College Football

[resscane]

One of the things that has changed in college football in the past 25-30 years, due to 85 limit on scholarships, is an amazing amout of parity. When you think about a couple of teams that have been able to win 9-10-11 games a season for 20 years, its just amazing. It is so easy to have a letdown game when everybody circles their game against you as their superbowl. The media saturation of winning programs has also contributed to a couple of downfalls. You win the big game and next year every time a guy farts sideways, the national media iare calling you out as uncouth thugs.., as LSU, Ohio ST. Florida ST, USC, and MIami have all found out. It takes a lot of work and probably more luck to stay on top year after year without a letdown versus a team you should beat.

Now add to that that you can only practice 2 hours a day, and you're trying to teach your team a complicated pro-style offense, and you can see where the problems are for Nebraska. although that doesnt absolve the defense of an abysmal showing. Offenses like the one Nebraska is trying to install can take years to master. I would like to think the Nebraska AD will give Callahan time to get it worked out, but I doubt it.

Getting real psyched up for the Miami/Louisville game in the Orange bowl this thursday. I'm gonna be useless at work, so maybe I'll just get to the field at 1pm and start tailgating. ESPN is really hyping this game as a possible upset, and thats their job. But like I said in the 1st paragraph, it is very hard to get up for every game when you're opponents are circling the game as their superbowl. Unfortunately for Louisville, because of all the hype, they are not gonna come into this game under the radar. Chris Mortensen diisin Mike Irving on Monday night countdown! I gaurantee Irving will be on the phone all day today, calling every current player he can reach and getting em hyped.

Can Louisville win this game? Hell yeah, they have a good offense and a good defense. Will they, well w/ miami giving 10 pts, I think I'm gonna stay away from this one. But I'll be there screaming my head off. And I'll get to recover in time to watch footaball all day saturday.

 

[Dimwhit]

Yeesh, Nebraska, to me it looks like they're trying to run a pro-style passing offense without the personnel for that scheme. Maybe their recruiting will catch up in a year or two, but for now, it looks like they are in for some painful games.

I just wish that Div. IA had a playoff. I know there are a lot of good reasons for bowl games, but still, you don't see NCAA basketball fans saying, "You know what we really need instead of March Madness? Bowl games." Not to mention that a playoff would finally force some of these warm-weather teams to play important post-season games away from their home fields/towns/states/climates (I'm looking at you, USC and Miami).

I'm there with you. Until Div 1-A gets a playoff system, they'll be the joke of the sporting world (well, not that extreme, but still...).

And I love the coaches and directors who say a college football playoff isn't possible with schedules, academics, etc. Div I-AA has been doing fine with a playoff for years.

 

[Crothian]

So, a few big games this weekend, most importantly in the Big Ten undefeated Purdue vers e undefeated Wisconsin. We also have USC vers the undeafeated Arizona State, possible USC's last real hurtle. Another undefeated match up but not near as blaanced Loisville verse Miami. Virginia FSU match up should be really good. Another good weekend of games!!

 

[Crothian]

What a game, Miami makes the come back...half a quarter left

 

[resscane]

Miami/Louisville

Wow what a game. Louisville certainly gained some believers last night. I've seen the Canes come back many times at the orange bowl, but very rarely against a team that was playing so well. Petrino really game planed well for this game. I cant help but think that the Louisville brass better open up their wallets, or Petrino is gonna be coaching at UF or LSU next year.

Strangely enough, that was one of the most congenial games I've ever seen at the orange bowl. Miami games are known for atracting morons. I saw a couple fights but they were between drunken miami idiots. Lousville players and fans were treated very well and w/ respect from what I saw. I wish every game could be so. Maybe I would take my kids to more games if that were the case.

In the last 2 years, Ive seen Miami beat Fla St, Florida, WV and now Louisville in some amazing come from behind games. All of em will be shown many times on ESPN classic. Gotta love college football.

 

[Crothian]

gotta love ESPN Classic

 

[Dimwhit]

I'm going to be very curious to see what happens in the polls because of this game. Let's say Boise State beats Tulsa (man, they had better beat Tulsa). Louisville is currently 17th to Boise State's 18th. The way the polls work, Louisville would drop behind Boise State in the polls, despite the fact that they barely lost to the No. 3 team in the nation whereas Boise beat a bad Tulsa team.

As much as I want to see Boise State rise in the polls, it's stuff like that that drives me nuts about college ball. I almost think Louisville should get a bump up in the polls after that game.

 

[Crothian]

They'll drop. Not everyone who votes in the polls would have seen the game and they just vote on wins and losses.

 

[Crothian]

Lots of good early games. Mich is close at Ill and MSU is berating up on Minnosota!!

 

[LeapingShark]

The Trojans are currently drenching the Sundevils with buckets of destruction.