WRONG LEAD STORY by ST

Lot of talk about the possible replacement for Charlie Weiss at Notre Dame. I have news, it's a much bigger story that Bobby Bowden is stepping down at Florida State. The Seminoles are a far better bet to reach college football's elite before the Fighting Irish. I've said it before, until Notre Dame joins a conference, be it the Big East where they compete in just about every other sport or the Big 11, it's a no brainer. Sure, ND has added a few more patsies on the schedule with Western Michigan, Tulse and Army, but otherwise it remains filled with landmines. Even the ultimate Irish basher(like me) has to admit they've been willing to take on most comers. Next year they continue with USC, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Pitt, BC, Stanford and a newbie, Utah. In the next couple of years they take on South Florida, Oklahoma State and Arizona State. In what world are they improving to the point where they only lose 2 games? There, literally is no chance they can contend for a national championship in the next 5 years. Florida State plays in the weak ACC and despite the troubles this year that led to the Bowden departure, they only finished 2 games behind Clemson in the Atlantic Division. Even next year the offense should be productive with Christian Ponder returning for his senior season, along with top target Bert Reed and leading rusher Jermaine Thomas.
As for the Civil War, the oddsmakers say Ducks by 9 1/2. Seems like a big number. On the Monday after the Ducks survived Arizona and OSU waxed the Cougs setting up this historic game, I figured Oregon by 4 points plus the field goal for playing at Autzen. Not a huge difference, but the way the Beavs are playing did cause this line to raise a few eyebrows. Of course there is the logic that last year's OSU defense might have been a bit better and the Ducks went bezerk on the scoreboard. That said, the Beavers offense in 2009 is a far superior unit from my chair. Okay, I'm taking 7 of you to get in the Wednesday drawing for Civil War tickets. E-mail the correct answer to this question to stevetannen@live.com
From 2004 through the 2007 game, Oregon State beat Oregon 3 out of 4 times. Find the last 4 year period where the Beavs beat the Ducks 3 of 4! Good Luck.
I should also point out we have another pair of tickets that I'll be giving away in the 5 o'clock hour today(Tue), but you have to be at Sam's Place where I'll be doing SportsTalk to enter & win.