And so it begins

As I write this, at 8:15 p.m. Friday, the start of football practice is a little more than 13 hours away.

Friday’s events were an hors d’ouevre for the main course, which starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the AU intramural fields. But Friday wasn’t a complete waste of time.

Twenty scholarship freshmen—everyone except DE Andre Wadley and RB Reggie Hunt—reported Friday. The entire team—including veterans—went through a team meeting Friday afternoon, then the newcomers met with the media. My story has all the most interesting details.

I addressed Wadley’s status in the story linked above; basically, nothing has changed. He’s still recovering from the mysterious illness that was first discovered when he collapsed during a team workout earlier this month. Head coach Tommy Tuberville didn’t speak to reporters Friday, so there’s no official word on Wadley’s status. It’s too early to speculate on anything, but the chances that Wadley will play in 2008—always a long shot, even before his illness—are getting slimmer all the time.

As for Hunt, he’s still waiting for news from the NCAA Clearinghouse. I’ve said it before: Auburn seems to have a guy hung up in the Clearinghouse process every year. In Hunt’s case, he earned his passing score on the last possible ACT testing date, which meant he got a late start on the Clearinghouse process. His transcript also includes a correspondence course, which can cause hangups at the Clearinghouse. He still has plenty of time to be cleared to practice…Auburn has historically waited on guys into the first week of class.

The list of invited walk-ons included some interesting names. Two former Auburn High linemen, Clay Clark and Cameron Hunt, will walk on, along with former Prattville running back Justin Albert (who will play wide receiver, apparently). The most interesting backstory belongs to tight end Bryan Harris, who originally signed with Tennessee-Martin as a punter in 2004, later transferred to Central Missouri State, where he switched to tight end. Now he’s at Auburn, where he’ll have one year of eligibility left and is likely to practice at tight end.

Also, I shot video interviews with three of AU’s incoming freshmen (you’ll have to watch the videos to find out who.) When they’re posted, they’ll be at AuburnVersus.com

Oh, and one more thing: Neiko Lipscomb is now Neiko Thorpe. Get used to it. Hopefully I’ll be able to get an explanation from Neiko on Saturday.

Another step closer to kickoff ...

Hey, it feels good to be making an entry not in my preview series for the first time in two months, but as I’m sure you’re all well aware, the USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll was released today.

Obviously, the polls don’t mean a whole lot until the season actually gets going, but as Auburn fans are all too aware, they mean a lot more than they should.

Here’s the poll:

1. Georgia (22) 11-2 1,438 3
2. Southern California (14) 11-2 1,430 2
3. Ohio State (14) 11-2 1,392 4
4. Oklahoma (3) 11-3 1,329 8
5. Florida (5) 9-4 1,293 16
6. LSU (3) 12-2 1,163 1
7. Missouri 12-2 1,143 5
8. West Virginia 11-2 1,008 6
9. Clemson 9-4 999 22
10. Texas 10-3 979 10
11. Auburn 9-4 888 14t
12. Wisconsin 9-4 747 21
13. Kansas 12-1 714 7
14. Texas Tech 9-4 644 23
15. Virginia Tech 11-3 568 9
16. Arizona State 10-3 560 13
17. Brigham Young 11-2 547 14t
18. Tennessee 10-4 506 12
19. Illinois 9-4 422 18
20. Oregon 9-4 399 24
21. South Florida 9-4 350 NR
22. Penn State 9-4 313 25
23. Wake Forest 9-4 203 NR
24. Michigan 9-4 112 19
25. Fresno State 9-4 91 NR
Others receiving votes:
Alabama (7-6) 83; South Carolina (6-6) 64; Utah (9-4) 60; Florida State (7-6) 53; Rutgers (8-5) 53; Boston College (11-3) 47; California (7-6) 41; Pittsburgh (5-7) 34; Boise State (10-3) 25; Oregon State (9-4) 23; Nebraska (5-7) 17; Cincinnati (10-3) 13; Virginia (9-4) 12; Connecticut (9-4) 9; Michigan State (7-6) 9; Mississippi State (8-5) 6; Kentucky (8-5) 5; Notre Dame (3-9) 5; TCU (8-5) 5; Maryland (6-7) 4; North Carolina (4-8) 3; Texas A&M (7-6) 3; UCLA (6-7) 3; Central Florida (10-4) 2; Georgia Tech (7-6) 2; Louisville (6-6) 2; Arizona (5-7) 1; Colorado (6-7) 1; Oklahoma State (7-6) 1; Tulsa (10-4) 1.

Just a few thoughts:

1. I can’t remember a year in which the first place votes were so spread out. It just speaks to a lot of the uncertainty heading into the season. Most would agree that Georgia is probably the most talented team coming back, but they have the toughest schedule in the history of the world. Ohio State looks great, but they have to play at USC. USC looks good, but they’re a tiny bit on the reloading side. Oklahoma looks unstoppable, but they’re choke artists. And then there’s Florida.

2. It’s unfathomable to me that anyone could actually put Michigan in their Top 25. The Wolverines won’t lose as many games as they actually should this year, and will probably finish there, but they don’t deserve to be there right now.

3. I can’t believe more people aren’t high on Wake Forest. The Deacons are looking strong this year, and the schedule works out perfectly for them to win at least 10, maybe even 11 games.

4. If you look at the end of the “Also Receiving Votes” category, you’ll notice a conspicuous absence. Steve Spurrier has given Duke a No. 25 vote in his opening ballot every year for more than a decade, but for some reason decided not to this year. He had always given them that vote since they gave him his start in coaching. Anybody know why he reversed course this year?

More Top 25 thoughts will come once the AP poll is released in a couple weeks, and probably a column as well.

So much for “nobody believed in us”

Heading into my fifth season of covering Auburn football, one thing’s for sure: The Tigers—and their coaches—love it when they can say “we were underrated” or “nobody thought we could do it.“ Unfortunately, that’s rarely an option, as Auburn has finished in the top 15 each of the past four seasons.

It’s more of the same today, as Auburn—picked to win the SEC West at Media Days—is ranked 11th nationally in the preseason coaches’ poll, released today. AU, which tied for 14th in the final coaches’ poll of 2007, received 888 points, well ahead of 12th-place Wisconsin and well behind 10th-place Texas. (For the compare-and-contrast set, Alabama leads “others receiving votes,“ with 83 points.)

Lots and lots of familiar names on the panel; do they ever shake this thing up? Most of these guys have had votes in the poll for the past decade. I’ve bolded names of interest:

The USA TODAY Board of Coaches is made up of 61 head coaches at Division I-A institutions. All are members of the American Football Coaches Association. This season’s board: Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech; Mike Bellotti, Oregon; Bret Bielema, Wisconsin; Bobby Bowden, Florida State; Tommy Bowden, Clemson; Art Briles, Baylor; Mack Brown, Texas; Neil Callaway, Alabama-Birmingham; Gene Chizik, Iowa State; Mario Cristobal, Florida International; Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State; Mark Dantonio, Michigan State; Butch Davis, North Carolina; Todd Dodge, North Texas; Randy Edsall, Connecticut; Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee; Jeff Genyk, Eastern Michigan; Turner Gill, Buffalo; Joe Glenn, Wyoming; Todd Graham, Tulsa; Jim Grobe, Wake Forest; Dan Hawkins, Colorado; Pat Hill, Fresno State; Butch Jones, Central Michigan; Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville; Mike Leach, Texas Tech; Jim Leavitt, South Florida; Rocky Long, New Mexico; Bill Lynch, Indiana; Doug Martin, Kent State; Urban Meyer, Florida; Les Miles, LSU; Shane Montgomery, Miami (Ohio); Hal Mumme, New Mexico State; Rick Neuheisel, UCLA; Tom O’Brien, North Carolina State; George O’Leary, Central Florida; Gary Patterson, TCU; Bo Pelini, Nebraska; Chris Petersen, Boise State; Gary Pinkel, Missouri; Mike Price, Texas-El Paso; Mark Richt, Georgia; Mike Riley, Oregon State; Rich Rodriguez, Michigan; Greg Schiano, Rutgers; Howard Schnellenberger, Florida Atlantic; Mark Snyder, Marshall; Frank Solich, Ohio; Steve Spurrier, South Carolina; Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee; Jeff Tedford, California; Joe Tiller, Purdue; Bob Toledo, Tulane; Dick Tomey, San Jose State; Jim Tressel, Ohio State; Tommy Tuberville, Auburn; Charlie Weis, Notre Dame; Kyle Whittingham, Utah; Tyrone Willingham, Washington; Ron Zook, Illinois.

So seven SEC head coaches have votes, along with three notable former SEC names and three non-SEC coaches whose teams played Auburn last year.

2008 Previews: N.C. State

We go to N.C. State for preview No. 54. Previews of all 65 BCS conference schools, plus Notre Dame and state schools, will be posted daily in no particular order. To view all previews, click here.

There might not be a single coach praying more for good health than Tom O’Brien right now.

The second-year Wolfpack head coach returns a team with a fair amount of talent on the front line but absolutely nothing behind them.

10 starters are back, but numerous players who missed last season with knee injuries return, so there is a fair amount of experience with the starters virtually everywhere but the offensive line.

If the injury bug bites, this team is going nowhere.

But it doesn’t look very good for NCSU anyway.

You may recall that Syracuse hasn’t found a decent quarterback since Donovan McNabb graduated, and the Wolfpack have found themselves in a similar predicament since Phillip Rivers’ last season in 2003.

This year, either underwhelming senior Daniel Evans, semi-flashy redshirt freshman Russell Wilson or highly-touted true freshman Mike Glennon will get the call, but none are a particularly good bet for right now.

There is plenty of talent at running back and wide receiver, but it might not matter if the offensive line, which returns three starters but is having to shuffle people all over the place, doesn’t jell.

Defensively, only four starters return, but the Wolfpack has been pretty solid in that regard for most of this decade. As long as they stay healthy, they’ll be able to hold their own.

Here’s the schedule:

Aug. 28: at South Carolina
The last time these two teams met, it was Lou Holtz’s first game at SC and it was pouring down raining and was one of the most boring games I’ve ever seen. This one probably won’t be all that different, although I can’t speak for the weather.

Sept. 6: William & Mary
The only way this could be easier is if William decides to sit out.

Sept. 13: at Clemson
The Tigers should run circles around the Pack.

Sept. 20: East Carolina
The Pirates are one of the favorites in Conference USA, and this will be a tough out for N.C. State.

Sept. 27: South Carolina
These two met in the Car Care Bowl a couple years back, with NCSU taking a 14-0 win. Somebody might get shut out this time, but it won’t be USF.

Oct. 4: Boston College
O’Brien takes on his old team for the second time. He might have a chance to win this one.

Oct. 16: Florida State
Carter-Finley Stadium has been a house of horrors for FSU (they’re 2-3 there since 1998 with some horrific upsets). But they should be able to come through unscathed this time around.

Oct. 25: at Maryland
The Terps knocked N.C. State out of bowl contention last year in Raleigh. Things probably won’t be much better in College Park.

Nov. 8: at Duke
These old rivals meet for the first time in five years, and the Wolfpack should go right back to beating the pants off them.

Nov. 15: Wake Forest
The Deacons make it four in a row.

Nov. 22: at North Carolina
N.C. State beat the Tar Heels last year, but I don’t see them repeating it.

Nov. 29: Miami
This is certainly a winnable game. It’ll be cold, the Canes aren’t very good and if they start mailing it in like they did last year all bets are off. But Miami should be able to win this one.

This squad is probably a little better than last year’s 5-7 team, but the schedule won’t allow them to show it. I’m calling for 4-8.