On With the Show: 10 Observations From Opening Night

"Overture, curtains, lights/This is it, the night of nights ... "

Sorry, caught myself channeling Bugs Bunny. Just as Versus analyst Kelly Stouffer channeled Bugs' nemesis, Elmer Fudd, by referencing "Smell-evision" during the Pitt-Utah game. Here are ten other thoughts that came to mind as I channeled the channels on college football's opening night:

1) ESPN analyst Craig James, discussing the Wolverines, who have lost two home openers in the past three years, noted that improving Connecticut "is the worst team that Michigan could start with." It is hyperbolic comments such as that one that Mike Leach's attorneys should be jotting down before their court date.

2) South Carolina, the Michigan State of the SEC (good, but perennially overshadowed by the state's other major program), finally appears to have a potent offense in Steve Spurrier's sixth season. Junior quarterback Stephen Garcia, above right, played with poise, freshman quarterback Conor Shaw is a natural passer, and fellow frosh Marcus Lattimore (two TDs) lived up to the hype at tailback. Next up: Georgia visits a week from Saturday.

3) You think Steve Spurrier didn't know this was Jenn Brown's big-stage debut? The ESPN sideline reporter asked him why his two starters had been suspended just before kickoff and he deftly sidestepped the question, figuring -- correctly -- that Brown would not turn a shade of Jim Gray and badger him for the answer. As sideline reporters go, Versus' Lindsay Soto, who worked the Pitt-Utah game, is as good -- and attractive -- as anyone ESPN has.

4) No.13 Miami and No. 2 Ohio State meet a week from Saturday in Columbus. The Hurricanes and Buckeyes each scored 45 points in paycheck-game wins over Florida A&M and Marshall, respectively. Neither team's defense allowed a score -- Ohio State surrendered a touchdown on a blocked field-goal attempt in the first quarter, providing grist for the local sports radio mavens (why was a true freshman attempting a 53-yard field goal in the first quarter?). Both Heisman candidate quarterbacks, Jacory Harris of Miami and Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State, threw three touchdown passes. In other words, the dress rehearsal is over. Time for the main event.

5) Utah wideout Shaky Smithson probably reveled in his nickname as recently as yesterday. After two first-half fumbles, both of which were lost, against Pitt, he may be better off having people refer to him by his given name, Antoine Lee.

6) Indiana beat Towson, 51-17, but somehow the Hoosiers were outgained 392 yards to 360 by the Tigers. How does that happen?

7) Minnesota ran the final 21 plays --18 of which were rushes-- and ran off the final 12:19 of clock in a not surprisingly difficult road win at Middle Tennessee State. The Golden Gophers scored the go-ahead touchdown, then recovered a fumbled kickoff return, before running out the clock behind an offensive line that averages 317 pounds per beast. For the game, Minnesota had possession for more than 45 minutes.

8) Norfolk State? Really, Rutgers? Really? The sad thing is that the Scarlet Knights are not alone. Thirty-eight FBS schools, which is nearly one-third of them, will open with an FCS opponent. Here's hoping that none of them are closing with a BCS bowl.

9) The first offensive play of the Lane Kiffin era at USC was a false start. After that, though, the Trojan offense looked unstoppable and wideout Ronald Johnson was flat-out spectacular. Still, to borrow a friend's line, USC's secondary is at best tertiary.

10) Hats off to coach Bill Curry and his Georgia State Panthers. The program that was started from scratch in April 2008 played its first game Thursday night, a 41-7 stomping of Shorter. The Panthers piled up 366 yards of total offense in front of more than 30,000 fans in the Georgia Dome.