The College Football thread

“Persona? After the operation I woke up this way.




When you live in the SEC the excitement can seem like insanity. But don't worry about me. I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK.”

“Kansas picked fourth in the North. That sentence has a rhyme in it and that's why I like it. My biggest hope for this year is that the Jayhawks find a way to win against Nebraska, those defecting, no-good, GMO corn eating fools. Go to the Big Ten and get your butt handed to you, Little Red.
Hey, how about them Irish? If you follow Arc's airtight logic, then Notre Dame must be the most significant program in the country and for all time, considering the unabashed hatred shown the Irish.
The ONLY relevant question is, "IS IT BASKETBALL SEASON YET???"”

“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuRWva6Ttuc

I have access to a South End zone suite that holds with ten tickets for the UA/UF game. $6,500.”

“Hey Strat...remember the last time Ark played that little 1AA college ...the Citadel?”

“If you follow Arc's airtight logic, then Notre Dame must be the most significant program in the country and for all time, considering the unabashed hatred shown the Irish.

Chili didn't send me enough crack to make sense out of that one.




I wonder if Bama can put Meyer in the hospital again this year. We'll potentially have two chances.

And I get accused of having a persona? You mean some folks think this way in real life?




What with that ugly story that's likely to become public any day now

Or maybe...just maybe there are some UGLY little investigations coming down the pipe

And then there are those who pretend to be above the act of making poor choices while lambasting the poor choices of others and wanting to see them fry. Folks like that are the target audience for reality TV.

Very saintly of them.




Man, I may have a "persona" but are you folks like that in real life?

That's a scary thought.”

“XL, I've had that memory as well as Danny Ford surgically removed from my memory banks so I'll thank you not to mention it again....

Expectations are high on campus this year. I have a feeling we're going to surprise a lot of people....I predict a win over Bama, but sadly I don't see us getting past Auburn”

“Opie, I vote that dayhiker buys them all and writes it off as a business expense. How do you vote?




Oh boy-oh-boy it's getting close. SEC Media Days... Fall Practice... GAME TIME!!!

I may temporarily buy my local rag for its sports coverage.




ARKANSAS

Athlon’s has Arkansas rated #17 in its preseason ranking. They say the key to Arkansas’ play this year will be defense.

Lindy’s has Arkansas rated #16 in its preseason ranking. They say the key to Arkansas’ play this year will be defense.

On offense, this is what Lindy’s has to say:

Combine one of the most acknowledged offensive coaching minds in the country with perhaps the best NFL quarterback prospect, and you have an Arkansas offense expected to do great things. Especially since Petrino and fourth-year junior quarterback Ryan Mallett have a lot more to work with than just each other.

From Arkansas’ best-ever passing attack of last season, top wide receivers Joe Adams, Jarius Wright, Greg Childs and Cobi Hamilton and 2008 Mackey Award semifinalist D.J. Williams all return. Chris Gragg, who redshirted as an injured sophomore last year, brings his 4.4 wide receiver speed to complement Williams at tight end. …

… Arkansas’ top four running backs — Dennis Johnson, Broderick Green, Ronnie Wingo and Knile Davis — are all explosive in different ways. …

… There was plenty to observe with new offensive line coach Chris Klenakis incorporating the Pistol offense into Petrino’s attack. Klenakis knows the system well as the former offensive coordinator at the University of Nevada.

Nevada led the nation in rushing in 2009 (344.9 yards per game), was second nationally in total offense (505.6 yards per game) and sixth in scoring (38.2 points per game).


The Sporting News has Arkansas rated #21 in its preseason ranking.


This is what Scout has to say:

Arkansas
What to Like: The first place to start is the passing game, Ryan Mallett has the biggest arm in the country and his receivers are talented and multi-faceted. You have the possession guy in Greg Childs, the speedster in Jarius Wright and the experienced Joe Adams. Even with all the drops last season the Razorback passing game was deadly and this year it should be even more improved.

What to Dislike: The defense is still a question mark and will be one up until the end of the September. Two years ago they were a terrible unit, last year it was a little better but still struggling at times, this year they have the experience but will it show on the field. There is no reason to think they won’t make improvements from a year ago, but again we have to see it on the field first.

Preseason ranked #24
Last year was the stepping-stone to this year after Ryan Mallett chose to come back for another year. The junior bomber leads a devastating offense that returns ten starters and should be among the most dangerous in America. The defense has nowhere to go but up and should be more consistent with seven starters coming back. However, losing Malcolm Sheppard and Adrian Davis off the line hurts, and MLB Wendel Davis won’t be easily replaced. The Hogs aren’t going to win the West, but they’ll be in the thick of things getting Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss at home and catching a break getting Vanderbilt and South Carolina from the East.


In a combination of 9 preseason rankings Arkansas comes out #19
http://www.collegefootballcafeteria.com/rankings/2010-preseason-college-football-rankings/



I’d say this all bodes well for the Razorbacks. It looks as if they can hang with anyone. If the chemistry is good, they’ll have a chance for a fine season.”

“I'll root for ya in both those games strat!”

“I'll have my own lil football right smack around season opener time. Football games might be for sleeping this year!!”

“He11 yeah RoamA!”

“strat - the Bama/Arky game could be a track meet. Our O will be good, and we have a very young secondary. Mallett will be looking for revenge after being made to look silly last year.”

“A friend of mine from the college football know-nothing black hole that is the northeast sent me this article:

College Football Conference Rankings
http://www.madduxsports.com/blog/college-football-conference-rankings-july-2010-5778/comment-page-1/#comment-29692


I make my replies under the name of Arctech.

Any thoughts on these brain droppings?”

“LOL

Nice find!”

“LOL”

“That's hilarious.”

“Texas A&M says Big 12 must fulfill pledge
(bolting if conference doesn't pay them $20mil annually)

Friday, July 30, 2010

The Big 12 Conference promised Texas A&M $20 million annually and the Aggies intend to collect, A&M president R. Bowen Loftin said Wednesday. And what happens if the Big 12 doesn�t honor its $20 million pledge? A high-ranking A&M official said late Wednesday that every legal avenue would be explored first, with the potential of bolting for the Southeastern Conference coming after........

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/college/texasam/7129321.html”

“I thought that property was condemned years ago? Can't we just sell it off to the government? It sure ain't worth much.


Yessir, it's nice that folks still remember 2006-07. Football, then basketball. Who would have predicted Florida would own Ohio State like that? It was sweeeeet. Earl Everett chasing down Troy Smith without his helmet! Priceless! Tim Tebow gobsmacking Nagurski Award winner James Laurinaitis! Priceless! Fourth and none... twice! Priceless! Watching Buddha tuck tail! Priceless!


Sorry, I'm starting to slobber. I have the BCS Game DVD to relive the glory. We have long memories in this conference. ...

... Run Lindsey, Run! AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHRG!




I like the Big-12. I hate to see them under attack.




I just went out and bought the Sports Illustrated SEC issue, Athlon's College Football, Lindy's College Football, Phil Steel's College Football, Sporting News College Football, and Yahoo! Sports College Football.

Those should keep me from climbing the walls for... today. But I'll need a grout sponge to wipe up the drool.”

“I posted that gif just for you, arc.”

“arc - Jeremy put a photo on facebook last week of him reading Phil Steele....on the beach on Cancun...sorry bassturd. You could see his feet, the magazine, and then lots of ocean.”

“I just hate the days that arclite smokes crack and rants like this”

“...but he's well read.”

“Thanks Stove (ELP rules buddy!). Trilogy (cranked at high volume) still blows my mind when I'm in that kind of mood.



Day, Jeremy is a funny guy. I just rode my bike up and down the entire east coast (just below Canada) for a month. I went up Rt 17 and came back by the BRP. I avoided any and all interstates. Check this baby out:

Tuesday June 15; 1-2pm; IMG_1312.JPG (fourth column, 23rd row down)-

http://www.05mwtues.photoherald.com/index.php?id=60&wedding_id=365121¤t_photo_id=354


Sorry, I have a hard time reading Steele while I'm riding the Mt Washington Motor Road through the White Mountains of NH.




Chili, you just hate it when I smoke crack and don't offer you any because you ran out when you visited that whore house without telling your wife and had to share with the three ugly skanks you were shacked up with for a week before you crawled back to your job as quality control manager on the prophylactic assembly line.




Stove, a friend of mine would say, "Educated beyond intelligence." And he doesn't mean that in a good way.”

“I've known many people like that, and quite a few on TT. ;-)

ELPs Trilogy was the very first album I ever bought.”

“Just more proof you are a damn yankee. If you had any southern blood whtsoever you would have acknowledged that I worked at the rubber factory”

“Just more proof that yer a damn fore-en-er.

If you had any Native American blood at all, you'd repent your evil ways.”

“I might be scotch irish but at least I don't go around in one of those fancy plaid school girl skirts like you have been known to wear”

“Hide your liquor...and yer sheep laddy!”

“dang boy, where's your helmet?”

“

Handcuff U.
last edited: 8/03/10 5:17:34 AM”

“Deeyamm! That's one of the taller football players for KU! I didn't know you were a fan, Violin. How 'bout I score us some tickets to the North Dakota State game? Wanna?”

“Yer a dang banana boat refuge, chili. Do you carry a green card?

And you're mighty grumpy for someone who hasn't had his butt kicked by his rivals yet.




OHHHH MYYYY GOD!

Nigal has done crawled out from his cave. Did you come out to hunt the elusive toilet paper roll, Nigal?

I'm proud of you son. Now it remains to be seen for how long you can stomach the season. I smell blood in the water.”

“Over the years I have argued for an 8 or, even better in my mind, a 16 team college football playoff. This year, after reading Phil Steele’s argument against an 8-16 team playoff, I must admit his position makes a lot of sense.

He makes the argument for a BCS +1 system such as that proposed by SEC commissioner Mike Slive in 2008. His main point is that a playoff dilutes the importance of regular season games. And I must admit his argument is compelling.

He provides some examples from the NCAA basketball tournament:

“How can you say that a team like the 1985 Villanova squad, which finished the regular season 16-10, was the best team in the country simply because they won their last 6 games in the NCAA tournament? There were 10 teams during the regular season who were stronger than they were! To say at the end of the year that a team that lost 10 games was the strongest team in the NCAA was a joke and meant the entire regular season was meaningless. In 2005 it was more of the same with all four #1 seeds eliminated. The CHAMPIONSHIP game featured teams that were #7 and #11 in the polls during the regular season. Basically, the regular season meant nothing and if we went to a 16-gamer football format, would a battle between the #7 and #12 teams really be a title game?

The one thing I love about college football is of all the sports, college or pro, the REGULAR SEASON in college football is the one that MEANS THE MOST.”


This makes a lot of sense to me. I think about how little attention I pay to regular season college basketball match-ups (not that I’m a real fan of basketball anyway) between highly ranked teams, but how much excitement the NCAA tournament generates. It’s almost like an entirely different season.

He makes the point that the 2006 Ohio St/Michigan game would not have been nearly as huge if we had known that both Ohio St. and Michigan would have been in the playoffs no matter who won that game. The same could be said for some Texas/Oklahoma games. The same can be said for the Florida/Alabama match-up this year. There is a chance that either team could suffer that loss and then come back to NC consideration via the SEC Championship game, but it makes the odds much more difficult. It really puts the emphasis on the regular season.

I would feel disappointed if, like the pros (hockey is also a great example), the regular season was merely a seeding precursor to a playoff. I love getting excited about huge regular-season games that have NC implications.

As of now, I would have to say the argument for a BCS+1 makes the most sense to me.



I know some folks here have been in favor of various “systems” for determining a college football champion. What do yall think?”

“I like the idea of a playoff system, but i do have to agree that the way it turn out in NCAA Basketball - the regular season doesn't mean a lot. You could argue that seeding is based on the regular season, but that's weak.

What football might be able to do - and would make Steele's argument a straw man - is let the regular season decide conf. champs, and then teh conf champs get into a playoff. Kinda like the BCS +1 system would do.

The weekly importance of college football games - where in many cases EVERYTHING hinges on the outcome - makes college football a very compelling sport. That aspect of it, i don't want to lose in an effort to improve the post season experience.”

“As long as it doesn't involve Florida or Alabama, I don't care what system they use.”

“chili - you sound like a late 90's/early aughts Bama fan.”

“Bama fans didn't want Bama to play for a NC in the late 90's/early aughts?


That's a noble display of honesty considering how badly Bama sucked.



Must... fight... the... urge... not... to... use... low-class... rude... Rammer-Jammer type... insults...”

“arc - I was pointing out that we sucked during that time frame. I must be missing something with your reply?”

“I said: "I know some folks here have been in favor of various “systems” for determining a college football champion. What do yall think?”

Chili said: “As long as it doesn't involve Florida or Alabama, I don't care what system they use.”

You said: “chili - you sound like a late 90's/early aughts Bama fan.”

I said: “Bama fans didn't want Bama to play for a NC in the late 90's/early aughts? That's a noble display of honesty...


If you missed that train of thought, God help your clients.”

“Well yeah Arc...but maybe Bama can't afford to pay their players as much as Geic...sorrry the Gators.

”

“I wasn't actually paying attention to the back and forth banter about a playoff and was just quipping about chili's comment that essentially said, "just don't let my rivals have success."”

“Meyer's won 2 NC. Saban's won 1. Miles has won 1.

Who's got the higher salary? What are the assistants getting paid? What team recently came off NCAA probation for "special treatment" of players?

You may want to rethink your statement because maybe you're wrong, XL.


Are you a bitter man, XL? A person might think you had less than charitable feelings towards the Gators. We know you wouldn't want to create that bitter impression.

Smile! College football is just around the corner. Your team is undefeated at this point.”

“ITS just Too easy...LOL...Sorry Arc, (and you can check in the past on this and other thread) I have been and always will be an SEC fan. Granted I enjoy the painful task of being a Georgia Bulldog fan (LOL). But the truth is that most Florida Fans are just plain too easy to hook...hell we don't even have to use anything on the Hook.

LOL”

“Yessir I know, day. So, are you saying that work distracts you from college football banter? Come on man! Where are your priorities?


I made a joke that Alabama sucked.

And then I rubbed in the joke with the Rammer-Jammer jab.

In the Yahoo Sports preseason magazine there's an article that mentions Rammer-Jammer. It's a completely different animal than the Seminole chop which is done throughout the game. Or the Gator chomp, which is done throughout the game. Or playing Rocky Top, which is nauseatingly repeated for weeks both before and after a big win.

They describe Rammer-Jammer as an end of game rub-it-in-your-face "taunt." They say that Bama fans "are eager to add insult to injury." They say it's "rude" and "disrespectful."

We might also add low-class, no-class, trailer-trash as well.


I tried to fight the urge not to add that insulting hook at the end. I really did. Because taunting is not my style. Taunting would be an improvement. Mere insults would be an upgrade. How could I live with myself if I raised my standards?”

“"RUN, LINDSEY, RUN!"

You mean like that, XL?


You see, I remember watching that game as if it was yesterday. One of the college football preseason mags lists the greatest SEC games in history. "RUN, LINDSEY, RUN!" is high on that list.

Somehow, that game never made it to MY list of greatest games. Go figure!”

“LOL...hey the fun part is we joke about other SEC teams....and then there are the "lower division" schools (any team not big boy enough to play in the SEC).....”

“Saban has two NC's. One at LSU and one at UA.

I don't care for the Rammer Jammer.”

“Gosh I didn't know that, Dayhiker!

I must pay more attention to college football. Especially what's going on in the SEC. Especially what's happening with the teams we play every year. Live and learn.

And here I was making the point that Saban had won ONE NC at Alabama. What do I know?


Dayhiker, you must suppress that urge to beat me with a pork rib from Dreamland.




Yeah, I don't care for ANY taunting. I've always had pleasant experiences with opposing fans. But then, I haven't spent much time at opposing stadiums.

We did go to Athens when Florida played Georgia home and away. I've got a lifetime of "rude" stories about that. But we shut them up pretty good by giving them their worst home loss in history. They tucked tail and emptied the stadium before we left. They must have all crawled home to lick their wounds after the game because we beat them like the mangy dogs they are.


I try to be a good host when opposing fans come here, and I ignore the rude stuff on the periphery. I wish I could say that all Gator fans were as kind and thoughtful, warm and fuzzy as I am but, alas, it ain't so.”

“You didn't qualify it as at Alabama.

Meyer's won 2 NC. Saban's won 1. Miles has won 1.”