Tight games the norm for state schools
By By Austin Bishop / EMG sports director
Sept. 1, 2004
Writing words of wisdom on a Wednesday while wondering whatever happened to U.L. Washington …
Attempting to pick winners of college football games is always a challenge, but sometimes it's just plain-out fun.
Probably the most enjoyment I ever got out of picking games was a couple of years ago when some of my radio buddies Al Brown, Art Matthews and Lindsey Hall invited me to join them at noon on Fridays and share some wisdom.
Now there is no doubt in my mind that I looked like easy pickings to them.
However, week after week I just seemed to get the edge. Art, as he always does about just about everything, took it in stride and got a chuckle or two out of it.
As far as Lindsey goes, I don't think he really even noticed. Lindsey is pretty easy going and what happened yesterday is over. It's always about looking ahead to next week for him.
But I have to admit I really enjoyed being a burr in Al's saddle. I'm sure that Al felt like he knew more about college football that I did and in fact, he probably does.
I'm convinced he felt, and still feels, he was better at picking college games than me and, most assuredly, he is.
But it just seems like I almost couldn't miss. It probably wouldn't have been near as much fun if it didn't seem like it was so frustrating to Al.
Well, while I don't have that motivation to keep me focused on picking college football games this season, I'm still going to give it a try.
There are a couple of big in-state games in week one and they both are going to be interesting to pick.
Tulane at
Mississippi State
Wonder what the topic of all of the sports news stations is going to be regarding this game?
Did anybody notice that MSU now has a black head football coach?
Well, maybe after a couple of weeks the talking heads can get focused more on football and less on the color of the coach's skin.
The more I read and hear about Sylvester Croom the more convinced I am that MSU wound up with a steal when they hired him. I love the way he has stepped and taken control of the program.
He is setting high standards and the players who aren't interested in trying to meet them are allowed to feel free to go and goof off elsewhere.
You've got to love that, no matter which college team you pull for.
I believe Croom will build a winner at MSU, but I also can see it taking a little time.
Before the season started I had this game marked down as a loss for State. I figured the Bulldogs could beat Maine and maybe one other team this season.
But I like the things I'm hearing out of Starkville. If the Bulldogs can keep from hurting themselves on offense and the defense can play tough, Croom's debut in Starkville could lead to a lot of cheers.
This one should be tight. But I give MSU the edge.
