The sounds of spring: Helmets, pads and a coach's whistle

It's never too early to start spring practice.

Ask Texas, LSU, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Auburn. By Tuesday, those five schools will have begun spring drills. That means it's never too early to question what's going on there.

You don't expect fans who dress like this to be patient, do you? (Getty Images)

Just when you thought college hoops had taken over, here are the top 10 college football issues to dwell on while filling out your bracket ...

Over/under on attendance for Alabama's spring game: Put it at 67,000 at 92,000-seat Bryant-Denny Stadium on April 21.

That's another way of saying that after all the lies and coon asses, Nick Saban is going to have to win. Now. 'Bama Nation isn't expecting a nice December bowl game in Saban's first season. It's demanding an SEC title, at least.

Problem is Alabama doesn't have the team to get there quite yet. Saban might want to lob a call to Dennis Franchione and Mike Shula to find out this is a pass/fail class. Passing starts at 10 wins.

Teflon Trojans: Their coach might or might not have a wandering eye. The NCAA is looming on two fronts. There was the tragic death of its kicker.

But nothing fazes Southern California except maybe coeds on the quad on warm spring days. Pete Carroll is staying put for now. Half the NFL doesn't have USC's quarterback depth, especially if Arkansas' Mitch Mustain transfers to Troy.

The spring will be spent sifting through the young running backs before recruit Joe McKnight arrives in the fall.

In defense of Florida: Is it possible that Chris Leak will one day not be worthy of carrying Tim Tebow's jock? Yes. Can the defense replace the loss of three All-SEC performers? Yes.

This is another way of saying the defending national champs could be better than last season. Is it possible that even with all that Florida won't win the SEC? Yes, because it's the SEC.

The last conference team to win consecutive titles was Tennessee in 1998. Jarvis Moss' fingernail (that saved Florida against South Carolina) is gone. So is Troy Smith's worst enemy, Brandon Siler. Everybody will be gunning for the Gators.

The swagger, though, is back -- and before Tennessee, Florida won four in a row from 1993-96.