Official College Football Week 12 thread

[mauchow]

Sorry, Kodos... I'm sure that wasn't the start that you were hoping for. This is not going to be pretty.

[General Mike]

I give up. I wash my hands of this regime.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by mauchow

Sorry, Kodos... I'm sure that wasn't the start that you were hoping for. This is not going to be pretty.

Nope. Even more ugly than usual in this series. And that is saying something.

[miked]

In the first quarter, RU gave up nearly 250 yards passing, CIN recovered an onside kick, Nova threw a pick, and we are currently down 31-7. Half the stadium has already emptied out. I know RU has the 25th best recruiting class, but we are consistently outcoached week in and out. This needs to change.

[General Mike]

Originally Posted by miked

In the first quarter, RU gave up nearly 250 yards passing, CIN recovered an onside kick, Nova threw a pick, and we are currently down 31-7. Half the stadium has already emptied out. I know RU has the 25th best recruiting class, but we are consistently outcoached week in and out. This needs to change.

Too bad I have no confidence in the AD to make a good hire.

[miked]

What a debacle. Though I hope these CIN QBs get their heads knocked around. Up by 40+ in the mid-late 4th Q, and they are throwing 40 yard bombs and celebrating so hard they are getting unsportsmanlike penalties. I am usually a fan of the "if you don't want to be run up on, play better" crowd, but at least don't celebrate like you just won the title game. I mean, 608 yards allowed (500 in the air) for the 4th time this season and 2nd time in 3 weeks. It can't get much worse.

[larrymcg421]

Holy shit. An absolutely ridiculous diving catch in the UCF-Temple game that may have saved UCF's BCS chances.

[larrymcg421]

Wow. Temple 3 and out (including a stupid TO that only saved time for UCF). Then the Temple D give up a 60 yard pass play with 10 seconds left. UCF kicks the FG to win.

[Jon]

"Too bad I have no confidence in the AD to make a good hire."

I think Flood gets one more year with the proviso to get some new staff.

Unlike the past AD (who ended up making bad coaching hires) Herman has said performance and not money is the biggest factor.

[General Mike]

Originally Posted by Jon

"Too bad I have no confidence in the AD to make a good hire."

I think Flood gets one more year with the proviso to get some new staff.

Unlike the past AD (who ended up making bad coaching hires) Herman has said performance and not money is the biggest factor.

I would fire him right now based off performance.

[mauchow]

So that UCF team is pretty underrated eh? Not sure which media person said this but time to retract that statement after hard fought win against Texas...I mean Temple.

[Solecismic]

Not only does Michigan get to experience a dozen three-and-outs and a probable loss to a team that hasn't won a Big Ten game all year, but they get to lose to a team that has turned our star spangled banner into a clown suit.

[Matthean]

I'm pretty sure the coaching staff might want to skip on talking to the media if this holds up. You could maybe sell a 24-21 loss, but 9-3 will be hard to swallow. Of course, the running game has been decent, but Gardner is his usual. Michigan gets a solid drive and he takes a sack for -13 yards.

[Matthean]

NW shanks a punt for 7 yards deep in their territory. Michigan gains -1 yards and gets the FG. Man, I can't contain the excitement this game offers.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Matthean

NW shanks a punt for 7 yards deep in their territory. Michigan gains -1 yards and gets the FG. Man, I can't contain the excitement this game offers.

At least that last FG was exciting.

[Matthean]

9-9 in overtime. Yay? Michigan was 4th and 2 in FG range and went for it. They did not get it. They tied at the end instead of being able to win in the end.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I am unlikely to be around or on until either well into the game or after it ends, so best of luck for a good game, dawg fans.

*sigh*

I really don't know what to think about Sark and road games any more. That was a terrible hole the Huskies dug for themselves, part of it their doing (not falling on an easy fumble recovery off of Jack), part of it the Bruins (great job knocking the ball loose from ASJ & Sankey), part of it terrible officiating (still waiting to see where that supposed "hands to the face" happened that wiped out a long UW TD).

UCLA is obviously talented, and they won the trenches. Myles Jack is a beast. The Bruins are clearly a very good team, especially considering the injuries.

But Washington didn't quit, and they showed why they are also a really good team, or at least can be when they aren't tripping over their own dicks. If Price hadn't gone down and our LT Micah Hatchie hadn't gone down, I think we had a shot at completing the comeback.

But we didn't, and now Sark is staring at the very real possibility of his 4th consecutive 7-win season. I don't know if the UW AD would have the stomach to can him if that happens, but he'll have a significant and vocal portion of the fanbase calling for his head.

On the plus side, we got a commitment from a stud 2015 DT today.

[Schmidty]

Spartans smell Rosesl

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Holy shit. An absolutely ridiculous diving catch in the UCF-Temple game that may have saved UCF's BCS chances.

That catch was insane.

[HerRealName]

On that Michigan FG before the end of regulation, should the snap have been held up until Northwestern had a chance to sub in as well? Maybe the game situation overrides that rule?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Auburn is about to choke away a big lead. UGA now down 37-31 with 5 mins left and a shanked punt lets them start in Auburn territory. Unfuckingbelievable.

[kingfc22]

I think Murray was down just before the goal line.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

Spartans smell Rosesl

Good luck with OSU.

[bhlloy]

That's the closest review I've ever seen. When you sync them up his knee is down one frame before the ball touches the line, but is that enough to overturn?

[JonInMiddleGA]

He was down, but the lack of a reverse angle replay prevents the overturn

[larrymcg421]

I think he was down as well, but I don't think they had a good angle to overturn it. It's one of those plays where the call on the field would've been upheld either way.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Nick Marshall = Vad Lee with a much better OL?

[Matthean]

Michigan wins in 3OTs. Lost is all of the god awfulness of it is that Hoke finally got smart and benched the corpse known as Toussaint and Michigan's running game was actually decent. Now if Gardner could turn into a QB and not merely be an athlete, Michigan might have an OK offense.

[larrymcg421]

Holy shit!

[JonInMiddleGA]

OMG !!!

[kingfc22]

Wow. Georgia must have missed the Ravens/Bengals game. Knock it down!

[bhlloy]

Unreal

[JonInMiddleGA]

Umm ... this may get even goofier

[bhlloy]

Got to get two shots here

[JonInMiddleGA]

Bama will annihilate Auburn. You have to throw to beat Bama, Auburn can't come close to doing that well enough to come close. Calling it (and you can remind me of it): Marshall will have less than 150 net offense against Alabama.

[mauchow]

Those are the kind of hits (Bama on MSU) that need to go away. Should have been a penalty on the punt ( I think that was the play.. only watching in passing)

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Bama will annihilate Auburn. You have to throw to beat Bama, Auburn can't come close to doing that well enough to come close. Calling it (and you can remind me of it): Marshall will have less than 150 net offense against Alabama.

Maybe this year, but historically the team that runs against the Tide is the one who gives them fits. My question is really more on Auburn's defense.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Matthean

Maybe this year, but historically the team that runs against the Tide is the one who gives them fits. My question is really more on Auburn's defense.

This team is not their previous team's IMO. It's almost certainly the least of them at this point. Their secondary looks almost entirely reliant on the pass rush to save them (not watching tonight, speaking about the season in general)

[Matthean]

You'll need pro level talent in that passing game and certainly at QB to pull if off.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Helluva riverboat gambler call by Crazy Ed at USC. They deserve to win after that one I think.

[Solecismic]

We underestimate the value of playing at home in college football. These are kids, and the numbers show that a road win is about 30% more impressive than a home win. Stanford got Oregon at home and made a statement; it's not really the same team on the road this week.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I wonder how many teams have ended up being ranked in the top 25 after firing their HC during the season? Could very well happen to USC tomorrow.

[MrBug708]

Shaw is not going to last at Stanford in the long run if this is how he is going to coach Stanford. This team is very senior laden and he's lost two games to teams he has no business losing to.

I did enjoy watching USC rush the field. They've fallen a long ways to the point where they are rushing the field now.

/Annoyed Bruin fan rant over

Good win for the Trojans.

[Matthean]

Shaw is still riding on what Harbaugh built even though Luck is gone. It will be interesting to see how he does here on out.

[MrBug708]

Im only slightly positive, but I think they are losing 22 seniors in the 2 deep. Who knows how accurate that number is though.

[SirFozzie]

So, Duke's coach for coach of the year? Normally I'd be talking about BC's new coach turning around a 2-10 season to at least bowl eligibility with two games to go.. but when you say Duke is 8-2, you think the Basketball team is off to a rough start, not the football team having a monster year

[CU Tiger]

Cutcliff has done an amazing job for sure.
I just wonder what the ceiling is there, I suspect they are VERY close to it right now

[Wolfpack]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

Cutcliff has done an amazing job for sure.
I just wonder what the ceiling is there, I suspect they are VERY close to it right now

Cutcliffe is no different from Grobe at Wake Forest. They've both done tremendous jobs with restrictions and limitations that are almost unfair at this level, even in a weaker conference like the ACC. But, you're right. This is about as high as Duke could ever rise, a true lightning-in-a-bottle season, much like Wake in 2006. Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Stanford probably are the only comparables and at least the first two can sell the conferences they play in while Stanford can tap into the California talent base and get great players who are also good in school. Duke and Wake? The conference is less than desirable, they have to fight not only with the three big state schools for recruits, but pretty much everyone in the SEC east of Mississippi, and the tradition is well buried in the past (in Duke's case) or never existed (in Wake's case). So, yeah, they've done tremendous things there, but there just aren't ingredients in place to do this any more than once in a while.

I can't tell if it's a good or bad thing for the ACC that Duke is thisclose to being FSU's opponent in the CCG. On the one hand, having a program down so long and so much as Duke's has been become a contender should in theory mean the really bad bottom of the ACC will no longer be as bad and improve the overall depth of the league, but on the other hand, the national perception will be "ACCLOLDuke!"

At any rate, a lot of State fans are wishing like hell they had Cutcliffe right now, so that's something. Quite a few are ready to show Doeren the door after one year and I can sort of empathize. We all knew there would be challenges in dealing with the dearth of talent left by the last coaching staff being forced into a new offensive system that made no sense with the players on hand, but this team isn't really losing and showing growth or promise in the process. This team is losing and losing badly every week. Even the worst teams during the dreadful Tom Reed years in the early 1980s won a conference game or two. This team may be the first winless Pack team in the ACC since 1959.

[Thomkal]

Coastal Carolina bounced back strongly after its first loss of the season, ending its Big South Conference schedule with a big win over Presbyterian 46-13. They then got an early Xmas present-Charleston Southern came out flat against Gardner-Webb and could not come all the way back. So that leaves Coastal in a three-way tie for the Conference title (along with Liberty) and automatic bid to the playoffs.

Charleston has one conference game remaining...at home against Liberty. If CSU wins, they get the Conference title. However if Liberty wins, Coastal will claim the crown. Liberty very nearly beat Coastal this season, so they can certainly beat CSU. Coastal likely gets an at-large bid anyway, but it would be nice to not have to worry about not getting one.

I find myself with another FCS team to root for late in the season, quite unexpectedly. The college closest to my hometown is Marist in Poughkeepsie NY. They are in the fifth season of membership in the Pioneer League, and with a late season win streak after being at .500, they have clinched a tie with Butler for the Conference championship, which is their first.

In bizarre news last week, San Diego (yes a California team in the same league as a NY team) after beating both Butler and Marist this season, announced they would be forfeiting the Pioneer Conference Championship and not go to the playoffs due to violations in its football program. Butler and Marist did not play each other this season, so the tiebreaker is complicated. If I understand it correctly though, I think Marist might win the tiebreaker and thus make the playoffs as well. That would be just crazy.

[MrBug708]

I've never heard Wake Forest in the same.breath as Duke and Northwestern and especially Stanford, as far as academics go.