College Football Week 5 - UNC might be roasted

[DeToxRox]

Money trail ties agent, ex-UNC coach - College Football - Rivals.com (http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news;_ylt=AvcyuSGqc4cVvOltVsCSLXY5nYcB?slug=cr-uncagents092910)

"Asst coach taking money from agent to steer players would be most devastating NCAA case in years. UNC football may be in huge trouble"- Dan Wetzel

"North Carolina is about to really become a basketball school -- because it may not have a football program after this." - Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples

"Yahoo story pounds some very detailed nails into North Carolina's football coffin." - ESPN's Pat Forde

"Asst coach taking money from agent to steer players would be most devastating NCAA case in years. UNC football may be in huge trouble"- Dan Wetzel

"Where is this UNC case headed? I will quote the venerable Gene Smith:"It always falls back on the institution.' Reggie Bush wasn't a USC employee. John Blake was asst. head coach on payroll -- and allegedly on the take. Risking jrs and seniors at UNC need to start looking at transfer ops. major sanctions mean no sitting out."- Dennis Dodd, CBS

"It's not unheard of for coaches to serve as runners. It is unheard of for them to get caught. If thats UNC, then it makes case significant." - Andy Staples

"The fact that Blake is acknowledging & talking aboutt getting $ from an agent w SoS is devastating for UNC's athletic admins. On. The. Record."- Synergy Sports Representation

The following receipt was for a nine-day stay by University of North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin in July of 2009. The stay was prior to the start of his junior season, and the receipt was authenticated for Yahoo! Sports by a hotel employee. It was paid on an American Express. Austin’s name is listed above the name of Pro Tect Management, the agency owned by prominent NFL agent Gary Wichard. The bill also lists a Los Angeles address and Marriott Rewards linked to Fadde Mikhail, a marketing agent who also represents two Pro Tect clients – cornerback Antonio Cromartie and running back C.J. Spiller..

http://l.yimg.com/a/p/sp/tools/med/2010/09/ipt/1285725603.jpg

This is going to end up worse then USC imo.

[k0ruptr]

Something doesn't look right about that receipt. I don't know what it is and can't place it, but it just seems so...fake. It's probably not, but who knows. Says it was authenticated though. hmm

[BishopMVP]

Should be a fun game tonight. I don't know if either A&M or Okie State are for real, but they can both score points.

ps- ESPN needs to upgrade their infrastucture. ABC is showing BC/ND up here - which I understand - but it means Stanford/Oregon is relegated to SD only on ESPN2. Anyone know if bars can get both in HD, or are they stuck with the reverse mirror issue as well?

[stevew]

Something doesn't look right about that receipt. I don't know what it is and can't place it

The fact that he paid 14.99 for porno was pretty lame ass. Who pays for that shit?

[dawgfan]

The fact that he paid 14.99 for porno was pretty lame ass. Who pays for that shit?
When someone else is paying...

[Noop]

I guess Clemson, NC State and perhaps Virgina Tech benefit the most from this since North Carolina will be open season for prospects.

[Logan]

I already consider Rutgers to be 3-0.

[Karlifornia]

Please, please beat the Ducks.

[SirFozzie]

UNC is fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucccked. This could be SMU level death penalty stuff.

[dawgfan]

UNC is fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucccked. This could be SMU level death penalty stuff.
Agreed. UNC is the perfect candidate - a BCS conference school, successful but not too successful, can be used as the new ultimate warning shot across the bow for the rest of college football.

[molson]

At least now that the NCAA is on the Reggie Bush timing schedule, North Carolina doesn't have to concern itself with consequences until around 2015.

And I haven't followed the N.C. stuff very closely, but they're going to need to show a lot more than a crooked assistant coach to get the death penalty, let alone any super-serious penalty. I think there would have be institutional issues thaat can't possibly be solved without drastic measures. The SMU stuff was really ridiculous - the athletic department paying kids to come there when school was already on serious probation for starters.

[molson]

Dola-

It is kind of cute though that the NCAA is trying to stay relevant. The solution to all of this has been obivious to me for years - 1A football needs to be de-regulated. Pay the playerss, let the agents to their thing, all out in the open. These are not scholar-athletes and to continue to pretend they are is just silly.

This could happen if the inevitable BCS super-mega-conference splits from the NCAA. Everyone else can join the 1-AA. Everybody wins.

[SirFozzie]

molson:

Improper benefits from an agent's representative.

Tutor writing papers for players (a tutor who also worked as the coach's nanny)

(13 players were suspended or held out due to the above issues)

And now, an assistant coach on an agent's payroll (so much so that the agent's company issued a credit card for the coach)?

the only thing that's missing from this situation is a Mike Leach or Rich Rodriguez type thing.. right now, I'd say it's a complete lack of institutional control.

[MJ4H]

Anyone watching this game? Pretty entertaining.

[fpres]

Yeah. I'm actually surprised A&M is in this one. I guess it was hard to really size them up given the quality of their opposition in Weeks 1-3.

[Atocep]

At least now that the NCAA is on the Reggie Bush timing schedule, North Carolina doesn't have to concern itself with consequences until around 2015.

And I haven't followed the N.C. stuff very closely, but they're going to need to show a lot more than a crooked assistant coach to get the death penalty, let alone any super-serious penalty. I think there would have be institutional issues thaat can't possibly be solved without drastic measures. The SMU stuff was really ridiculous - the athletic department paying kids to come there when school was already on serious probation for starters.

If the stuff that's come out so far is true they'll get hit harder than USC. An assistant coach on an agent's payroll is far worse than anything USC got nailed for. Add to that the tutor doing papers for players in exchange for sex and that tutor was also a tutor for Davis' son and things get interesting.

I seriously doubt the death penalty is a realistic option right now, but it's still really early in the investigation so you never know what could turn up. Lack of institutional control is a given though.

[JPhillips]

Dola-

It is kind of cute though that the NCAA is trying to stay relevant. The solution to all of this has been obivious to me for years - 1A football needs to be de-regulated. Pay the playerss, let the agents to their thing, all out in the open. These are not scholar-athletes and to continue to pretend they are is just silly.

This could happen if the inevitable BCS super-mega-conference splits from the NCAA. Everyone else can join the 1-AA. Everybody wins.

Where will the money come from? Most D1 schools, even a lot of the big boys support the athletic department through general fund subsidies. How will D1 schools balance the athletic budget if you're suddenly paying 80+ football players?

[dawgfan]

Where will the money come from? Most D1 schools, even a lot of the big boys support the athletic department through general fund subsidies. How will D1 schools balance the athletic budget if you're suddenly paying 80+ football players?
Most can't. Football revenues (and to a lesser extent basketball revenues) pay for all the other sports. Pay football players, and what you effectively do is kill scholarship sports for everything that isn't football and basketball (and you know damn well that baskeball players will insist on getting paid too).

This argument is a non-starter.

[dawgfan]

If the stuff that's come out so far is true they'll get hit harder than USC. An assistant coach on an agent's payroll is far worse than anything USC got nailed for. Add to that the tutor doing papers for players in exchange for sex and that tutor was also a tutor for Davis' son and things get interesting.

I seriously doubt the death penalty is a realistic option right now, but it's still really early in the investigation so you never know what could turn up. Lack of institutional control is a given though.
How much more room is there for penalties beyond what USC got that isn't effectively a death penalty?

[molson]

Where will the money come from? Most D1 schools, even a lot of the big boys support the athletic department through general fund subsidies. How will D1 schools balance the athletic budget if you're suddenly paying 80+ football players?

You don't have to pay everyone, you pay the guys that you feel are worth it, the guys you feel the need to outbid others for, the guys that they're paying now already. Most of all, you don't hinder any player's professional relationships, any more you than you wouldn't tell a computer nerd he couldn't talk to Silicon Valley.

But it's true, in an open market like that they will have to pay more and other sports will "suffer". I'm not sure why it's fair though, to ask Reggie Bush to earn millions for USC to spend on women's gymnastics anyway, so I don't think that's a big problem.

The ins and outs of Title IX are an interesting problem, but if the big-time football players are moved from the fraudulent "scholar-athlete" designation and really just become entertainment-themed professional employees of the school, there could be some interesting legal battles.

[molson]

Most can't. Football revenues (and to a lesser extent basketball revenues) pay for all the other sports. Pay football players, and what you effectively do is kill scholarship sports for everything that isn't football and basketball (and you know damn well that baskeball players will insist on getting paid too).



Scholarships, probably, but plenty of good schools have athletic programs without the dirty money of the professional football teams these big universities own. If we have to go to the bad ole days of scholar-athletes in many of those other sports, I don't think that's a terrible thing.

[SirFozzie]

it's not going to be scholar-athletes, it's going to be NO athletes. As things stand right now, schools are cutting programs willy nilly, Cal is cutting baseball out, for example.

[JPhillips]

Wouldn't a better solution be a minor league for professional football that could draft anyone over 18? Neither of our ideas will ever happen, but doesn't this support players and also largely get agents out of colleges.

I know there are a lot of details to work out, but I'd also support agents paying players so long as any payment meant a forfeiture of all scholarship funds. If an agent wants to pay an 18 year old kid 100,000, so be it, but the school, especially public funded schools, shouldn't also have to pay for the kid.

[molson]

Wouldn't a better solution be a minor league for professional football that could draft anyone over 18? Neither of our ideas will ever happen, but doesn't this support players and also largely get agents out of colleges.

I know there are a lot of details to work out, but I'd also support agents paying players so long as any payment meant a forfeiture of all scholarship funds. If an agent wants to pay an 18 year old kid 100,000, so be it, but the school, especially public funded schools, shouldn't also have to pay for the kid.

That's a good solution too, but there's just so much money in the brands that that the big colleges in the U.S. have created. I forget which FOFC Euro poster once posted how strange it all seemed to him, it was very insightful whoever it was. Big-time college sports is a really unique U.S. thing. Texas Longhorns football is an incredibly stronger financial brand than the "Austin Bullfrogs" or whatever minor league team could replace it - even if the talent on the Bullfrogs was actually far superior. We have a HUGE connection to these colleges and there's just tons of dollars to be made from that.

And ya, if we let agents throw money at kids, absolutely the public schools can't be footing the bill for the education. They shouldn't be footing it now, honestly, for these "students" that have no interest in learning anything.

[cartman]

That was a great college football game.

[fpres]

That was a great college football game.

8 interceptions in the past 2 games for Jerrod Johnson. He needs to figure things out or else the Aggies are going to have a rough Big 12 campaign.

[Groundhog]

8 interceptions in the past 2 games for Jerrod Johnson. He needs to figure things out or else the Aggies are going to have a rough Big 12 campaign.

Jerrod Johnson plays like I do in NCAA 11. It's either long completions or picks.

[MacroGuru]

BYU is playing like shit and deserves to lose this game....

I am going to hang my head in shame...

[Buccaneer]

Just being a BYU fan should be shame enough. ;)

[Ksyrup]

Between this and last week, FSU's win at home is looking less and less impressive. 10 points allowed at home might be 10 too many, the way BYU are playing.

[MacroGuru]

Between this and last week, FSU's win at home is looking less and less impressive. 10 points allowed at home might be 10 too many, the way BYU are playing.

I will say this miss...Nevada is better than people give them credit for...

FSU we screwed up big time...

Tonight....We are being beat up...its looking like a MASH unit on our defense...

[dawgfan]

Washington losing to BYU is looking worse and worse each week...

I'd love to think that the Huskies could pull off the upset again against the Trojans, but that's probably too much to expect. We haven't won on the road since...(checks College Football Database)...November of 2007.

[stevew]

When tutors write papers it has to stick out like a sore thumb. A ton of these guys function on probably a 6th grade level. Do the tutors intentionally dumb down the work?

[tarcone]

Homecoming! Beat State!

[tarcone]

Look for Iowa RB Marcus Coker to shine.

[Young Drachma]

At least BYU is getting this season out of their system before they go independent. Man.

[Matthean]

Kind of interesting to think there are four games worth watching more then the Red River Shootout. At least for me there is.

MSU vs. Wisconsin
PSU vs. Iowa
Stanford vs. Oregon
'Bama vs. Florida

EDIT: Had one game wrong.

[MJ4H]

I like the sign at GameDay that says

Mom I'm all ducked up on quack

[Buccaneer]

Go Stanford. My son has been looking forward to College Football Gameday all week and got up early this morning to get ready. I told him about one of my favorite teams, the 1970 Stanford Indians with Jim Plunkett.

[larrymcg421]

Seantrel Henderson looking really good for the Canes today.

Miami up 7-0 after pushing Clemson DL all over the field and then scoring on a hurry up play that caught Clemson off guard and left Hankerson wide open.

[larrymcg421]

And after looking so great on that TD drive, Miami has just looked awful.

[BishopMVP]

And after looking so great on that TD drive, Miami has just looked awful.I swear Miami looks like a legitimate top 5 team for a game here, a quarter there, a drive every now and then. I don't know if the lack of consistency is the coaching or just having boom or bust players - can't really use the youth excuse anymore.

EDIT - And there goes Jacory Harris lobbying for it being the players.

btw - Illinois giving Ohio State a game. Up 10-7 and outgaining OSU near halftime.

[larrymcg421]

I swear Miami looks like a legitimate top 5 team for a game here, a quarter there, a drive every now and then. I don't know if the lack of consistency is the coaching or just having boom or bust players - can't really use the youth excuse anymore.

EDIT - And there goes Jacory Harris lobbying for it being the players.

btw - Illinois giving Ohio State a game. Up 10-7 and outgaining OSU near halftime.

I think part of it is coaching. I'm still not convinced that Randy Shannon is a very good gameday coach, despite how much I like him as a person and for what he's done with the program overall. The other problem is Jacory. Dude has a ton of talent, but I keep waiting for him to break this impatient INT habit. I'm not sure it's ever going to happen at this point.

[larrymcg421]

Fuck fuck fuck.

[BishopMVP]

The other problem is Jacory. Dude has a ton of talent, but I keep waiting for him to break this impatient INT habit. I'm not sure it's ever going to happen at this point.I posted this in the other thread, but I'm wondering your take as a Miami fan. I love Whipple and his pro sets but I feel like he has too many vertical routes (especially off play-action). I feel like they should be getting Jacory into space on rollouts and have multiple crossing/drag routes on different levels. But it might just be that those are there in the play call and Jacory always chooses to throw deep into double coverage.

Also, what do you think of Leonard Hankerson's pro prospects? I never see him mentioned on these draft reports as a top WR prospect, but he's clearly got size and appears to have the speed to get deep.

[Lathum]

Terrel Pryor goes down and is in the locker room and OSU's offense proceeds to set football back 50 years.

[Lathum]

Reading this thread you would think Miami is down 2 scores instead of up 2 scores.

[larrymcg421]

I posted this in the other thread, but I'm wondering your take as a Miami fan. I love Whipple and his pro sets but I feel like he has too many vertical routes (especially off play-action). I feel like they should be getting Jacory into space on rollouts and have multiple crossing/drag routes on different levels. But it might just be that those are there in the play call and Jacory always chooses to throw deep into double coverage.

Maybe, but Jacory throws his share of INT's on short routes as well. Examples being the one in the end zone today and that awful one when they were coming back against Ohio State. I'm worried about his ability to read defenses. Jacory doesn't like to run and that is pretty clear by now, although he is not quite a statue and could get alot of value out of his mobility.

Also, what do you think of Leonard Hankerson's pro prospects? I never see him mentioned on these draft reports as a top WR prospect, but he's clearly got size and appears to have the speed to get deep.

I think the Canes have multiple pro prospects at WR (which is probably why Whipple is calling so many vertical routes), but yeah Hankerson is the best. With his size and hands, I don't see why he won't go in the 1st unless his 40 time is super slow.

[larrymcg421]

Reading this thread you would think Miami is down 2 scores instead of up 2 scores.

Well when I posted "Miami looks awful", they were down 14-7 and "Fuck fuck fuck" was when they had a 20-14 lead and Jacory was intercepted in the end zone. Clemson had a major mistake right before the half and the Canes scored with 30 seconds left to go up by two scores.

[Lathum]

ahh, makes more sense

[BishopMVP]

Jacory with the most Jacory line ever at halftime

8-22 165 yards 4td 2int

[larrymcg421]

Half his completions are TDs. That's funny.

Meanwhile, Kyle Parker is 5-17 34 yards 0td 2int.

Of course that's not entirely his fault. You'd have better odds of seeing Bigfoot than an open Clemson receiver.

[larrymcg421]

For example, Parker just threw a beautiful pass to a receiver that was completely covered, but he put it in the only place the receiver could catch it and it was dropped.

[terpkristin]

I'm annoyed. I get season tickets to Maryland games through a friend (we just buy 4 tickets instead of me buying 2 and her buying 2). But this year, she gave me my tickets and forgot to give me my parking passes. So now I'm waiting on her to get her arse out the door so that I can leave and not beat her to the game, so she can get my parking pass to me before I park. I actually wanted to get to the tailgate at about 2 p.m. today, now I won't be there before 4. She's such a freaking idiot, I'm ready to skip the game entirely.

/tk

[Matthean]

Terrel Pryor goes down and is in the locker room and OSU's offense proceeds to set football back 50 years.

I thought they were doing that even with Pryor on the field. :lol:

[Matthean]

I thought they were doing that even with Pryor on the field. :lol:

I went and looked this up. Under 9 minutes to go and there has been a total of 121 passing yards by both QBs in the game.

[larrymcg421]

Miami might blow this game just yet.

[Izulde]

The Battle for the Fremont Cannon got an si.com mention.


• Nevada not packing it in: Don't bother asking Nevada coach Chris Ault about his team's newly acquired Top 25 ranking, or about the much-anticipated November showdown with Boise State. Right now, Ault only cares about one thing: beating 1-3 UNLV. "It is a championship game," Ault told media this week. "It is a chance to win a championship and be state champs. That is what you are playing for." Well, yes, Nevada needs to beat UNLV-- but not because of in-state bragging rights. The Pack need to win because doing so will preserve their perfect record, and thus their chance of facing Boise for a shot at an actual championship. Rest assured, Coach Ault, the unstoppable Colin Kaepernick (924 passing yards, 451 rushing yards, 15 total touchdowns) will secure the 2010 Silver State title for Nevada.


Unfortunately smart move by Ault recognizing the value of the rivalry game. I really hope we pull off the upset, but it's not likely. Reno *is* that good this year. Like MacroGuru said, a lot of people are underestimating them.

But if we could beat the Wolfpack... oh, what a sweet night it would be.

[BishopMVP]

Unfortunately smart move by Ault recognizing the value of the rivalry game. I really hope we pull off the upset, but it's not likely. Reno *is* that good this year. Like MacroGuru said, a lot of people are underestimating them.I know I shouldn't put much weight into a game from last year, particularly the first game of the season, but I have a hard time taking Nevada's offense seriously because the only time I've actually seen them play with Kaepernick they were shut out by Notre Dame.

[JonInMiddleGA]

1st play LSU-Tenn ... Jordan Jefferson QB draw 82 yd TD run.

Meanwhile 50% of the Vols team is on the road for the first time in their career.

This may get really ugly.

[panerd]

Texas has no defense.

[Noop]

Well Clemson losing to Miami benefits Florida State as Clemson is in our division.

[miami_fan]

Jacory doesn't like to run and that is pretty clear by now, although he is not quite a statue and could get alot of value out of his mobility.


This. I don't expect him to be Vince Young or anything but pulling the ball down and picking up a few yards instead of forcing the ball downfield would be nice.

[Butter]

6 fucking turnovers Clemson, really?

[Matthean]

Robinson has over 200 yards in the early 2nd quarter and yet Michigan is tied with Indiana.

[panerd]

Robinson has over 200 yards in the early 2nd quarter and yet Michigan is tied with Indiana.

In part to him fumbling at the goal line.

[Matthean]

Indiana drives on Michigan, but an INT and TD drive later and it's 21-14 Michigan. All, but two plays went through Robinson, who has 306 yards just before half.

[Matthean]

In part to him fumbling at the goal line.

Watching via Gamecast and I figured that out since I was checking out the game later on. I knew this was a sleeper game for Michigan, but I still expect a win.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

What a nice play there by Indiana at the end of the half.

[mauchow]

Special teams and a missed holding call killing the Badgers right now. Plenty of time to turn it around. The Badgers Defense playing very well but continue to get no help from the put coverage team.

[k0ruptr]

Badgers need to turn it around, I def believe they are better then this MSU team but they are making too many mistakes.

[Atocep]

Wonder how long until a Big 10 team hires Leavitt as DC.

[BYU 14]

Just announced that BYU fired DC Jaime Hill. Someone needed to be a scapegoat for the 1-4 start and even though they have suffered a lot of injuries the defense has been abysmal.

Hill was not a popular coach with the players if you believe the rumors, but this still adds to the disarray at BYU. Hopefully they get it fixed.

[Izulde]

Thunderstorm here in Las Vegas. Not sure how long it'll last or if it'll affect tonight's game, but I thought I'd mention it.

[lungs]

Badgers need to turn it around, I def believe they are better then this MSU team but they are making too many mistakes.

I'm a Badger fan and I find this year's Badger team to be highly overrated. Not surprised at what is going on.

[MJ4H]

That was an amazing play by Demarco Murray.

[k0ruptr]

Badgers had a really good chance to get the ball back but gave up a huge 30 yard play on 3rd and 11

[panerd]

That was an amazing play by Demarco Murray.

Yes that was quite impressive. If you guys haven't had a chance to see this run yet he gets pushed at about the 15-yard line out of bounds and he does like 4 ballet steps right on the edge of the sideline and then flips into the endzone.

[MJ4H]

LSU - Tennessee gonna be tight. Turn it over there if you can.

[MJ4H]

LOL at the officials putting the marker down by the nose of the ball with visible slack in the line and calling it a first down.

[MJ4H]

Oh god I love it*

If spamming weren't frowned upon I would've posted that 100 times in this thread just now.

[Greyroofoo]

LMAO @ LSU

[Big Fo]

What an ending, terrible stuff from LSU's offense.

edit: What?! It's not over...

[Greyroofoo]

WTF!

[MJ4H]

This isn't even possible what I'm watching.

[Eaglesfan27]

Lmao at LSU, but what a fuck up by Tennessee.

[tarcone]

Wow. What an ending.

[MJ4H]

Oh god what a multiple disaster

[Greyroofoo]

LMAO @ Tennessee

[Matthean]

Michigan squeaks by Indiana as Robinson does his usual magic with a late game score with :17 seconds left. Robinson is responsible for 495 yards of offense, 277 passing, 218 rushing.

[cschex]

God, that made Ole Miss last year look like a textbook two minute drill. Les Miles has caused me to lose a ton of hair in the last five years. I wish to God the kids on this team had a coach who could actually, y'know, coach

[MJ4H]

Penalties called by replay. That's terrible.

There was a flag on the field (based on Les Miles' comments, anyway). I think if that's true, it was called on the field and verified by replay.

[MrBug708]

What an ending for LSU. It would have onl ybeen topped had it been against Lame Kiffin

[MJ4H]

haha I think both teams tried to sneak everyone out there.

[Noop]

Michigan squeaks by Indiana as Robinson does his usual magic with a late game score with :17 seconds left. Robinson is responsible for 495 yards of offense, 277 passing, 218 rushing.

Video Game numbers

[MrBug708]

The refs in the UCLA-WSU game might have set a record for most head scratching calls

[mckerney]

There was a flag on the field (based on Les Miles' comments, anyway). I think if that's true, it was called on the field and verified by replay.

Too many men on field is a penalty that can be called from replay alone, so even if there was no flag there is no problem with calling it that way.

[Matthean]

Video Game numbers

And living in Spartan country I got FB friends already mentioning next week and wondering how Michigan is ranked #19. I say because they haven't played anybody with a defense. Their response is MSU has a defense. Sure, if you consider giving up 24 and 31 at home to the only two teams with a pulse as a defense. It might be a first one to 30/40 kind of game. I honestly shake my head at teams inability to go, "See that guy? Get him." There's no excuse for it when Michigan had two TD drives and the number of plays Robinson wasn't responsible for was two of them. For both drives combined.

[Chief Rum]

The refs in the UCLA-WSU game might have set a record for most head scratching calls

While I agree with that sentiment, the calls that really irritate me--the PIs--were legit, and the corners and the pass D as a whole need to get their act together. I don't know if Cal's passing game necessarily scares me more than WSU, and Oregon's going to run the heck out of the ball, so it may not matter much there either. But when they play some of the other legit passing attacks on the schedule--essentially the last half of the schedule (ASU, Arizona, OSU, Washington, USC)--they're going to get burned big time unless they find a way to fix those issues.

[mckerney]

Just think that goes too far with replay. I hope that never seeps into the NFL.

I believe they have the same rule, too many men is a reviewable call in the NFL too.


EDIT: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/columns/story?columnist=sando_mike&id=3181388

Referees also can use replay to assess penalties for 12 men on the field, the illegal touching of a pass, the illegal touching of a kick and passing the ball after crossing the line of scrimmage.

[fpres]

Just two more weeks until the Huskers knock Texas down to 3-3. I wish I could be there for that one.

[henry296]

I believe they have the same rule, too many men is a reviewable call in the NFL too.

Yes they do. Rex Ryan challenged for a 12 men penalty in the game last Sunday Night.

[MrBug708]

While I agree with that sentiment, the calls that really irritate me--the PIs--were legit, and the corners and the pass D as a whole need to get their act together. I don't know if Cal's passing game necessarily scares me more than WSU, and Oregon's going to run the heck out of the ball, so it may not matter much there either. But when they play some of the other legit passing attacks on the schedule--essentially the last half of the schedule (ASU, Arizona, OSU, Washington, USC)--they're going to get burned big time unless they find a way to fix those issues.

Oh, I;m not saying they called some of them bad, just that one drive was...odd? First they totally miss on the face masking call then after the play went off, tehy called back the missed XP to say that the buzzer went off. It's not like WSU quick snapped it, there was only like 4 seconds left on the play clock

[Cuckoo]

*phew*

Weird ending for OU/Texas. The Sooners do all they can to keep Texas in it, but a late Longhorns fumble seals it. OU back on the right side of the rivalry. All is good in the world again. :)

[Ksyrup]

Saw this comment about Les Miles and LOLed:

"He once confused his own team, just to confuse his opponent. He is the most interesting coach in the world."

[JonInMiddleGA]

Gotta love Comcast DC. TV listings for Baylor/Kansas and Georgia/Colorado both online and in the Fios guide. First game ended up being a replay of a freaking soccer game. Second game is a replay of W&M vs Villanova. Incompetent hacks.

Same thing happening with CS Rocky Mtn (or whatever its called). Noticed because Dish customers were given like two dozen free channels this weekend while Fox Sports South is unavailable due to a rights fee dispute ... which means that UGA-Colorado is unavailable to Dish customers around Atlanta (except for the CS workaround, which didn't work after all) as well as the Braves season finale tomorrow.

[Lathum]

Gonna be a long day as a Huskies fan

[Big Fo]

Gotta love living in the DC area. ABC picks ND/BC and ESPN2 comes at us with USC/UW leaving ESPN3.com as the only source for Oregon/Stanford. Unbelievable.

Same deal in my part of South Carolina I think.

You can try checking the standard def. ESPN2 channel, here that is showing Stanford-Oregon while ESPN2 HD has USC - Washington.

[Big Fo]

The jump pass just doesn't work like it used to.

[Lathum]

Gotta love living in the DC area. ABC picks ND/BC and ESPN2 comes at us with USC/UW leaving ESPN3.com as the only source for Oregon/Stanford. Unbelievable.

I'm a UW alum and that would piss me off.

[Lathum]

Wow, what an answer by the Huskies. 17 straight points after USC walked down the field on their opening possession.

[tarcone]

I got Iowa/Penn St and Stanford/Oregon. :)

[Matthean]

17-0 'Bama.

[Lathum]

Gotta protect the ball Jake.

Sark should definitely challenge where that ball went out of bounds.

[Matthean]

24-0 'Bama. I would complain about 'Bama always running out of the wildcat, but they finally run it with a WR who has played QB, so they throw it and get the TD.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Wake Forest now warming up their #5 QB. Two injured tonight, their # 2/3 is held out after a concussion last week, now the #4 is banged up.

Oh yeah, Wake leads GT 17-6 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Jackets look like they've moved their inept defensive players to offense tonight, no blocking whatsoever.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Okay, now this is just getting silly.

GT has given up 2 TD's after turnovers, now we muff the punt snap & end up having it partially blocked for a 10 yd punt so it's Wake ball at the GT 36.

[Karlifornia]

Oregon is a tough team. Stanford would be lucky to enter the locker room with a lead. Ugh.

[MizzouRah]

I love the way Stanford plays football... oh, and that Ducks team is quite good.

Should be a great second half.

[JonInMiddleGA]

LOL, GT & Wake now tied at 17.

edit to add: Nesbit gets a TD pass as two Wake DB's inexplicably get out of position leaving the safety to try to cover 2 receivers at/near the end zone.

[Kodos]

Indiana fans are rarely ever thrown a bone. :(

[JonInMiddleGA]

20-17 Wake leads with 2:20ish to play.

[Matthean]

Announcer said Florida needs to score at the end of the half and again at the beginning of the 2nd half. I thought in my head, "Yeah, but watch it be two field goals." 'Bama 24-6. :lol:

[Tigercat]

Saw this comment about Les Miles and LOLed:

"He once confused his own team, just to confuse his opponent. He is the most interesting coach in the world."

He really might be the most interesting coach in college football, but mostly for negative reasons. Has there ever been a coach under so much legit heat for a top 10 (top 8 after the weekend?) 5-0, 3-0 conf. start?

Miles can be a good, maybe even great, head coach in the right circumstance. But that circumstance has Miles as a recruiter/lockerroom motivator, with two sideline coordinators that can do there own thing and completely run the play calling show. With Crowton being the passive coach's box type OC, we are far from that situation right now.

[JonInMiddleGA]

12:30 to go in Boulder, Colorado clinging to a 29-27 lead over UGA

[JonInMiddleGA]

TOUCHDOWN GEORGIA TECH !

Unfrigginbelievable. Wake was pretty gassed at the end, Nesbitt did that whole "would not be denied" thing, and is :15 seconds from pulling off a shocking comeback by a team that played dead for every bit of three quarters.

Of course, we still have to survive kicking off.

[Matthean]

Pick 6 by 'Bama go to up 31-6. Florida gets down to the goal line vastly in part due to 'Bama getting penalties and then Florida for the 2nd time in the game turns the ball over while looking at 7 points. If Florida had a clue what kind of offense they want to run they could actually be decent, but they can't get past running the Tebow offense without Tebow.

[MizzouRah]

Wow.. Oregon just took this game over.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Colorado leads UGA 29-27 late Q4 but a sack sends 'em out of field goal range & the Buffs miss a 52 yarder. UGA quickly drives into FG range with about 2 minutes left ... and fumbles it away. Colorado runs out the clock and drops Georgia to 1-4 for the first time since 1993

[Ajaxab]

I hate to see a 'tackle' like the one that knocked out Stanford's Owusu. The Oregon db made no attempt to use anything but his helmet on that play. I don't see any room in the game for that.

[EagleFan]

Holy crap, just saw the replay of the Tenn/LSU finish. Cluster **** doesn't even begin to describe it.

[Matthean]

Florida still needs to work on center to QB exchange when in the shotgun. Really surprised it this much of an issue at this point. Brantly gets crunched and might be out for awhile.

[Recoil]

CU storms the field after beating 1-4 UGA. Wow.

[MJ4H]

Fuck Kirk Herbstreit by the way, making a big point out of saying today would be Bama's first real test of the year today on gameday.

Asshole. Fall in a well.

[JonInMiddleGA]

CU storms the field after beating 1-4 UGA. Wow.

Well it is a little unexpected for them. I mean, the last time they beat a non-conference BCS team looks like 2008 when they knocked off WVU at home. Before that it looks Washington State in 2004 on the road and UCLA in 2003. Not something they've seen very often lately.

[Lathum]

CU storms the field after beating 1-4 UGA. Wow.

Well they do play in the SEC so it is like beating an undefeated team from any other conference.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Fuck Kirk Herbstreit by the way, making a big point out of saying today would be Bama's first real test of the year today on gameday.
Asshole. Fall in a well.

Eh, he's just looking at the Football Frontier poll :D

[MJ4H]

Eh, he's just looking at the Football Frontier poll :D

hahaha right on

[JonInMiddleGA]

Oregon looks like they're playing the game on fast-forward.

[Recoil]

Well they do play in the SEC so it is like beating an undefeated team from any other conference.

You can't beat that SEC Speed™. Uhh, welp..

Nevada/UNLV looks to be a good game for those looking for some late night football.

[Matthean]

Oregon looks like they're playing the game on fast-forward.

If they can go undefeated, it would be interesting to see if they get past OSU in terms of rankings, and what they would be like against 'Bama.

[Lathum]

HUSKIES!!!!!

FUCK YEAH!!!!1

ITS GOOD TO BE A DAWG!!!!

[RainMaker]

If they can go undefeated, it would be interesting to see if they get past OSU in terms of rankings, and what they would be like against 'Bama.
I'd love to see 4-5 undefeated teams to show what a joke the system is.

[Eaglesfan27]

So disappointing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

HUSKIES!!!!!

FUCK YEAH!!!!

I'll second that emotion :)

[dawgfan]

It's weird to say, but the Huskies made a ton of mistakes and could have won by a more comfortable margin. Our run defense still stinks - 298 yards on 39 carries - but the Trojans D might be even worse, all things considered.

I'll say this - Sark was the much better play-caller tonight.

Huge win by the Huskies, as it restores hope that they could win 6 and get to a bowl game, and should quiet a lot of the criticism that was beginning to be thrown Sark's way. And it gets the big consecutive road loss streak monkey off their backs.

This is the team I thought we were getting this year - it just took them until game 4 to get there.

[MrBug708]

I dont think any one doubts who is the better coach tonight in Los Angeles. Sark just doesnt have much to work with but still isn't doing too terrible, while Kiffin...well...let's just say that he's keeping the seat warm for Sark

[JonInMiddleGA]

The Bulldawg nation (East Coast version) grows more restless with each passing loss. The bulletin boards are great entertainment though, among my favorites tonight
To say this is one bad football team is like saying the Hindenburg experienced a flight delay…

[Izulde]

Frustrating 44-26 loss to Reno tonight.

But we definitely had our chances to win it. The key factors/moments to this game:

1. Tied 14-14 and my boy Will Chandler picks off his gazilliionth pass of the season. We 3 and out.

2. Towards the end of the first half, we lose a fumble deep in our own territory. UNR converts the TD with less than a minute to go and all of a sudden a 21-14 game is 28-14, which was the halftime score after Omar Clayton threw his first interception of the season while the Rebels were driving.

3. We had two big turnovers, the Chandler INT and a fumble in the second half while it was 28-14 still. We didn't convert either one into any points. Reno, OTOH, made points off TOs.

4. Our run defense has been a problem all year and it got raped again tonight. Senior Wolfpack RB Vai Taua ran for 198 yards and 3 TDs, including a 72 yard TD that was a dagger thrust and a half. But that's not the worst of it. QB Colin Kaepernick showed off his dual threat skills, running for 97 yards and a TD, and going 13/17 for 124 yards and a TD.

5. We got bogged down in the red zone too much and had to settle for two FGs. Had they been TDs, it would have been a new ballgame. We wasted a lot of big plays, such as a gorgeous catch and run by Philip Payne to get us on the 10 yard line at one point.

UNLV did have bright spots, though. WR Philip Payne had 8 catches for 170 yards and QB Omar Clayton showed some terrific scrambling moves, including an awesome 8 yard run for a TD.

Best chant of the night: "LET'S GO METRO!" as the police removed a drunk, rowdy Reno fan who was trying to start shit with the whole UNLV student section.

Most annoying chant of the night: "WE WANT BOISE!" by the Wolfpack fans as the game wound down. Yeah, okay. Undefeated and a Top 25 team, yeah. But Boise is a whole different ballgame and it's not like UNR kicked our asses or anything.

I also got into a bit of a shouting match with an asshole traffic cop after the game. It made me start to see why LV cops have such a bad reputation

Edit: Oh, and UNR were such overconfident assholes, they didn't even bring the Cannon with them apparently. Such bullshit. I wanted to see the Cannon.

The fans also stormed the field after beating us. Okay, Reno. Whatever.

[MrBug708]

lol

[panerd]

lol +2

What is Wolfpack's record against any of the power conference teams in the past 5 years? Like 1-10? (This is counting Cal and not counting all of their losses to Boise) They are like 0-6 vs the big 12 in the last three years but I guess "this is their season" Go ahead and put them in the top 25 though that way Boise's win will look more impressive when their resume consists of beating Virginia Tech, Oregon State, and top 25 Nevada. Why that shouldn't lead to an automatic spot in the national title game is beyond me! LOL.

[MrBug708]

That wasnt what I was loling too :)

[panerd]

That wasnt what I was loling too :)

I guess I should change my post to just lol then. :)

[Izulde]

lol +2

What is Wolfpack's record against any of the power conference teams in the past 5 years?

2-7.

That's not counting close bowl game losses to Maryland (42-35) and Miami (FL) (21-20).

[Karlifornia]

Stanford didn't score one point in the second half. You don't win many ballgames with a scoreless 30 minutes. You don't win any like that against a team like Oregon. Being a football fan and putting your heart and soul into a team is so painful sometimes.

[Izulde]

It gets even better. Reno's coach bitching after the game. From the Las Vegas Sun


Before Chris Ault would address the media after the game, he had a complaint to voice.

Ault held up a stack of field passes that said "UNR Coach" and handed them to a sports information assistant with a message.

“Give these back to them and tell them we won’t wear them again,” Ault said. “We’re Nevada.”

Ault went on for a bit about the sign of “disrespect” while Wolf Pack fans cheered outside of the locker room at his comments.

Then, unprompted, he brought the issue back up during his interview time.

“Never give these to us again,” Ault said. “We wore them one time only. I really don’t think that’s the way you do things. We wouldn’t do that to them up there, right? Respect. It’s called respect.”

Excuse me, but even the official website of the school is unr.edu. The official name of the university is University of Nevada, Reno. So you're UNR. Stop trying to be a power-tripping fucktard and make it out like you're the flagship school of the state like Madison, Fayetteville, Twin Cities, etc. You're not.

There's two D-I schools in the state of Nevada and they're roughly equal.

The full article:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/oct/03/unr-has-championship-bcs-aspirations-after-hot-sta/

Whine whine whine. Fuck you Coach Ault and fuck the Wolfpack.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Whine whine whine. Fuck you Coach Ault and fuck the Wolfpack.
Now you're disrespecting them, too! They're the Wolf Pack, not the Wolfpack!!!

;)

[MrBug708]

It gets even better. Reno's coach bitching after the game. From the Las Vegas Sun



Excuse me, but even the official website of the school is unr.edu. The official name of the university is University of Nevada, Reno. So you're UNR. Stop trying to be a power-tripping fucktard and make it out like you're the flagship school of the state like Madison, Fayetteville, Twin Cities, etc. You're not.

There's two D-I schools in the state of Nevada and they're roughly equal.

The full article:

UNR has BCS and championship aspirations following hot 2010 start - Las Vegas Sun (http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/oct/03/unr-has-championship-bcs-aspirations-after-hot-sta/)

Whine whine whine. Fuck you Coach Ault and fuck the Wolfpack.

Actually, he's correct. They are Nevada. Just like Cal-Berkley is still considered California and UCLA is considered...UCLA.

[Chief Rum]

Stanford didn't score one point in the second half. You don't win many ballgames with a scoreless 30 minutes. You don't win any like that against a team like Oregon. Being a football fan and putting your heart and soul into a team is so painful sometimes.

Exactly. It would be good of you to remember that the next time you decide to make any comments about other teams losing, as you are wont to do.

I am sorry you're feeling it with your team losing. Oregon's a phenomenal squad; Stanford's still going to do fine this year. UCLA will do their best to pull another upset out of their butts when they go up to visit Autzen in three weeks.

[Izulde]

Actually, he's correct. They are Nevada. Just like Cal-Berkley is still considered California and UCLA is considered...UCLA.

But Berkley is the flagship instution, no? I don't think Reno is.

[MrBug708]

Nevada Reno is 80 years older than UNLV and was Nevada's first college. Cal Berkley is the oldest UC school in California and is considered the flagship institution but I dont think it has any official designation as one.

[tarcone]

Great homecoming. Defense just dominated. Now to our bye week.

[Karlifornia]

Exactly. It would be good of you to remember that the next time you decide to make any comments about other teams losing, as you are wont to do.

I am sorry you're feeling it with your team losing. Oregon's a phenomenal squad; Stanford's still going to do fine this year. UCLA will do their best to pull another upset out of their butts when they go up to visit Autzen in three weeks.

I don't know. You and Bug are hard to stomach sometimes. I'm at least generally accurate with my assessments of my teams.

[dawgfan]

...let's just say that he's keeping the seat warm for Sark
I think USC is about the only realistic place Sark might leave the UW for, but even that is unlikely. As Don James proved, if you get things rolling at the UW, they can be in the Rose Bowl hunt every year and National Championship contenders 2-3 times per decade.

I wasn't impressed with Kiffin's coaching last night. Curious play calling. Why run the wildcat with Tyler instead of Baxter? Why run the wildcat so often when it was far less effective than just the straight-ahead power running plays with Bradford? Why interrupt successful drives where Bradford was gashing Washington left and right with pass plays?

If I'm a USC fan, I'm livid. Washington made a bunch of mistakes and still won. Nobody is going to suggest that the Huskies are more talented, so that puts the focus of blame squarely on the coaching staff. And Monte Kiffin doesn't seem to be earning his pay so far...

[dawgfan]

Video Game numbers
Indeed. Robinson is putting up numbers that defy belief. The RichRod haters are losing credibility - looks like he's getting the guys he needs for his system to excel. Between what he's doing now at Michigan (and did at WVU) and the continuing success Chip Kelly is having at Oregon (and Ault's Pistol offense at Nevada), it's pretty clear that spread-option offenses aren't some flash-in-the-pan gimmick that will easily be solved by defenses - it's an offensive philosophy that has real staying power.

[Matthean]

The RichRod haters are losing credibility

The RR haters are wondering why they are giving up 35 points and need a last minute drive to beat Indiana. Their best win is against a 2-3 rebuilding Irish team, who had virtually no offense for a half due to their QB being injured and Michigan still needed a late drive to beat. The only difference between this year's team and last year's is due to Robinson channeling Bo Jackson Techmo Bowl style. The RR haters won't shut up until Michigan starts putting up quality wins against decent teams. It also might help if he gets a personality change and somehow gets the NCAA to play nice. Seriously, he gets one recruit to pan out in a freak like way and Michigan fans are suddenly going to turn a blind eye to a guy that's tied to 10 major NCAA violations with two schools?

[Chief Rum]

I don't know. You and Bug are hard to stomach sometimes. I'm at least generally accurate with my assessments of my teams.

On second thought, never mind, not worth it.

[Chief Rum]

BTW, I could be wrong (and this will seem strange after the last post, but truth is truth), but Stanford -7 opening line at home against 'SC next week almost seems like they're begging me to put money down on The Farm. I mean, that's practically like just getting paid to gamble, isn't it?

[Poli]

lol

[CU Tiger]

Seriously, he gets one recruit to pan out in a freak like way


Well one this year....seriously check his track record.
Shaun King
Woodrow Dantlzer
Pat White

All 3 got NFL contracts....none of them probably deserved them.
Robinson compares more similarly to Dantzler than to White...just sit back and enjoy you have a show to watch.

Now one thing RR knows jack about is D...the question is when will he hire a competent DC....

[Atocep]

Now one thing RR knows jack about is D...the question is when will he hire a competent DC....

His problems on defense are usually because he doesn't put much emphasis on it in recruiting. He likes to recruit HS athletes and give them a look on offense first then if they don't work out on the offensive side of the ball they're put in the secondary. Casteel is an excellent defensive coordinator and struggled to put a consistent defense on the field while RR was at WVU.

[CU Tiger]

Casteel is an excellent defensive coordinator and struggled to put a consistent defense on the field

DOES NOT COMPUTE...
An excellent DC would demand players and a role in the recruiting process or walk.

[Atocep]

DOES NOT COMPUTE...
An excellent DC would demand players and a role in the recruiting process or walk.

Casteel is loyal to WVU as a school. That's why here's still there and not at FSU or Michigan now.

[BishopMVP]

Indeed. Robinson is putting up numbers that defy belief. The RichRod haters are losing credibility - looks like he's getting the guys he needs for his system to excel. Between what he's doing now at Michigan (and did at WVU) and the continuing success Chip Kelly is having at Oregon (and Ault's Pistol offense at Nevada), it's pretty clear that spread-option offenses aren't some flash-in-the-pan gimmick that will easily be solved by defenses - it's an offensive philosophy that has real staying power.I'm sure there were some irrational fans that were saying the spread was a gimmick that wouldn't work in the Big Ten, but my criticism (and most of what I heard) was fairly grounded in reality. He's attracting NCAA attention and disgracing the Michigan reputation (even as a Notre Dame fan I always respected Michigan unlike USC because I perceived they cared about doing things the right way), he treats defense as an afterthought and he runs off players (Mallett/Threet) instead of molding his system to fit their strengths until he can recruit players to play the way he wants. I'm also not entirely sure you can say it's a case of "getting his players" - he had Robinson last year and only used him occasionally in place of Forcier, usually for a telegraphed QB draw, and didn't even decide on Robinson as the starter this year until the final week of preseason. There's also the little matter of Michigan starting 4-0 under very similar circumstances last year (last second TD vs. ND, blowout over a MAC team, shootout vs. Indiana) before losing 7 straight Big Ten games - let's see if Michigan can go at least 2-2 over the next 4 games (MSU/Iowa/@PSU/Illinois) before proclaiming them to be back.

[JPhillips]

As bad as the Big Ten is this year I could see Michigan going into the OSU game undefeated. I expect them to have at least a couple of losses, but honestly there isn't a single team in the Big Ten outside of OSU where I'd be willing to bet they'd lose.

[bronconick]

Michigan's problem is that Rodriguez a) doesn't give a crap about recruiting defense and b) Lloyd Carr took his last year or two of recruiting off, because the last two-three years at Michigan have been the least talented groups of upperclassmen to have been assembled in Ann Arbor in decades. Even if a pro-style coach had been hired and no one left town, that 2008 team was in danger of losing the bowl streak with no real replacements for Hart, Long, Arrington and company, and a freshman Mallett stepping in for Henne.

[panerd]

As bad as the Big Ten is this year I could see Michigan going into the OSU game undefeated. I expect them to have at least a couple of losses, but honestly there isn't a single team in the Big Ten outside of OSU where I'd be willing to bet they'd lose.

You did see this weekend's game against Indiana? They have Mich State, Iowa, Wisconsin, at Purdue, and at Penn State before this game. If there were no spread I would bet against them on every one of these games and only be worried about Purdue. They are a one-trick pony right now and will get destroyed in conference play.

[Butter]

Yeah, Michigan is going to struggle through this upcoming series of games. It really is unbelievable to watch Robinson go on long run after long run and barely be touched. FORCE HIM TO THROW THE FUCKING BALL, IDIOTS.

When they finally go up against some teams that can actually play decent man-to-man coverage on the outside and stack the box on him, then he will struggle. Until then, he will continue to put up video game like numbers.

Your time is coming, Shoelace. It is coming.

[BishopMVP]

Michigan's problem is that Rodriguez a) doesn't give a crap about recruiting defense and b) Lloyd Carr took his last year or two of recruiting off, because the last two-three years at Michigan have been the least talented groups of upperclassmen to have been assembled in Ann Arbor in decades. Even if a pro-style coach had been hired and no one left town, that 2008 team was in danger of losing the bowl streak with no real replacements for Hart, Long, Arrington and company, and a freshman Mallett stepping in for Henne.All true, but there's a difference between .500ish and that 3-9 debacle.

panerd - I think Illinois has the better chance than Purdue. Illinois has played respectably vs. Ohio State and Missouri while Purdue has looked bad in losses to ND and Toledo (and the win vs. Western Illinois). Their best offensive player is done for the year too iirc.

[Passacaglia]

I'm sure there were some irrational fans that were saying the spread was a gimmick that wouldn't work in the Big Ten, but my criticism (and most of what I heard) was fairly grounded in reality. He's attracting NCAA attention and disgracing the Michigan reputation (even as a Notre Dame fan I always respected Michigan unlike USC because I perceived they cared about doing things the right way), he treats defense as an afterthought and he runs off players (Mallett/Threet) instead of molding his system to fit their strengths until he can recruit players to play the way he wants. I'm also not entirely sure you can say it's a case of "getting his players" - he had Robinson last year and only used him occasionally in place of Forcier, usually for a telegraphed QB draw, and didn't even decide on Robinson as the starter this year until the final week of preseason. There's also the little matter of Michigan starting 4-0 under very similar circumstances last year (last second TD vs. ND, blowout over a MAC team, shootout vs. Indiana) before losing 7 straight Big Ten games - let's see if Michigan can go at least 2-2 over the next 4 games (MSU/Iowa/@PSU/Illinois) before proclaiming them to be back.

Robinson was really awful last year, though. Forcier had more time with the team before the season started last year, and you can see the difference in the way they played -- the few times Robinson passed, he was just horrible. I think not starting Robinson then was the right choice. And I believe the "official decision" to start Robinson was made late like that to reduce media coverage.

I've never been a RichRod hater or a lover really -- I just want to see us win.

[Swaggs]

Well one this year....seriously check his track record.
Shaun King
Woodrow Dantlzer
Pat White

All 3 got NFL contracts....none of them probably deserved them.
Robinson compares more similarly to Dantzler than to White...just sit back and enjoy you have a show to watch.

Now one thing RR knows jack about is D...the question is when will he hire a competent DC....

Add Rasheed Marshall to that list, as well.

Rod turned him into the Big East Player of the Year and he was drafted (and lasted a couple of seasons) by the 49ers.

[Swaggs]

I'm a Rich Rod hater, but I think you guys that think that Robinson is going to slow down against the Big Ten are fooling yourselves. The key to running that offense is finding a quarterback that is smart enough and able to make a quick enough decision to know when to give the ball to running back or keep it (in that brief period of time when the quarterback makes the handoff/keeps it based on whether the defensive end crashes in or not). Robinson didn't get "it" last season, but does now and he is fast/athletic enough to make defenses pay. Once Michigan gets a homerun threat running back (or one emerges, I don't know a lot about their roster) to pair with him, they will be truly nasty.

The offense is going to work against most of the Big Ten and, unlike during his time at West Virginia, the Michigan/Big Ten brand name and the resources that go along with it is going to be able to pull in elite offensive linemen and defensive players. Ohio State and Iowa have more talent right now and should be able to outman them this season, but I'll be really surprised if they win less than 9 or 10 games this season and are not competing for national titles in the next two.

It pains me to say it, because he is a crappy human being, but the man can coach offensive football and, more importantly, knows how to be the CEO of a very good program.

[JPhillips]

You did see this weekend's game against Indiana? They have Mich State, Iowa, Wisconsin, at Purdue, and at Penn State before this game. If there were no spread I would bet against them on every one of these games and only be worried about Purdue. They are a one-trick pony right now and will get destroyed in conference play.

Yeah, but I've also seen how bad the rest of the Big Ten looks. Like I said, I expect them to lose a couple of games, but I wouldn't be shocked to see them beat MSU, Iowa, Wiscy, Purdue and PSU. I look at those schools and don't see any of them as obviously better overall than Michigan.

I'd be fine with an undefeated OSU/Mich game. It will hurt Michigan fans that much more when they lose.

[Butter]

The key to running that offense is finding a quarterback that is smart enough and able to make a quick enough decision to know when to give the ball to running back or keep it (in that brief period of time when the quarterback makes the handoff/keeps it based on whether the defensive end crashes in or not).

That's nice and all, but Michigan's horrible defense will be the main reason they lose several of their final games, not their offense.

[Passacaglia]

Yeah, but I've also seen how bad the rest of the Big Ten looks. Like I said, I expect them to lose a couple of games, but I wouldn't be shocked to see them beat MSU, Iowa, Wiscy, Purdue and PSU. I look at those schools and don't see any of them as obviously better overall than Michigan.

I'd be fine with an undefeated OSU/Mich game. It will hurt Michigan fans that much more when they lose.

I know I'm supposed to be really big on THE GAME and all that, but after the last couple seasons, I'd be feeling pretty damn good with an 11-1 season and a loss to Ohio State.

[Butter]

I know I'm supposed to be really big on THE GAME and all that, but after the last couple seasons, I'd be feeling pretty damn good with an 11-1 season and a loss to Ohio State.

Ah yes, the "John Cooper". Believe me, it still sucks no matter how you might try to downplay or reverse jinx it.

[Passacaglia]

Ah yes, the "John Cooper". Believe me, it still sucks no matter how you might try to downplay or reverse jinx it.

hahaha I didn't say I'd be happy with 10 years of it! I'm just talking about this season, and it would be easier to swallow after the last couple seasons we've had.

[Swaggs]

That's nice and all, but Michigan's horrible defense will be the main reason they lose several of their final games, not their offense.

If by "several," you mean 2-3 (maybe 4 in a bowl game), I can buy that. Believe me, I want nothing more than to see Rod fail but outside of Ohio State and Iowa, I don't see anyone that has the manpower to shut them down on defense and it isn't like the rest of the Big Ten's offenses have a lot of firepower.

They'll certainly give up their share of points, but with a healthy Robinson, they will outscore most of the teams in the Big Ten.

[DeToxRox]

Illinois and Purdue have handled us the last two years (makes me hurt so much inside) so neither are gimmies but at this point neither concern me. Penn State right now might be the worst offense in the Big Ten, so that means they'll put up like 24 on us, but I do think that is another very winnable game. MSU has an awful D, and anyone who says otherwise has not watched them play. Will they beat us? It is entirely possible. Right now I'd say it is a coin flip, but it is because their offense can be dominating. Wisconsin is yet another coin flip when you take in account they have looked like shit basically all year thus far.

Right now only Iowa and OSU are for sure losses to me. We should beat Illinois and Purdue, and then three coin flips with MSU/PSU/Wisconsin.

I think we end up 9-3 at this point but I am not going to get ahead of myself.

[BishopMVP]

I'm a Rich Rod hater, but I think you guys that think that Robinson is going to slow down against the Big Ten are fooling yourselves. The key to running that offense is finding a quarterback that is smart enough and able to make a quick enough decision to know when to give the ball to running back or keep it (in that brief period of time when the quarterback makes the handoff/keeps it based on whether the defensive end crashes in or not). Robinson didn't get "it" last season, but does now and he is fast/athletic enough to make defenses pay. Once Michigan gets a homerun threat running back (or one emerges, I don't know a lot about their roster) to pair with him, they will be truly nasty.The read option only works as long as the defense needs to respect both options or the offensive line is getting a solid push. Based off the Notre Dame game, neither the RB's or the OL were doing anything, and if I was coaching I would tell the DE's to sell out upfield and concentrate solely on containing Robinson. And as Butter pointed out, it's the defense that will be Michigan's undoing. I don't see how Robinson can play any better than he has and they've still beaten ND, UMass and Indiana by a score or less. You say you'd be surprised if Michigan didn't win at least 9 games, I think it's their high water mark and they're more likely to finish with 7-8 regular season wins. (which is still a huge success compared to the past two years and should only improve as Rodriguez does rebuild the depth on defense.)