Campus Confidential

By Adam Abramson

How in the world did Alabama get 92,000+ people at their spring game? Well, the answer is actually simple: Nick Saban.

After bolting out of Miami faster than Dwayne Jarrett's dropping draft stock, Saban got Tuscaloosa fired up (doesn't take much when it comes to football) and the town filled up with Crimson two weeks ago. I can't really describe it more than the picture does below.

I went to a football-rabid school. I know people that went to other football-rabid schools (FSU, Penn State, etc.) but this is insane. It's SEC football.

Put it this way, when Virginia Tech plays Miami on a Saturday night in Lane Stadium and both are ranked in the Top 10, the crowd will be 25,000 people fewer than Bama's spring game.

Also, props to Ohio State for its crowd of 75,000+

JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn?

That's the big question this week.

Well, I actually think you can't pass up on Calvin Johnson. I pulled a Brent Musburger-esque mush session over him today and ranked him with Jerry Rice on the all-time receivers list. In all seriousness though, he's going to light up secondary units for years.

Buuut, if you had to choose between the two field generals you gotta go with Russell. I'll point to one rather unorthodox moment in January's Sugar Bowl to validate my stance: Russell's only interception in the game. I told you it was unorthodox, but I point to this because the reason he threw it was because the Notre Dame defense couldn't tackle him. One or two guys had reached him for what looked like would be a sack, but the 6'6, 260-pound mountain of a man didn't go down. Yeah, it was a bad decision to make the throw (he was hit by an additional defender as he released, if I remember correctly), but a good QB coach will fix that in no time.

The dude threw a pick because two defenders couldn't make one of his knees touch the ground. I want that guy on my team.

I'll hopefully be at the Draft on Saturday courtesy of colleague Bob Glauber (Me being there would have been a lock if I woulda pulled my head out of my rear and locked up a credential). Then again, I really wasn't thinking straight last week.

So now that Russell's gone, who do we look to?

Well, we know names like Ryan Perrilloux (LSU, might not start until 2008 though), Mitch Mustain (Arkansas), Tim Tebow (UF) and the young Clausen (Notre Dame frosh this year). Don't sleep on my boy Tyrod Taylor at VT either…

But I was trolling the message boards today and came across a name you might become familiar with in the future: E.J. Manuel. The class of the '08 quarterbacks will be Terrelle Pryor (drawing Vince Young comparisons), but Manuel has size, speed, a cannon and even looks like Russell a little bit (see the pic). I'd guess by the time he starts for a college he'll be at least 25-30 pounds lighter though, but just as tall as Russell.

I should say he's a Virginian, and we all know I get high and mighty about the guys from the Commonwealth, but guys I trust on the board speak highly of this kid. Expect Miami, Florida and LSU to gun after Manuel hard. As for Pryor, not sure where he'll land, but I'd guess close to home (Penn State, Ohio State, maybe Pitt).

That's all for now. I'm burned out. Hopefully I'll be coming to you from the Draft. If I think of anything I want to write about, I'll be back on here Thursday or Friday. Be cool.