Moderator

  (4:02 PM)

Hello everyone .. we are tracking down Ivan now. He is traveling today and it appears he may have been delayed. Hang tight.

Moderator

  (4:10 PM)

Sorry for the delay everyone .. Ivan has been delayed .. we'll keep your questions and hopefully get started a little later. Thanks for your patience.

Ivan Maisel

  (4:30 PM)

Sorry I'm late .. let's get to it!

Chad: (Omaha, NE)

Ivan What's your opinion of the Big Ten's usage of instant replay? What will this do to the pace of the game, and the purity of College Football in general? Thanks. Chad

Ivan Maisel

  (4:32 PM)

I think it's not the NFL system and that is standard people use to judge instant replay. The Big Ten will basically have a guy in a room with a TiVo which is about as primitive as you can get. I think it's a mistake. Their heart is in the right place but they don't have the money to do it right. I haven't thought about the purity. In fact I haven't used purity and college football in the same sentence in a long time.

Mike (Alexandria, VA)

Ivan - Any concern that the new and improved BCS will start a scheduling "race to the bottom". Without a strength of schedule component, do bigger schools have any incentive to schedule strong non-conference opponents in the future? Wouldn't it be better to be undefeated (and mocked for playing a weaker schedule) than be 10-1 and left out? It seems like many experts are picking WVA as a title game contender for this reason, based more on schedule than talent. Thoughts?

Ivan Maisel

  (4:34 PM)

Well, I guess that is up to the poll voters. We know the computer third of the formula will take schedule strength into account. We are depending on the poll voters to put it in the other two-thirds. I believe after the last few years, people understand the importance of it and will do so. If they do, then schedule strength will remain important.

Jeff (Austin)

Is Mizz and Brad Smith really a legitimate Big XII threat for the considering the lack of defense from the Tigers? I'd really appreciate a response. Hook 'Em!

Ivan Maisel

  (4:35 PM)

They are a threat to win the North. I haven't heard anybody predict Missouri is better than OU or Texas. Until they learn to stop some people, there is not much of a debate there.

Randy Chattanooga,TN

Mostly everybody on Rocky top is talking about replacing Casey Clausen. But no one is talking about replacing the three seniors that left on the secondary, which could end up being more important. How do you see the young secondary coming along?

Ivan Maisel

  (4:36 PM)

I'm going to stick with replacing Clausen because I have heard Fulmer complain about not having a QB behind him for 2 years and he knows more about it than I do. They have got a problem until proven otherwise.

PAJ (FriscoO

Ivan da Terrible - do you prefer Popeyes or KFC? I like Popeyes fo sho!

Ivan Maisel

  (4:37 PM)

Well, if I had to eat one I'd say Popeyes. But if I'm going to eat store bought chicken I'd go with Stroud's in K.C. followed by the Hotel Roanoke. Trust me, I've done some research.

Geoff (Ft. Worth, TX)

I have some major beef with you. How do you not rank TCU??? We were in the top 10 last year at one point, return our WHOLE offense, and improved on our weak pass defense? What gives? Do you hold a grudge against us? Don't hate Ivan, don't hate.

Ivan Maisel

  (4:38 PM)

Well, we think the defense is improved. But I don't think you have played anyone yet. To me, TCU is a textbook case of strength of schedule being important. Once they played some tough teams last year, Cinderella went home.

Ivan Maisel

  (4:38 PM)

I haven't written TCU off, but right now they just didn't make the cut.

Jay G. Austin, Tx

How do you think Cedric Benson will fare up against all of the running backs in the country. Does he have Heisman Potential and if so, can he win

Ivan Maisel

  (4:40 PM)

I think Cedric Benson is going to have a killer year because he will be in game shape on Sept. 4. He hasn't been in game shape for the first month of the season yet in his career because of minor league baseball. I think he will start out big and get a lot of attention because of it.

Kiko Jones, King George, VA

Ivan, All the different news organizations have Cal ranked anywhere from 11th to 22nd. Why such a disparity? Do you think they are overrated and where do you think they should be ranked?

Ivan Maisel

  (4:41 PM)

They might be overrated. They have become a smart-guy's darling over the last eight months. It's going to be interesting to see how well they handle having that much smoke blown up their skirts. They sure have a great QB though and a great coach and there is nobody else in that league that can scream pick me second. So Cal it is.

Nan (Oregon)

Hello.....What television shows do you watch besides ESPN and college football games?

Ivan Maisel

  (4:43 PM)

I've become a big fan of Enterouge on HBO. Any movies with Barbara Stanwick. Also SpongeBob when they make fun of Texas. That gets me every time.

Vishal (Columbus)

What do you think of the QB situation at Ohio State and its impact on the Buckeyes' season?

Ivan Maisel

  (4:44 PM)

I don't have any great wisdom there. I'm waiting to see like everyone else. But as for impact on the Buckeyes, I can't imagine it will be a whole lot. Let's face it, Krenzel was no world-beater last year. That team won on defense and tenacity. Those are the trademarks of Tressel-ball.

Bob (Va)

Does V Tech have a chance in hell against USC?

Ivan Maisel

  (4:45 PM)

Oh, they probably have about 3 chances in hell. They have to protect Randall and they've somehow in 8 months have had to discover a pass defense.

rick (pittsburgh, pa)

Ivan, do you think that any team in the new Big East, has a legitimate shot at the national title if they run the table, or is that conference too soft?

Ivan Maisel

  (4:46 PM)

I guess you are asking can any team run the table and finish in the top 2. Yeah, sure, it could happen. W. Virginia is the favorite and Maryland is on their schedule. If they can beat them after getting embarassed twice last year, that could count for something. I think I'm grasping for straws .. I'll move on now.

Rich (Raleigh)

I read the chat from Beano Cook and usually enjoy his commentary but he was overly critical of the Big Ten. the Big Ten has easily held it's own over the last decade, your thoughts ?

Ivan Maisel

  (4:48 PM)

Over the last decade? Sure, they won 2 national championships. It has shown competitive balance. If we are talking about this year, I agree with Beano. I don't expect great things. But over the last 10, they've had some pretty solid teams.

Chad (Lincoln, NE)

Ivan, I know that we're switching to the West Coast Offense this year, but the lack of respect for Nebraska shown by the coaches was unbelieveable. Can you remember the last time that a program as prestigous as Nebraska, coming off a 10-win season, wasn't ranked in the preseason poll?

Ivan Maisel

  (4:49 PM)

That is a good question, Chad. I have to break it to you. I think a lot of people out there look at Nebraska and start singing "The Thrill is Gone". I think the biggest reason they won 10 games last year is they played 13.

Bryan (St Paul, MN)

What's your take on the Mike Williams story? Do you think he will or should be allowed back to USC?

Ivan Maisel

  (4:51 PM)

Will he? I'm operating under the assumption he will. But I"m not ruling out a game or two suspension period. I don't think that a suspension is warranted though. Should he come back? Yes. He availed himself of an opportunity that appeared to exist under our legal system. Once it was taken away, he asked to come back. Under the circumstances, he should be allowed back once he puts the toothpaste back into the tube.

John ( Albany)

Would Willie Williams' 19 arrests be considered an ACC record or a Big East record ? Seriously, how can Miami be looked at with any credibility?

Ivan Maisel

  (4:53 PM)

Well, the number is "only 12". I'm willing to give Donna Shalala and Paul Dee enough rope to hang themselves. They were obviously aware of the perception that they would be putting out there. They chose to give him a chance. They are not dumb people so I'm willing to watch and jump on the pile with everyone else if he slips.

Michael, Lake Orion MI

Ivan, What do you think about the MAC this year? Will we see the same impact like we saw last year? I would love to see college gameday again at another MAC school.

Ivan Maisel

  (4:55 PM)

I think GameDay is holding out until they get a promise of better weather than we all had in Bowling Green. Seriously, I don't expect the MAC to be as prominent as last year because they don't have the marquee players that they had last year. But I will certainly watch that Minnesota-Toledo game with interest. I'm very curious to see how Charlie Frye takes to the new offense at Akron.

Jared (Overland Park)

Whats up with you sports writers, you guys degrade K-State every year, you talk about their weak schedule when you talk about them. Just wanted to let you know that K-State had the 10th toughest schedule going into the Fiesta Bowl last season, and I'm sure it was probably the third to fourth toughest after playing OSU.

Ivan Maisel

  (4:57 PM)

Jared, every time somebody complains about Kansas State, do yourself a favor, and pop in a DVD of the Big 12 championship game last year. That's all you need to say.

John (Duncanville, TX)

Who's the sleeper for this year on a national scale? I like NC State and Washington State to surprise a lot of people nationally. I also like Vanderbilt to make it to their first bowl game in forever. Your thoughts?

Ivan Maisel

  (4:58 PM)

I like the Vandy pick. I wouldn't be that surprised by Washington State but NC State has got to find a defense before I pick them as a sleeper. I would keep an eye on Ole Miss and I would keep an eye on Minnesota.

gramma tuscaloosa

ivan, who's gonna win the PGA this weekend?

Ivan Maisel

  (5:00 PM)

I'm pickin' Ernie. Anybody who has had his heart ripped out the way Ernie did at Augusta deserves to win. Thanks for the great questions. I'm sure we'll do this again before USC-Virginia Tech. Until then.