College Football thread

[tigerdave]

I absolutely disagree. That Utah team was a physical bunch ,and absolutely dominant. That Utah defense was filled with head hunters on defense and not to mention their special teams were out of this world. There were maybe 2 or 3 teams in the whole country that could have hoped to stop Utah's offense. They had defeated three schools from BCS conferences, two of which participated in bowl games, by an average of 22 points. No opponent came within two touchdowns of the Utes that year. Boise and them would have been a good game but I think Zabransky is too much of a head case to have done well against Utah's defense that year. Steve Fifita, Morgan Scalley, Eric Weddle, and Zach Toone (no relation) all were integral parts of that defense that in the 2005 Fiesta sacked Tyler Palko nine times.

A team with a top-five caliber defense would stop Boise's offense, just as a top-five caliber defense would have stopped Utah's offense. But Boise's run defense was eighth in the nation (useful against the spread option) and they'd allowed just 16 sacks coming into the Fiesta Bowl (good protection!). They beat Oklahoma, Oregon State (who beat USC, need I remind :p Not like it means anything.), a good Hawaii team, and three other bowl teams in Utah, San Jose State and Nevada. Utah beat five (UNC, Texas A&M, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Pitt, to save you the trouble). There's also the point that an undefeated Boise State was edged out of the BCS by Utah in 2004/05, and this BSU team is leaps and bounds better than that one.

We'll have to agree to disagree on the mid-major dream matchup, but I will add that that Zabransky coped with Oklahoma's defense rather well, aside from the ill-advised pick-six and the pass to the center. And I think we both can agree the fact that that Utah defense would rival Oklahoma's defense about as well as Ronaldo rivals Shearer. :D

[ToonUSA]

We'll have to agree to disagree on the mid-major dream matchup, but I will add that that Zabransky coped with Oklahoma's defense rather well, aside from the ill-advised pick-six and the pass to the center. And I think we both can agree the fact that that Utah defense would rival Oklahoma's defense about as well as Ronaldo rivals Shearer. :D

Yea, I'm a little bias and probably wouldn't see it any other way. (or my Dad would beat me :p ) Utah's defense doesn't roll around on the ground like a wounded animal. But I agree to that one. :D

To go on that note how stupid can those people really be?

[tigerdave]

To go on that note how stupid can those people really be?

It'd be like trying to compare the 2006 Ohio State football team to the 1945 Army team. Two entirely incomparable, but great teams. One, however, is yet to completely stand the test of time.

[Batcave Brigade]

I like Zabransky, he really reminds of Brett Favre.

I was texting my friend updates on the game and he thought I was making it up with the hook'n'ladder and statue of lliberty.

[tigerdave]

For anyone who missed the last 2 minutes and OT of the Fiesta Bowl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENwDDB0dlRk)

Enjoy.

[ToonUSA]

R.I.P. Mario Danello. :(

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/specials/bowls/2006/01/06/usc.danelo.ap/index.html/

[BayernWake]

R.I.P. Mario Danello. :(

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/specials/bowls/2006/01/06/usc.danelo.ap/index.html/

Oh man...that's really sad.

RIP Mario

[Batcave Brigade]

Damn. RIP

[tigerdave]

*moment of silence*



Who ya got tomorrow and by how much?

I've got OSU by 10.

[ToonUSA]

*moment of silence*



Who ya got tomorrow and by how much?

I've got OSU by 10.

OSU by 14.

[ToonUSA]

The Bucknuts layed an egg.

Florida wins and to be honest I can't consider them the best team in the country. It's probably bias coming through but I think USC could beat them.

Do I think USC is the best team in the country? No.

Do I think USC should have been in the national title game? Nope.

Do I think Florida is that good? No.

Did they get all the bounces tonight? Yep.

Was Ohio State a tad overrated? Yep.

Do I amend my statement that Ohio State would have beaten USC easily? Yes.

Who do I think will be the preseason #1 for 2007?

Well, you guys can guess. :D

[tigerdave]

Like I said, Florida by four TDs. I totally called it! :rolleyes:


Wonder how many AP writers are gonna vote Boise State #1 just to piss the BCS suits off.

[BayernWake]

Like I said, Florida by four TDs. I totally called it! :rolleyes:


Wonder how many AP writers are gonna vote Boise State #1 just to piss the BCS suits off.

The answer is one (1) :D

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex

[tigerdave]

Well, at least it wasn't unanimous. I wrote an editorial for my newspaper on a playoff and how it could work and keep the bowls, and use the BCS. I think it'd work pretty well, really.

A: axe four low-tier bowls (from cities that won't miss it like SF) and bump the people into higher bowls (Like Pac-10 runner up to Rose Bowl rather than Holiday, etc.)
B: Take the six BCS conference champions
C: Take the top non-BCS conference champion (if they have no more than 1 loss)
D: Take Notre Dame, or the best independent (if they're 10-2 or better)
E: If C, D, or both do not apply, fill with at large teams

Seed the eight teams according to the BCS and do a three-week playoff (first round at home sites, semis and finals at neutral sites), starting around Dec. 20 and ending around Jan. 10 (while classes are out, so no finals to worry about).

This year you would have had an eight-team playoff consisting of Ohio State, Florida, USC, Notre Dame, Boise State, Oklahoma, Wake Forest and Louisville.

[ToonUSA]

A: axe four low-tier bowls (from cities that won't miss it like SF) and bump the people into higher bowls (Like Pac-10 runner up to Rose Bowl rather than Holiday, etc.)
B: Take the six BCS conference champions
C: Take the top non-BCS conference champion (if they have no more than 1 loss)
D: Take Notre Dame, or the best independent (if they're 10-2 or better)
E: If C, D, or both do not apply, fill with at large teams

Seed the eight teams according to the BCS and do a three-week playoff (first round at home sites, semis and finals at neutral sites), starting around Dec. 20 and ending around Jan. 10 (while classes are out, so no finals to worry about).


That's a good plan but I can't help but feel Notre Dame is undeserving of an auotmatic spot. They haven't proven anything over the last 10 years. Especially that they can win a bowl game.

[tigerdave]

That's a good plan but I can't help but feel Notre Dame is undeserving of an auotmatic spot. They haven't proven anything over the last 10 years. Especially that they can win a bowl game.

I didn't give them an automatic spot, but they have no other means to get in. If they go 10-2 or 11-1 or whatever, they're probably going to be ranked in the top 10 and warrant a spot in the playoff. If they suck, they don't get in and someone else gets that spot. That's why a proviso needs to be in place for that and the mid-major as well. I mean, if we wanted to say that ND had to be 11-1 to get in, I wouldn't have a problem with that. But I don't think that either ND or Michigan (the next team in) would have gone far in a tournament setting so it's really splitting hairs.

[ToonUSA]

I didn't give them an automatic spot, but they have no other means to get in. If they go 10-2 or 11-1 or whatever, they're probably going to be ranked in the top 10 and warrant a spot in the playoff. If they suck, they don't get in and someone else gets that spot. That's why a proviso needs to be in place for that and the mid-major as well. I mean, if we wanted to say that ND had to be 11-1 to get in, I wouldn't have a problem with that. But I don't think that either ND or Michigan (the next team in) would have gone far in a tournament setting so it's really splitting hairs.

Let's say ND goes 11-1. And teams like Arkansas or Wisconsin goes 11-1 this year. Is it fair to leave these teams out who played a much tougher schedule?

[tigerdave]

Let's say ND goes 11-1. And teams like Arkansas or Wisconsin goes 11-1 this year. Is it fair to leave these teams out who played a much tougher schedule?

My counter to that is that if Arkansas or Wisconsin wanted to guarantee their berth in the championship playoff, they had better win their conference. Notre Dame doesn't have a conference to win, but if they go 11-1, they're beating at least one of Michigan and USC (not to mention any other middle-to-heavyweights they might decide to schedule like Nebraska or Tennessee), which would be a signature win for any program.

There are going to be arguments no matter what, undoubtedly. But an argument over who's #9 is far more tolerable and stomachable and, in some cases, dismissable than who's #3.

[ToonUSA]

Fair enough, I just hate how Notre Dame is automatically given a pass to the big games. They haven't won a big game in God knows how long and they have a very, very soft schedule. I would take a 9-3 SEC or Big 12 team over a 10-2 Notre Dame anyday.

[BayernWake]

I hope Notre Dame keeps getting invited to big games...that way they'll never win another bowl game :D