2012 College Football

[jazzcyclist]

So now Miles is trying to squeeze LSU for more money. I say let him go to Fayetteville if he's going to play these games. It's one thing for him to talk to the folks in Ann Harbor, where his heart still is, and where he might seriously want to coach at one day. But don't insult my intelligence by telling me you would leave LSU for Arkansas over a couple hundred thousand dollars.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ing-report

[preston]

So now Miles is trying to squeeze LSU for more money. I say let him go to Fayetteville if he's going to play these games. It's one thing for him to talk to the folks in Ann Harbor, where his heart still is, and where he might seriously want to coach at one day. But don't insult my intelligence by telling me you would leave LSU for Arkansas over a couple hundred thousand dollars.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ing-report

Ok. Was there a body transfer last night where you say something emotionally ridiculous about college football and I come in as the voice of reason? Miles ain't leaving and LSU can't afford to let him go. Big Programs like that just can't take a chance on the hot young assistant or flavor of the month mid-major coach taking over a program like that. LSU will make it worth his while...nothing to see here.

Separately, why doesn't the ACC kick "that school" out of the ACC now that they have Louisville? I would tell them that either they bring football to the mix or they can pound sand, but using the conference to for all sports but football makes the ACC look weak. No wonder Maryland left. (I would have chosen UCONN, but Louisville is the right choice)

[Dutra5]

Miles gets his extension.

[Marlow]

Miles gets his extension.

It's all about leverage . . .

[gh]

Be interesting to see who wins the Stanford/UCLA swim meet this evening. As in, hoo-boy is it wet here!

[Marlow]

Be interesting to see who wins the Stanford/UCLA swim meet this evening. As in, hoo-boy is it wet here!

When Kevin Hogan took the reins from Josh Nunes (SU QB), a great deal was made of the fact that Hogan was quite the mudder, having played many important games in sloppy weather. That, plus the fact that SU has 'sturdier' O and D lines, leads me to great optimism tonight!

(That, and the fact that we demolished them in LA last weekend and are now in their heads)


I think Mora will have UCLA better prepared this week (not wanting/needing to show his full hand last week), but to no avail!

[Marlow]

Great PAC-12 game last night. It was all even except for the interception (and return (to what really was a TD!!)). Now I gotta watch the Big-10 game today, a statement I'm sure I've never made before!

[Pego]

Great PAC-12 game last night. It was all even except for the interception (and return (to what really was a TD!!)). Now I gotta watch the Big-10 game today, a statement I'm sure I've never made before!

Combined Nebraska and Wisconsin marching bands just finished the national anthem. It was the way it should be, not the intolerable shrieks of pop "stars" as we are so often subjected to.

[Marlow]

Combined Nebraska and Wisconsin marching bands just finished the national anthem. It was the way it should be, not the intolerable shrieks of pop "stars" as we are so often subjected to.

Indeed. This is one of my favorites:
http://youtu.be/9ETrr-XHBjE

(though Whitney Houston DID do it justice http://youtu.be/xS-R7SM_-M4 )

[Pego]

Combined Nebraska and Wisconsin marching bands just finished the national anthem. It was the way it should be, not the intolerable shrieks of pop "stars" as we are so often subjected to.

Indeed. This is one of my favorites:
http://youtu.be/9ETrr-XHBjE

(though Whitney Houston DID do it justice http://youtu.be/xS-R7SM_-M4 )

I respectfully disagree.

[Marlow]

(though Whitney Houston DID do it justice http://youtu.be/xS-R7SM_-M4 )

I respectfully disagree.

I understand. The intent of the song is not to see how many musical fireworks you can set off; it's just that I think her voice supported the 'meaning'. I've lost track of how many times hearing it has made me cry and it's usually at the most random times. I was sitting in a little movie theater on a Navy base in Sigonella, Sicily, and the song came on with a picture of a flag waving. Everyone (mostly Navy Sailors) got up and sang along in very low voices. I was a wreck.

[Pego]

You will agree that the Badgers looked pretty good in the first half .

[26mi235]

63-17[24] with 13 [now 12] minutes left, Nebraska's ball, but I suspect that Wisconsin should be able to run the ball enough to get a first down or two, so the question is, can Nebraska recover five straight on-side kicks.

This game should go back into the T&F side, as it has been a track meet on the scale of Oregon so far (200 yards rushing for N, 450 for W).

[lonewolf]

[Combined Nebraska and Wisconsin marching bands just finished the national anthem. It was the way it should be, not the intolerable shrieks of pop "stars" as we are so often subjected to.

I'm with Pego on this. .."celebrities" and "artists" have no place at sporting events... unless they are varsity lettermen/women at one of the institutions.
The greatest spectacle in half time entertainment is the Texas A&M Marching Band...did you ever notice, friend or foe, no one goes to the concession stand or restroom at half time of an Aggie game?

[lonewolf]

I am not a football "expert" but after watching Alabama/Georgia does anyone think Notre Dame belongs on the field with either of them?

[j-a-m]

I am not a football "expert" but after watching Alabama/Georgia does anyone think Notre Dame belongs on the field with either of them?

Bama is gonna win that game nine times out of ten. I'd still like to see the best team from outside the SEC play the best SEC team for the title, even though there are probably six teams in the SEC that are better than ND.

[Pego]

Hey, all of you Stanford/Bay area bums, the cheeseheads here are itching for a fight . Let the trash talk commence .

[jazzcyclist]

I am not a football "expert" but after watching Alabama/Georgia does anyone think Notre Dame belongs on the field with either of them?

Are you suggesting that Notre Dame isn't in the same class as Georgia and Alabama or vice versa? I still remember when some folks on this board thought Oregon was invincible.

Georgia - They lost to South Carolina and Alabama, two of the three decent teams they played, because they couldn't stop the run, and they needed six turnovers to beat Florida, the other decent they played. Notre Dame has arguably the best run defense in the nation and their front seven is second to none.

Alabama - Their aura of invincibility was busted against LSU, Texas A&M and Georgia. Texas A&M beat them and they needed to be saved by the bell survive against LSU and Georgia. Even Nick Saban admitted that they got outplayed against LSU, and after yestereday's game he seemed like a person who had just survived a near-death experience.

Notre Dame - As mentioned earlier, they're built to stop the one thing that Alabama does best: stop the run. They held eight of their 12 opponents to their lowest score of the season, and freshman Everett Golson has gotten better with every game.

Here are my two questions:

1) How many times will ESPN show iconic black and white photos and videos of Knute Rockne and Bear Bryant between now and January 7?

2) What would you set the over-and-under at?

My answers: 1) 107, 2) 25

[jazzcyclist]

there are probably six teams in the SEC that are better than ND.

Come on man.

[gh]

Hey, all of you Stanford/Bay area bums, the cheeseheads here are itching for a fight . Let the trash talk commence .

you mean nerd nation vs. the only 5-loss team in Rose Bowl history?

[Marlow]

you mean nerd nation?

OK, but check our W-2s (well, except mine . . . )
Out Google residual checks alone could buy and sell that state six times over!!

Yes, and please refer to to Skov and Tarpley as Mr. Nerd.

[Pego]

Hey, all of you Stanford/Bay area bums, the cheeseheads here are itching for a fight . Let the trash talk commence .

you mean nerd nation vs. the only 5-loss team in Rose Bowl history?

Exactly. Almost every time Wisconsin goes to Rose Bowl we hear that they don't belong. We shall see .

[guru]

What the hell is wrong with Louisiana Tech's athletic director? Football program completes turnaround in going 9-3, he declines bowl invitation.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1430 ... 9-3-season


Players, needless to say, are a tad miffed

https://twitter.com/Jdb51me

[gh]

you mean nerd nation?

OK, but check our W-2s (well, except mine . . . )
Out Google residual checks alone could buy and sell that state six times over!!

Yes, and please refer to to Skov and Tarpley as Mr. Nerd.

you've obviously not kept up w/ your alma mater (by Twitter at least). That's a badge of honor.

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23nerdnation

[Marlow]

you've obviously not kept up w/ your alma mater (by Twitter at least). That's a badge of honor. https://twitter.com/search?q=%23nerdnation

Had not seen that - love it!
But . . . it was Nerd Central back when I went there too.
On the other hand, our entire Athletics Program finishes first nationally every year too, so you better refer to us as Jock Nation too!

[26mi235]

My wife's employer school plays her alma mater ('74, so overlaps barely with Marlow)--- and she could hardly care less.

[26mi235]

My wife's employer school plays her alma mater ('74, so overlaps barely with Marlow)--- and she could hardly care less.

As for Wisconsin, if they had scored seven more points they would almost be playing ND.

[gh]

And if Stanford hadn't gotten a blown call against Notre Dame to end their game.....

[Blues]

What the hell is wrong with Louisiana Tech's athletic director? Football program completes turnaround in going 9-3, he declines bowl invitation.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1430 ... 9-3-season


Players, needless to say, are a tad miffed

https://twitter.com/Jdb51me

Some of the media seems to be distorting the issue a little.. This situation was a tough one and was part of the fallout from Northern Illinois getting the Orange Bowl bid...

Louisiana Tech asked the Independence Bowl officials for more time to make a decision, because they were hoping for a berth in the higher paying Liberty Bowl, which they thought they had a good shot at getting. When Northern Illinois got the Orange Bowl berth however, it knocked Oklahoma out of the BCS, and the rest of the Big 12 teams slid as well, and Iowa State became eligible for the Liberty Bowl when they were knocked out of the Heart of Dallas Bowl by higher ranked Big 12 team Oklahoma State. The Liberty Bowl then decided to select Iowa State over Louisiana Tech. Since the Independence Bowl didn't want to risk losing out on a decent replacement by waiting any longer for Louisiana Tech's answer, they finally selected Ohio. When La Tech finally found out that they didn't get the Liberty Bowl berth, it was too late to accept the Independence Bowl bid.

http://www.latechsports.com/sports/m-fo ... um=twitter

It's evidently true that the schools and athletic administrators of La Tech and La Monroe aren't fond of each other, but that isn't the reason for Louisiana Tech's absence from the Independence Bowl game. From SBnation:

"While being interviewed for a story in September, Staub (ULM AD) acknowledged a current stalemate between the two programs -- after Louisiana Tech refused to play the Warhawks (formerly Indians) in football, ULM prohibited all of its scholarship sports from scheduling the Bulldogs."

http://www.sbnation.com/bowl-games-2012 ... -bowl-2012

[j-a-m]

Some of the media seems to be distorting the issue a little.. This situation was a tough one and was part of the fallout from Northern Illinois getting the Orange Bowl bid...

Apparently Louisiana Tech had time to accept the offer until Saturday afternoon, at which time Northern Illinois playing in a BCS bowl was the likely scenario.

Northern Illinois playing in a BCS bowl is no suprise. Coming into this weekend, the chance of the MAC champ making a BCS game was close to 50%, and after the UCLA loss on Friday it was about 70%.

[jazzcyclist]

Some of the media seems to be distorting the issue a little.. This situation was a tough one and was part of the fallout from Northern Illinois getting the Orange Bowl bid...

Apparently Louisiana Tech had time to accept the offer until Saturday afternoon, at which time Northern Illinois playing in a BCS bowl was the likely scenario.

Northern Illinois playing in a BCS bowl is no suprise. Coming into this weekend, the chance of the MAC champ making a BCS game was close to 50%, and after the UCLA loss on Friday it was about 70%.

Once again Brad Edwards got it wrong as he predicted Kent State to get in the BCS if they won, but not Northern Illinois if the won. Because of this, on Saturday, he had Oklahoma going to the BCS.

[Marlow]

Once again Brad Edwards got it wrong as he predicted . . .

Well . . .

Georgia maybe. No way Florida is jumping over Bama if Bama wins.

I don't know why you would say this. The computers don't know what name is on the jerseys, and like Georgia, Alabama has had only one signature win all season.

Yet they are both ahead of Florida right now. Whichever team wins will have it's "signature" win anyway and there's next to no chance Alabama gets passed.

I give up. Some people just don't understand simple math.

[jazzcyclist]

Well . . .

Well what? I stand by my previous posts. As you can see, the Alabama's win over Georgia had no effect on Florida's #2 ranking in the computer rankings, but there was never any way for Florida to get into the championship game as long as the voters had them ranked behind Oregon. Florida would have needed to be a strong #3 in the final human polls to jump over Alabama. I said that after the polls came out last week.

[Marlow]

Well . . .

Well what? I stand by my previous posts. As you can see, the Alabama's win over Georgia had no effect on Florida's #2 ranking in the computer rankings, but there was never any way for Florida to get into the championship game as long as the voters had them ranked behind Oregon. Florida would have needed to be a strong #3 in the final human polls to jump over Alabama. I said that after the polls came out last week.

Ah, nice spin move.

[preston]

Are you suggesting that Notre Dame isn't in the same class as Georgia and Alabama or vice versa? I still remember when some folks on this board thought Oregon was invincible.

Georgia - They lost to South Carolina and Alabama, two of the three decent teams they played, because they couldn't stop the run, and they needed six turnovers to beat Florida, the other decent they played. Notre Dame has arguably the best run defense in the nation and their front seven is second to none. Nearly every team in the SEC has some of the best running backs in college football and they do it all the while playing against the best run defenses in college football but some how you think there is a way to make 'that team' comparable? Apples to apples .

Alabama - Their aura of invincibility was busted against LSU, Texas A&M and Georgia. Texas A&M beat them and they needed to be saved by the bell survive against LSU and Georgia. Even Nick Saban admitted that they got outplayed against LSU, and after yestereday's game he seemed like a person who had just survived a near-death experience. Alabama's "aura of invicibility was burst by LSU, TXA&M and GA but 'that school's' was enhanced by playing Purdue within 3? Barely winning against MI? Nearly losing to BYU? Stanford getting cheated? Playing PITT to 3 OT's? And barely beating a BAD OK and USC team? The only positive for Alabama's BCS foe is that they have yet to lose this season. YET!!!

Notre Dame - As mentioned earlier, they're built to stop the one thing that Alabama does best: stop the run. They held eight of their 12 opponents to their lowest score of the season, and freshman Everett Golson has gotten better with every game. (Navy scored 10 on 'em and could only score 7 on Penn St and a field goal against San Jose st; Purdue scored 17 and played within 3 on 'em yet could only score 13 against MI 14 against WI and 9 against Penn St - losing by at least 24 points in those outings; BYU lost by 3 after scoring 2 touchdowns a week after BYU were blown out by Oregon St 42-24, they lost by 6 after two touchdowns to San Jose St; OK gave up 30 points to nearly half of their schedule; Pitt: lost to Youngstown St by two touchdowns; Lost to CIncy by 24; Lost to Syracuse by 1; lost to Louisville by 10; lost to UCONN by 7; and took 'that school' to 3 OT's ; Boston College: of the 10 games that BC lost only one school managed NOT TO score more than 21 points...yup, 'that school'; Wake: was beaten far worse by FSU and Vandy)

Here are my two questions:

1) How many times will ESPN show iconic black and white photos and videos of Knute Rockne and Bear Bryant between now and January 7?

2) What would you set the over-and-under at?

My answers: 1) 107, 2) 25