NCAA Football 2013-2014 discussion

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Fun random fact: Students at A&M may not use the word "reload" until their senior year. This is but one of many such rules.

We know of A&M's bizzare, crypt-facist, cult like fan base.
Still preferable to the racist garbage I've heard from most LSU fans.

And of course Texas fans are just the worst, but that is a well known fact that neither Fed nor Coolbeans will dispute.

boogle wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

Fun random fact: Students at A&M may not use the word "reload" until their senior year. This is but one of many such rules.

We know of A&M's bizzare, crypt-facist, cult like fan base.
Still preferable to the racist garbage I've heard from most LSU fans.

And of course Texas fans are just the worst, but that is a well known fact that neither Fed nor Coolbeans will dispute.

Excuse me, but I have a few Gator fans over here who would like a word...

I'll bet none of you planned your evening to include Johnny Manziel wearing a Tim Tebow jersey to a Longhorn frat party, but here you go anyway:

pic.twitter.com/0f6agSsEXX

Here's some video of ole Johnny Football getting heckled into leaving said Longhorn frat party.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...

His actions raise a lot of questions. First of all, why is he at a frat party in Austin? Is College Station so lame that he can't party there? And, more importantly, why take the risk? Texas is A&M's BIGGEST rival. All it would take is one Longhorn fan wanting to make a name for himself to literally end A&M's season. I can't help but see this as another example of some very poor decision making on his part.

1) Partying.
2) Well, it's okay, but Austin is awesome.
3) See 2.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

I'll bet none of you planned your evening to include Johnny Manziel wearing a Tim Tebow jersey to a Longhorn frat party, but here you go anyway:

pic.twitter.com/0f6agSsEXX

That's incredible. It's a questionable decision that I heartily endorse.

Johnny Football 4ever.

He's a college student who is the life of (nearly) every party...hard to really damn him for not having poor decision making. Hell, I've found myself drunk, standing waist deep in a lake enough times to know we don't always make the best decisions when partying and alcohol are involved.

(And, yes, my wallet dried out eventually...)

Double post for inebriation!

firesloth wrote:

He's a college student who is the life of (nearly) every party...hard to really damn him for not having poor decision making.

I agree. The football part comes in here. He is on a team with a number of blue chippers who are either trying to experience the best times of their life ON the field before they move on to regular life or with potential pros who want to get better and improve their draft status. There will be a breaking point where this affects the team's ability to "play for him". If you've ever played football you know that players don't really "raise their game" because they like someone. However they focus more around other players who they feel give them a chance to be successful.

If you know your QB plays worse when he gets hammered that week and he gets hammered that week it will absolutely affect your individual morale. I've seen it before first hand. I was on a team in college where many of us felt the backup was more mature and put us in a better position to win. When he was elevated over the previous starter it did change the tone at practice, in the weight room, etc. That's what he's risking above all else. A freshman with a Heisman and the beautiful game of inspired improvisation that he has could be a legend. That may not be what he's cut out for. If he is, though, throwing that away and pissing off his teammates seems like a huge mistake.

I agree he has a lot of maturing to do, no doubt. Let's hope he gets there one day, unlike Joe Namath or Brett Favre.

Saw Teddy Bridgewater on ESPN today!

...first question they asked him was about Johnny Manziel.

Apparently, Denzel Washington was on a bit later, also talking Johnny Football.

Yeah he did the rounds.

Sportscenter

First Take

Highly Questionable

College Football Daily

Also on Scot Van Pelt, but I haven't seen a video. Good interview there. And also College Football Live, he opened the show for a good 5 min talk.

Pretty awesome day.

Thought he was very composed. Stayed away from talking trash about Johnny when invited. Didn't throw out any disrespect to the teams on our schedule, although everyone was pushing him to say we'd go undefeated. And some nice stuff about his family on the HQ interview. Really handled himself well. A lot more mature than most 20 year olds.

Saw an article that Bridgewater (wisely) took out a $10MM insurance policy. Story also assumes that this will be his last year at Louisville, as players generally don't do that until they are about to go pro. Not sure if he's ready for that (and kind of selfishly want to see him play for a bit longer!).

Very curious to see how Jameis Winston turns out at FSU. He lit up the Spring Game, but that is basically meaningless. It's almost certain that he will win the starting QB job, and there are rumblings that he could be in the same league as Bridgewater and Manziel. Having lived through the EJ Manuel hype (and eventual disappointment) I will take a wait and see attitude.

Well all the projections have Teddy going in the Top 3 of the NFL draft or so. It's hard to argue for staying another year and risking injury when you can go that high. See how well it worked out for Matt Barkley? Wasn't he a late-first/early-second round projection after his junior year, but came back and ended up going in the 4th round?

I mean I would love senior QB Teddy leading us into the ACC in 2014. But I just don't see it.

He also finished high school early, and enrolled in Jan before his freshman year. So he's probably on pace to graduate this coming spring, or possibly finishing up with a handful of summer classes at worst. So if he gets his degree, wins the Heisman, and brings home a national championship this year, who could fault him for leaving?

The Chiefs would have taken Bridgewater #1 overall last year, if he were allowed to leave. If he has another strong season, I suspect he will go to the first team that needs a QB.

He would be a fool to stick around. I say the same thing in basketball for guys like McLemore. If an employer is ready to hand you 10's of millions of dollars, college has done provided what you needed.

I agree, there would be about zero reason to stay. That's the reality of the game. I just like watching the kid. Can't say that it wasn't great watching him destroy the Gators in the Sugar Bowl.

Stele: IIRC, Barkley was slated to go even earlier than you said; definitely a disaster for him.

Our Damontre Moore came out early but then had a poor combine and saw his stock drop from first round to I don't even remember. These decisions are tricky.

Regarding Louisville's natty aspirations: I can't help thinking that their chances would be much better if we could take this team, with Bridgewater, but in the 2014 scenario, where they're in the ACC and there's a 4-team playoff.

Sincerely no smack here, because y'all have already taken the step of moving to a major conference as of next year, and you beat Florida, but what dominoes have to fall in order for y'all to make it to the big game? I'm thinking go undefeated and, at a minimum, only one other undefeated team in the country. Even then, a one-loss powerhouse like Bama might jump y'all in the standings. Looking at your schedule - http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-13/b... - there's not a headline-grabbing win on there. Again, I know, you've already set in motion your move to the ACC.

I'm sure we all remember an undefeated Auburn being left out of the natty eight years ago (one example of many). And yes, we all hate the BCS and all this attendant bullsh*t that comes from having no playoff at all. This line of thought just makes me think that 4 teams is not going to be enough. Most years, yes, but there will be a year where it's a real SOB.

And in sobering news, Texas A&M lost a redshirt freshman, Polo Manukainiu, in a car accident last night. It appears that the driver fell asleep on a long trip. Three kids were killed, and none of them were wearing seat belts. Only the driver was belted, and he received only minor injuries.

It was a van, apparently, and I know people often lay down without a belt, but man, what an easily avoided tragedy.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

And in sobering news, Texas A&M lost a redshirt freshman, Polo Manukainiu, in a car accident last night. It appears that the driver fell asleep on a long trip. Three kids were killed, and none of them were wearing seat belts. Only the driver was belted, and he received only minor injuries.

It was a van, apparently, and I know people often lay down without a belt, but man, what an easily avoided tragedy.

Just saw that myself. Sad news indeed. There but for the grace, and all that, as I can think of many road trips taken in college on little or no sleep.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Sincerely no smack here, because y'all have already taken the step of moving to a major conference as of next year, and you beat Florida, but what dominoes have to fall in order for y'all to make it to the big game? I'm thinking go undefeated and, at a minimum, only one other undefeated team in the country. Even then, a one-loss powerhouse like Bama might jump y'all in the standings. Looking at your schedule - http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-13/b... - there's not a headline-grabbing win on there. Again, I know, you've already set in motion your move to the ACC.

Yeah, it's going to be tough. Being the only undefeated team will clinch it I think.

Otherwise, having Cincinnati ranked and with 2 losses at most for that season finale game where we have to cap it and win the conference will help.

Having a big margin of victory (double digits in every game) will help.

Maybe adding Michael Dyer to the team, a former BCS champion RB, will help. Word is he's in the registar system at Louisville. That doesn't exactly mean he's enrolled, as he could just have submitted an application to be there. But it certainly seems like a strong indication we might be officially picking him up this week. That would add more media focus, and another star player.

I know a lot of the media that doesn't watch us regularly thinks the team is "Teddy Bridgewater and some other guys." Honestly it's one of Teddy's strengths that he goes to whoever is open, doesn't have a favorite WR, route, or whatever. In all but 2 games last year he completed passes to 9 or more players. The other 2 only 7, which is more normal (4 WRs, 1 TE, 2 RBs). But there's always the chance that the perception we don't have other great players could hurt us.

I think the nightmare scenario for us is one of the other Big 4 conferences (Pac, B1G, B12, ACC) has an undefeated team, and the SEC has a 1-loss champion. That's where I see us getting squeezed out even if we win all our games. Unless that one-loss SEC champ is Florida maybe. :p We do have 17 of 21 starters returning after all.

Would you believe some of the media think Texas A&M is Johnny Football and some other guys?

Totally agree with your take on LV's chances. If y'all were ACC this year, OR the playoff was this year, I think you'd control your own destiny completely. I think next year's ACC might be the third strongest conference, or possibly even second, depending upon how the PAC is doing.

I will tolerate the 'ship but please refrain from the use of 'the natty' to reference a BCS championship.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

... I think next year's ACC might be the third strongest conference, or possibly even second, depending upon how the PAC is doing.

Is the SEC is merging with the NFL? Or are all of the other conferences disbanding?

I mean, Louisville is pretty good and all, but ACC membership tends to kill off your football program. Kind of like anti-Viagra. Or lots of bourbon.

Well I'm figuring the SEC and the PAC, and then I'm not sure, but I'm taking Mack Brown's word for it that no one in the Big 12 is substantially better than Iowa State. So Big 10 or ACC after that.

Enix wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

... I think next year's ACC might be the third strongest conference, or possibly even second, depending upon how the PAC is doing.

Is the SEC is merging with the NFL? Or are all of the other conferences disbanding?

I mean, Louisville is pretty good and all, but ACC membership tends to kill off your football program. Kind of like anti-Viagra. Or lots of bourbon.

Who else would be? Obviously SEC is #1. Then you have Big 12, PAC 12, ACC, B1G. I can see an argument for Big 12. PAC 12, especially with Kelly leaving Oregon, that's a tough call. B1G? Outside of OSU, you don't really have a (Serious) contender. In the ACC you have FSU and Clemson. Adding UL is a good deal. Adding Pitt and Syracuse... not so much. VTech had a bad year, but they are generally in the mix. Who knows if Miami will ever be good again. Ok, maybe you have an argument!

Going ACC didn't hurt FSU football wise. Bowden staying a bit long (with his son as OC) did a lot more damage.

Abu5217 wrote:

Going ACC didn't hurt FSU football wise.

Eh, I dunno. And I wrote that earlier post as a guy weened on Ralph Sampson-era ACC basketball and who has family and friends with VT, UVa, UNC, Duke and Wake ties.

Since Florida State won the national title in 2000, the Noles have gone 1-4 in BCS games, 7-6 in three out of four seasons (including two back to back) and lost to the Gators six straight times. Yet FSU still managed to win 4 ACC titles because the rest of the conference is, with the occasional exception of Virginia Tech and sometimes Clemson, pretty darn sorry.

When the ACC invited FSU into the league in 1992, the expectation was that Florida State was going to be the rising tide that lifts all conference boats. Problem is, the tide swamped FSU, and the rest of the league sank with 'em.

That's not to say it's the ACC's fault that Florida State doesn't dominate like it used to. No team can keep that up. It goes more to the point that the ACC has tried and tried and tried to make itself a football conference, and nothing has really worked.

Enix wrote:
Abu5217 wrote:

Going ACC didn't hurt FSU football wise.

Eh, I dunno. And I wrote that earlier post as a guy weened on Ralph Sampson-era ACC basketball and who has family and friends with VT, UVa, UNC, Duke and Wake ties.

Since Florida State won the national title in 2000, the Noles have gone 1-4 in BCS games, 7-6 in three out of four seasons (including two back to back) and lost to the Gators six straight times. Yet FSU still managed to win 4 ACC titles because the rest of the conference is, with the occasional exception of Virginia Tech and sometimes Clemson, pretty darn sorry.

When the ACC invited FSU into the league in 1992, the expectation was that Florida State was going to be the rising tide that lifts all conference boats. Problem is, the tide swamped FSU, and the rest of the league sank with 'em.

That's not to say it's the ACC's fault that Florida State doesn't dominate like it used to. No team can keep that up. It goes more to the point that the ACC has tried and tried and tried to make itself a football conference, and nothing has really worked.

I respectfully disagree. The Noles dominated the ACC from their entry in 1992 until 2001. They won their two NCs during that timeframe, and were undefeated in conference in their first 3 years. Then they started losing coaches. Brad Scott to South Carolina, Mark Richt to UGA, Chuck Amato to NCSU. Bowden appointed his son to OC to replace Richt, and that's where the slide started.

FSU was a shadow of themselves from 2001 until recently, and they are nowhere near their talent/coaching peak since then. Are they moving up? Sure. But they still have not shook the bonds of mediocrity that defined the 2000's. I say this as an alum and huge fan. Most of us fans are waiting to see if Jimbo Fisher can do this. We hope that he is no Ron Zook...

TL/DR - If going to the ACC hurt FSU, it sure took a while. (I won't argue that being an ACC team hasn't hurt them in the last two years, but they have found ways (UVA in 2011, NCSU last year) to shoot their own foot)

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Well I'm figuring the SEC and the PAC, and then I'm not sure, but I'm taking Mack Brown's word for it that no one in the Big 12 is substantially better than Iowa State. So Big 10 or ACC after that.

You and I both know he is probably the most out of touch coach in the conference. Texas keeps him around for donations and his contract.

Although I do have to add this: I never realized that the team was 1-4 in BCS bowl games after their last NC. That hurts, considering that I attended when winning the bowl game was just assumed!

boogle wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

Well I'm figuring the SEC and the PAC, and then I'm not sure, but I'm taking Mack Brown's word for it that no one in the Big 12 is substantially better than Iowa State. So Big 10 or ACC after that.

You and I both know he is probably the most out of touch coach in the conference. Texas keeps him around for donations and his contract.

No doubt. That was pretty much a "Look at the stupid crap Mack Brown is saying now" comment on my part. Seriously, A&M's departure for the SEC / t.u. losing to Bama a few years back has permanently taken over his brain, and fried it.