Finally, the football regular season is here. High schools and colleges have already begun, and now the NFL jumps in this weekend. The best part is that the NFL Network will actually allow for some games to be shown over the air to you the football fan not paying the premium of subscription service. For Panthers fans, Mick Mixon, Eugene Robinson and me will bring you all the action on Newstalk 1110 WBT in Charlotte and along the Carolina Panthers radio network.
The Panthers open at St. Louis in a match of two teams who were 8-8 last season. The Panthers played their final pre-season game against the 8-8 Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL is loaded with the teams that are right in the middle of the pack, and ready to either step up or remain in mediocrity. Then there are the select few who seem to just wallow in despair and top the college draft each season. They are known as the Oakland Raiders. Usually, I would add the Detroit Lions, but this year they should finally show up.
As for the Panthers, I am asked often about how they project. And having broadcast every single game in franchise history, I can give you a firm, I dunno. In reality, I like what John Fox and Marty Hurney and their staff have assembled. Offensively, the key will be the development of a true receiving compliment to Steve Smith. Defensively, more bodies are being thrown into the secondary positions with the additions of Marquand Manuel and Dante Wesley, with Chris Harris added a few weeks earlier. If that pans out, the front seven with the additions of Dan Morgan and Jon Beason at linebacker will be exceptional.
Speaking of high school and college earlier, Independence High School in Charlotte saw their record 109 game winning streak come to an end this weekend in Ohio versus Cincinnati Elder. Congratulations to Coach Tommy Knotts, who oversaw most of those victories over seven years for an incredibile run.
And of course, there's Appalachian State with their remarkable victory at 5th ranked Michigan becoming the first Division I-AA team to knock off an AP Top-25 team, let alone top-5 in front of 109,000 hostiles. One of the best parts was that 600 miles away from Ann Arbor, Michigan in Boone they were tearing down their own goalposts.
Great to see you plunge into the world of blogging. My only question is when do you find time to sleep?!
Posted by: John Bailey | September 07, 2007 at 05:01 PM