College Football (The All-American Football League)

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As teams head to training camps, here is a preview of the All-American Football League East. Teams are listed in the order they finished last year.

Defending champion Penn State has unfinished business from last year. The Nittany Lions (6-1) dropped a hard-fought Sugar Bowl national semi-final to South titlist Florida State 28-24. Quarterback Kerry Collins is out to make amends for throwing an interception on the final drive on the year. First-team All-American linebackers Jack Ham and LaVar Arrington anchor a rock solid defense.

Picked to finish seventh a year ago, Clemson was the lone team to beat Penn State in the regular season. The Tigers biggest question entering camp is which quarterback--Woody Dantzler, Steve Fuller, Homer Jordan or Charlie Whitehurst--will emerge as No. 1.

HBCU (combined Historically Black College and Universities) jumped out to a 4-1 record and climbed as high as seventh in the polls. Then, the Titans fell apart and wound up losing their final two games of the fall. Heisman Trophy winner Willie Gallimore is back at running back. However, head coach Eddie Robinson needs more out of his passing game.

Pittsburgh features the running of Tony Dorsett and the passing of Dan Marino. Dorsett finished third in the Heisman balloting after racking up a devilish 666 yards on 127 carries. Marino must overcome the interceptions that plagued him last season.

Running the ball shouldn't be a problem for Syracuse with the likes of Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little carrying the ball. However, this talented bunch also fumbled at costly times. Quarterback Donovan McNabb will be asked to step up the aerial assault.

After an 0-5 start, Armed Forces won its last two games. Week six brought a 15-14 upset of Pitt on a two-point conversion. Running remains the Patriots' strength. Backs Felix "Doc" Blanchard, Brian Bream, Glenn Davis, Pete Dawkins and Napoleon McCallum will shoulder the load.

Boston College had perhaps the best possession receiver in the game with wide out Tom Waddle. The 6-foot, 180-pounder led the AAFL with 37 catches. However, the Eagles lacked a solid ground game and bore no deep threat at receiver. Quarterback Doug Flutie was often scrambling for his life.

First in academics, last in the East. That may well have been the motto for Ivy. The Eagles only win came in a 24-7 rout of BC. Relentless Chuck Bednarik remains the face of this team.

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As teams head to training camps, here is a preview of the All-American Football League South. Teams are listed in the order they finished last year.

Florida State came within an eyelash of winning the National Championship. Bobby Bowden and the Seminoles dropped a Rose Bowl heartbreaker 34-33 to Notre Dame. All-Americans Chris Weinke and Marvin "Snoop" Minnis proved to be a lethal pass-and-catch combination. The star-studded Seminoles want more from their running game.

Auburn rose as high as seventh in the polls. The Tiger losses came against Florida State and arch-rival Alabama. Bo Jackson powered his way to a 627-yard, six-touchdown season that saw the running back finish fourth in the Heisman chase.

Alabama wants to build off its season-ending blowout of Auburn. Head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant needs more consistent play out of his quarterbacks. While Shaun Alexander and Tony Nathan both showed flashes at running back, Bryant believes the Crimson Tide fortunes rest on the arm of QB candidates Brodie Croyle, Joe Namath and Kenny Stabler.

Tennessee began the year with a last-second loss at Florida State. The Volunteers righted themselves and rose to 10th in the polls before a failed two-point conversion against Georgia sent Tennessee to mediocrity. Volunteer head coach Gen. Robert Neyland will rely heavily on quarterback Peyton Manning. Newcomer Robert Meacham gives Manning another weapon.

Following a 2-1 start, Georgia lost three of its final four games. The Bulldogs appeared to be a step slow the second half of the season. Tailback Herschel Walker holds the key to Bulldog hopes in '07. Eric Zeier, Quincy Carter and Fran Tarkenton are locked in a battle for the starting quarterback job.

Florida won by the big play and lost by it last fall. The Gators' success may ride on head ball coach Steve Spurrier's decision at quarterback. The question remains if he will go with one signal caller or continue to rotate Kerwin Bell, Rex Grossman, Shane Matthews, Danny Wuerffel or Spurrier himself. Either way, it will be interesting.

LSU, the third of the South teams to finish 3-4, likewise played up-and-down football. The Tigers played their finest game in a romp over Alabama that featured a sterling performance by quarterback Bert Jones and the third TD punt return of the season by All-American Skyler Green. Word out of Baton Rouge is that JaMarcus Russell has emerged as the first-string QB.

Perhaps no one was more surprised by the woes of Miami than head coach Jimmy Johnson. The Hurricanes lost time and again by slim margins and last-minute mistakes en route to an 0-7 regular season. Amid rumors of Johnson's demise, Miami drilled Arizona State in the Toilet Bowl 35-0. With his contract extended, Johnson's first task is straightening out the quarterback quandry of Ken Dorsey, Jim Kelly, Bernie Kosar, Vinnie Testaverde, Gino Torretta and Steve Walsh.

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As teams head to training camps, here is a preview of the All-American Football League Midwest. Teams are listed in the order they finished last year.

Depending on which side of the fence you're sitting, Notre Dame was either the luckiest team ever or the school destined to win the National Championship a year ago. The Fighting Irish came from behind in nearly every game en route to their thrilling Rose Bowl victory over Florida State. The rest of college football wonders if this season the gods reverse the trend and pull the rug out from under Notre Dame. Head coach Knute Rockne's Irish will again be led by quarterback Brady Quinn, the only signal caller in the nation not to throw an interception last year. The deep running game will be spearheaded by George Gipp, Allen Pinkett and Jerome Brown. All-American Alan Page is the glue to the defense.

Michigan is still boiling over a home loss to Notre Dame on a last-minute bomb when Quinn somehow found Jack Snow behind the Wolverine defense. Head coach Bo Schembechler has his team ready for its run in '07. Quarterbacks Jim Harbaugh and Tom Brady give the Wolverines a two-headed monster. The Wolverine defense featuring Charles Woodson has vowed to use last year's loss to Notre Dame as its motivation.

Oklahoma saw its chances of a Midwest title go the way of a missed field goal in South Bend last fall. This time around, the Sooners get Notre Dame on its turf. Oklahoma's strength lies in its potent running game starring Billy Sims and Adrian Peterson. Head coach Bud Wilkinson must decide whether to run the wishbone with quarterback Jamelle Holieway or a passing game with Jason White at the helm.

Ohio State must shake off a one-sided loss to Michigan in the season finale. Head coach Woody Hayes has vowed to make the Buckeyes tougher. Troy Smith appears to have won the starting job at quarterback. Archie Griffin and Eddie George should get the bulk of the Buckeye carries.

Purdue might benefit the most from the rule change allowing a quarterback to play the entire game. Head coach Joe Tiller plans to unleash QB Drew Brees in a multiple-set offense. Concerns remain on the defensive side of the ball.

Like most Midwest teams, Wisconsin relies on its running game. Tailback Ron Dayne is expected to get the ball more in this year's offense. The Badgers suffered close losses to both Notre Dame and Oklahoma. In fact, Wisconsin had the Irish down 21-0 at one point.

Illinois won its only game against Michigan State. The Fighting Illini didn't have much fight in them. Linebackers Ray Nitschke, Dick Butkus and Dana Howard anchor the defense. Head coach Robert Zuppke is seeking new ways to get elusive Red Grange the ball in the open field.

Michigan State won its lone game against Purdue. Yet, the Spartans came close to beating Notre Dame and Michigan. While the defense led by All-American Bubba Smith can pound its opponents, head coach Duffy Daugherty must find a quarterback he can trust with the reigns.

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As teams head to training camps, here is a preview of the All-American Football League West. Teams are listed in the order they finished last year.

Who says ties don't have any place in football? A year ago Nebraska and Texas would up tying in their regular season matchup in Lincoln. It took a special playoff to send the Cornhuskers into the post-season. This fall, Nebraska figures to be just as potent. The running tandem of Mike Rozier and Ahman Green are a lethal combination. Throw in a dash of Johnny Rodgers, Tommie Frazier, Scott Frost and company and it's lights out for opponents.

Texas head coach Darrell Royal has officially named Vince Young his starter at quarterback. If Young's running and throwing aren't enough, expect to see plenty of carries for Earl Campbell and Rickey Williams.

Meanwhile, BYU head coach LaVell Edwards has yet to decide on his quarterback. Robbie Bosco, Ty Detmer, Jim McMahon and Steve Young are all vying for the job. There are teams in this league that would gladly take fifth-stringer Steve Sarkisian.

Washington proved to be one of those classic up-and-down teams last season. One week the Huskies would look like champions, then next week they were roadkill. On thing head coach Don James can usually count on is his Purple Rain defense led by Steve Emtman.

UCLA has little trouble on offense a year ago. The Bruins outscored city rival USC 49-45 in the season opener. Quarterbacks Gary Beban and Troy Aikman are in a dogfight for the starting nod. Both may end up seeing plenty of time for the Bruins in '07.

Although it won just two games, Colorado always seemed to be in the game. Running backs Rashaan Salaam and J.J. Flanigan proved plenty of spark. More consistent play at quarterback may hold the key to the Buffaloes' success.

Other than Miami, no other team disappointed its fans more than USC. The Trojans struggled all season long keeping its multi-talented roster happy. There just weren't enough footballs for backs Marcus Allen, Ricky Bell, Reggie Bush, Anthony Davis, Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson and Charles White to get into their grooves. And if quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart can't coexist, head coach John McKay may be headed out the door.

Arizona State lost its opening game to West champion Nebraska 22-21 on a two-point conversion. It was all downhill after that for head coach Frank Kush and the Sun Devils. Kush's solution? Run ASU through the most grueling pre-season camp ever. He also named Jake Plummer his starting quarterback and insists his team will be more aggressive on defense.

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New York (AP)--College football fans will feast on some intriguing matchups when the All-American Football League opens its second season Labor Day weekend.

Defending national champion Notre Dame will host Illinois in the Midwest. The Fighting Irish opened last season with a 28-21 victory over the Illini in Champaign.

"They fought us tooth and nail a year ago," said Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne. "We expect a battle again this season."

National runner-up and South champion Florida State travels to Tennessee. The Seminoles slipped past the Volunteers 30-28 on a field goal by Scott Bentley in the waning seconds to open last fall's schedule.

"Knowing what happened last year, coupled with going to Knoxville, makes for as difficult a season opener as you'll find," said Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden.

Meanwhile, East champion Penn State opens at arch-rival Pittsburgh. The Nittany Lions hammered the Panthers 33-14 last season.

"Last season is in the past," said Penn State head coach Joe Paterno. "We're got to be ready because we all know Pitt will be."

Nebraska, the West champion, hosts Arizona State. Despite the fact the Sun Devils went winless in 2006, they narrowly lost to the Cornhuskers to open last season. It took a two-point conversion for Nebraska to prevail 22-21 in Tempe.

"That game may well have set the tone for both our seasons a year ago," said Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne. "Our players will see plenty of game film from that one."

The full opening weekend's schedule appears below:

East
Armed Forces @ HBCU (Historically Black College and Universities)
Boston College @ Clemson
Ivy @ Syracuse
Penn State @ Pittsburgh
South
Florida State @ Tennessee
Alabama @ Florida
Auburn @ Georgia
LSU @ Miami
Midwest
Oklahoma @ Purdue
Ohio State @ Wisconsin
Michigan @ Michigan State
Illinois @ Notre Dame
West
Arizona State @ Nebraska
BYU @ Colorado
Texas @ Washington
UCLA @ USC

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Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

Well, Ole Max's calendar tells him it's nearly time to take the binoculars off the beach and turn them to the gridiron. That's right, folks, it's dang near football time in the Ole US of A.

It's been quite a few months since Ole Max tapped his keys with the latest and greatest news from the All-American Football League. But, good news for you fans out there, the time has come.

Ole Max has spent his summer in a lot of places--the mountains, the woods, the beach, the surf, the sand, the baseball parks of American. Yet, all that time wasn't just spent aimlessly. No indeed. Ole Max has been chatting up AAFL insiders. Ole Max has visited a few campuses. Ole Max has watched summer workouts first-hand. No stone has been left unturned in the pursuit of the AAFL.

So, without further bantering, Ole Max is about to reveal his Pre-season Big Poll. That's right, below are the Top 10 teams in the AAFL, according to Max Mercy, Jr. Also included at no additional cost are Ole Max's fearless predictions for each region of the country. Read on, wayward son.

Ole Max's Pre-season Big Poll

1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Nebraska
4. Florida State
5. Michigan
6. Penn State
7. Auburn
8. Syracuse
9. Notre Dame
10. Tennessee


AAFL East:
1) Penn State
2) Syracuse
3) Clemson
4) HBCU
5) Pittsburgh
6) Ivy
7) Armed Forces
8) Boston College

AAFL Midwest:
1) Oklahoma
2) Michigan
3) Notre Dame
4) Ohio State
5) Wisconsin
6) Purdue
7) Michigan State
8) Illinois

AAFL South:
1) Florida State
2) Auburn
3) Tennessee
4) Alabama
5) Georgia
6) LSU
7) Miami
8) Florida

AAFL West:
1) Texas
2) Nebraska
3) USC
4) UCLA
5) Washington
6) Colorado
7) BYU
8) Arizona State

National Semifinals:
Sugar Bowl: Texas over Penn State
Rose Bowl: Oklahoma over Florida State

Orange Bowl (National Title Game): Texas over Oklahoma

Toilet Bowl (Worst Two Teams Square Off): Illlinois over Arizona State

Until Irish eyes are crying and Arizona State's Frank Kush blows his top . . . This is Max Mercy, Jr. signing off . . .

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Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

Well, Ole Max's mailbag is bursting again. It's time to unload some of it. Here goes . . .

Max,

Notre Dame ranked ninth nationally? And picked third in the Midwest? Didn't the Irish win the whole ball of wax last year?! What gives?!?!
--Steaming in South Bend

Dear Steaming,

Thanks for showing off your ability to read and recall. Your ND education has paid off.

Max,

As always I enjoyed your picks and predictions. How about a Heisman handicapping?

Football Fanatic

Dear Fanatic,

Thanks for your kind words, but shouldn't you have used the term "disabled" or perhaps "challenged"?

Max,

What makes you think USC is going to be any better than a year ago? Are there enough balls for those running backs to carry?

Curious in California

Dear Curious,

To answer your questions: 1) Those running backs; 2) That's a little personal isn't it?

Max,

Will I see you this season? It's been a long time!

Jenn

Jenn,

Yes and yes!!

This is Max Mercy, Jr. signing off until the ball hits the foot on Labor Day weekend!

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Pittsburgh--Penn State opened its All-American Football League East title defense by routing arch-rival Pitt 42-7.

"We played pretty well," said Nittany Lion head coach Joe Paterno. "Of course, there's always room for improvement."

That wasn't really the case Saturday as Penn State dominted the Panthers in every phase of the game. The Nittany Lions rolled up 512 total yards, 410 of which came via the ground game.

Ki-Jana Carter led Penn State with 97 yards on just five carries. His 78-yard touchdown run in the third quarter electrified the crowd. Curt Warner added 53 yards on only three carries. John Cappelletti, Curtis Enis and Tony Hunt all scored TDs.

Quarterback Kerry Collins connected on all seven of his passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

Pitt avoided the shutout when quarterback Dan Marino threw a 35-yard touchdown pass with just 57 seconds left in the game.

HBCU 30, Armed Forces 7

For once, Willie Gallimore took a backseat.

While HBCU's elusive all-purpose back who won last year's Heisman Trophy did manage to score a pair of touchdowns, it was teammate Walter Payton who stole the headlines.

Payton rushed for a game-high 85 yards and two scores as the Titans began the season with a home victory.

"Maybe they were expecting Willie to carry the ball more and it opened things up for me," said Payton. "Either way, we're thrilled to win the game."

Gallimore carried the ball 11 times for 66 yards. Tank Younger ground out 65 yards on 19 attempts.

Armed Forces was held to just 34 passing yards as starter Roger Staubach was harried all afternoon. Glenn Davis led the Patriots with 80 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

Clemson 49, Boston College 14

A season ago these teams tied. This time around, the Tigers left nothing to chance.

"We were determined to put this one away early," said Clemson quarterback Steve Fuller, who completed all seven of his passes for 145 yards and a touchdown.

The Tigers clawed their way to a 29-7 halftime lead and never looked back. Terrence Flagler led Clemson with 70 yards rushing. J.D. Reames returned a punt 81 yards for a score, and Perry Tuttle hauled in a 56-yard TD pass from Fuller.

Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie completed 13 of 27 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown. Tom Waddle, the AAFL's leading receiver last fall, managed just two catches.

Syracuse 42, Ivy 24

Donovan McNabb was the star of the show.

McNabb, the multi-threat Syracuse quarterback, completed 11 of 14 passes for 180 yards and four touchdowns as the Orangemen prevailed at home.

"Donovan's performance will make people stand up and think," said Syracuse head coach Ben Schwartzwalder. "We're a team that can run or throw the ball pretty darn well."

Both Chris Gedney and Art Monk caught two touchdowns from McNabb. Willie Reyes led a balanced rushing attack with 48 yards and two TDs on six carries.

Meanwhile, Calvin Hill kept the Syracuse defense guessing all game long. Hill finished the day with 226all-purpose yards. Despite gaining just 19 yards rushing, Hill caught six passes for 111 yards and returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score.

Ivy quarterback Gavin Hoffman went 14-of-19 for 206 yards and one touchdown.

East Player of the Week: Donovan McNabb, Syracuse

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Miami--A season ago, Jimmy Johnson's Miami Hurricanes didn't win a regular season game. Times have changed.

The Hurricanes kicked off the 2007 All-American Football League season with a rousing 31-23 victory over LSU.

"We're recommitted to winning," said Johnson. "Today illustrates the point."

One of the changes Johnson made was installing Jim Kelly as the Hurricane quaterback.

"You won't see a rotation," said Johnson. "The best man plays."

Kelly was that man in Saturday's opener. He responded by throwing for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Kelly completed 26-of-40 passes.

Clinton Portis led Miami with 64 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He broke loose for a 54-yard TD run early in the second half.

Meanwhile, LSU signal caller JaMarcus Russell struggled mightily. Russell was intercepted three times and the Tigers stumbled out of the gate.

Florida State 35, Tennessee 14

Down 14-7 at half, Seminole head coach Bobby Bowden made a quarterback change that turned the game around.

Bowden pulled All-American Chris Weinke in favor of the more mobile Charlie Ward. The move paid dividends as Ward passed for 214 second-half yards and two touchdowns.

"Charlie made all the difference today," said Bowden. "Depth is a beautiful thing to a football coach."

Auquan Boldin caught both of Ward's TD passes while Fred Biletnikoff and Marvin "Snoop" Minnis kept the Volunteer secondary off balance.

"They were running around like chickens with their heads cut off," said Boldin. "It was fun."

Florida State's defense clamped down on Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning in the second half. At one point, Manning threw eight straight incompletions. He finished the day just 13-of-30 for 126 yards and one TD. The Seminoles recorded three sacks and intercepted Manning once.

Alabama 28, Florida 0

The Tide was high on Saturday.

Bolstered by a solid defense, Alabama shut out Florida at The Swamp. The Crimson Tide held the Gators to only 194 total yards, 21 of which came on the ground. Moreover, Alabama registered three fumble recoveries, four interceptions and five sacks.

"We didn't have a clue out there," said Florida head ball coach Steve Spurrier.

Gator quaterback Danny Wuerffel threw all four interceptions before being pulled in favor of Kerwin Bell, Rex Grossman, Shane Matthews and Chris Leak.

"None of 'em worked," said Spurrier.

Alabama's offense played efficiently all game. Quarterback Brodie Croyle threw just six times, completing four for 70 yards. Sherman Williams was the top rusher with 56 yards, while Tony Nathan scored a pair of touchdowns.

"It's a nice beginning," said Alabama head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. "But, we've got a ways to go."

Auburn 31, Georgia 21

In what was billed as Bo vs. Herschel, the Tigers' Jackson took home a unanimous decision.

Jackson, fourth in last season's Heisman balloting, rushed for a game-high 104 yards and one touchdown as Auburn earned the road win.

"It was more than Bo against Herschel Walker," said Jackson. "It takes a team effort to get a victory."

Jackson indeed had help as quarterback Paul Sullivan passed for 187 yards and a touchdown. The Tiger defense sacked Georgia QB Eric Zeier four times, including a key third down play late in the game. Auburn also intercepted him once.

Meanwhile, Walker gained 47 yards on only six carries. Garrison Hearst and Charley Trippi scored two of the three Bulldog touchdowns.

South Player of the Week: Jim Kelly, Miami

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South Bend, Ind.--A year ago, Notre Dame pulled out thrilling come-from-behind victories week after week. Perhaps those days are gone.

The Fighting Irish set numerous All-American Football League records as they routed Illinois 63-17 before a packed house at Notre Dame Stadium.

In addition to setting an AAFL record for points scored, Notre Dame racked single-game marks for total offense (708) and rushing yardage (659). Four Irish backs finished the day with more than 100 yards on the ground. They were Reggie Brooks (129), Emil Sitko (124), George Gipp (113) and Creighton Miller (110).

"Offensively we played about as well as a team can play," said Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne.

Notre Dame, the defending AAFL champion, scored on its first play from scrimmage as Miller broke away on a 72-yard touchdown run. Six different Irish players wound up in the end zone.

"This game is an exception," said Rockne. "This may be the only blowout game we're involved in this year."

Notre Dame converted a record 87.5% of its third down plays (14-of-16).

Purdue 28, Oklahoma 20

Drew Brees came out firing and Oklahoma was left lying in the dust in West Lafayette.

Brees completed 14 of 20 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns as the Boilermakers upset the Sooners. Brees completed his first seven passes as Purdue built an early 14-0 lead.

John Standeford and Brian Alford proved to be the main targets for Brees. Both had TD catches in the first half. With its passing game working to near perfection, running backs Otis Anderson and Montrell Lowe kept Oklahoma guessing in the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma hurt itself numerous times. The Sooners committed 12 penalties and threw one interception. Most costly, however, were two lost fumbles inside the Purdue 10-yard line.

"This is a great day for Purdue football," said head coach Joe Tiller. "Hopefully, this is a sign of good times ahead."

Wisconsin 35, Ohio State 21

The fourth quarter belonged to the Badgers.

Wisconsin broke a 14-14 tie by outscoring the Buckeyes 21-7 in the final 15 minutes and pulled away for the home victory.

"We stressed conditioning all off-season," said Badger head coach Barry Alvarez. "Today it paid off."

Four different Wisconsin quarterbacks threw touchdown passes. Wide out Lee DeRamus caught two of those TD tosses. The other scores went to Dwight Smith and Donald Hayes.

Although Ohio State scored in the final minute on a 60-yard TD pass from Art Schlichter to Terry Glenn, it was much too late for the Buckeyes.

"We didn't come to play and that's disappointing," said Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes.

Michigan State 35, Michigan 19

The Spartans completed a day that saw all four AAFL Midwest games won by the home team.

"This wasn't just a rivalry game for us," said Michigan State head coach Duffy Daugherty. "It was a chance to open the year on a positive note."

The Spartans did just that as they converted 11-of-17 third down plays. Lorenzo White led the way with three touchdowns and 54 rushing yards on 11 carries. Plaxico Burress sealed the victory with a late TD catch from Jeff Smoker.

Meanwhile, Michigan played inconsistent football all afternoon. Starting quarterback Tom Brady was just 4-for-11. Although Jim Harbaugh fared better (7-of-9 for 57 yards), he was sacked three times.

"It's back to the drawing board and back to the practice field," said Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler.

Midwest Player of the Week: Drew Brees, Purdue

[sflcat]

Heh! Shades of UM's opening game against Appalachian State

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Seattle--The eyes of Texas are upon us.

A year after losing a special tie-breaker playoff game to Nebraska, the Longhorns opened their 2007 season with a convincing 56-0 shutout of Washington.

"It was uglier than the score indicates," said Washington head coach Don James. "They could have scored 80 or more easy."

The Longhorns raced to a 42-0 halftime lead and rolled up 522 total yards by game's end. Earl Campbell and Rickey Williams each rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown. Vince Young completed his first 10 passes and finished the day with an 11-for-13 performance that resulted in 223 yards and an AAFL-record five touchdowns.

"It felt like I was a pitcher throwing a perfect game," said Young. "The ball was just zinging off my hand."

On defense, Tony Brackens recorded two sacks and Texas held Washington to just 168 yards of offense.

Nebraska 49, Arizona State 21

In last year's opener it took a two-point conversion for the Cornhuskers to win. This year, there was no doubt in the game's outcome by halftime.

"We came out fired up and ready," said Nebraska running back Mike Rozier, who finished the afternoon with 113 yards and four touchdowns.

The Cornhuskers racked up 449 rushing yards while throwing only three passes during the game.

Lawrence Phillips ran for 87 yards, while Tommie Frazier added 68.

Meanwhile, Arizona State lost its ninth straight game in AAFL history. Fred Williams led the Sun Devils with 70 rushing yards and one TD. Quarterback Jake Plummer struggled. He was just 7-for-21 for 96 yards and was sacked three times.

Colorado 56, BYU 28

It's back to the special teams drawing board for BYU.

Colorado's Brian Kelly ran back two kickoffs for touchdowns and finished the game with 216 return yards as the Buffaloes delighted their home crowd with a rousing victory.

"The holes were there for me," said Kelly. "All I had to do was accelerate through them."

Running back Rashaan Salaam rushed for 111 yards on 20 attempts. Lamont Warren and Marcus Houston each scored two touchdowns.

Starting BYU quarterback Ty Detmer was intercepted twice before being benched in favor of Jim McMahon (6-for-6 for 98 yards) and Steve Young (5-for-8 for 78 yards and one TD).

"Colorado beat us in every phase of the game," said Cougar head coach LaVell Edwards.

USC 31, UCLA 14

The Trojans redeemed last fall's opening loss to the Bruins thanks to a big third quarter.

Trailing 14-10, USC reeled off 21 unanswered points en route to the victory. Quarterback Matt Leinart got things rolling with a 77-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams.

"That play ignited us," said USC head coach John McKay. "Everything went our way after that."

Marcus Allen led the Trojans with 70 yards on nine carries while O.J. Simpson scored a pair of touchdowns. Leinart completed 14 of 19 throws for an AAFL-record 381 yards and two touchdowns.

Freeman McNeil was UCLA's top rusher with 48 yards. Troy Aikman and Tommy Maddox each threw a touchdown pass.

West Player of the Week: Matt Leinart, USC

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Hello, again, folks . . .

It's Max Mercy, Jr. back with all the inside information on the All-American Football League. Season two is one week old and already Ole Max has tidbits you need to know.

Let's start out talking about the impact of the rules changes. By far the best and biggest out there is the change that teams are no longer required to play all four rostered quarterbacks in at least one series. Week one showed you the just how big a deal this rule change is. Look at the point totals, passing yardage and TDs tossed that were racked up in the season openers. This is a great change because it always for offensives to get in a rhythm and keep rolling. Fans have long loved offense. This rule is the best thing to come to college football since yours truly (honorable mention to Jenn Sterger).

Michigan-Notre Dame Rematch This Week

A year again Michigan all but had its rivalry game with Notre Dame locked up. The Wolverines led 17-14 with less than half a minute on the clock. Then, it happened.

Quarterback Brady Quinn hit a wide-open Jack Snow with a 68-yard touchdown pass with just 15 seconds left to lift the Fighting Irish to an improbable 21-17 victory over Michigan. Some said it was a blown coverage by the Wolverine secondary. Others said Snow just plain beat the coverage. Whatever the truth, the Irish won their second straight road game en route to a series of improbable wins in 2006 and finished as national champs.

Saturday, the same two teams will match up again. This time the game will be played at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. Ole Max will be there to get all the inside information you loyal readers crave.

Ole Max's prediction: Notre Dame 24, Michigan 20

Ole Max's Big Poll

Here it is, the first showing of Ole Max's Big Poll:

1. Texas--Impressive shutout win in opener
2. Florida State--Stirring victory on the road
3. Nebraska--No need to go for two this time around
4. Penn State--Lions made Pitt look like spit
5. Notre Dame--Rang up gigantic numbers against lousy Illinois team
6. USC--The first win in what will prove to be a successful season
7. Alabama--The Bear has the Tide rolling
8. Clemson--The Tigers hit on all cylinders in rout
9. Colorado--Brian Kelly may be this year's Sklyer Green
10. HBCU--The team is more than just Willie Gallimore

Heisman Hype

It's too early for Ole Max to reveal the Heisman leaders. Check in next week!

This is Max Mercy, Jr. signing off . . .

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The week two schedule for the All-American Football League is as follows:

East
Armed Forces @ Syracuse
Boston College @ Ivy
Clemson @ Pittsburgh
HBCU @ Penn State

South
Alabama @ Tennessee
Auburn @ Florida State
Florida @ LSU
Georgia @ Miami

Midwest
Michigan @ Notre Dame
Ohio State @ Illinois
Oklahoma @ Michigan State
Wisconsin @ Purdue

West
Arizona State @ Washington
BYU @ Texas
Colorado @ USC
Nebraska @ UCLA

[thehatfield]

This is great bb, good job with the images I'm a new reader! Someone did a college basketball dynasty last year that I really enjoyed was that yours too? Either way, KUTGW!

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Originally Posted by Purple Cowboy

This is great bb, good job with the images I'm a new reader! Someone did a college basketball dynasty last year that I really enjoyed was that yours too? Either way, KUTGW!

Purple Cowboy,

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I did an all-time basketball tourney last March. It will likely return again next spring. Thanks again for following.

[batted balls]

Pittsburgh--Clemson head coach Frank Howard gambled and lost Saturday.

Steve Fuller's two-point conversion pass attempt fell incomplete allowing Pitt to hold off No. 8 Clemson 14-13 in All-American Football League East action.

"We put ourselves in a bad spot," said Howard. "You can't just pinpoint the failed conversion."

Fuller and the Tigers struggled all day against a stout Pitt defense. Fuller completed just three of 13 passes. Yet, he did manage to bring the Tigers within a point with a 26-yard touchdown pass with just 1:26 left.

Meanwhile, the Panthers gained their first victory of the season. Held to just 29 rushing yards, Tony Dorsett scored both Pitt touchdowns.

"This is an exciting win for us," said Panther head coach Glenn "Pop" Warner. "Last week we got knocked around pretty good. It's nice to see us show some fight."

Penn State 42, HBCU 7

The fourth-ranked Nittany Lions rolled up 585 yards in total offense as they crushed the No. 10 Titans.

Blair Thomas led Penn State with 85 rushing yards and a touchdown. Larry Johnson added 84 yards and two TDs.

"This was a big game for us," said Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny, who registered 17 tackles and a sack. "HBCU runs the ball so well. We needed to come up big."

The Nittany Lions did just that, holding the Titans in check. Willie Gallimore, last fall's Heisman Trophy winner, gained just 49 yards on seven carries. Emerson Boozer was the leading HBCU rusher with 78 yards on 10 attempts.

Boston College 35, Ivy 28

In the battle of the bird's nest, it was the Eagles from Boston outscoring the Eagles from Ivy.

Doug Flutie went 14-for-23 for 172 yards and two touchdowns for Boston College. Derrick Knight led the Eagles with 60 rushing yards, while Troy Stradford scored twice.

Ivy tied the game at 28 as Ed Marinaro broke free on a 65-yard TD run with 7:17 remaining. However, Flutie led BC on the game-winning drive that culminated with Stradford's second TD.

"Ivy battled us the whole way," said BC head coach Tom O'Brien. "Both teams gave a quality effort today."

Calvin Hill was the top Ivy rusher with 91 yards.

Syracuse 42, Armed Forces 7

The Orangemen made their bid for the Top 10 in grand fashion.

Donovan McNabb threw for 178 yards and a touchdown to lead Syracuse. Ernie Davis was the top ground gainer with 77 yards on 12 carries while Larry Csonka twice scored on TD runs.

"We're a force, that's for sure," said running back Jim Brown. "People are going to hear from us this season."

Glenn Davis led Armed Forces with 64 rushing yards and scored the lone Patriot TD.

Syracuse outgained Armed Forces 466-248 in total offense.

East Player of the Week: Paul Posluszny, Penn State

[batted balls]

Tallahassee, Fla.--Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden isn't afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. So when All-American quarterback Chris Weinke was struggling, Bowden went to his bench.

That move paid dividends as Charlie Ward connected with Lawrence Dawsey on a game-winning 10-yard touchdown pass to lift No. 2 Florida State to a 35-31 comeback victory over Auburn.

"Chris just wasn't himself today," said Bowden. "Charlie gave Auburn something more to think about. In the end, it worked out for us."

Weinke had thrown a career-high three interceptions when Ward entered the game with 2:02 remaining. With the ball on the Seminole 25-yard line and Florida State trailing by three points, Ward led his team downfield for the deciding score.

Florida State All-American receiver Marvin "Snoop" Minnis caught six balls for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

It marked the second straight season that Florida State had edged Auburn in a close game.

"We'll come out on top one of these years," said Tiger running back Bo Jackson, who rushed for 95 yards.

Auburn had built a 31-21 lead with 5:45 left in the game. However, Laveranues Coles got the Seminoles back into the game with a 90-yard kickoff return. That set the stage for Florida State's final drive just minutes later.

Alabama 28, Tennessee 14

Bear Bryant preached turnovers all off-season long.

"We want to inflict them on our opponents and limit them when we have the ball," said the Alabama head coach.

Saturday's game with Tennessee played out well for the seventh-rated Crimson Tide.

After allowing two touchdowns in the first quarter, Alabama shut out the Volunteers the rest of the way. The Crimson Tide defense forced three Tennessee turnovers, while the Alabama offense committed none.

While Peyton Manning managed to complete 10-of-15 throws, the Tennessee quarterback only passed for 127 yards and one touchdown. Alabama sacked Manning four times, twice by E.J. Junior.

Meanwhile, Tide running back Bobby Humphrey scored a pair of touchdowns. Tony Nathan sealed the victory with a 23-yard TD run with 3:31 remaining.

LSU 38, Florida 21

The Tigers mauled the Gators with 538 yards of total offense en route to the one-sided win.

"We didn't stop much of anyone today," said Florida head ball coach Steve Spurrier.

LSU scored on the ground and in the air. Kevin Faulk ran for a pair of TDs while Mark Clayton twice gathered in touchdown passes. Matt Mauck played two series, both of which saw him throw touchdowns.

Although Gator quarterbacks Danny Wuerffel and Kerwin Bell each passed for a touchdown, both were inconsistent for much of the game.

"We may need to go in a new direction soon," said Spurrier.

Georgia 37, Miami 30 (OT)

In a game that saw more lead changes than a NASCAR race, Hershcel Walker's touchdown run decided the outcome.

"Both teams played their hearts out today," said Georgia head coach Vince Dooley. "Miami is vastly improved from a year ago."

Last season, the Hurricanes didn't win a game against South opponents. This year, Miami is within an eyelash of being 2-0.

"That's all good and well, but the bottom line is we didn't win today," said Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson.

Still, the Hurricanes battled back from a 30-17 fourth quarter deficit to force overtime. Carlos Huerta tied the game with a 20-yard field goal with 23 seconds remaining.

After both teams failed to score on their first drives of overtime, Georgia drove 75 yards in eight plays before Walker scored the game-winner on a seven-yard off-tackle run.

"We didn't stop Walker at all that last drive," said Johnson.

Walker gained 34 of his 98 yards on the final possession. Quarterback Eric Zeier also converted key third-down passes twice on the drive.

Zeier finished the game by going 13-of-23 for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Hines Ward caught two of those scores to go along with 153 receiving yards.

Miami quarterback Jim Kelly completed 24-of-41 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once. Alonzo Highsmith led the Hurricanes on the ground with 98 yards and a TD on only six attempts.

South Player of the Week: Marvin "Snoop" Minnis, Florida State

[batted balls]

South Bend--This time around there was no last-ditch Hail Mary miracle to pull out the win. Instead, defending national champion and current No. 5 Notre Dame bombed Michigan 35-7 in a laugher.

"Never in my mind did I think we'd win this easily," said Fighting Irish head coach Knute Rockne.

A season ago, Notre Dame defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor on a 68-yard pass from Brady Quinn to Jack Snow with just seconds remaining on the clock. This time around, Quinn hardly had to throw the ball at all.

Notre Dame rolled up 392 yards, the vast majority of which were on the ground. Allen Pinkett led a balanced Irish running game with 87 yards and two touchdowns. Four other Notre Dame players scored TDs and the Irish hit on 11-of-16 third down conversions.

Winless Michigan stumbled to just 190 total yards, lost two fumbles and passed for just three yards. Chris Perry gained 73 yards on 10 attempts and scored the lone Wolverine TD.

Lineman Kevin Hardy anchored the Irish defense with 14 tackles, a fumble recovery and a deflected pass.

Ohio State 21, Illinois 14

The Buckeyes held off a stubborn Illini team in a closely fought battle.

Tied 14-all at the half, Ohio State scored the game winner as Howard "Hopalong" Cassady plunged over from the two-yard line with 5:45 left in the game.

"Today shows how competitive the Midwest is this year," said Buckeye head coach Woody Hayes.

Tim Spencer and John Brockington scored the other Ohio State touchdowns. Pepe Pearson was the leading rusher with 57 yards on 10 carries.

Shut out in the second half, Illinois was led by Robert Holcombe (42 yards) and Red Grange (39 yards). Tony Eason (5-for-5 for 59 yards) and Jack Trudeau (5-for-12 for 54 yards) split time at quarterback after Jeff George injured his throwing hand early in the game.

Oklahoma 28, Michigan State 21

The Sooners avoided an 0-2 start by rallying past the Spartans in East Lansing.

"We're still not playing well," said Oklahoma head coach Bud Wilkinson. "Too many penalties."

The Sooners were flagged 10 times for 75 yards. Despite that, Oklahoma came back from a 21-14 third quarter deficit to pull out the victory. Billy Vessels, Greg Pruitt, Joe Washington and Billy Sims tallied the Sooner touchdowns.

Michigan State's scores came from Blake Ezor, T.J. Duckett and Gene Washington. While Lorenzo White led the Spartans with 54 rushing yards, he fumbled the ball away on the final drive on the game. Oklahoma's Tommie Harris recovered the ball on the Sooner 25-yard line with just over a minute to play.

"We still have hopes of winning the Midwest title and making the bowl playoffs," said Harris.

Purdue 28, Wisconsin 20

The Boilermakers are the surprise of the early going in the Midwest.

Winners of just two games a season ago, Purdue equaled its victory total with a home triumph over the Badgers.

Although not as sharp as in the season opener, quarterback Drew Brees completed 27-of-39 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns. He was, however, intercepted twice.

"All I care is that we won," said Brees. "That's the bottom line."

Purdue won despite being penalized 10 times for 82 yards. Montrell Lowe rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown. Mike Alstott scored what proved to be the game-deciding TD early in fourth quarter. John Standeford, the nation's leading receiver, caught five passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Wisconsin turned the ball over three times. While Michael Bennett (51 yards) and Brent Moss (50 yards) led the rushing game, Ron Dayne proved to be ineffective (15 yards and a fumble).

Badger quarterback Darrell Bevell threw for a pair of touchdowns, one a 28-yarder to Pat Richter with 37 seconds remaining. Wisconsin's subsequent onside kick attempt failed, thus giving Purdue the victory.

Midwest Player of the Week: Kevin Hardy, Notre Dame

[batted balls]

Los Angeles--The USC Trojans appeared on the brink of the malais that plagued them all last season. Then, Carson Palmer entered the equation.

Palmer took over for a struggling Matt Leinart early in the second quarter and rallied the sixth-ranked Trojans to a come-from-behind 38-35 victory over No. 9 Colorado.

Palmer wound up completing 23-of-33 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns as USC scored a remarkable 24 fourth-quarter points.

"He definitely had the hot hand," said USC head coach John McKay. "Without him, we don't win."

But win they did. After O.J. Simpson scored on a 10-yard touchdown run with just over five minutes left to tie the game at 35, Palmer led the Trojans on a two-minute drill that was near perfection. Palmer completed 5-of-6 throws for 35 yards and LenDale White broke a 14-yard run to set up David Davis' game-winning 26-yard field goal with five seconds remaining.

White led the Trojans with 62 yards rushing. Dwayne Jarrett, Keyshawn Johnson and Johnny Morton all caught TD passes from Palmer.

Clarence Davis led Colorado with 70 yards and two touchdowns. Jeff Campbell ran a punt back 80 yards for a score and Chris Hudson returned an interception 56 yards for a TD.

Nebraska 35, UCLA 27

Third-ranked Nebraska held off a stubborn UCLA Bruin team for a difficult road victory.

"Anytime you win on the road, you're happy," said Cornhusker head coach Tom Osborne.

Mike Rozier led the Nebraska rushing attack with 109 yards and a touchdown. Ahman Green racked up 87 yards and two TDs. Joel Makovicka added 84 yards and a score. In all, the Cornhuskers rang up 426 rushing yards.

Meanwhile, UCLA held its own for much of the game thanks to a pair of TD passes by Troy Aikman. Freeman McNeil and Kermit Johnson scored on touchdown runs.

"We've lost two straight to a pair of very good football teams," said UCLA head coach Terry Donahue. "We've got to regroup and earn a win."

Texas 41, BYU 14

Other Longhorn backs may get the headlines, but Saturday belonged to Hodges Mitchell.

The Texas running back led the No. 1-rated Longhorns to victory by rushing for 111 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries.

"It was quite a day for me," said Hodges. "My line really opened up some massive holes."

When Mitchell wasn't tearing through the BYU defense, Earl Campbell (90 yards) and Rickey Williams (83 yards, one TD) were.

Yet, the Longhorns were again hit heavily by penalty flags. Texas had 11 penalties for 108 yards.

"We've got to get our act together there," said Longhorn head coach Darrell Royal.

Steve Young struggled in his first career start for the Cougars. The left-hander completed just 10 passes in 24 attempts for 128 yards. He was also sacked three times.

Washington 35, Arizona State 7

The Sun Devil losing streak reached double digits as the Huskies ran away with a win in Seattle.

Napoleon Kauffman tallied three touchdowns and Beano Bryant ran back a punt 58 yards for a score. Bryant also rushed for a TD.

"This is a game we're supposed to win," said Bryant. "We put them away early."

Meanwhile, Arizona State Frank Kush is facing a decision with his quarterbacks. Jake Plummer stumbled in his second start of the season. Plummer completed just one pass for six yards and threw an interception.

"Jake's confidence is really suffering at this point," said Kush.

Danny White came on in relief to throw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Keith Poole in the third quarter. White finished the game with a 9-for-17, 91-yard performance.

"It's not exactly Heisman-type numbers, but Danny may be our man next week," said Kush.

In two AAFL seasons, the Sun Devils have yet to win a game.

AAFL West Player of the Week: Carson Palmer, USC