The College Football Thread

[Dorian Thompson]

When, except for few times (last year included) has Oklahoma State had the talent to beat OU and been in the situation to have it really mean something? Barry Sanders' last year certainly, but OSU has usually been behind in the standings. Not that many times, really. It's a new day. They have to start somewhere. You have to forget the past at some point and make that first leap. OSU is all healthy, praise be. Their defense is much improved from the time they played Nebraska. Better than Baylor's, at any rate. This team doesn't seem to have the redheaded stepchild inferiority complex.

You gotta throw off the past at some point if you're going to be a great program. I vote for this year.

 

[Thestral]

Well, the good news is the Vols won. If they can beat the Cats next week, maybe they'll go bowling. Tyler Bray continues to look good and I think this young offense will look very good in a couple years. In Dooley We Trust.

You gotta throw off the past at some point if you're going to be a great program. I vote for this year.

Don't throw it off. Use it as fuel.

 

[chineserapper05]

that nebraska-texas a&m game was amazing. 31,005 students and 90,079 in attendance. our defense came through when we needed them to. Nebraska got several penalties on stupid mental mistakes, personal fouls, or unsportmanlike penalties.

An interesting fact, the referee that called the roughing the passer on a&m's game winning drive was the same one that called roughing the passer on nebraska's game winning drive against us in 2006. Both were questionable calls, although the one against us was a better call. The one yesterday was terrible but i'll take it.

Had Johnson not thrown that last interception against OSU earlier in the year

 

[1001001]

I forgot to mention:

I think it's time for both Oregon and Oregon State to join the WAC...

 

[JM1776]

I was talking about the FBS. Nova has a shot of winning a title in the CAA. They have very little chance of winning the BCS.

With a Big East schedule? Don't be so sure.

I think you know as well as I do that playing in a weak conference is actually a bad thing in the FBS. Otherwise, the years where Hawaii was undefeated or lost one game should have ensured them a spot in the BCS championship.

Actually, Villanova year one would have a better chance than an at-large Hawaii, simply because the Big East is a power conference with an automatic bid.

I'm joking around with you (hence the smileys) and you're taking my statements very seriously. Of course Villanova would have little chance to win a BCS championship at first. It would likely take a serious upgrade of the program to compete at the very highest levels such would require.

But if Boise State can do it, so can the 'Cats—eventually.

In addition, Villanova, with the kind of season Rutgers nearly put together in '06, could literally go from the FCS championship game to the FBS championship game in the span of a very few years. If you're gonna slide into the FBS, the Big East is, right now, the way to go. There's no dominant team; any one of the conference's members could step forward as its flag-bearer into the future.

 

[JM1776]

You gotta throw off the past at some point if you're going to be a great program. I vote for this year.

I voted for that in '06, just before the Louisville-Rutgers game, so ... it's certainly possible. [And I enjoyed that week-and-a-half of 9-0 Rutgers like I never had any other sporting occurrence.]

You have my support. I'll be waving, in spirit, my little Cowboys banner.

 

[Starbreaker]

Villanova's mediocre this year though.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I think Pelini showed remarkable restraint and calm during the NU/A&M game. I would not have been able to be as measured and easygoing as he was.

You think I'm kidding? Think again.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Thank you, JM1776. You'll see. They'll pull it off. It's a new day. Interesting side note, literally about half the crowd at the OU/Baylor game this past weekend were OU fans. My friend attended. According to her, while OU's performance was great, it was nowhere near a hostile road atmosphere. In other words, OU's road woes in hostile territory might not be as completely cured as Sooner nation is hoping.

 

[chineserapper05]

I think Pelini showed remarkable restraint and calm during the NU/A&M game. I would not have been able to be as measured and easygoing as he was.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Guess the Big 12's trying to get back at NU for daring to leave...

 

[JM1776]

Villanova's mediocre this year though.

Fortunately, basketball season has started!

 

[JM1776]

Thank you, JM1776. You'll see. They'll pull it off.

We'll have a virtual beer together if they do it.

There's just something so delightful about Sooner Nation being figuratively pummeled into unconsciousness that has me pretty psyched for this game.

 

[chineserapper05]

eh. could be. most of the penalties were legit though. False starts and illegal formations are not judgement calls. At least 2 of the personal fouls were legit. You can't kick another player while the ref is watching you, and you can't tackle a player after the ball has been downed in the endzone. It was also hilarious to see a nebraska player yelling at the refs, and all of a sudden, all 3 refs throw their flags in unison for an unsportsmanlike penalty. we know he said that magic word.

the roughing the passer was the only bad call (not including non-calls). I think that if pellini wasn't acting like a jackass the whole game, the ref might not have called it. Oh as it turns out, that ref was the ref in the nebraska vs texas a&m game in 2006, where a roughing the passer call was made on nebraska's game winning drive and that call was questionable.

 

[B.J.]

So, even though I live in Alabama and am married to an Auburn grad (& big football fan), I've pretty much ignored the media in relation to Cam Newton. Can anyone bring me up to speed on the latest? Last I heard was there was a lot of allegations flying around, but none tied directly to Newton (as in he personally didn't do anything wrong).

 

[Neroon]

So, even though I live in Alabama and am married to an Auburn grad (& big football fan),

And here I thought I had it rough, being Methodist and married to a Catholic.

I've pretty much ignored the media in relation to Cam Newton. Can anyone bring me up to speed on the latest? Last I heard was there was a lot of allegations flying around, but none tied directly to Newton (as in he personally didn't do anything wrong).

There has been no smoking gun per se, but there does seem to be an awful lot of stories flying around. Most seem to be centering on conversations and emails and the like wherein someone asked Miss St about a "pay for play" arrangements. I'm somewhat suspicious of their veracity, but .... the story won't die

 

[JM1776]

Would he have your Heisman vote, Neroon?

 

[Neroon]

It's a close call. Based on performance alone he'd stand a good chance. At first I was going with Lamichael James, but his performance wasn't so hot last week. And I have to admit that these allegations have yet to be answered sufficiently.

Kellen Moore would be a good pick, Boise St's schedule notwithstanding.

 

[JM1776]

I'd say Cam Newton's a solid choice, in that I think Auburn is at best 8-3 without him, and more likely 6-5. That's one hell of a boost.

I'd go for some quip about the sins of the fathers, but I'm too tired to make it work.

Are you the Ohio State alum, Neroon? What did you think of the president's comments re: TCU and Boise today?

 

[Neroon]

Oh I have no doubt Newton's numbers are worthy of the winning spot.... it's simply that I doubt enough people will vote him due to the allegations and the whole "smoke vs fire" argument. I don't thin I would vote for him unless there was some corroboration for his side of the story

An Ohio St alum? No. But I've lived in the Columbus area for quite awhile and so have become a fan. Gee's comments were stupid and ill-conceived, nothing worth getting into a snit over. He was attempting to defend the BCS and I think he just put his foot in the mouth. Gee is a good man, affable and very supportive. He was wrong to say what he did about TCU and BSU and their conferences, particularly when you see the pre-season games that the Big 10 and SEC play regularly.

But I'm sure TCU and BSU and their coaching staffs will make hay with those words for extra incentive. Personally, I think each would do alright in those conferences... but their record and other numers would be nowhere as gaudy.