It's about time we play some football

Blah, blah, blah, blah… All talk and no play makes Scotty a dull boy.\nThe truth is I was supposed to write a column earlier in the week, but I told the editor I had nothing more to say about Saturday's game. Lately, talking about this year's upcoming season has been almost as annoying as watching those spoiled little brats who walk around campus talking on their cell phones.\nIt's time to put the words to rest and to let the Hoosiers out of their cage. As I watched other schools play college football for two weeks, I agonized and felt my eagerness for the North Carolina State game bottle up. Just before Saturday's kickoff, I might be as ready as IU's special teams to hit anybody ' even one of my fellow sportswriters.\n'Twaan and the boys better come out sizzling once they step onto the field. Not only the media has hyped junior quarterback Antwaan Randle El and the 2000 Hoosiers, so has everyone associated with the IU football program from top to the bottom.\nThey continually pointed to the fact the Hoosiers were only a few plays from a winning season and a bowl bid last year. Now, the Hoosiers say they're greatly improved, Randle El is a Heisman Trophy candidate and the defense believes it can be the most improved group of players in the nation. \nEveryone has talked the talk; now it's time to walk the walk.\nNC State has an offense that showed it can post big numbers with 539 total yards of offense and 38 points, but then again they did play Arkansas State and it took two overtimes for the Wolfpack to claim victory. IU's defense can show it really has improved by putting the Wolfpack's freshman quarterback and the team's BYU style passing offense six-feet deep into Memorial Stadium's ground.\n Although the Wolfpack showed some brilliance on offense, their defense has enough weak links in it that if it was a pledge class N.C. State's frat party would be busted within minutes of the dean's arrival. I have no doubt that IU's passing and running attack can keep N.C. State off balance.\n For the last time before the opening kickoff, I will review the team.\n The Hoosiers' offensive line is still a work in process and can be expected to make a few mistakes early in the season. The wide receiving corps has tons of experience and talent, but more importantly it has rectified its problems of dropping passes. \n In the backfield, Levron Williams might be one the Big Ten's best-kept secrets, but probably not for long. The junior running back has the ability to speed by and plow over defenders as he showed last year. Fullbacks senior De'Wayne Hogan and sophomore Jeremi Johnson should get the job done as lead blockers. \nAnd of course, Randle El is among the Big Ten's most deadly quarterbacks as he once again will be expected to carry IU.\nDefensively, things cannot get any worse than they were last year. With a new defensive coordinator, James Bell, and some returning players, IU still might not be the most talented defense in the Big Ten, but they should be improved. If the offense can put up the numbers it did last year, it will be the defense's play that will decide if IU goes to a bowl or not.\n From now until the end of the year, this season and possibly coach Cam Cameron's future at IU will be defined by if we improve from last year's 4-7 record and if the team goes to a bowl.