2005 previews

College Football News are yokels who don't know jack. However, this is interesting:

17. California
The program pulled off a huge coup keeping Jeff Tedford, one of football's hottest coaches, in Berkeley leading the way to one of the school's best recruiting hauls ever with several great JUCO players who'll be among the Pac 10's top stars. Marshawn Lynch is considered by some to be an even better back than J.J. Arrington, the offensive line will be among the best in the country, and there's more than enough team speed to hang stride for stride with anyone on the slate including that group down in L.A.
Relative strength: Offensive line
Relative Weakness: Linebacker
Star of the team: RB Marshawn Lynch, Soph.
Key game: November 12th vs. USC

CFN is ranking all 119 D 1A teams, and given that we lost just about everybody on offense except for the line, and almost the entire front seven on defense, I'd say a little questioning is in order, so 17th at the start of the season isn't bad. (Of course, in the known-nothings, CFN has Notre Dame in the high 40s. Not that I think ND'll be any good, but talk about upsetting the status quo. Lots of people seem to think that the mere presence of Charlie "God" Weis on the sidelines is good for at least three wins.)

Two things, though: "Marshawn Lynch is considered by some to be an even better back than J.J. Arrington." Um, anyone who doesn't consider Marshawn to be a great deal better than J.J. is crazy. J.J. is great, and kind, and a good guy, and a fucking workhorse behind the line (he gained over 550 yards in the last two games of the season; he broke Muncie's single season record of just over 1,400 yards at the Big Game just before halftime, and then ended the season in January with over 2,000 yards). Man can run, and rumor has it he's slated to start at Arizona, which is wonderful for a guy from a small town who didn't get recruited out of college and only started for a single year. [Of course, Arizona sucks so bad they were the only wins for the Fortywhiners last year. In other news, Arizona's Head Coach is Dennis Green, former Stanfurd Head Coach coach. Football is a very small and very incestuous world.]

But Marshawn is better. A lot better. He's so good, his first touch went for a long touchdown. He's so good, his freshman highlight reel lasts an hour. He's so good, he's thrown 2 touchdowns. Better than J.J.? Oh yeah. Better than Chuck Muncie? Probably.

And check this out: relative strength: O-line; star: Lynch, RB. Nothing less than 3,000 yards, I'm telling you. And center Marvin Philip should be a first rounder, if there's any justice in the world.