by Justin Brown

2.10.10

Ahh yes… It’s that time of year again where the college football season actually begins. Signing Day has just passed, and clearly, there are some winners and losers. Most college coaches are getting set and ready to begin training their athletes while transitioning incoming freshman, but at some top controversy-ridden Universities, the dust is just settling as things begin to rev up once again. Let’s take a look at some of the perennial title contenders who began their off seasons with a bit of an upstir.

Teams like the Florida Gators, Tennessee Volunteers, USC Trojans, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and the Florida State Seminoles are just the top tier among college football programs who find themselves either in transition with a new coaching staff or uncertainty about the coaching situation in general.

The state of Florida is home to some of the best football in the country, and it makes sense that these two teams would clean up within the state on Signing Day.  According to Rivals.com, Florida has the 2nd best class of incoming freshman while Florida State isn't far behind in 10th place.  As these teams get set and ready to bring in some of the nation's best amateur talent, there is some house cleaning that needs to be done first.

Florida and Urban Meyer quickly denounced any rumors that he would be ending his tenure at Florida following the announcement of necessary indefinite leave due to health conditions. For recruits and current players, that brought a sigh of relief. Coach Meyer and Florida continue to ensure the press and incoming freshman that he will be available at the beginning of spring practice, which certainly is a crucial time, key to development and initiation of young players. And with the departure of first round draft picks LB Brandon Spikes, DE Carlos Dunlap, S Joe Haden, along with Tim Tebow, I’m sure Urban Meyer wants to personally make sure things are going as planned in Gainesville.

Florida State is an entirely different scenario. Coach-in-waiting has become Coach. Jimbo Fisher officially took over the reins of the Seminoles following their Gator Bowl appearance. With the class that Fisher has been able to compile, the Seminoles are poising themselves for a return to the Florida State of old. Fisher is a big defensive guy, and nothing was more exciting than watching the Florida State defenses of the 90s. Along with the incoming class of freshman, this coaching transition is creating quite a buzz in Tallahassee. Let’s wait and see what Jimbo delivers.

A little further north, Tennessee was finally able to fill the coaching vacancy abruptly left by Lane Kiffin (USC). Derek Dooley now fills the position, hailing from Louisiana Tech where he boasts a mere 17-20 record over three seasons. However, Dooley was able to keep most of the recruits in tact as Tennessee finished 9^th in recruiting according to Rivals.com. Dooley’s best season at Tech was 8-5. In the WAC conference, I’m not sure how much credibility that gives him, but he has the players in place and incoming to compete in the SEC. For Vols fans, it’s going to be a lot of waiting and wondering what will be.

By this time in mid-February, most college football teams are well into their strength and conditioning programs. For most teams, the sour taste of not making a BCS bowl, or national championship in some cases, is still looming. But for some teams, losing to your rival in a close game provides more offseason inspiration than anything. For Notre Dame and USC players, rivalry isn’t the only thing on their minds going into this spring.

At Notre Dame, Brian Kelly brings his credentials and competitive attitude to a struggling and underperforming Fighting Irish program. The Irish have key departures in QB Jimmy Clausen, WR Golden Tate, and S Kyle McCarthy. They also face a revamping of the offensive line with only two returning starters for next year’s team.

With most of the Irish offense gone and a defense with talent but no results, the Irish and Brian Kelly are looking to come together to electrify and awaken the echoes going into this spring. The word on campus is that Kelly has unleashed a furious off-season program, one that players are welcoming with open arms. Kelly and the Irish have a daunting task ahead, but a top 15 recruiting class and reconstructed program have Irish fans hopeful for the 2010 season.

USC started its off-season in the midst of controversy, and rightfully so. What’s the LA-Hollywood scene without a bit of a cover story? Pete Carroll took off to Seattle, and USC went fervently and aggressively searching for his replacement. Lane Kiffin was probably sitting by the phone waiting for USC to call, and he now holds the keys to the most prestigious college football program of this era. It’s no story that USC has the players, and with the nation’s best recruiting class, there won’t be any shortage of talent for Kiffin to choose from.

It didn’t take Kiffin long to stir things up at USC as he and his staff have already been reprimanded for recruiting practices. USC will be good because they have the talent. They will be great because, despite all the controversy, Kiffin and his staff are among the best in football. No drop off here, Trojans will use this Spring to return to BCS form this season.

Signing Day marks the true beginning of the college football season. Players and coaches begin putting in the hours of training and studying in order to one-up what they accomplished in the past season. And since there’s only one champion in this BCS system, no matter how flawed it is, teams use the winter and spring months to strengthen weak links, sever older links, and weld in new ones. All of the post season madness that has transpired only makes for a more exciting off-season as college football fans anxiously await Spring Practices.