 |
 |
|
| | Wednesday, August 30 Wait and see | ||||||
Whether your team looks really really good, or really really bad, don't worry. This early in the game, it is too soon to start forming opinions says ESPN college football anaylst Beano Cook.
Cook recently stopped by ESPN.com for his weekly chat and offered up some points to consider as college football season heats up. He advises to keep an eye on Florida and Wisconsin and don't miss the Seminoles when they visit Maryland.
Cook also reveals his school of choice should he decide to coach someday, and which school has the best fans.
In case you missed the August 30 chat, the following is an edited transcript.
Beano Cook: Good afternoon. Please, no comments on my pick of Penn State over USC. I was 100 percent wrong.
irishbob6: What happened to Penn State?
Beano Cook: Penn State could not move the ball and USC played well. This was not a fluke. USC took a chance playing this game and it proved to be a good one. But don't bury Penn State yet.
grant: Beano, what are the Illini's chances of going to the Rose Bowl?
Beano Cook: The entire season rests Sept. 3 at home against Michigan. If they win, they must be considered a threat. They do, however, have a habit of losing these kinds of games.
JoePa going for his seventh win to break Bear's record. Purdue-Wisonsin Nebraska-Oklahoma Florida-Florida State purdueboy121: Where do you see Purdue falling this year? Beano Cook: They play a difficult schedule but if they start conference play undefeated, they are in good shape. I see them in a bowl game for sure, but will it be a major bowl game? I just don't know yet. jimbo: Beano, what are your thoughts on Ohio State being underrated and making a run for the Big Ten title? Beano Cook: I do think they are underrated but I don't know if they can make a run for the conference title. At this time, I would say no. But that is why they play the games. I think they will bounce back from last year's down year for them. Mountaineer Fan: What do you foresee for WVU Mountaineers this season? Beano Cook: A lot depends on the Boston College game. If they win, they could have a decent year. They just don't get the material many of their opponents get. It is tough to win there. SC: Any hope for Lou Holtz and the Gamecocks to pull a few upsets this year? Beano Cook: The problem with SC is that they are in the same division as Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. There are moments when they will pull upsets, but 70-80 percent of the time they will lose to those teams. SC should never have left the ACC. barrysaynbye: Did Wienke help his Heisman chances vs BYU? Or is the Heisman in Eric Crouch's hands already? Beano Cook: The Heisman Trophy is wide open. As we have said before, there is more interest in who will win the Heisman than who will be President. Who wins the Heisman is much more interesting and more important. m: You never seem to have a high regard for K-State. After seeing them last week, I'll admit they looked less than impressive, but if Ell Roberson is as good as everyone believes, don't you think that would solve their "problems"? Beano Cook: I said earlier, that too many people underrate teams when they look bad early. I am not one of those people. I think they will probably go 10-2 and possibly 12-0 and playing for the title. I think what Coach Snyder has done out there is utterly amazing. K-State fans are as loyal as any fans in college football. I am not underrating them. If you told me a coule of years ago that K-State might play for the national title, that would have made as much sense as telling me Switzerland would win World War III. Chasbo: Hey there Beano. Any predictions for Michigan State, both long and short term? Beano Cook: Michigan State usually plays good nonconference games and they are playing Notre Dame and Missouri this year. Those are good games. But they play in a tough conference. I think they will have a decent record. Not great, but not bad. Jeff Burress: Hello Beano from Vol country. Are we ever going to see a playoff in Division I football? All the fans seem to be craving for one. Beano Cook: We will see a playoff before the end of the decade. Not because the fans want it, but because the colleges want the money. Each year college football becomes a bigger business and they want more money. But what we have now seems to be working. Chris: Beano, Can Maryland go to a bowl game this year? Beano Cook: Yes, I think one of the most interesting games this year will be a Thursday night contest with Florida State going to Maryland. If Maryland gets lucky, it could be a great game. This was a brilliant move by ESPN to televise this game because it is at Maryland. At Florida State would be a disaster. Maryland must run the ball to be successful. Remember, Virginia beat Florida State on a Thursday night. kris handel: Will Georgia have a good team with inconsistent Quincy Carter at the helm? Beano Cook: Georgia fans expect a lot this year -- maybe too much. They should beat Tennessee in Athens, but Florida has won nine or 10 under Spurrier and will probably make it 10 of 11. Mark: Can Clemson finally get over the FSU hump?!? Beano Cook: I don't think this year, but I think it will happen. I don't think they can win at Florida State. They are making great strides there. Clemson has the best chance to dethrone FSU, but it will be a tough task. Despite a lack of scholarships, Bobby Bowden has built a dynasty at Florida State. The Big Aristotle: Hey Beanster, what do you think Nick Saban will be able to do at LSU? Beano Cook: I think LSU will struggle. It will be very difficult for LSU in the near future. But it can happen, but it will be difficult -- they have to play Florida every year plus the teams in its division. This year the teams in the West are tougher than the teams in the East in the SEC. ChFitz: Who is the most overrated top 10 team this year? Beano Cook: It's too early in the season for me to get hate mail, so I won't answer that. Rishi: How do you think Michigan will do without Drew Henson and how far can they go without him? Beano Cook: Without him, it will be tough. They have three nonconference games and two are sure wins. I don't think they can win both Illinois and Wisconsin. Michigan has to watch UCLA on the road, but their Big Ten hopes rest on the Illinois game. Jon: Is it still gloom and doom for Northwestern Wildcats (yet another rebuilding year)? Thanks Beano. Beano Cook: Yes. Not in tennis and golf, but in football. It is a private school in a division with ten other schools. Once you get in to Northwestern, there is nowhere to hide the athletes like in state schools. You can't major in tourism at Northwestern. If you played comparing SAT scores, NW would be 10-0. Vick4Heisman: Who's the most underrated coach in college football? Beano Cook: George Welsh at Virginia. He is not underrated with me, but I don't think the public knows how good he is. The only mind that has been more creative on the Virginia campus was Thomas Jefferson. Dave A: What is it you like about Wisconsin so much? They don't have Ron Dayne anymore. Beano Cook: I love the coach, he is unbelieveable. They have easy nonconference games. I admit I might be wrong, it's just my opinion. I was wrong last year. I know that all of you picked Virginia Tech like Lee Corso did, right? HokieNutz: Do you see the Big East turning into the ACC again, with the Florida schools dominating every year? Beano Cook: I think Miami will more or less dominate, but not like Florida State is dominating the ACC. It will be close, but not as much as FSU. Davey Train: Where do you see Kentucky this year Beano? Beano Cook: Struggling. They have to play Tenn., Georgia and Florida. In basketball they can compete, but in football it is very tough to compete. ColoradoAg: Do you think RC Slocum can ever get A&M into a national title game? Beano Cook: He can, but you have to be realistic. Texas gets better material. He has to beat Texas and that is difficult. But who ever thought Virginia Tech or Kansas State would play for a national title. Remember, Texas A&M won the national title in 1939. Wallydrag: How do you think Oklahoma will do against the Murder's Row of Texas in Dallas, K-State in Manhattan and Nebraska at home in October? Beano Cook: I think they will be vastly improved. There is hope for Oklahoma in the near future. I think they will return to a national power. But that is a very difficult stretch, as tough as anyone in the country including some pro teams. RVA: I'm in the midst of an argument ... who has the best fans in the Big 10? (Could you rate the top 5). Thanks Beano Beano Cook: Iowa with Wisconsin second. That is only my opinion. Michigan has the most fans but make the least noise. You go to a Michigan game and you think you are at a morgue. Unless the opponent is Ohio State or Notre Dame. Huskedandfullofworms: What is your most favorite memory of the college game throughout your life and why? Beano Cook: The dotting of the "I" at Ohio State. Everyone is on their feet, bundled up, it just gives you a chill. You have to see it. ChFitz: Where would you coach if you were crazy enough to do so? Beano Cook: Yale. You don't spend all your time recruiting and you know that the kids you get are students first. I like the fight song and I can always get a table at Morry's (not sure if I'm spelling it right). wayne: Beano, what is your opinion of the Volunteers this year and how they will fare against Southern Miss this week? Beano Cook: Tennessee should beat S. Miss on ESPN. They will have a difficult time. It is a down year for Tennessee but they have Florida and Alabama at home and that will help. They do have to go to Georgia. gainesville andrew: Beano, you and Lee Corso were the only two ESPN analysts to pick Florida to win the SEC. What is your deciding factor to go with the Gators? Beano Cook: Steve Spurrier I'm still looking for two good tickets for the first time the Mavericks play the Clippers. See you next week and thanks for joining us. Take care. | ALSO SEE ESPN.com's 2000 college football preview | ||||||