College Football is back tonight!
We've all been there, the day of the first college football game at your Alma Mater (or current university). I can remember my days at Miami U in Oxford (during the Ben Roethlisberger era), and how crazy we got the day of...and day before a game. I remember keg parties and cornhole....5am parties and tailgating on the lawn near the stadium. Do you have any crazy or interesting college traditions? I'd love to hear em. Check in on the show or Email me.

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Final warmup for crucial to some
C. Trent
Sure, it seems useless, but for some players, the final preseason game does actually mean something. No, not guys like Carson Palmer or Chad Johnson, who will be wearing baseball hats instead of helmets, or even T.J. Houshmandzadeh who will play, but for several guys this could be the biggest game (or last) of the season.

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Bengals telecast could get bumped
Enquirer.com
Channel 12, which will broadcast the Bengals-Indianapolis Colts game starting at 7 p.m., will switch to CBS News' Democratic National Convention coverage at 10 p.m. if the game is not over.  The final minutes of the last preseason game would air on Channel 12's sister station, the CinCW, also being called Local 12.2.

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Former UK QB getting his shot tonight against Bengals
Indy Star
With Manning and Sorgi out, much of the attention this evening will focus on Jared Lorenzen and Quinn Gray, who will split time at quarterback. The Colts might break from their tradition of keeping only two QBs on their regular-season active roster and retain a third because of the uncertainty regarding Manning and Sorgi. Lorenzen simply wants to give further evidence that he could handle the offense in a pinch. "I'm not here to be the starting quarterback,'' he said. "I'm not here to be the backup. I'm out there to prove that just in case something God-awful goes wrong, I can step in and run this offense and I'm not going to lose the game."

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UC vs. EKU Game Notes
The University of Cincinnati looks for its fourth-straight win in a season opener when the Bearcats play host to Eastern Kentucky on Thursday, Aug. 28 in Nippert Stadium. The Bearcats have won four-consecutive openers on three other occasions, 1918-21, 1975-78 and 1983-86. The all-time record for consecutive wins in opening games is eight, set
from 1928-35 and 1958-65. Cincinnati opens its season on a Thursday night for third time in the past four years. The first of six non-league contests, the Bearcats are set to face 13 foes during the 2008 regular season.

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Whose town is it anyway?
Paul Daugerty
Who says that by late next Sunday afternoon, this won't be a college football town? Who believes that isn't as crazy as it sounds? Isn't it time to turn perceptions on their collective ear? UC goes to Oklahoma and wins. The Bengals go to Baltimore and don't. The former is less likely than the latter, but not impossible. Ten years ago, who'd have even pondered the scenario? Let's see. In this corner, 17th-ranked team from last year returns 13 starters. In that corner, chronic loser bolsters depleted wide receiver corps with Rap Sheet Man, who can't play until October, if he lasts that long. Over here: charismatic, media-friendly coach whose team overachieves. Over there: grim, media-tolerant coach whose team doesn't.

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Breaking down the Big Ten
Yahoo Sports
1. Ohio State: No other NCAA football team has more to prove in 2008 than the Buckeyes. After two straight BCS Title losses, Jim Tressel’s crew took a lot of heat from the media and fans. With 18 returning starters, the Buckeyes are a top-five ranked team in 2008 and have the title in their sites. The team will rely heavily on tailback Chris Wells to carry the load on offense. Maybe the best power-back they have had since Eddie George, Wells is a Heisman Trophy candidate and should help lead Ohio State to a third outright and fourth overall straight Big Ten title.

2. WIsconsin: Maybe one of the most underrated team in the country, Wisconsin has 17 returning starters and two of the best tight ends in the country in Travis Beckum and Garrett Graham. An end of season bowl loss to Tennessee left a bitter taste in their mouths, but the Badgers are hungry for wins, hoping for their first Big Ten title in almost ten years.

3. Michigan: This may come as a shock to many, but Michigan still should have a decent year, even though they a ton of question marks on offense. Almost zero experience at quarterback, only one returning offensive lineman and their two best wide-receivers from last year now playing in the NFL could only mean bad things for Ann Arbor. Enter Rich Rodriguez… you can say whatever you want about him, but this is a good choice for the Maize and Blue. It will be very interesting to see how Rich Rod’s spread offense will do against some of the defenses of this division. The Wolverines defense should be one of the better ones of the Big Ten.

4. Illinois: The Illini are the upset pick of the Big Ten. Sure, Ron Zook’s crew are fun to watch but I am still not convinced they are better than the three teams above them. Granted, they have a potential star quarterback in Juice Williams (my favorite name since Kirby Dar Dar) and a sure-fire top ten pick in cornerback Vontae Davis, but they still need a couple more years of solid recruiting before they can contend for the title. Watch out for wide-out Arrelious Benn. That kid can flat out motor.

5. Penn State: This has to be JoePa’s last year, right? Look, I am going to keep this simple. Penn State has a lot of talent this year and could easily jump a few teams on this list, but until they get a “new” blood in the coaching staff, they will stay a mediocre team. The injury to Sean Lee did not help their ranking either. Expect Derrick Williams to have a huge senior year and become a Biletnikoff award finalist.

6. Michigan State: Another sleeper team in the Big Ten, the Spartans have a lot of speed and a ton of potential, but it all needs to come together to get them to move up the standings. Losing Devin Thomas to the draft hurt, but tailback Javon Ringer and quarterback Brian Hoyer are two of the best offensive weapons in the Big Ten. An inexperienced offensive and defensive-line could be troublesome, but the Spartans should have enough fire-power to get them into a bowl game.

7. Purdue: In Joe Tiller’s swan song year, the Boilermakers are experienced (13 starters returning) and have a top-flite quarterback in Curtis Painter. The defense is going to have to keep the points down if they want to contend. They gave up an average of 26.5 points a game last season, including 48 points in their bowl win against Central Michigan

8. Northwestern: The Wildcats are due to have their usual “surprising” season, where experts pick them to finish at the bottom of the standings and they emerge as one of the best Big Ten teams, winning eight to ten games. Will it be this year? Only the Wildcats know. They do have some exceptional offensive talent in quarterback C.J. Bacher and tailback Tyrell Sutton. If they offensive-line can hold up, they should at least be in every game this season. An easy non-conference should help their push for a bowl bid.

9. Iowa: What has happened to the Hawkeyes? 12-13 the past two season and losses last season to Iowa State and Western Michigan have the fans in Iowa City looking to Kirk Ferentz to turn things around. If he does not find his touch, you can bet he will be looking for a new position very soon.

10. Indiana: They lost their big wideout in James Hardy, but quarterback Kellen Lewis is back from suspension and could lead an exciting offense. Lack of talent and depth should get the best of this group, but they could bite some teams if they catch them sleeping.

11. Minnesota: They are returning the worst defense in the nation from last season and thanks to the Gophers, Michigan was not the only Big Ten team to lose to a D-I FCS opponent. Those pesky North Dakota State Bison got the best of them last season. At least they are getting a new field soon.

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Maybe the Bengals should give us a "money-back guarantee"
Since they have a waiting list the length on I-75...this probably wouldn't work...but they should offer us, the fans, an opportunity to get our hard-earned / easily spent money back if the Bengals tank it. Maybe that would motivate MIke Brown to get a GM and start winning.

Better yet...a precedent has been set. Thank you Stanford!
The Stanford athletics marketing department has little choice but to take a big chance and hope that the payoff finally comes - first on the football field and then, maybe, in the stands of its sparkling but half-empty stadium. The deal works like this: New season-ticket and new "Family Plan" buyers can ask for the "Gridiron Guarantee," and if unsatisfied with the "entertainment value" at season's end, the cost of the season tickets will be refunded.

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Manning won't play in tonight's game
Indy Star
He might be in uniform for Thursday night’s preseason finale against Cincinnati in Lucas Oil Stadium, but he all but certainly won’t play. He said Tuesday that he planned to be ready for the Colts’ Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears.

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Palmer won't either....obviously
"I mean, I'm healthy, I could play, (it's) just not in the cards this week, I think mainly because we played Saturday and turn around and play again on Thursday," said Palmer, who had a protective brace on his nose and packing in his left nostril. "I just want to be 100 percent and healthy and feeling great going into the Baltimore game."

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TGIT...Cheerleader of the Week
Allison Humbert - Ohio State

Name: Allison Michelle Humbert
School: The Ohio State University
Birthdate: October 12, 1987
Hometown: Green, Ohio
Year: Sophomore
Major: Undecided

1. I love Ohio State, but I almost went to: Kent State

2. My favorite class is: Human Development and Family Sciences.

3. Movies I can't live without: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Dumb & Dumber, RENT, Mean Girls, Radio. I could go on forever!!!

4. Music I can't live without: ALL Country- Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Justin Timberlake, The Beatles...I listen to pretty much anything!!

5. TV shows I can't live without: Grey's Anatomy, ELLEN, Full House, Friday Night Lights

6. One misconception about cheerleaders: That we aren't real athletes. Our season is longer than many other sports and we practice/train just as hard as any other athelete. Not to mention all the injuries cheerleaders have from performing very dangerous skills!

7. My favorite sport is: Basketball & Wrestling. I love the intensity!

8. My favorite professional sports teams are: the Cleveland Cavs & Cleveland Indians

9. My one guilty pleasure is: Coldstone Creamery

10. My best physical feature: my smile :)

11. Strange and unusual fact about me: I used to play the trombone & violin.

12. My friends would be surprised to know that I: used to be obsessed with X-Men & WWF Wrestling when I was younger. (Thanks to my older brother!)

13. Favorite foods: Any kind of pasta, chicken, peanut butter and chips & salsa!

14. Five people I'd like to have dinner with (living or dead): Steve Irwin, Julia Roberts, Ellen DeGeneres, My grandfather Julius Lettrich, and Kelly Ripa.

15. Three people who annoy me: Richard Simmons, Rosie O'Donnell & Andy Dick

16. Next risk I want to take: Scuba-diving! I love the ocean.

17. Typical day: Wake up, class, practice, study, relax with some friends then bed to rest up for the same thing the next day!!

18. I think facial hair on guys is: HOT...but only the scruffy look!

19. If I won the lottery, the first thing I'd buy: Plane tickets to travel around the world! I love vacations!!!

20. Describe the worst date you ever went on: I've been lucky enough to never experience a horrible date!

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ESPN pays $2.25 billion for SEC rights
For those of you UK fans looking for an SEC TV Network...sorry, your SOL. The Southeastern Conference has signed a 15-year deal with ESPN reportedly worth more than $2 billion to televise sporting events, including football and men's and women's basketball. The agreement announced Monday is the longest ESPN has ever signed and matches the length of the powerhouse league's deal with CBS earlier in August. The deal begins with the 2009-10 season and ends the league's look into starting a network to carry its sporting events. ESPN will have rights to every SEC home football game not on the network package and all league matchups will be shown on some outlet, including at least 20 a year on ESPN or ESPN2. That includes two primetime Thursday night matchups and Saturday night games.

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Colts lose center, and we all know how it feels not to have a center
Indy Star
The agent for Jeff Saturday said the Indianapolis Colts center will likely miss the first six weeks of the season and possibly more if he has surgery on ligament damage in his right knee, The Indianapolis Star reported.

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RedHawks open season tonight against SEC foe
Dayton Daily News
The Miami RedHawks are confident about their defense as they begin a season in which they hope to win their second straight Mid-American Conference East Division title and post their first overall winning record in three years. The big play. That's what worries them. On offense.

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LPGA working out details of English proficiency
USA Today
The LPGA tour will use the next four months to create evaluation procedures for its new policy requiring its member golfers to speak English or face suspension. All players who have been on the tour for two years could be suspended if they fail to pass an oral evaluation of their English proficiency starting at the end of the 2009 season. The evaluation will assess communication skills, including conversation. Players will be required to conduct interviews, interact with pro-am partners and fans and give acceptance speeches in English and without the help of an interpreter, according to LPGA deputy commissioner Libba Galloway.

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Chargers' Merriman forgoes surgery to play
ESPN
The surgeon's knife can wait. Shawne Merriman is going to play football, two torn knee ligaments and all. A day after visiting a fourth doctor, the San Diego Chargers outside linebacker decided Wednesday to play this season rather than have his damaged left knee repaired now. "To be as simple as possible, I just want to play football," Merriman said. "That's what it comes down to. I know what's on the table, I know what's on the line. I put a lot of work in this and I want to play."

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Tony Romo's season is cursed
People.com
Happier personally and professionally than she's been in a long time, Jessica Simpson tells PEOPLE that boyfriend Tony Romo is her "perfect guy." "I just told him today, 'You're the love of my life,' " she confesses in the latest cover story. "I don't really ever say that to anybody." Simpson, 28 (as is Dallas Cowboys quarterback Romo), also co-wrote a song for her man, "You're My Sunday," which is featured on her new country album, Do You Know (out Sept. 9). And, in a true modern-day sign of devotion, changed her cell phone number and e-mail address to cut off any potential communication from her exes. "I don't want anybody that's been in my life [before] in my life anymore," she says. "I don't even want them to have any way of contacting me."