College Football

By B.G. BROOKS
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Some have questioned, but none ever doubted, Joe Paterno's staying power as Penn State's football coach.

Now give 79-year-old JoePa kudos for toughness _ and also for listening to his doctors.

By JIM BENTON
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Beau Morgan and Steve Pipes know what is going through the minds of Air Force football players this week.

The Falcons (4-4) are 11 1/2-point underdogs heading into Saturday's sold-out game against No.

By BERRY TRAMEL
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is rethinking his stance on an expanded college football playoff. I'm with you, Bob.

I've lost all patience with pollsters who count a victory over Louisiana-Monroe the same as a victory over UCLA.

By GEORGE SCHROEDER
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Took a poll the other day. Seemed like the thing to do, considering the time of year.

Among likely Heisman voters, I found no surprises _ if the election were held today, Ohio State's Troy Smith would be the runaway winner.

By SCOTT OSTLER
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
There is a proud tradition among Cal quarterbacks of the Jeff Tedford Era, and when it was Nate Longshore's turn he didn't want to screw it up.

Longshore would be stepping into the shoes of Aaron Rodgers, who learned to do the job beautifully and whose work came to be greatly admired.

By CHIP SCOGGINS
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Michigan State football coach John L. Smith, embattled for much of the past two seasons, received the inevitable news last week that his turbulent four-year tenure was over.

By JOHN TUCKER
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
If ever there were a college football season to make you believe pipe dreams can come true, this is it.

Whoever could have imagined:

_ Louisville AND Rutgers in the national championship hunt, while perennial title contenders Miami and Florida State fight for bowl eligibility with 5-4 records?

-_Wake Forest, Maryland and Georgia Tech displacing ACC heavyweights Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech as the frontrunners for the conference title.

By RON HIGGINS
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Bret Smith is a senior wide receiver for Tennessee who never really says much.

He doesn't talk about what he's going to do. Or blabber on and on when he does something.

By JIM BENTON
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Shaun Carney is an Irish Catholic and he's proud of it.

The Air Force junior quarterback has a tattoo of a leprechaun, along with an Irish flag on his right calf to celebrate his heritage.

By RON HIGGINS
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Louisville of the Big East Conference is ranked No. 3 in the Bowl Championship Series standings and is unbeaten heading into tonight's game at Rutgers.