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Ivan Maisel

  (2:11 PM)

Hi, sorry I'm late. Podcast ran over. Let's get to it --

Jason (Florida)

Please don't tell me youre buying the hype after the FSU/Miami game. I'll give you that it was an entertaining game and there were a lot of athletes on the field, BUT the defense was awful, the special teams even worse, and don't get started on the coaching decisions especially late (i.e. kicking it short or allowing 25 seconds to burn or calling a pass to the same reciever 4 consecutive times). I understand the teams are getting a little better and in a very weak conference could have decent win totals but both teams are far from becoming elite again. Your thoughts?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:12 PM)

Don't forget to allow for major first-week sloppiness. We're all so excited that football is finally here, and then when it arrives, you think, man, they look scruffy. All those issues you mentioned will go away. But you're right about Florida State's clock management. Brutal.

Brad (Edmond, OK)

Hi Ivan, Do you think the recent trend of potential first-round draft picks choosing to stay another year at their university will drastically stop after Bradford and Gresham's injuries? Do you think more players will take the money as soon as they can get it?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:14 PM)

Doug Gottlieb made that comment on his show last night, and I have to say I disagree with it. A player has to do what will make him happy, and what is smartest over the long run. Some guys it will make sense to leave. But Bradford was adamant over the summer that he's not ready to stop being a college kid. I doubt the injury changes his mind.

Kelli (Denver)

I thought the voters got it wrong putting USC at 3 and Alabama at 4. Should have been reversed based on who they were playing....your thoughts?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:15 PM)

I kept USC ahead of Bama because the Trojans did what you would expect a No. 3 team to do to a WAC team. If USC had won 24-17, then we could talk.

Matt (Cincinnati)

The Bengals are worthless, the Reds are worthless, at least the Bearcats have something going for them, do you have faith in Brian Kelly to repeat as BE champs and maybe have a better showing in the BCS?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:15 PM)

Yes, yes, yes. That was very impressive Monday.

Jason (DC)

Ivan - I think Michigan has what it takes to upset the Irish this week - what say you?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:17 PM)

I think Michigan can win, yes. They are at home, and if -- a big if -- the young Wolverines can operate the offense the way they did against WMU, they may be able to take advantage of ND's love of the blitz. But I think the Irish should be favored.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

I have a better idea for Kelli (and college football). How about no rankings until at least the first Saturday in October? Let's see the teams play a few games before trying to rank them, huh?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:18 PM)

that's a great idea in the abstract. In reality, we're trying to sell newspapers and screen clicks. Rankings help do that.

brandon (boise, idaho)

do you think BSU's defense is really THAT good or was oregon's offense just terrible....????

Ivan Maisel

  (2:19 PM)

Both, but more the latter. Inexperienced offensive line, young receivers, no rhythm. And then they started trying to hit five-run homers instead of just completing a pass. Bad all around.

Matt (Cleveland, OH)

Ivan, what's your take on this whole "Mike Vick" eye-black debate? Is this a legitimate distraction for the buckeyes this week or just an overblown story?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:20 PM)

I don't think it's a big deal. Pryor's heart was in the right place. He needs to choose his words better. A lot better. That will come with maturity.

Ken (Virginia)

After watching the LSU Washington game, I had a really bad feeling about the Tigers. Is their defense as weak as it appeared? Should Florida, Alabama and Mississippi feel better about playing LSU this year?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:21 PM)

I assume the Tigers are getting adjusted to new defensive coordinator John Chavis and vice-versa. I'm not willing to write them off. Let's give them a couple more games.

James (Portland, OR)

A few people now have voiced criticism of Peterson's handling of Hout to go with your (well written) praise of Oregon's handling of the Oregon player...but what about the decision (made by who knows whom) to replay the incident on the big screen at the Boise stadium? Isn't that also bad sportsmanship? Won't that only inflame things? Isn't that the stadium taunting, so to speak, LeBlount? (sp?)

Ivan Maisel

  (2:22 PM)

I thought that Boise State handled that very poorly. They replayed it over and over and over on the big screen at the stadium. Not very smart at all.

Ross (Cedarville, OH)

Will Ohio State be more competitive in this year's game with USC?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:23 PM)

I expect the game will be close. The home field will make a huge difference. So will Pryor being a sophomore.

Paul (Detroit)

Will Michigan be able to keep both Forcier and Robinson, do you see one of them transferring next year?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:25 PM)

Wow, hadn't even thought of that. Robinson had sort of a Wildcat role in the opener. Who's to say what will happen as he continues to learn the offense? This new trend of backups transferring is bad form in so many ways. For every Jevan Snead, there are five guys who are no better off by leaving and probably worse.

mike jacobs (huntsville,al )

How can you assist in ridding the world with the kenny chesney music in the hundreds of games to come?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:26 PM)

Mike,you're barking up the wrong tree. For one thing, I like the song. For another, I like my paycheck.

Devone (Los Angeles)

This is ridiculous. No one speaks on what is most effecting the ranking system in CFB. Teams like Florida Gators year in and year out schedule EXTREMELY weak teams for non conference games. Then they dont even have the heart to go on the road for any of the games. Not to mention this is the 3rd year in a row that Florida schedules 7 home games and only 4 road games. And this is who the voters and analyst consider to be the top team in college? Give me a break.....when will someone/ anyone stand up and call a spade a spade. Or in this case a fraud a fraud.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:27 PM)

I agree that Florida should play more out-of-conference road games. They won't venture past Tallahassee. The last Gator non-conf game on the road? 1991. But that's the way the game is played these days. Get the money and leave home only when you have to.

Jeff (Destin)

Do you expected to see a rematch of FSU and Miami in the ACC title game?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:28 PM)

I'm leaning that way.

Tyler Saponaro (Ashland, Ohio)

Ivan, I do not think anyone should be concerned with Ohio St.'s offense, they were obviously playing a very basic O so USC could not see their more complicated formations, but do what are your thoughts on their defense against Navy? Did Navy just have an unfamiliar system, did one man, Anderson Russell, forget how to play football, did they just not show up or are they just straight up no good?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:29 PM)

Navy's offense thrives on discipline, and so does defending it. First games are not showcases for discipline, unless you play for a military academy. I can't explain Russell's brain cramps. I was more surprised by the defensive line's problems. That's supposed to be a Buckeye strength.

Matt (Philadelphia)

What do you think of the ol' alma mater's chances going cross-country to Wake? Important game for both teams' bowl chances.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:31 PM)

It's a big game for both teams. I was very impressed with Stanford on Saturday, as a long-suffering fan. A balanced offense with good special teams. I know it was Wazzu, but still. Wake is always tough at home. I think Baylor's pretty good, so I don't see that loss as a black eye.

Beau (State College, PA)

On your recent podcast with Gene, you guys both talked about how good PSU could be. What abou their first game stood out to you?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:32 PM)

The sheer ease of it. They did what really good teams do. They took care of business. That's not easy to do in the first week. Ask Oregon or Ohio State or Oklahoma or....

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Speaking of having too many QBs, Pat Devlin had a nice debut with Delaware. Can you see this kid following Joe Flacco into the NFL or will he merely be a kid who can play 1-AA football?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:33 PM)

he's a talented quarterback. We saw that at Ohio State last year. He'll get a look.

Jonathan (Westerville)

Technically, could Blount of Oregon get another year of eligiblity since he went two years of JUCO, one year at Oregon and one game this season? Could he transfer and use 2009 as a redshirt?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:34 PM)

Generally the NCAA grants a fifth year (if you've played) only if something happens out of your control, like an injury. The only thing out of control thursday was Blount.

Cody (Jefferson City, MO)

I think Chip Kelly did the right thing in suspending Blount for the rest of the season, but I was really disappointed when no action was taken against the Boise DE. I mean he instigated it when there was no need to tap him. What do you think they should have done?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:35 PM)

I think everyone on the outside would have felt better if Hout had paid a visible price for being the provacateur. He was humiliated on national television. There's always that. And maybe he's getting up at 6 a.m. to run.

Tim (Chicago)

What do you make of what Coach Ault said to Coach Weis at the end of the game about not giving him a better test?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:36 PM)

I haven't heard it, but that's not unusual for coaches to speak that way. I'm sure he meant it.

Spaceman (Boston)

Aside from the computers and human polls, does a team like Texas suffer from their weak OOC sked simply because they aren't being tested?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:36 PM)

I've always believed that. It's hard to get coaches and ADs to agree with me.

Gabe (Birmingham)

Thoughts on Auburn after week 1? You picked La Tech to win so you must not have thought much before the game.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:37 PM)

I did not. I was wrong, wrong, wrong. That second half was very impressive.

Austin Hansen (Anaheim, CA)

Thoughts on BYU? Legitimate chance at a National Championship?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:38 PM)

Name-dropping time. I was just discussing this with Todd McShay. He is convinced that BYU can be in the mix. I agree. Cougar fans are now huge OU fans, and if BYU beats Florida State, the Cougars will all learn the War Chant.

Pete (Cupertino, CA)

Do you think voters would take it into account if an outbreak of swine flu directly lead to a loss?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:40 PM)

No. Well, maybe. Are we talking one key player? Six? I remember the flu went through the FSU locker room the day before/day of the Sugar Bowl when FSU played Florida for the 1996 national title. Florida won, 52-20, and no one really cared that FSU was sick.

Austin Hansen (Anaheim, CA)

Does that mean Oklahoma and FSU have to win their conferences for BYU to have a shot?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:41 PM)

I think if OU and FSU win their conferences and BYU is 12-0, the Cougars will be in the championship game. But that's still a long shot.

Eric (Venice, CA)

Hi Ivan, So let's say you are wrong and USC beats OSU in The Shoe by a pretty good margin and it is not close. Do they jump Texas in your poll?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:41 PM)

Probably. Let's see what Texas does.

Kyle (Atlanta)

1. Florida played at Miami a few years back....so that was more recent than 1991.2. How can anybody agree with suspending a kid for his CAREER after having a bad night. Blount should have been punished, but they essentially took away his chances at an NFL payday. I think that was a little harsh considering it was nothing more than a bad image for Oregon. Thoughts?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:43 PM)

I meant played outside the state of Florida. Sorry if I didn't say that specifically. I thought Kelly did a masterful job of covering both ends of the punishment spectrum. He threw the book at Blount, and now is doing everything he can think of to help him.

Sebastian (Miami)

How good can Miami's Jacory Harris be?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:44 PM)

I was very impressed with him. As Randy Shannon told me yesterday, that whole team had a lot of opportunities to quit Monday night, and it kept fighting.

Richard (Greensboro, NC)

Is Tim Tebow's status in the NFL comparable to Tyler Hansbrough's status in the NBA? Both have very strong winning traditions and leadership, but their ability to play at the next level is questioned.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:45 PM)

Good comparison. I think there's a place in the NFL for Tebow. I'm not sure about Hansbrough and the NBA. It will be interesting to watch him this season.

Tim (Memphis)

No one is talking about the TN/UCLA game? Can Kiffin get a huge win or another upset? Like Cal a few years ago will the atmosphere get to them?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:46 PM)

Two teams that are expected to be a lot better this year. I'm really interested in this game. The winner will get a lot of momentum. I tend to trust UCLA's performance a little more last Saturday, because I think San Diego State's got a little more than Western Kentucky, but both looked very good.

Simms (Cleveland, OH)

Let's imagine for a second it's Monday morning, Sept. 14th. Ohio State is fresh off a close victory vs. USC. Michigan gets it done in the Big House vs. Notre Dame. And Penn State takes care of business vs. Syracuse. However unlikely it is, suppose it happens: What kind of creative ways will the writers be describing the Big "Joke" 10?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:47 PM)

that would be Jim Dlelany's dream come true, wouldn't it? Three big wins and a bunch of quiet sportswriters.

Lucas (Jefferson City, MO)

What are your thoughts on Mizzou beating Illinois and the debut of Gabbert at QB? Collin Cowherd decided about a month ago that Mizzou had no chance in this game and Mizzou played a nearly flawless game.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:49 PM)

That one stunned me, too. Gabbert sure didn't look like a guy who hadn't played. I thought the North would be Nebraska, Kansas and maybe Colorado, but Mizzou never left.

Tim (Chicago)

What games are worth watching on Saturday other than USC v. OSU and UM v. ND?

Ivan Maisel

  (2:49 PM)

I didn't know there were any other games Saturday.

Ivan Maisel

  (2:49 PM)

Thanks, everyone. Talk to you next Wendesday.