The College Football thread

“I'm rooting for the Hogs but I think this game will go to the Dawgs.”

“ya, they got such an advantage playing in atlanta. ya never know, that's why they play the games.....”

“Las Vegas Bowl, Christmas day against UCLA or Oregon St., I believe. Finished 6-5 with a dismal start, finished strong.

They have improved their record every year since 1999, reportedly the only team to do so. I guess that reflects an improving team, but could also reflect how terrible there were in 1999.”

“I hope the Lobos rock the house. Gotta beat those Pac 10 teams every chance you get.”

“can we stay on topic here?

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! KILL GEORGIA!”

“More red meat for table 6....”

“Your heart says Arkansas, but what does your money say?”

“Believe it or not I'll take AR & the 8 points. The only road game AR lost was to UT in OT. For whatever reason the Hogs play better on the road. However, if we cannot throw the ball with at least minor success, we may lose by 4 td's.”

“sorry arky, but UG will cover the spread,,,,

I think they are a better team now than they were at mid season....

Could Coach Fran be worried Bama might have more problems???

I don't think the Albert Means scandal is over yet....”

“Army-Navy Saturday
Army-Navy Saturday
Army-Navy Saturday
Army-Navy Saturday
Army-Navy Saturday
Army-Navy Saturday
Army-Navy Saturday
Army-Navy Saturday

Nuff said!”

“The Memphis stuff has me worried as well.

The following is a post from a Bama website. I thought this fella had some good points. He refers to BoT which is the Board of Trustees.

If I was CDF, I would be well past sick of all of this. I realize that he has not said "I will never, ever, EVER leave Alabama for any other job, even if they pay me $20 million a year". I realize he has been somewhat coy. But he also shook hands with Mal Moore on a deal, only to have some numbnuts on the BoT, and one of our predictably stupid school lawyers change the deal. So now he's negotiating, and Bama can look at itself in the mirror if it wants to know who's responsible for that. So he's going to BE coy, until he either gets what he wants here, or gets an offer he can't refuse from elsewhere.

He's also got to wonder if he's going to get blindsided again out of Memphis. I don't think so, but you never know. If this had been done months ago, it wouldn't matter, would it?

Finally, he's got to be reading, or having his butler Mike McKenzie do it for him, all of the crap he's getting via email, and all of the endless specualtion and word parsing done on every Bama internet site out there. He's all but said he wasn't leaving about 10 times already, but we didn't think it was "firm enough". See above. We put him in the position of negotiating, and you never give in when you have the upper hand.

I hope he doesn't leave. I hate that there will be acrimony and suspicion between Fran and our benighted fan base now. I also don't see how in the world he can look Lane Bearden, Tyler Watts, Ahmaad Galloway, Shaud Williams, Kenny King, Jarrett Johnson, Ken Darby, and all the rest who could have cut and run in the eye if he leaves. It would be a betrayal of the worst kind I can imagine. I don't think he's that kind of guy, but if he is, he needs to leave.

I heard somebody say that Alabama could find a way to break an anvil, and I now believe it. We all need to shut the hell up. We need to hope those (few)on the BoT with enough sense to pour piss out of a boot with directions on the heel can step up and get this resolved. This mess could be the end of us like nothing the NCAA could ever have dreamed of, and we will be partially responsible (fans, administration, etc.) if it does. I think Fran is the kind who would want to finish the job he started. He basically left every program he left from better than he found it. If he leaves Bama in the middle of rebuilding it, that won't be the case. I think he knows that, and I think he cares about it and about his players. I HOPE I am right.”

“I love the Army-Navy game.”

“i think the hogs will cover that spread too arky. i'll betcha a bandana, chillie. i'll take ark and 8 1/2....”

“Section 140, row 39, seat 1, Saturday, noon.”

“Ok, so if the ACC doesn't get your knickers wet, then I will try adding Notre Dame to the mix. It is looking like a Notre Dame/ NC State match-up in the Gator Bowl. Although I find it unlikely that the BCS would throw over the media darlings and the army of fans they would bring with them, the fact that Iowa is co-champ of the Big 10 may force the BCS to hold a spot for them.

This is great for the Pack. We get to play a big name school that is seriously overachieving. We win and we start next season in the to 15. We lose, then people say, "hey, Notre Dame should have been in the BCS. Of course, they should have won that game." then next year we start the season in the top 20. Either way, after we beat Ohio St. we will leap into the top 10.

Now Notre Dame will get the short end of this deal. They will have to play a healthy T. A. McLendon (our freshman phenom running back who played most of the season with a cast on a broken hand and an injured collarbone). Notre dame wins and people say "ho hum" big deal. They lose and their season long silver lining flakes away.

GO WOLFPACK!!!!!!!!”

“ok, strat”

“That's a bold bet. chili, I figured you'd counter with a case of beer.”

“dayhiker, I would never run the risk of a bet of that magnitude on UGA.....”

“hyway...obviously you have never met a ND fan...we like every win against anybody.

Of course, I am more worried about another bowl game loss for ND, and NC State is one of those teams that could easily give us one.”

“I'll bet you Alabama doesn't win their bowl game. Ha Ha Ha. Sorry, I just couldn't pass it up. How much grief did Cocoa give you over the Auburn game?”

“I was very proactive. I called him w/ 3 minutes to go in the game and asked him to bring some tobasco to the office on Monday. I wanted to see if it would cover up the taste of crow....it didn't. I saw his time billing for last week. On Monday morning the first 2 hours listed say "Rag John about kicking BAMA'S ASS" From 1 to 1:30 it said "Rag John some more"

I had a bet with a guy at church for a coca-cola. I went to the Tuesday morning men's group that we go to with a 3-liter. I told him that since they kicked our butt in such a big way that he deserved a big coke.”

“bongofreak, some people will say that the Pack won their games against nobodies, but when it is all said and done we will have played 8 bowl teams (maybe 9, if Wake Forest sneaks in). I feel certain that the oddsmakers will give ND atleast a -7 margin, but State is much better than those Vegas clowns think.”

“NC State is a strong team, no doubt about it. I would love to see Notre Dame match up with them because I want ND to play a good team. The outcome is in major doubt, and I wouldn't give more than 2 points either way.”

“it depends which ND team shows up. The one that went 8-0 and beat Michigan, Florida State, Maryland, Purdue and Pitt or the one that went 2-2 and can't hold on to the football.

I'd be surprised if Willingham can't figure NC State out with 6 weeks of prep time. But it's up to some shaky players to come up big.”

“PIG POWER! ! ! ! ! !”

“I figure a game between ND and NC State could be a low scoring affair, but then I remember that both teams are highly likely to do a lot of scoring while on defense. Our special teams are excellent kick blockers and usually end up scoring off the block.”

“Some folks have made some unsubstantiated comments about the SEC this year so, for all you SEC fans (and the unwashed heathen), here are some interesting observations (made last week in our local paper) about the state of SEC football this year. If Kentucky and Bama were not on probation, the SEC would have already filled its seven bowl slots. This year the SEC has the best winning percentage in non-conference games. And that includes two losses to Miami. There is no tougher place to play on the road. SEC teams are 26-20 against league opponents, away from home. And almost half of the league’s games have been decided by 10 points or less. Its still the most balanced league with the most exciting games.

Florida plays against Michigan in the Outback Bowl. It ain’t a pretty bowl, but it’s on New Years Day, 11am New Years Day. This will be the first time Florida and Michigan have met. I have been looking forward to this match-up for years. I only wish that the GATORS had a better team. Florida has been schizophrenic all year. The only thing about this team that is consistent is the pathetic special teams play. Four of our drives in the FSU game started inside the 10-yard line. The punter averaged 32 yards and that was a good day for him. This will probably be a low probability bowl for me. The only thing I’m sure of is that Miami will absolutely STOMP Ohio State. That’s a no-brainer.”

“You do realize that the first statement, "If Kentucky and Bama were not on probation," says more about the SEC than all the following statements combined.”

“Lobos vs. ? Pac 10. Hasn't been decided yet. Everybody is worried the turnout from NM will be scant.”

“arclight make several good points. I do believe even this year top to bottom team to team the SEC is the best and most balanced conference. However, we are still unusually weaker than in previous years. The two statistics that are very uncharacteristic of the SEC are: the SEC failed to win a single nonconference game against a major opponent in '02 and during the season two teams within the SEC had the highest ranked defense in the nation. Having the highest ranked offense and/or defense usually is evidence that you played nobody.”

“SEC=SUC!!!
Can't wait to pick the bowl winners and become the new football god!”

“For what ever it worth just noticed where aTm is claming to have a new head coach.

http://tamu.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=148724”

“Well, that sounds serious! Looks like the grits have hit the fan for Alabama.
That's all we need, a stronger Big 12 South to stomp us little Jayhawks. On to victory!”

“There is ONLY ONE game left that matters, and that takes place in the Meadowlands on Saturday at high noon.”

“Yep, Geo, that's when the Mules get schooled by Navy. I gotta tell it like it is. Sorry.”

“So why is there even talk of Notre Dame being in a BCS bowl game???

"Although I find it unlikely that the BCS would throw over the media darlings and the army of fans they would bring with them, the fact that Iowa is co-champ of the Big 10 may force the BCS to hold a spot for them." Quote by hyway

And that is EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH SO MUCH IN THE BOWL GAME SYSTEM!! (And you're right there with it, hyway)

If you're gonna have a BCS bowl game system, you use the ranking system they set up.

Is #&%!$ing Notre Dame in the top 5?? Hell no! Crikey, I hate #&%!$ing Notre Dame and the #&%!$ed-up, pinheaded system that would even #&%!$ing consider putting them in a top bowl game.”

“Wow Trailhound! I can hear Dayhiker crying from hear. Who will be Alabama's main target if he leaves?”

“Wow Trailhound! I can hear Dayhiker crying from here. Who will be Alabama's main target if he leaves?”

“I'm guessing it’s gonna be two Tennessee boys. Carl Torbush originally from Knoxville, formally with North Carolina and currently bama's defensive coordinator. Or Woody McCorvey (which the fans in this part of the country are gonna hate and not just because he is UT’s current running backs coach) formally bama's offensive coordinator in '86. Actually, I was looking forward to see what Fran would add to the UT/bama rivalry. IMO Dubose’s character really made it into just another SEC game.”

“Wow, lizs is cute when she's mad!

(I hate Nutty Dame too)”

“Dunadan, Army has never beaten Navy in Grunts Stadium. This is the year (he said knowing full well that Coach Todd "Dingle" Berry still only has one piece of the puzzle in hand).”

“I'll tell you why ND is still being considered over Iowa...Akron, Miami of Ohio, Utah St., Northwestern, no Ohio State and a loss to 7-6 Iowa State.

Play some real teams next year and you can complain about Notre Dame. Hell, Iowa didn't even play the toughest team in its conference.”

“ESPN radio's Trev Alberts, 680 the Fan and Mark Sclabach-AJC-stated that the NCAA will be coming back to Alabama. What a day for this to be announced. When it rains it pours. Hopefully for the good of bama, the SEC, and several special rivalries this is BS.”

“bongofreek, you admitted above that Notre Dame was just a BIT ERRAATIC, correct??

Why is it that a team like Miami or Florida or Nebraska or another of the "media's darlings" can often take an early season loss... and it is just written off as of no consequence as the year goes on?? Just cuz apparently the team got "better" during the season??

Hmmmmmmmm... I've seen that happen waaaaaay too many times with "BIG NAME PROGRAMS." It seems the same standards don't apply to all programs. Yet with Iowa it's a big freaking WHOOP to ya. Hey, Iowa got WAAAAAAAAAY BETTER and SMOKED THEIR OPPONENTS. Just as you'd expect. No last second victories after Penn State. STOMPED ON victories.

Did Ohio State stomp overwhelmingly on its opponents? NOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo

So, if Ohio State were some no-name, the NON-stomping of opponents (make it EEEEEEEEEEKing out wins) would count against them in the whole scheme of things... They're a "media darling," so it doesn't.

Life ain't fair.......”

“Hey, I completely agree that ND doesn't deserve a BCS bowl this year (though since my fiance is going to their MBA school for free thanks to the NBC contract, I won't really blame ND if they take the money and run).

And I completely agree that OSU was the luckiest team in football this year--I hate them as much as you hate ND.

And I agree that "media darlings" and big name programs, and hey, let's throw in teams in big name conferences(cause you can't tell me if Iowa was a WAC team that they'd be considered for a BCS bowl), get special treatment.

Hell, the only thing I disagree about in your arguement is that ND is a "media darling"--everyone in the media but NBC roots against ND, and even NBC has a goddamn USC grad calling our home games.

ND is the Yankees of college football, you hate them, I love them, there aren't a lot of people who are on one extreme about them.

So look, I promise to root for Iowa this bowl season AND root against OSU (which will be a bitter pill to swallow since it probably means rooting for Miami), as long as you lay off God's team.”

“Well you were going good there, bongofreek, but then you stated the really stupid, common misconception and very reason I despise Notre Dame.

"God's team??" LMFAO!!

That's a pretty pompous assumption, don't you think? (And yet another reason Notre Dame and its fans are despised).

So which commandment was that, where God wrote 1) That he/she/it liked football and wanted to not merely be happy with a lot of little kids' teams with GOOD parents as coaches, but must have JUST ONE COLLEGE TEAM.... OR 2) That it would be Notre Dame?!?!?

Please give me the Bible reference on that. Oh and does God like the attitudes you all espouse about the team?? And the dirty tricks that might occasionally put (said in booming voice) GOD'S TEAM on -- oh shudder at the thought -- PROBATION?!!?!!!

Maybe it's really Satan's team!!! (I can picture Dana Carvey going full steam on this.... lol)

Just because a mosiac Jesus or God or whatever sits on a building wall and looks down on the stadium does not make it God's team. Bad ass attitudes do, that are the very antithesis of what the Bible teaches.”

“lizs, i understand your frustration with teh ranking system. Granted, NC State played some pansies early on, but we won our games and moved steadily up the rankings reaching anywhere from #8 to #12. Then we lose 3 games in a row, only by a total of 15 points, one to last year's ACC Champion, one to this year's 2nd place ACC team and the third to Georgia Tech (not a patsy by anyones standard). Each game came down to the wire, but even so, after 3 losses we fell out of the rankings. A total of 17 spots in 3 weeks. then after bating FSU we come back in as 21 or 22 then after our regular season is over the next week we move up to 17 without even playing a game that weekend.

The ranking system definitely has a few kinks in it.”

“ah lizs...is it that easy to push your buttons?

"God's team" was said in jest...you've already gone off half a dozen times on this tanget, I was just tweaking you on it.”

“LOL!!! I love to rip on "God's team." Let's me put my persuasive writing skills to good test. LMAO!! ;-)”

“...”