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 Spring football '99 It's that time of year to ask the important questions
Posted: Sunday March 28, 1999 06:42 PM
By Stewart Mandel, CNN/SI As teams around the country open spring practice this month, there's reason for hope whether you're defending national champ Tennessee or defending 0-12 Hawaii. For the true college football diehard, spring provides at least some relief for the pain of knowing there's still five months to go till the Pigskin Classic. Rest assured, CNN/SI feels your pain, and thus plans to take you to gridirons across the country these next couple months, tracking the biggest news and storylines across the sport. So, to set the table, here are 25 essential Spring Football questions for '99: 1) At Texas, who will fill those rather large, heavily taped cleats previously occupied by Heisman RB Ricky Williams? 2) Can Phil Fulmer rise above the Neyland Stadium-size expectations that come with a national title, fat contract extension and leap in profile for Tennessee's program? 3) In the Sunshine State, how are the Gators and Seminoles compensating for the absence of injured starting QBs Doug Johnson and Chris Weinke, respectively, this spring? 4) Also at Florida, how does Steve Spurrier put together a defense after losing all seven starters up front and two in the secondary, not to mention coordinator Bob Stoops? 5) How does Washington's Million-Dollar Man, new coach Rick Neuheisel, gain fan confidence after opening his regime amid ugly recruiting violations? 6) If Ohio State and Penn State are going to be Big Ten favorites as always, who the heck plays quarterback? 7) Will Notre Dame fill holes on its offensive line in time to keep QB Jarious Jackson's face from revisiting the South Bend turf too often? 8) At Nebraska, where the vaunted Husker ground game went MIA last year, what will Frank Solich do with Eric Crouch when Bobby Newcombe returns from injury? 9) Who plays quarterback at Georgia if Quincy Carter goes down, considering not one, not two, but three young backups have transferred since the end of last season? 10) What look will Syracuse take without Donovan McNabb at the helm for the first time since 1994 and with a depleted coaching staff? 11) Will upcoming hot-shot QB Kenny Kelly make Miami Hurricanes fans forget all about losing RB Edgerrin James? 12) How does UCLA turn the tide following the defensive embarrassment of a year ago that provoked coordinator Nick Alloti's departure to Oregon? 13) Can Texas A&M find some Wrecking Crew initiates with just half the heart of Dat Nguyen and continue the momentum of last year's Big 12 championship? 14) What are LSU and Arizona State doing to recover from '98 seasons that didn't come remotely close to reflecting their talent levels? 15) Michigan QB: Tom Brady or Drew Henson? 16) Can a mid-level program like Kentucky survive the double-aftermath of a deadly drunk-driving incident and superstar QB Tim Couch's departure? 17) What kind of an aura will surround Iowa football during the first spring camp in 20 years without Hayden Fry on the sidelines? 18) In what kind of shape are Wisconsin RB Ron Dayne and his rebuilt offensive line as he begins his assault on Williams' rushing record? 19) In sophomore Carson Palmer, has USC finally found its first legitimate star QB since the long-lost Todd Marinovich? 20) Can Houston Nutt find some capable offensive linemen to allow Arkansas to exploit potentially dangerous passing tandem Clint Stoerner-to-Anthony Lucas? 21) Will veteran coaches John Robinson and Dennis Erickson make the nation care about programs at UNLV and Oregon State, respectively? 22) As Ronald Curry gets North Carolina's starting QB job for good, will he handle the pressure better than a certain basketball team? 23) Are the Kansas State Wildcats' 15 minutes over after their disastrous final two games and the departure of all-everything QB Michael Bishop? 24) Are Oregon RB Reuben Droughns and LB Peter Sirmon capable of duplicating the All-American level of play they attained before season-ending injuries last year? 25) Is the state of South Carolina really ready for Lou Holtz? To follow these and other stories develop as we head into next season, keep your browser pointed to CNN/SI.
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