Texas Southern head coach Johnnie Cole has been at the school for only eight months, but he’s already stoked the flames in the classic rivalry with Prairie View A&M. Cole, in his first season, threw down the gauntlet Wednesday afternoon in the Touchdown Club of Houston’s luncheon that serves as the prelude to the battle between the two historically black colleges Saturday at Reliant Stadium.

  {mp3}Podcast-20080827{/mp3}   We promised twice as many podcasts during the high school football regular-season. Now, we deliver. Chad Washington and Dave Purpura predict some of the top area games in Zero Week, a practice we'll repeat weekly on either Wednesday or Thursday.

  Here's a brief look at two Houston-area private schools looking to do some damage in TAPPS:   HOUSTON CHRISTIAN Nickname: Mustangs Colors: Blue and White 2007 record: 10-4 (TAPPS Division II semifinalist, lost to Dallas Christian, 48-28), 6-1 in district Coach: Mike Johnston Returning lettermen: 20   Houston Christian made another deep run into the playoffs, but fell short of a state title in 2007.

  This is the 28th of The Athlete's Connection's 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games Thursday.

  {mp3}Podcast-20080825{/mp3} After two weeks of predicting the rest of the area, finally we come back “home” in this week’s podcast. Chad Washington and Dave Purpura dissect Districts 17-, 18-, 19- and 20 -5A, in that order, giving our playoff teams for every district and likely ticking off more than a few people in the process.

  This is the 26th of The Athlete's Connection's 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games Thursday.

  A look at the remaining six teams in District 19-5A. For more on Eisenhower, click here: ALDINE Nickname: Mustangs. Colors: Blue and white. Enrollment: 4,007. 2007 record: 4-7 overall (Division I bi-district finalists), 4-3 district. Coach: Bob Jones. Some talent returns at the skill positions but that won’t be enough, at least early, to totally overcome the loss of a boatload of Division I talent – namely QB Darron Thomas (Oregon) and OL Daniel Campbell (Hargrave Military Academy).

    Both Cypress Woods and Seven Lakes entered their scrimmage Saturday night taking a big step forward in the evolution of their respective football programs.

          The Katy Tigers are not close to being the same team that won a state championship last year.

      Cinco Ranch senior running back Adam Hirtz rounded the right corner of his offensive line, took a hard step inside and sprinted for a touchdown as the opposing defense tried feverishly to get its hands on him.

The Memorial Mustangs and the North Shore Mustangs battled to a 7-7 deadlock under game conditions during the first scrimmage of the year for both teams Friday morning at Galena Park ISD Stadium. North Shore scored first when senior quarterback Alex Tillman connected with wide receiver Deandre White for a 27-yard touchdown reception at the 11:18 mark of the second quarter.

  This is the 24th of The Athlete's Connection's 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games Aug. 28. Today, Dave Purpura visits with Stratford coach Eliot Allen and several players to discuss the upcoming season. Terrance Lloyd will be the first to admit much of what he learned as a defensive lineman came from former teammate Jimmy Burge. That’s not to mention the now-senior at Stratford got his first offer from recruiters visiting to see Burge, and Burge’s current home – Missouri – is very interested in snagging Lloyd. Lloyd, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive end, got his first college offer as a sophomore when University of Houston coaches present to see Burge, who is a year older, were impressed with Lloyd but couldn’t even speak to him because he wasn’t old enough. “I was excited but I didn’t really show it.

  This is the 23rd of The Athlete's Connection's 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games Aug.

  This is the 22nd of The Athlete's Connection's 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games Aug.

  This is the 21st of The Athlete's Connection's 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games Aug. 28. Today, Dave Purpura visits Strake Jesuit's preseason practice.   JoJo Williams has made his name at Strake Jesuit as an offensive guard, and that’s where he expects to be slotted starting next year at the University of Connecticut.

    This is the 20th of The Athlete's Connection's 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games Aug.

  {mp3}Podcast-20080818{/mp3}   Judging by the numbers, some of you must care about our predictions of the high school football district races. So we’ll offer two more weeks’ worth. This week, we’ll cover Districts 21-, 22-, 23- and 24-5A, including such teams as North Shore, Pasadena Memorial, Pearland and new 5A member Dickinson.

  This is the 18th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  This is the 17th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  This is the 17th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  This is the 15th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  CY-FAIR Nickname: Bobcats. Colors: Maroon and white. Enrollment: 3,270. 2007 record: 8-5 (Division I regional semifinalists) overall, 4-3 district. Coach: Ed Pustejovsky. Including phenomenal RB Sam McGuffie, the Bobcats lost 19 starters from a team that started well without the Michigan commit, struggled against the high-power team in its district and held its own with powerhouse North Shore until late in a third-round playoff loss.

  This is the 14th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  This is the 13th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

{mp3}Podcast-20080811{/mp3}   This is the 12th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  For the second consecutive year, two Cy-Fair ISD teams will play in front of a national television audience. The Oct. 16 game between Cypress Falls and Cypress Ridge will be televised on ESPNU at 7 p.m.

This is the 11th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

 This is the 10th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug. 28. Today, Athlete’s Connection sportswriter Chad Washington takes a look at Hastings and a few teams from District 18-5A.   There’s a new look over on High Star Road in Alief.

  Broderick Thomas, a senior quarterback at Madison, was granted eligibility for the upcoming season by the University Interscholastic League’s State Executive Committee. In a ruling on Wednesday, the UIL cleared the way for the 6-foot-3, 180-pound quarterback to play this year for the Marlins after being ruled ineligible by the District 20-5A Executive Committee. Thomas was the starting quarterback at Fort Bend Elkins as a sophomore in 2006 and as a junior midway through the 2007 season.

  This is the 10th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  This is the ninth of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  As we enter August, Chad Washington and I are merging our brainpower (snickers down, thank you …), narrowing the oh-so-expansive fall sports schedule and listing our dream foootball schedules for the 2008 season. Here are the 10 games I want to see, based on what we know (and are guessing) at this time: Week Zero: Katy at North Shore, Aug.

  This is the eighth of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  Chad Washington’s 10 games for 2008: Zero Week: Eisenhower at Fort Bend Hightower, Aug. 29 at Hall Stadium. While Katy-North Shore has all the makings of a classic, the better game might be in Missouri City, where two very athletic teams (each with a bevy of Division I college talent) could determine who will be the top Houston-area team, especially if Katy knocks off North Shore. Week One: Cypress Falls at Westfield, Sept.

  This is the seventh of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  This is the sixth of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  D.J. Monroe's huge game couldn't prevent an incredible comeback Tuesday night. The Angleton graduate and University of Texas commit was spectacular for the South team in the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Football Game at the Alamodome, but the North scored 16 points in the final two minutes to win 16-15. The North trailed 15-0 with 1:38 left, but Riley Dodge's 38-yard touchdown pass to Seth Gardner broke the shutout.

   This is the fifth of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  For those who are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2008 high school football season, the Texas High School Coaches Association on Tuesday night will give you something to hold you over until next month. The THSCA will present its 2008 All-Star football game at 7:30 p.m.

  This is the fourth of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  New University of Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin was smiling with pride Friday.

{mp3}Podcast-20080725{/mp3}   A few weeks ago, Athlete’s Connection sportswriter Chad Washington put up an impassioned argument concerning whether 7-on-7 football was an accurate indicator of regular-season fortunes. On this week’s podcast, Washington and Dave Purpura wonder how important polls are.

  This is the third of The Athlete's Connection 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug. 28.

  While the halls of Katy High School are getting a makeover, the initial work on the future of the football team is just beginning.

    Lest his ego swell, new University of Houston football coach Kevin Sumlin got a lighthearted shot of humility during Thursday afternoon’s Touchdown Club of Houston luncheon. Sumlin’s name was handwritten on a paper nameplate, and when he turned it inside out to write himself a few notes he saw another name typewritten. “Touchdown Club of Houston, LSU Day with Coach Les Miles,” Sumlin read, referring to the organization’s 2008 Tiger Tour stop eight days earlier.

  This is the second of The Athlete's Connection 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  Kenneth Guiton hasn't spent much time despairing over Eisenhower's 1-3 record at the Nike 7ON National Tournament last weekend. Not only does the Eagles quarterback not have time — "I'm not taking it easy this summer," he said — but the trip wasn't all about winning anyway. "Before we left (head) coach (Ray) Evans said he wanted two things out of this trip," Guiton said.

  This is the first of The Athlete's Connection 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  Eisenhower receiver Greg Timmons was named to the Nike 7ON National Passing Championship All-Tournament team as his team participated in the national tournament this weekend at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. Timmons and his team, called Strike Force in the tournament, participated with several top teams from across the country, including from Florida, Georgia, California and Pennsylvania. In the championship game, Team Super Speed (consisting of players from Plant High School in Tampa, Fla.) beat Team Merciless (Henry County High School, Ga.) 30-14.

{mp3}Podcast-20080717{/mp3}   With the recent rumors that a Houston television station will begin broadcasting high-school football games this fall, Athlete's Connection sportswriters Dave Purpura and Chad Washington discuss the benefits of television coverage of the game - and agree there's nothing like being at a game yourself.   For now, it looks like Houston-area teams will be featured at least twice on national television - Katy vs.