Recapping media days including voting predictions, the new Pac-12's logo and the total and utter awesomeness that was Robbie Caldwell on the stage will be the first topic of discussion. Les Miles' revelation that UNCis "very, very, very good on offense" was quite the thrill as was his brilliance in discussing clock management.

Plenty of speculation and controversy surrounding both Lane Kiffin and Jeremiah Masoli. Kiffin because of his hiring practicesand how this will effect both his connections to the NFL and his future with new sheriff Pat Haden at Southern Cal. Masoli has more options than just Ole Miss and so we'll discuss which of his choices, everything from WVU, UNLV and Kansas State (mmm Bill Snyder loves transfers), and which benefits the most from the Wild Samoan.

Last topic we'll hit are Heisman predictions. Jake Locker has been hitting the ESPN path hard, Christian Ponder has launched his official Heisman campaign and talk of "who will" vs "who can" win the Heisman is heating up. I'll drop my thoughts on who can win out of the favorites, hit on a few dark horse possibilities and tell you why Mallett and Locker have almost zero chance at grabbing the trophy.

Now some fun paint art of Da U-NC before we hit the live chat.

(h/t BeerControl)

Enjoy it folks, things should get spicy yet again.

We'll be live chatting this Wednesday so be ready to bring your questions about everything you see here and what else is involved heading into the college football season. Get the news and notes after a glimpse into the "Ice-ing on the Cake" from lake weekend.

Speaking of being iced it looks like Jeremiah Masoli the wayward quarterback who just graduated from Oregon is looking for a home. Houston Nutt from Ole Miss reached out to Masoli and the battering ram of a quarterback sent his release papers into the Rebels this weekend. However, there appears to be a snag as school president Dan Jones and athletic director Pete Boone are both dragging their feet as the former Duck tries to get in before camp.

While we're tramping around the south we cut across to Bama for a quick check into agent-gate 2010. Marcell Dareus had an interesting story involving a receipt and an early departure that, depending on the side you take seems either really convenient or quite believable.

ACC Media Days just wrapped up and the biggest news were the preseason rankings and how, again, VT-FSU are the popular picks. Christian Ponder runs away with the player of the year vote by nearly tripling Ryan Williams 16 votes.

Of course all the news out of the ACC isn't on the field. Florida State linebacker Nigel Carr reminds us that folks in the capital remember how to get in arrested and break things. Multiple felony counts mean that Carr will likely be missing some time for the Noles, a team that already faces some youth issues entering 2010.

On the left coast the coach everyone hates is getting into some trouble regarding his hiring procedure. Jeff Fisher, a proud Trojan grad, is fuming about the way Lane Kiffin hired away Titans running back coach Kennedy Pola to be the USC offensive coordinator. The Nashville group is taking it up a notch by not just publicly speaking out but going legal on all over USC and Kiffin.

On a special note long time friend and old teammate Ryan Baucom and currently made famous by his recent appearance in a TJ Yates joke regarding free golf lessons and NCAA violations is back at it on the course. Played in the US-Am qualifying and shot a 71, at Old Chatham.

I don't think it's anything but greed that's creating it right now on behalf of the agents. The agents that do this -- and I hate to say this, but how are they any better than a pimp? I have no respect for people who do that to young people. None. How would you feel if they did it to your child?

Folks have fallen into a couple different camps on this set of quotables. Jason Whitlock took the time to pen his response. Friend of the program Bomani Jones sounded off on the agent game during his show today after talking with us here at In The Bleachers last night. Jon Solomon of AL.com gave his take on the tirade. Dan Levy entered the mix and dropped his cookie jar reference.

Twitter conversations popped up over the pimping and through it all another pertinent analogy was put forth by RodimusPrime concerning the agents and more importantly the runners hitting college campuses:

@bomani_jones @AndyHutchins @sgw94 it's the same reason they used to set up credit card stands at colleges

Perhaps if Saban had made this reference we'd all be seeing eye to eye but alas he did not.

So now we have the biggest issue surrounding Nick Saban:

Pimp

People don't like Saban. The job hopping (which we've discussed before here) and the hiding of his intentions from fans has soured a large portion of the population toward Coach Saban. Some folks don't like that he works with the college football world's most influential agent, Jimmy Sexton or that he makes over $4 million dollars a season while his players, the guys risking life and limb, exist off Pell grants, meal checks and any cash that their parents can kick their way.

Make no mistake I see the hypocrisy in that last sentence regarding the "pimp" aspect. Believe me, I do, but I feel that exploitation on the NCAA, conference, institution and coaching levels is a conversation better held on another day.

As is often the case today many folks fill up on the appetizer instead of waiting on the main course. "Pimp" and Saban are the low hanging fruit that folks have chose to dine on when the best stuff is up just a bit higher.

Read more to get why this Saban quotable is truly food for thought.

We kick it off by just addressing the situation as it stands today with UNC at the center of the investigation and Sakerlina, Alabama and now UGA being implicated in the wake. Bomani talks about the UNC angle as folks are outright worried about the NCAA investigation due largely in part to the schools squeaky clean image up to this point.

Talking on a broader scale Jones and I get into Nick Saban's comments about the filth engulfing the agents dealing with the todays' players. Saban's idea of shutting out the NFL to force the NFLPA to take action against the agentsholds some water but it would take a large scale, blanket agreement out of big time college football to force the league's hands.

Simply put; you can't rely solely upon 17-22 year old guys, regardless of income or intelligence, to turn down free money.

As always Bomani Jones brings a solid viewpoint and intelligent discourse. Be sure to check out The Morning Jones at the iTunes store if you can't listen to The Morning Jones live on Sirius Channel 98 from 7-10et.

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This whole fire storm began with twitter so we'll chat a little about players, social media and most importantly what, if anything, should be the solution to the access folks have to these kids lives.

In case you haven't gotten yourself up on the literature make sure you check out Monday's article in the National Football Post by Aaron Wilson highlighting the Marvin Austin situation. This situation has now spread into the SEC as folks at Sakerlina are seeing things heat up in their backyard as well as defending national champion Alabama. All are linked to the same party, however, UNC's Greg Little has been the only one to adamantly speak out against his attendance being financed by anyone but himself.

Folks are rolling over left and right but as the Capstone Report shows, this is far from the "Reggie Bush" type scenario some fans are trumpeting. Nick Saban has his own theories on eliminating this issue which at some point will be blindly supported by people everywhere.

Speaking of Reggie Bush, the first move of newly minted athletic director Pat Haden is to come down hard on the Bush era by "unretiring" the #5 and sending his Heisman Trophy back to the Heisman trust in New York. Folks are split on this decision but we'll give it a go during the live chat because, as you can imagine your's truly is less than thrilled by this move.

Look alive folks as the live chat kicks off at 4:30et and we will also be talking about the madness that is SEC Media Days. Come to ITB for all of your SEC Media needs as our video widget will have all the coverage you craze; stay for a chat where we'll hit on the issues of the week.

Law & Order:

This past week was a busy one with respect to student athletes getting arrested. Behold, a new and massive Fulmer Cup update over at EDSBS. We can't take credit for this information since we totally did not research it. Before you go here is a list of the teams involved with law enforcement recently (media themed cynicism & hints of what's in store for you at EDSBS in brackets):

Notre Dame (House Party 5: Brian Kelly's Nightmare)

Pitt (Night at the Museum 3: The Battle of LaFond Gallery)

Ole Miss (Who Keyed Rodney Scott's Lexus?)

Iowa State (A Hit and Run Inspired by Skazi)

Penn State (Lamest Buddy Movie Ever)

Marshall (Four Strikes is a Hambone)

Schadenfreude:

UNC program investigated by the NCAA. After hearing that LSU's starting FB Dominque Allen was being suspended indefinitely, we (meaning me) needed a lift. Michael Felder's beloved Heels (specifically: Marvin Austin, Greg Little, Deunta Williams, Kendric Burney, Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant--who was already in trouble, see Michael's take on that here) being the subject of the NCAA's new found enthusiasm for monitoring was like riding the elevator to the comped penthouse suite.

Bobby Johnson Resigns:

Bobby Johnson decided less than 2 months before the season will start to abandon ship at Vandy. Johnson's record for the Commodores was 29-66 (12-52 in SEC play), including one winning season (7-6 in 2008 with a Music City Bowl win over Boston College). We cannot blame him, as 8 years as the coach for Vanderbilt is long enough. He is not a miracle worker. Johnson had Jay Cutler, a man from Santa Claus, Indiana, for four years and still couldn't make a bowl game.

47 Days until LSU v UNC and we wonder how much of that heralded UNC defense ("dem rude boyz") will be in the Georgia Dome...

Well played sirs because the league has brought out the green eyed monster in me. I'm jealous and I'm man enough to admit it.

The SEC is where the back-to-back-to-back-to-back BCS Champions reside. The SEC is home to a spotless 6-0 record in BCS Title Games. The SEC is the domain of the two teams that have won multiple BCS titles. The SEC is daddy when it comes to television revenue and in NFL draftees.

I'm an ACC guy, if you've read my bio here at the site or followed me on twitter you know I'm one of a select handful of true UNC football fans. In just this past season I've seen SEC teams beat down ACC school, after ACC school, after ACC school, after ACC school. That doesn't even include pre-2009 on-field fisting scenes like this 2008 assault:

The Drago-esque force that the SEC wields over the ACC and the college football world in general is enough to force many a fan to kneel at the power altar of the conference.

Of this plethora of stats in their favor not a single one of them is what makes me jealous of the ESS EEE SEE.

Read more to find out why I'm envious of league that is effectively my next door neighbor.

We'll be talking NCAA '11, ROBERT MARVE and other "new-old faces", the Quan Sturdivant arrest, early 2010 Heisman favorites, BCS vs Playoff, the most "under used" players from a season ago and fielding any questions you folks want to kick out there.

Show kicks off at 4:30 pm EASTERN be sure to join us for all the festivities.

Enjoy!

One of the most civil BCS vs Playoff debates as there was no name calling, insult hurling or shenanigans of any kind. Make sure you cruise on over to support your favorite writer's favorite writer.

Busy weekend as I also got the chance to do an interview with Kevin over at College Football Zealots and talk some football. The folks over at College Football Zealots do a great job of providing insight and content so be sure to check them out and peep that interview since Kevin did draw out my "way too early" title game pick:

Not including UNC, who is your "way too early" pick to take the National Championship this year?

My way too early pick to win the title is Nebraska. Their schedule is conducive with Texas at home, Texas A&M as the next toughest game before battling Texas or OU in the Big XII championship.

Now we're set for the heavy hitter, the Quan Sturdivant arrest for my Tar Heels. Before I give my thoughts on the issue I'd say that this article is required reading just so that it is clear I'm being as consistent and unwavering as I've been with rival squads. After the NC State marijuana citations I wrote:

For me a game would be the max suspension, there is no arrest, no history of negative behavior in the legal sense and remember that Carlos Dunlap from Florida was given a game suspension for a DUI, a charge far worse in terms of permanent record as well as danger to the community.

The same holds true with Quan. He's a kid with no priors, no history of trouble and no discipline issues. One game max would hold true but as I felt with the NC State kids a quarter or a half with some inner team discipline would be a much more fitting punishment.

There is a beauty in being consistent and being able to confidently recommend Quan Sturdivant, a borderline 1st round NFL talent, be suspended for the same amount of time in a national showcase game against LSU as four NC State players for a game against Western Carolina.

What Sturdivant did was stupid, there's no way to skirt that issue and at 21 years old he's not really "a kid" anymore so their is no need for excuse making. He was wrong, he'll have to face the legal consequences, the NFL draft consequences and ultimately, in the short term, the team punishment.

There's not much to see here but as most fans are want to do this will become a bigger issue for rivals and folks who have a skewed idea that this is some referendum where Butch Davis needs to "make an example" of Sturdivant. Kendrick Burney spoke out in support of Sturdivant and going forward, with media days and camp just a few weeks away we'll see how Butch handles the issue.

This is going to be a polarizing issue at times but for that lockerroom is seems the defense is already starting to circle the wagons around their own.

And any true fan would pick him up instead of talking bad because this year is about family if u not with it nice knowing u

As a Heel I'm not sure I could put it any better.

The Big Lean

Law & Order

Former Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell was arrested for possession of codeine syrup (an historically bad NFL career doesn't merit a prescription for it). The story does not say whether or not he was using the syrup to make lean (purple drank). Since you might jump to the conclusion that he was drinking the purple stuff, here is the only known purple drank sipping rapper (he died in 2007) who fit in Russell's weight class. The arrest followed a two-month long undercover investigation. Russell's lawyer, Donald Briskman, says his client was targeted by the authorities and will be cleared of the arrest. Briskman also thinks Russell will "go on about the business of getting on with his career." Gang Green Nation was reporting that the Jets were interested, oh, never mind...I once compared Russell's college and pro career to that of Matt Ryan to show the stark contrast at the pro level. However, everyone's gold standard of first round failures at QB is Ryan Leaf. Russell might still outdo Leaf. Russell's career Positive Impact Factor of -45.1 already outstrips Ryan Leaf's -19.8.

Numerous player arrests from the past week: There was a Tennessee bar fight involving 7-10 UT players (a dismissal and two suspensions was the response from Derek Dooley). This led to some extended commentary at EDSBS. Two Georgia players were busted on alcohol related charges. Iowa's Broderick Binns got charged with an OWI.

Transfers

Seantrel Henderson's move to Miami continues the exodus of players out of the USC program. Malik Jackson left for Tennessee and Jordan Campbell ended up at Louisville. Jarvis Jones has already become a Georgia Bulldog...oh, why not just get the full list from Her Loyal Sons?

LSU backup QB Chris Garrett is gone. Where he is headed is not yet certain, but LSU is content to release Garrett as long as he stays out of the SEC. Garrett's decision leaves LSU with three scholarship QB's, one of whom (Zach Lee) might still sign with the L.A. Dodgers who drafted him in the first round of the 2010 MLB draft, and none of whom are viable SEC QBs after the Spring (to be fair to Zach Lee, he wasn't there).

Days until College Football: 53 days. SIGH.