Friday: "Thankful" and some useful links

The first night of college football turned out to be largely a dud: South Carolina proved it's not quite as bad as North Carolina St. (hardly an impressive distinction), and Oregon fell apart in every way imaginable on the road against Boise (who didn't exactly blow anyone's doors off, either).
To lighten the mood — after all, there IS some good high school action tonight — here's a great video featuring Derek Webb, along with the rest of Caedmons Call.



Like the rest of the guys, I'm quite thankful. And I bet you are, also.

— Previews: RBR offers its final analysis (along with a great guide to Atlanta); Tower of Bammer resumes his expletive-laden post; whatifsports.com previews the week via computer; and BSR gives us his Week 1 guesses. Also, Dr. Saturday has a guide to partying, Deadspin has a look at the preseason top-25 from a hater's perspective.



— Because the NCAA absolutely refuses to leave us alone, Jerrell Harris' status for Saturday is now questionable. Of course, Scarbo points out the NCAA must not have it in for us since they let us skate on the Ingram-Julio situation.
(HE'S IN ON IT!!!!!)
— One other personnel action you won't believe: Brandon Deaderick is cleared to play Saturday in Atlanta. My dad can beat up your dad! No he can't! My dad used to play college football! MY dad did too! And he got shot in the arm and still played that same week!
— A few other 'Bama related notes: the '10 schedule does include Penn State (at home); ESPN's Chris Low catches up with Major Ogilvie; and Mr. CFB says Nick Saban has thus far been a bargain.

— One of the things that makes the college football season more enjoyable: the Pammies, courtesy AA. Some of my favorites from 2008:

"If the ball hits the ground, by rule it's incomplete."- Mike Patrick
"Tim Tebow's like the snake doctor for Florida. Gotta stop the snake doctor, keep the Gators from moving the ball....this time he snaked Alabama with a play action pass." - Gary Danielson
"Part of the ligament that they replaced in him was a ligament from a cadaver. Yeah, he's got a part of a dead man in him, but his game is alive!"- Mark Jones
"Alabama rolling over the Volunteers of Texas 22-3." - Wendi Nix
"These goalposts are unlike any others in all of college football because they have two uprights."- Bob Davie
"All of those orange fans up there. I would say to our players, they wear orange so they can cheer for their team. They'll wear the same orange outfit tomorrow to go hunting. And they'll wear the same orange outfit the last five days of the week in order to pick up trash."- Lou Holtz
"Ya know, Hitler was a great leader too."- Lou Holtz
"Greg Orton came over and they slapped each other... on the palms."- Pam Ward
“Great tackle, er, broken tackle by Charles. Gordon finally gets him in the backfield. Gain of 5 for Charles.”- Pam Ward

— Mr. SEC has already decided Steve Spurrier's career is over. This seems like a good time to link to two excellent posts from a week ago regarding Spurrier on Dr. Saturday's site: be sure to read Part I and Part II.

— Finally, apropos of nothing, here's a letter in the O-A News reminding you to be nice.

If you are going to boo, then do so loudly over a blown call by the referee or a decision you do not agree with. Don’t boo a kid trying his best to win for you.