Two weeks from today will be the start of the Memphis Tigers' football season. It will also be our debut on NewsRadio 600 WREC with the radio broadcast. I am very excited about both of these things.

First, I do not see the drastic drop as some have predicted by the Tigers this year, even without DeAngelo Williams (or even Stephen Gostkowski & Maurice Avery). It's going to take a lot of hard work to be tops in CUSA, but I don't believe they'll finish fifth in the east, as forecasted by the Associated Press.

After watching both scrimmages & numerous practices, I like what I see offensively. From what I have seen (keep in mind I am no football coach) transfer Martin Hankins is the starter come September 3rd against Mississippi. As of right now I would imagine Will Hudgens is second. But there is still a lot of time to practice before a starter has to be named.

Second, I could not be more excited about our broadcast season. You will notice some slight differences in the pregame show, but nothing drastic. All football pregame broadcasts will now be two hours (compared to previous years when the two-hour shows only happened for home games). Memphis will continue to have a game-day radio presentation that ranks up there with Alabama & many others.

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A Commercial Appeal sportswriter told me last week I have been around basketball coach John Calipari too long... AFTER I referred to our first football opponent as "Mississippi."

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Herd Insider Magazine, a magazine supporting Marshall, has listed it's "Don't miss" games of September involving Conference USA teams playing in & out of conference. You only have to glance at their week one picks to know the list is not complete. I have no problem with them saying Marshall vs. West Virginia is in their opinion the best game. It's only the sixth meeting between the two schools over the last 95 football seasons.

But no mention of Memphis vs. Mississippi? Not even a sentence? A little history lesson for our friends in Thundering Herd country: this is a rivalry game between two schools seperated by 70 miles or so. Oh, ESPN picked it up, too.

The mag does have Memphis vs. ECU as the conference game of the week Sept. 16, then the Tigers vs. UT as the best game on Sept. 30.

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Around CUSA preseason football camps:

Jackson Clarion-Legder: Hull, Fletcher head improved running game during scrimmage

New Orleans Times-Picayune: Scelfo please with Wave scrimmage

Birmingham News: Blazers productive in final scrimmage

Orlando News-Sentinel: Smith, Moffett set pace in scrimmage

Charlotte Observer: Q&A With East Carolina football coach Skip Holtz

Huntington Herald-Dispatch: Herd back-up players shine

El Paso Times: Media day a hit with Miner fans

Tulsa World: Hurricane's progress no bolt from blue

Dallas Morning News: Play of SMU QBs worries Bennett

Houston Chronicle: Rice shows only basics on offense

Houston Chronicle: Art Briles vs. Dennis Franchione? Let's switch 'em