| Their were a total of 23 schools which entered the | | | | visit to Ohio U. In Temple, the Bison face a team |
| 2005 season with new head coaches last year (see | | | | which went 0-11 last year and will bring a 12-game |
| Wednesday's Notes in the archives on how they | | | | losing streak into the game and Ohio is coached by |
| fared). There were only 10 new hires this year but | | | | Frank Solich. Solich is a former Nebraska player and |
| then with the tragic death of Northwestern's Randy | | | | long-time assistant plus was the team's head coach |
| Walker over the summer, this year's "coaching | | | | from 1998 through 2003 and Gill worked as one of |
| carousel" grew to 11. In a special weekend edition of | | | | his assistants during that time. |
| Ness Notes, I'll preview all 11 schools and coaches. | | | | Colorado (Dan Hawkins): Hawkins spent the last five |
| The 23 coaching changes of last year broke down | | | | years at Boise State compiling an impressive 53-10 |
| like this. There were 10 schools bringing in coaches | | | | mark. His .841 winning percentage is No. 1 among |
| with previous experience and 13 schools which were | | | | active coaches and his 53 wins are fourth-most ever |
| giving their 'guys' their first head coaching job at the | | | | by a coach in his first five seasons at a major school. |
| Division I-A level. Among this year's group of 11 | | | | He dominated the WAC while at Boise, going 37-3 |
| changes, just two schools have hired guys with | | | | and winning four league titles. |
| previous head coaching experience. | | | | He takes over a Colorado team which has won three |
| The short list includes Dan Hawkins, who left Boise | | | | Big-12 North titles in the last four seasons but one |
| State to take the Colorado job and Dennis Erickson, | | | | which has nowhere near the talent of Big-12 South |
| who's had numerous college and NFL jobs (most | | | | powers Texas and Oklahoma. Hawkins is a great hire |
| recently as the 49ers head coach) and this year | | | | but he has just five returning starters on offense |
| makes a return visit to Idaho (coached there from | | | | and anywhere from six to eight on defense. The |
| 1982-85). What follows is this year coaching changes, | | | | Buffs open with Montana State but then face |
| listed alphabetically by school. | | | | Colorado State on September 9. |
| Boise State (Chris Peterson): Peterson has been | | | | The favorite in this game is just 1-9 ATS the last 10 |
| Boise's OC the last five years and he's been an | | | | years and it's back at a neutral site (Invesco Field) |
| integral part of a team that's averaged 41.3 PPG | | | | after two consecutive years of playing in Boulder |
| during that span, including an impressive 48.9 PPG in | | | | (Colorado won both games by three points in |
| 2004. While the school's best-known as a passing | | | | non-covers). Colorado visits Georgia on September 23 |
| team, it should be noted that the Broncos have | | | | (Hawkins took Boise there last year and lost 48-13!) |
| ranked in the top-25 nationally in rushing yards for | | | | plus plays in Norman on October 21 and Lincoln on |
| three of the last four years. Boise saw two 31-game | | | | November 24. |
| winning streaks end in last year's 9-4 (6-5-1) season. | | | | Idaho (Dennis Erickson): Erickson is just 40-56 in six |
| It's 31-game WAC winning streak ended on | | | | seasons as an NFL head coach (four years with the |
| November 12 at Fresno State (27-7) and the school's | | | | Seahawks and two with the 49ers). However, he's |
| 31-game home winning streak ended in the MPC | | | | 145-56-1 in the college ranks with stops in Idaho, |
| Bowl, when Boston College held on the beat the | | | | Wyoming, Washington State, Miami and Oregon |
| Broncos on their famed "Blue Turf", 27-21. Since | | | | State. He won two national titles in Miami and led |
| 1999, the Broncos are 45-2 SU at home and 30-11 | | | | Oregon State to an 11-1 season and BCS Bowl (41-9 |
| ATS. Looking ahead to this year's schedule, Boise | | | | Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame) in 2000. |
| opens at home on a Thursday night with Oregon | | | | In his second tour of duty at Idaho, he takes over a |
| State (note: Boise is 1-10 SU and 2-6-1 ATS all-time | | | | team that's gone 11-47 these last five years and |
| vs Pac-10 schools). | | | | 23-29-2 ATS. Erickson has wanted to get back in the |
| Other tough spots will be at Utah on 9/30, a home | | | | college ranks since being fired by the 49ers in 2004 |
| rematch with Fresno State on November 1 (prior to | | | | but many schools shied away because of his past |
| LY's loss, Boise was 4-0 SU and ATS vs Fresno since | | | | problems with the NCAA. However, this was a |
| 2001, outscoring them 166-84)and at Nevada on | | | | "no-brainer" for Idaho, which brings in a "big-name" |
| November 21 (Wolf Pack tied with Boise for last | | | | coach. Erickson will take his Vandals to Pullman on |
| year's WAC title at 7-1 and have gone 10-2 SU at | | | | September 9 to face Washington State (he coached |
| home in 2004 and 2005). There's little reason to | | | | there from 1987-88) and to Corvallis on September |
| believe that the Broncos will miss a beat with | | | | 23 to play Oregon State (1999-2002). |
| Peterson in charge. | | | | Middle Tennessee State (Rick Stockstill): Stockstill has |
| Buffalo (Turner Gill): Gill spent 17 years at Nebraska | | | | been a 17-year assistant at the Division I-A level, 14 |
| as its QB (three years) and then in various roles as | | | | years at Clemson (under Danny Ford, Ken Hatfield, |
| an assistant. The Cornhuskers record during that time | | | | Tommy West and Tommy Bowden). He's spent the |
| was 176-38. So Buffalo will certainly be a "shock to | | | | last two years at South Carolina, under Lou Holtz and |
| the system." The Bison joined Division I-A in 1999 and | | | | Steve Spurrier. He takes over a team that many felt |
| have won a total of just 10 games, never winning | | | | was as talented as any team in the SBC last year |
| more than two MAC games in any year. After an | | | | but the Blue Raiders went just 4-7. In fact, the team |
| 0-11 1999 season, the team won twice in 2000 and | | | | is just 17-29 (21-23) the last four years. |
| three time in 2002 before going a combined 5-41 | | | | The team hung tough at both Alabama and North |
| (18-25-1) these last four seasons. | | | | Carolina State last year and went into Vanderbilt and |
| Last year's 1-10 team (6-5 ATS) averaged a meager | | | | beat the Commodores 17-15, a loss that kept Vandy |
| 10 PPG while allowing 29.7 PPG. However that total | | | | from its first bowl bid since 1982. Nine offensive |
| was down from the three previous seasons, in which | | | | starters return and I wouldn't be surprised if the Blue |
| the defense allowed 31.9, 37.1 and 34.7 PPG. Turner | | | | Raiders posted their first winning record since going |
| will be installing new schemes on both sides of the | | | | 8-3 in 2001. However, the Blue Raiders may have to |
| ball this year and has the second-fewest returning | | | | pull off an upset in one of these games to pull that |
| starters of any MAC team, so don't expect too | | | | off. They are at Maryland (9/9), at Oklahoma (9/23), |
| much more from Buffalo this year. | | | | in Nashville to meet Louisville (10/6) and at South |
| Two games of note are the team's opener on | | | | Carolina (11/18). |
| August 31 at home vs Temple and an October 21 | | | | Part 2 will follow on Sunday. |