College Football Previews for Week 10

Let’s give you the press releases hyping the action for Saturday in the world of college football. There are quite a few so let’s get cracking.

ESPN’s College Gameday will be live from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO to kick off Veterans Week on the Alleged Worldwide Leader.

College GameDay at Air Force: F-16 Flyover, Veteran-themed Features and Wired Elements and More Highlight Veterans Salute Show

This Saturday’s College GameDay (10 a.m. on ESPN) will originate from the Army at Air Force matchup in Colorado Springs, Colo., as part of ESPN’s weeklong America’s Heroes: A Salute to Our Veterans and will feature veteran-themed elements throughout the two-hour program.

The program — hosted by Chris Fowler with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard – will open with a message from President Barack Obama and an F-16 flyover. Show elements include:

• Three features about athletes with military backgrounds:

• Bryan Logsdon: The West Virginia red-shirt sophomore fullback and tight end was a typical military child, attending three high schools while his father was in the Navy. He played basketball in high school, but not football. Soon after graduation in 2000, Logsdon joined the Navy and served as a cryptologic maintenance technician on the USS Normandy and the USS Enterprise. He also saw combat duty and multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf during Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Logsdon received an honorable discharge after six years, enrolled at West Virginia and became part of the West Virginia National Guard. Logsdon made the team as a walk-on this year after not making it in 2007.

• Brandon Crawford: the Ball State fifth-year senior defensive end, who turned 33 in August and is older than five Ball State assistants, is second in tackles for loss and sacks on the team. Crawford worked in an automobile factory right out of high school before joining the Marines in 1999, when he went to Military Occupational Specialties school and was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina. He was honorably discharged in 2003, enrolled at Ball State in the summer of 2004 and went home in fall of that year. Crawford returned to Ball State in 2006, and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2008.

• Alejandro Villanueva: The West Point senior cadet was raised in Europe and first played American football in his sophomore year at an American military high school in Belgium. He came to West Point when a teammate told Army football recruiters about his 6-foot-10 colleague. Villanueva has played numerous positions at West Point, including defensive tackle, defensive end, offensive guard and offensive tackle. In spring practices, new head coach Rich Ellerson took one look at Villanueva and decided to make him the tallest wide receiver in major college football. It has been a learning experience for everyone involved.

• Guest picker: Lt. Col. Scott Thomas, who had to eject himself from his plane when it went down over Iraq during Desert Storm and had to evade Iraqi troops for hours until his rescue by U.S. forces, will be on the set during the show’s final segment to provide his game winners for that day. Thomas was an All-America defensive back at Air Force on the 1985 team that finished No. 5 in the polls after going 12-1 and beat Texas in Bluebonnet Bowl. Thomas is currently in the Air Force reserves and trains pilots at Sheppard Air Force base in Texas.

• Wired: Two coaches with ties to the military will be wired with a microphone, and each will provide an up-close look at his respective program and discuss military aspects of the programs:

• Rick Trickett, Florida State offensive line coach, explains how what he learned in the Marines has translated to the football field as well as how much of Florida State’s offensive success comes from the play of the offensive live.

• Ken Niumatalolo, Navy head coach, talks about life and football at a military academy, and his team’s preparation to contain Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen and the high-powered Irish offense this Saturday.

• Delivery of the mascot headgear: Air Force jumpers will parachute down with the mascot headgear Lee Corso will don to illustrate the team he is picking to win the Army-Air Force game.

• “Football at the Academy:” A vignette narrated by Tom Rinaldi will provide viewers with a sense of what it’s like to play football at one of the military academies.

ESPN’s salute to Veterans Day includes several events to be aired throughout the week. On Sunday, Nov. 8, Sunday NFL Countdown will air the first television interview with Marie Tillman, widow of former NFL player Pat Tillman who was killed in Afghanistan. Mrs. Tillman will also appear live on Monday Night Countdown from Denver before the Steelers-Broncos Monday Night Football game Nov. 9. Additional events are planned throughout the week.

To NBC and its coverage of Navy-Notre Dame on Saturday at the early time of 2:30 p.m.

#22 NOTRE DAME HOSTS NAVY IN NATION’S LONGEST CONTINUOUS INTERSECTIONAL RIVALRY THIS SATURDAY ON NBC SPORTS

“The Navy game is always one of my favorites. Navy is always outmanned, but seems to make this a close game.” - Haden

NEW YORK – Nov. 5, 2009 – The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (6-2; #22 BCS) will renew their storied rivalry with Navy (6-3), the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in college football, this Saturday on NBC Sports.

Co
verage begins at 2:30 pm ET from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. with Tom Hammond handling play-by-play duties, Pat Haden providing analysis and Alex Flanagan reporting from the sidelines.

HADEN ON THE MATCHUP: "This is a difficult week to be Buddy Green, Navy's defensive coordinator, as Notre Dame will see the return of wide receiver Michael Floyd, who is returning from injury. He was leading the country in yards per catch and adds to a talent-filled receiving corps of Golden Tate, who is playing sensationally, and Kyle Rudolph. The Navy game is always one of my favorites. Navy is always outmanned, but seems to make this a close game. The last time the Midshipmen played at Notre Dame, they broke a 43-year losing streak. These are great kids, future leaders, who play with as much energy and passion as you will see anywhere, anytime."

NOTRE DAME-NAVY MATCHUP: Notre Dame and Navy will meet for the 83rd consecutive year, making the matchup the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in college football. The first game in the series was a 19-6 Notre Dame win on October 15, 1927 at Baltimore. Notre Dame holds a 71-10-1 (.872) edge in the matchup, including last year's 27-21 win at Baltimore. In 2007, Navy broke a string of 43 consecutive Notre Dame victories.

Notre Dame is coming off a 40-14 win at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas over Washington State in the first in a series of annual off-site home games. Navy lost to Temple, 27-24, at home.

USS NEW YORK: NBC Sports will highlight the newest member of the U.S. Navy's fleet, the USS NEW YORK, a San Antonio-class LPD warship, during its coverage of Saturday's game. The USS NEW YORK's bow, forged from 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, embodies the strength and determination of the people of New York - to recover, to rally, and to take the fight to the enemy. The ship will be commissioned on Saturday in New York. NBC Sports will also cover the Notre Dame marching band performing the National Anthem live.

To FSN and quotage and picks from its SEC Gridiron Live show.

SEC Gridiron LIVE – Week Ten

In Case You Missed It:

SEC Gridiron LIVE “went Hollywood” on the set of the upcoming movie The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw and featuring several former and current SEC head football coaches. The cast shared their thoughts on the coaches’ acting skills and talked SEC football.

Lou Holtz on acting

“Well you just try to be yourself. Fortunately I didn’t have to play anyone except Lou Holtz, and I do a fair job of impersonating him.”

Sandra Bullock on the coaches’ acting skills

“They were so good at what they did it was a little creepy. They all talk loud; I think that’s just from barking orders on the field. They all have an intensity, even if they come in really sweet; they have this steely-eyed glaze. But they were good men who stepped in and were fantastic on screen. And it made me a little jealous that the coaches could just step in and become actors, and did it really, really well.”

Tim McGraw on who will be in the SEC Championship

“I think Alabama has a chance to beat Florida in the championship game. But don’t be surprised if LSU sneaks in there. I think that LSU’s just a team of athletes. And when you’ve got a great bunch of athletes like LSU does, you can win at any given time and beat anybody. I think it’s going to be Alabama – Florida for the championship game but I wouldn’t be surprised if LSU sneaks in there.”

They Said It:

David Pollack on how LSU can beat Alabama

“LSU’s offense – we know the struggles they’ve had. But Alabama’s defense is so good, the way you have to be successful; you have to keep them off balance. You have to throw the ball, Jordan Jefferson, successfully down the field.”

Charles Davis on Tennessee wearing black jerseys against South Carolina

“As an alum I wasn’t crazy about the idea. But we have to keep remembering it’s not for us, it’s for the kids. And that’s what excited them and it worked out really well. It was the first time they’ve been in a black j
ersey since 1921.”

David Pollack on what Georgia needs to do moving forward

“You’ve got to put your best foot forward. These seniors deserve the right for everybody to be focused and go out with some wins and go out to a bowl game at least and keep the bowl game streak alive.”

SEC Gridiron LIVE names the Top 5 “Remaining Games We Can’t Wait To See”

5. Florida @ South Carolina

4. LSU @ Ole Miss

3. Alabama @ Auburn/Ole Miss @ Mississippi State

2. LSU @ Alabama

1. SEC Championship

Panel Picks:

Match up/ Analyst	Tennessee Tech @ Georgia	North Arizona @ Ole Miss	Eastern Kentucky @ Kentucky	Furman @ Auburn
Charles	Georgia	Ole Miss	Kentucky	Auburn
Randy	Georgia	Ole Miss	Kentucky	Auburn
David	Georgia	Ole Miss	Kentucky	Auburn

Match up/ Analyst	Memphis @ Tennessee	South Carolina @ Arkansas	Vanderbilt @ Florida	LSU @ Alabama
Charles	Tennessee	Arkansas	Florida	LSU
Randy	Tennessee	South Carolina	Florida	LSU
David	Tennessee	South Carolina	Florida	Alabama

Social Media Sound Off:

In response to the Thumb It In question – “Who will be the star of the LSU vs. Alabama game?”

· Mark Fernandez: I think LSU’s defense will shut down Bama’s offense, but the surprising star will be the LSU offense finally showing signs of life.

· Adam Walker: I think Alabama’s offense will be the star. They have had 2 weeks to prepare for LSU and this game McElroy will throw for close to 200 yards and Bama will show their offensive spark from early in the season.

Joshua Jarreau: LSU will win; Bama can’t throw and LSU has the defense that can slow down Mark Ingram; LSU’s offense is starting to click and the defense isn’t letting anyone score against them; LSU will win 21-17!!! GEAUX!!!! TIGERS!!!!

Dennis King: Mark (Ingram) it down, Bama whips LSU on both ends of the field. The only time it’ll be close is the opening kick-off and then Bama pulls away. They are rested and ready and will play like champions because they know what’s at stake. It’s now, it’s real it’s Alabama football. ROLL TIDE.

SEC Gridiron LIVE presented by O’Charley’s airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET throughout the college football season to more than 24 million cable and satellite households on the FSN regional networks throughout the SEC territory – FOX Sports South, Sun Sports, FOX Sports Houston and FOX Sports Southwest. SEC Gridiron LIVE is hosted by Charles Davis with analyst Randy Cross and David Pollack and social media reporter Cassidy Hubbarth.

CBS has the SEC Game of the Week and it’s LSU at Alabama.

“THE SEC ON CBS”

FEATURES SEC WEST SHOWDOWN ON SATURDAY, NOV. 7 AS

NO. 9-RANKED LSU TAKES ON NO. 3-RANKED ALABAMA

CBS Sports’ national coverage of the SEC “Game of the Week” continues on Saturday, Nov. 7 (3:30 PM, ET), with *No. 9-ranked LSU taking on SEC Western Division foe, undefeated and *No. 3-ranked Alabama.

The CBS Television Network’s lead college football announce team of Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson call the action live from Bryant-Denny Stadium i
n Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tracy Wolfson serves as lead reporter. Craig Silver, the Network’s coordinating producer of college football, produces and Steve Milton directs. CBS Sports’ broadcast of LSU-Alabama also will be broadcast in high definition.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY, the Network’s pre-game, halftime and post-game studio show, starts the day on CBS Sports (3:00 PM, ET) with host Tim Brando, along with analysts Spencer Tillman and Archie Manning. COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY will keep viewers updated on all the games throughout the afternoon with scores and highlights. Vin DeVito produces and Linda Malino directs. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

CBS College Sports Network’s SEC TAILGATE show is live from the University of Alabama’s campus prior to the game. This week’s show originates in front of Doster Hall adjacent to the quad on the Southeast corner of Colonial Drive and University Boulevard. Former University of Alabama All-American defensive tackle Marty Lyons joins CBS College Sports Network as a guest analyst. In addition, CBS Sports’ golf analyst/on-course reporter David Feherty visits the show this week. Veteran SEC announcer Dave Baker hosts SEC TAILGATE and is joined by CBSSports.com’s Lauren Shehadi and CBSSports.com senior college football writer Dennis Dodd. Sam Ryan anchors coverage from New York with former Tennessee Head Coach Phillip Fulmer and Brian Jones serving as analysts.

The LSU-Alabama game will be streamed live and free of charge on CBSSports.com. Each week CBS Sports’ “SEC Game of the Week” is available exclusively on CBSSports.com and also can be accessed through a link on the websites of all CBS affiliates.

And here’s CBS College Sports’ schedule for Saturday.

CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK’S FOOTBALL ACTION FEATURES ARMY AT AIR FORCE AND NO. 13 HOUSTON AT TULSA

CBS College Sports Network continues its slate of college football action with two games this weekend. On Saturday, Nov. 7 (3:30 PM, ET) CBS College Sports Network features Army at Air Force from Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. Play-by-play announcer Dave Ryan teams with analyst Jason Sehorn to call the action.

The Network then broadcasts a Conference USA match-up as *No. 13-ranked Houston takes on Tulsa in primetime (7:30 PM, ET). Tom Hart and analyst Aaron Taylor announce.

INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL LIVE (3:00 – 3:30 pm, ET) brings fans the latest scores and highlights. Immediately following the Houston – Tulsa game, INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL EXTRA (11:00 – 11:30 PM, ET) wraps up the day’s action with news and analysis. Adam Zucker hosts, along with analysts Brian Jones and Phillip Fulmer.

* AP Poll as of 11/2/09

That’s your college football preview for this week.