Official College Football Thread - Week 1

[cartman]

Kickoff of the new season is right around the corner! The first games are on Thursday night, only 4 days away.

A couple of big games on opening weekend:

Oregon vs. LSU at Cowboys Stadium
Boise State at Georgia

We have a crew going to the Rice-Texas game on Saturday. My mom and dad are bringing my nieces down and my cousin is bringing his two boys. It will be the kids first College Football game.

Trivia note: Many people are familiar with Kennedy's quote about going to the moon:

Originally Posted by JFK

We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.

What is less known is the line right before his famous quote:

Originally Posted by JFK

But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?

[tarcone]

Iowa hosts Tennessee Tech. Should be a nice warm-up. Need to see how our new QB plays, as well as, the new defensive line.
Marcus Coker should get about 200 yards rushing this game.

GO HAWKS!

[Izulde]

UNLV travels to Madtown. Badgers are going to slaughter us in epic fashion.

[MJ4H]

what is the thursday night game

[cartman]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

what is the thursday night game

15 games scheduled for Thursday involving FBS teams.

NCAA College Football Scores, College Football Scores, NCAA Football Scoreboard and Results - ESPN

[MJ4H]

tx

[Logan]

It's early but there's a good chance Thursday's Rutgers-NC Central game gets pushed back; New Brunswick is under a ton of water.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Words you aren't likely to hear from me very often:
I hope Boise hangs at least half a hundred this weekend.

The ensuing uproar around here (Athens,not FOFC) would be some really cheap entertainment for me ... unless, of course, BSU found a way to score fifty and lose anyway.

[Matthean]

Michigan hosts W. Michigan and it will be interesting to see the being of the Hoke era. 'Bama has a tune up game against Kent St., but they are also breaking in new people on offense so it will be interesting to see how well they do.

[mauchow]

Four more days away! Sorry Izulde.

The Badgers biggest questions: Russell Wilson as good as advertised? Is it possible the offensive line is better than last year? And, how will the DL fair without JJ Watt?

I think all three questions will be positive answers for the Badgers. Yes, Wilson is as good as advertised. Yes, the line will somehow be better than last year. And yes, the DL of the Badgers is very deep this year and should be able to do just fine with the return of MLB Borland who will help create havoc for the DL to make big plays.. Wisconsin's biggest thing is also depth because of this: If Wilson goes down we will be going with a freshman QB who is NOT EVEN CLOSE to being ready because the original backup may be out for the season. And also, if Borland goes down, the Badgers will be relying on the offense to win a lot of the games.

WOOO! IT'S GO TIME!

[Ksyrup]

Kentucky plays Western Kentucky in Nashville Thursday night. I look for UK to struggle. I'm not sold on Joker Phillips at all, and they lost their top RB, QB, WR, and Mr. All-Purpose (Randall Cobb) from last year. WKU has Bobby Rainey, who put up nearly 200 yards on UK last year. I guess I'll be surprised if UK loses, but it wouldn't totally shock me.

[Ksyrup]

FSU plays somebody on Saturday. Now that Bobby isn't here, I don't worry about even knowing who we play for warm-ups anymore.

[Lathum]

I'm a little worried about UWs game against Eastern Washington. Lots of questions going into this season and Eastern is defending D2 champs.

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

FSU plays somebody on Saturday. Now that Bobby isn't here, I don't worry about even knowing who we play for warm-ups anymore.

Oh so true. 2009 I went to a beer and wine festival the 2nd Saturday of the season and would check the ESPN app on my phone for the Jacksonville State-FSU score, steadily drinking more and more each time I checked with JSU up 9-7. right down to the last minute. Check it a few minutes later to see the final of 19-9 and I yelled out "About fucking time!" That was apparently when it was time to take me home.

[MacroGuru]

BYU heads to Oxford to take on Ole Miss and launch their season of independence (Which may not last long)....I am excited for this season. This game will tell us if we can handle the scheduling we have in the future set up...

[Logan]

Originally Posted by mauboy1

Four more days away! Sorry Izulde.

The Badgers biggest questions: Russell Wilson as good as advertised? Is it possible the offensive line is better than last year? And, how will the DL fair without JJ Watt?

I think all three questions will be positive answers for the Badgers. Yes, Wilson is as good as advertised. Yes, the line will somehow be better than last year. And yes, the DL of the Badgers is very deep this year and should be able to do just fine with the return of MLB Borland who will help create havoc for the DL to make big plays.. Wisconsin's biggest thing is also depth because of this: If Wilson goes down we will be going with a freshman QB who is NOT EVEN CLOSE to being ready because the original backup may be out for the season. And also, if Borland goes down, the Badgers will be relying on the offense to win a lot of the games.

WOOO! IT'S GO TIME!

Wilson is very good, very talented, but will be very frustrating at times. Admittedly he may have made more progress recently, but he needs to do a better job not trying to do everything himself and forcing situations.

[Izulde]

As a Badger State native, I'm sure Wisky will be fine on offense. They'll go three deep in tailbacks and hammer the shit out of teams.

[knolysis]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

FSU plays somebody on Saturday. Now that Bobby isn't here, I don't worry about even knowing who we play for warm-ups anymore.

I haven't been this excited about Seminole football in a number of years. Looking forward to the season.

[Ksyrup]

I think we're at least a year away, and this year's high ranking scares me. I wouldn't be surprised at another 9-3/10-2 season before we really take off. A pre-season top 5/10 ranking's a little absurd, IMO.

[tarcone]

Im jonesing to watch Iowa. So bad, I approached my wife today about re-upping with directv to get the Big Ten Network. I dont think I can make it without a being able to watch.

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I think we're at least a year away, and this year's high ranking scares me. I wouldn't be surprised at another 9-3/10-2 season before we really take off. A pre-season top 5/10 ranking's a little absurd, IMO.

+1

Hoping they split the OU/Clemson weeks and I wouldn't be shocked if Florida's together enough by late November to defend their home field just fine. Add in the seemingly yearly whoopsie vs. some ACC schlub, and you've got 2-3 losses.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

BYU heads to Oxford to take on Ole Miss and launch their season of independence (Which may not last long)....I am excited for this season. This game will tell us if we can handle the scheduling we have in the future set up...

This game is huge and I hope the team is focused. A stumble here could make for a long 4 week stretch with games at Texas and home vs Utah and UCF following this.

I think depth will be a big help in the humidity and heat as this years team is a solid 2 deep at most every position with all the young players they had to play last season.

[britrock88]

I've got Wisconsin down for at least 11 wins this season.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I'm a little worried about UWs game against Eastern Washington. Lots of questions going into this season and Eastern is defending D2 champs.

It would be a significant upset for Washington to lose this game. People remember the FCS over FBS upsets, but the reality is that FCS teams rarely beat BCS conference teams.

The Huskies are in real trouble this season if they aren't able to push Eastern up and down the field pretty much at will...

[dawgfan]

Dola - by playing Eastern Washington, the Huskies will lose their status as one of only 4 FBS programs that have never played an FCS level team. Kind of sucks to lose that distinction, but the prices that bottom-feeding FBS teams are charging now has made it an expensive distinction to maintain...

[RainMaker]

Who are the other teams? I'm guessing USC and Notre Dame are two of them.

Kind of pathetic how many big schools schedule these games regardless of the money. Props to the programs that still have a set of testicles.

[wade moore]

William and Mary travels to UVA this weekend. I'll be making the trip, just like I did in 2009 when we took it to them.

Two wins in a row against UVA would be amazing.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

Dola - by playing Eastern Washington, the Huskies will lose their status as one of only 4 FBS programs that have never played an FCS level team. Kind of sucks to lose that distinction, but the prices that bottom-feeding FBS teams are charging now has made it an expensive distinction to maintain...

Well, in fairness, Eastern Washington is at least the defending FCS Champion.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Who are the other teams? I'm guessing USC and Notre Dame are two of them.

I found an old article from 2009 that listed UCLA as the fourth ... not sure whether that's changed since then & I'm too lazy to look it up at the moment.

[PackerFanatic]

Originally Posted by Izulde

UNLV travels to Madtown. Badgers are going to slaughter us in epic fashion.

Is this some kind of reverse jinx?

[bob]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Words you aren't likely to hear from me very often:
I hope Boise hangs at least half a hundred this weekend.

The ensuing uproar around here (Athens,not FOFC) would be some really cheap entertainment for me ... unless, of course, BSU found a way to score fifty and lose anyway.

I can't agree more with this. This offseason has been amazing to me. UGA fans have gone from wanting their coach's head on a plate to thinking they will probably win the SEC east to thinking that UGA is the only team outside the top 10 with a chance of winning the national championship (I actually heard the local radio station do about 2 hours on this). All while losing AJ Green and I think their #2 WR from last year and their entire RB depth. They assume that at worst the new freshman RB will be Marcus Lattimore. No other fanbase I'd love to shut up early in the season like this.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by bob

I can't agree more with this. This offseason has been amazing to me. UGA fans have gone from wanting their coach's head on a plate to thinking they will probably win the SEC east to thinking that UGA is the only team outside the top 10 with a chance of winning the national championship (I actually heard the local radio station do about 2 hours on this). All while losing AJ Green and I think their #2 WR from last year and their entire RB depth. They assume that at worst the new freshman RB will be Marcus Lattimore. No other fanbase I'd love to shut up early in the season like this.

+2

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I found an old article from 2009 that listed UCLA as the fourth ... not sure whether that's changed since then & I'm too lazy to look it up at the moment.

It is indeed UCLA.

[Ksyrup]

I'll be stoked to see the Gators come out in their new Pro Combat uni's!

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Kind of pathetic how many big schools schedule these games regardless of the money. Props to the programs that still have a set of testicles.

On the other hand, those games are relatively large paydays for those FCS programs, the kids on those FCS teams get to play in a big-time stadium at least once in their career, and if they do win, they get a memory of a lifetime.

If a bottom-feeding FBS program is going to ask for 2-3 times the guarantee of an FCS program, can you really blame an AD? Especially when the vast majority of them are already unable to balance their budgets and have to rely on state money subsidies?

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I'll be stoked to see the Gators come out in their new Pro Combat uni's!

I now have a reason to buy Maximum Football.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I found an old article from 2009 that listed UCLA as the fourth ... not sure whether that's changed since then & I'm too lazy to look it up at the moment.

Yes. UCLA and USC are lucky because their are enough bad teams in state to continue playing (SJSU, SDSU, FSU)

[tarcone]

I decided to post this here. A great tribute to all our fallen heroes.

Slain Navy SEAL's loyal dog may play role in Iowa Hawkeyes tribute - ESPN

[larrymcg421]

Eight Canes suspended from 1-6 games. Four more just have to repay benefits. The bright spot for the Canes? Some of the best players involved escaped with just one game suspensions (Jacory Harris, Travis Benjamin, Sean Spence, Marcus Forston).

NCAA: 12 current Miami players accepted benefits - Investigations - Yahoo! Sports

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Eight Canes suspended from 1-6 games. Four more just have to repay benefits. The bright spot for the Canes? Some of the best players involved escaped with just one game suspensions (Jacory Harris, Travis Benjamin, Sean Spence, Marcus Forston).

NCAA: 12 current Miami players accepted benefits - Investigations - Yahoo! Sports

If we learned anything from the OSU debacle, it's that the NCAA hates having name players missing significant time.

[MacroGuru]

So BYU loses a TE, not the starter but a role player to a fractured neck. Guess he suffered the injury 10 days ago and it started bugging him on Monday. Xrays and CT found the fracture. He is out for the season and may be done for his career.

Also our only FB with experience is nursing a sprained ankle and our kicker out of all people has a hurt back.....from tying his damn shoes!

I am losing confidence by the day as we get closer to Ole Miss.

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Eight Canes suspended from 1-6 games. Four more just have to repay benefits. The bright spot for the Canes? Some of the best players involved escaped with just one game suspensions (Jacory Harris, Travis Benjamin, Sean Spence, Marcus Forston).

NCAA: 12 current Miami players accepted benefits - Investigations - Yahoo! Sports

Maryland is requesting that the NCAA re-consider Jacory's suspension.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

On the other hand, those games are relatively large paydays for those FCS programs, the kids on those FCS teams get to play in a big-time stadium at least once in their career, and if they do win, they get a memory of a lifetime.

If a bottom-feeding FBS program is going to ask for 2-3 times the guarantee of an FCS program, can you really blame an AD? Especially when the vast majority of them are already unable to balance their budgets and have to rely on state money subsidies?

I understand it from the FCS perspective. Tough to turn down that payday for a school with a limited athletic budge.

But major FBS programs, it's sad. I know it's about money, but you're already a major program and I can't imagine that game is all that exciting for the fans. For fuck sake Florida, you win National Championships and you're scheduling a sub-.500 FCS school? That's pathetic.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Got a pretty good chuckle out of this article. Illinois players and coaches are relieved that they have a better chance at starting 1-0 for the first time in five years. My favorite line from the article......

Some Illini players said there are pros and cons to starting out with a victory.

Good to see they can see how an opening win could be a bad thing.

Illinois football: For a change, Illinois will be expected to start season on positive note - chicagotribune.com

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

But major FBS programs, it's sad. I know it's about money, but you're already a major program and I can't imagine that game is all that exciting for the fans. For fuck sake Florida, you win National Championships and you're scheduling a sub-.500 FCS school? That's pathetic.

Well sure - there's a difference between scheduling an FCS power team like Eastern Washington or Appalachian State and scheduling a team like Presbyterian (really Cal?) or Furman. And I think it's pathetic to see a team schedule more than one FCS team in a season.

Of course, there is some entertainment value for a fan in seeing a game where their team is able to blow out the opponent and get significant playing time for younger guys lower in the depth chart.

[MrBug708]

I think Cal got screwed with the transition of the PAC-12. They are playing a conference foe as a non conference game, that's how hard it was to find opponents. Plus they aren't playing at Memorial Stadium either for the season

[Toddzilla]

Man, I'd trade 9 months of hookers, strip clubs, and cold hard cash for missing 6 games. Where can I sign up?

[Ksyrup]

Since they base the length of the suspension mostly on the value of benefits received, I'd be interested to know where they got the figures for lap dances and such.

[Kodos]

I have never been more excited for the start of college football in my life. Really looking forward to the Hoosier's opening game against Ball State. Can't wait to see Coach Wilson in action. I think he is going to really change how people look at Indiana football in the next few years. Love the attitude change that the team has adopted. GO HOOSIERS!

I just hope we have our power back so I can actually watch the game on Saturday.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I have never been more excited for the start of college football in my life. Really looking forward to the Hoosier's opening game against Ball State. Can't wait to see Coach Wilson in action. I think he is going to really change how people look at Indiana football in the next few years. Love the attitude change that the team has adopted. GO HOOSIERS!

I just hope we have our power back so I can actually watch the game on Saturday.

Sounds like the battle cry of UCLA for the last 12 years. Hopefully it works better for you than us!