2011 NCAA Football Thread

[Pentegarn]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2011/03/09/2011-03-09_jim_tressels_suspension_calls_into_question_whe ther_ohio_state_values_football_p.html?r=sports

Apparently, Tressel knew about the tatoo thing since April.

His defense as I read it elsewhere was he was informed of this at the time by a lawyer via letter and thought is was supposed to be part of a later deposition so he kept quiet.

All that being said, he did get a sizable fine and a 2 game suspension. The writer of the previous article is whining though saying he should be fired and that other coaches would have been.

How often do coaches get fired though over things like this? Not very, and there are violations all the time. They didn't fire Dick Rod from MU for his practice violations. (he had to suck for multiple seasons to get fired) I can't help but notice Gene Chizik is still employed after the Cam Newton thing. To say other coaches would be fired is an absurd anti OSU agenda driven statement. And where was this 'journalist' when Pete Caroll ran like a coward to the NFL mere days before the NCAA dropped the hammer on USC? I don't recall seeing any take from Dick Weiss, or anyone else in the sports media for that matter, on what was clearly a coach fleeing from what he caused. At least Tressel stayed and faced the NCAA, he didn't suddenly take a job at San Fransisco.

[Babs]

This saddens me

[WhiteRat]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2011/03/09/2011-03-09_jim_tressels_suspension_calls_into_question_whe ther_ohio_state_values_football_p.html?r=sports

Apparently, Tressel knew about the tatoo thing since April.

His defense as I read it elsewhere was he was informed of this at the time by a lawyer via letter and thought is was supposed to be part of a later deposition so he kept quiet.

All that being said, he did get a sizable fine and a 2 game suspension. The writer of the previous article is whining though saying he should be fired and that other coaches would have been.

How often do coaches get fired though over things like this? Not very, and there are violations all the time. They didn't fire Dick Rod from MU for his practice violations. (he had to suck for multiple seasons to get fired) I can't help but notice Gene Chizik is still employed after the Cam Newton thing. To say other coaches would be fired is an absurd anti OSU agenda driven statement. And where was this 'journalist' when Pete Caroll ran like a coward to the NFL mere days before the NCAA dropped the hammer on USC? I don't recall seeing any take from Dick Weiss, or anyone else in the sports media for that matter, on what was clearly a coach fleeing from what he caused. At least Tressel stayed and faced the NCAA, he didn't suddenly take a job at San Fransisco.

It was explicitly noted, hell it was even underlined, in Tressell's contract that he must notify his superiors if any wrongdoing has been committed, blah blah, etc. He broke the terms of his contract with his employer and that is cause for termination.

As for as Chizik is concerned, he did nothing wrong. The issue with Newton and his pimp father regarded his recruitment by Mississippi State, not Auburn. Auburn's house of cards will come tumbling down in due time (for other nefarious reasons) but as far as we know Chizik's hands were clean of the Newton mess.

Carroll's situation can't be used as precedent here either as his issues were all speculation. In all likelihood he probably knew about the Bush fiasco but the only evidence they had that implicated anyone on the USC staff was some dirt onthe RB coach I believe (who was fired after). I could be wrong on specifics but i'm pretty sure it went down this way.

Tressell's case is much different because we have actual emails that prove his wrongdoing. Add that to the contract terms I mentioned prior and you have actual evidence that implicates him, not mere speculation.

For what it's worth, i've generally rooted for OSU football as I HATE Michigan and they are the only B10 team that consistently competes in the Top 10 but the sweater vest was busted red handed this time. The NCAA does not take kindly to being lied to and I hope they come down even harder on Tressell for it.

Tressell is no different than many other dirty coaches and his actions have proved that, not an anti-osu bias.

[Pentegarn]

Put it another way, had this been an SEC coach it would have been a no story, plain and simple

[WhiteRat]

Put it another way, had this been an SEC coach it would have been a no story, plain and simple

That's true to an extent. Most if not all college programs have some sort of dirt built up but corruption and cheating in the SEC is not only known, it's kind of expected at this point. I'm not saying that the NCAA looks the other way (just ask Bama about that) it's just that the average fan and the sports media knows the type of games that the SEC plays. Tressell on the other hand, has built himself up as some sort of some great do gooder (his book is a joke now) that wins the right way and runs a clean ship. Obviously when smoke pours from OSU everyone wants to come watch. That's a product of Tressell's doing in the end, not the medias or any sort of anti-OSU bias.

[Pentegarn]

Sounds like your endorsing media inconsistency

Personally I prefer to call media inconsistency out. They will continue to report in this cherry pick style that shelters the semi pro league known as the SEC as long as everyone lets them get away with it.

But it isn't just the media, the NCAA gets their panties in a wad because student athletes sell some stuff to a tatoo parlor, yet when Cam Newton gets paid to play (and don't kid yourself there, he was paid to play no matter how the SEC and his father choose to spin it) the NCAA says it is no problem at all, we have no plans to pursue this. Which pretty much put the NCAA stamp of approval on the SEC paying athletes through precedent. Had Prior and co played for LSU, Florida, et all, the NCAA would have 'no plans to pursue this' too. But the Big 10 is not as glamorous so they don't get to have as many perks. If the NCAA wants to enforce the purity of collegiate athletics, perhaps they should lead by example. Failing that, they should go the rest of the way, declare themselves a true business and start following the laws other businesses have to. Like being a monopoly, paying taxes, and all the other stuff they seem to get away with in the current fucked up system they have somehow managed to grow.

[WhiteRat]

The media is biased, that's nothing new. But, that doesn't change the fact that Jim Tressell is a dirty coach. The emails and his lies have proved that much. That is the important issue at hand here.

Show me the hard evidence that Gene Chizik and his staff paid Cam Newton or his father for Newton play at Auburn. You can't, you're pulling crap out of the air to try prove a point.

If you want to go that way I can also say that OSU got off easy. 2 game suspension and 8% salary reduction for lying to your bosses, blatantly violating the terms of your contract, and attempting to sweep up major violations under the rug? I can sit here as a fan of a football program that has been mediocre to awful for the last 40 years and say that had this happen to Minnesota, there would much more hell to pay. It's funny to hear OSU fans and their "us against the world" outlook when it seems that everyone outside of Columbus feels the opposite. Explain to me how suspending 5 players for the NEXT season but allowing them to play in a BCS bowl game isn't complete bullshit? Oh I now, it's because Tressell was so desperate for that illusive SEC win that he was willing to throw integrity and his own self-built image out the window by letting those guys play. I guess I really can't blame him though as OSU gets demolished had the players been suspended. It's a load cf crap and the NCAA is once again turning a blind eye to one of the big dogs.

You can bitch and moan all you want about Cam Newton and the SEC and how everyone is trying to gang up on OSU but it doesn't change the fact that JIM TRESSELL IS A HYPOCRITE AND A DIRTY COACH. He's had a trail of suspicion going back to his YSU days. If you want anyone to complain about in this whole situation it's your dirty coach who tried to cover-up major ncaa violations.

[WhiteRat]

Speaking of Auburn, 4 players were booted off the team today for being naughty naughty boys:

Starting safety Mike McNeil and reserve wide recievers Shaun Kitchens and Antonio Goodwin and tight end Dakota Mosley have been detained.

According to police, a gun was recovered when the foursome was stopped.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/03/four-auburn-players-dismissed-armed-robbery/1

[Pentegarn]

Explain to me how suspending 5 players for the NEXT season but allowing them to play in a BCS bowl game isn't complete bullshit? Oh I now, it's because Tressell was so desperate for that illusive SEC win that he was willing to throw integrity and his own self-built image out the window by letting those guys play. I guess I really can't blame him though as OSU gets demolished had the players been suspended. It's a load cf crap and the NCAA is once again turning a blind eye to one of the big dogs.

Convenient that you forget those in charge of the BCS had more to do with that decision than anyone else and they insisted that those 5 OSU players be allowed to play because it would hurt network ratings if they were removed from the bowl game.

Follow the money, you'll see what really goes on and how the NCAA is really ran. You see a dirty coach, I see a pragmatic man who decided that if the SEC can get away with it in the open, then why should he not try to get some stuff over on the sly to level the field. The reason the SEC's actions are constantly swept under the rug is they make the NCAA a load of cash.

Follow the money and you see why Gee didn't bother with a larger punishment against Tressel. This is why if the NCAA drops the hammer on OSU they are being hypocrites and favoring the SEC. They created this mess when they got in bed with the BCS and now they have to balance the spinning plates they created.

And as for the pulling stuff out of thin air, Auburn knew about Cam Newton's past, and if they did not they are very bad at research. Yet they pushed their chips to the table and kept him playing anyway. The reason? Because there was a ton of money to be made and a national championship to be won. Follow the money.

You say Tressel is dirty but he's not unique, for example Pete Carrol fled to the NFL when he saw the writing on the wall. Speaking of fleeing what is Urban Meyer fleeing from? Because I don't for a second buy his reason for his abrupt departure. If I can see that sitting here, you bet the NCAA can too. But you can also bet there's more than a good chance they will not be pursuing it further (just like with Auburn). Not if you follow the money.

[MailCall]

The link doesn't work for me. It is an error message saying I am not a member. I've been away a long time, but I am now back but on parole.

[Pentegarn]

The link doesn't work for me. It is an error message saying I am not a member. I've been away a long time, but I am now back but on parole.

Wrong thread bro bro

[MailCall]

Wrong thread bro bro
Huh? Is this the Senior Open Challenge thread?

[WhiteRat]

Convenient that you forget those in charge of the BCS had more to do with that decision than anyone else and they insisted that those 5 OSU players be allowed to play because it would hurt network ratings if they were removed from the bowl game.

Follow the money, you'll see what really goes on and how the NCAA is really ran. You see a dirty coach, I see a pragmatic man who decided that if the SEC can get away with it in the open, then why should he not try to get some stuff over on the sly to level the field. The reason the SEC's actions are constantly swept under the rug is they make the NCAA a load of cash.

Follow the money and you see why Gee didn't bother with a larger punishment against Tressel. This is why if the NCAA drops the hammer on OSU they are being hypocrites and favoring the SEC. They created this mess when they got in bed with the BCS and now they have to balance the spinning plates they created.

And as for the pulling stuff out of thin air, Auburn knew about Cam Newton's past, and if they did not they are very bad at research. Yet they pushed their chips to the table and kept him playing anyway. The reason? Because there was a ton of money to be made and a national championship to be won. Follow the money.

You say Tressel is dirty but he's not unique, for example Pete Carrol fled to the NFL when he saw the writing on the wall. Speaking of fleeing what is Urban Meyer fleeing from? Because I don't for a second buy his reason for his abrupt departure. If I can see that sitting here, you bet the NCAA can too. But you can also bet there's more than a good chance they will not be pursuing it further (just like with Auburn). Not if you follow the money.

You can stop ranting about the NCAA. I'm not dumb, i'm a rabid college football fan that is well aware of how the NCAA and college football works.

You can put as much lipstick on the pig as you want, but Tressell is a hypocrite and a dirty coach. He's now joined the ranks with the rest of the crooked SEC coaches that Buckeye fans so gloriously championed him to be above. Just take off the blinders and read this article, which I feel is the best opinion on the issue:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/stewart_mandel/03/08/ohio.state.jim.tressel.sanctions/index.html?xid=siextra_030911

[MailCall]

I agree that Tressell holds the same regard as other coaches with similar transgressions. But see this: Ohio State is and continues to be under the fingernail scrutiny of every media outlet--especially ESPN--in the country. And to think that SEC prejudice in football doesn't exist is blindness. I believe that OSU endeavors to protect JT with the same vigor that it endears Griffin's two Heismans. The OSU sports program as a whole has suffered its share of deserved or otherwise hammering in the past, and as the AD and boosters see in the media, whatever measures that can lead to a lessening of impact would be welcomed. This would be true at any school. So, yes, Tressell has his skeletons hidden behind his scarlet vest and occasional thin glasses. But don't be so quick in including him in what is already a crowded pool.

[Pentegarn]

He's a Gopher fan, this is his revenge wet dream for the constant and repeated pounding OSU gives them over the decades. :lol

When you school's best accomplishment is loaning your stadium to the Vikings for a week Schadenfreude is really all you have :lol

[WhiteRat]

He's a Gopher fan, this is his revenge wet dream for the constant and repeated pounding OSU gives them over the decades. :lol

When you school's best accomplishment is loaning your stadium to the Vikings for a week Schadenfreude is really all you have :lol

So now you're resorting to making this personal for some reason? Dude, chill out and relax. Just because someone has a dissenting opinion that doesn't mean you have to make it personal to try to somehow discredit it. And for the record, like I mentioned in my first post, i've generally rooted for Ohio State as they are the only team in the Big 10 as of late that is consistently a national title contender. There is no ill will there, but keep pretending that everyone is out to get Ohio State. I don't want to see OSU fall as that would make it easier for Wisconsin to take the top spit in their division. But I want to see Tressell get punished for lying to his bosses and the NCAA.

For what it's worth, there are only 2 other school in the Big Ten that have more national championships than Minnesota.

[Pentegarn]

Personal? They were jokes. You saw the :lol s didn't you? This is still i-mockery isn't it?

[Pentegarn]

Also if you don't think a 250k fine isn't a big punishment, is it ok if I borrow 250k from you? :lol

[WhiteRat]

Personal? They were jokes. You saw the :lol s didn't you? This is still i-mockery isn't it?

oops I forgot about that!

[WhiteRat]

Also if you don't think a 250k fine isn't a big punishment, is it ok if I borrow 250k from you? :lol

Of course you can't. I don't have 250k. But 250k is 8% of Jim Tessell's salary, so you might want to ask him.

[Pentegarn]

oops I forgot about that!

It's easy to forget that in here, we don't usually get the chance to talk smack at each other cause it is usually a Big 10 love in going on :lol

[Pentegarn]

Also, when do we have to start calling the Big 10 the Big 12?

[WhiteRat]

It's easy to forget that in here, we don't usually get the chance to talk smack at each other cause it is usually a Big 10 love in going on :lol

See that's the problem as the only schools that really get talked about here are OSU, Mich St and Minn, two schools which I don't hate. We need a Badger fan or even an Indiana fan so that Minn won't be the worst team around here.

[Pentegarn]

Badgers do OK though, they seem to have OSU's number...

come to think of it, we don't need a Sconnie fan in here pissing further in my cornflakes :lol

[WhiteRat]

Badgers do OK though, they seem to have OSU's number...

come to think of it, we don't need a Sconnie fan in here pissing further in my cornflakes :lol

I want a rival here to talk shit to.

[MailCall]

The bottom line is this: we are all human. The college sports world in particular is a demanding and unforgiving sort--i.e. Oklahoma just fired Capel in a season fraught with coaching changes. AD's, coaches and even university presidents are under pressure to keep the NCAA ATMs running. It may be wrong to bend the rules, but it is understandable given the climate.

[MailCall]

Ha! Look at this. Former Buckeye and now talking head Kirk Herbstreit has moved from Columbus to Nashville.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/-8216-Relentless-8217-Buckeye-fans-have-drive?urn=ncaaf-wp39

[Babs]

Never really did like that Herbstreit guy.

[Pentegarn]

Nobody in Columbus likes Herbstreit though

Used to be one guy that did but he moved to Nashville :lol

[Babs]

Wasn't he a pretty disappointing quarterback?

[Pentegarn]

He was a notch below Germain's skill level if memory serves

[MailCall]

http://www.totalfootballstats.com/PlayerQB.asp?id=1218327

Not too impressive.

[Pentegarn]

That's even less impressive than I remember

[Babs]

That's even less impressive than I remember

Can I even concur beyond concurring in this point?

[Pentegarn]

Can I even concur beyond concurring in this point?

cQ_fnaJDsgA

[Pentegarn]

Wrong thread edit

[WhiteRat]

Jim Tressell in more hot water:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6257370

[WhiteRat]

Remember the 13 year old that Lane Kiffin offered last year? Well now the kid has attended his first practice. Go Lane!

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/25/get-your-creep-on-14-year-old-qb-phenom-talks-usc-offer/

[Colonel Flagg]

Does the kid have an agent yet?

[Pentegarn]

If he is doing radio interviews he has a handler at least

[WhiteRat]

If he is doing radio interviews he has a handler at least

If I remember correctly his dad and the recruiting video service he hired to pimp out his kid are already doing all the handling at this point.

[Colonel Flagg]

So, then. Everyone is bending the rules. Or found a loophole they could drive a Big Wheel through anyway.

[Babs]

the NCAA is turning into Disney.

[WhiteRat]

So, then. Everyone is bending the rules. Or found a loophole they could drive a Big Wheel through anyway.

I should make it clear that no rules are being broken here. Kiffen never actually offered him a scholarship, basically the kid made a verbal commitment which Kiffen accepted. As far as going to practice is concerned, Kiffen is in the clear on this as well as the kid is still in 8th grade...once he completes 8th grade he will no longer be able to attend practice, you know, since sane coaches don't cozy up to 8th graders anyway.

I hate Kiffen and I think he's morally wrong here but no rules were broken.

[Pentegarn]

I wonder if a new rule will be implemented because of this?

The real laugh here is how do we really know this 8th grader's talent won't plateau early? If it does won't Lane look the fool

[Colonel Flagg]

I hate Kiffen and I think he's morally wrong here but no rules were broken.

You are probably spot on, but I can't really comment, since I am not an expert on NCAA rules violations. However, I submit that no rules were broken because even the NCAA in its wildest imaginings never considered something like this occurring.

I wonder if a new rule will be implemented because of this?

Exactly.

[WhiteRat]

I wonder if a new rule will be implemented because of this?

The real laugh here is how do we really know this 8th grader's talent won't plateau early? If it does won't Lane look the fool

Yeah the article mentions that. It's interesting because it could put Lane (or another coach if he's canned in the future) in a tough situation. Kid hits his peak after his sophomore year and is more of a Sun Belt or a 1AA player, Lane pulls the scholly and the kids dream is shattered. He's proven himself to be scummy enough to do such a thing. On the flip side though he could try to save face and give the kid a scholly anyway but he's just taking up a scholly that could be used on a better player.

It'll be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out in 4 years.

[Pentegarn]

Lane (or another coach if he's canned in the future)

Which is about a 50/50 chance if you ask me

[WhiteRat]

Could this be the tip of the iceberg? I still predict that Auburn will eventually lose their crystal ball.

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/ex-auburn-tigers-players-reveal-pay-for-play-details-032911

[Pentegarn]

They may lose the ball, but not that bowl money they got for it. I think they both knew/didn't care about it

[WhiteRat]

In the spirit of the end of March Madness, here is One Shining Moment college football edition:

_8VvDLwPvQo

[WhiteRat]

Here's a great article on what could potentially fix some of the problems in college football that are really coming to the forefront lately:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/14900090/action-needed-with-college-footballs-integrity-on-the-line

BTW, if you have the CBS College Sports network, the author, Tony Barnhart, has a great hour long show during the season that's definitely worth checking out. He actually focuses on the game of football and even delves into a little bit of politics (as they pertain to the game).

[Pentegarn]

Jason Whitlock had a few interesting things to say about college athletics. His argument for paying college football and basketball mens athletes was interesting. He even has a pretty simple but effective counterargument for the 'well if you pay college football and basketball mens athletes you need to pay all the other sports'. That counterargument was 'capitalism works like this: if you draw a crowd and make money, you deserve to be paid, if you don't, then you do not deserve to be paid'

[WhiteRat]

I'm a big fan of rewarding revenue sports but then we'd have every woman and member of academia screaming to high heaven about Title IX and that's a mess that i'm sure most universities wouldn't want a part of.

[WhiteRat]

ESPN doin it's thang:
http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/ESPN-Aaron-Douglas-disgrace1.png
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/12/espn-apologizes-for-tasteless-post-on-aaron-douglas-death/

[Colonel Flagg]

My initial thought was "they can't ba serious" - but apparently they were.

Classless does not adequately describe that post.

[Pentegarn]

Seems more like an onion article doesn't it?

[Pentegarn]

Bombshell, Columbus Ohio. Jim Tressel has resigned

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6606999

I defended him in the past but now I am convinced he has decided to flee much like Pete Carroll did. Now I am forced to sit and dread what else he did because I am now sure there will be more to come and Tressel has fled from it

[WhiteRat]

SI has an interesting take on his resignation:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andy_staples/05/30/Jim.Tressel.OSU/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a2

Also rumors are heating up on the interwebs that SI is going to publish a "damning" story tonight on OSU's football program.

Doubtful they get punished any worse than USC, IMO.

[WhiteRat]

Here's a pretty good timeline of Tressel's career:
http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com/2011/05/dotting-lie.html

[Pentegarn]

They'd better not anyway, or all the things I have thought about the NCAA will be proven right

[Babs]

Usher in Urban Meyer. A local boy who got his first start in coaching at Ohio State. Would definitely be interesting.

[Pentegarn]

God I hope not

[WhiteRat]

The only way I see Meyer coaching at OSU is as the replacement for whoever they hire after Tressell. No way do I see Meyer coaching his first few years at a school under probation, scholarship reductions, etc.

Also Ohioans, you gotta love this:

http://i52.tinypic.com/2hfq5pi.png

[WhiteRat]

Shit is bout to get a whole lot worse:
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/05/30/zzz.html

[Pentegarn]

Here's a pretty good timeline of Tressel's career:
http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com/2011/05/dotting-lie.html

My issue with that one is it is entirely slanted from the view of a MU fan so of course it will look like that. But MU has no rights to say anything, they hired Rich Rod once after all

[WhiteRat]

And boom goes the dynamite:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/magazine/05/30/jim.tressel/index.html

Oh Tressell you hound!

One of Tressel's duties then was to organize and run the Buckeyes' summer camp. Most of the young players who attended it would never play college football, but a few were top prospects whom Ohio State was recruiting. At the end of camp, attendees bought tickets to a raffle with prizes such as cleats and a jersey. According to his fellow assistant, Tressel rigged the raffle so that the elite prospects won -- a potential violation of NCAA rules. Says the former colleague, who asked not to be identified because he still has ties to the Ohio State community, "In the morning he would read the Bible with another coach. Then, in the afternoon, he would go out and cheat kids who had probably saved up money from mowing lawns to buy those raffle tickets. That's Jim Tressel."

[Pentegarn]

Tressel is in prestigious company. Like Urban Meyers and Pete Carroll before he bravely ran away away

FgCq7oQ-dZE

[Pentegarn]

Shit is bout to get a whole lot worse:
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/05/30/zzz.html

And here's a better reply to Michigan fan

Hey Michigan fan how was your Memorial Day? I’m guessing the burgers were a little juicier and the brews a little colder in the mitten yesterday. Because you know, you’ll never get hammered by Jim Tressel ever again. And were probably bumping hail to the victor’s on repeat on your iPod dock at the barbeque in celebration. Well, you shouldn’t have been. You didn’t get over and now you’ll never have a chance to get even. You’ll never get another shot at the gym teacher who abused you so badly over the past decade. Sure, he leaves in shame, but he leaves 9-1 against y’all, so you be nearly as ashamed as he is. And you’ll never have the chance to make that right. Never get the opportunity to rip your dignity back from him. So stop acting like you ran him out of Columbus. If anything, you’re the reason he didn’t get run off sooner.

[WhiteRat]

So have the Buckeye faithful turned on Pryor yet? I saw pics of his nice shiny 350Z that he drove to a player's only meeting last night and supposedly some network is going to run another damning story on him and his chronies. Something about pictures of some sticky and some guns.

[Pentegarn]

Actually I don't think it makes a difference if the fans turned on him or not now he is pretty much done playing for OSU

[WhiteRat]

The guy was trouble when during his recruitment he held a press conference to announce that he was delaying his commitment press conference. Also Charlie Batch was his mentor during the process so there ya go.

[Babs]

You're just pissed because Minnesota has a poor collegiate football program.

All that aside, Ohio State is a legendary program and will rebuild itself to be at the top again. Bob Stoops, Jon Gruden, Urban Meyer, etc... names of such can only promote a optimistic view on the bleak future provided for what is to be Ohio State's new football program, but one thing is for certain. OSU will indefinitely put its self in the position to be a worthy contender year in and year out, no matter what the circumstances may be.

[Pentegarn]

While Minnesota does have a struggling program, Whiterat has been accurate, Prior is trouble, Tressel cheats, and as it turns out, Tressel lied about his integrity as well which is the biggest slap in the face of all. If Whiterat is pissed about anything it is that this put a black mark in the Big 10's rep, and let's face it he is right about that.

[WhiteRat]

You're just pissed because Minnesota has a poor collegiate football program.

All that aside, Ohio State is a legendary program and will rebuild itself to be at the top again. Bob Stoops, Jon Gruden, Urban Meyer, etc... names of such can only promote a optimistic view on the bleak future provided for what is to be Ohio State's new football program, but one thing is for certain. OSU will indefinitely put its self in the position to be a worthy contender year in and year out, no matter what the circumstances may be.

I assure you, my favorite team's poor performance has nothing to do with me posting links about the biggest CFB scandal of the year. I suggest you wipe away your tears with your wadded up panties.

Oh, and I will wager a banning from I-Mockery that NONE of these three will be coaching at OSU in 2011 or 2012. I don't see how any accomplished coach would want to take over a program that is likely going to be saddled with what is appearing to be the dreaded "lack of institutional control" tag from the NCAA. Yes OSU will rebound, they are an elite program, but unfortunately there might be a few pothole filled years on the road back to the top. Care to take me up on that?

While Minnesota does have a struggling program, Whiterat has been accurate, Prior is trouble, Tressel cheats, and as it turns out, Tressel lied about his integrity as well which is the biggest slap in the face of all. If Whiterat is pissed about anything it is that this put a black mark in the Big 10's rep, and let's face it he is right about that.

All good points but the bolded sentence is what bothers me the most about this whole thing. I value integrity and in a sport in which it severely lacks, it made it really easy for me to root for Tressell and by extension (like i've said several times here before) the Buckeyes as well. What sucks for me as a Gopher fan is that Michigan and Wisconsin likely benefit the most from this in the short term.

And for what it's worth, I feel your pain as 2 years removed from a Big 10 Championship and a Final Four appearance, the very same guy that wrote the recent SI article exposed a massive academic scandal within the men's basketball program that crippled it for years.
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/199903/11_newsroom_cheating/

[Pentegarn]

PSU will get some of that benefit too I assure you, even Illinois will reap some reward from this fallout

[Pentegarn]

Minor twist in the SI story, according to this (http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/03/osu-lbs-dad-threatens-legal-action-as-si-expose-comes-under-fire/related) they may not have all their facts straight

“I’ve raised my son right,” the father told the Advocate late Thursday. “My son has no tattoos. He does not have any drug problems. I have every bit of his memorabilia that he’s ever got from Ohio State.”

The article questions if this claim is true but goes on to say that if it is the SI article's validity is brought into question. 2 different fathers saying these allegations are false though is something worth looking in to.

Further down
In an interview with 790 The Zone in Atlanta, Isaac was very vehement in stating that Tressel was unaware of what was going on until Monus was indicted on federal charges, with the issues involving Isaac and other YSU players only seeing the light of day when they came out during the trial.

“Jim Tressel never ever knew anything about our dealings. I kept it secret. To say Coach Tressel knew about this car, or knew about this money, listen, the only way that anyone knew about the money I received from Youngstown State University was Mickey Monus got indicted on $1.1 million worth of embezzlement and fraud. In documents and public record, they found checks that were written to me. … That’s the only way that this situation came to light. … Other than that, no one in the history of the world would have known the Mickey Monus paid me a dime.”

While I tend to not want to believe this guy because he has a rep of a dishonest person, there's always the possibility he is telling the truth in this case, but that opens a whole separate can of worms because then it goes even further than the athletic department

Isaac wasn’t the only person to refer to at least a portion of the piece as a lie. Now-retired Youngstown State University president Leslie Cochran told the Youngstown Vindicator that a quote attributed to him in the SI article was, in his words, “fabricated“.

“I never said that,” Cochrane told the Vindicator; “He absolutely said it. Not sure what more we can say,” Epstein wrote on Twitter when apprised of Cochran’s denial.

This is a case of he said/he said (paraphrase), and it will be impossible to sort this one out I think.

Bottom line is if this is true and SI fabricated some of the facts for this article, it will result in a shitstorm where those like me who have maintained the media has favorites in sports and those darling schools get a blind eye turned on their wrongdoing while Big 10 schools get put under a constant microscopic surveillance, will be out in force because this would put a piece of valid proof that our theory is correct out there.

[WhiteRat]

For what it's worth, the SI author, George Dohrmann won a Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for exposing the academic scandal within the Minnesota men's basketball program, so I'm hard pressed to believe that he simply fabricated information.

Even if you throw those allegations out the window, there still is this whole matter:
http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/docs-osu-president-knew-of-faulty-compliance-29737

There's simply too much smoke at OSU right now for there to be no fire.

[Pentegarn]

Probably right, I was simply saying that if there was even a little fabrication (and if these 2 dads are accurate in their statement there is) it will call the whole article into question, and will make people question why SI published it and further supported it in the first place. Especially when every football program south of the Mason-Dixon line has smoke of their own, most of which have gone not investigated by any media outlet for years.

The more this sort of stuff goes on, the more I think the whole system needs to change, if we are going to treat men's college football and basketball like a business, we have to start paying all its employees. Right now the NCAA gets away with not only being a monopoly but it also gets away with labor working below minimum wage (in fact the athletes work for the minimumest of wages :chappelleshow.) These 'football interns' work for a slight chance to go pro, but most of them never will go pro. The NCAA pretty much promotes slavery when they promote these draconian policies.

[Babs]

I assure you, my favorite team's poor performance has nothing to do with me posting links about the biggest CFB scandal of the year. I suggest you wipe away your tears with your wadded up panties.

Why are you taking it so serious? It's all in good fun. Just mocking.

[WhiteRat]

Why are you taking it so serious? It's all in good fun. Just mocking.

Your post came off as being rather crybaby-ish.

[Babs]

it ight

[MailCall]

Many "experts" seem to think that MSU now has the upper hand in the BigWhatever. They return seven offensive and six D players, but lost Mark Dell and some key O-liners. Plus they start a couple of new secondary replacements and LB newbies. But Cousins will probably be one of the premier QBs in the conference if Dantonio can input the right people at the line...plus the Spartan RB corp returns in full.
On D, Worthy returns despite the LB issues, and the team is tough up the middle. But not at the outside. They also start some talented youth at secondary. Their schedule is not too bad, with the tougher teams and a discredited and weakened Buckeye team early.
My choice? How about Nebraska?

[Pentegarn]

How about Nebraska?

They certainly have fortune on their side in the timing of this exodus to the Big 10(12) don't they

[Babs]

I honestly believe defensive coordinator Luke Fickell is going to do an amazing job on both sides of the ball. I think you're going to see Barry and Hall run an explosive spread type offense with Braxton Miller engineering as the quarterback which seems to be a more practical and balanced duel threat QB (for atleast the first 5 games, quite possibly the whole season). I think Fickell is really going to utilize these guys, along with others, more than you would see in a Tressel style offense. Regardless, it is all about adapting for both the players and coach in a year full of turmoil.

[WhiteRat]

http://i.imgur.com/XySTf.png

CFL or UFL? So many tough choices!

[Pentegarn]

Did that really happen?

[WhiteRat]

Did that really happen?


COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders have acquired the negotiating rights to Terrelle Pryor and have spoken to Pryor's lawyer about bringing the former Ohio State quarterback to the Canadian Football League.
Pryor's attorney, Larry James, said Wednesday that the CFL is a genuine possibility for the ex-Buckeye.
"Yeah, it's like I told (the Roughriders). My house is not for sale, but at the right price, it's on the market," James said.
James was in a meeting and had yet to speak with Pryor about the Roughriders, however. James said he did not believe Pryor had ever mentioned the CFL as a strong possibility in their conversations.
Pryor, a three-year starter for the Buckeyes, announced on Tuesday that he is giving up his senior season while the NCAA investigates Ohio State players getting improper benefits, including tattoos, cash and possible sweetheart deals on cars. Pryor has admitted he broke NCAA rules by accepting improper benefits from a Columbus tattoo-parlor owner.
Roughriders general manager Brendan Taman told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the team owned Pryor's CFL negotiation rights and was intrigued by the 6-foot-6, 233-pound quarterback.
"He's a heck of an athlete," Taman said. "We get a lot of U.S. college football up here. We're well aware of him. With the (bigger) field up here in Canada, with the athlete that he is, he would be an interesting component to come up here and run around and do some things as a quarterback."
Taman said he was more concerned about Pryor's passing ability than his past.
"It (the CFL) is a pass-oriented league, so that's one thing he'd have to master," he said. "But as a runner he would flourish up here, I know."
Asked if the ongoing NCAA investigation into Pryor and the fact that he was unable to complete his college career would be a concern for the Roughriders, Taman said no.
"Any time we sign a player we check into their character and whatnot," he said. "If we get these talks advanced, we'd obviously have a thorough discussion with him and get input back on exactly what went down. What little I know about him, I don't think there's anything that's a major red flag that he's just totally a kid you would ignore."
Taman said Pryor is being looked at by the Roughriders strictly as a quarterback. There had been speculation that Pryor might have to switch to wide receiver or tight end in the pros because of his footwork and arm strength.
Pryor has other options. He could make himself available for an NFL supplemental draft, although there are questions about whether one will be held due to the labor unrest in the league.
He also could take a year off to heal from ankle surgery last January and prepare for next year's NFL draft. Many experts think that might be the way to go.
"When we look at him athletically I think he's a good athlete, but I don't think he's an athlete like (former Auburn QB and Heisman Trophy winner) Cam Newton," said NFL draft analyst and former general manager of the Dallas Cowboys Gil Brandt.
Or Pryor could even join another player who fell into disfavor and did not finish his Ohio State career, running back Maurice Clarett, and sign with a team in the United Football League. Clarett plays for the Omaha Nighthawks.
Nighthawks coach Joe Moglia didn't sound excited about the idea of that pairing.
"The job of any coach is to do what's in the best interest of his players, his coaches and his fans," he said. "If that were to come up, we would take a look at that. I'm not the type of guy normally who hypothesizes on something that probably, under normal circumstances, may not happen."
James said he will discuss the opportunities with Pryor, possibly next week.
"We would try to get through next week in order to do our due diligence, in order to figure out where we are," James said. "No. 1, try to figure out whether the NFL's going to have a supplemental draft. If they are, what's the timetable and what's the protocol. Then we'd also explore what are the processes and procedures for the Canadian league and what would be the dates and deadlines and decisions to be made."
He added, "And any other options that might be available for Terrelle. So we're going to go through A, B, C options."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/06/08/pryor.cfl.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a7&eref=sihp

[WhiteRat]

Many "experts" seem to think that MSU now has the upper hand in the BigWhatever. They return seven offensive and six D players, but lost Mark Dell and some key O-liners. Plus they start a couple of new secondary replacements and LB newbies. But Cousins will probably be one of the premier QBs in the conference if Dantonio can input the right people at the line...plus the Spartan RB corp returns in full.
On D, Worthy returns despite the LB issues, and the team is tough up the middle. But not at the outside. They also start some talented youth at secondary. Their schedule is not too bad, with the tougher teams and a discredited and weakened Buckeye team early.
My choice? How about Nebraska?

I've got Nebraska winning the B1G West and Wisconsin (especially if they get Russell Wilson) winning the East with Nebraska winning the whole shabang.

OSU isn't the only program with issues right now as WVU has forced out Bill Stewart allowing coach-in-waiting Dana Holgerson to take over a year earlier than planned. Gotta love how Stewart dug his own grave:
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/10/bill-stewart-done-as-west-virginia-head-coach/

[MailCall]

OSU isn't the only program with issues right now as WVU has forced out Bill Stewart allowing coach-in-waiting Dana Holgerson to take over a year earlier than planned. Gotta love how Stewart dug his own grave:
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/10/bill-stewart-done-as-west-virginia-head-coach/

The ESPN joke parade continues on. Rich Rod returning to the Mountaineers with his tail between his legs? How about Tress in the Big House?? :shocked

[Pentegarn]

Oh yeah, ESPN is loving this. It's what they have been wishing for for at least 9 years now

[Pentegarn]

So Pryor (in the ultimate match made in heaven (http://www.businessinsider.com/terrell-pryor-is-now-a-client-of-drew-rosenhaus-2011-6)) has signed Drew Rosenhaus as his manager.

First let me say :puke

Then let me say :x

I would like to add :suicide

That is all

[WhiteRat]

I'm curious to see which 1st round pick a team is willing to give up to draft Pryor because Rosenhaus is convinced that's where he's going.

[Pentegarn]

Pryor is going to be on an ESPN special

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/21848/gruden-works-out-terrelle-pryor-in-tampa

The one-hour show will air June 28 at 9 p.m. on ESPN and will re-air at 10 p.m. that day on ESPN 2

I wonder if he will use his hour on ESPN to announce he will not be playing for the Browns :lol

[WhiteRat]

Looks like Oregon is the next program that could be in a heap of trouble. Chip Kelly may be going the way of the Vest:

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/01/will-lyles-oregon-paid-for-my-access-and-influence-with-recruits/

[WhiteRat]

http://i56.tinypic.com/2j299ax.jpg

[WhiteRat]

Alright Buckeye fans this might be taking things just a little too far:

http://i.imgur.com/Qqiro.jpg

[Pentegarn]

I seriously hope that shit was in the dudes will, otherwise ew

[WhiteRat]

http://i.imgur.com/Cl0Lg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wITZ5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/qCN7E.jpg

Fall is creeping ever so closer and with falling leaves and sweatshirt weather comes the great sport of college football. This off-season was one of the craziest in recent memory. Huge scandals in Columbus and Coral Gables, accusations of wrongdoing in Eugene and Baton Rouge, coaches unexpectedly fired (Bill Stewart at WVU and Butch Davis at UNC), and more conference musical chairs made for pure entertainment the past 8 months. Here's a quick refresher or for those who don't know the difference between FBS and FCS, a good primer.

http://i.imgur.com/vT7T6.jpg

Let's take a quick look back at last season. Auburn, led by Cam ($Cam, as Bama fans like to say) Newton, won the BCS National Championship over the mighty Ducks of Oregon. Newton went on to be the number pick in the NFL Draft. TCU also finished out the season unbeaten with a win over Wisconsin the Rose Bowl. Another possible BCS spoiler, Boise State, had it's season crushed underfoot like a 6 inch heel and a testicle, with a stunning loss on the road to Nevada in the regular season. Nebraska, Utah, and Colorado bid farewell to the Big 12 and Mtn. West respectively as they enter new conferences this year. Nebraska joins the B1G while the Utes and Buffs join the newly minted Pac-12. The Big 12 now becomes the Big 12-2=10.

Here's how the final AP poll shook out:

http://i.imgur.com/lkUf9.png


The Scandals

Now on to the scandals. Nobody died when Tressell lied, but his coverup of several players receiving several impermissible benefits cost him his job. Several players were suspended for part of the season including star QB Terrelle Pryor. Pryor subsequently left school and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 3rd round of the supplemental draft.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/6794305/ncaa-agrees-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-findings

Miami once again reached into it's bag of dirty tricks and violations. If the accusations turn out to be correct (some players already have been suspended), this is the biggest scandal in college football since SMU putting recruits and players on their payroll in the 80's. The mountain of evidence compiled here suggests that Miami will suffer the wraith of the NCAA, sans the death penalty. If you want some great entertainment I suggest reading this damning and hilarious article:
http://sports.yahoo.com/investigations/news?slug=dw-why_miami_is_in_trouble_081611

Oregon, Cal, and LSU might have committed a no-no when they paid notorious street agent Willie Lyles cash money for “Recruiting Reports” that were full of outdated info, making them essentially worthless. A check signed by Oregon coach Chip Kelly to Lyles himself made the rounds within the football world recently. Peep this shit if you like sleeze balls pimping out high school players for cash:
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/30/willie-lyles-meets-with-ncaa-to-discuss-relationship-with-oregon/related/


Notable New Coaches

Florida
Out – Urban Meyer
In – Will Muschamp (Former DC Texas)
http://floridagatorsfootballtickets.com/images/news/WillMuschamp.jpg

Miami
Out- Randy Shannon
In – Al golden (Former HC Temple)
http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2010/12/13/21/8669788.embedded.prod_affiliate.56.JPG

Pitt
Out – Dave Wandstedt
In – Todd Graham (Former HC Tulsa)
Pitt had actually hired Miami (OH) HC Mike Haywood but then a week or so later he beat up his wife and got fired, thus opening the door for Graham.
http://writtenhousesquare.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/ncf_a_graham_ps_300.jpg

Michigan
Out – Rich Rodriguez
In – Brady Hoke (Former HC San Diego State)
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/0112/ncf_g_hoke_bl_300.jpg

Ohio State
Out – Jim Tressell
In – Luke Fickell (Former OC Ohio State)
http://www.toledoblade.com/image/2011/06/14/300x_b1a4-3_cCM_cT/Luke-Fickell-Ohio-State-interim-head-football-coach-6-14.jpg

Stanford
Out – Jim Harbaugh
In – David Shaw (Former OC Stanford)
http://media.oregonlive.com/pac10/photo/9194043-large.jpg

Minnesota
Out – Tim Brewster
In – Jerry Kill (Former HC Northern Illinois)
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/499363/CaddyShackKill.png

Maryland
Out – Ralph Friedgen
In – Randy Edsall (Former HC Uconn)
http://www.thefatwhiteguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/randy-edsall-maryland.jpg


Heisman Contenders

Last year Cam Newton blew the fuck up in his first year at Auburn, not only winning the NC but also the Heisman Trophy. With Newton leaving for the draft, here are 10 players that could very well win the award this year (in no particular order):

LaMichael James, RB Oregon
http://guysnfldraftlockerroom.com/sites/default/files/lamichael-james.jpg

Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Andrew-Luck.jpg

Trent Richardson, RB Bama
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gkKVpP-DdSw/SsC805F-uyI/AAAAAAAAAeM/nsrhSRnDWRU/s400/trent+richardson.jpg

Kellen Moore, QB Boise State
http://www.gunningsports.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/kellen-moorep1.34481004_std.jpg

Landry Jones, QB Oklahoma
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/2010/writers/stewart_mandel/06/02/preseason-polls/landry-jones-p1.jpg

Marcus Lattimore, RB South Carolina
http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/marcus_lattimore.jpg

Brandon Weeden, QB Oklahoma State
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/2010/writers/george_schroeder/11/12/oklahoma-state-weeden/brandon-weeden-p1.jpg

Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma State
http://www.ardmoreite.com/archive/x25276450/g12c000000000000000eb6f49dab9b9c66ad191709311a8619 15aea6479.jpg

Knile Davis, RB Arkansas
http://i.imgur.com/luIis.jpg

Ryan Broyles, WR Oklahoma
http://blog.newsok.com/photo/files/2010/11/RyanBroyles04.jpg



Conference Shakeup

http://www.insidethehall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/BTC-Stacked.jpg
The B1G finally expanded to 12 teams with the addition of Nebraska. This also allows the league to FINALLY hold a legit conference championship game. This year's game will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The 12 teams are broken up into two divisions, which are so horribly named it isn't even funny:

Legends Division
-Iowa
-Michigan
-Michigan State
-Minnesota
-Nebraska
-Northwestern

Leaders Division
-Illinois
-Indiana
-Ohio State
-Penn State
-Purdue
-Wisconsin


http://i.imgur.com/DY4gQ.jpg
The newly upgraded Pac-12 welcomes the arrivals of Utah and Colorado. No craziness abounds when it comes to division names; the Pac-12 managed to keep it simple:

Pac-12 North
-California
-Oregon
-Oregon State
-Stanford
-Washington
-Washington State

Pac-12 South
-Arizona
-Arizona State
-Colorado
-UCLA
-USC
-Utah

The site of the championship game will be held at the home stadium of the division champion with the best conference record.

Also, next year Hawaii, Boise State, Nevada, and Fresno State leave the WAC for the Mountain West. Replacing them will be FCS (1AA) UT-San Antonio and Texas State. TCU will be leaving the Mtn. West for the Big East and it's automatic BCS berth. Also there are strong rumors that Texas A&M, incensed at Texas and it's monolithic Longhorn Network, will be bailing out of the Big12-2=10 for greener pastures in the SEC. Mormon powerhouse BYU left the Mountain West and is now an independent joining fellow rogues Notre Dame, Army, and Navy.


New Threads


Ok State got new jerseys. Supposedly they have 48 different uniform combos:
http://i.imgur.com/xhRPI.png

Arizona State got a new logo and jerseys, including this sweet black alt:
http://i.imgur.com/6md9l.png

And of course Oregon has these new Pro Combat unis:
http://i.imgur.com/Bxoaw.jpg

Under Armour likes to rip off Nike's Pro Combat unis so they puked all over Maryland and gave them these hideous pieces of shit:
http://kegsneggsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/scaled_php1.jpg
These helmets are shit too:
http://kegsneggsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/379936097.jpg

Addidas gave Michigan these throwbacks:
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/226/091/michunis_display_image.jpg

A few other schools got new uniforms or Pro Combat editions but these are the ones that really stood out to me.



Here is the pre-season AP Top 25 Poll:
http://i.imgur.com/sYY7U.png
On the cusp:
Texas 114, Penn State 75, Arizona State 67, Miami (FL) 32, Utah 25



Before each weekend hopefully by thursdays, i'll be doing a small preview of which games to watch and why and also various news and tidbits relevant to that weekend.

Here's to college football!

[Pentegarn]

-I wonder why OSU is ranked so high preseason? I was expecting them to not be ranked at all with the uncertainty coupled with the loss of Prior and the suspension of the other players.

-I did a repair on Luke Fickell's windshield just before Tressel was fired resigned

-you are not wrong about the names of the Big something's new divisions :puke

[MailCall]

With the departure of TAM, it seems other Big?? teams are thinking:
http://oklahoma.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1259778

Barry Switzer would be turning over in his grave if he was dead.

[WhiteRat]

Wow no posts about the opening college football weekend. Weak.

[Pentegarn]

Was waiting till this morning for my opening remarks. Speaking of weak though, how bout them Trojans WhiteRat? :lol

What does it mean though, does it mean that Minnesota has improved, or does it mean that Lane Kiffin successfully ruined USC? Time will tell I suppose. In either case that was a bit of a heartbreaker, even if you were just a USC hater like me and not a Gophers fan

Oregon apparently needs to go back to the old uniforms cause they haven't won shit since they changed them

LOL @ Georgia. This does prove that the SEC was right to be scared to schedule Boise State (I recall someone, maybe it was WhiteRat, saying that the SEC would consider the risk vs. reward factor of playing Boise State would make it not worth scheduling, turns out they were right :lol)

Luke Fickell looks like he is taking a page from the Bobby Bowden book of coaching. Run that score up and run it up good!

[MailCall]

Luke Fickel looks like he is taking a page from the Bobby Bowden book of coaching. Run that score up and run it up good!

Fickell has always been a D-minded coach--former DC, LB and coach at Akron of all places--so at least a shutout of even an admittedly weak 1-11 team last season, gives Nut fans some hope for the year.

[MailCall]

Wow no posts about the opening college football weekend. Weak.

Seems like every season, opening day consists of lopsided tune-up games, with a few marquee games thrown in for ratings.

[Babs]

What about notre dame. Showing major problems at the quarterback position and couldn't even score any points in the first half against USF. So long to that darkhore national contender.

[Pentegarn]

They will still probably beat USC though

[WhiteRat]

Speaking of weak though, how bout them Trojans WhiteRat? :lol

What does it mean though, does it mean that Minnesota has improved, or does it mean that Lane Kiffin successfully ruined USC? Time will tell I suppose. In either case that was a bit of a heartbreaker, even if you were just a USC hater like me and not a Gophers fan

I think it's a combination of USC being a bit down and the Gophers being a bit better than what people were expecting. Before the game I thought Minnesota was a 5 win team and now i'm even more confident that that's the case this year. I've never been happier though after a close lose. The Gophs were 24 point underdogs so i'll take a 19-17 loss to a ranked team on the road with a new coach, qb, and schemes any day.


LOL @ Georgia. This does prove that the SEC was right to be scared to schedule Boise State (I recall someone, maybe it was WhiteRat, saying that the SEC would consider the risk vs. reward factor of playing Boise State would make it not worth scheduling, turns out they were right :lol)

This wasn't a strong Georgia team (6-7 last year) but Boise did handle them throughout so kudos to them. Unfortunately for them, they will beat up on the sinking ship that is the WAC which will hamper their chances of getting to the BCS championship game. If they run the table I won't have a problem with them going but it's still hard for me to get behind them when they play some really horrid teams.

Also Mark Richt is gone after this season.

I thouroughly enjoyed Brian Kelly going ape shit on his players during the Notre Dame game. Losing to USF helped make my weekend a good one.

All in all it was a great opening weekend. Between tv, ESPN3 and BTN2Go, I probably watched about 20 games and I even had a wedding to go on saturday afternoon.

Poor UCLA
amggezrUjgU

[WhiteRat]

This is what happens when you let Under Armour do their thing:

http://static03.mediaite.com/sportsgrid/uploads/2011/09/mdflagunis3.png

http://static03.mediaite.com/sportsgrid/uploads/2011/09/mdflagunis2-628x353.jpg

http://static03.mediaite.com/sportsgrid/uploads/2011/09/mdflagunis1-628x353.jpg

[Pentegarn]

That brings back memories of Brady Quinn's sister

[WhiteRat]

Week 2 is fast approaching so here's the updated Top 25:

http://i.imgur.com/tl9rQ.png
On The Cusp...
Arizona State 119, Auburn 85, USC 69, Georgia 52, Northwestern 40


What To Watch For:

Arizona vs. 9 Oklahoma State - Ok State is a darkhorse national title contender. Watch this if you like 27 year old QBs that sling it all over the field. Thurs night game.

21 Missouri vs. Arizona State - The Tigers travel to Tempe where they face off against PAC-12 team that some have picked to surprise and win the conference. Plus Vontaze Burfict is the best lineacker in the country. Friday night game.

Iowa vs. Iowa State - The Battle for the Cy-Hawk trophy. Bitter instate rivals.

16 Mississippi State vs. Auburn - The Bulldogs can make some noise in the SEC over the defending national champs, who struggled mightily to beat a lowly Utah State team last week.

3 Alabama vs. 23 Penn State What more needs to be said?

12 South Carolina vs. Georgia South Carolina can make a major statement in the SEC by easily dispatching a Georgia squad that was manhandled by Boise State. Boise lovers/haters will want to check this one out.

BYU vs. 24 Texas The Stormin' Mormons face off against a supposedly new and improved Texas team looking to make up for last year's embarrassing season.

Notre Dame vs. Michigan An improved Michigan can make most around the country happy by sending the Irish away with an 0-2 record.

[Pentegarn]

I am interested in the MU ND game. I want to see how bad either team actually is

[WhiteRat]

If not for how bad they are at least check it out for what they will be wearing:

http://theheismanwinners.com/blog1/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Michigan-throwback-Uniform1.jpg

http://letsgoirish.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/notre-dame-throwback-623x250.jpg

[Pentegarn]

I hate to compliment anything MU, but I do like the throwback look

[Pentegarn]

But speaking of bad uniforms

This is what happens when you let Under Armour do their thing:

http://static03.mediaite.com/sportsgrid/uploads/2011/09/mdflagunis3.png

http://static03.mediaite.com/sportsgrid/uploads/2011/09/mdflagunis2-628x353.jpg

http://static03.mediaite.com/sportsgrid/uploads/2011/09/mdflagunis1-628x353.jpg

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q1/Pentegarn/lesko.jpg

[WhiteRat]

Maryland is selling the uniforms now. 100 for a helmet and 200 for a jersey.


PS - Matthew Lesko owns and I still regret not being able to go as him for Halloween back in '04.

[Pentegarn]

Given the choice between those jerseys and Lesko's suit, I would have to go with the suit

[MailCall]

Congrats to Dennis Erickson and the AZ State Devs for pulling out the win over Missouri. The Sun Devils are used to blowing leads and this time was no different...only a missed Tige FG kept the win intact. And they won it in OT. Maybe this spells a turnaround in the football program. If Osweiler can stay consistent, the AZ Staters have a fairly weak schedule, facing only #13 Oregon on October 15 as a ranked opponent.

[WhiteRat]

Congrats to Dennis Erickson and the AZ State Devs for pulling out the win over Missouri. The Sun Devils are used to blowing leads and this time was no different...only a missed Tige FG kept the win intact. And they won it in OT. Maybe this spells a turnaround in the football program. If Osweiler can stay consistent, the AZ Staters have a fairly weak schedule, facing only #13 Oregon on October 15 as a ranked opponent.

I stopped watching that game when they were up 30-16 on Mizzou. :\

[Pentegarn]

ND needs to quit giving the ball to their opponents every 3rd posession

OSU's QB needs to quit overthrowing every receiver by 15 yards

Georgia needs a new coach

Penn State needs to just stop scheduling Alabama

USC needs to stop their crazy head coach from burning decades of USC football tradition to the ground in under 3 years :lol

[MailCall]

Penn State needs to just stop scheduling Alabama


To be fair, that was a VERY favorable spot on the "first down" Alabama was awarded...

[MailCall]

Positive twists from the Buckeye loss to Miami:

--Jordan Hall is a pretty good running back.
--Joe Bauserman ain't Joe Namath. He ain't even Joe Germaine. But at least they have Braxton Miller....
--Luke Fickell does a really good "stunned that we're getting our asses munched" John Cooper impersonation.
--Even though they lost this game, the Bucks DID beat Colorado in that stadium back in 1798.
--Jake Stoneburner has a protective force field composed of defensive backs and passes thrown over his head.
--Ohio State's second string is almost as good as Miami's third string.

[Pentegarn]

Bauserman should give a course on being an outfielder

[Colonel Flagg]

Temple should have beaten Penn State. :(

[Pentegarn]

Turns out Toledo should have beaten OSU last week too

[Pentegarn]

So an interesting theory I have been hearing bounced around on sports talk is the 4 superconferences break away from the NCAA theory.

A few things of note

- The NCAA has reams of rules that are very restrictive
- Football and basketball have no farm system or minor leagues like Hockey and baseball do, the NCAA is in essence the NFL and NBA minor leagues.
- The NCAA, despite all it says to the contrary, is in fact a monopoly
- We are seeing a shift of teams between conferences like I have never seen in my lifetime, and nothing like it has been seen since the 30s 40s and 50s
- The Big 10, ACC, and Pac 10(12), have all added teams in the last year, and the SEC is poised to increase their size as well, all 4 conferences seem to be interested in expanding even further as well
- the Big 12 and Big East are about to disappear entirely as BCS conferences

4 conferences with 16 teams each would have the clout to break off from the NCAA and run their own college sports league, there's no doubt about that. But is that where things are going? I am not sure myself, but I would love anything that topples the choke hold the BCS has over logically deciding a definitive national champion.

So how can we know for sure?

My theory? Watch what Notre Dame does. If the ND football program joins a conference (and the Big 10 has been courting them to do just that for decades) then I would say it is a dead cert that the 4 superconference theory is sound.

[MailCall]

Yep. Notre Dame has been acting like a wallflower for a long time, but economics may make them change their minds. Pitt and Syracuse are off to the ACC. And my belief is that the BCS is coming to an end. Result? I dunno if the NCAA could ever run its own league, since there are so many intercollegiate regulations. But one thing's for certain: the various colleges have been reaping a financial bonanza for a very long time on the shoulders of school kids, who themselves get a cheap--not free-ride and a stipend, which they only got to placate the "pay college athletes" crowd. That kind of money machine never goes unnoticed for long.

[MailCall]

Beebe resigns as Big12 commish:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-conferencerealignment

Big East woos the service academies:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-conferencerealignment-bigeast

PAC12 stands pat:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-conferencerealignment-pac-12

[Pentegarn]

Why are they bothering to try to keep the Big 12? The rich tradition? We all saw how much that meant when Nebraska bolted to the Big 10(12((14(((16((((18(((((20))))))))))))))). The revenue? The only money making schools left there are Texas Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, might as well call you all the Big 3 now.

That conference is as good as gone, possibly before this season is even over.

[Pentegarn]

Yep. Notre Dame has been acting like a wallflower for a long time, but economics may make them change their minds.

There's more to this than you realize. For as long as TV has existed there has been a contract for Notre Dame to be on a station exclusively. (I believe the current contract is with NBC) But the networks have to all be thinking the same thing, that in the last 10 years the luster has fallen off of this particular coin. Notre Dame is looking at a riches to rags story and one that only a BCS championship could cure. Since I am more likely to win a BCS championship in the near future than Notre Dame, I expect they will be desperate for a slice of that Big 10 money when their current contract expires.

Notre Dame may make a move sooner than we think

[Pentegarn]

OSU sure leaned heavily on the run this week

[MailCall]

Useless Observations--9/24/11

--Clemson is for real. Sure, they played the Terriers in the outer-conference, but they won. And Wofford ain't a bad team, either. Remember: the Southern Conference has Appalachian State...Michigan is still smarting.
--Speaking of the Wolvs, give 'em credit: Brady Hoke is a good replacement for RichRod, LloydCarr, etc. Plus, gander at their schedule: no Wisconsin, the Brokeyes at home, and a shiny new stadium upgrade. My prediction? More pricy hot dogs, and 8-3.
--LSU has converted me: Number 1 they should be. Jones to Broyles, three ranked teams TWO ON THE ROAD, and Les Miles.
--Sorry I missed the Aggies/Cowboys. Love TAM, but they blew it. Turnoverpenalties'll kill 'ya. But then OK State has won this feud four straight, and they're hell on the road.
--The Trojans got doubled up by unranked AZ State. Look for them in the Overranked Bowl against Ohio State.

[MailCall]

--Florida State. Ah, well. Two straight losses took it outta them. Fisher better prepare for Duke...who knows what'll happen.
--Did Les Miles have pity for the Gators? After all, they started a freshman QB, and the Tigers only scored 41...
--I wish, oh, I wish we didn't have to wait until the end of the season for the Sooners/'Boys...>:
--The 'Aggies are harder to figure out than Polish algebra. :confused
--Boise State won again. Got a smoke?

[Pentegarn]

So my question right this second (and I acknowledge it is early) is who are these guys wearing the Scarlet and Grey, and what have they done with the Buckeyes?

[Pentegarn]

Also, if you had told me at halftime the score would be 20-6, I would have replied, 'Oh, you really think the buckeyes will score 6 on Nebraska?'

[Pentegarn]

Oops, Braxton Miller is hurt, let the 15 yard overthrows begin!

[Pentegarn]

So my question right this second (and I acknowledge it is early) is who are these guys wearing the Scarlet and Grey, and what have they done with the Buckeyes?


Turns out the answer was they were hiding in the locker room until halftime :(

[MailCall]

Turns out the answer was they were hiding in the locker room until halftime :(
Maybe Bollman was right in starting Miller. He got hurt, and after that the game fell apart for the Nuts. Either way, Bauserman isn't the answer. It appears football is not his sport.

[Pentegarn]

With a name like Bauserman, I suspect his sport is more in the boccie ball or curling realm

Also, no maybe about it, he was right to put in Miller, Miller at least was making plays happen

[Babs]

Oops, Braxton Miller is hurt, let the 15 yard overthrows begin!

I've actually been making a Bauserman for Heisman video. I can't give away what I've been putting on it (though I'm pretty sure you can fill that in pretty easily) but you're going to laugh your ass off.

[MailCall]

Speaking of conference mergers...
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-mountainwest-conferenceusa-merger

Mountain West and Conference USA...hmmm....

[Pentegarn]

OSU sure leaned heavily on the run this week

Again

[Pentegarn]

Milpool is not going to like this assessment, but I think Wisky might have just gotten hosed.

The only reason I think this is the camera was just a bit too shaky to make a definitive call on if he broke the plane, and the original ruling on the field was ball down at the 1. Honestly it should have been an 'insufficient visual evidence to reverse' call, but now it is a Doug Flutie moment

[Esuohlim]

Milpool is not going to like this assessment, but I think Wisky might have just gotten hosed.

No, honestly, I completely agree. I don't feel good about our win in this case, and to me it didn't look like the ball crossed the plane at all. That coupled with the fact that we got zero penalties (how often does that happen?) on our own turf during a homecoming game against #6 in the nation...dude, from an outside point of view it comes across as completely biased reffing. I don't like it.

But then again, Wisconsin completely hosed us out of a Rose Bowl last year, so maybe it's karma (although, I guess technically that was OSU's fault more than Wisky in more ways than one. I hate Wisky more so they can get the brunt of my complaining)

[Pentegarn]

You seem more sure the ball didn't cross than I am. I said to MailCall as we were watching it "I can't really tell, looks like it may have crossed the plane, but the shaky camera is making it thard to tell. I am betting this doesn't get overturned."

I think also I remember MailCall saying the same thing about the penalties to me yesterday. But that was just tight playing on MSU's part. MSU brought their best game to the table last night though and Wisky did not.

[MailCall]

Crossed the plane? Looks like it probably did. Problem is that it was a reversal of a field call, so...was it convincing evidence? Dunno. The whole penalty issue is a good argument and bears looking into. The bottom line here is this: the Badgers allowed over 30 points and made some glaring special teams mistakes. The best outcome here is: maybe the Big10 is a better conference than the media thinks.

[Esuohlim]

I mean, yeah, I'm sure it did actually cross. Just the way I saw it at the time with the shaky replays and all it looked like most of Nichol's back was over the line and then right as he was trying to bring the football over he was resisted at the end there.

It's no UM vs. MSU 2008 bullshit pylon call, but I still feel uneasy about the results

[Esuohlim]

So Minnesota beating Iowa? Holy shit.

[Pentegarn]

So Minnesota beating Iowa? Holy shit.

That's your holy shit of the week? I take it you missed the 8 PM game last night then didn't you?

Somehow, I assume through a series of souls being sold to the devil, planets coming into alignment, light from Venus refracting off of some swamp gas, and mutant hookers, the broken Buckeyes defeated the Badgers, and as much can be said controlled the second half.

[MailCall]

So Minnesota beating Iowa? Holy shit.
Kill has a seven-year coaching deal, but he wants to make as early an impact as possible in the Gophers' new digs. 0-3 ain't what he had in mind. But this is a decent win against a fair Iowa team in a much maligned conference. I can't make the press appreciate the BigWhatever10 more, but Minny has a lot of good young talent, and Gray has another year to lead the team.

[MailCall]

That's your holy shit of the week? I take it you missed the 8 PM game last night then didn't you?

Somehow, I assume through a series of souls being sold to the devil, planets coming into alignment, light from Venus refracting off of some swamp gas, and mutant hookers, the broken Buckeyes defeated the Badgers, and as much can be said controlled the second half.

No kidding. I bet the Gophs thank merciful Jesus the Nuts aren't on their schedule this year!! :lol

[Pentegarn]

No kidding. I bet the Gophs thank merciful Jesus the Nuts aren't on their schedule this year!! :lol

Right this second, nobody wants to play the Buckeyes. What they lack in talent, they seem to more than make up for in a 'fuck your couch*' attitude.

*and by couch, I mean rank in the BCS standings

[Esuohlim]

That's your holy shit of the week? I take it you missed the 8 PM game last night then didn't you?

OSU sucking is a completely new and foreign situation to me that, frankly, I haven't fully grasped the reality of yet. Minnesota sucking is as expected as a daily sunrise, so yeah, when Minnesota beats Iowa (a team that we have immense troubles with, even now) I'm going to have to say "holy shit".

[Pentegarn]

Wait, I thought you were a MSU fan? What's with the 'we' concerning Minnesota?

[Esuohlim]

Sorry :( I AM UNCLEAR. "We" does mean MSU. We still have immense troubles with Iowa, and we don't suck anymore.

I WILL LEAVE THE FOOTBALL TALK TO THE EXPERTS

[Pentegarn]

Everyone has trouble with Iowa

[MailCall]

Everyone has trouble with Iowa They've lost three games at a combined spread of only 14 points. The Wolverines had better take notice. Iowa has a shitty run D but Vandenburg is an overlooked QB.

[Pentegarn]

Don't look now Thrillho, but the Gophers are down by 7 with 2 minutes left and are driving

Looks like you may be right about your worry about this game.

[Pentegarn]

Oops, the Gopher QB forgot what color uni his team was wearing, and MSU gets out with a win

[MailCall]

The Mildcats weren't so mild...whipping on Nebraska. But Persa got knocked out again. The Mountaineers owe me a Coke. Louisville took advantage of turnovers and crap-filled special teams. Smith had a monster day and the Mounts outgained the Cards, but screwing up'll kill 'ya.

[Esuohlim]

Am I allowed to say "Northwestern vs. Nebraska: Holy shit!" this week or will I get the third degree?

It was kind of embarrassing how Indiana made you guys work for the win.

Even Minnesota beat Iowa, UofM. Way to go.

Also, Big Ten wasn't all I watched. The LSU-Bama matchup was some really great defensive football on both sides and although no touchdowns were scored I found it quite interesting.

OK I'm done see you next week

[Pentegarn]

Am I allowed to say "Northwestern vs. Nebraska: Holy shit!" this week or will I get the third degree?

It was kind of embarrassing how Indiana made you guys work for the win.

Even Minnesota beat Iowa, UofM. Way to go.

Also, Big Ten wasn't all I watched. The LSU-Bama matchup was some really great defensive football on both sides and although no touchdowns were scored I found it quite interesting.

OK I'm done see you next week

I actually was not so surprised by the Nebraska NW game. Nebraska is so hot and cold that any loss they have is not too shocking.

OSU has a reputation, (that unfortunately has not started this year) of playing only as hard as necessary which seems to have started the year they won the BCS championship. Heck local hack radio stations wrote parody songs about it because it was happening so much.

LSU Bama last night was the best baseball game I ever watched

[Esuohlim]

LSU Bama last night was the best baseball game I ever watched

:lol

[MailCall]

Finally...we've pinpointed what has been distracting those losing football teams: video games.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Charlie-Strong-has-seen-the-enemy-of-Louisville-;_ylt=AipOXO2SzfbD_oNMrqkrk3M5nYcB?urn=ncaaf-wp9871

[Pentegarn]

Oklahoma State loses

Also we are all ignoring the whole PSU thing for some reason. I guess nobody wants to talk about it, or everyons is sick of it, either or

[Esuohlim]

I'm pretty sick of it myself, but my new disgust comes from how they seem to be trying to completely erase Paterno's legacy

[Pentegarn]

That's been my disgust from day one. I no more expect Paterno to do more about the crimes than he did than I expect the PSU campus police to coach PSU to a national championship. Paterno did what he was legally obligated to do. For him to be expected to do more would require him to have eye witnessed the crimes, since he did not, I don't blame him for reporting it to his bosses, in this litigious society it is financial suicide for someone to accuse someone else of anything based off of eye witness testimony that Paterno never himself saw.

There's a good chance this could kill Penn State

Also, where the hell is the DA? He vanishes mere days after this all originally went down, a little suspicious if you ask me.

[Pentegarn]

More upsets!

USC beats Oregon

And Griffin III (whose stock in the NFL draft must have skyrocketed after that) led Baylor on a 5 play drive down the field with under a minute to go and defeated Oklahoma thanks to Stoops calling a timeout after Baylor showed that were content to let the 4th quarter clock run out and take it to OT. Choke on that stupid move Stoops!

[Colonel Flagg]

No more disgusting than anything else, 3 SEC teams are 1-2-3 in the AP and USA Today rankings.

[MailCall]

No more disgusting than anything else, 3 SEC teams are 1-2-3 in the AP and USA Today rankings.

Yep. Funny how that worked...I'm not an SEC hater. This is likely gonna change. But some insightful words are spoken here:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news;_ylt=AnUrt4XgTbb63ShCA3b30mUcvrYF?slug=dw-wetzel_delany_big_ten_regionally_not_nationally112 111

This is a response to Delany's BCS ideas. Love it or hate it, conferences are positioning themselves FOR FUTURE RECRUITING. Yeah...something they've always done. But, unlike before, the horse is out of the barn as programs are being courted far outside of conference or even geographic boundaries.

[Pentegarn]

So the rumor mill is in full swing and the buzz is that Urban Meyer is going to be the OSU head coach. So far Meyer has officially denied that he has recieved an offer, but Nick Saben did so too.

But how should OSU fans feel about this?

That's a complex question. As a Buckeye fan I reveled under the illusion that under Tressel we were winning right. Turns out, not so much. Under Urban Meyer we will at least know we have a coach who will be shady (look at the SEC where he comes from, everyone knows they are cheating and they are the best at not getting caught, this is why they win BCS championships). So we are looking at an era where we simply assume we are cheating and paying our student athletes under the table. How does one react to this? Well we could always say the SEC gets away with it and we need to keep up. But I admit that tastes of ash and old charcoal.

In the end, I will enjoy his winning ways, but I will hate what I know he will be doing while getting away with it.

[MailCall]

Props to Denard Robinson. And to Braxton Miller, actually...because both of them had stronger-than-usual passing efforts today. The only interesting thing coming out of the BigSomething now is the MSU/Wisconsin rematch.

[Pentegarn]

I am of the opinion that neither OSU or MU deserved to win that game based entirely off the sloppy, mistake ridden 4th quarter.

That said, MU had OSU in the big house as vulnerable as they have ever had them, and they still barely got the job done. MU fans should not be celebrating this win, they should be shuddering in fear at what this means for their future in this rivalry, because if the rumors are true about Meyer, and from every local source I have talked to, they are, the lopsidedness of this rivalry has only just begun.

[Pentegarn]

LSU needs to get a 1st down or their defense will get tired and then Georgia will score with impunity.

[MailCall]

Well, Miles' boys did what they've been doing: wearing teams down to a sticky paste. LSU to win it all: all bets are off.

[Esuohlim]

Welp, make that the second year in a row that we've been screwed out of the Rose Bowl because of a rule change in the Big Ten :(

[Pentegarn]

That was the best game I watched all year Milpool. You should be proud because win or lose you can't take away how great the first Big 10 Championship was and the MSU Spartans were 50% of the reason why

[Esuohlim]

LET ME BE BITTER :(

Someone want to explain to me how polls work again?

Week 14

UM is ranked 16th in the AP and 17th in the Coaches.
MSU is 11th and 9th respectively.

Week 15 (UM sat at home, and MSU barely lost to Wisconsin)

UM jumps 3 and 5 spots to 13th and 12th.
MSU drops 1 and 4 spots to 12th and 13th.

How do you jump 5 spots for sitting at home? >:

[Pentegarn]

Because the polls are fucked up, and furthermore MU barely got it done at home against the weakest OSU team they have faced in decades, they should themselves have been leapfrogged by teams with decisive victories

[Esuohlim]

I mean, I can deal with the fact that we lost the title game. I'm already over that, and you're right, the game itself was phenomenal and I'm just glad that we were able to bring it instead of leaving it at home like we sometimes do.

But the Wolverines were rewarded with a BCS bowl for NOT playing in the title game. That I can't get over right now.

[Pentegarn]

I have no answer for that because nothing about MU getting a BCS at large bid makes any sense.

[Esuohlim]

Even the Detroit Free Press thinks so, and they are quite known for constantly gobbling UofM's cock

http://www.freep.com/article/20111205/COL08/112050474/Drew-Sharp-Michigan-didn-t-deserve-to-jump-Michigan-State-for-BCS-bowl

[Pentegarn]

What really stuck out for me was the comments on the penalty that won it for Wisconsin. I missed the lineman getting pushed, but maybe I didn't cause when I saw that flag something seemed rotten in Denmark, and I couldn't quite put my finger on what.

Turns out it was that missed push

[Colonel Flagg]

PSU punched their "ticket" to the TicketCity Bowl. Woop-dee-doo!

IMO, with all the crap going on in State College, they should be glad they're going to a New Year's game at all.

Actually, the game itself should be good, for the football purists. A top-rated offense against one of the better defenses.

[Pentegarn]

If you ask me the BCS fucked up worse than they have ever fucked up, and they have fucked up heavily in the past so that is saying something.

So to start with, like the TCU Boise State debacle from a couple years ago they take the 2 teams they fucked out of a shot at the BCS together effectively assuring they can't both win a bowl game which of course would add more fuel to the fraud fire they have set. So Oklahoma State and Stanford play each other assuring one of them loses. BCS honks breath half a sigh of relief that both will not win a bowl game.

Then because MU generates more bank, they get to leapfrog a superior MSU for an at large bid because lord knows MSU hasn't taken it up the ass enough.

Then we go to the BCS championship game.... Let's face it, I look forward to football because baseball and soccer just aren't as exciting. Alabama LSU will be yet another baseball/soccer match like it was when we saw it before. And to those talking heads who say, Okla St and Stanford had their shot and lost, bullshit. You are talking out of both sides of your mouth when you say they had their shot and lost yet say Bama earned their place by doing the exact same thing Stanford and Oklahoma St. did. And what about LSU, didn't they already prove themselves against Bama? Why do they have to do it again? Why does Bama get a mulligan?

My only hope is that the viewer turnout on this Championship game fraud is at an all time low, I know for the first time since the BCS Championship Game was implemented, I will not be watching it. Why should I? For one, I saw this game before, I don't do reruns. For another, why should I watch a game where I want both participants to lose? No mattrer what happens I am going to hate it. I have a feeling I will not be the only one not watching either.

Though on the plus side it will get record ratings south of the Mason Dixon line, so you have that going for you BCS, which is nice. So next year you can lose your major nationwide sponsors, but you should get a hefty upswing of Busch Beer, Nascar, Chaw, and Marlboro adverts for the 2013 game based off this years market research

Since the BCS is less legitimate than professional wrestling, I will be watching professional wrestling that night.

[Colonel Flagg]

Given the BCS love affair with itself, which was even more apparent this year than in the past, I have not been able to generate any self-interest in college football pretty much the entire season.

WWE sounds pretty good to me too, PG.

[Kitsa]

The GA-LA thing was insane. I completely forgot it was that day and I happened to be in downtown Atlanta just trying to get to CNN Center :( DIDN'T GO WELL.

I took lots of pics I will have to wrangle and get up here somewhere.

[MailCall]

BCS= Belittling College Sports

[Pentegarn]

And here I thought it means Be Consistently Sucktacular

[Kitsa]

Also, the cheapest parking I saw was $40.

[Colonel Flagg]

Bovine Cork Soakers

[Pentegarn]

Cork Soakers

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q1/Pentegarn/images-21.jpg

[Kitsa]

I wish I'd gotten to this back when it was still relevant, but here it is. What a dumbass weekend I picked to try and tour Atlanta.

http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy271/kitsa_for_imockery2/secchampionship.jpg

Georgia Dome from a safe distance:
http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy271/kitsa_for_imockery2/georgiadomesafedistance.jpg

Georgia entering in buses under police escort- people were whipping their shirts off and waving them and going WOOOOOO at the windows.
http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy271/kitsa_for_imockery2/georgiateam.jpg

$40 parking sign- most were like $60 or $75, this was the cheapest I saw and it was full
http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy271/kitsa_for_imockery2/40parking.jpg

It was mostly just a lot of general idiocy. Pedestrians were wandering the streets like cars didn't exist. Here's someone standing with a cellphone in the middle of the damn street:
http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy271/kitsa_for_imockery2/cellphonemiddleofthedamnstreet.jpg

And a whole lot of women were dressed really slutty, not sure why.
http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy271/kitsa_for_imockery2/cast.jpg

[Grislygus]

BAHAHAHAHA, watching the army/navy game and they superimposed a giant red box over the red zone while they were talking redundant shit about the midshipmen being in the red zone. JUST IN CASE YOU WERE CONFUSED. I know it's a stupid gripe, but it's really starting to annoy me how football games are being presented these days. Random shit popping up over the field, announcers explaining how football fucking works as if the viewers don't know, alongside constant slowmo replays of mundane crap repeated five billion times to give us retards something to look at while the grown ups are talking







I think I may secretly be an irritable bitch of a man

[Pentegarn]

Nah I get that. In our days we had to learn football as we grew up from our dads and older brothers as God intended it. Now these graphics and explanations all appear and we are all, "I know I know SHUT UP ALREADY"

Now I get why Elvis shot his TV

[Sam]

LOOK AT ALL THAT ATL POON, GAWDDAMN.

[Colonel Flagg]

JUST IN CASE YOU WERE CONFUSED.

Actually, I find it even more confusing than ever. It's a game where the position of the ball is quite important, yet all this overlay BS makes it nearly impssible to follow the ball. Too much visual "noise".

LOOK AT ALL THAT ATL POON, GAWDDAMN.

Where?

[Babs]

I would not be surprised if the red zone was sponsored and brought to you by old spice and the defense is depicted as stench. I can imagine it right now, "and Tom Brady and the patriots p-p-p-p-p-p-power it into the end zone on an odor eliminating drive."

[MailCall]

Congrats to the 'Cats. OU has something to be proud of now except for its Halloween arrest record.

[Pentegarn]

I am glad MSU won and hope MU loses so that I can be even more right about my assertion that MU took their ill gotten at large BCS bid from a more deserving MSU.

[Esuohlim]

That game yesterday gave me no less than three heart-attacks. :x

[Pentegarn]

Yeah I was saying to Mailcall "I bet Milpool is shitting puppies right now"

[Babs]

A lot of respect is due to Michigan State. They truly were the class of the B1G. I can't believe how many times they had to make up for lost ground on the defensive and special teams side of the ball. Grade A B1G Nasties.

[Pentegarn]

And the MVP for the Sugar Bowl goes to:

The guy in the review booth who said the Va. Tech receiver didn't have control on that TD. I saw what that guy did to make sure he caught the ball, that was full control, that was the level of control where you sacrifice your own physical safety to insure you catch it. I smell a rat here because no sane person would have reversed that call.

[Esuohlim]

That one made me mad. I can't imagine a more apt situation of a game literally being taken away from you at the last minute.

[Pentegarn]

Agreed. The refs should not be allowed to blatantly alter the course of a game like that, especially when they had to ignore all the rules of review to do so

[Pentegarn]

So it all comes to a close tonight. When we see a game we already saw this year get played a second time. The only people who give a damn are all south of the mason-dixon line banging their cousins and chewing their chaw.

I honestly hope Bama wins this, then there will be some fucked up results where the AP poll does not agree with the BCS and I get to laugh as they fail yet again.

Since I now feel the BCS has less credibility than professional wrestling, I have decided I will watch professional wrestling tonight instead of the Big Crappy Shampionship

[Esuohlim]

That was one of the most awful national championship games ever. Fuck the SEC, seriously.

[Pentegarn]

I think it was the first shutout in BCS Championship history though.

Now the BCS has to explain why a team that lost to the losers before beating the losers is the 'best' team this year. They have to now try to explain why this would be better than a +2 system with 8 teams competing for the prize. They have to justify this mess and best of all they have to once again explain how their system works despite being the only one that does not have a decisive postseason in all of sports.

This whole goddamn thing is more of a fraud as time passes. They hoped it would be like wine and get better with age, but it is like mayonnaise sitting in the sun instead, more and more toxic as time passes.

[Colonel Flagg]

Yes, P-Garn, it will be sweet to see the BCS committee explain their way out of this. :D

If only next season a non-BCS team would win the "National Championship" - not bloody likely with all the "good" non-BCS teams now becoming affiliated, but still, I can dream.

And Milhouse is correct - The SEC sucks big hairy donkey dong.

[MailCall]

Coming next season?---Urban Meyer delivers, with 25 verbal commitments, including top prospects Pittman and Spence.[/size] Not bad for a program that won't appear in a bowl next year.

http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/stories/2012/02/01/0201-ohio-state-football-signings.html

[Babs]

Ohio State's LOI's came in yesterday. Stacked with talent, Spencer and Washington alone are going to give some amazing talent at the DE position. Like you said, not bad given a bowl ban next season PLUS the late recruiting (time of Urban Meyer's hire).

[Babs]

What Stefon Diggs stated after announcing he's going to be playing for Maryland, "I want to win championships and what's a better place to do it than in your city (Maryland)". I mean no disrespect or have no ill intentions towards Diggs whats so ever, but isn't it a little far fetched to believe Maryland will be close to any type of championship, especially after a 2-10 season. Maybe he's talking about the Beef O'Brady's bowl.

[Tadao]

2012

So is Ohio supposed to be eating shit right now?