College Football Week 13 Thread

[JonInMiddleGA]

Rich Rodriguez sure knows how to win friends & influence people

"It's amazing some of the things that people would say [on a message board] or yell at you of a personal nature," Rodriguez said Monday. "You almost want to tell them, 'Get a life.'

"There's a whole lot bigger problems. Look at the economy."

ESPN - Rich Rodriguez to harsh Michigan Wolverines fans: 'Get a life' (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3710474)

[Dr. Sak]

One has to wonder...with his age and health...that this could be Joe Paterno's last home game at Penn State.

[JonInMiddleGA]

And speaking of winning friends ... meet the new QB, same as the old QB.

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/nov/16/crompton-to-start-against-vandy/

Tennessee will begin its 11th game of the season the way it began its first four.

That is to say junior Jonathan Crompton will start at quarterback.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Sunday night that Crompton will start for the Vols (3-7, 1-5 SEC) in Saturday's game at Vanderbilt (6-4, 4-3), six games after being benched in favor of Nick Stephens.

... It's been a quick slide for Stephens, who started the last six games beginning with UT's 13-9 victory over Northern Illinois on Oct. 4.

His first career interception snapped a streak of 106 passes without a pick - and it went 68 yards for a touchdown against South Carolina.

That play landed him on the bench for the second quarter.

Two more interceptions in nine passes against Wyoming, which led to all 13 of the Cowboys' points, cost him more than his starting job.

Redshirt freshman B.J. Coleman passed Stephens on the depth chart as well and will practice with the second team this week.

"Nick had done such a good job for a good period of time of taking care of the football, although there was some plays along the way that could have been intercepted," Fulmer said. "He's had a really bad couple of games as far as the other team getting their hands on the ball."

Coleman, who could see action against the Commodores, completed 22 of 31 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns in a UT's junior varsity game Thursday night against Hargrave Military Academy.

"I think everybody's realistic to know that playing against prep school, even though they're a good team and all, is not nearly like playing against a Southeastern Conference defense," Fulmer said. "The speed of the game or the looks or anything. B.J. did a nice job in the JV game, and I was really glad to see that. That certainly helped our confidence in him."

Receiver Gerald Jones expressed confidence in whoever lines up at quarterback.

He also said he hoped Coleman would get a chance under center.

"I think he deserves a chance," Jones said. "He did pretty good - really good - in the JV game. Why not? Give him a chance and see if he can lead this team from here on out. But I'm not the coach, so it's not my call."
...
A Little Different: Asked about the difference between Crompton and Stephens, Jones said there's one major distinction.

"I don't want to say what's different, what's good or what's better, (but) the difference is Crompton's a lot slower with his reads than Nick," Jones said.

[JonInMiddleGA]

And speaking of musical quarterbacks (albeit for a different reason)

Ga. Tech QB Nesbitt may not be ready for Miami | ajc.com (http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/gatech/stories/2008/11/17/georgia_tech_injury.html)

Georgia Tech tested two sprained ankles and one strained hamstring Monday.

The Jackets received good news on two of the three. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt (ankle), defensive tackle Vance Walker (ankle) and cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels (hamstring) practiced with their injuries in advance of Tech’s Thursday night game against Miami.

Walker and Word-Daniels, for whom Thursday will be their final home game, indicated they have a good chance of playing. Nesbitt was noncommittal.

Nesbitt, who like Walker sprained his ankle against North Carolina on Nov. 8, said he felt “pretty good” but did not run full speed.

Asked about his chances of playing, Nesbitt said, “Who knows? I’ll just go back out [today] and try it again.”

Word-Daniels, who has not played the past three games after injuring his hamstring against Clemson, ran hard and participated in drills to see how his leg would react.

“Based on how I feel today, I should be able to go,” Word-Daniel said. “But it’s not certain.”

Walker was the most affirmative.

He has started 23 consecutive games. For him to miss his final home game, he said, “It would take a lot. Doctor telling me not to do it, pastor telling me not to do it — it would take a lot of different things.”

[MJ4H]

Nathan Dick and Casey Dick are battling it out this week for Arkansas's QB job after Casey continually throws interceptions at the worst possible time and takes sacks by holding on to the ball in the pocket for near a half hour sometimes.

You know as long as we are on the subject.

[Dr. Sak]

Rich Rodriguez sure knows how to win friends & influence people

"It's amazing some of the things that people would say [on a message board] or yell at you of a personal nature," Rodriguez said Monday. "You almost want to tell them, 'Get a life.'

"There's a whole lot bigger problems. Look at the economy."

ESPN - Rich Rodriguez to harsh Michigan Wolverines fans: 'Get a life' (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3710474)

Rich Rod should become a Pirate because there are some players ready to jump ship!

Sam McGuffie, Others Leaving Team | mgoblog (http://mgoblog.com/content/sam-mcguffie-others-leaving-team)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

One has to wonder...with his age and health...that this could be Joe Paterno's last home game at Penn State.

Haven't they been saying that for the last 10 years? :D

[Butter]

I can't even get into talking smack to the UM fans this year, Michigan sucks so bad.

[Dr. Sak]

Haven't they been saying that for the last 10 years? :D

He's been saying it since 1982. But seriously he isn't going to last much longer...I just hope they win because if it is his last game, it'd be nice to send him out with a Big Ten Title.

[gstelmack]

Rich Rodriguez sure knows how to win friends & influence people

He's also exactly right. We are so close to having a college athlete (let alone a pro one) killed over a mistake on the field, much like the own-goal Colombian soccer player back after the World Cup we hosted. You can get mad about play-calling, etc, but fans get way too personal.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

He's been saying it since 1982. But seriously he isn't going to last much longer...I just hope they win because if it is his last game, it'd be nice to send him out with a Big Ten Title.

Many fans aren't lucky enough to experience the tenure of a legacy coach at a school. You don't realize what you have until it's gone. I was lucky enough to root for Norm Stewart-led teams at Mizzou for 20-some years of his career. I miss those days. I'm hopeful that Pinkel will be around for a long time at Mizzou.

[cartman]

I can't even get into talking smack to the UM fans this year, Michigan sucks so bad.

How about this:

Did you hear that the game at Ohio State is going to be called off this season? It turns out that Michigan doesn't think they can make it to Columbus, since they couldn't get past Toledo.

[Dr. Sak]

Many fans aren't lucky enough to experience the tenure of a legacy coach at a school. You don't realize what you have until it's gone. I was lucky enough to root for Norm Stewart-led teams at Mizzou for 20-some years of his career. I miss those days. I'm hopeful that Pinkel will be around for a long time at Mizzou.

I am not wishing for him to go, but we have to be realistic here.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I am not wishing for him to go, but we have to be realistic here.

I love that Big 10 commercial that they air during the Big 10 games where they show all of the football coaches. Paterno is the last one and he screams "Come to Penn State!" right into the camera. It makes me laugh every time. I don't think he had to do one bit of acting for that. I'm guessing that's authentic JoePa.

[Dr. Sak]

I love that Big 10 commercial that they air during the Big 10 games where they show all of the football coaches. Paterno is the last one and he screams "Come to Penn State!" right into the camera. It makes me laugh every time. I don't think he had to do one bit of acting for that. I'm guessing that's authentic JoePa.

That makes me cringe everytime I watch it. Joe has lost it a bit, like anyone who is over 80. Plus it really hurts me to see him walk with a cane.

[timmynausea]

Spielman: Wolverines are 'dead men walking'
Herbstreit says U-M is 'sorry' it has to play Ohio State
The Detroit News

So, what's being said in Columbus about Saturday's annual rivalry game between No. 10 Ohio State (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten) and Michigan (3-8, 2-5)?

Here are excerpts of the conversation that took place Monday on WBNS 1460 AM's "The Big Show," hosted by Bruce Hooley. He was joined by former Ohio State players Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Spielman, now both analysts for ESPN.

Spielman: "Anybody that played in that game understands what that game is and how special it is. For Michigan, I think it's vital for them because they have absolutely nothing. I admit when I'm wrong -- I was wrong about Michigan winning four games. I think they're going to win three."

Herbstreit: "Yeah, I can see a three touchdown win (by Ohio State). I'm the first guy, just like (Spielman), to say, 'Hey, this game's a rivalry, it's special, you never know, expect the unexpected.' Not this year. I think Ohio State will go in, they'll be motivated, they'll be ready, they'll be hyped-up, the stadium will be hyped-up. And for Michigan, I don't even know, are they saying they're gonna come in and shock the world? Are they saying things like that?"

Spielman: "This team has no confidence, man. They're dead men walking."

Herbstreit: "I think they're just looking forward to getting the season over and hitting the recruiting road."

Spielman: "I don't think it's going to be close. They're not very good. The problem Michigan has is they know they're not very good, and the coaches know they're not very good, and the fans know they're not very good."

Herbstreit: "They're a tough watch, watching that outfit. This is a great example of why I like to see Michigan be a very good, very competitive team. They're 3-8 on their way to 3-9. And this is like the year somebody told you (the truth) about Santa Claus. This is like taking all the wind out of the sails.

"I know it's still Ohio State-Michigan, and when the teams run onto the field, it's still special, but this is just anti-climatic. (Michigan is) going to run onto the field, and 'Booooooo!' Who you booing? They're 3-8.

"If they didn't have to be there, they wouldn't be there. They're sorry they have to be there. They don't want to be. They're going to take the game, get it over with and get out of there."

Spielman: "I love seeing them beaten down. It's not our fault Michigan's bad. What do you want us to do, give 'em some of our players to make it fair? They're not holding up their end of the bargain. It's on them."

Herbstreit: "I understand that, it's on them. But the rivalry is built upon the game meaning so much to both sides. When I think about being a little kid and watching that game, I think of great Ohio State and great Michigan teams, and that's the way I wish it was every year."

Spielman: "I wish it was, too, but they screwed up. They had to go and mess it up. They got their dirty maize-and-blue hands on it, they screwed it up."

Spielman: Wolverines are 'dead men walking' | The Detroit News | detnews.com (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081118/SPORTS0201/811180425)

[Dr. Sak]

I'd love for Spielman to have to eat his words....jackass.

[Butter]

In other news, the Detroit News is grasping at straws.

[Kodos]

"Those damn dirty Michigan apes."

[cartman]

Looks like Texas is sending a "hands off" message to any team thinking about luring away Muschamp. Very interesting.

statesman.com (http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2008/11/18/muschamp_to_suc.html)


Muschamp to succeed Brown as future Texas head coach

Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 03:32 PM

University of Texas athletics director DeLoss Dodds announced Tuesday that Will Muschamp will remain as the Longhorns’ defensive coordinator and someday succeed Mack Brown as head coach.

“We want to keep Will Muschamp as our defensive coordinator at the University of Texas,” Dodds said. “We’ve decided to build our future from the inside.”

Brown said “there is no timetable” for Muschamp to succeed him. He said he intends to remain head coach “as long as I do the satisfaction of myself and the university.”

“The only way it works if Will is young and isn’t in a hurry,” said Brown, who described Muschamp as a “hot item” this fall.

For his part, Dodds said that he is “planning on Coach Brown being here a long, long time.”

Dodds said a new contract that’ll raise Muschamp’s salary to $900,000 has been agreed to in principle. Dodds would not say whether Muschamp had been offered a head coaching job elsewhere but said, “Recently, Coach Muschamp had chances. He’s in demand at other universities.”

Muschamp, thought to be a candidate for the current head coaching vacancies at Clemson, Tennessee and elsewhere, said he has had opportunities to be a head coach and “I was waiting for the right one. This is the best one.”

He said that “some things have come up” but that “nothing concrete” had been offered to him at other schools.

Muschamp said it was a no-brainer to accept the offer. “I don’t think Coach Brown got it out of his mouth before I said, ‘Yes,’ ” Muschamp said. “It’s like third-and-8: You make up your mind and you go.”

“This is an exciting day for me and my family. I think this is the best job in the country and that’s why I’m staying,” he said. “This is an elite job in the country.”

For now, he said, he’ll continue to do his job as the team’s defensive coordinator. “I don’t see my role being any different until Coach Brown decides to retire,” Muschamp said.

The arrangement is similar one that Florida State has set up for Bobby Bowden’s successor. The Seminoles brought in Jimbo Fisher as offensive coordinator with the intent of having him take over for Bowden.

[Butter]

I don't understand these arrangements. Let's say Texas goes completely south and they end up forcing out Mack Brown. Do you then have to still hire Muschamp who is completely tied into Mack Brown as well?

This analogy works a lot better at Florida State, but I just don't understand this new fad. It makes little sense to me. It doesn't make sense for Muschamp either. He could be waiting 10 years. It doesn't seem like Mack Brown is ready to be put out to pasture any time soon.

[CU Tiger]

I don't understand these arrangements. Let's say Texas goes completely south and they end up forcing out Mack Brown. Do you then have to still hire Muschamp who is completely tied into Mack Brown as well?

This analogy works a lot better at Florida State, but I just don't understand this new fad. It makes little sense to me. It doesn't make sense for Muschamp either. He could be waiting 10 years. It doesn't seem like Mack Brown is ready to be put out to pasture any time soon.


the best thing reportedly. is that he doesnt have a tenure agreement like Fisher. Fisher gets 3 years or paid for 3 at a pre arranged 3.5MM.

Muschamp is just guaranteed to be coach, maybe for one day?

[RedKingGold]

I am not wishing for him to go, but we have to be realistic here.

I mean, the good news is that Bradley is going to be the Head Coach. So long as Hall remains the OC, we'll be in pretty good shape.

[Swaggs]

Rich Rodriguez sure knows how to win friends & influence people

"It's amazing some of the things that people would say [on a message board] or yell at you of a personal nature," Rodriguez said Monday. "You almost want to tell them, 'Get a life.'

"There's a whole lot bigger problems. Look at the economy."

ESPN - Rich Rodriguez to harsh Michigan Wolverines fans: 'Get a life' (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3710474)

Rodriguez and public criticism do not go together well. He flipped out a few times with the WV media (which consists of pretty much all good old boys and is not very aggressive by any measure).

[Logan]

I hate Rodriguez as much as the next guy, but I think when you read the full text of his comments, the "get a life" quote doesn't seem so bad. I sure as hell know I've thought the same when I read what some supposed fans will write about their players.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I hate Rodriguez as much as the next guy, but I think when you read the full text of his comments, the "get a life" quote doesn't seem so bad.

But right or wrong, it doesn't seem like the smartest comment coming from a guy who isn't exactly having the best season ever. I'm talking almost ill considered enough to cause a little curiosity about whether he's already thinking about how much a buyout clause might make him.

[Logan]

Well, he doesn't have nearly as much money in the bank right now as he expected to when he first got to Michigan, so maybe he's looking for a real payday :).

But I agree, still stupid, at the least for nothing more than how your boosters could interpret that he is speaking directly to them.

[Dr. Sak]

I am going to have to get wasted Saturday.....High of 28 and a low in the teens for State College. With a 3:30pm kick it is going to be COLD!!!

That's not factoring in any wind chill.

[Vegas Vic]

There's a big game in Norman against #2 Texas Tech and #5 Oklahoma, but it's probably futile to try and start a discussion here, as MBBF will undoubtedly hijack the thread, saying that the game is irrelevant because whoever wins the Big XII south will most certainly lose to Missouri in the Big XII championship game. :D

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

There's a big game in Norman against #2 Texas Tech and #5 Oklahoma, but it's probably futile to try and start a discussion here, as MBBF will undoubtedly hijack the thread, saying that the game is irrelevant because whoever wins the Big XII south will most certainly lose to Missouri in the Big XII championship game. :D

:D

I'd like to see TT make it to Arrowhead just so we can guarantee that a different fan base will have the opportunity to celebrate a B12 championship.

[DeToxRox]

Rodriguez has pissed off a lot of media people, but I am not sure why. He is far more open then Lloyd was (he had a list of reporters banned from Schembechler hall) and he hasn't gone off on anyone. He might get cranky but come on, that was Lloyd's MO.

I think he should've shut his mouth about the message board people, or at least left the coaches part out because that's part of the job.

He has failed but the team has looked better the last month. With a true frosh QB next year it'll be trying again, but I suspect it won't be nearly as bad because a mobile QB would at least keep drives going whereas now on 3rd and 7 it's almost a given Michigan will turn it over.

We'll see what happens though.

I still have confidence in him, but if they don't win 10 in 2010, then he is probably in trouble.

[Cuckoo]

:D

I'd like to see TT make it to Arrowhead just so we can guarantee that a different fan base will have the opportunity to celebrate a B12 championship.

All your Big 12 Championships are belong to us... :p

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

All your Big 12 Championships are belong to us... :p

Yes, no need for a reminder in that regard.

[Dr. Sak]

So which Wolverine Fan here is this....

A Former Michigan Fan Needs a New Team - eBay (item 270304736881 end time Nov-27-08 18:40:27 PST) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270304736881)

[timmynausea]

The Big East could get really interesting down the stretch. ESPN has been reporting today that Cincy's Brian Kelly is the "leading candidate" for the Tennessee job. When stuff like that gets out before the season is over it's almost the kiss of death for the team those last couple of games.

Even if the Bearcats can keep it together for their huge game with Pitt this week, it wouldn't surprise me a bit if they drop the ball against Syracuse as those rumors continue to swirl. It'd be a lot like WVU trouncing UConn to lock up the Big East title and choking as 28 point favorites against Pitt the next week, or a crappy Syracuse team upsetting BC to cost them a conference championship in their last year in the Big East.

[Logan]

Rutgers still has a shot for that BCS spot! Choke away!

[Celeval]

Heading into the half, GT leads Miami 24-3, with 274 yards of total offense (228 on the ground), after starting the game with three straight pass plays. Jonathan Dwyer has 129 and two touchdowns on 10 carries, Nesbitt 55 on 6 (although 54 of those came on one). <strike>God</strike> Paul Johnson, I love the option.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'd like two more quarters exactly like the two just completed please.

Wait, scratch that ... better make that at least six consecutive quarters just like the last two. I'll have a couple tonight & save the rest until next weekend.

[digamma]

I'm terrified Dwyer did something bad to his knee.

[MJ4H]

Georgia Tech is fun to watch this year. Unfortunately, now I get to watch Animal Crossing. Well, it was fun to watch.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'm terrified Dwyer did something bad to his knee.

I worry about Dwyer's health when they're not playing, and when he's playing too. Ditto Nesbitt's for that matter.

[st.cronin]

Its nice to see a big time program winning with the option.

[JonInMiddleGA]

4th & a foot around the Canes '35, they go for it by passing from the shotgun, had it in a receivers hand, apparent fumble ruled incomplete. GT still leads 34-10 with 3 minutes left in the 3rd (could have been more but Nesbitt's pass to the goal line goes off Thomas' hands)

edit: No problem, big Lucas Cox rumbles 32 for the TD, it's 41-10 Tech with 2:07 left in Q3.

[Vegas Vic]

It looks like poking your head into the top 25 is the kiss of death in the ACC.

[Celeval]

ACC is an odd conference this year - aside from what, State and Duke, I think anyone can beat anyone. The book is that it's a down year for the conference, but there are at least two ratings that have it in the top two conferences this season due to depth. (Sagarin has the ACC 2nd, behind the Big12, for example).

[JonInMiddleGA]

What was that stat they mentioned a minute ago, that the ACC is the only conference left that could still (theoretically) have every team bowl eligible.

[Vegas Vic]

ACC is an odd conference this year - aside from what, State and Duke, I think anyone can beat anyone. The book is that it's a down year for the conference, but there are at least two ratings that have it in the top two conferences this season due to depth. (Sagarin has the ACC 2nd, behind the Big12, for example).

The ACC has five or six teams that are in the top 25 to top 40 range, so if the criteria is having a bunch of slightly above average teams, then I'd have to concede that point. Maybe the ACC can start a marketing campaign with "Our bottom feeders can beat your bottom feeders!"

[Celeval]

450 yards rushing and counting...

[digamma]

The ACC has five or six teams that are in the top 25 to top 40 range, so if the criteria is having a bunch of slightly above average teams, then I'd have to concede that point. Maybe the ACC can start a marketing campaign with "Our bottom feeders can beat your bottom feeders!"

I could be factual and point out the ACC has the most wins out of conference against BCS conference teams and bowl eligible BCS conference teams. And that 9 ACC teams have a win against an out of conference BCS team. And that 8 ACC teams got votes one of the top 25 polls last week.

Or I could just be snarky.

I choose snarky.

Maybe your team could start a marketing campaign, "We're like cereal, soggy in a bowl!"

[Vegas Vic]

What are the signature non-conference wins for the ACC this year?

[digamma]

What are the signature non-conference wins for any conference? It was a below average year for non-conference scheduling, but Maryland beat Cal, last place Duke beat bowl eligible Vanderbilt, and 3-3 in the ACC Virginia Tech beat 4-3 in the Big 12 Nebraska to name a few.

Are you going to hang your hat on a win over Cincinnati or TCU or maybe Missouri beating Illinois?

Look, no one is claiming that the top of the ACC is better than other conferences, but the depth of the ACC is pretty solid.

[Celeval]

The ACC has five or six teams that are in the top 25 to top 40 range, so if the criteria is having a bunch of slightly above average teams, then I'd have to concede that point. Maybe the ACC can start a marketing campaign with "Our bottom feeders can beat your bottom feeders!"

Going off the Sagarin ratings (because I already had the window up, really), the ACC has 10 of 12 teams rated in the top 45 (then Duke at 53 and NC State at 70), but only 1 in the top 15 (UNC, 15).

For comparison, the Big 12 (consensus best conference this year, I think) has 5 in the top 10, Nebraska at 26, Kansas at 45, and the last five ranging from 66 to 116 (Iowa State). The SEC has 3 in the top 15, 4 more in the top 45, then the remaining 5 are 50-106 (Mississippi State).

The basis for it ends up being OOC opponents. The stats are that the ACC is 34-10 against OOC opponents, and those opponents have a combined record of 169-156. The SEC and Big 12 are both in the same winning percentage range - 35-8 for the SEC, 38-10 for the Big 12 - but the combined winning percentages of those are 160-206 (SEC), and 192-211 (Big 12).

[Vegas Vic]

It was a below average year for non-conference scheduling, but Maryland beat Cal, last place Duke beat bowl eligible Vanderbilt, and 3-3 in the ACC Virginia Tech beat 4-3 in the Big 12 Nebraska to name a few.

Yes, but none of these teams are ranked, and being "bowl eligible" for one of the 64 bowl slots is hardly an achievement, since over 50% of the FBS teams get to play in bowls. Nebraska is 7-4, and probably the sixth or seventh best team in the Big XII. Cal is 6-4, and Vanderbilt is 6-4. A signature win for the ACC would have been Virginia beating USC, or Clemson beating Alabama, or perhaps Florida State beating Florida in two weeks.

Are you going to hang your hat on a win over Cincinnati or TCU or maybe Missouri beating Illinois?

#19 Cincinnati has a good chance to win the Big East, and OU beat them 52-26. #16 TCU will likely finish 10-2, and OU beat them 35-10. I wouldn't even consider Missouri beating a mediocre Illinois team as being noteworthy, even though Missouri is only the fifth best team in the Big XII this year.

[Celeval]

Also of interest is that the ACC is only below .500 against one BCS conference:
Big 10: 0-1
Big 12: 4-0
Big East: 2-2
Independents (Notre Dame): 2-0
Pac-10: 1-1
SEC: 3-3

Of course, the overall opinion of the ACC probably hinges - as it does in many seasons - on the 4 games against the SEC in the final weekend. On 11/29, we've got GT @ UGA (noon), Vanderbilt @ Wake Forest (7:00), Florida @ Florida State (TBD), and South Carolina @ Clemson (TBD). A 3-1 or 1-3 split there would, I think, settle the places of those two conferences reasonably well.

[Celeval]

Yes, but none of these teams are ranked, and being "bowl eligible" for one of the 64 bowl slots is hardly an achievement, since over 50% of the FBS teams get to play in bowls.

And I think we've ended up at the key point again. Looking only at the ACC v. other BCS conferences (and Notre Dame), the ACC as a whole is 0-4 against teams with 8 or more wins (USC, Alabama, Florida, Northwestern), 5-0 against teams with 5 or less wins (Baylor, Rutgers, MSU, Texas A&M, Colorado), and 7-3 against teams with 6 or 7 wins (Losses to South Carolina, Connecticut, South Florida; wins against Mississippi, Cal, Nebraska, Connecticut, Notre Dame x2, Vanderbilt).

The ACC is possibly the best conference middle to bottom, and lacking that national title contender.

[Recoil]

Moving on...

THWG!!!!

[VPI97]

The ACC is possibly the best conference middle to bottom, and lacking that national title contender.
Which is the only thing most non-ACC fans give a crap about.

[VPI97]

Another way to put it is to look at the Big East a couple of years ago when WVU, Louisville and Rutgers were all 8-0 or 9-0 and ranked in the top 10 to start the season. Everyone went on and on about how great the Big East was and overlooked the fact that none of those teams had played a winning team up to that point. It was a media love-fest due to the shiny allure of the zeros in the loss column.

Now look at the ACC this season. I believe ten of the twelve teams have received Top 25 votes at some point this season...and, as a whole, the conference has played the toughest OOC schedule of any conference in the nation. But because there's no team who has rolled up a 10-0 record due to beating cupcakes (either in conference or out of conference), the average fan places the ACC below the Mountain West.

That's what happens when ESPN spends 90% of their college football coverage reporting on Top 10 teams (and Notre Dame).

[CU Tiger]

ACC sucks this year.
End of story.
I dont care how many good 6 or 7 win teams you have.

We suck, we should as a conference be building, but as for today we are the botches of the SEC and Big 12.

[Celeval]

ACC sucks this year.
End of story.
I dont care how many good 6 or 7 win teams you have.

Even though 8 of the 12 are 6, 7, or 8 win teams NOW, with still two to play? It's a reasonable bet that better than half the league will end up with 8 wins or better.

[digamma]

Moving on...

THWG!!!!

Amen!

[larrymcg421]

Ugh, that sucked. That makes 5 losses in a row for my teams when I've gone to see them play (Celtics lost all three against the Hawks in the playoffs, The Braves dropped a game when I saw them, and now the Hurricanes.)

[digamma]

#19 Cincinnati has a good chance to win the Big East, and OU beat them 52-26. #16 TCU will likely finish 10-2, and OU beat them 35-10. I wouldn't even consider Missouri beating a mediocre Illinois team as being noteworthy, even though Missouri is only the fifth best team in the Big XII this year.

So, yes, in other words. Thanks.

[JeeberD]

Wow, UTEP's starting center (the starter since his freshman year, actually) and team captain, Robby Felix, had a minor stroke on Sunday and is now done for the season. Luckily, he's already doing better and walking, and docs say that he should be able to play football again in the future...

UTEP Miner center OK after suffering a mild stroke - El Paso Times (http://www.elpasotimes.com/minersmania/ci_11038286)

EL PASO -- The UTEP football team heads into a two-game stretch that will define its season without its rock in the middle, center and team captain Robby Felix, who suffered a mild stroke in his home Sunday morning.

Felix's wife, Kelly, took him to the hospital, where he has been since and where he has already made an almost full recovery. He is expected to be released today.

"He's going to be fine," coach Mike Price said. "It's a warning. They've just got to find out what it is, what caused the stroke. He has great doctors working on that right now.

"It's still shocking. They are doing tests, and so far he has passed every one."

Felix briefly lost feeling and movement in half of his face and some of his body, but it since has returned and he is walking. His return this season is unlikely, but he should be able to play in the future.

Felix has played in a program-record 47 consecutive games dating to his first game as a freshman, and he was voted a captain this year.

He was an honorable mention all-conference pick last year in Conference USA and is considered one of UTEP's top NFL prospects. Kelly is expecting the couple's first child in March.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Great news for Mizzou fans. Gary Pinkel has signed a big contract extension. He's basically got a job at Mizzou for as long as he wants to coach.......

ESPN - Missouri, Gary Pinkel agree on big contract extension (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3717027)

[CU Tiger]

Even though 8 of the 12 are 6, 7, or 8 win teams NOW, with still two to play? It's a reasonable bet that better than half the league will end up with 8 wins or better.


Yes.
Lets look at those 6,7,8 win teams

Maryland
beats Delaware, Eastern Michigan, California, and 4 ACC teams
and loses to MTSU, once you lost to MTSU you are not a good team

FSU
Beats Western Carolina, Chattanooga, Colorado, and 4 ACC Teams

Wake Forest
Beats Bayor, Ole Misss, and 4 ACC teams

BC
Beats Kent State, Central Florida, Rhode Island, Notre Dame, and 3 ACC teams

GT
Beats Jacksonville State, Miss St, Gardner Webb, and 5 ACC teams

Miami
Beats Charleston Southern, Texas A&M, Central Florida, and 4 ACC teams

UNC
Beats McNeese State, Rutgers, UCONN, Notre Dame, 3 ACC teams

VT
Beats Furman, Nebraska, Western Kentucky and 3 ACC teams

Praising the ACC is akin to praising the Big East teams of the past few years. Numbers prove that if you have enough conference games and the whole conference sucks you will get a significant number of wins.

[digamma]

You realize you could do that with every conference, right, CU?

There were very few marquis out of conference games this year. Of course USC-Ohio State comes to mind. Penn State played Oregon State. But pretty quickly you're down to the Oklahoma Cincinatti game as the third biggest non-conference game of the year.

[Cuckoo]

There's a big game in Norman against #2 Texas Tech and #5 Oklahoma...

Back to a discussion of the games...

The main thing I'm worried about in this one, and it's something few are really talking about, is that Oklahoma has not had to play a full game much this season. Almost all of their games have been blowouts by, at the latest, the 3rd quarter.

The one exception to that, of course, is Texas. Most of the talking heads seem to be forgetting that OU was leading almost that entire game. But Texas didn't fold, and the Sooners were forced to try to come up with big plays in the 4th quarter. They couldn't do it. And they have absolutely no experience doing it.

If this game is close, as most expect it to be, I worry about how they'll respond. The home record under Stoops is incredible, certainly, but I don't expect Harrell to get that rattled. This one is going to be a shoot-out, I think, and one turnover by somebody might be the difference.

[Dr. Sak]

Has Oklahoma improved their special teams play any?

[Butter]

Please let it be a shootout. Texas Tech/Okie State was beyond disappointing.

[Cuckoo]

Has Oklahoma improved their special teams play any?

Nope. It's horrible, collectively in all phases of special teams the worst I can remember.

[Vegas Vic]

A lot of people think that Texas Tech is going to score in the 40's or 50's, but since Mike Leach took over in 2000, Texas Tech has averaged 16 points per game in Norman. Granted, OU was better defensively in the past, but these were all Texas Tech teams that ranked near the top in scoring offense.

[TCY Junkie]

So if OU wins Saturday and if they beat state the next week they would still trail Texas in the BCS? I thought OU would be on top with those two keys wins, the polls are fickle. OU was ahead in the coaches poll before Texas took out the jayhawks. Why wouldn't it switch again? I'm looking forward to the next BCS rankings. Since this is this weeks game discussion, I think the final will be around 45-28. I really don't keep up with many teams like I used to but curious what other think about the final score of this game will be.

RRod: I can't believe he left with all the players he had for his system. I was wondering how WVU would do when Pat White graduated. Obvious to me now pat white while a very good QB was taylor made for that system. RRod lucked upon both Slaton who didn't get any playing time until the VT game and White who didn't get much time until the starter got hurt and he brought them back against the cardinals. I guess maybe he wanted to leave and was afraid no one would want him after this season and wouldn't want to stick around without pat white and have a down year. I'm slightly upset because I feel WVU would be undefeated if he stuck around. All the changes caused havoc for pat white's final season. I watched the ECU game and the CU game. I really can't watch another WVU game after how different the offense looked from the past 3 years.

[timmynausea]

RRod: I can't believe he left with all the players he had for his system. I was wondering how WVU would do when Pat White graduated. Obvious to me now pat white while a very good QB was taylor made for that system. RRod lucked upon both Slaton who didn't get any playing time until the VT game and White who didn't get much time until the starter got hurt and he brought them back against the cardinals. I guess maybe he wanted to leave and was afraid no one would want him after this season and wouldn't want to stick around without pat white and have a down year. I'm slightly upset because I feel WVU would be undefeated if he stuck around. All the changes caused havoc for pat white's final season. I watched the ECU game and the CU game. I really can't watch another WVU game after how different the offense looked from the past 3 years.

It seems that RR mostly left because of personal conflicts with the administration and AD. It kind of became a battle of egos. And Rodriguez has that same ultra-ambitious streak that Petrino and Saban have where no matter what their situation, the allure of something that might be bigger and better is really strong.

As far as Pat White, I basically think of this as his freshman year in terms of actually reading coverages, going through progressions, hot routes, etc. This is his first year as a real QB in all of the mental capacities. He has had great moments and horrible moments - and a lot of dropped passes. Rodriguez's offense was all about being streamlined, so much so that it takes everything but the simplest option reads out of the QBs hands. His passing attack is really not sophisticated whatsoever. (That's why I really don't buy anything about the U of M players not being able to learn the offense. The playbook is as thin as they come. That's another discussion, though.) Getting back to the point, White has been a "one read and if it's not there, just run it" QB for 3 years.

The bigger concern in my opinion is the offensive line. Rod was a great motivator (and Rick Trickett may have been even better), and I don't think the level of effort has been there along the line this year. Even with the mistakes between PW and the WRs, I think we'd be 8-1 if the line was even halfway decent.

[Lathum]

Amazing Buffalo is 7-4. Good for them

[st.cronin]

I'm pretty surprised Turner Gill isn't the hot name for Clemson, Washington, etc. I mean, Lane Kiffin? Over somebody who has won at Buffalo?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Over somebody who has won at Buffalo?

But Buffalo has beaten whom that would be impressive to anyone?

Yeah yeah I know, you can only play teams on your schedule & all that, but at the end of the day I can understand why he isn't at the top of major conference programs like you mentioned. I'd be willing to bet that at least one out of five AD's couldn't say with absolute certainty whether Buffalo is D1 or I-AA (not a fan of the new naming convention, it's still I-AA to me).

[st.cronin]

On the other hand how many games has Lane Kiffin won as a head coach? More or less than 7? I'm more commenting on how strange it is that people want to hire him.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'm more commenting on how strange it is that people want to hire him.

On that point we agree.

[larrymcg421]

I'm not sure why it should matter "who" Gill has beaten. The fact that he has beaten anyone with Buffalo is impressive enough.

[DeToxRox]

OSU might very well beat UM by 3 scores, but this is going to be a fight. People will be hurting tomorrow morning.

[DeToxRox]

Exactly what UM can't afford. A big play on D and then they get stopped for two no gains, then a falst start, followed by an incomplete pass and a missed FG.

[DeToxRox]

Oof. The D is playing well but surprise, surprise, UM muffs the punt and OSU has it at the 49.

[DeToxRox]

This is the ugliest game I've ever seen. Ever.

[DeToxRox]

And you can book this one. UM might not get 7 first downs, let alone 7 points.

[RendeR]

Wells 59 yards and the Mishitgin D blinks first.

[RendeR]

Holy shit that boy just got his head ripped off.

[MizzouRah]

Great news for Mizzou fans. Gary Pinkel has signed a big contract extension. He's basically got a job at Mizzou for as long as he wants to coach.......

ESPN - Missouri, Gary Pinkel agree on big contract extension (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3717027)

How did I know that was coming? :)

The biggiest enrollment in school history will do that to you.

[CU Tiger]

After 1 quarter Clemson leads UVA 7-0 on a half back pass from CJ Spiller.

[MizzouRah]

Something tells me Oklahoma beats Texas Tech today...

[Vegas Vic]

N.C. State jumps out to an early 10-0 lead over UNC-CH. It's very quiet in Keenan Stadium right now.

[RendeR]

14-0 and things begin to cave n for the Girlverines.

[RendeR]

I need t say though, this isn't nearly as much fun when Mishitgin's team is this badly overmatched.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Tennessee vs Vandy scoreless in Nashville with 5 mins left in Q1.
Vols QB runs for a first down. Not remarkable really, until I mention that the QB is Eric Berry (the SEC's all-time leader in interception return yards).

[DeToxRox]

There must've been a glitch .. Michigan got a first down.

[Buccaneer]

Didn't Indiana realize they had a game today?

[DeToxRox]

Nice drive by UM to punch one in with 2:51 left in the half. 14-7 OSU now. Still, plenty of time for OSU to score before the half, so UM has to get a stop.

[cmp]

As bad as Michigan has been playing, they're only down 1 touchdown. And the defense has been solid minus those two plays.

[DeToxRox]

As bad as Michigan has been playing, they're only down 1 touchdown. And the defense has been solid minus those two plays.

I wish no ill will on a college player but I hope Stevie Brown enjoys his Michigan degree and chooses to never step foot on a field ever again.

[RendeR]

There must've been a glitch .. Michigan got a first down.


Some glitch they broke a good run but the blimp shot showed a massive hold on the play. Then again you could call holding on damn near every play so its a moot point.

Gutsy call by RR going for it on 4th down after getting smacked down 3 straight plays. This rivalry might be really good in the future. Have to see what he can do with his recruits.

[Vegas Vic]

N.C. State leads UNC-CH 10-3 at halftime.

[Poli]

Tennessee has a lead for the first time since Nixon was President.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Eric Berry pick six gives UT a 17-0 lead over Vandy with 6 mins left in the half.

After the game, Berry will drive the team bus back to Knoxville and then take care of the post-game laundry.

[Poli]

Eric Berry is the lone bright spot for the Volunteers. Holy snike.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Clemson leads Virginia 10-3 at the half, trying to continue the ACC standings madness and keep bowl eligibility hopes alive (would still need to beat SC next weekend).

[JonInMiddleGA]

Meanwhile in Nashville, Gerald Jones takes a snap in the G-gun formation, becoming the fourth "quarterback" to play for the Vols so far today

Crompton started was replaced after throwing a pick on the first drive & doing nothing on another, Berry came on for a couple of runs, debuting youngster B.J. Coleman has taken most of the snaps since.

[Poli]

CB Brent Vinson, a starter for the Vols last year who has been in the doghouse most of the year, makes a key interception and nearly takes it all the way back before being shoved out of bounds...giving the Vols another opportunity to score just before the half.

[Vegas Vic]

N.C. State opens the 3rd quarter with a long TD drive, and now leads UNC-CH 17-3.

[DeToxRox]

It'll be so nice when Michigan has a QB.

[cmp]

Well that should have been overturned. But of course it goes Ohio State's way.

[Vegas Vic]

End of the 3rd quarter, N.C. State leads UNC-CH 31-10, and the Tarhole fans are booing. :devil:

[MJ4H]

Arkansas needs to win its last two to be bowl eligible.

Opens with a 71 yard 10 play drive to take a 7-0 lead at Mississippi State. Let's see if we keep that going.

Incidentally, the younger Dick, Nathan Dick, started today.

[MJ4H]

Dick with an 87 yard touchdown pass to Lucas Miller and Arkansas leads 13-0 (PAT pending).

[JonInMiddleGA]

Pick six pulls Vandy back to within 20-10 late 3rd.

[MJ4H]

MSU answers with a long drive and it is Arkansas 14, MSU 7 with 2:41 to play in the 1st quarter.

[MJ4H]

And MSU follows it up with another one after a 3 and out. Welp. There goes that great start. Terrible. 14-14.

[Vegas Vic]

Final score: N. C. State 41 UNC-CH 10.

[Matthean]

And here lies Michigan's season. It was an embarrassment and painful pretty much all the way through. Next season can't start soon enough and heaven help RR if there isn't some significant signs of turn around because all we kept hearing was "Well, they'll be better next year..."

[CU Tiger]

Clemson finishes off UVa.
Now both teams need wins against rivals to become bowl eligible.

[JonInMiddleGA]

With 6 minutes left in Nashville, UT & Vandy have combined for 323 yards of total offense (just 98 for Vandy so far), as well as 6 combined turnovers.

[MJ4H]

At halftime, MSU leads Arkansas 17-14. Frick.

[Eaglesfan27]

Ridiculous that the refs didn't call offensive pass interference on Golden Tate on that play.

[Celeval]

And things look a lot rosier for Georgia Tech - the ACC Coastal champ will be one of the two Techs. If VT beats Duke today and Virginia next week, it's theirs - otherwise GT will play in the league championship game.

[tarcone]

Iowa plays Minnesota for Floyd of Rosedale tonight at 6 CST on the Big 10 Network. I will be out with the wife. So I miss that one and the TT/OU game how disappointing.

[Poli]

With 6 minutes left in Nashville, UT & Vandy have combined for 323 yards of total offense (just 98 for Vandy so far), as well as 6 combined turnovers.
One of the ugliest games I've ever seen Tennessee win. Ranks right up there with some of the wins in the 5-6 season.

[JPhillips]

The big loss against DePauw really hurt Wabash's playoff spot as we went from a probable one seed to a six seed. Things looked bad today when Case Western scored with under two minutes to go to take the lead, but a 52 yd. bomb on fourth and fifteen with under a minute to go gave Wabash the playoff victory. Due to another upset we get a home playoff game against Wheaton next Saturday.

[mckerney]

Cal Poly up on Wisconsin 7-0, driving with the ball in the 2nd. Go Mustangs!

[mckerney]

Woohoo! Cal Poly takes back a punt for TD but misses XP, up 13-0.

[JeeberD]

Miners up 14-3 on Houston early in the second quarter. We need a win this week or next to become bowl eligible, though honestly I think we need to win both and get to 7 wins to actually make a bowl...

[JeeberD]

Trevor Vittatoe to Kris Adams for the third time today, 21-3 Miners midway through the second...

[Danny]

And Florida squeaks out a nail biter to keep their National Championship hopes alive.

[mckerney]

Cal Poly gives up a couple big plays and lets WI score, then drive right back for another TD to go up 20-7 with 1:14 left in the first, they'll get the ball back after half. Let's go Mustangs, don't let them back in this one!

[RedKingGold]

Penn State now up 21-0 on Michigan State.

[MJ4H]

Arkansas now down 24-14. I hate everybody.

[JeeberD]

Case Keenum with a QB sneak TD for Houston. PAT is blocked, however. 21-9 Miners.

[mckerney]

Blarg, Wisconsin scores in their 2 minute drill to make it 20-14 going into half.

[Buccaneer]

Arkansas now down 24-14. I hate everybody.

Are you still doing that schtick? :rolleyes:

[CU Tiger]

Ole Miss tearing LSU apart and the announcer makes one of the dumbest statements in a while.

After LSU just throws an INT, "Change of possession and a 19 year old child will hear a chorus of boos."

[MJ4H]

Are you still doing that schtick? :rolleyes:

Are you still acting like an ass every time I say something? Yep. Well done.

[MJ4H]

Arkansas scores to pull back within 24-21. Agreed about the CBS announcer, that was idiotic.

[MJ4H]

Blessing in disguise for LSU? Don't like to see anyone get hurt, but man could they use a change back there.

[MJ4H]

MSU answers and leads 31-21. And yes, I still have everybody. Especially YOU.

LSU gets in the end zone through the air with their new QB and is down 21-10.

[JeeberD]

Wow, UH's kicker missed his third kick of the day (two FGs and a PAT) with less than a minute to go in the half after a nice UH drive.

21-9 Miners at the half.

[BYU 14]

The Holy war starts in just over 30 minutes and I am wound tight. There has never been so much on the line with this game. BYU's defense does not matchup well with Utah's Offense, we will have to play flawlessly to win in what should be a shootout.

[Buccaneer]

Are you still acting like an ass every time I say something? Yep. Well done.

Then stop acting like a 3 yr old. You don't see anyone else around here doing that.

[MJ4H]

Then stop acting like a 3 yr old. You don't see anyone else around here doing that.

Sorry, but you are the one acting like a three old. It was a fucking joke, just like the last time I said something and you made a stupid underdeveloped Arkansas joke and looked like an idiot then, too. Keep it up, it's amusing.

EDITED: I apologize for my verbiage in this post before I edited it. I grew tired of him harassing me in various threads seemingly every time I posted.

[MJ4H]

Arkansas gets a huge punt return, but of course after roughing the punter. The penalty was offset by a sideline warning. That seems odd, but I guess if they were both 5 yarders maybe it works out. I was thinking the roughing the kicker would've been 15 yards in this particular case. Never clarified, though. Our radio crew is terrible, too.

[MJ4H]

Arkansas scores to get within 31-28 and then gets the on-side kick. Now they have the ball from their own 40 with 20 seconds to go and 1 time out.

I know better than to get my hopes up.

[General Mike]

Notre Dame is sooooo bad....

[MJ4H]

Complete at the 28 yard line of MSU. 4 seconds left. Timeout and Tejada comes on to try to tie it.

[MJ4H]

Missed the field goal, totally unsurpisingly.

Please only click below if you can handle it. Some can't, I understand.

I hate everybody

[RedKingGold]

It's looking like roses for Penn State, now up 35-7 on Michigan St. with just over 6 minutes to go in the 3rd.

[MJ4H]

In other news, LSU adds a FG and is within 8 of Ole Miss at 21-13, still 11 minutes to go in the 3rd.

[RedKingGold]

I hate everybody


Don't worry. Everyone hates you too.

[MJ4H]

Sweet.

[JeeberD]

Miners score another touchdown, Vittatoe to Moturi this time. 28-9 Miners mid third...

[MJ4H]

Houston looked pretty good last week pummeling poor Tulsa. UTEP defense looking pretty good against them then?

[JeeberD]

Damn, and the Coogs drive right back down the field to make it a 28-16 game. The screen is killing us today...

[JeeberD]

The defense has been pretty solid, except for defending said screen pass.

[MJ4H]

Damn, and the Coogs drive right back down the field to make it a 28-16 game. The screen is killing us today...

Oof did I jinx it

[General Mike]

Syracuse up 24-23 on ND with 35 seconds left.

[RedKingGold]

w00t! Clark to Butler TD Bomb pushes the PSU lead to 42-7.

[General Mike]

Notre Dame http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/Nelson_Muntz_rie2.jpg

[JeeberD]

Classic Miners. 65 yard catch and run for a TD for the Coogs. 28-23 Miners.

[Buccaneer]

Notre Dame http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/Nelson_Muntz_rie2.jpg

True dat. Really embarassing for the Irish.

[RedKingGold]

Deon Butler - 3 catches, 133 yards, 3 TD's.

PSU now up 49-7.

[General Mike]

UDub misses a FG in the 2nd OT and the door is wide open for Wazzou to get the win.

[JeeberD]

TV to Adams again! 35-23 Miners! 10:47 left in the game.

[Karlifornia]

LOL....The Apple Cup certainly lived up to it's "promise". WSU wins 16-13 in double OT, with neither team scoring a TD in either of their two possessions.

Was that UW's last game? If so, that ends the Willingham era. It's probably time for him to be an assistant or coordinator somewhere.

[Karlifornia]

Meanwhile, Stanfords bowl hopes are circling the drain, thanks to Cal laying the wood on them. Maybe next year :(

[JeeberD]

And more classic Miners. 71 yard TD run for the Coogs thanks to a TON of missed Miner tackles...

35-30 Miners

[Celeval]

7 and a half minutes or so left in the 2nd quarter, Duke leads VT 3-0.

Virginia Tech is on their sixth possession, and has turned the ball over 4 times.
Duke hasn't completed a pass yet.

[JeeberD]

Miners drive stalls out and they have to punt about midway through the fourth. First and ten from the 20 for the Coogs.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'm thinking that overall, today might be one of the ugliest days of football in a long time. A combination of blowouts and inept performances that led to some close but ugly games.

[Pumpy Tudors]

From the Division II playoffs:

My favorite team, Seton Hill, lost in a blowout at California (PA) 48-7. I left a Seton Hill game early for the first time all season today. It was still a great year for SHU.

Also, West Texas A&M - famous for having just fired Ryan Leaf from their staff - scored 68 points in their playoff game today... and lost. They were defeated by Abilene Christian by a score of 93-68. I wish I had been able to see that game instead!

[RedKingGold]

Can't say enough about Penn State's senior class. As a collective group, they had a huge game today and wil leave at a minimum with:

2 Big Ten Titles
3-0 Bowl Record (not including what happens in this year's Rose Bowl)
Will finish ranked every single year (likely in the Top Ten for 2 of those)

Helluva a class, and a great storybook ending.

Bring on USC! (or Oregon St., although I'd prefer USC)

[JeeberD]

Coogs driving, down to the Miners 36 with six minutes to go...

[JeeberD]

Coogs are shredding the Miner defense right now. Keenum 16 yard pass for a TD. 36-35 Coogs with 2 point conversion pending...

[JeeberD]

Holy crap! Keenum dropped way back under pressure and flung the ball up there, Josh Ferguson picked it off and ran it back for 2 points to give the Miners the 37-36 lead!!!!!!!!

Under five minutes to go in the game, Miners will get the ball back...

[Radii]

And things look a lot rosier for Georgia Tech - the ACC Coastal champ will be one of the two Techs. If VT beats Duke today and Virginia next week, it's theirs - otherwise GT will play in the league championship game.


What's the 3 team tiebreaker? If Va Tech wins out, and Miami beats NC State next week, then Miami, Georgia Tech, and Virgina Tech will all be 5-3 in conference play, and will have split their games against each other(Ga Tech over Miami, Miami over Va Tech, Va Tech over Ga Tech).

[Pumpy Tudors]

Major props to Cal Poly today. They're a powerhouse in FCS, but they went into Wisconsin today and took the Badgers to overtime. Wisconsin won 36-35, though. Cal Poly's kicker missed three missed extra points throughout the game, including one in overtime. It was 35-29 in OT after the miss, but Wisconsin only took three or four plays to score on their own possession.

Still, great job by the Mustangs to go into Madison and hang with a Big Ten program. I know it's just Wisconsin, but still. Good for them. I wish Cal Poly could've won it.

[Radii]

What's the 3 team tiebreaker? If Va Tech wins out, and Miami beats NC State next week, then Miami, Georgia Tech, and Virgina Tech will all be 5-3 in conference play, and will have split their games against each other(Ga Tech over Miami, Miami over Va Tech, Va Tech over Ga Tech).

oh wait, record wthin the division I assume. Miami/Ga Tech both have two losses in the coastal division, Va Tech only has one.

[JeeberD]

Miners go nowhere. Punting with 2:35 to go...

Edit: Coogs return it to the 41.

[JeeberD]

Coogs down to the UTEP 40 with 1:46 left. Second and 9...

[JeeberD]

Coogs down to the 1 with less than a minute to go and no more Miner time outs... :(

[Buccaneer]

I just saw the ending of the BC/WF game and don't understand it. WF had the ball 4th and 5 on BC's 39. Too long for a FG but they threw into the endzone into double coverage. He had room to run for a 1st or to throw a short pass, why throw long on a low pct play?

[JeeberD]

TD Coogs. Doubt it's enough time for the O to do anything...

[JeeberD]

42-37 Coogs with 42 seconds left.

[JeeberD]

Miners get down to the Coogs 44, but the hail may falls incomplete.

42-37 Coogs, final.

*sigh*

Fuckin' Miners.

[timmynausea]

I just saw the ending of the BC/WF game and don't understand it. WF had the ball 4th and 5 on BC's 39. Too long for a FG but they threw into the endzone into double coverage. He had room to run for a 1st or to throw a short pass, why throw long on a low pct play?

I'd be really surprised if that was what the coaches called. The primary route was probably a short one. It seemed like the QB started adlibbing once he got forced out of the pocket and made a mistake going for the big play. I thought he could've run for it, too, but on replay it did look there were guys there and it would've been close.

[Buccaneer]

I was looking at the bowl projections at scout.com. At the beginning of the season, they had Wisconsin going to the Rose. As of last weekend, they have Texas Tech going to the Sun Bowl??? ND going to Gator (hope they drop out but I doubt it).

[Vegas Vic]

There's a heck of a game on the Mountain Network. #14 BYU just tied up #7 Utah 17-17 with six minutes left in the first half.

[General Mike]

BYU and Utah are tied at 17, midway thru the 2nd.

[General Mike]

I was looking at the bowl projections at scout.com. At the beginning of the season, they had Wisconsin going to the Rose. As of last weekend, they have Texas Tech going to the Sun Bowl??? ND going to Gator (hope they drop out but I doubt it).

Gator bowl can't take a 6-6 ND team if USF wins tomorrow night.

[JonInMiddleGA]

VaTech just picked off a long pass with 3:23 to play, apparently preserving their 7-3 lead over Duke.

[Big Fo]

There's a heck of a game on the Mountain Network. #14 BYU just tied up #7 Utah 17-17 with six minutes left in the first half.

Mountain Network eh? Weak. I was looking for something to switch over to during TT - OU commercial breaks. There's a few other semi-interesting games going on at least.

[General Mike]

Utah's up 34-24 with 14 minutes left in the game.

[General Mike]

Utah goes up 41-24, 12 minutes left.

[Vegas Vic]

Texas Tech is held scoreless in the first quarter for the first time this year. They have 50 total yards. OU leads 7-0 and has the ball deep in TT territory to begin the 2nd quarter.

[Swaggs]

Gator bowl can't take a 6-6 ND team if USF wins tomorrow night.

What does USF have to do with ND and the Gator Bowl?

I thought the Gator/Sun had to take a BE team over ND as long as the BE team has 2 more wins than ND (which at least 2 of Pitt/Cincy/WVU will have by virtue of playing one another). Did that change?

[Eaglesfan27]

I know Texas Tech can be explosive, but after that 1st quarter (and beginning of the 2nd) this has the feel of a blowout.

[Noop]

Texas Tech is getting exposed.

[JonInMiddleGA]

FSU over Maryland 21-0 with 1:35 left in the half.

[Swaggs]

So, if Oklahoma wins and then TT and Texas win out afterwards, who is the B12 South rep?

[Eaglesfan27]

So, if Oklahoma wins and then TT and Texas win out afterwards, who is the B12 South rep?


Isn't it whoever is highest in the BCS?

[Vegas Vic]

Demarco Murray is very close to being back to the same level that he was before he broke his kneecap against Texas Tech last year.

[Big Fo]

Damn this game is a bit of a letdown.

[General Mike]

Utah's up 48-24 with 2:48 left

Helllloooooo BCS

[bignej]

That Murray dude is a beast!

[Eaglesfan27]

Damn this game is a bit of a letdown.

Yes, it is.

[Swaggs]

Damn this game is a bit of a letdown.

Agreed.

[General Mike]

What does USF have to do with ND and the Gator Bowl?

I thought the Gator/Sun had to take a BE team over ND as long as the BE team has 2 more wins than ND (which at least 2 of Pitt/Cincy/WVU will have by virtue of playing one another). Did that change?

They got rid of that rule, I believe. They got rid of all the bowl selection rules. Now the only thing that matters is that if the Big East has 6 teams with 7 wins, and ND only has 6 wins, all the Big East bowl slots will be filled before ND can be selected.

[Crim]

From the Division II playoffs:

My favorite team, Seton Hill, lost in a blowout at California (PA) 48-7. I left a Seton Hill game early for the first time all season today. It was still a great year for SHU.

Also, West Texas A&M - famous for having just fired Ryan Leaf from their staff - scored 68 points in their playoff game today... and lost. They were defeated by Abilene Christian by a score of 93-68. I wish I had been able to see that game instead!

:eek:

[Crim]

Holy crap! Keenum dropped way back under pressure and flung the ball up there, Josh Ferguson picked it off and ran it back for 2 points to give the Miners the 37-36 lead!!!!!!!!

Under five minutes to go in the game, Miners will get the ball back...

Wow, I've never actually seen this happen, though unlike Donovan McNabb I knew it was possible...

[Eaglesfan27]

Sheesh. He made those DB's look silly.

[Matthean]

As someone who got to watch 'Bama embarrass Georgia 31-0 in the first half, this baby is over. Voters are gonna have a field day trying to figure this one out.

[Big Fo]

Might as well start looking ahead now, if Oklahoma beats Oklahoma St. will they be ranked above Texas in the BCS rankings?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Is the espn.com ticker right, Oregon State just missed the PAT that would have tied Arizona with under 4 mins to play?

[CU Tiger]

TT showing a breath of life.... hey moved thee ball well last drive and they can score as quick and as much as anyone


<EDIT> As I type they miss 10 tackles on an OU screen, apparently they cant tackle.

[Galaxy]

TT showing a breath of life.... hey moved thee ball well last drive and they can score as quick and as much as anyone


<EDIT> As I type they miss 10 tackles on an OU screen, apparently they cant tackle.

Of course, it doesn't help they can't stop Oklahoma at all.

[bignej]

Every running play has the Oklahoma lineman pushing TT back 10 yards. Complete domination.

[CU Tiger]

WOW 35 - 7.....

[bignej]

oh boy

[CU Tiger]

OH my....this is getting....make that has gotten ugly

[Galaxy]

42-7?

[Buccaneer]

Damn Beavers.

[General Mike]

Is the espn.com ticker right, Oregon State just missed the PAT that would have tied Arizona with under 4 mins to play?

yeah its right. Oregon State has the ball 2nd and goal on the 2 with 32 seconds left and no timeouts.

[Vegas Vic]

Hey Texas Tech, it's a little bit different playing against Sam Bradford this year that it was against Joey Halzle last year, isn't it?

[General Mike]

Oregon State's gonna kick a FG to win it with 4 seconds left.

[General Mike]

OSU wins 19-17.

[MizzouRah]

TT is taking an ass whoopin.. not that I'm surprised or anything.

[Galaxy]

Oregon State's gonna kick a FG to win it with 4 seconds left.

Yep.

[bignej]

Oklahoma looks VERY impressive today

[Buccaneer]

TT is taking an ass whoopin.. not that I'm surprised or anything.

Uh huh.

[Jas_lov]

Embarassing performance by Texas Tech with a National title berth so close. Also, pathetic performance by the Minnesota Gophers who are getting destroyed by Iowa at home, 55-0. There's a team that doesn't deserve to go to a bowl despite having 7 wins, all against trash opponents. Hopefully the Hawkeyes get into a New Years Day Bowl because they deserve it.

[bignej]

Embarassing performance by Texas Tech with a National title berth so close. Also, pathetic performance by the Minnesota Gophers who are getting destroyed by Iowa at home, 55-0. There's a team that doesn't deserve to go to a bowl despite having 7 wins, all against trash opponents. Hopefully the Hawkeyes get into a New Years Day Bowl because they deserve it.

Iowa has been very good lately

[duckman]

:banana:

[CU Tiger]

402 yards of Offense in the first half....

BTW Maybe the Venerables kid isnt such a bad choice for a CU coach....he could keep interin HC Dabo on as his OC....

[EagleFan]

This just in...

An Oklahoma drive didn't end with a touchdown!!!

;)

[EagleFan]

I hope Oklahoma is at least having the decency to give TT a reach around...

[bignej]

apparently not

[EagleFan]

Another news flash...

A TT drive nearly ends with a touchdown... just not for them.

[EagleFan]

That was a lot of effort for a 2 yard run in a blowout, very impressive run.

[MizzouRah]

Wow... I mean, just wow..

I don't feel so bad about Texas kicking our asses now.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Hoe lee shit.

I just finished watching Michigan/Ohio State on tape delay (worked earlier) and turn on ABC. 52-7? Umm. Wow.

[Bearcat729]

Way to go Bearcats, though if the fans had blown while running onto the field during the final play this I would've been upset

[yacovfb]

Way to go Bearcats, though if the fans had blown while running onto the field during the final play this I would've been upset

Would have been nice if the refs, ya know...called that? The fans did it twice. Talk about packing it in. Texas Tech got a few flags for doing that against Texas, but I guess the refs figured this one had been long over so they didn't bother. 99% chance of Pitt not scoring anyways, but still a crappy ending to an otherwise crappy game.

[Matthean]

Also, pathetic performance by the Minnesota Gophers who are getting destroyed by Iowa at home, 55-0. There's a team that doesn't deserve to go to a bowl despite having 7 wins, all against trash opponents. Hopefully the Hawkeyes get into a New Years Day Bowl because they deserve it.

The Big Ten is painfully bad this year when you start to think about it. MSU stands as the 3rd best team in the Big Ten and they got beat 94-25 against the top two teams in the conference. For Minnesota, the NW loss seemed to take something out of them, and after the Michigan loss, it was a mere free fall.

[Swaggs]

So, it is looking like it will be Cincy vs the ACC champ in the Orange and a rematch of PSU-OSU in the Rose. Probably not the matchups that the TV guys want.

USC will likely matchup with a very good B12 or SEC team, so that should be one solid matchup, with Utah or Boise State playing against the other.

Might be an ugly postseason overall.

[Swaggs]

Good lord.

Anyone know what the record margin for a top 5 or top 2 team to ever lose by?