Official 2021 College Football thread

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Lathum

One could say the right thing is making sure you do what you can to secure generational financial security for your family.

Can do that dealing drugs ... doesn't make it right.

This isn't complicated. Some people are simply self-centered whores whose only concern is money, no matter who they fuck over to get it ... I just don't get why it's so hard to simply admit that and carry on.

[GrantDawg]

It is called capitalism. I never took you as a socialist, Jon.

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[albionmoonlight]

Right, and any movement that hurts the self-centered whores (the coaches and boosters) is a good thing :-)

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Heck, I can make the argument that it is better for the program in the long run for the kids that are leaving not to play. The biggest benefit for the program (besides the money) is the player's that are returning to get experience. Letting new players get in the game helps the program way more in the long run over playing the guys that are leaving.

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That's how I view it. And any game that has no effect on any title or even draft position (as in the NFL), is not an exhibition solely because a win or a loss is awarded.

The bowls exist to give universities an opportunity to sell vacation packages and collect some television money. The Rose Bowl was essentially a road game for the Big Ten every year and everyone was fine with it. No one wants to spend New Year's wandering through frigid northern streets.

For the coaches and players, it's approved days of practice that can be spent working with next year's starters. The seniors and those who are leaving early have already made their contributions - if they want one last hurrah, great. If not, completely understandable.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Controversy aside, I can find little fault with a pretty game effort by Ole Miss.

It was a lot more competitive a lot longer than there was any right for it to be (though to be fair some of that "credit" probably belongs to a pretty lackluster Baylor performance) but a team that was given a lot of reason to roll over and play dead hung around for a respectably long time.

[RainMaker]

Impressive season from Baylor. Thought they were in trouble when Rhule left.

[tarcone]

Linderbaum is a jr that has not made a final decision. Also, he grew up about 10 minutes from the University. He is a die hard Hawkeye. He wouldnt sit out.

Iowa has had a few decent QBs recently, CJ Beathard and Jake Rudduck are both back ups in the league (well, not sure if ruddock still is). But yes, Padilla and Petras suck.

Our problem is our offensive philosophy. It is stuck on the 70s. And a poor play calling OC and bingo, you get what you get.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by tarcone

But yes, Padilla and Petras suck. .

Couldn't help but think yesterday, with alllll the people that pass through the portal anymore, how does the Big Ten in general have so much trouble finding decent QBs? I mean, it ain't just Minnesota that can't find one.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Caleb Williams, star Oklahoma QB, enters transfer portal

[lungs]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Couldn't help but think yesterday, with alllll the people that pass through the portal anymore, how does the Big Ten in general have so much trouble finding decent QBs? I mean, it ain't just Minnesota that can't find one.

What kind of good QB wants to go play for a team that runs 40 times per game? It’s an issue we also see trying to recruit good WRs. Self fulfilling prophecy. Can’t pass the ball because you have no good WRs. Can’t recruit good WRs because you can’t pass the ball.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Impressive season from Baylor. Thought they were in trouble when Rhule left.

I wonder about the long-term viability of any private school (other than Notre Dame) to remain elite. But being located in Texas gives one a recruiting advantage that most schools simply don’t have.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Couldn't help but think yesterday, with alllll the people that pass through the portal anymore, how does the Big Ten in general have so much trouble finding decent QBs? I mean, it ain't just Minnesota that can't find one.

Just a quick look at the high school rankings. Probably missing some transfers but it seems like they do better than I thought. Seems more an issue with either development or showcasing them.

2019 Class - 5 of the top 20 QBs went to the Big 10 (Mertz, McNamara, Tagovailoa, Hilinski, Roberson). Includes 3 of the top 7 pro style QBs.

2020 Class - 1 of the top 20 QBs went to the Big 10 (Stroud)

2021 Class - 2 of the top 20 QBs went to the Big 10 (McCarthy, McCord). Ewers committed to Ohio State but I guess is transferring to Texas.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I wonder about the long-term viability of any private school (other than Notre Dame) to remain elite. But being located in Texas gives one a recruiting advantage that most schools simply don’t have.

Baylor has a lot of extremely wealthy boosters which I guess can be a blessing and curse depending on what they want to be done with the program.

[albionmoonlight]

People in this thread know a lot more about the economics than I do. It just seems like no private school can really compete with the deep pockets of major state university systems.

[Ksyrup]

Dillon Gabriel is flipping from UCLA to OU. I assume that's a reaction to Caleb Williams in the portal?

[Swaggs]

I was really surprised that LSU didn’t make a strong push for Aranda. He was the DC for their championship and seems to run a real tight ship.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Dillon Gabriel is flipping from UCLA to OU. I assume that's a reaction to Caleb Williams in the portal?

Or vice versa?

It's been noted that apparently Gabriel was supposed to begin classes at UCLA _today_.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Auburn leading WR reportedly transferring, claimed he was 'kicked off' team

I'm telling you, there's a culture fit issue on The Plains

Hudson ended the post with, "He from the north I’m from the south he don’t understand me."

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Or vice versa?

It's been noted that apparently Gabriel was supposed to begin classes at UCLA _today_.

Could be. Just a reverse of when the info came out.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Dillon Gabriel is flipping from UCLA to OU. I assume that's a reaction to Caleb Williams in the portal?

His OC went from UCF to Ole Miss to Oklahoma. Williams transferring open up the spot at Oklahoma.

[Atocep]

965 players have entered the transfer portal since August 1st with only 280 finding new homes. 650 are in the portal as of today. The deadline for most schools to be enrolled and eligible for spring practice is about a week away so the vast majority of these kids will find themselves transferring down a level or losing a scholarship altogether.

Former WVU CB Dreshun Miller also announced he's reentering the portal. He was an all-big 12 corner in the perfect scheme for his skillset. He wanted to transfer to a SEC school to better prepare himself for the NFL. He ended up at Auburn, didn't make the 2 deep out of camp, played in 1 game, and is back in the portal looking for a place to play.

The idea of the portal is good and creating a way for players to move more freely is also good. However, what we're seeing now is probably harming at least 2 kids for every one it helps. I honestly don't have any answers. I don't think people that only follow college football casually understand how deep and severe the issue with transfers is right now.

[GrantDawg]

They can still return to their colleges. Many if not most will.

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[Atocep]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

They can still return to their colleges. Many if not most will.

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Most won't return to their colleges because they've already been recruited over since entering the portal and some/many programs won't take players back that enter the portal. Out of the 965 that have entered the portal in that timeframe, only 30 have returned their original school.

[Ksyrup]

I think many people underestimate the reasons kids leave. I've seen this in other sports, and kids go into the portal and end up quitting sports altogether - not because they couldn't find a team to transfer to, but because they didn't want to play for a variety of reasons. Or, because this is a fall sport, many of them are taking their time to find a new home, and that includes willingly looking at moving down a level or two.

Not every player hitting the portal is a high level potential NFL talent expecting to make a big move up to better position them for the draft. The vast majority are looking for a change of scenery, or contemplating quitting the game, for a bunch of different reasons.

[Solecismic]

When you can offer meaningful playing time to about 40 players a year and you practice with at least 100, it's a numbers game. Miller got terrible advice - if you already have a secure role for a power-five team, you shouldn't give it up.

But if you don't see a path toward meaningful playing time, it's your only shot. How many of those 965 can do anything but move down a level? And will they even deserve a shot there, since the players already starting presumably have earned their spots? And do we start talking about education again?

I get why the portal exists. For some players, it has rectified an injustice. But the sit-out rule helped preserve opportunity for thousands of players and encouraged high school kids AND coaches to be more reasonable about recruiting.

Anyway, the proverbial cat has escaped its confinement. Somehow, we have to get through this uncomfortable transition period to get to a professional league where the players are employees.

[PilotMan]

You guys can catch the FCS National Championship on Saturday at noon Eastern as NDSU goes for their 9th FCS title in the last 11 years (they've only been D1 since '04 and only qualified to play in the title since '08.)

They play Montana St, whose head coach is a former NDSU player, Assistant coach and Offensive Coodinator, Brent Vigen. Two teams that are built and run similarly. NDSU is considered the favorite, but Montana St has wins over both teams that NDSU lost to this year.

Should be fun in Frisco. I hope they can come through for number 9. The fanbase has been pouting all year about this team, and it's been a big bunch of bullshit. Complaining about the losses, the QB change was long overdue when it finally happened, but the fanbase now expects every QB to be Jensen, Wentz, Stick, or Lance. They (fans) think they can compete and recruit at the real D1 level, and are tired of winning at the FCS level. They have won so much that anything short of total domination is a total failure, and if the team isn't doing that, they don't want to show up, and even if they are, ho hum, they should be beating Alabama. Fuck those fans.

[sovereignstar v2]

Where are you running into these Bison fans? On the internet?

[RainMaker]

If you win 9 titles in 11 years, maybe it's time to move up.

[sovereignstar v2]

They need a conference that makes regional sense to call them first.

[RainMaker]

I thought I read one of the problems is that their local TV deal is pretty good and even a move to the MAC or similar conference would cost them money.

Plus I'm guessing some of the luster of the program gets knocked off if you're just another 7-5 team in the MAC who's ceiling is the Lending Tree Bowl.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

Where are you running into these Bison fans? On the internet?

Yeah, a Bison Fan group.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I thought I read one of the problems is that their local TV deal is pretty good and even a move to the MAC or similar conference would cost them money.

Plus I'm guessing some of the luster of the program gets knocked off if you're just another 7-5 team in the MAC who's ceiling is the Lending Tree Bowl.

That's my point, 100%. Plus now you're just a mid, competing against Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado Iowa, fir the sanw players, instead of trying to live on the tweeners like you do now.

Huge difference playing the big 12 or 10 every week, or even the MAC, versus the FCS, even if you're in the top division writin that.

You think 20,000 fans are gonna show up when you're losing to Central Michigan, or Toledo during your 4-7 run?

[Solecismic]

Apparently Charlie Batch entered the business incubator world after retiring, and is now offering Oklahoma portal-darling Caleb Williams $1 million to go to his alma mater, Eastern Michigan, for a year.

This is fun. And he doesn't have a chance of landing Williams for that amount.

[sovereignstar v2]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Yeah, a Bison Fan group.

I don't think that group represents what most fans feel or think. Some maybe, but every team has their share of idiots that centralize someone on the web. I live in Fargo and I think most prefer being a big fish in a small pond. Of course that small pond is currently getting smaller.

[HerRealName]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

Where are you running into these Bison fans? On the internet?

I won't be able to avoid them for a few more days The NDSU fans travel so well - I started seeing the green and yellow shirts and flags on Monday.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Apparently Charlie Batch entered the business incubator world after retiring, and is now offering Oklahoma portal-darling Caleb Williams $1 million to go to his alma mater, Eastern Michigan, for a year.

This is fun. And he doesn't have a chance of landing Williams for that amount.

You mean FOF legend Charlie Batch?

[Ksyrup]

Hilarious!

@SEC IT JUST MEANS MORE ���� https://t.co/FuoZRtbDlp pic.twitter.com/Ut2HYzHstR

— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) January 6, 2022

[PilotMan]

EVERYBODY UP FOR THE BISON! THE MARCH IS ON!!!

[sovereignstar v2]

Yikes

[PilotMan]

Good half, let's have another!

[PilotMan]

OMG these announcers are literally blaming the score on the Montana St QB leaving the game with a sprained ankle early on and they can't stop talking about how amazing of a player he is. He only got the starting job after the guy who started the entire regular season told the team he was going into the transfer portal. He played great in the three playoff games and got them here, but jesus christ, give a little credit to the team that's beating the shit out of them.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

OMG these announcers are literally blaming the score on the Montana St QB leaving the game with a sprained ankle early on and they can't stop talking about how amazing of a player he is. He only got the starting job after the guy who started the entire regular season told the team he was going into the transfer portal. He played great in the three playoff games and got them here, but jesus christ, give a little credit to the team that's beating the shit out of them.

Meanwhile on Twitter, I saw a Montana State nitwit complaining because they dared mention Alabama-Georgia.

Well fuck, your team didn't show up, they have to talk about something.

(And, no, I don't know what solution there is for NDSU any more than I do for Mount Union, Mary Hardin-Baylor or the other D3 powers. Moving up makes little to no sense, staying put provides little competition)

[PilotMan]

That's number 9!!!!!!

Incredible run. It's not like we dominated DII like this. We won a few, but we didn't win this many in this short of a time. So clearly something changed. Not sure if it's the step up was enough to allow them to bring in better players, or if it was all coaching and recruiting or what, but it's really hard to take anything away from what it's been.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

That's number 9!!!!!!

Incredible run. It's not like we dominated DII like this. We won a few, but we didn't win this many in this short of a time.

Well, they didn't miss by that much.

5 in an 8 year span. That's not 9 out of 11 but it's on the way.

[Thomkal]

yay Bison!

[Edward64]

FWIW, I'd prefer the championship to be Sat and not Mon.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

FWIW, I'd prefer the championship to be Sat and not Mon.

Preach. I hate these games that go into the early morning of the next day during the week.

[bob]

So get your predictions in now.

No offense Georgia, but until you actually do it, I'm not picking you to do it.

Bama wins but its closer than the SEC championship game.

[JPhillips]

Close for a quarter and then Bama runs away with it. Once they get a two-score lead the wheels come off for GA as they try to catch up.

[albionmoonlight]

I'll say Alabama wins a close one (within one score).

But I really have no feel for this. Very few outcomes would surprise me.