"There is a syndrome in sports called paralysis by analysis." Arthur Ashe

It doesn’t matter what game or activity that is being watched, observed and/or criticized, there is always an expert that knows the best case scenario. In football terms, they would be known as armchair quarterbacks. Softball, Volleyball, Basketball and many other sports they are known as obnoxious fans, that just blurt out irrelevant rants and raves.

Even though many of the rants gain attention and might garner a laugh or two, but there is a very good chance that the person that is being criticized won’t change their mind or alter their game, just because somebody in the crowd said something, even if they are the most knowledgeable sports genius ever. All athletes should give their coaches their utmost attention. There should be no undercutting of a coaches impact on an athlete while in competition, in most instances the coaches are trying to place the athlete in a situation where they have a chance to be successful. If the athlete chooses to second guess the coaches opinion or advice, there is a good chance that the benefit will be minimal.

First off, fans of athletics, learn the rules of the game. There are some rules that rear their ugly head every blue moon and are remembered by the officials but that isn’t enough, as the officials are all dumb, blind, and favor one team over the other throughout the contest, and according to the fans in the stands that is the truth.

I continue to wish the best to each and every area team and individual competing this fall season, no matter what people say the officials are non-biased at the beginning of a contest, and coaches have the athletes best interest at heart when calling plays and making coaching decisions.

"To be the best, you have to beat the best. That is all there is to it." Adam Vinatieri

It was not an upset, it was a great college football team, the Boise State Broncos flying across America to take on a challenger. The Virginia Tech Hokies stepped to the plate and went head-to-head with one of the hottest teams in NCAA football over the past eight years. I wouldn't have to step too far out onto the limb to guess that there was a great number of people that watched Monday nights showdown between two-highly ranked teams in our Nations Capital.

I would also venture to guess that a high percentage of the fans and patrons that were watching the prime time football game were pulling for the Hokies , because nobody wants the 'little school' to have a chance at elite status.

Not so fast, who is the actual 'little guy' in this NCAA football game? I beg to differ that it isn't the Boise State Broncos, they have posted a record of 84-8 overall since 2002, which includes two undefeated seasons. If you still have doubts in the Broncos as an elite team, you find a team that has been more successful in the last decade.

I know there will be backlash that will involve small talk about Boise State playing a weak conference, or playing against sub-par teams week in and week out. All the doubters of the Broncos should check with their respective favorite teams, and see how many of them have perennial bottom dwellers or NCAA FCS teams on their future schedules for the future seasons instead of elite teams. I am guessing that Boise State isn't listed on their future seasons schedules.

Sooner or later, the 'big guns' in the NCAA BCS system are going to be forced to look up at the Broncos that continue to prosper and are found near the top of the heap, each and every season. Boise State recruits just like any other team, except maybe USC during the Pete Carroll regime; and practices the maximum amount of hours allowed, just like any other team, than maybe Michigan. The Wolverines must tell time differently.

I don't care if a team is a mid-major and/or an BCS conference member or even a lower tier team of the NCAA, each and every contest, the athletes get prepared in a locker room by putting their pants or shorts on one leg at a time and one shoe at a time. The minority athletes don't participate in the games to hopefully finish second, everybody plays to win.

There is no place in the United States for contests to be played on paper. There are even tic-tac-toe video games now, so the paper can be used to wipe away the garbage written about the BCS and Major conference schools reigning as king of the NCAA. Every school, big or small has a voice. Do we hear your favorite colleges voice?

"Thats just the tip of the Iceberg." Dr. Matthew Cartter

The countdown is over and it is full steam ahead until at least June, the high school seasons are here. The first week of High School football games has concluded with nobodies hopes of a state championship dashed yet. The softball programs are all nearly full-swing into a fast-paced season on the diamonds.

This week the march towards elite status and team hardware starts for the volleyball, cross country and tennis teams in the state of Nebraska. The blood, sweat and tears that the athletes have put in throughout the past year and their careers deserves to be applauded. I wish each and every one of you the best of luck. I can’t wait to see all the teams perform at their best.

During the season there are some athletes that will be forced to deal with injuries, bumps and/or bruises from their competitions, which is just part of the game. Just think athletes, for everytime you have doubt in battling back into action there is an athlete or former athlete in their adult years, that is chomping at the bit to be given, just one more opportunity. Some people’s athletic careers end abruptly without warning and others are like the Energizer bunny, aka Brett Farve. Every person will bounce back from adversity, it is just how you bounce back that will make the difference.

Listed below are a small preview of my thoughts and in-depth view of TRIBUNE-area gridiron matchups.

Gothenburg vs. Minden

Both teams enter the contest with week zero wins. The ground game will be king in this contest. Gothenburg used great speed and athleticism to gain some much needed game speed experience. The Whippets used a potent rushing attack also. It could be a race until the final whistle, who has the most team speed?

Gothenburg 21 Minden 13

Lexington vs. Northwest

It has been two years since the Vikings and Minutemen battled on the turf. Lexington and Northwest were both dealt defeats at the hands of very good teams during week zero. This is a friends turned foe, when the ball is kicked off as the coaches of the teams, Kevin Stein and Phil Truax are very close friends. The secrets of these two teams are not so hush-hush, this contest will come down to guts, and gumption. Who has more?

Lexington 17 Northwest 14

Cozad vs. Centura

Both teams are coming of defeats at the hands of very good teams. I feel that if Cozad can gain some confidence in their running game in the early going, they can grind out a win against the Centurions. Defensively, the Haymakers grew-up a ton in their second half bout with Ogallala. The coaching prowess and expertise of Ron Bubak and company will be the difference in this contest.

Cozad 14 Centura 6

Page Deuce:

Eustis/Farnam over Elwood

Adams Central over Hastings

Alliance over Gordon/Rushville

Amherst over Pleasanton

DC Aquinas over Columbus Scotus

Litchfield over SEM

Aurora over McCook

Battle Creek over Boone Central

Beatrice over Norris

Creighton Prep over Bellevue West

Elkhorn over Blair

Brady over Maxwell

Broken Bow over Ord

Cambridge over Oberlin

Central City over Wood River

North Platte over Columbus

Brownell-Talbot over Conestoga

Crete over Omaha Skutt

Doniphan-Trumbull over Twin River

Perkins County over Dundy County/Stratton

Elm Creek over Axtell

Winside over Emerson-Hubbard

Grand Island CC over St. Paul

Hampton over Giltner

Hastings SC over Kearney Catholic

Bridgeport over Hershey

Nebraska over Western Kentucky

UNO over UNK

Howells over West Point CC

Pitt State over Chadron State

Missouri over Illinois

UCLA over Kansas State

Pittsburgh over Utah

Texas over Rice

Idaho over North Dakota

Michigan over Connecticut