When Floyd Little was enshrined at Canton this month, Legends Poll member Dick MacPherson was there to help usher him in.

Which was fitting.

Because MacPherson was there when it all began.

Coach Mac was a Denver assistant when the Broncos drafted Little sixth overall in 1967, in the first common AFL-NFL draft. MacPherson saw firsthand how one man can rescue a franchise, change a city’s fortunes.

“He did a great public relations job, got us a new stadium,” recalled MacPherson, who would go on to coach Little’s alma mater, Syracuse.

“When we went there, [head coach] Lou Saban told us one night at dinner, ‘Don’t anybody buy a home.’”

The Broncos were rumored to be moving to Birmingham, Chicago, or elsewhere. Playing with unrivaled passion – he was the smallest back to lead the league in rushing since before World War II – Little attracted legions of fans who eventually approved the expansion of Mile High Stadium.

“Being from New Haven, he was dreaming of going to the New York Jets. Then he has to go to Denver, which is the pits of the AFL at the time,” MacPherson said. “We played in a minor-league baseball park. The coaches were in a quonset hut for an office. That’s the kind of shape we were in.

“But from the moment he got there, he became a salesman. We were able to take good care of Floyd, and he paid us back in spades.

“He saved the franchise and look what happened to it,” MacPherson added, referring to a string of sellouts that continues today. “It’s a great story. It’s a Floyd Little story. To his death, Lou Saban would say, ‘He’s the guy who made the difference.’”

Like many, MacPherson can’t fathom why it took 35 years for Little to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Little retired in 1975 as the 7^th-leading rusher in NFL history. He also was an outstanding receiver, kick returner and blocker. Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham called Little “the most complete back I ever played against.”

“The mystery was why he wasn’t in before,” MacPherson said.

Their relationship grew stronger in 1981 when MacPherson took over at Syracuse. MacPherson suspects Little helped get him the job. Coach “Mac” was a Cleveland Browns assistant when he got the offer.

“There was no application – they called me,” said MacPherson, a Maine native who jumped at the opportunity.

In leading the Orangemen to a 66-46-4 mark, including 11-0-1 in 1987, MacPherson relied heavily on the tradition established by Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, and Little, a three-time All-American.

“I had Floyd talk to my team five times, whenever he came in,” MacPherson said. “He was there whenever we needed anything. He loved Syracuse for what it did for him. Plus his daughter came to school there, and I was looking out for her.

“That was the nice thing about the Hall of Fame ceremony. There were people from [his childhood in] Connecticut, Denver Broncos people, Syracuse people.

“Once you meet Floyd Little, it’s amazing how he makes you feel like you’ve always known him. That’s a very special guy.”

It’s the kind of non-conference game fans crave but rarely get.

Top-10 teams. East vs. West. National championship implications.

Now that’s the way to open a season.

When Boise State and Virginia Tech clash Sept. 6 at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. (8 p.m, ESPN), Legends Poll member Bobby Ross will be there scouting these BCS title contenders.

“The winner immediately thrusts themselves into the title picture but the loser is still not out of it,” said Ross, who led Georgia Tech to the 1990 national title and the San Diego Chargers to the Super Bowl following the 1994 season.

“The winner goes right to the top of the BCS almost immediately.”

Unlike many powerhouses who tune up for conference play with cupcakes, Virginia Tech and Boise State have shown a willingness to open against like competition. Tech faced eventual national champ Alabama in last year’s Chick-fil-A kickoff in Atlanta, while Boise hosted Oregon, which went on to win the Pac-10.

“Virginia Tech likes to find out where they are as a ballclub real quickly,” Ross said. “Both teams are used to [season-opening showdowns]. They know what has to be done to get prepared.”

Coach Ross gives us his matchups to watch:

Tech’s inexperienced defense vs. Boise’s multiple shifts, formations

The Hokies have seven new starters on defense. And the unit’s signal-caller, inside linebacker Barquell Rivers, is out with a torn quadriceps. His replacement, sophomore Bruce Taylor, is making his first start.

“The Hokies’ defense is very young and very talented, lots of good athletes, but Boise’s offense will give them problems not only with who they’ve got. There’s a lot of movement to their offense and it has a purpose. How is Tech going to adjust to the motion, the shifting, the unusual formations?

“They’re trying to get an advantage numerically at the line of scrimmage, or they’re trying to create a mismatch [on the outside]. And when you throw in the trick plays they come up with, it just adds to the adjustment problems Virginia Tech will have.

“When you start having to think, it slows down your movement. You lose your intensity. Is Tech ready? Bruce Taylor can get ‘em into the right [alignment], but the young players have to adjust. That’s very big.”

Boise’s defensive front vs. Tyrod Taylor

“Can the front seven keep him in the pocket, in the net? That’s huge.

“Some people have got Taylor the fifth-best QB in the ACC – I can’t imagine that. That kid has made such improvement in his throwing, his touch, but he’s still a tremendous scrambler. All you’ve got to do is ask Nebraska about that. They lost the game on two plays in which he scrambled.”

For those who don’t remember, Taylor threw an 81-yard completion, then an 11-yard touchdown with 21 seconds left, to beat Nebraska 16-15 last year. On the game-winner, Taylor escaped defenders for nearly 10 seconds.

“The thing about him is he keeps his vision downfield. That’s changed a lot. And his throwing ability has changed too, for the better.”

Special teams

Playmakers abound.

Boise’s Titus Young took back two kickoffs for touchdowns last year. Tech’s Dyrell Roberts averaged 32 yards per kickoff return, third-best in the nation, and Jayron Hosley returned a punt for a score.

Boise boasts a senior placekicker and punter, Kyle Brotzman, who should be calm under Tech’s rush.

“Boise cannot give Tech any big plays in the kicking game. The big plays they’re able to create in the return game, or with a blocked kick, are a very big emotional thing for Virginia Tech.”

In 283 games under Coach Frank Beamer, the Hokies have blocked 128 kicks.

“When it happens, it ignites their football team and their crowd, and they’re going to have the better crowd by a long shot. Frank is the guy who coaches it, and they do a great job. It’s amazing the things they’ve done in the kicking game.”

Harassing Kellen Moore

“The Hokies have just one starter returning on the defensive line, but they’re very talented. They’re going to have to get good pressure. When you get a passer like that, the only thing that works is pressure.”

Moore threw for more than 3,500 yards last year, with an incredible 39-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He’s a career 67 percent passer.

“He is without a doubt one of the most accurate passers I’ve ever seen. He’s very calm, very poised, just a heck of an accurate quarterback.

In addition to the quarterbacks, Coach Ross said he’s excited to get a first-hand look at…

Boise WR Austin Pettis: “He’s a tall kid who runs well, has very long arms, excellent hands. Great route runner.” The 6-3 senior caught 14 TDs last season.

Tech RB Ryan Williams: “That kid is special. The most explosive kid I’ve seen in a long time. Great vision, runs really tough, with power. He’s got the whole package.” Williams ran for 1,655 yards and 22 scores last year.

Tech CB Jayron Hosley: The sophomore is expected to start at field corner opposite Rashad Carmichael.

“I know Frank is as high on him as anybody he’s ever had. He was a return specialist last year. He’s very, very talented. But Pettis has the experience and this will be his first start. The matchup between Hosley and Pettis is going to be very interesting.”

Not surprisingly, Coach Ross expects a very tight game.

“Everyone’s talking about Tech losing seven starters from their defense, but they’re very talented, they have good size, they can always run and they’re very tough.

“Both teams are going to be able to run the ball, but I think Tech is the better running team. Both teams are loaded at running back.

“When you get to a game like this, it goes back to the same things all the time. Turnovers, number one. And the kicking game.

“Tech’s inexperience on defense hurts, but the athleticism and the crowd kind of make up for that.

“I think it’s an even thing.”

Since 2000, nearly 40 percent of teams that began the year ranked in the preseason Coaches’ Poll did not end the season ranked in the final Coaches’ Poll. You know, the one that matters.

On average, that’s nearly 10 teams per season that in August are considered among the nation’s best, but are nowhere to be found in January.

“[Preseason rankings] have one real value — it gets us all talking about it,” said College Football Hall of Famer John Robinson, one of 19 members of the Legends Poll. “But I don’t think anybody who votes on it does enough research to say specifically who is going to do what.”

That’s not a knock on the 59 head coaches who vote. Considering the limited information available at this time of year, hitting 60 percent isn’t bad. Basically, preseason magazines and last year’s memories are all the coaches have to analyze.

“You get a summer magazine, but you don’t devour it,” said former Washington coach Don James. “You focus on what is being written about your opponents. Outside of them, it’s hard to know a lot about the other teams across the country.”

Nevertheless, the USA Today Preseason Coaches’ Poll was released Friday, even though more than half of the FBS programs had not yet held their first practice. But, like Robinson said, it gets people talking.

Defending champion Alabama is the overwhelming pick at No. 1. The Crimson Tide received 55 of 59 possible votes, despite having just two returning starters on defense.

Ohio State, Florida, Texas and Boise State round out the Top 5. Those five teams also finished last season in the Top 5.

Alabama and Florida were the only two SEC teams in the top 15, but a total of six made the poll.

“That seems about right,” said former UGA head coach Vince Dooley, whose Bulldogs squeaked in at No. 21. “With 10 returning starters on offense, and two of the best kickers in the nation, I think you could make a case for [UGA] being like 13 or 14.”

The ACC landed five teams in the poll, with No. 6 Virginia Tech leading the way. The Hokies open the season against No. 5 Boise State on Labor Day at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.

The Big Ten placed four teams, highlighted by the second-ranked Buckeyes and No. 10 Iowa.  Wisconsin is No. 12 and Penn State No. 14.

“Right now, those are probably the top teams in the conference,” said former Indiana coach Bill Mallory. “And, of course, everyone wants to see what Michigan is going to do.”

Rich Rodriguez’s Wolverines weren’t among those receiving votes.

The Big 12 was next with three teams, all in the Top 10.

“That says a lot about the strength of that league. (No. 4) Texas, (No. 8) Oklahoma and (No. 9) Nebraska are powerful teams,” former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said.

The Pac-10, Mountain West and Big East each had two representatives in the opening poll.

Click here to view the full poll

USA Today Top 25 Coaches’ Poll: Preseason

(first-place votes)

1. Alabama (55)

2. Ohio State (4)

3. Florida

4. Texas

5. Boise State

6. Virginia Tech

7. TCU

8. Oklahoma

9. Nebraska

10. Iowa

11. Oregon

12. Wisconsin

13. Miami (Fla.)

14. Penn State

15. Pittsburgh

16. LSU

17. Georgia Tech

18. North Carolina

19. Arkansas

20. Florida State

21. Georgia

22. Oregon State

23. Auburn

t-24. Utah

t-24. West Virginia