A primer for fans and those who love them - FOXSports.com

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GENE SAPAKOFF, gsapakoff@postandcourier.com,The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

UpdatedAug 29, 2011 6:23 PM ET

College football kicks off

Preseason expectations and offseason scandals make this week's 2011 college football season openers the most anticipated in years.

What better time to get those knees up and run through a basic drill designed to help the casual observer enjoy game days and nights as much as crab dip:

Strategy

--5-star. Recruits are rated on a scale of 1-5 as high school players. Five is best. But 5-star "misses" are as likely as authentic stardom.

--Play-action pass. The quarterback fakes a handoff before making a throw, with the action designed to make defenders charge forward. Receivers try and use that critical extra split-second to get open.

--Line of scrimmage. A neutral zone running the width of the field; where the football is placed and snapped before each play.

--Sack. When the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage for lost yardage while attempting to pass.

--A hurry. An official statistic, almost as good as a sack - a quarterback is forced to rush a throw that results in an incomplete pass or interception.

--Zone defense. Players are assigned to cover areas of the field and not particular individuals as they do in man-to-man schemes. A technique also used by middle school hall monitors.

--Zone blitz. The defense sends extra players after the quarterback while "dropping" others into pass coverage. For instance, a free safety tries to sack the quarterback while a defensive end covers a passing lane.

--Shotgun formation. Quarterback stands several yards behind the center to receive the snap, thus allowing more time to scan the field for open receivers or a running lane. Not to be confused with online dating.

--Spread formation. Multiple receivers go out for passes with few formations looking alike on consecutive plays. Typically, the quarterback is in the shotgun with only one running back and often no tight ends.

--Headset. Coaches wear these to communicate with other coaches watching from booths aside the pressbox. NFL quarterbacks have headsets built into their helmets, but college quarterbacks do not.

--Wildcat. Offensive formation known by different names in which the starting quarterback comes out and a running back or another athletic player takes the snaps to confuse the defense and offer a change-of-pace, often near the goaline.

People

--Dabo. A very young Dabo Swinney was dubbed "That Boy" by his brother Tripp, 17 months older. It became "Dat Bo" and finally the refined version. The Clemson head coach originally was named William.

--The HBC. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina's Head Ball Coach and a Heisman Trophy winner at Florida. Self-titled, though in a modest sort of way.

--Clowney. The new player everyone is buzzing about, South Carolina freshmen defensive end and sack specialist Jadeveon Clowney of Rock Hill.

--Clowny. ESPN analyst Lee Corso, often seen applying the headgear from school mascot outfits to signify which team he predicts will win on any given Saturday during ESPN's "GameDay" telecast.

--Heisman. The man, the myth, the most prestigious trophy is all of sports goes to college football's top player. The late John Heisman coached at Clemson among other stops.

Concepts

--Expansion. Conferences are constantly trying to position themselves for better television deals by adding schools and TV markets. Next likely moves: Texas A&M to the Southeastern Conference, and more dominoes falling.

--NCAA. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, the ruling body of college athletics. Coaches want a thinner rulebook. Others want more oversight and transparency.

--BCS. Bowl Championship Series. The top-rated 10 teams at the end of the season get to participate in the five best bowl games - Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta and BCS National Title game. Sure, people prefer a tournament-style playoff system involving eight teams but the aforementioned bowls are cash cows.

--Corn hole. A game in which tailgaters attempt to throw small sacks through holes in slanted wood at various distances. Safer, after a few cold ones, than horseshoes.

Places

--Toomer's Corner. Famed Auburn landmark known for charm and lemonade. Became the epicenter of the zany Alabama-Auburn rivalry last winter when a Crimson Tide fan was charged with poisoning nearby oak trees and fans from both teams united to condemn the incident and argue about Cam Newton.

--Shady's. Actual name of the bar near the LSU campus where Bayou Bengal players allegedly were involved in a recent fight that led to arrests and suspensions. What are the odds?

--Louisiana Superdome. Site of this season's New Orleans Bowl, Sugar Bowl and BCS National Championship Game.

--Indianapolis. Home of the NCAA.

--Bristol, Conn. Home of ESPN, the real ruling body of college football.

Reach Gene Sapakoff at 937-5593.