2002 FOOTBALL PREVIEW NCAA FOOTBALL 37 Is any team capable of perfection?

äCollege football teams PRESEASON TOP 25 playing more games, The Top Twenty Five teams in The Associated Press preseason college football making an unblemished poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, 2001 records, total points based on 25 record more difficult The Associated Press points for a first place vote through one point for a 25th place vote and 2001 final By The Associated Press ranking: Record Pts Pvs 1. Miami (27) 12-0 1,746 1 Larry Coker calls No. 1 Miami’s schedule daunting, yet absolutely 2. Oklahoma (21) 11-2 1,732 6 believes his defending national cham- 3. Florida St. (10) 8-4 1,683 15 and his pions are poised for another perfect 4. Texas (13) 11-2 1,682 5 Nebraska season. 5. Tennessee (3) 11-2 1,601 4 Cornhuskers “No doubt it can be done, and we 6. Florida 10-2 1,313 3 could play 7. Colorado 10-3 1,291 9 feel like we can win every game,” as many as Coker says of a lineup 8. Georgia 8-4 1,179 22 that includes games 9. Washington 8-4 1,133 19 15 games against powerhouses 10. Nebraska 11-2 1,131 8 this year, Florida, Florida State 11. Wash. St. 10-2 1,096 10 making a and Tennessee. 12. MICHIGAN 8-4 1,061 20 run at an 13. Ohio St. 7-5 1,029 — “Is that realistic? undefeated Maybe not. But if we 14. LSU 10-3 832 7 15. Oregon 11-1 736 2 season a win every game NCAA it’s a no-brainer — 16. Virginia Tech 8-4 583 18 more we’re going to OVERVIEW 17. Louisville 11-2 574 17 difficult Tempe.” 18. MICH. ST. 7-5 468 — proposition. In the crazy world of the Bowl 19. Marshall 11-2 433 — Championship Series, winning ‘em all 20. Southern Cal 6-6 420 — seems to be the safest way to gain 21. Maryland 10-2 318 11 entry to the national title game. This 22. South Carolina 9-3 268 13 season, the BCS championship game 23. Texas A&M 8-4 247 — Vol’s passing fancy will be in the Fiesta Bowl at Tempe, 24. Penn St. 5-6 221 — Ariz., on Jan. 3. 25. Wisconsin 5-7 193 — äTennessee combo of Perfection will be tougher to come Others receiving votes: Kansas St. by in 2002. Teams are playing 12 171, N.C. State 154, Auburn 131, Clausen, Washington Boston College 108, Alabama 106, games instead of the usual 11 UCLA 59, Oregon St. 52, Illinois 51, among best in nation because the NCAA allows it when Arkansas 50, Georgia Tech 47, there’s an extra Saturday between the Clemson 29, Southern Miss. 27, KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ask Labor Day weekend and Nov. 30. Purdue 24, Texas Tech 18, BYU 10, Tennessee receiver Kelley More than a dozen teams are play- Utah 10, Mississippi 9, Colorado St. 6, Boise St. 4, Syracuse 4, Notre Dame 3, Washington about playing with quar- ing 13 games courtesy of “preseason Fresno St. 2, North Carolina 2, Toledo terback Casey Clausen this season, classics,” and a few, like Nebraska, 2, Middle Tennessee 1. and he won’t even stop to think could end up playing 15 games. about the answer. “It sure makes it tougher for teams A year to remember, says quarter- “We’re going to go out and be that to go undefeated,” Coker says. back Carlyle Holiday: “So many things one-two punch, probably one of the Despite the return of only 10 happened in that one year that don’t best in the nation,” Washington said. starters, Miami rests its repeat hopes even happen to a team for a whole Sure, he sounds cocky. But on the accurate arm of quarterback generation.” Clausen, who’s got a fair share of and a defense led by Also looking to rise up for another swagger himself, doesn’t mind. hard-hitting linebacker Jonathan national title run are Florida State, “Hey, you have to have confidence Vilma. Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. in yourself and your abilities. It’s just “I’m looking for a repeat,” ‘Canes The Seminoles lost four games for his personality,” said Clausen, a center says. “You’re the first time since 1986, ending a 14- third-year starter whose past two top only as good as your last game and I year run of Top 5 poll finishes and 10- receivers are in the NFL. hope to get a ring to prove it.” win seasons. But with most of his And after all, Washington’s predic- The Associated Press Nebraska is simply thinking about players back, including quarterback tions usually come true. Tennessee receiver Kelley Washington, left, and QB Casey winning any game: The Huskers are Chris Rix, coach Bobby Bowden is Washington, 23, is entering his Clausen hope to be a “one-two punch” for the Volunteers trying to forget humiliating losses at counting on returning to the title game second and probably last college the end of last season — 62-36 to for the fourth time in five years. this season. Clausen will be a third-year starter and season. When he walked on the Colorado and 37-14 to Miami in the “We’re going to be very disappoint- Washington holds the Vol’s single-game reception mark. team in 2001 after four years of Rose Bowl. ed if we don’t get right back into the minor league baseball, he said he With Jammal Lord replacing depart- middle of that fight,” Bowden says. n’t slow him down. ing Peyton Manning play. His first just wanted a chance to show what ed Heisman Trophy winner Eric Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas all There’s no reason he won’t be start as a freshman in 2000 after the he could do. He did. Crouch at quarterback, Nebraska blew chances to play for the national even better this year, coach Phillip two previous starters had no spark By the third game against LSU a opens Aug. 24 against Arizona State. crown in an incredible late-season Fulmer said. and the Vols were 2-3. year ago, Washington set a school “I think we’re a football team that sequence. First the 2000 champion “It is amazing what he was able to Even as a freshman, Clausen was record with 256 yards on 11 catches, will be coming back with a purpose,” Sooners were knocked out of the accomplish last year with his inexpe- so confident it scared the coaches. all for first downs. Huskers coach Frank Solich says. chase with a loss to Oklahoma State; rience and injury. Hopefully we’re Fulmer regularly jokes that his hair is “It was a great coming out party for Nebraska isn’t the only team trying then came the Longhorns’ loss to going to have one of those tremen- grayer because of coaching a fresh- him,” Clausen said. to restore the glory days. Colorado in the Big 12 title game and dous breakout years,” Fulmer said. man quarterback. He even made a habit during the Notre Dame tops the list. Tyrone the Volunteers’ loss to LSU in the SEC “I’ll be really disappointed if he Clausen also has become a vocal season of pointing at his mother in doesn’t get a bunch of footballs team leader. Willingham arrived from Stanford to title game. the stands after each touchdown. thrown his way this year.” He criticized teammates for a lack take over a once-grand football team Oklahoma is ready to go again, with Washington explained that he likes Fulmer expects big things out of of intensity after Tennessee lost to that has fallen mightily. perhaps the most fearsome defense to “excite and electrify the crowd.” Clausen this season, too. LSU in the SEC championship. A win A 5-6 season led to the firing of Bob in the country anchored by tackle At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, “Casey Clausen is ready to take off would have sent the Vols to the Rose Davie, which led to the embarrassing Tommie Harris and end Jimmy Washington is taller and stronger and take control of this offensive Bowl against Miami for a shot at the resignation of his replacement, Wilkerson. than most defensive backs. football team,” he said. national title. George O’Leary, five days into the job. “We’ve got a chance, but we’re not He channeled his natural abilities Clausen finished last season with Over the summer, Clausen and Six players left the team, including much on all this preseason stuff,” into catching and route-running as 2,969 yards passing, including 393 Washington practiced together three three who were expelled after a coach says of his team’s No. 2 preseason ranking. the season progressed, and coaches yards in Tennessee’s 45-17 win over times a week and got to know each woman said she was raped. felt more comfortable moving him Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. other better. Quarterback Matt LoVecchio trans- With Heisman hopeful Chris Simms back at quarterback, along with into different slots. Even a sore left The California native with spiky Their different displays of confi- ferred, and leading rusher Julius foot that kept him out of practice did- blonde hair was lured east by watch- dence complement each other. Jones is academically ineligible. See COLLEGE, Page 38 Ò