NCAA Football 2013-2014 discussion

DSGamer wrote:

There are other divisions of every high school, college and professional sport that have playoffs and have for years.

FTFY.

Come on, D1 college football. YOU CAN DO IT.

ESPN does a post-spring-game poll.

4. Louisville Cardinals

Putting the just-off-a-bowl-ban Ohio State ahead of just-won-2-natties Bama was crazy, imho. Also: the longhorns at 13 after a year where they almost lost to Kansas?

I know no poll is universally beloved, but some of these picks just reek of pot-stirring or fanbase-pandering. Like USC being in the poll at all. Lane Kiffen sucks, but he's going to break through now that he's had fewer scholarships to give out, eh?

And yes, if anyone's wondering, I'm really just pissed that they dropped A&M from 4th to 6th this time!

That said, football season can't get here soon enough!

If Cal doesn't start with the #1 SOS in the country then I don't know how its calculated. If this poll is to be believed we play 3 of the top 5 teams in the country and 3 more in the top 25 USC, UCLA and Northwestern.

So with the #1 SOS when we go undefeated we will be in the NC game right?

Carlbear95 wrote:

So with the #1 SOS when we go undefeated we will be in the NC game right?

At least you can say that. If Louisville goes undefeated, we either need to win by 2 TDs every game, be the only undefeated team, or maybe both to have a shot. I shudder to think what our SoS will be in this transition year. Dominating on-field performance every week will have to make up for it.

But starting in the top 5 would sure give us a better shot.

No doubt.

Edit: Was responding to Carl.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Putting the just-off-a-bowl-ban Ohio State ahead of just-won-2-natties Bama was crazy, imho. Also: the longhorns at 13 after a year where they almost lost to Kansas?

I know no poll is universally beloved, but some of these picks just reek of pot-stirring or fanbase-pandering. Like USC being in the poll at all. Lane Kiffen sucks[!!!!], but he's going to break through now that he's had fewer scholarships to give out, eh?

And yes, if anyone's wondering, I'm really just pissed that they dropped A&M from 4th to 6th this time!

That said, football season can't get here soon enough!

No kidding, on both counts!!

How is A&M's O-line shaping up this year? As good as Johnny is (I've only seen him play twice), that's gotta be a critical component. I ask out of pure ignorance on most things A&M Football.

We have two new players starters on the O-Line.

We lost LT Luke Joekel. Jake Matthews, of the famous NFL Matthews family (Clay, etc.) will move from RT to LT for his senior season - he was projected round one if he declared, but stayed, and you shall learn why shortly.

We also lost our Center, Patrick Lewis. He is being replaced by the younger brother of Jake Matthews, who got some significant playing time last season.

One of our guards, Cedric O., is sliding over to RT, which is his natural position. I believe he's being replaced by a new player who is a JUCO signee. Other guard remains in place.

So, we feel like offensive line will remain a strength. Front 7 on D and replacing two of our best receivers (Swope, drafted by Arizona, and Nwachaku, signed to the Texans) are our big question marks.

Of those two, I feel better about our offense, as we have the best player in college football at QB, and four very good RBs, at least two of whom were 5* recruits - and neither of which is the starter, Ben Malena. Also, our best receiver was a RS freshman last year.

The optimistic take on our front 7 is that we had the exact same concern last year, and our defense outperformed our wildest expectations. Our D coordinator seems to be a hell of a coach.

And that's more info than you asked for, but you got it at a great price!

Hope this doesn't veer into P&C, but the kid from the Nebraska football spring game got to meet the president at the White House today.

Burkhead, who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, befriended Jack shortly after the boy was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2011. Their friendship led to the "Team Jack" campaign that has raised awareness and funds for research.

The trip to Washington came about after Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., mentioned Jack's touchdown run to the president in casual conversation, said Jack's father, Andy Hoffman. Obama told Fischer that he knew about Jack from watching his touchdown run on television and that Jack should visit him at the White House.

The Hoffmans, from Atkinson, Neb., arrived in Washington on Saturday, did some sightseeing Sunday and plan to go home Tuesday.

Jack met first with Obama, and then he introduced the president to parents Andy and Bri, little sisters Ava and Reese, and Burkhead. Obama spoke briefly to Burkhead about his NFL prospects and thanked him for all he has done for Jack. The Hoffmans, in turn, thanked Obama for meeting with them.

"It was just such a great opportunity for us to visit him and raise national awareness for pediatric brain cancer," Andy said. "He talked about his commitment to research and science."

As someone who hates P&C posts in non-P&C forums, I thought that was totally appropriate to this thread. Or any thread where people appreciate stories of human kindness.

Goodness. Have we reached a point where mentioning the President doing something thoughtful and decent for a cancer survivor is automatically potential P&C fodder?

(Rhetorical question: we have in most parts of society, but I presume that doesn't extend to here. We're supposed to be mature folks...)

firesloth wrote:

Goodness. Have we reached a point where mentioning the President doing something thoughtful and decent for a cancer survivor is automatically potential P&C fodder?

(Rhetorical question: we have in most parts of society, but I presume that doesn't extend to here. We're supposed to be mature folks...)

We are, but some people just loooooove to sneak in jabs at their perceived political opponents during completely unrelated discussions. Clearly not the case here, happily.

By the way, Stele: thanks for being considerate by asking; my post wasn't a jab at you in any form. Still, I think you're on safe ground in these parts.

firesloth wrote:

By the way, Stele: thanks for being considerate by asking; my post wasn't a jab at you in any form. Still, I think you're on safe ground in these parts.

Yep. Agree.

Besides, we have to save all of our vitriol in this thread for when the SEC inevitably gets a 1 loss team into the NC game.

DSGamer wrote:
firesloth wrote:

By the way, Stele: thanks for being considerate by asking; my post wasn't a jab at you in any form. Still, I think you're on safe ground in these parts.

Yep. Agree.

Besides, we have to save all of our vitriol in this thread for when the SEC inevitably gets a 1 loss team into the NC game.

WHY WAIT, MOFO!!!

ARE YOU SAYING JOHNNY FOOTBALL IS A LOSER?!?! JOHNNY FOOTBALL AIN'T NO LOSER, JACK!!

Fedaykin98 wrote:
DSGamer wrote:
firesloth wrote:

By the way, Stele: thanks for being considerate by asking; my post wasn't a jab at you in any form. Still, I think you're on safe ground in these parts.

Yep. Agree.

Besides, we have to save all of our vitriol in this thread for when the SEC inevitably gets a 1 loss team into the NC game.

WHY WAIT, MOFO!!!

ARE YOU SAYING JOHNNY FOOTBALL IS A LOSER?!?! JOHNNY FOOTBALL AIN'T NO LOSER, JACK!!

;)

No. I love Johnny Football. Johnny Football is one of my favorite college football players ever. I'll be rooting hard for the Aggies this year. I reserve the rest of my SEC vitriol for the other teams.

IMAGE(http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/theeagle.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/81/a81fc923-625a-5fcb-b32c-c3ba49e42d5c/50ee582030db8.preview-300.jpg)

I know. Reason #126 why I love you.

Stele wrote:

ESPN does a post-spring-game poll.

4. Louisville Cardinals

:cool:

For a good laugh check out last year's preseason rankings.

I made it to the Arkansas spring game and had a blast. It's hard to draw too many conclusions from a spring game. Defense seemed solid up front, but everything else was hit or miss. I'm not too concerned about linebackers with Randy Shannon coaching, but the secondary is suspect.

Offensively, it seemed like the o-line was performing better which was the most glaring weakness(on the field at least) last season. Arkansas has been spoiled with some great QB play the last few seasons. Brandon Allen might not be as good as Wilson or Mallett, but he looked decent during the scrimmage. The team has a slew of good backs returning. Add Alex Collins to the mix it's going to be pretty exciting backfield if Sam Pittman can get the o-line in shape.

I'm expecting a 6-6 season with a bowl berth. Anything better would require some luck. The strength of schedule was in the Top 10, I'd seen it as high as #2 somewhere. Season opens with a pretty good Louisiana-Lafayette team. Should be an exciting game (at least it's not a FCS school). I'm making plans to attend the TAMU game. This will be the only matchup with the Aggies in Fayetteville for a long time. Hoping the Hogs can come into the game 4-0 and pull off an upset!

Phil Steele had the longhorns at #7!

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Phil Steele had the longhorns at #7! :lol:

Is there any other coach out there that does less with more?

On the subject of strength of schedule and the upcoming playoffs: Did y'all know the Big 10 is moving to a "no FCS opponents" rule for 2016? Although we've had lots of finger pointing about FCS in the past, they will be the first of the now five major conferences to adopt that rule.

They are also moving to 9/3 conference/non-con games per year, from 8/4. Again, in 2016. The SEC is the only other conference currently using an 8/4 schedule.

As I've said before, I would like to see the SEC go no FCS. I'm kind of neutral on 9/3, but you probably don't want to be the only conference doing something different.

Speaking of which, as we all know, the Big 12 is the only conference without a championship game. I know we have several Big 12 posters here, so no offense to y'all's teams, but I would not like to see a Big 12 team get into the playoffs in such a manner. There are only 4 berths, and with 2 of those reserved* for SEC teams, I can't rationalize putting a Big 12 team ahead of three schools who won a conference championship game.

Again, no offense - I know this is all driven by Deloss Dodds and t.u. My sincere hope is that the Big 12 reinstates a championship game, but since you need 12 teams to do that, and the ACC is now locked up, who are you going to add?

Boise State is one of two teams in that ESPN top 25 that are not in a major conference, so they're a logical, though geographically nonsensical, target.

The other team? Good ol' Notre Dame. Imho, especially after that National Championship Game, it's time to settle down and really join a conference. At least for football. I'm not saying that the Big 12 is the one, mind you; ND's best path for preserving as many of its cherished rivalries as possible would be to join a conference with several of those rivals in it - so Big 10 or PAC 12, as I understand it.

Thoughts?

*

No offense taken. All things being equal, I would like to see a Big 12 Championship game. But I'd also like to see the SEC with far more reasonable scheduling, which seems to be impossible with 14 or more teams. Alabama avoids Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and even Vanderbilt, who is now considered a tough SEC team.

Say what you will, but the team that comes out of the Big 12 will have faced all nine other teams. They don't get to arrange their rivals to their favor. Since the Big 12 is playing 9 games AND everyone, I think their path is sufficiently difficult. If K-State had 8 games and got to skip Baylor, you would have a point.

When I see how 14 teams schedule, I can't imagine the pointlessness of 16. I think I saw that Mizzou can expect Alabama in Columbia one every six years now. That's kind of a joke. The SEC went from a conference where powers collide to where powers avoid each other. It just gets worse if they go to 16.

I don't mind if the Big 12 goes back to 12 teams, but 9 or 10 teams seem just about perfect to me. Play everyone, and everyone twice in basketball.

Some SEC schools are starting to make a stink about permanent cross-division rivals, and I agree with them. Why should LSU's schedule always be harder than Bama's?

Definitely something else I'd like to see the SEC fix.

As for ND, they've joined the ACC in other sports, but also have an agreement to play 5 ACC teams per year, starting in 2014. Louisville @ND is happening, and I'm pretty excited about the chance for our fans to drive up the road to an amazing away game.

And I agree that 10 teams and a 9/3 schedule is the perfect balance for football. Playing everyone once removes the silly championship game necessity. You had your chance on the field, and don't need a 2nd one. The unbalanced schedule with the larger conferences causes all kinds of problems. Like Florida last year, since they hadn't played Alabama, a lot of people thought they had an argument for the 2nd best team in the country.

But again the whole thing is really about money and not about true competition or anything remotely fair. It won't be fair until there's a 16-team playoff, with 10 conference winner auto-bids and 6 at-larges.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

On the subject of strength of schedule and the upcoming playoffs: Did y'all know the Big 10 is moving to a "no FCS opponents" rule for 2016? Although we've had lots of finger pointing about FCS in the past, they will be the first of the now five major conferences to adopt that rule.

The other team? Good ol' Notre Dame. Imho, especially after that National Championship Game, it's time to settle down and really join a conference. At least for football. I'm not saying that the Big 12 is the one, mind you; ND's best path for preserving as many of its cherished rivalries as possible would be to join a conference with several of those rivals in it - so Big 10 or PAC 12, as I understand it.

re: FCS. That's good. It might mean that college football's mantra about the importance of the regular season might be closer to being true. For most of your major football schools, an FCS game is essentially a bye week. It's also a vastly inferior football product that you're asking your alums, donors and TV rightsholder to pay full freight for. If I'm CBS, I want to see Alabama play Auburn, not East Alasksa State A&M.

re: Notre Dame -- the Irish aren't going anywhere. The ACC locked down all of its other sports, and it has 10 years on its football deal with NBC. Any thought that they might go to the Big 10 is fantasy.

If the Big 12 (or any of the other power conferences for that matter) is going to expand, it's going to be in a decade when the grants of rights expires. Or (and probably "and") it's going to be a school now in a low or mid-major conference, or maybe a school that has recently or is about to make the jump to 1-AA.

Take UNC-Charlotte, which starts playing football for the first time this fall. They're starting out in Conference USA. Who's to say they won't pour a lot of money into the program right away and be a contender in a decade.

Also take Old Dominion University in the Tidewater area of Virginia. They started in the 1-AA Colonial four seasons ago. They're moving to C-USA and D-1 in 2015.

Neither school has any ties (except geography) to the current power conferences. Who's to say that it won't be one of those two schools? And who's to say that live TV revenue will be the driver of all this in a decade? Maybe there will be an expansive playoff system in place -- just look at your state's high school athletic association football championships -- that will make conference affiliation less relevant.

Personally, as a Houston native, I'd love to see U of H join the Big 12. However, with realignment being driven by adding geography for TV purposes, it doesn't make much sense.

Good news for Fedaykin. A&M to expand stadium to 102,500, 3rd largest in the nation and 1st in the SEC, by 2015.

Stele wrote:

Good news for Fedaykin. A&M to expand stadium to 102,500, 3rd largest in the nation and 1st in the SEC, by 2015.

Yep. It will be very interesting to see what the seat assignment process looks like.

SEC Network announcement today at noon-ish. Tsips committing mass seppuku here in Austin.

MyBrainHz wrote:

SEC Network announcement today at noon-ish. Tsips committing mass seppuku here in Austin.

Ha! Kyle Field announcement yesterday, SEC Network announcement today! Suck it, longhorns!

If you see any funny links with sad t-sips, please send them this way, Brain!