Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images file

USC senior linebackers Brian Cushing, left, and Rey Maualuga are both expected to be picked in the first round of the NFL Draft in April.

7. My kingdom for a quarterback
There's this nasty rumor floating around that Steve Spurrier, he of the offense that — in another time and place — turned the SEC sideways, has lost his touch.

How else can you explain South Carolina getting progressively worse on offense with each of Spurrier's seasons in Columbia? There are those who blame the Chicken Curse, and still others who point to the historic culture of losing within the program.

I blame the quarterback. In four years, Spurrier has significantly upgraded the talent at South Carolina, yet somehow hasn't been able to land an elite quarterback. He came close with Jimmy Clausen, and got a long look from Tim Tebow.

His first three seasons in Columbia he used Blake Mitchell, who, bless his soul, wouldn't have sniffed the scout team at Florida in Spurrier's Gainesville days. Now he's using a couple of guys named Tommy Beecher and Chris Smelley, who, if you changed their names to Blake Mitchell, you'd swear they were Blake Mitchell.

If you follow what I'm saying.

There are two other options on the roster: redshirt freshman Stephen Garcia, who enjoys meeting up with law enforcement more than, you know, football; and freshman Aramis Hillary — a project Spurrier says will one day be a terrific player, but who will redshirt this fall.

So next in the barrel is Garcia, who has shared first-team reps this week in practice and could play as soon as Saturday against Georgia. Maybe even as part of Spurrier's famed series rotation at quarterback.

Dawgs big, people. BIG.

8. The mouths that roar
A bit of coaching connection for you: Kansas' Mark Mangino and USF's Jim Leavitt coached on the same staff together at Kansas State. Arizona coach Mike Stoops was part of that group, too, in the 1990s.

Now this could be an absolutely ridiculous coincidence, but Mangino, Leavitt and Stoops are the three most intense guys in the game — with a fabulous knowledge of the Queen's English. Two of them — Mangino and Leavitt — go at it Friday in the second-best nonconference game of the weekend. (Editor's note: South Florida won 37-34)

Heaven help the zebras.

9. D stands for defense
Steady, everyone. Rich Brooks says Kentucky is getting no respect.

The 'Cats aren't ranked and Brooks wants to know why. Especially — especially, he says — with the type of smash-mouth, in-your-face defense his team is playing.

Seriously, who else could hold the mighty scoring machines of Louisville and Norfolk State to a measly five points?

"I think people are looking at us and trying to see how many more games we're going to win, rather than how good we are right now," Brooks said.

OK, down the road: After this week's pillow fight with Middle Tennessee, the 'Cats play host to Western Kentucky. After that, um, Rich? It doesn't look good. I'll give you Arkansas at home, and that's it.

Maybe Tennessee — if Arian Foster has more ball securities.

10. Strap it up, gentlemen
Howard Schnellenberger, the king of bombastic, brash bravado, began the season by questioning the manhood of a certain team from Austin. That resulted in a 42-point loss.

This week, he proclaimed that the Michigan State game Saturday, "is going to be a man's game."

Hard to believe Schnelly ever left Miami for something called the USFL.

More news

AP

Slain UConn CB's family wants $5M

CFT: Stabbed to death following an altercation at a school-sponsored dance in October 2009, Jasper Howard‘s parents are seeking significant financial compensation for the parties they believe are at least partly responsible.

CFT: SEC's Slive no fan of plus-one playoff model

Headlines

• Label

Ex-QB Brian Johnson still directing Utes offense

CFT: Miami says it's 'committed to the ACC'

CFT: Clemson would listen to other conferences

CFT: Tennessee TE booted following felony arrest

CFT: Potential Cal starter kicked off team

Friends, fans mourn loss of Stewart

CFT: Ohio St. 'not facing any major ... violations'

CFT: Pitt FB suffers stroke, career likely over