireland) - Notre Dame
Hawaii at Vanderbilt - Hawaii
UTEP at Jacksonville St - Jacksonville St
San Jose St at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Mercer vs North Alabama (Cramton Bowl) - North Alabama
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Lee (P. Julian) vs Lanier (Saturday@ Tuskegee) - Lanier
G.W. Carver at Gadsden City - Gadsden City
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell - Benjamin Russell
Prattville at Foley - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at St. James - St. James
Catholic at McGill-Toolen - Catholic
Trinity at B.T. Washington - Trinity
Tallassee at Reeltown (Thur) - Tallassee
Elmore County at Marbury - Elmore County
Opelika vs. Thompson (Champions Classic) - Thompson
Navy vs. Notre Dame (Dublin, Ireland) - Notre Dame
Hawaii at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
UTEP at Jacksonville St - Jacksonville St
San Jose St at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Mercer vs North Alabama (Cramton Bowl) - Mercer
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Lee (P. Julian) vs Lanier (Saturday@ Tuskegee) - Lanier
G.W. Carver at Gadsden City - Carver
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell - Wetumpka
Prattville at Foley - Foley
Montgomery Academy at St. James - MA
Catholic at McGill-Toolen - McGill-Toolen
Trinity at B.T. Washington - Trinity
Tallassee at Reeltown (Thur) - Tallassee
Elmore County at Marbury - Elmore County
Opelika vs. Thompson (Champions Classic) - Thompson
Navy vs. Notre Dame (Dublin, Ireland) - Notre Dame
Hawaii at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
UTEP at Jacksonville St - Jacksonville St
San Jose St at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Mercer vs North Alabama (Cramton Bowl) - North Alabama
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Lee (P. Julian) vs Lanier (Saturday@ Tuskegee) - Lee (Julian)
G.W. Carver at Gadsden City - Carver
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell - Benjamin Russell
Prattville at Foley - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at St. James - St. James
Catholic at McGill-Toolen - McGill-Toolen
Trinity at B.T. Washington - Trinity
Tallassee at Reeltown (Thur) - Tallassee
Elmore County at Marbury - Elmore County
Opelika vs. Thompson (Champions Classic) - Thompson
Navy vs. Notre Dame (Dublin, Ireland) - Notre Dame
Hawaii at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
UTEP at Jacksonville St - UTEP
San Jose St at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Mercer vs North Alabama (Cramton Bowl) - Mercer