The 2012 College Football Season

[BlueJackalope]

Has Begun. (http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2012/1/11/2699687/the-fulmer-cup-arrives-rules-and-review)

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/870953/fulmercup-011112_medium.jpg

Dear College football.

Get your shit together.

[Bluto]

Eight team playoff, using the four current BCS bowls as the first round. Go! Do it now!

[BlueJackalope]

Eight team playoff, using the four current BCS bowls as the first round. Go! Do it now!

This is so frigging obvious it hurts.

Plus, you corrupt bastards, this would make you endless piles of cash.

[Sarkus]

Thats not what is going to happen, I bet. We'll get a "plus one," meaning a four team playoff and be stuck with that for some time. I heard someone today point out that ESPN is pushing hard for the next BCS TV deal to be for 8 years rather then four and that they favor the "plus one." So I'd be surprised if we get anything else.

[corsair]

Replace all these league "championship" games and replace that week with the first round. But in general, if the whole BCS crap disappears tomorrow I'll be quite happy.

[BlueJackalope]

Thats not what is going to happen, I bet. We'll get a "plus one," meaning a four team playoff and be stuck with that for some time. I heard someone today point out that ESPN is pushing hard for the next BCS TV deal to be for 8 years rather then four and that they favor the "plus one." So I'd be surprised if we get anything else.

I'd bet this is what happens as well.

[Ex-S Woo]

Changes are coming but that's still two years off isn't it? I thought the current system was guaranteed until 2013.

Oh, and as for playoffs I would be OK with a simple plus one where we have the winner of the Rose Bowl (Pac 12 - Big Ten) go up against the winner of the Sugar Bowl (SEC vs Big 12)

Screw ACC, Big East and all the rest.

[Sarkus]

Changes are coming but that's still two years off isn't it? I thought the current system was guaranteed until 2013.

Oh, and as for playoffs I would be OK with a simple plus one where we have the winner of the Rose Bowl (Pac 12 - Big Ten) go up against the winner of the Sugar Bowl (SEC vs Big 12)

Screw ACC, Big East and all the rest.

Yeah, its a few years away but they need to decide now because it will impact the next TV deal, and ESPN's exclusive re-up period starts shortly.

A conference matchup would be a mess. They are going to ditch the automatic qualifier stuff and just go with the top ranked teams. So #1 would play #4 and #2 would play #3, presumably as part of "neutral" bowls and then the winners would face off a week later in the national championship game. That's what I've heard, anyway, as the most likely way a "plus one" would be implemented.

[Ex-S Woo]

The thing I hate about creating a separate match-up for the top 4 seeds is that it completely destroys the bowl matchups across the board.

Even the current system is guilty of this and it creates very odd match-ups - for example, a Sugar Bowl that has zero SEC representation. I think doing a plus one based on the traditional bowl match-ups offers a few advantages in that it guarantees a cross conference championship game while adding meaning to the bowls outside of the top 2 games.

[Sarkus]

Well, straight up bowl matchups based on only four conferences would never fly. Lawsuits and all of that. So it has to be the top 4 in the rankings so that Notre Dame and schools from weaker conferences have a shot at it.

Then you have to involve the traditional bowls in some way. The easiest way to do that is to have the four "power" bowls rotate the semi-final games. Yes, you lose the traditional matchups but those are largely gone at this point anyway. The alternative would be to play traditional bowl games and then have a four team playoff between whoever is top 4 after that, but that would put you into late January for the title game and add two more games for the top two teams overall schedules.

I don't see any other way of doing a "plus one."

[Greatatlantic]

I'm am not a proponent of a playoff, and really think the people calling for one aren't fans of college football. The bowl system (which is not the same as the BCS) gives us a lot of great match ups, many with deep historical significance.

My own personal reforms would be to require a team to be a conference champion to qualify for the NC game. I would be fine with a +1 game, so long as it wasn't based on who won 2 specific bowls.

For example, this season we would have had the following games (I'm guessing) if the NCG was a +1.

Rose: Wisconsin vs. Oregon
Fiesta: Oklahoma State vs. Alabama
Orange: West Virginia vs. Clemson
Sugar: LSU vs. Stanford

The two at large teams were italicized. I'm basing these on traditional bowl ties, who gets to pick first, and who I think they'd pick. Neither West Virginia nor Clemson would have a case to be in the NCG no matter how well they play in the bowl. So, we'd play these games (or some other match ups), and afterwords the highest ranked conference champions would play for the NCG.

Keep in mind, this system would be terrible for non-AQ conferences, since it cuts the number of at large spots in half. This is also true for an 8 team playoff. It might make it more theoretically possible for a non-AQ conference to make it to the NCG, but it would also make it harder for them to qualify for a top 8 spot meaning no chance at the big money pots. In someways this is a more realistic system, since the big money pots are actually dependent on the handful of money generating football programs to actually make the system economically viable.

[Sarkus]

By the way, the NCAA has officially changed it (http://dennis-dodd.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6270202/34329611) so that what saved Cam Newton and Auburn from consequences for that his father clearly did a few years ago is now against the rules.

I guess we'll always remember the 2010 National Champion Auburn Tigers as saved by a technicality.

[JeffL]

Only major sport without a playoff (including every other division of NCAA football.) And it sucks.

My vote would be 8 team playoff. Right now the bowls are hurting, they can't fill the stands, ratings are in the dumpers. Suddenly those bowls hosting playoff games would be huge ratings hits, would sell out, and the bowl season would be exciting again. The most exciting game in the NCAA basketball playoffs is rarely the final. Imagine a scenario in which a dark horse team that would never get a shot knocks off LSU in the first round and suddenly there's an excitement you just don't see any more, in the age of "appointed" champions.

[Drai]

Greatatlantic,

Bowls would not be going anywhere with a playoff, so feel safe in the knowledge that you can still tune into the Little Caesar's Bowl and all of those other wonderful match ups far into the future.

[Greatatlantic]

Only major sport without a playoff (including every other division of NCAA football.) And it is awesome!

Fixed that for you. I always thought the "only sport without" was a terrible argument for change, since there is nothing inherently wrong in being different. Its not even true. The world's most watched sport league is the English Premier, and it doesn't have a playoff! I suspect people who complain about the current system wouldn't bother to watch most playoff games either.


My vote would be 8 team playoff. Right now the bowls are hurting, they can't fill the stands, ratings are in the dumpers. Suddenly those bowls hosting playoff games would be huge ratings hits, would sell out, and the bowl season would be exciting again.Lots of factual assumptions here. I think the financial difficulty of the bowl system is not a problem with bowls, its a problem the number of bowls, and the general down state of the economy right now. Plus, filling a football stadium on a week's notice isn't the slam dunk people think it is. There are several incidents of FCS teams that sell out during the regular season, but fail to sell out a playoff game. And that is at their home stadium. Put the game at a neutral location, and the problem multiplies. There are only a handful of programs that have the sort of fanbase that could do that, and they are the usual suspects. Ohio State, Texas, USC, etc. If those teams aren't invovled, you'll get a lot of ESPN emotional underdog stories and people cheering for the "little guy," but certainly not spending airfare, hotel costs, ticket prices, and time off of work to go see them in all likelihood lose.

And bowl season isn't exciting? Did you watch Michigan State versus Georgia? Stanford and Oklahoma State? How about Wisconsin and Oregon in the granddaddy of them all? Or, watching West Virginia score more points in the first half than all but 3 Orange Bowl teams scored in the entire game? Even Illinois and UCLA in the "can we makes something a lost season" bowl had a grim fascination. You either get excited about these things, or frankly you probably aren't a big fan of the sport. You can blame the system for why you aren't, but I'd say no matter how they change the system a lot of the critics still wouldn't bother to watch, they'd just have fewer excuses.


The most exciting game in the NCAA basketball playoffs is rarely the final.

I'll be honest, I never watch college basketball except for when Ohio State is the tournament. Even then, I probably only catch a fraction of those games. The regular season isn't important, since a team just has to be good enough to make the tournament. The conference championship is a nice banner, but ultimately not important as how deep a team gets in the tournament. But since I'm not a big college basketball fan, I'll let the powers that be figure out how they want to do the post season. No matter what they do, I probably wouldn't watch it.


Imagine a scenario in which a dark horse team that would never get a shot knocks off LSU in the first round and suddenly there's an excitement you just don't see any more, in the age of "appointed" champions.

We already have this, it is called the regular season. It is really, really exciting for just those reasons you listed. Plus, with an 8 team playoff there would be no dark horses (unless the Big East continues to decline and their automatic candidate would be de facto dark horse). There would only be conference champions of the AQ conferences, plus teams with really, really good regular seasons that slipped up a game or, rarely, undefeated teams from non-AQ conferences.

[JeffL]

So, you think it would be better if, at the end of the regular season in the NFL, they simply picked the two top teams via records and coaches votes and said "OK, these two will play in the Super Bowl?" Or at the end of the MLB season they picked the two top teams and let them play one game for the championship? Same for NCAA basketball? Just take the two top rated teams at the end of the year, let them play one game, declare the winner the national champion? If you think those would be more awesome than the playoffs, we have no common ground.

OSU lost one game, just as Alabama did, and they had no shot at the title. Alabama and LSU each lost one game also, to each other. I would love to see the top few teams get a chance to win a championship, the way most other sports do. The way every other division in NCAA football does. There may have been more than one team that could have beaten LSU but never got the chance (Alabama got two chances.) Most people feel the whole thing is just completely unsatisfying.

[robsam]

Fixed that for you. I always thought the "only sport without" was a terrible argument for change, since there is nothing inherently wrong in being different. Its not even true. The world's most watched sport league is the English Premier, and it doesn't have a playoff! I suspect people who complain about the current system wouldn't bother to watch most playoff games either.



Possibly the worst analogy I have ever seen regarding the BCS.

The Premiership, La Liga, Serie A, etc all play a home and home tournament with 3 points assigned per win, 1 per tie. At the end of the season they tally the points, and use tiebreakers like goal differential over the course of the season to decide the champion.

Very easy system when you have a pool of twenty teams. Impossible with the number of teams playing Division One (I still call it that, fuck the new nomenclature!) football, the varying conferences, the regional biases, etc.

A four team playoff with a plus one is a great solution in my opinion.

In all seriousness, I think LSU would have snuffed out Stanford in their hypothetical semifinal game this year, and Bama would have done the same to OK State. I think both of those games would have been very exciting compared to the LSU-Bama BCS title game, but in the end we would have the same two teams in the BCS title game this year.

The thing is, LSU and Bama 2011 were both off the scale when it comes to NCAA football, the SEC is generally good, but those teams were a notch above the usual SEC talent level. Bama will still be good next year, LSU might actually be better than they were this season. I know everyone outside of SEC country hates the way this season played out, but the best two teams played for the MNC. I wish they both had to win over BCS ranked #3 and #4 to play again and prove it.

[Greatatlantic]

Possibly the worst analogy I have ever seen regarding the BCS.

The Premiership, La Liga, Serie A, etc all play a home and home tournament with 3 points assigned per win, 1 per tie. At the end of the season they tally the points, and use tiebreakers like goal differential over the course of the season to decide the champion.

Because it wasn't an analogy, it was a counter example. The argument was EVERY major sport except college football has a playoff. I was just pointing out that there was at least one major sport without a playoff. Frankly, there are other sports that don't use a playoff. Most "Olympic" sports use various national and international tournaments of various levels of prestigious to determine the best athletes. Chess uses the ELO system. Boxing (if I understand the sport) just has a committee declares the number one athletes in each weight class.

The point isn't that these systems are superior and should be used in every sport. The point was there are alternatives to playoffs, especially single game elimination playoffs.


A four team playoff with a plus one is a great solution in my opinion.Yikes. You think there is controversy now, the number of teams that have a claim to a being a 4 or better team usually a lot bigger than those with a claim to be a number 2 or better team. Plus, there is no way the major conferences would go along with this without a guaranteed spot. Which would mean the non-AQ conferences would call for congressional hearings.


In all seriousness, I think LSU would have snuffed out Stanford in their hypothetical semifinal game this year, and Bama would have done the same to OK State. I think both of those games would have been very exciting compared to the LSU-Bama BCS title game, but in the end we would have the same two teams in the BCS title game this year.I think LSU and Alabama both had good odds, but less than 50% that both win. That's the thing with a single game elimination playoff. Winning is as much as matter of luck as it is skill, since everyone is skilled at that point.


So, you think it would be better if, at the end of the regular season in the NFL, they simply picked the two top teams via records and coaches votes and said "OK, these two will play in the Super Bowl?" Or at the end of the MLB season they picked the two top teams and let them play one game for the championship? Same for NCAA basketball? Just take the two top rated teams at the end of the year, let them play one game, declare the winner the national champion?

You dolt, that is essentially YOUR argument, not mine. Mine is its OK for sports to be different. Not what works for one sport is just going to be perfect for others. That, and there is a huge difference between single game elimination and a best of 7 series. There is also a huge difference between a 30 team league and a 120 team affiliation. Do you know why baseball and basketball use the best of 7 series? There was some experimentation done with more or less numbers, but 7 just naturally became the number that made the most money. Then the NFL is almost unique in American sports in just how well its marketed the playoffs. People don't watch the Superbowl because they care about the teams or the outcome (unless their team is playing), they do it for the spectacle.


If you think those would be more awesome than the playoffs, we have no common ground.

Its not just about the championship, its about the bowl system as a whole. Its a chance to see a lot of exciting match ups of teams I didn't have time to watch during the regular season. Going to a playoff would probably require dismantling a lot of these traditional bowl games, and would certainly reduce their importance/watchability/excitability. If bowl season doesn't get you excited, then you probably aren't that big a fan of college sports. The lack of a bigger playoff (the NCG is essentially a two team playoff) is just the excuse, not the reason.

[divorced]

Possibly the worst analogy I have ever seen regarding the BCS.

The Premiership, La Liga, Serie A, etc all play a home and home tournament with 3 points assigned per win, 1 per tie. At the end of the season they tally the points, and use tiebreakers like goal differential over the course of the season to decide the champion.

Very easy system when you have a pool of twenty teams. Impossible with the number of teams playing Division One (I still call it that, fuck the new nomenclature!) football, the varying conferences, the regional biases, etc.

A four team playoff with a plus one is a great solution in my opinion.

In all seriousness, I think LSU would have snuffed out Stanford in their hypothetical semifinal game this year, and Bama would have done the same to OK State. I think both of those games would have been very exciting compared to the LSU-Bama BCS title game, but in the end we would have the same two teams in the BCS title game this year.

The thing is, LSU and Bama 2011 were both off the scale when it comes to NCAA football, the SEC is generally good, but those teams were a notch above the usual SEC talent level. Bama will still be good next year, LSU might actually be better than they were this season. I know everyone outside of SEC country hates the way this season played out, but the best two teams played for the MNC. I wish they both had to win over BCS ranked #3 and #4 to play again and prove it.

Before the BCS game was played, I really wanted LSU to play Oklahoma State. I thought that would have been an awesome game to watch. However, after watching the abortion that was the championship game, I think OSU would have pasted 60 on us. They are an offensive machine! Add that to our complete lack of offense and OSU would have not only won the championship, but would have won it by 3 touchdowns at least.

It's all moot now of course, but it sure would have been fun to watch.

[Woolen Horde]

Jeezus, Steve Sarkisian is not fucking around. After pretty much firing his entire defensive staff on New Years Eve, he went out and just assembled a pretty insane new staff.

Within two days of firing his defensive coaches, he raided Tennessee for Justin Wilcox and Peter Sirmon. Wilcox was the DC and Sirmon the linebackers coach, and both young and highly regarded. Texas tried to hire Wilcox to replace Muschamp, and Sirmon is considered Tennessee's best recruiter.

Then a few days ago, Sark and Wilcox raided Oregon State and stole Keith Heyward from his alma matter. Considered a great young coach and a great recruiter.

But the piece de resistence just happened today. Sark raided Cal and stole Tosh Lupoi, a move that's sending shock waves through the conference. Lupoi is widely regarded as the best recruiter in the conference, and arguably in the nation. He's a MAJOR reason Cal's recruiting classes in recent years have been so stellar (especially considering how completely broken-down Tedford seems to get when Cal goes through a mid-season collapse.) And Sark just lured Lupoi from his alma matter, a move that's got the Cal fans melting down and pointing fingers. Within hours, a lot of Cal's four- and five-star verbals have tweeted they have a lot of rethinking to do.

We're so damn excited that we don't even mind that Nick Saban raided UW today for our offensive coordinator.

[Sarkus]

Jeezus, Steve Sarkisian is not fucking around. After pretty much firing his entire defensive staff on New Years Eve, he went out and just assembled a pretty insane new staff.

Within two days of firing his defensive coaches, he raided Tennessee for Justin Wilcox and Peter Sirmon. Wilcox was the DC and Sirmon the linebackers coach, and both young and highly regarded. Texas tried to hire Wilcox to replace Muschamp, and Sirmon is considered Tennessee's best recruiter.

Then a few days ago, Sark and Wilcox raided Oregon State and stole Keith Heyward from his alma matter. Considered a great young coach and a great recruiter.

But the piece de resistence just happened today. Sark raided Cal and stole Tosh Lupoi, a move that's sending shock waves through the conference. Lupoi is widely regarded as the best recruiter in the conference, and arguably in the nation. He's a MAJOR reason Cal's recruiting classes in recent years have been so stellar (especially considering how completely broken-down Tedford seems to get when Cal goes through a mid-season collapse.) And Sark just lured Lupoi from his alma matter, a move that's got the Cal fans melting down and pointing fingers. Within hours, a lot of Cal's four- and five-star verbals have tweeted they have a lot of rethinking to do.

We're so damn excited that we don't even mind that Nick Saban raided UW today for our offensive coordinator.

Considering that Sarkisian calls the plays and the offense is just fine, its not a huge loss for UW to lose Nussmeier. But if the rumors about what they are paying Lupoi are true ($500k a year for a defensive line coach!), holy shit.

[olaf]

Someone forwarded me this at work today:

http://neworleansrising.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/is-there-smoke-is-there-another-reason-why-lsu-lost/

Sounds like a stretch but its the only plausible explanation I have heard offered as to why Lee didn't even see the field.

[BlueJackalope]

Considering that Sarkisian calls the plays and the offense is just fine, its not a huge loss for UW to lose Nussmeier. But if the rumors about what they are paying Lupoi are true ($500k a year for a defensive line coach!), holy shit.

UW has tons of alumni with money who are frustrated at how long the team has been bad.

[Woolen Horde]

Well, a day after Sark raided Cal and stole their prized recruiter, the motherfucker did it again and stole their WR coach. Brass Balls. Holy Crap.

I swear to god, the UWPD better send some officers down in November when Washington visits the New Memorial Stadium, because holy shit, the Cal fan base is apoplectic right now.

[Woolen Horde]

UW has tons of alumni with money who are frustrated at how long the team has been bad.

The rumor is that for a college position coach, Lupoi is not only getting $500K (which is approximately 2.77 Newtons. I propose that we discuss all college football money issues in Newtons and not dollars from this point on), but they also gave him a speedboat to make his commute easier.

Yeah, I'm sure some alum who probably owns a dealership ponied that up.

[Sarkus]

A couple things:

1. Joe Paterno's death, though that is being covered in the seperate Penn State scandal thread.

2. Reports say Chip Kelly may be about to jump to the NFL and Tampa. This follows on Tony Dungy saying he thought Kelly had the makings of a successful NFL head coach, though Dungy did say he thought Kelly needed a few more years experience. But if that happens, that puts Oregon in an interesting spot. Most likely some assistant gets promoted, at least for this season, but I don't know who that would be.

[Woolen Horde]

It sounds like Kelly is taking Allioti (his DC) and some others with him.

This is nightmarish timing for Oregon, with LOI day a week away. There was chaos in Pac-12 recruiting last week when Sark knee-capped Cal, but now it's wide fucking open for recruits, especially Oregon recruits.

[triggercut]

Kelly leaving about a week before Signing Day. That's gotta be making Phil Knight feel pretty good, huh? Almost makes you wonder what Kelly knows regarding possible sanctions coming. Is he pulling a Pete Carroll here?

[Woolen Horde]

Various reports saying Kelly's been cancelling in-home meetings with prospective recruits, and the Seattle Time's Bob Condotta forwarded a twitter saying that one of Oregon's prized recruits is back in play.

Woooooooo.

[MattN]

I'm so happy the trojans beat them at home before he jumped ship. Sucks to be a duck fan right about now.

[Woolen Horde]

Eugene Register-Guard reporting that Chip is staying. This after reports from different sources said that a deal had been finalized with the Bucs.

I imagine Uncle Phil jumped in and offered more money.

But, yeesh, if it's true that the Bucs and he had figured out the details, way to burn your bridges with the NFL, Chip. You gotta negotiate in good faith.

[triggercut]

And not so fast. CBS says:


Two sources with direct knowledge of the talks told CBSSports.com that the Oregon head coach had agreed in principle to take the same position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was in the process of finalizing details of a multi-year contract but has changed is mind and will stay at Oregon. The Register-Guard first reported the news of Kelly's departure and that he would be staying in Eugene Sunday night.

[Sarkus]

The Bucs officially announced that Kelly had declined the position, so he's out.

They still seem a long way from deciding on who their next coach will be.

[triggercut]

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a78/nursetpd/PAC%2010/Chip_Kelly_NFL.gif

[BlueJackalope]

http://wvu.hilltopper.net/graphics/chip_truman.png

[Woolen Horde]

http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/955501/L8Xgh.jpg

[olaf]

No traffic on National Signing Day? WTF! Its far more important, and a more accurate predictor of success, to college football than the Draft is to the NFL. And Texas did great!

Not that I have anything of substance to say on it. College football is probably the #2 sport in the US and yet the coverage on this vs that of the NFL draft (clear head and shoulders #1 sport no contest) is night and day.

[Sarkus]

That's because there are plenty of examples of it meaning nothing (example: Tyrone Willingham has top 25 signing classes most years he was head coach at Washington and Notre Dame but they still sucked, second example: Texas always looks good but hasn't been all that good on the field the last two seasons despite that) and to the degree that they indicate anything its general and not specific. So the top teams are probably going to be the better teams on the whole, but the specific big name players are more of a crap shoot.

[Locker K]

A press conference is scheduled for 10am Eastern with Tressel and the University of Akron president. The word is that it's a non-athletic administrative position, but we'll see how long that holds true.

[olaf]

That's because there are plenty of examples of it meaning nothing (example: Tyrone Willingham has top 25 signing classes most years he was head coach at Washington and Notre Dame but they still sucked, second example: Texas always looks good but hasn't been all that good on the field the last two seasons despite that) and to the degree that they indicate anything its general and not specific. So the top teams are probably going to be the better teams on the whole, but the specific big name players are more of a crap shoot.

Well top 25 out of...how many schools? 100+.My point is that it means a shitload more than NFL draft 'report cards'.

[Sarkus]

West Virginia settled the lawsuits with the Big East and will join the Big 12 for the 2012 season. Reports say the Big East may be willing to let Syracuse and Pitt out to join ACC after the 2012 season rather then after the 2013 season.

With Houston, SMU, Memphis, and Central Florida joining Big East in all sports in 2013, along with San Diego State and Boise State in football only, the Big East can afford to let schools go early at this point.

[DT]

With Houston, SMU, Memphis, and Central Florida joining Big East in all sports in 2013, along with San Diego State and Boise State in football only, the Big East can afford to let schools go early at this point.

At this point, the Big East needs to change it's name. The Clusterflock Conference. I dunno, they need something different.

[Sarkus]

At this point, the Big East needs to change it's name. The Clusterflock Conference. I dunno, they need something different.

I doubt they will change their name. Look at the Big Ten - it has more then 10 schools now. And the Big 12 has less then twelve. They aren't changing anything. In comparison its surprising the Pac 10 became the Pac 12 and there is no reason for the Big East to change anything even if they do end up being only defined as teams east of the Pacific Ocean.

And while I'm sure that the other new schools will stick, it wouldn't surprise me at all if Boise State and San Diego State pull a TCU and end up changing their plans. The whole reason this makes any sense at all for those two schools is to get into an automatic BCS qualifier conference, and most people think the next version of the BCS (or whatever succeeds it) will not have automatic qualifier conference promises. Making the whole thing pointless for Boise State and San Diego State to even continue.

[Greatatlantic]

I doubt they will change their name. Look at the Big Ten - it has more then 10 schools now. And the Big 12 has less then twelve. They aren't changing anything. In comparison its surprising the Pac 10 became the Pac 12 and there is no reason for the Big East to change anything even if they do end up being only defined as teams east of the Pacific Ocean.

Its sort of a branding thing, and no conference wants to give up its "brand." The Pac-X had more flexibility, since its the only "pac" conference, and frankly there was a more established "ten" conference that it looked like they were aping.

The Big Ten was the original "big" conference. Problem is, there are now two other "big" conferences that diminishes the brand of "big," meaning only "ten" is left for the Big Ten. Even worse, if it changed its name to Big Twelve, people would confuse it with the other Big XII conference, unless they are willing to swap names, but that would mean the Big Ten (the oldest division 1 athletic conference in the nation) would have lost its brand to a much younger conference.

Look, if you had to explain to somebody what the big ten was, would your answer be, "the conference with ten teams?" Maybe, if you were feeling sarcastic. More likely you'd say its a Midwestern athletic conference comprised primarily of large universities which emphasize research.

[BennyProfane]

Texas CHRISTIAN athletes (emphasis mine (http://espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/story/_/id/7577881/tcu-horned-frogs-football-players-arrested-drug-sweep)) arrested on drug charges.

So, does that jump TCU into the lead for the Fulmer award?

[triggercut]

Texas CHRISTIAN athletes (emphasis mine (http://espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/story/_/id/7577881/tcu-horned-frogs-football-players-arrested-drug-sweep)) arrested on drug charges.

So, does that jump TCU into the lead for the Fulmer award?

Holy shit. I saw the headline of "3 TCU players arrested for selling drugs" and thought "that's a shame, but this will go away."

But then there's this:

Apparently TCU head football coach Gary Patterson lost a prized recruit in the weeks leading up to Signing Day. Said recruit told Patterson that he was giving TCU a pass because of rampant drug use among the players. So...Patterson sprung a surprise drug test on his players, and according to one of the guys arrested, 82 of the 100 or so players on the Horned Frogs likely failed the test.

Yikes!

[Woolen Horde]

Its sort of a branding thing, and no conference wants to give up its "brand." The Pac-X had more flexibility, since its the only "pac" conference, and frankly there was a more established "ten" conference that it looked like they were aping.

The Big Ten was the original "big" conference. Problem is, there are now two other "big" conferences that diminishes the brand of "big," meaning only "ten" is left for the Big Ten. Even worse, if it changed its name to Big Twelve, people would confuse it with the other Big XII conference, unless they are willing to swap names, but that would mean the Big Ten (the oldest division 1 athletic conference in the nation) would have lost its brand to a much younger conference.

Look, if you had to explain to somebody what the big ten was, would your answer be, "the conference with ten teams?" Maybe, if you were feeling sarcastic. More likely you'd say its a Midwestern athletic conference comprised primarily of large universities which emphasize research.

The Pac was the Pac 8 before adding the Arizona schools. That made it the Pac 10. Going to 12 wasn't much of a problem. Plus, it shows that we're the top academic conference, given that we're the only ones who can add correctly!

[BlueJackalope]

Holy shit. I saw the headline of "3 TCU players arrested for selling drugs" and thought "that's a shame, but this will go away."

But then there's this:

Apparently TCU head football coach Gary Patterson lost a prized recruit in the weeks leading up to Signing Day. Said recruit told Patterson that he was giving TCU a pass because of rampant drug use among the players. So...Patterson sprung a surprise drug test on his players, and according to one of the guys arrested, 82 of the 100 or so players on the Horned Frogs likely failed the test.

Yikes!

Holy High Times.

[triggercut]

New nomenclature for that school down there in Ft Worth: THCU.

[Incendiary Lemon]

There goes the Fulmer Cup.

[triggercut]

http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2012/2/15/2800178/fulmer-cupdate-tcu-special-edition

[BlueJackalope]

Initial reports that TCU had ALL THE DRUGS turns out to be a bit inflated. (http://deadspin.com/5885768/report-turns-out-only-five-tcu-football-players-failed-a-drug-test)


A report today from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram cites a source that says only five football players failed the surprise test. Eleven others had trace amounts of marijuana in their systems, but those amounts were within the test's margin of error. The team's other 86 players were reported to be clean. Sources also told the Star-Telegram Patterson only administered the test after a recruit who turned down a scholarship offer complained about the team's alleged drug use.

[triggercut]

College football merry-go-round continues, this time with hoops implications.

So, let's recap:

The Big XII is losing Mizzou and AtM next season to the SEC. The SEC is playing with 14 teams.

TCU and West Virginia are joining the Big East in time for the 2012 season. Big XII playing with 10 teams.

West Virginia leaving the Big East leaves them with 7 teams for 2012. Big East will expand with San Diego State, SMU, UCF, Houston, Memphis and Boise State for 2013. With Pitt and 'Cuse leaving in 2013 That takes them to 11 teams, but not by next season. Big East also will add Navy, but the Mids won't join until 2015. Big East really, really, really, really wants an 8th team for 2012. And so...Temple! Come on down! That's right, the Owls look very likely to be the 8th team in the Big East for 2012, and will bring the league to 12 teams in 2013. Not sure what happens when Navy joins in 2015.

The implication beyond football and into hoops is this: Temple kind of wants to get in on the fun of the Big East basketball craziness. Look for them to broker something behind the scenes, maybe as a very hush-hush informal handshake thing, to join the Big East in hoops at some point soon. That would pretty much decapitate the Atlantic 10. SLU and the MVC have been making goo-goo eyes at one another for a while now, and that would further erode what was once a pretty proud basketball conference in the heyday of UMass, Cheney, etc. Xavier may duck out too, and that would absolutely be that.

Oh, and just to show that everything has ripples: Mizzou and Texas A&M have been struggling to find one more game to schedule for 2012 to bring them to 12 games. Temple leaving the MAC for the Big East creates a schedule hole for those teams next season...and along comes Missouri (who already has great relations with Bowling Green and Toledo--I'd guess they'll schedule Toledo) and Aggy to the rescue.

[Lorini]

And the Pac-12 rolls merrily along, thank goodness (at least for the time being!!)

[triggercut]

And the Pac-12 rolls merrily along, thank goodness (at least for the time being!!)

Until ESPN decides the Longhorn Network just ain't working, buys Texas out, and they head to the Pac 12.

[Scuzz]

Boise State is going to stay in the MWC for 2012-13. The Big East is now trying to rush Temple into the conference. What a fucking zoo.

[triggercut]

Boise State is going to stay in the MWC for 2012-13. The Big East is now trying to rush Temple into the conference. What a fucking zoo.

Yeah, we know. I just posted that.

[Scuzz]

Yeah, we know. I just posted that.


I guess I need to read better as I missed the Temple reference. Nevermind.

[Sarkus]

Boise State is going to stay in the MWC for 2012-13. The Big East is now trying to rush Temple into the conference. What a fucking zoo.

Plus that's "non-news" anyway. Boise State is football only for the Big East so it has nothing to do with the Big East's basketball lineup anyway. And besides that, Boise State has always been scheduled to join the Big East in 2013. There was just some talk of them starting early which was clarified by that statement.

I'm still unconvinced that Boise State will ever end up joining the Big East anyway.

[Scuzz]

Isn't it amazing that there isn't more threat's of lawsuits or fines with these schools jumping around. Has anyone but WVU paid big money to move?

[Sarkus]

Isn't it amazing that there isn't more threat's of lawsuits or fines with these schools jumping around. Has anyone but WVU paid big money to move?

Its mainly because until recently major conferences didn't feel they needed to create departure rules and penalties. Nobody really moved unless the whole conference fell apart, like when the old Southwest Conference collapsed. Now they all have rules and steep penalties. But the lesser conferences can't really do much about bigger money conferences poaching their teams because the financial advantages of moving outweigh what the old arrangement can offer.

[triggercut]

Isn't it amazing that there isn't more threat's of lawsuits or fines with these schools jumping around. Has anyone but WVU paid big money to move?

Mizzou and aTm both about to pay somewhere in the $15-17m range to leave the Big XII, which will be more than the Mountaineers will be out of pocket to the Big East for ($9m of the $20m settlement with the Big East is being paid by the Big XII, presumably from monies paid by the two schools leaving the conference.)

[Scuzz]

Mizzou and aTm both about to pay somewhere in the $15-17m range to leave the Big XII, which will be more than the Mountaineers will be out of pocket to the Big East for ($9m of the $20m settlement with the Big East is being paid by the Big XII, presumably from monies paid by the two schools leaving the conference.)


All that shows is how big money college sports are, and how that is now what runs the college instead of any academic interests.

[triggercut]

All that shows is how big money college sports are, and how that is now what runs the college instead of any academic interests.

It also translates into increased federal grant money for research.

[Woolen Horde]

The NCAA just filed the preliminary findings that Oregon committed a bunch of recruiting violations and it failed to monitor the recruiting services it employed. And the documents that were filed are basically an agreement between the school and the NCAA that such violations did occur, which means that Oregon is pleading guilty.

Bwahahahahahahahahaha.

[Sarkus]

It will be interesting to see how severe the penalties end up being. My guess is some scholarship reductions or recruiting restrictions will be about it, though. I don't see a bowl ban or anything more severe.

[triggercut]

Mizzou and aTm both about to pay somewhere in the $15-17m range to leave the Big XII, which will be more than the Mountaineers will be out of pocket to the Big East for ($9m of the $20m settlement with the Big East is being paid by the Big XII, presumably from monies paid by the two schools leaving the conference.)

Final settlement for Mizzou and A&M announced just now. Both schools get off much easier than expected, and will "pay" $12.41m for leaving the conference.

They don't actually "pay" this money. Instead, when the checks are cut for the various Big XII-sponsored TV deals at the end of the athletic year in June, the $12m will be deducted from the amounts paid to Missouri and aTm.

Hard to call a $12m exit fee a "win", but both schools got away easier than they expected, and much easier than the Big XII--who wanted $20-25m each--had hoped.

[MattN]

It will be interesting to see how severe the penalties end up being. My guess is some scholarship reductions or recruiting restrictions will be about it, though. I don't see a bowl ban or anything more severe.

Every time they slap these schools on the wrist for shit that is worse (in my opinion) than the Reggie Bush "scandal" I want to scream. Its so disgusting how blatantly corrupt the NCAA is and yet no one does anything to change it.

[Sarkus]

Every time they slap these schools on the wrist for shit that is worse (in my opinion) than the Reggie Bush "scandal" I want to scream. Its so disgusting how blatantly corrupt the NCAA is and yet no one does anything to change it.

The Bush penalties were over the top, I agree, but they do seem to be learning from it. But I'm sure thats no consolation to USC fans.

It is important to note, though, that USC had other issues than just Bush and the football program at the time that were noted in the NCAA penalties. Like the mess that was the men's basketball progam. So that is part of it, even if it doesn't seem fair.

[Woolen Horde]

The lesson that everyone else learned from USC is don't fight the NCAA tooth and nail. That's what pissed the NCAA off.

[MattN]

The lesson that everyone else learned from USC is don't fight the NCAA tooth and nail. That's what pissed the NCAA off.

The catch 22 of this is that people who feel they are innocent get punished while those who really do get their hand caught in the cookie jar just say sorry and get their wrist slapped.

[None]

What do think of Mizzou's new look (http://mrsec.com/2012/03/pinkel-expects-backlash-from-nike-fication-at-mizzou/), triggercut?

[BennyProfane]

The Nike shit has looked like just that, shit, on every team I've seen it on so far....Oregon, Michigan State, all of them. I'd expect Missouri to be just as bad.

[None]

Yeah, I wasn't too happy with the Dawgs' Pro Combat stuff, either. I mean, I guess the gloves were alright. But I hear the players and recruits love that shit. Kids today...

[triggercut]

What do think of Mizzou's new look (http://mrsec.com/2012/03/pinkel-expects-backlash-from-nike-fication-at-mizzou/), triggercut?

Well, no one's really seen it yet (official unveiling is at the Black and Gold spring game in April) but I'm not sure I'm worked up either way.

Most folks in Missouri are worked up about the team losing the block "M" off the helmets, but that's part of a larger branding strategy that I think has been necessary for some time. You can't convince stubborn Missouri mules of this, but those of us living outside the borders of the Show Me state can tell you that when others see a block "M" college logo, it isn't Mizzou that springs to mind--it's Michigan. They own that block M in national recognition, and rightly so, and Mizzou needs to do something else.

Not like that block M is a big tradition either; Missouri wore numbers on the sides of their helmets in the 1960's--their winningest decade. The M didn't happen until 1971, when we went 1-11 after Dan Devine left to coach the Packers.

So. I guess the biggest beef I have with the Nike uniforms is that we'll look horribly out of place in the tradition-rich SEC. It happens. Mizzou contracted with Nike on this stuff long before the SEC was going to happen. In any event, the recruits seem to love the new look, and anything that helps there is fine by me.

[triggercut]

The Nike shit has looked like just that, shit, on every team I've seen it on so far....Oregon, Michigan State, all of them. I'd expect Missouri to be just as bad.

I thought the Okie Lite uniforms looked great last year. Best iteration of the Nike look I've seen. When they tried black jerseys over charcoal grey pants, that didn't work, but the all-black and all-orange and even the white jerseys with either grey, black, or orange pants looked great.

If Mizzou can get something close to that, I'll be happy.

[None]

I think I can make out a big tiger head on the helmet in that blurry photo and it looks like the gold is changing to a more yellowish tint. And you're right about the recruiting thing. Honestly, I feel the same way. If the kids are happy, then I'm happy.

There was quite an uproar when the Dawgs revealed their new uniforms before last season, particularly about the helmet. Seems most didn't like the red stripe that continued down the face mask:

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9778/ugahelmet.jpg

I wasn't thrilled, myself. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked it because it reminded me of this:

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9456/erk090806bb.jpg

Whether this homage to Erk Russell was intentional or not I'll never know. But I'd like to think it was.

[triggercut]

The weird canary-yellow thing is also a source of much gnashing of teeth and rending of garments in Mizzouland.

That one, I'm behind 100%. Missouri's team colors are "old gold" and black, as illustrated here by the Sikeston Train, James Wilder:

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/342490/Wilder_4.jpg

Hoping that Big Bird yellow is a trick of light. Praying.

[Sarkus]

I thought this was an interesting story, even though it does not involve a BCS level school.

The University of Montana has been one of the more successful programs at the I-AA level (or FCS as its officially now known) for many years, including 15 playoff appearances since 1996. They've turned down the chance to move up to a BCS conference a couple of times, including last fall.

Yesterday they fired their second year head coach (coming off another playoff year where they lost in semi-finals) and athletic director (who has been there for 8 years) as a direct result of increasing issues involving players and sexual assault allegations. And these are just allegations in most cases, with most not even leading to charges being filed. The firings come in the middle of spring practice and just a day after the head coach welcomed back a QB who, though he's not been convicted of anything, is facing rape charges. (It should be noted that the QBs return was not a decision made by the coach but rather by a commitee created to consider such cases.)

I wonder how many BCS schools would be willing to take such steps.

[Sarkus]

Not that it directly relates to football, but this little twist (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/18326901/) in the Bobby Petrino motorcyle accident might make it a bigger story.

Edit: And now Petrino is on paid leave while the university investigates his not being up front and honest in his report of what had happened. Petrino seems to be admitting to an affair with the passenger, who is a 25 year old Arkansas alum and employee of the football program.

[None]

I wonder if he'll just leave a letter of apology for his wife and kids on the fridge. Oh, and by the way, fuck you, Bobby Petrino.

Sincerely,

Atlanta Falcons fan

[Sarkus]

I don't really care that Petrino was (presumably) having an affair, but things just get worse and worse in terms of what he did to cover it up. So the police report released on Thursday had some info but on Friday more details emerged. So Petrino gets into this wreck and is clearly injured, though his passenger is not. A passerby stops but is told not to call 911, though he does anyway. Petrino and the girl flag down a passing car and convince them to transport the two back to where her car is parked, 20 miles away. The girl takes off in her car once they reach it. Then an Arkansas State Police Captain, who just happens to be the guy assigned to Petrino for security during the season, shows up and takes Petrino to the hospital. Obviously this is now being investigated by the state police.

The legal experts think Petrino has done enough lying to be be fired under the morals clause in his contract. The question now is whether the AD is willing to do that.

[triggercut]

As many have said, there's enough to fire Petrino...but I don't think they will. If Bobby had won 8 or 9 games in each of the last two years, maybe. He's won 10 and 11 games. That saves his job.

Hard to think this won't have longterm effects on his recruiting.

[triggercut]

A few rumors trickling out of Fayetteville that Petrino may resign next week and take a small severance settlement in lieu of being fired for cause and getting no money.

We'll see. Same rumormongers had Dorial Green Beckham signing with the Hawgs....;)

[olaf]

Who gives a shit? It sucks for his wife and I think he is a terrible example to a young person, but as a country we were ok with our President getting action on the side, why should a football coach be held to a higher standard?

[triggercut]

Who gives a shit? It sucks for his wife and I think he is a terrible example to a young person, but as a country we were ok with our President getting action on the side, why should a football coach be held to a higher standard?

Did you miss the part with the complications olaf?

It isn't the affair. If a guy has an affair and gets caught, that's a family matter.

The problem is that you have a someone in a supervisory capacity posting a job opening for a job he's already hired someone for, and that someone he hired is a girl he was having sex with. That's a problem. Most places of employment--not to mention publicly-funded institutions--frown upon supervisors hiring themselves a girl to fuck. It may well also be an EEOC violation on the job posting, and the fact that Petrino lied about the accident to his boss and the school are both firing offenses.

...and now you've got the Arkansas state police asking questions about how the accident was handled. Specifically, Petrino called a cop who is a friend and serves on his security detail at home football games, and that cop is the guy who took Bobby to the hospital and may have violated all sorts of protocols for how such an accident should be handled and reported.

[Sarkus]

Basically, any other state employee does this kind of stuff and they'd probably be fired.

[triggercut]

http://outkickthecoverage.com/arkansas-wants-to-keep-bobby-petrino.php

Good take from Clay Travis, and I agree that this is what Arky seems to be doing. They're waiting for any more "bimbo eruptions", and/or any more bad details with the state police. If this is as bad as it gets from here on out, I think Petrino survives...

...but I think this damages him a bit in the short term in recruiting.

[olaf]

Did you miss the part with the complications olaf?

It isn't the affair. If a guy has an affair and gets caught, that's a family matter.

The problem is that you have a someone in a supervisory capacity posting a job opening for a job he's already hired someone for, and that someone he hired is a girl he was having sex with. That's a problem. Most places of employment--not to mention publicly-funded institutions--frown upon supervisors hiring themselves a girl to fuck. It may well also be an EEOC violation on the job posting, and the fact that Petrino lied about the accident to his boss and the school are both firing offenses.

...and now you've got the Arkansas state police asking questions about how the accident was handled. Specifically, Petrino called a cop who is a friend and serves on his security detail at home football games, and that cop is the guy who took Bobby to the hospital and may have violated all sorts of protocols for how such an accident should be handled and reported.

Yeah you're right. I still think there is a parallel to Clinton, maybe just because its Arkansas. For the record is anyone aware of a place that does not frown upon hiring a girl to fuck?

[triggercut]

Yeah you're right. I still think there is a parallel to Clinton, maybe just because its Arkansas. For the record is anyone aware of a place that does not frown upon hiring a girl to fuck?

:)

Maybe the playboy mansion?

[triggercut]

Petrino OUT per Joe Schad at ESPN.

[triggercut]

AD Jeff Long just *destroyed* Petrino in that news conference. Absolutely toasted him up and down and fired him for cause--no buyout, no nothing.

[Ex-S Woo]

Man, I really want to watch this now - hope it comes up on Youtube or something soon.

[triggercut]

Man, I really want to watch this now - hope it comes up on Youtube or something soon.

Long at one point broke up almost in tears....but the crazy thing is, I kinda think they were tears of rage.

He was that pissed.

[Sarkus]

Yeah, turns out Petrino gave his girlfriend $20k at some point before Coach Bobby decided to hire her. Long made it pretty clear this wasn't about the affair itself, it was about the other stuff.

[triggercut]

What do think of Mizzou's new look (http://mrsec.com/2012/03/pinkel-expects-backlash-from-nike-fication-at-mizzou/), triggercut?

And now the actual new uniforms can be revealed. They're definitely Nike, but they didn't go all Oregon crazy, either. I like them. They're mix and match, with three pants and four jersey colors (white, black, and gold) along with three helmets (still waiting to see the fourth jersey, also gold, and the third helmet). 28 team-approved combos, apparently.

http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/Christopher_Harrison/tigerwhite.jpg

http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/Christopher_Harrison/tigeroval.jpg

http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/Christopher_Harrison/newunis.png

I like 'em a lot. They had to get rid of the Block M logo, and the Power Tiger in the oval is a nice nod to tradition, and the Beast Mode Tiger isn't as obnoxious as I'd feared.

Also worth noting: despite the guys modeling wearing "55", NONE are linebackers. Figured I'd better throw that in, before someone commented on how tiny the dude in the white uniform looked, and how badly he'd get killed in the SEC. (The three models are Mizzou wide receivers TJ Moe--he's the little dude, Marcus Lucas, and Jerelle Jackson)

[Pyperkub]

I liked the block'M'. I'm pretty sure that is a sign of premature growing old and out of touch...

[triggercut]

I liked the block'M'. I'm pretty sure that is a sign of premature growing old and out of touch...

The traditionalist in me likes them, but they bring a huge branding problem: the Mizzou block M looks exactly like the Michigan block M, and Michigan is the school with the athletics tradition.

Can't tell you how many times someone's seen the Block M on my Mizzou baseball cap or on a sweatshirt I've got and think it's Michigan.

[None]

Man, those aren't bad at all. I think the white ones are pretty sharp, actually. Well done, Mizzou! Looking forward to y'alls introductory SEC game against the Dawgs come September. Should be a good one.

[triggercut]

Man, those aren't bad at all. I think the white ones are pretty sharp, actually. Well done, Mizzou! Looking forward to y'alls introductory SEC game against the Dawgs come September. Should be a good one.

Hope they go with the white jerseys with black pants as a combo; those look really good to me.

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/miss/sports/m-footbl/auto_player/7677225.jpeg

[None]

http://img859.imageshack.us/img859/7250/aggiesxlarge.jpg

Ain't no SEC team in North Carolina, Aggies.

[Scuzz]

The shirt doesn't show Texas either, which it probably should now.

[BennyProfane]

http://img859.imageshack.us/img859/7250/aggiesxlarge.jpg

Ain't no SEC team in North Carolina, Aggies.


So what you are saying is that the shirts are expertly designed to appeal to Texas AM fans...

[None]

Why... that's genius!

[Enidigm]

I'm just warning you guys, Aggies aren't a university, they're a cult.

[Greatatlantic]

The shirt doesn't show Texas either, which it probably should now.

My money is the shirt is not licensed, which would explain the North Carolina blunder. Just some small time entrepreneur looking for something to sell to semi drunk fans when they show up to go to games. Alternatively, Texas is on the back.

[Sarkus]

Rather then just go with an interim coach this season it sounds like Arkansas is contacting high profile names to see if they are interested. A tweet by Pete Carroll seems to confirm reports he was asked (and said no). Other rumblings say Steve Mariucci and Phil Fulmer have also been discussed.

There is also a story that new UAB head coach Garrick McGee, who was Petrino's OC in Arkansas the last few years, will get the job.

[triggercut]

If the Aggies didn't already exist, you'd have to hire some very good writers to create them.

[triggercut]

The shirt doesn't show Texas either, which it probably should now.

...and Missouri.

[Sarkus]

The Big East commish just resigned (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/big-east-commissioner-john-marinatto-142439270--spt.html;_ylt=ArkRvCS1G9Iiy9SQo0laKng5nYcB). Makes me wonder if something is about to happpen there.

[Ex-S Woo]

With the autobids going away, I wouldnt be surprised if some of the new members decided to back out...MWC is probably a better conference than the Big East w/o the new additions

[None]

I hear the WAC's got room:

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/9242/wacx.jpg

[Sarkus]

With the autobids going away, I wouldnt be surprised if some of the new members decided to back out...MWC is probably a better conference than the Big East w/o the new additions

Its been noted that Boise State still hasn't officially withdrawn from the MWC, though they have another month or so to do so and still be on schedule to join the Big East on time. Meanwhile, the other western schools (San Diego State, etc.) have officially notified their old conferences.

Like you note, the end of autobids makes the reason to move to bigger conferences purely about money.

[triggercut]

As a friend of mine just said in an email: "Archduke Franz Ferdinand got shot again today."

Pretty seismic set of quotes coming out of Tallahassee today, basically.

The ACC just signed a new TV deal with ABC/ESPN. Each school will make about $17m annually. That's nice.

It also puts them behind the B1G, the Pac 12, and even the tottering Big XII. When the SEC announces their new TV package later this year, it'll put them way behind the eightball.

The biggest problem with the ACC TV deal is that it has every school surrendering Tier III TV rights in football to the conference...but not Tier III basketball rights. That would be a system that would greatly benefit schools that have a rich and vibrant basketball tradition. Like UNC and Duke and to a lesser extent NC State.

FSU is *not* happy about it, and they're making goo-goo eyes at the Big XII. Today the chairman of their Board Of Trustees just laid into the conference for the TV deal and other stuff. The Big XII would love to get them to stick a finger in the eye of the SEC for stealing Mizzou and A&M--and it also improves the Big XII's tv footprint and conference stability.

It would likely cost $20m for FSU to leave--but if they think they can get $4-5m more per year in TV revenue by joining the Big XII, they earn that penalty back in 5 seasons. The current ACC deal runs through the 2026-2027 season. If FSU, and, say, Clemson were to bolt for the Big XII, that TV contract would likely begin to bring $23-25m per team instead of the $20m it currently is worth. FSU ran an athletic department budget deficit last year to the tune of $2.4m. They're not happy. I'll let the Chairman of their BoT take it from there:

"How do you not look into that option," asked Haggard. "On behalf of the Board of Trustees I can say that unanimously we would be in favor of seeing what the Big 12 might have to offer. We have to do what is in Florida State's best interest."

Stay tuned!

[None]

And it was just yesterday that the AD of FSU denied the Big 12 rumors, stating "We're in the ACC. We're committed to the ACC. That's where our president and the board of trustees has committed to, so we're great partners in the ACC."

Such goings on, such goings on...

[triggercut]

FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher says: "Giddyup."

"There have been no official talks, but I think you always have to look out there to see what's best for Florida State," Fisher said. "If that [jumping to the Big 12] is what's best for Florida State, then that's what we need to do."

[Sarkus]

I would think Miami would be on the radar for the Big XII as well. If they got two or three of the top football schools from the ACC that would offset the losses of the last few years to a large degree. Though you do have to wonder what Syracuse and Pitt would think about their decision to move to the ACC at that point.

[triggercut]

I would think Miami would be on the radar for the Big XII as well. If they got two or three of the top football schools from the ACC that would offset the losses of the last few years to a large degree. Though you do have to wonder what Syracuse and Pitt would think about their decision to move to the ACC at that point.

Miami isn't on anyone's radar until the NCAA investigation against them concludes. They won't get the Death Penalty, but they're going to get smacked real hard, and unlike USC, I'm not sure they'll be very good at football for a long time.

If the ACC could get someone to take Miami off their hands, they'd turn cartwheels.

[Sarkus]

This Wetzel piece (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--florida-state-trustee-sparks-firestorm-with-desire-to-join-big-12.html;_ylt=ApNerDowZZIacBhb92RSV4M5nYcB) at Yahoo thinks Miami makes more sense then Clemson to join FSU in a potential jump to the Big 12, but more importantly notes that FSU's talk about third tier basketball rights not being included in the deal is not true. Not that it matters if FSU really does want to jump for a bigger annual tv paycheck.

[triggercut]

Wetzel's wrong about Miami.

Period.

[Sarkus]

Dennis Dodd at CBSSports.com (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/dennis-dodd/19030296/fsu-says-misinformation-spread-about-acc-contract) thinks Virginia Tech would be the potential partner that the Big 12 would be most interested in. FSU's president has also come out apologizing for the "misinformation" that their chairman spread regarding, presumably, the third tier aspects of the new ACC tv deal.

Meanwhile, Pitt is now suing to get out of the Big East (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/brett-mcmurphy/19018745) a bit earlier then they are supposed to.

[RDansky]

Dennis Dodd at CBSSports.com (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/dennis-dodd/19030296/fsu-says-misinformation-spread-about-acc-contract) thinks Virginia Tech would be the potential partner that the Big 12 would be most interested in. FSU's president has also come out apologizing for the "misinformation" that their chairman spread regarding, presumably, the third tier aspects of the new ACC tv deal.

Meanwhile, Pitt is now suing to get out of the Big East (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/brett-mcmurphy/19018745) a bit earlier then they are supposed to.

Considering that there was heavy-duty political pressure on the ACC to take VaTech instead of Syracuse during the first raid, in order to provide an in-conference rivalry with UVA, I'm not sure VT would be in position to jump ship so fast.

Of course, if anyone leaves the ACC, they're going to turn around and grab UConn and Louisville (who have themselves been flashing a bit of thigh the Big 12's way) out of the Big East, which will no doubt convince Boise and SDSU that without the AQ bid the Big East used to offer, there's no real reason to put their women's volleyball teams on a flight to Piscataway every year, and...

Say, I hear George Mason isn't leaving the CAA.

[Sarkus]

Actually, Boise State's women's volleyball team isn't going to the Big East anyway. It's football only that's going east, the rest of their sports are going to be in the WAC. San Diego State is doing the same thing - football only to the Big East.

As far as who else the Big 12 would be interested in if FSU joined them, we have to remember that this is being driven largely (if not entirely) by money. Teams are jumping to get more money and conferences are looking at schools that put them into big markets they weren't already in because that increases the value of their TV deals. That's where Miami trumps the other schools being discussed. It's located in a major market, it's on the other side of Florida from FSU, and it has a national following. Short-term penalties aside, it would increase the value of the Big 12 more in the long run then Clemson or VTech would. But obviously political considerations have a role and this is all speculative until we actually see if FSU is seriously going to look at leaving the ACC.

[Scuzz]

With the anticipated arrival of a four-team playoff to determine the national championship in 2014, college football is getting ready to enter a new world order.
The SEC and the Big 12 staked out a big chunk of real estate in that world on Friday by announcing a five-year agreement for their champions to meet in a Jan. 1 bowl game that will be determined at a later date. The first game will be Jan. 1, 2015.
If one or both of the champions are in the four-team playoff, then "another deserving team" from those conferences would get the slot.
In the 14 years of the BCS, either the SEC or the Big 12 champion has been in the title game 11 times. They have met twice for the BCS title -- after the 2008 (Florida-Oklahoma) and 2009 (Alabama-Texas) seasons.
"We're excited because it creates a matchup of the two most successful conferences in the post-season," SEC commissioner Mike Slive said from his office in Birmingham. "Given the fact that we're transitioning into the four-team playoff, we thought it was a good chance to create a very meaningful game."
The relationship between the SEC and the Big 12 will essentially mirror that of the Big Ten and Pac-12, whose champions play in the Rose Bowl if they are not committed to the BCS championship game. There is no question it consolidates the power into those four conferences and puts two other original BCS conferences -- the ACC and the Big East -- in a weaker position.
It will also add fuel to the fire of speculation that ACC member Florida State (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/FSU/florida-state-seminoles) should consider jumping to the Big 12 if an invitation is offered.
Slive said Friday the SEC has not determined which of its bowl partners will host the game. The Sugar Bowl has hosted the SEC champion since 1976 and is "the No. 1 option" to host the game industry, sources told CBSSports.com.
This cannot be good news for the Fiesta Bowl, which has hosted the Big 12 champion since the BCS began in 1998.
"The Fiesta Bowl has had a long and successful partnership with the Big 12 Conference and we look forward to continuing that relationship," Fiesta Bowl executive director Robert Shelton said. "As college football leaders work out the details of the postseason, we know that they value the Fiesta Bowl's strength in hosting elite bowl games, including seven national championships, and in providing an unmatched experience for visiting student-athletes, coaches and fans."
Why did the SEC and Big 12 want to do this? To protect each other and to increase the likelihood of a quality matchup in the bowl game. Under the current BCS format their champions were guaranteed a spot in a big game but the opponent on the other side was uncertain. In 2007 No. 5 Georgia faced Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl. In 2009 Florida played Cincinnati. Both were blowouts.
This agreement guarantees an SEC/Big 12 matchup in the New Year's Day bowl. If a four-team playoff had been in place last season, this game could have hosted No. 6 Arkansas (whose only losses were to No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama), and No. 8 Kansas State (10-2).
"We feel this is an example of how conferences can work together to make the system better," Slive said.
There is currently an SEC/Big 12 matchup in the Cotton Bowl, which gets the No. 2 team from the Big 12 and the No. 4 or No. 5 pick from the SEC. It is not known how this agreement will affect that bowl.
Which bowl will actually host this SEC/Big 12 matchup will be determined after the structure of the new four-team playoff has been determined. The BCS commissioners are scheduled to meet again on June 20 and are expected to settle on a format at that time. Then the SEC will determine its bowl agreements after that.
This issue has not been resolved, but there is support from the Big Ten and others to use a rotation of the current BCS bowls (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta) as semifinal sites in the four-team playoff. So the question becomes what if the Sugar Bowl is chosen to host this SEC/Big 12 game, but also is in the rotation for a national semifinal?
Those answers will come later, Slive said.
"We are committed to the four-team playoff and have been for four years. So we want to sit down and go through those conversations," said Slive. "This game is intended to work successfully within the new post-season structure. Once we understand what the structure is, we'll figure out exactly how our game fits."
The SEC/Big 12 agreement also signals the beginning of the anticipated end to the automatic qualifying status in the post-season. Under the old BCS, the champions of each of the six major conferences were guaranteed a spot in a BCS game. In the New World Order, the conferences will strike their own deals with the bowls. The SEC, Big 12, Pac-12 and Big Ten are set. The ACC has an agreement with the Orange Bowl. The Big East has no such deal.
The irony of this agreement is that not long ago the conferences were clashing swords as Texas A&M and Missouri were leaving the Big 12 to go to the SEC. But in college football's New World Order, an enemy today can be a business partner tomorrow. This agreement gives the Big 12, which seemed to be on life support a year ago, greater stability moving forward.
"I think everybody involved was focused on the future," said Slive. "It's the world we live in."

CBSSports.com College Football Insider Brett McMurphy and Senior College Football Columnist Dennis Dodd contributed to this report.

[olaf]

I love that deal, Big 12 seems like it has legs after all.

[Incendiary Lemon]

Lulz... like Tech would be competitive anywhere else. Remind me when the beat a legitimate opponent again? What ho? What's that about Clemson last year? They lost? Twice you say? Blowouts even?

They've built a decade of wins on a cupcake schedule. They're just not a tier one team.

[triggercut]

Take this with a grain of salt, but Florida State seems closer to joining the Big XII than anyone might expect. It could happen pretty soon.

[Ex-S Woo]

Although I love all the talks of conference realignment, I do have some doubts that FSU will actually pull the trigger - especially before the playoff situation finalizes.

Even with an autobid for conf champions in the Top 6 model that seems to be gaining traction, I think the ACC champ would have a shot with a one loss season...and the road to that is going to be a lot easier than fighting it out in the Big 12.

Personally, it would be great if FSU did jump - watching the other conferences gobble up the ACC will be fun to watch for years to come.

[triggercut]

Although I love all the talks of conference realignment, I do have some doubts that FSU will actually pull the trigger - especially before the playoff situation finalizes.

Even with an autobid for conf champions in the Top 6 model that seems to be gaining traction, I think the ACC champ would have a shot with a one loss season...and the road to that is going to be a lot easier than fighting it out in the Big 12.

Personally, it would be great if FSU did jump - watching the other conferences gobble up the ACC will be fun to watch for years to come.

I remain skeptical as well. Texas has an agenda here, the Big XII has an agenda...and honestly Florida State has something on their minds as well.

[Sarkus]

The Texas AD has admitted they've been going after Notre Dame again, so maybe that is what they are dangling in front of Florida State. Adding that combo would be a bit of a game changer.

[olaf]

With that Big 12-SEC deal I think the Big 12 will pick up a few more schools over the next few years. I definitely think FSU will jump ship if the offer is out there. Notre Dame should to if they know what's good for them.

[Sarkus]

They'll definately attract new members and should get to 12 members again soon enough (and thus be able to have a lucrative conference championship game once more), but the caliber of those new members is key. As a football conference, even with the new members coming in (West Virginia and TCU) they still have work to do to be considered at the same level as the Pac12, Big 10, and SEC. FSU and/or Notre Dame would be a big step forward in that regard, but if they end up taking somebody like Louisville instead then I don't think it really makes them any better.

[triggercut]

Clemson Board Of Trustees is meeting to discuss realignment.

(I am so glad Missouri doesn't have to be in the middle of this crap anymore. Much more fun to watch from the outside now.)

[Scuzz]

What about the possibility of Boise State going to the Big-12 instead of the Big East? I seem to remember they haven't 100% committed yet, although I do think they are far enough that a buyout would be necessary.

[Sarkus]

What about the possibility of Boise State going to the Big-12 instead of the Big East? I seem to remember they haven't 100% committed yet, although I do think they are far enough that a buyout would be necessary.

Boise State announced yesterday that they have now fully committed to the Big East so that's off the table. Unless the Big East completely collapses or something along those lines where several of the remaining football schools walk away.

In the short-term Boise State will benefit from the move because unlike Utah last year and TCU coming up the level of competition they will face in what remains of the Big East will be low. So they will get an automatic bid and have to be considered for the national championship under the current BCS system. But after two years they will be back where they started, the best team in a lesser league that likely will not have any kind of automatic bid to the new system.

[Pyperkub]

Wilner brought up an interesting point re: FSU to the Big 12 in the SJ Mercury: (http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2012/05/16/actionreaction-usa-today-strikes-again-florida-state-to-the-big-12-boise-states-dilemma-and-non-news-on-pac12net/)


Action: Texas AD DeLoss Dodds shoots down speculation that Florida State on verge of joining Big 12 in interview with the Austin-AS’s Kirk Bohls.
Reaction: Far more interesting to me was Dodds saying that he was in favor of the Big 12 remaining a 10-team league — UT doesn’t want the double jeopardy that comes with a conference title game. Dodds added that if everyone else in the Big 12 wanted to expand, Texas would be a good partner and accept. I’ll believe that when I see it. First of all, I’m skeptical that everyone else wants two divisions and a title game. What’s more, I adhere to the theory that Texas gave on issues related to Big 12 revenue sharing and The Longhorn Network in exchange for the right to nix further expansion. And I’ll believe that until I see the league actually expand.

Though he does appear to be wrong about Boise St., this rings true. I don't see Texas (or Oklahoma) wanting to bring in FSU as an equal partner, though FSU would open the state up more for recruiting. Bowlsby would have a lot of work to do there. Notre Dame on the other hand would be a huge coup, but I don't think ND would want that. Their Academic reputation is too valuable to them. If they go anywhere, Academics will be a part of their decision...

[triggercut]

What about the possibility of Boise State going to the Big-12 instead of the Big East? I seem to remember they haven't 100% committed yet, although I do think they are far enough that a buyout would be necessary.

Not a possibility. Boise State doesn't have enough division I teams playing at a recognized level to interest the Big XII.

[Greatatlantic]

Notre Dame on the other hand would be a huge coup, but I don't think ND would want that. Their Academic reputation is too valuable to them. If they go anywhere, Academics will be a part of their decision...

I cannot believe Notre Dame would join the Big XII. They have always been consistent about two principles:

1) They need a place for their "Olympic" sports to play, currently the Big East.
2) They want to keep their football program independent while still scheduling their traditional rivals and other national programs to give their schedule legitimacy.

They don't need a conference money deal, though they would probably earn a bit more money in the Big Ten (not sure about the Big XII). So, what would drive their football program into any conference would be either:

1) The only way to join a conference to give their Olympic sports a place to play is to also join as a football member.
2) The only way to schedule enough games against rivals/national opponents for their football team is in a conference.

During some of the craziest realignment talk it seemed possible that one or both of these conditions might trigger (and the Big East is under pressure again). They still might, but the Big XII isn't offering ND anything the Big Ten can't also offer, plus the Big Ten has a lot of their traditional rivals, plus shorter travel times for their Olympic sports.

Academic reputation doesn't even need to enter the equation.

[Alstein]

ND may not have a choice.

I really think the ACC is d0med right now, and not the golden variety. I don't even think ND to the ACC (which has better olympic sports) would save the conference.

My prediction

Pac 12 picks up SDST and three other schools

Big XII picks up FSU, Clemson, one VA school, one NC school, Maryland, and Cincy

SEC picks up one VA and one NC school

Big 10 gets ND, Pitt, GT, and Syracuse. (they'll go for academics- UNC would have been a good fit here, but the seriousness of the academic scandal there might drive the Big 10 away, allowing MD to get it)

The NC schools picked up will be the Holes and State, not Duke or Wake. I suspect State will bolt first.

I am worried about being left out, but not too worried, and I"d be happy to watch the ACC crash and burn due to Swofford.

You end up with 64 BCS teams, and the remaining schools drop down to FCS or drop football in some cases.

Political interference may be heavy in VA and moderate in NC- I've heard there's some sort of law mandating VA/VT be in the same conference, and the NC legislature in between its stupidity tries to mandate other NC schools play ECU, but it's written into the laws in NC that the chancellor has control over athletics.

[Sarkus]

Pat Forde's amusing take on realignment (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--conference-realignment--blame-someone-else-and-pass-the-checks.html;_ylt=AggKNKYiuYnXHMj7z5vh1X45nYcB).

[Woolen Horde]

Pac 12 picks up SDST and three other schools.

Not gonna happen, not with SDST. It doesn't bring anything to the table that the four current Pac-12 California schools already bring in terms of television market. It just dilutes the money pool further.

Meanwhile, it's easy to see USC and UCLA zealously defend their turf. And the UC schools (Berkeley and UCLA) would not like the idea of bringing in a "State" school

And the final nail in the coffin. SDST is in the heart of the Pac's most fought over recruiting turf. Adding it to the conference would give it equal status to recruits. The non-California schools would *hate* that.

And, again, for what? SDST doesn't deliver anything to the conference except another mouth to feed.

[triggercut]

BTW, in today's Orangebloods post, Chip Brown says that OU and Texas to the ACC was a very real offer/possibility late last summer.

The hold up was less the Longhorn Network, and more the choice of schools. The ACC wanted Missouri and Kansas (both AAU schools) to come with Texas and Oklahoma (forming a "Western Pod" in the conference), not Texas Tech and Okie Lite as was offered.

Oklahoma being shackled to their little brother has cost them twice, apparently. OSU was the big reason the Pac 12 didn't want OU either.

[Sarkus]

It's interesting how things are turning, but I still think the ACC survives and the Big East doesn't. Even if the ACC loses FSU and someone else to the Big 12, they still have some decent schools coming in. Unless the Big 12 and SEC decided to expand at their expense soon they are likely around for some time.

[Incendiary Lemon]

I've heard there's some sort of law mandating VA/VT be in the same conference

Governor Warner compelled UVa to support VPI's ACC bid in 2003. If the ACC breaks apart Richmond will undoubtedly intervene again.

[triggercut]

:) at Incendiary Lemon's listed location and use of "VPI".

That's outstanding!

[Incendiary Lemon]

:) at Incendiary Lemon's listed location and use of "VPI".


I always thought "Virginia Tech" was a tawdry re-branding. VPI is far more dignified. Besides, I'm a UVa guy. We're really not big on change around here.

-

I really like the ACC, it's a league for academic schools and I'm proud of that. I'd love to see UVa go to the National Championship someday... I'd be first in line for tickets. That said, I'd never trade our academic standing for athletic glory. I'd also hate to see us lose our old ACC rivalries.

It's also been a Southern league for much of it's history. That's an important part of our culture here in Charlottesville. I could never support a move to a conference outside of the region, it would slowly and surely shift our culture. We've had enough trouble with NOVA as it is!

If the ACC splinters I'd bite my tongue, and see if we could find a place in the SEC. If Vandy can find a home in the league, then we won't be complete strangers.

[Sarkus]

For what its worth, Miami officially declared they have no interest in leaving the ACC.

[triggercut]

So I'd been thinking over the last 3-4 months "Wow, the Big 12 really seems to be getting their shit together now that 4 schools have left." New TV deal, the SEC/Big 12 bowl game, the flirtation of FSU and Clemson...it all seemed so...un-Big 12 like.

Thankfully, the just-concluded Big XII meetings arrived to restore my faith in the order of the universe. Great to see that this is still a clowncar conference. In the last two days:

1. The league pretty much slammed the door on expansion. As writers in both Austin (Kirk Bohls) and nationally (Willner) sort of surmised, Texas is in no hurry to expand to 12 teams, and neither is Oklahoma. Both schools are incredibly confident in their TV revenue streams as it is (and they should be, they make more than any other schools in the conference). They don't want divisions or a championship game. The path of least resistance for the Sooners and Longhorns to a national championship is to let the big guns in the SEC knock one another around and then have to play a fresher Big XII squad in that bowl game. Sorry Seminoles. Sorry Clemson.

2. The distribution of TV revenue in the conference was one of the reasons the four schools who left the conference departed. When Mizzou was edging out, they were asked for their demands, and one of them was a longterm pledge of conference TV rights by each school. The Big XII made a grand proclamation that they'd acceded to Mizzou's "demand" (a demand which the Pac 12, B1G, ACC, and SEC have happily done since inception) and that the Tigers were being unreasonable.

Mizzou's stance then was that the conference had only agreed to a 6-year pledge of rights, and that would hardly penalize Texas or Oklahoma if either school got a better offer. Those schools could afford the revenue hit by departing, no other Big XII school could, so a 6-year pledge basically chained the other schools in the conference (the slaves) to the masters of the plantation in Norman and Austin. The conference made a big deal that everyone had pledged their rights and painted Mizzou as unreasonable and selfish for walking. For Mizzou's part, they said "We'll believe that pledge when we see it. This is the Show Me state."

And so then the Big XII made an even bigger deal with their new TV contract that all schools were pledging a 13-year granting of rights, which is actually what Mizzou wanted all along. Ha ha, Mizzou, jokes on you.

Now it turns out that--hey guess what--while the pledge of rights that the conference has touted to lure TCU and West Virginia remains in place "in principle", the Big Two of the Big 12 still haven't agreed to an actual framework for granting those rights on either 6-year or 13-year footings, and never did so. If you're thinking "I bet lawyers from Oklahoma and Texas are working together to look such a granting of rights over to see if they can insert escape language", you're definitely showing an acute understanding of how the Big 12 works.

So hey, I don't blame Texas and Oklahoma. They're in a position of power and are using it to their maximum advantage here. But hey--don't y'all blame Nebraska, Colorado, aTm, or Mizzou for deciding they wanted to be free of this conference run by a dual monarchy. What was true back in November remains true today: every school in the Big 12 in April of 2010 who had an option to leave the conference did so at earliest opportunity.

[None]

Horrible news (http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/06/at_scene_of_auburn_apartment_s.html) out of Auburn this morning. Supposedly a former and a current Auburn player are dead at the scene of a shooting while another current player remains hospitalized.

[Sarkus]

Looks like the details on the new playoff system are getting close to being finalized. Four teams will be chosen, perhaps by a committee, and the semi-finals will be played at existing bowl sites on a rotating basis. Then a national championship will be played at a "neutral" site. The decision process will favor conference champs but will no rule out teams that didn't win their conference.

The move to a four team playoff will probably be made official next week by the presidents and then the final details worked out over the next month or so. But by fall we should know the exact details, though the new system will not go into effect for a few more years.

[Scuzz]

Looks like the details on the new playoff system are getting close to being finalized. Four teams will be chosen, perhaps by a committee, and the semi-finals will be played at existing bowl sites on a rotating basis. Then a national championship will be played at a "neutral" site. The decision process will favor conference champs but will no rule out teams that didn't win their conference.

The move to a four team playoff will probably be made official next week by the presidents and then the final details worked out over the next month or so. But by fall we should know the exact details, though the new system will not go into effect for a few more years.

2014 is what they are talking about.

I like this. First step to an 8 team playoff which would be fine with me.

[olaf]

Can not wait til 2014.

4 is a good start, 8 is the way to go.

[olaf]

Today should be declared a national holiday going forward.

[Pyperkub]

Today should be declared a national holiday going forward.

Wait and see. 16 would be so much better (11 champs and 5 wild cards, first two rounds at the higher seed/champ's field -make those wild cards win on the road, exception for Notre Dame if higher seeded) A bad committee process and further diminishment of the Rose Bowl is not cause to celebrate.

[blah!]

When this "committee" ends up putting two SEC teams in the final four, and a bunch of other teams feel left out, how is this going to be any different than what we currently have? If they are going to do a playoff, then do one. Don't half ass it with a system that will be hated just as much as the current one and leave just as many people upset.

[Pyperkub]

When this "committee" ends up putting two SEC teams in the final four, and a bunch of other teams feel left out, how is this going to be any different than what we currently have? If they are going to do a playoff, then do one. Don't half ass it with a system that will be hated just as much as the current one and leave just as many people upset.

Last year it is possible that Arkansas would have been a third SEC team over two loss Oregon, Stanford (1 loss, not conference champ) or Wisconsin. That would not have gone over well...

[Sarkus]

16 would be way too many. We don't need a system like the NCAA tourney where half the Big East goes every year.

I'm fine with four. We can talk about six or eight down the road, but odds are good that four teams covers most of the vital candidates.

[olaf]

16 would be way too many. We don't need a system like the NCAA tourney where half the Big East goes every year.

I'm fine with four. We can talk about six or eight down the road, but odds are good that four teams covers most of the vital candidates.

Its a start and there is no going back. It will eventually be more than 4 and thats good enough for me. I think 8 would be perfect.

[Slainte Mhath]

My only comment on this whole situation is : "Playoffs, fuck yes! About time BCS."

And yes, 8 teams makes the most sense.

[CLWheeljack]

Hey, we can add another thing to the list of Obama (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/16/60minutes/main4607927.shtml)'s accomplishments!

[Cougar]

I'm really happy for the new structure, I'm just sad that we'll have to wait for the 2014-2015 season.

~C~

[Scuzz]

16 would be way too many. We don't need a system like the NCAA tourney where half the Big East goes every year.

I'm fine with four. We can talk about six or eight down the road, but odds are good that four teams covers most of the vital candidates.


I would agree that 16 is too many. The regular season would have to be shortened a week if they went to 16 in the playoffs. I like the idea of 8 and think that is where it will eventually end up. But 4 is a good start and at least we are headed down that road now.

The big question is this selection committee. How long will it take for that to piss somebody off?

[CLWheeljack]

The makeup of the playoff selection committee has not been determined. Its criteria for evaluating teams will include record, strength of schedule, head-to-head results and whether the team is its conference champion.


I wonder how much transparency they'll provide into the data they use here. Ideally, they could publish their ranking algorithm, and then people will have a whole new thing to argue about!

[Scuzz]

What will this do to the polls? Maybe they will disappear. Probably not.

[Brettmcd]

What will this do to the polls? Maybe they will disappear. Probably not.


Why would they disappear? College basketball selects its tournament by committee and they still have the weekly polls.

[Pyperkub]

What will this do to the polls? Maybe they will disappear. Probably not.

AP opted out of the BCS years ago and are more respected for it (at least more respected than the espn coaches and the wtf harris poll).

[Scuzz]

Why would they disappear? College basketball selects its tournament by committee and they still have the weekly polls.


The BCS led to several "additional" polls, including the computer polls. Some of these were used in the BCS formula. They will serve no purpose now. I am sure the traditional polls will continue.

[ddtibbs]

So now the SEC gets home playoff games? Still a bullshit system.

[Sarkus]

So now the SEC gets home playoff games? Still a bullshit system.

Where do you get that idea? The semi-final round will rotate between the usual BCS suspects - Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, and Orange. Then the final will be bid out to a neutral site that will likely include NFL stadiums. So yeah, there could be years where SEC teams will have "home" advantage to some degree, but there will also be years where Pac12 teams will as well.

Sure, the Big12 and Big10 are SOL, but they never got "home" bowl games anyway. Kind of the reality of the weather in January, right?

[Ex-S Woo]

There are indoor stadiums...Lucas Field Stadium is one. I understand why the Big Ten pushed for keeping the bowl system in place, but it continues to put the conference at a competitive disadvantage.

[Sarkus]

In the wake of the scandal at Penn State, the Big Ten Conference is considering a plan to give its commissioner the power to punish schools with financial sanctions, suspensions and even the ability to fire coaches.

This is long overdue.

Just a few weeks until camps start opening up as well.

[Pyperkub]

This is long overdue.

Just a few weeks until camps start opening up as well.

Nonsense, and it will never happen (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/07/20/big-ten-jim-delany-penn-state.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp). Coaches are responsible to their University, and the President/Alums who hired them. This isn't even something that is done in the Pro's (though they can be disciplined).

[Sarkus]

Nonsense, and it will never happen (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/07/20/big-ten-jim-delany-penn-state.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp). Coaches are responsible to their University, and the President/Alums who hired them. This isn't even something that is done in the Pro's (though they can be disciplined).

Not specifically, but the NFL does have a defacto ability to accomplish the same thing. If Goodell had suspended Sean Payton for 5 years that would be essentially a firing in reality if not technically. And although they've never done it, the NCAA has been inching in that direction for awhile as well.

Its arguably a good idea, though, to take some aspects of control of major sports away from universities if the argument is (as many have made in the wake of the Penn State case) that the coach can become bigger then the administrators who are supposed to be in charge. A commissioner having the ability to act beyond that influence is of greater long-term value then whatever you think a NCAA penalty (including the death penalty) might accomplish.

[None]

Are you guys ready for some football? Dawgs start up fall camp next week and I'm psyched!

[olaf]

Can not wait until September. I love life from September to the Super Bowl. Then it sucks.

[Incendiary Lemon]

Can't wait.

[triggercut]

Are you guys ready for some football? Dawgs start up fall camp next week and I'm psyched!

Here's hoping they're ready at Faurot field on September 8th for your Dawgs. Should be a fascinating game--Mizzou will find out right away if their spread offense has any chance in the SEC, and whether they'll be killed by a lack of D-line depth and youth at safety.

Hard to believe that two major state landgrant universities who have been playing football for over a century have never met before, but such is the case. Can't wait to see it!

[None]

Actually, we've met once before, in the 1959 Orange bowl, where my Dawgs emerged victorious 14-0.

triggercut, I have to say, that game against your boys worries me an awful lot. And this is why: our secondary will be depleted due to early-season suspensions. We'll be missing our number one corner and possibly a safety as well. We've had to flip last season's most productive receiver to a cornerback role (a role he played in high school) and if we're also missing one of our safeties (Bacarri Rambo, All-American last season), it's possible he'll be replaced with a walk-on or another very similarly inexperienced player. And, honestly, even though he's a true freshman, DGB scares me to death.

Our defensive front seven can pressure any O-line and QB in the nation but I think Coach Pinkel will spread our guys out and take advantage of quick throws out to the flat and on quick slants. If you guys can also establish a running game, it could be a long day for the Dawgs' D.

On top of that, we've had to replace three drafted O-linemen and may be relying on a true freshman at left tackle. Our QB has the ability to make plays happen with both his feet and arm but play-action is our bread and butter. Our star running back was dismissed from the team a month ago and it's likely we'll be playing two true freshman in his place. Granted, both of them were highly recruited out of high school with one of them being the number one rated RB last year. But still. I hate to be relying on true freshman in their first SEC game and on the road, no less.

But, as you say, I can't wait! Should be a good one and I hope my boys are up to the task at the Zoo.

[triggercut]

I think I've seen that Richt is very likely to reinstate his suspended players prior to the Mizzou game, so y'all may have your full list of players in that game.

Obviously the big key on Mizzou's offense is Frank The Tank. If his shoulder is healthy and he can get even a sliver of enough time to make some plays, he can be dangerous. It'll be interesting to see how the Tigers rotate at RB. Kendial Lawrence is expected to start, but he's been starting off and on since 2010 and has never really impressed me; takes too long to get to the hole. Marcus Murphy is the interesting guy there. He returned kicks and punts on the 2010 squad and then was blowing up in spring ball in 2011...and tore up his shoulder the first week of camp and had surgery and took a red shirt. He just seems more explosive than KL.

I think one huge key for Mizzou on defense is a guy I haven't heard mentioned much: Brad Madison. Madison was a red shirt sophomore in 2010 who got plugged into the d-line when a future NFL freak Aldon Smith cracked a leg. Madison proceeded to play lights out until Aldon got back; dude is crazy fast off the perimeter line and strong as hell for a small defensive end. His 2011 fell apart at the end of fall training camp; he tore up a shoulder that bothered him so badly by the end of the season that he didn't practice and could barely move the arm. He played, but played like a husk of the 2010 version of himself. If the offseason surgery to fix him worked, he could be the guy who takes advantage of the green-ness of the Bulldog OT's.

[BlueJackalope]

http://news.sportslogos.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Nebraska-Alternate-Uniforms-590x438.jpg

Gaaaaaah (http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/54221/nebraska-alternate-uniforms-unveiled)



You can watch the video here but be warned that it is jarring. The uniforms are red with a black 'N' on the chest and the number near the right shoulder. The helmets are also black with a red stripe. From the Nebraska release:

[None]

As a Georgia Bulldog, I approve of the color combination. And that's all I'll say about that.

[Sarkus]

The first Coaches Poll was released today. What is surprising is that it once again shows a national optimisim about Washington that does not seem to be shared locally. Washington came out (effectively) at #26, and Vegas oddsmakers had their over/under for wins this year at 7.5.

But here is the problem - Washington faces four of the top 25 teams in their first six games. At LSU (#1) week 2, home against Stanford (#18) week four, at Oregon (#5) week five, and home against USC (#3) week six. And its not like the rest of the season are cake walks.

Its an interesting disconnect.

[robsam]

Washington will be fine against Stanford and Oregon. They will get mashed by LSU (SEC linebackers are every other conference D-Linemen) and out-athleted by USC.

[olaf]

SEC dominance. 5 of the top 10. 7 of the top 25. Big 12, the dead conference with no future, 6 of 25.

[triggercut]

Henry Josey talking about playing football this year which would be a freaking absolute miracle. If he can come back at all from his injury--even if it's 2013--look for folks in the pro ranks to be asking the Mizzou team docs (who have a great reputation) exactly what the hell they did to the kid to get him back.

At any rate, Josey's on the field, running sprints, doing cuts, says he feels 75-80%. Which is amazing.

[None]

Man, triggercut, I saw you guys lost some offensive linemen today, with a couple possibly out for the season. Y'all keep that up and both our teams might end up with questionable O-line play once the season gets going.

[None]

I'll say it. I was a bit distracted (http://www.lostlettermen.com/pinkel-kicks-girls-out-of-mizzou-practice/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter) myself after seeing the picture (https://twitter.com/#!/BlumbergOTB/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2Fa8yhQiar). But what's going to happen when Mizzou's players get a load of what they see Between the Hedges or at the Swamp or down at the Grove?

Is it September yet? While I'm enjoying the Olympics, it would be so much better if there were more tackling involved.

[triggercut]

Man, triggercut, I saw you guys lost some offensive linemen today, with a couple possibly out for the season. Y'all keep that up and both our teams might end up with questionable O-line play once the season gets going.

Yeah, that was a kick in the pants all right. Travis Ruth was going to be starting at one of the guard spots this year. The other guy--Chappel--was obviously depth, but you need depth in the SEC.

Both guys are out for the season. Ruth *could* apply for a medical redshirt for a sixth year, but he wasn't considered a top candidate for the NFL draft (last year when OT Elvis Fischer blew out a knee and applied for a sixth year, it was because Fischer has a legit shot at playing on Sundays) so I dunno if that makes sense for him.

[triggercut]

I'll say it. I was a bit distracted (http://www.lostlettermen.com/pinkel-kicks-girls-out-of-mizzou-practice/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter) myself after seeing the picture (https://twitter.com/#!/BlumbergOTB/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2Fa8yhQiar). But what's going to happen when Mizzou's players get a load of what they see Between the Hedges or at the Swamp or down at the Grove?

Is it September yet? While I'm enjoying the Olympics, it would be so much better if there were more tackling involved.

Not distractions. Clearly SEC spies sent by Spurrier and Richt.

[None]

We don't need no stinkin' spies. We got us a Muschamp. Imagine that, a (formerly) good Georgia man coaching them damn Gators. Hopefully he'll be reminded of his time spent in Athens as a walk-on safety for the Red and Black and allow our defensive coaches to pick his brain about his time spent coaching against y'all west yonder, 'cross the Mississippi.

[None]

Guess the Honey Badger (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/dennis-dodd/19768868/lsu-dumps-honey-badger) was right when he said no one was going to be able to complete a pass on him this season. Some FCS school just lucked out.

[Sarkus]

Guess the Honey Badger (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/dennis-dodd/19768868/lsu-dumps-honey-badger) was right when he said no one was going to be able to complete a pass on him this season. Some FCS school just lucked out.

If the speculation is correct about why he was dismissed from LSU then he won't be able to play at the FCS level this year either. LSU's drug test policy is suspension for the second failed test (last year) and dismissal or 1 year suspension for a third. But NCAA rules do not allow players ruled ineligible at a school to just transfer to another NCAA program, meaning the only way he could play this year would be NAIA or JC. Plus he's still a year from being eligible to be drafted by the NFL.

So he'll either sit out a year and then come back next year somewhere else or he'll try and go pro in next springs draft.

[None]

Yeah, that was a kick in the pants all right. Travis Ruth was going to be starting at one of the guard spots this year. The other guy--Chappel--was obviously depth, but you need depth in the SEC.

Both guys are out for the season. Ruth *could* apply for a medical redshirt for a sixth year, but he wasn't considered a top candidate for the NFL draft (last year when OT Elvis Fischer blew out a knee and applied for a sixth year, it was because Fischer has a legit shot at playing on Sundays) so I dunno if that makes sense for him.

Well, Dawgs just lost an O-lineman to a broken foot. He's a sophomore from out of Memphis, actually, and would have played a backup roll this year to his older brother at the guard position. While he'll only miss six weeks, it's still a blow to the team. But, as Homer Simpson says: "Crisitunity!"

[Scuzz]

Apparently the US Postal Service is investigating Sandusky for mailing child porn now. There may well be a part 2 of this nightmare.

[None]

Seems a Memphis City Schools guidance counselor just resigned after admitting to creating a fraudulent transcript (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/aug/10/wooddale-high-guidance-counselor-admits-creating-t/l) to help get a local Memphis kid into Auburn University.

And yesterday the University of Alabama was claimed to have encouraged (http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2012/08/09/alabama-accused-of-encouraging-recruit-to-transfer-high-schools/?cxntfid=blogs_recruiting) a recruit to transfer to another high school for academic reasons.

Such goings on, such goings on.

[None]

New uniforms for Notre Dame:

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0816/play_nduni1_sy_576.jpg

At least they're not as bad as Maryland's uniforms (http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03cCgZIgRC2ru/610x.jpg):

http://yearofthedawg.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/dazzle.jpg?w=450&h=265

[Sarkus]

Tyrann Mathieu is now in drug rehab (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/bruce-feldman/19814263/mathieu-in-houston-drug-rehab-center-battling-marijuana-issues) and likely will not play football this year. Given recent comments by Les Miles, there is some belief now that he could end up back at LSU next season.

Its believed that Mathieu's issues are related to synthetic marijuana (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/19814416/where-theres-smoke-theres-fire-when-it-comes-to-synthetic-marijuana), which the SEC now tests for. Unlike organic marijuana, this stuff is very potent and has been linked to at least one death involving a college football player. However since this is a designer drug, the formula changes all the time and law enforcement and testing are usually months (or more) behind the cutting edge.

[Sarkus]

Well this is interesting (http://http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/wac-nearing-collapse-boise-state-pony-join-big-212946600--ncaab.html;_ylt=AggjHITBcW5WvHlNgWgrfdI5nYcB;_ylu= X3oDMTR2YjV2OTg5BG1pdANMSVNUUyBNaXhlZCBMaXN0IEZQIE 5DQUFCIEJvdHRvbSBNb2R1bGUEcGtnA2IxNzFiMDljLWMwZTEt MzVjNC04NzQ0LTY2ZmJmM2M0OGI3NgRwb3MDMwRzZWMDTWVkaW FCTGlzdE1peGVkTFBDQVRlbXAEdmVyA2YyMjA1NjcwLWU3MjQt MTFlMS1iZjdmLTk1OTM0NGEwOGRhNA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpNzk0NjhtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRw c3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3). Apparently the Big East is more desperate then we thought.


Once it became clear the WAC was no longer a viable option, Boise State had two options: Either back out of its Big East football aspirations and return to the Mountain West in all sports, or persuade the Big West to accept its non-football sports. New Big West member San Diego State supported Boise State's move because it would strengthen the league, but other California schools feared the costs of traveling to Idaho would outweigh the benefits of taking the Broncos.

To alleviate those concerns, Boise State enlisted the Big East's help to pay an undisclosed amount to the other Big West schools to help cover the increased travel costs. The Big East had little choice but to chip in because the Broncos made it clear they would return to the Mountain West if they couldn't find a viable home for their non-football sports and San Diego State hinted they had no interest in Big East football without Boise State.

[Scuzz]

Is it really a good thing for the Big East teams if Boise State comes in and trounces the existing schools. I have to believe this is a short term marriage.

[Sarkus]

I agree. I don't think Boise State will end up being in the Big East for long. The whole point of the move from Boise's point of view was to make sure they got respect by being in an automatic bid BCS conference. Except that system is going away in a few years anyway. At that point it won't matter what conference you are in unless you are in one where your schedule is respected. Something Boise State already had in the Mountain West.

[triggercut]

I agree. I don't think Boise State will end up being in the Big East for long. The whole point of the move from Boise's point of view was to make sure they got respect by being in an automatic bid BCS conference. Except that system is going away in a few years anyway. At that point it won't matter what conference you are in unless you are in one where your schedule is respected. Something Boise State already had in the Mountain West.

Boise State's schedule in the Mountain West was "respected"?

Care to re-check your math there?

Boise's State's biggest problem over the last 5 years is the perception that they draw maybe one quality opponent in their non-conference schedule and then are forced into a terrible conference schedule.

[Sarkus]

Boise State's schedule in the Mountain West was "respected"?

Care to re-check your math there?

Boise's State's biggest problem over the last 5 years is the perception that they draw maybe one quality opponent in their non-conference schedule and then are forced into a terrible conference schedule.

It didn't stop them from finishing in the top 10, though, did it? And most of those years its been ranked higher then the best of the weak Big East, which is only getting weaker with the forthcoming departure of Syracuse and Pitt.

So I don't see where they are gaining anything from this now that the automatic conference bids are going away with the new playoff system. The Big East doesn't even have a major bowl affiliation to hang its hat on.

[triggercut]

It didn't stop them from finishing in the top 10, though, did it? And most of those years its been ranked higher then the best of the weak Big East, which is only getting weaker with the forthcoming departure of Syracuse and Pitt.

So I don't see where they are gaining anything from this now that the automatic conference bids are going away with the new playoff system. The Big East doesn't even have a major bowl affiliation to hang its hat on.

Last year Boise State lost one conference game. It was the only game they lost all year. Which BCS Bowl was the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl again?

Perhaps losing a conference game in the Big East doesn't get you into a National Championship game this year or next, but it at least gets you into a BCS bowl.

[Pyperkub]

Last year Boise State lost one conference game. It was the only game they lost all year. Which BCS Bowl was the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl again?

Perhaps losing a conference game in the Big East doesn't get you into a National Championship game this year or next, but it at least gets you into a BCS bowl.

Not when you don't win the conference. Last I checked, the big east has never put two teams in the bcs.

[None]

In one week we will be on the eve of football. I was so excited by this prospect that I tackled a coworker today. She's a tough girl though, said she'd be fine.

Football. It looms.

[Pyperkub]

In one week we will be on the eve of football. I was so excited by this prospect that I tackled a coworker today. She's a tough girl though, said she'd be fine.

Football. It looms.

Yeah, I'm kind of diggin' on the Pac-12 network - the preview show has been pretty good, and I'm looking forward to the UCLA preview on Friday. I'm still bugged that only the SFBA channel is in HD, and that the LA channel isn't even available in the bay area, but I guess I can probably hook the laptop up to the TV and stream the LA games in HD if necessary (whenever they get the online piece worked out).

[None]

I grew up in a town with a university that's perennially ranked in the top five party schools in the nation so I can kind of understand what some of these kids are going through. At the same time, I didn't have millions of dollars riding on the line as soon as I left college. First, we all saw what's happened to the Honey Badger. And now, a week before the season kicks off, Tennessee's leading receiver from last season is suspended indefinitely (http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2012/aug/23/darick-rogers-suspended-indefinitely-violation-tea/). Although, honestly, this doesn't come as a surprise considering Da'Rick's troubled history (http://www.mrsec.com/2012/08/report-ut-wr-rogers-suspended-indefinitely/) since arriving in Knoxville.

Incidentally, three years ago Da'Rick was a longtime commitment to the University of Georgia before flipping his commitment to UT on signing day. This opened up a scholarship which we offered to a kid who is now our starting left tackle.

[BlueJackalope]

More like Tha' Dick Rodgers am I right? Huh? Huh?

What a maroon.

[robsam]

It probably won't surprise anyone here that most Tennessee fans have wanted Da'Rick to leave or be kicked off the team for quite some time, he's been nothing but a problem since he got there. He may have led the SEC in receptions last year, but he is nothing compared to Justin Hunter who went down early last season with a torn ACL. Good riddance Da'Rick, hope you enjoyed all that weed because it probably cost you millions of dollars on your first NFL contract.

[triggercut]

...and Mizzou lost their other starting OG today in the team's final scrimmage. Sprained knee, MRI inc, had to be carted off, guessing he's done.

[None]

I am not a superstitious man. Well, except from September to January. As such, I'm just going to keep my mouth shut in light of your recent post, triggercut.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

It probably won't surprise anyone here that most Tennessee fans have wanted Da'Rick to leave or be kicked off the team for quite some time, he's been nothing but a problem since he got there. He may have led the SEC in receptions last year, but he is nothing compared to Justin Hunter who went down early last season with a torn ACL. Good riddance Da'Rick, hope you enjoyed all that weed because it probably cost you millions of dollars on your first NFL contract.


Yeah, I am honestly more worried about tight end and line backer depth than I am Da'Rick getting the boot. Behind Hunter you have CP, Bowles, Croom, Pig Howard and apparently Jacob Carter did fantastic in summer camp. Other than that I guess you have to worry about Hunter and being rusty, but I think we will be fine at WR.

[triggercut]

I am not a superstitious man. Well, except from September to January. As such, I'm just going to keep my mouth shut in light of your recent post, triggercut.

They're saying the knee is a "strain" and he's out for Saturday's game against SELA, but possible for September 8.

No surprise at all, the team announced today that Henry Josey won't play this year. His knee was absolutely shredded last year against Texas on a weird tackle, and it ruptured all three major tendons. They did his patellar tendon and ACL in late November, but didn't do the MCL until April for stability reasons. He's actually running and stuff, but the muscle mass just isn't there and they want to make sure he's as structurally sound as possible. Good use of a medical redshirt.

[None]

Sad to hear about Josey's situation. But it sounds like a medical redshirt may do him some good. I can't imagine what it'd be like to come back from such a horrific injury and try to play. I'd be scared to death of the first contact at game speed. It's why I'm wondering how Sakerlina's Marcus Lattimore will fair this season. He's not made it through a complete season without some sort of injury and Spurrier has used him like a rented mule. You have to wonder if Lattimore might ease up a bit when and if he starts thinking that this is likely his last year before going pro and earning a living in the League.

On a happier note, happy football eve, everyone! The season starts tomorrow and I can't wait!

[BlueJackalope]

On a happier note, happy football eve, everyone! The season starts tomorrow and I can't wait!

I love the start of the season, I can't imagine being excited to see a Vanderbilt game in a few weeks.

Really looking forward to the WSU at BYU game as well, be really nice to see Leach bring WSU back to respectability.

[None]

Out and about finishing up some errands before I head out of town and I see a random guy walking down the street in a Georgia t-shirt. I live in Vols country. This is a sign: it's going to be a good year!

You know what the best thing about football is? It's here! Footbaw!

[Scuzz]

http://www.whatifsports.com/beyondtheboxscore/default.asp?article=2012CFB_FinalConferenceStandin gs


Predictions for all teams.

Nobody goes undefeated and only USCw loses one game.

[robsam]

'Dores are playing well at home. Where ya at, Robert Sharp?

Edit: They WERE playing well, now not so much.

[Ex-S Woo]

Kent State Player Returns Punt the Wrong Direction:

http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/8/30/3281075/kent-state-wrong-way-punt-return-video/in/3044369

Great way to start 2012!

[robsam]

Well I think we can all agree that South Carolina is undeserving of a top ten ranking. Now for some mad scientist WSU-BYU crazy ass offense stuff! And trickeration. And stuff.

[olaf]

Well I think we can all agree that South Carolina is undeserving of a top ten ranking. Now for some mad scientist WSU-BYU crazy ass offense stuff! And trickeration. And stuff.

Yeah they looked terrible and that blown pass interference call may have been the difference in the game.

Love me some Mike Leach. I hope they win. All hail football.

[robsam]

Dang it, got distracted by the RNC (I don't know why, it just happened, and now I'm fighting my relatives on FB because they thought it was awesome...I want to move to Denmark) and missed most of the first half, now 14-3 BYU. GODDAMMIT ROMNEY IS WINNING

[Pyperkub]

The Jim Mora era starts well. Damn, it was nice to score some points again.

[Woolen Horde]

Man, WSU looks terrible on both sides of the ball, although they were robbed of a touchdown right before halftime. Incredible catch called back by a questionable holding call.

Tuel is not endearing himself to the Pirate, though. Two picks, and they were all on him.

Not writing off Leach yet. Only the first game, and there's a whole season to play, but he's got a lot of work.

[Incendiary Lemon]

So what's the story on the Tennessee game? ESPN is firewalled at work so I can't watch the livefeed.

[robsam]

Score is 22-14 Tennessee, should be 29-14, they called a Tyler Bray touchdown a fumble after he lost the ball when he was clearly over the line. More worrisome, someone has managed to fall off the mezanine into the lower deck, being carted off, hope he's okay.

[Woolen Horde]

And Boise State is done. Their BCS dreams are dead in week 1, which saves us from an entire season of "But Boise State is undefeated" bullshit.

They lost to a Michigan State team that looked absolutely shitty on offense, outside of Laveon Bell.

[robsam]

Hmmm...Tennessee might be pretty damn good after all. Or maybe not. Who knows? I will say I'm not at all afraid of Georgia or Florida, how in the hell did UGA get a pre-season #6 ranking? We'll get mashed by Bama I guess, but I like our chances in the rest of our games.

[robsam]

Uhm, the preceding post from last night was fueled by alcohol and euphoria from watching my team not fall apart in the second half like they did all last season. It looks as silly to me this morning as it looks to you. Heh

[Pyperkub]

Uhm, the preceding post from last night was fueled by alcohol and euphoria from watching my team not fall apart in the second half like they did all last season. It looks as silly to me this morning as it looks to you. Heh

It was August, and you were undefeated for the month, NP. ;)

[Woolen Horde]

And Penn State just lost at home to Ohio for the first time ever.

Who was saying they weren't going to miss a beat?

[robsam]

And Penn State just lost at home to Ohio for the first time ever.

Who was saying they weren't going to miss a beat?

That would be Hiredgoons, who predicted the 2012 Penn State season would go like this.


Look at their upcoming schedule.

1. Ohio U - Win.

2. at Virginia - Loss.

3. Navy - Win.

4. Temple -Win.

5. at Illinois - Win (they don't have Zook, true, but it's still Illinois).

6. Northwestern - Win.

7. at Iowa - Win (Paterno would lose this game, Ferentz always clobbers him, but Iowa is having hard times themselves).

8. Ohio State - Loss.

9. at Purdue - Win.

10. at Nebraska - Loss.

11. Indiana - Win.

12. Wisconsin - Loss. I'll be charitable to the Buckeyes and say they win this. Although the Buckeyes will have no motivation for showing up for this game. Both Ohio State and Penn State are ineligible for the Big Ten championship this coming year, which means Wisconsin will get into that game virtually by default unless they have horrendous injury problems this year.


That's an 8-4 schedule. The Big Ten is not the SEC, particularly the Leaders Division, and you can do very well there without top tier talent. I think the only result you could argue there is maybe, Iowa. But, Penn State's trouble with Iowa in the last 10 years has more to do with Paterno getting outcoached than with the talent level.

Off to a bad start.

[Alstein]

Hmmm...Tennessee might be pretty damn good after all. Or maybe not. Who knows? I will say I'm not at all afraid of Georgia or Florida, how in the hell did UGA get a pre-season #6 ranking? We'll get mashed by Bama I guess, but I like our chances in the rest of our games.

I think it is more NCSU Being bad, or at least laying an egg. Amerson and Glennon were terrible.

The ACC is just worthless as a football conference , it's not even worth watching outside of the hig 4 conferences. Maybe if you SEC guys and BIg 10 guys added some ACC schools they'd get competitive fast.

Just don't add UNC, they'd lower the SEC's academic standards.

[robsam]

Somebody doesn't like the Tarheels.

Florida may finally be pulling away from Bowling Green, but the Gators have looked abysmal most of this game. And that makes me happy.

[Tortilla]

The Nebraska game was a shocker. I don't know which rattled me more, seeing a feeble and sloppy blackshirt defense or seeing a Husker QB put 350+ yards in the air with 5 TDs and 0 INTs. If the defensive problems can be fixed the Huskers are going to have a good season.

[robsam]

Michigan looks like a high school team against Alabama, this is pathetic. They are smaller, slower and weaker, and seem to be totally out coached down 21-0 in the first quarter. Still plenty of time for them to adjust I guess, but I don't see it happening unless Alabama gets poisoned water at halftime.

[Woolen Horde]

It's not helping Michigan that they don't have a QB. I've lost count of how many passes that Denard's missed or floated.

[robsam]

It's not helping Michigan that they don't have a QB. I've lost count of how many passes that Denard's missed or floated.

My favorite sign from the ESPN Game Day crowd this morning was written in maroon crayon. (see what I did there?)

It said "That's not a punt, it's a Denard Robinson pass!"

As I type, he throws a pick six. Tide is ROLLING. And I HATE Bama almost as much as I hate Michigan and Texas.

[jpinard]

Somebody doesn't like the Tarheels.

Florida may finally be pulling away from Bowling Green, but the Gators have looked abysmal most of this game. And that makes me happy.

I'd like to fire whoever was calling plays too. Looked like we had 4 defensive plays and 3 offensive ones. Pure crap.

The first half playcalls on offense were so bad/stupid it's mindboggling. Don't run Denard (the only thing he's truly good at), run with backup HB's 1st & 2nd down so Denard has a giant 3rd down to gamble on. And yes, Michigan looked liked a high-school team against Alabama. I should not have wasted my whole evening on it, but been waiting so long for my team to play again. :(

[robsam]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/20035815/mizzou-dt-richardson-calls-georgia-offense-old-man-football

Sheldon Richardson of Missouri doesn't think much of the SEC in general, and Georgia in particular. What do you think about this triggercut?

[triggercut]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/20035815/mizzou-dt-richardson-calls-georgia-offense-old-man-football

Sheldon Richardson of Missouri doesn't think much of the SEC in general, and Georgia in particular. What do you think about this triggercut?

HCGP says Big Sheldon "Got carried away a little bit. We always want to say the right things." Was disciplined internally by the team's coaches, apparently feels a little sheepish.

Excitable kid who might be a 1st rounder next draft getting a little carried away, that's all. Doubt the Dawgs really need the bulletin board material anyway.

[robsam]

Most SEC teams that face Mizzou and A&M are probably a bit nervous about their offensive attacks, being the first time around for most of us. This UGA-Mizzou matchup is fascinating, I wish it was my Vols that got the first shot at you guys though. We actually looked good last week, god only knows what shape we'll be in by the time our scheduled game comes around. Our starting 22 are almost elite SEC caliber, after that we drop off.
Reading the comments section of the linked article I noticed a couple remarks by Mizzou fans thanking SEC fans for being nice and reasonable. Good God, just how bad was it in the Big12 if it seems like SEC fans are being nice??
I hope none is okay, he seems to have disappeared.

[None]

Here I am! Just got back from a trip out of town. I'm dead tired right now. But so glad that the season has started.

I saw Richardson's comments. You know, I like players who are confident. Was it perhaps the most tactful thing to say? Probably not. But when does smack talk have to be tactful? Looking forward to Saturday night at the Zoo. Should be a good one. Let's hope both teams get out of there without any injuries. At the rate we're going, we'll both be out of offensive linemen by mid-season.

[None]

And speaking of trash talking... is this for real?

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17y2v9ewq2a50jpg/original.jpg

Yes it is (http://www.gatorzone.com/harry/blog/1016). Any bets on who's really responsible?

[triggercut]

This is gonna be a riot when Mizzou and A&M both lose on their home fields on Saturday by aggregate scores of 87-20.

[Tortilla]

Are you that sure A&M will lose? Florida looked like they were struggling in their last game.

[triggercut]

Reading the comments section of the linked article I noticed a couple remarks by Mizzou fans thanking SEC fans for being nice and reasonable. Good God, just how bad was it in the Big12 if it seems like SEC fans are being nice??


The Big 12 was awful. It was, and remains, this thrown-together amalgam of teams joined in a sort of marriage of convenience. Lousy places to travel (for every Lawrence, Austin, and Columbia, there's a Manhattan, Stillwater, and Lubbock) a lot of manufactured traditions (really there were only four giant rivalry games every year) and a conference puppeteer in Austin who pulled strings behind closed doors to shaft any school that wasn't in the Big 12 South.

So happy Mizzou turned down the B1G deal that the Nubs took. Even though we're going to have to stretch to make 4-4 in conference, there's no conference I'd rather be in.

[triggercut]

Are you that sure A&M will lose? Florida looked like they were struggling in their last game.

AssToMouth has so many unknowns that I sure wouldn't bet the game...just being a little facetious about the level of swagger coming from the two new SEC entrants.

[Tortilla]

So happy Mizzou turned down the B1G deal that the Nubs took. Even though we're going to have to stretch to make 4-4 in conference, there's no conference I'd rather be in.

Nah, the Big 10(ish) is the place to be. The SEC is for those squeaky clean teams. In the Big 10 you get all the dirty fun. This year alone you've got half the teams ineligible for bowl games or conference championships, either due to sanctions or inability to hire a coach who knows anything about football. If Urban Meyer works his magic at Ohio State the Big 10 might actually have a 10 win team that has to sit on the sidelines and watch two 8 win teams play for the conference title. Can the SEC offer anything that entertaining? I thought not.

[triggercut]

Nah, the Big 10(ish) is the place to be. The SEC is for those squeaky clean teams. In the Big 10 you get all the dirty fun. This year alone you've got half the teams ineligible for bowl games or conference championships, either due to sanctions or inability to hire a coach who knows anything about football. If Urban Meyer works his magic at Ohio State the Big 10 might actually have a 10 win team that has to sit on the sidelines and watch two 8 win teams play for the conference title. Can the SEC offer anything that entertaining? I thought not.

Ok, that was well done.