College football kicks off and other football views

Not sure what I can add to the college football accounts offered in the various media. The big stories nationally were Cal beating Tennessee to reclaim some dignity for Pacific-10 football. The Bears look for real this year and I'd love to see them knock off USC and make a BCS run.

Appalachia State's upset of Michigan was nothing short of stunning. And it was in Ann Arbor. I would love to have been their to witness the smugness smacked off the faces of the Arborites. So much for Michigan's national title hopes.

My alma maters UC Davis and Sacramento State both lost their season openers. The Aggies are inexperienced on offense and it showed, as they lost to an Eastern Washington team they should have beaten. The good news is that they are now playing in their new stadium. I hope to get out to watch a game later this season.

While Sac State lost rather handily, they showed some positive signs under new coach Marshall Sperbeck. Fresno State is a legitimate national program, so the Hornets respectable loss is encouraging. Sac is also young on the offensive side of the ball, especially at the skill positions.

Down in the prep ranks, two games of note took place. Local powerhouse Grant lost a close one down in Bakersfield, while resurgent Sacramento High School won its opener. Former Dallas Cowboy Doug Cosbie is the Sac High coach and he has them going in the right direction.