If you haven't been to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., it's a bit hard to describe. What I can tell you is that if you are a college football, NFL and NFL draft fan, it's a trip you should make at least once in your life.

And I'm not just saying that because I lived in Mobile for four years.

Understand: It's not about the game, which is mostly an afterthought. It's about watching practices.

You can get up-close and personal with the best senior college football players in the nation. You can watch one-on-one matchups between college stars. You see guys you've never heard of prove their skills. You see guys -- All-Americans! -- get exposed. You learn why certain college stars won't make it in the NFL.

And the gossip! It's a reporter's dream. Hanging out at practices or doing important research in the hotel bar, you hear things a civilian can't get anywhere else.

And the shrimp -- best in the world.

So, yeah, I wish I were there. But fortunately Todd McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl -- the men of Scouts Inc. -- are there, and if you are an ESPN.com Insider, you can read all their reports.

Some Pac-10 highlights from Day 1:

South team: USC S Taylor Mays had a highlight-reel hit on Citadel WR Andre Roberts on a seam route and dislodged the ball, but on the very next play Oklahoma State QB Zac Robinson overthrew Alabama TE Colin Peek and Mays could have had an easy interception but was looking for the big hit instead and completely missed the ball.

North team: Missouri OLB Sean Weatherspoon is not closing quickly enough in coverage. He also took a false step during the team run period that led to a big run by Oregon RB LeGarrette Blount.

North team: Oregon TE Ed Dickson just dropped a pass, but you have to like his aggressiveness attacking the ball with his hands. He also used a swim move at one point to prevent Ohio State S Kurt Coleman from disrupting his route.

North team: Wisconsin TE Garrett Graham is letting the ball get into his frame and trapping it during drills. He needs to snatch the ball out of the air with his hands the way Oregon TE Ed Dickson has done on several reps.

And here's a scouting report on LeGarrette Blount.

Here's a report from the Seattle Times on former USC coach Pete Carroll watching practices. And some good stuff in Danny O'Neil's blog.