College Football's 2011 Season Kicks Off With Plenty of Drama

By Cabrone Brewer
They say fall is a season of change. In that case we certainly hope your couch is ready for action. Pay the cable bill and dust off that remote control — college football is back and this season it’s bringing the drama without delay.
It’s been quite the off-season around the ol’ NCAA. Eight long months have passed since the final whistle blew in Glendale, but that certainly didn’t stop the schools, coaches and players from making some serious moves off the field. From new conference alignments to new coaching assignments, 2011 definitely promises to be a season for the books.
Highlighting week one is a matchup of unreal proportions. The #3 Oregon Ducks, looking to rebound from a last-second loss in last year’s BCS Championship Game, face-off against a Jordan Jefferson-less #4 LSU Tigers squad at Jerry’s World down in Dallas. The Ducks have a chip on their shoulder and the Tigers are trying to put the pieces back together after a mindless bar brawl involving several players in Baton Rouge. This is certainly one that is not to be missed.
Back on top of the AP College Football Poll at the start of the season for a tenth time, the mighty Oklahoma Sooners begin their quest for an eighth national championship game appearance against in-state foe the University of Tulsa. After the untimely death of linebacker Austin Box this summer, the Sooners are focused on finishing the season strong for their fallen comrade. Box’s #12 jersey will rotate between players throughout the season, keeping his spirit alive in Sooner Nation.
The state of Florida is in the national spotlight once again, with #6 FSU opening their season at home against Louisiana-Monroe; while #22 Florida and new head coach Will Muschamp look to keep Urban Meyer’s former team rolling in the right direction. And Miami? Well, all we can say is the Al Golden era is off to a rough start.
Number 5 Boise State, fresh off their second BCS bowl win and riding high on the arm of quarterback Kellen Moore, face a tough opening with SEC challenger #19 Georgia.
For a preview of former and soon-to-be former Big XII members, #8 Texas A&M begins their farewell tour with a battle between SMU; Big 10 newcomer #10 Nebraska squares off with Chattanooga; the fresh face of the newly-crowned Pac-12 Colorado cruises to Honolulu to battle Hawai’I.
What surprises will this season have in store? Keep in touch because with an opening week as stormy as this, anything is possible.