My name is Jim Allen, and I'm a college football junkie. The signs were obvious yesterday as the clock moved toward 3 o'clock in The Spokesman-Review newsroom: my palms were sweaty and I was pacing in front of the TV, waiting for South Carolina and North Carolina to take the field in the first game of the season. I wasn't the only one; others slowed their pace as they walked by, taking it all in: a packed house in Columbia, Jadaveon Clowney looking ready to make another monstern hit, and then it happened: a 65-yard TD pass for South Carolina. Suddenly everything was all right, and I could go back to my desk in peace. And if you have to ask why, all I can say is, "That's a Clowney question, bro."

I finished that story an hour later, a feature on Eastern Washington safety Allen Brown. We also had a Live Chat yesterday, and here's the transcript. I'm leaving for the airport in about an hour, flying to Portland and then driving to Corvallis for the Eagles' team walkthrough. I'll file a story from Corvallis, but until then here are a few more links. The Oregonian has several stories, and the Eugene Register-Guard just published its special section, including some stories on the Beavers.The Corvallis Gazette-Times has a feature on the Eagles. ... In Missoula, the Grizzlies are preparing for Appalachian State. ... Montana State already a win in the books over Monmouth, ...Southern Utah won dramatically over South Alabama.

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