Very little movement atop the polls which means there was very little movement in our 2008 challenge. And unless there are some serious upsets in next weeks games and teh subsequent bowl games, you'll pretty much end the season with your current ranking.
The BCS once again finds itself amidst controversy. They just haven't figured out that college football is a titch unpredictable. In the first few weeks of this season we were all kicking ourselves for not picking East Carolina and South Florida as our wild card teams. When was the last time you read a headline about either?
So does this BCS mess push us closer to a playoff system? Eh...maybe. There is a sort of playoff going on right now: the SEC championship game will send its best to the national championship game. The Big 12 sort of is doing the same except the Big 12 Championship shoudl really be a UT-OU rematch, not #2 Oklahoma taking on #19 Missouri. But what about unbeaten Utah, Boise and Ball? What about once beaten Texas, Texas Tech, Penn State and yes, even USC?
Obviously there is still work to be done. If Missouri pulls an upset and the precious BCS system once again sends a conference non-champ to the big dance...aarrggh...let's not think about that.
30 November 2008
23 November 2008
Week 13 2008: Q and A
Week 13 was a bit unlucky for some...namely BYU, Texas Tech and USC (since they were counting on Oregon State to lose). And unlucky for some of us in this year's challenge which is proving as unpredictable as the games themselves.
QUESTIONS:
1. Was Max Hall that bad or was the UU defense that good?
2. Will UU get a shot at a real BCS team or will they be stuck with someone from the Big Least or the Almost Competent Conference?
3. Will BYU get past a 10-2 regular season?
4. If ORST wins out will the BCS allow a ORST - PSU re-match?
5. What happens if 'Bama loses to UF?
6. Will the typically incompetent BCS system be able to fix the potential Big 12 and SEC mess that is lying in wait?
7. Why did Meyer and Whittingham run up the score (70 points by UF over a 1-AA team and UU going for the 4th and goal, up 41-24, with 4 minutes left)?
ANSWERS:
1. Max was obviously having an off day but I think that by the 4th quarter the UU defense had simply figured out BYU's predictable offensive scheme and took advantage. Shame on BYU for being predictable.
2. Probably not...the BCS is afraid UU might win and give the impression that the precious BCS system is failing.
3. A 10-2 season is nothing to complain about - except that it shows zero progress over the previous 10-2 seasons.
4. I hope not.
5. Probably UF and Oklahoma in the championship game...but there would be plenty of 1-loss teams (along with undefeated Utah) crying for a better system...no doubt led by Pete Carroll.
6. Not likely.
7. Because Urban and Kyle have not reached the level of understanding about the game that other more mature coaches have. They are still young, naive and greedy...they believe in style points. They fail to realize that true fans of the game love the game itself as much if not more than winning...or winning big. Shame on them for being blessed with great coaching skills, a great staff, university backing, superb players but poor common sense and a lack of true love of the game.
QUESTIONS:
1. Was Max Hall that bad or was the UU defense that good?
2. Will UU get a shot at a real BCS team or will they be stuck with someone from the Big Least or the Almost Competent Conference?
3. Will BYU get past a 10-2 regular season?
4. If ORST wins out will the BCS allow a ORST - PSU re-match?
5. What happens if 'Bama loses to UF?
6. Will the typically incompetent BCS system be able to fix the potential Big 12 and SEC mess that is lying in wait?
7. Why did Meyer and Whittingham run up the score (70 points by UF over a 1-AA team and UU going for the 4th and goal, up 41-24, with 4 minutes left)?
ANSWERS:
1. Max was obviously having an off day but I think that by the 4th quarter the UU defense had simply figured out BYU's predictable offensive scheme and took advantage. Shame on BYU for being predictable.
2. Probably not...the BCS is afraid UU might win and give the impression that the precious BCS system is failing.
3. A 10-2 season is nothing to complain about - except that it shows zero progress over the previous 10-2 seasons.
4. I hope not.
5. Probably UF and Oklahoma in the championship game...but there would be plenty of 1-loss teams (along with undefeated Utah) crying for a better system...no doubt led by Pete Carroll.
6. Not likely.
7. Because Urban and Kyle have not reached the level of understanding about the game that other more mature coaches have. They are still young, naive and greedy...they believe in style points. They fail to realize that true fans of the game love the game itself as much if not more than winning...or winning big. Shame on them for being blessed with great coaching skills, a great staff, university backing, superb players but poor common sense and a lack of true love of the game.
16 November 2008
Week 12 2008: A Quiet Week...Comparitively
Over the last few years, week-after-week, there has always been something to whine and complain about. But in a week when there is no movement in the top 16...well, it's pretty quiet.
MAYBE: BYU looked notably better this week...I'm holding out much more hope than before that they pull off the big one on the hill. Hopefully the SLC Tribune Sunday morning headline will read: "BCS Busted".
FINALLY: Vandy...bowl eligible for the first time since I was in high school.
BELIEVABLE and UNBELIEVABLE: Michigan...eight losses for the first time in history and not bowl eligible for the first time in 33 years.
WHEW!: Georgia winning in the last second...again.
MAYBE: BYU looked notably better this week...I'm holding out much more hope than before that they pull off the big one on the hill. Hopefully the SLC Tribune Sunday morning headline will read: "BCS Busted".
FINALLY: Vandy...bowl eligible for the first time since I was in high school.
BELIEVABLE and UNBELIEVABLE: Michigan...eight losses for the first time in history and not bowl eligible for the first time in 33 years.
WHEW!: Georgia winning in the last second...again.
04 November 2008
Week 11 2008: NCAAF in November
College football in November is better. Teams are well into their groove and we start seeing who's for real and who's not. The passion is more obvious, the urgency more evident and there is a visible, final push for bowl eligibility, senior day or conference championship slots. November is when we see some absolutely phenomenal football. (November is also when we see 3-loss teams in the top 25 - LSU, Oregon State, South Carolina; just an observation).
WOW!: Utah looked good...BYU better be preparing.
WOW! 2: Wyoming over Tennessee...in Rocky Top. Fulmer won't be leaving on a good note.
UNBELIEVABLE: The amazing speed, accuracy and execution of Texas Tech.
BELIEVABLE: Iowa over Penn State (I'd had my doubts about PSU's strength).
HEARTBREAKING: Iowa over Penn State ('cause I like Joe Pa).
ARE YOU KIDDING?: Poor, pitiful, Pete is whining about the BCS (again). See links below.
NOTABLE: Hey...he didn't get my vote for president but he does get kudos for publicly stating that college football should have a playoff system (click here). This was broadcast on during MNF the day before the election (people will say anything for a vote, huh?).
TOUGH YEAR FOR PREDICTIONS: Hey, if you're feeling bad because you're not at the top of our pre-season picks challenge...don't. Per a local article I read last week: "The pre-season coaches poll did not have TT in the top 10 or Penn State in the top 20. But they did have Michigan, Auburn, Wisconsin, ASU, Tennessee and Clemson...who have a combined 19-33 record and two coaching casualties."
PETE CARROLL: What a doofus (see article here). And in response to his whining, read this.
WOW!: Utah looked good...BYU better be preparing.
WOW! 2: Wyoming over Tennessee...in Rocky Top. Fulmer won't be leaving on a good note.
UNBELIEVABLE: The amazing speed, accuracy and execution of Texas Tech.
BELIEVABLE: Iowa over Penn State (I'd had my doubts about PSU's strength).
HEARTBREAKING: Iowa over Penn State ('cause I like Joe Pa).
ARE YOU KIDDING?: Poor, pitiful, Pete is whining about the BCS (again). See links below.
NOTABLE: Hey...he didn't get my vote for president but he does get kudos for publicly stating that college football should have a playoff system (click here). This was broadcast on during MNF the day before the election (people will say anything for a vote, huh?).
TOUGH YEAR FOR PREDICTIONS: Hey, if you're feeling bad because you're not at the top of our pre-season picks challenge...don't. Per a local article I read last week: "The pre-season coaches poll did not have TT in the top 10 or Penn State in the top 20. But they did have Michigan, Auburn, Wisconsin, ASU, Tennessee and Clemson...who have a combined 19-33 record and two coaching casualties."
PETE CARROLL: What a doofus (see article here). And in response to his whining, read this.
02 November 2008
Week 10 2008: New #1's...again
"But suddenly, a new contender has emerged..."(the fifth this season): Alabama...a team that no one (not even the pros) picked in their pre-season top 20 and a team that had zero 1st place votes just last week. (And Nathan is our newest 1st place contender).
WOW!:
*Texas Tech over Texas! TT has been putting together a great offense the last few years and it is finally showing.
*BYU ran the most well executed 2-minute drill I've seen in a long time to pull off the close win over CSU.
FIRST to WORST:
This weeks biggest change: Lance (dropped from first to last place in our pre-season challenge). I don't think I've ever seen that.
BCS BEEF:
No real BCS beef this week - the chips seem to be falling in the right place so far for those money-mongering-anti-playoff-bafoons.
WHOD'VE THUNK...:
*That this late in the season we'd be talking Penn State, Alabama, Texas Tech in the same sentence as "national championship"?
I HAVE TO ASK:
*As good as Florida looked against UGA, if they pull off the SEC Championship do they still belong in the title game since they lost at home to still un-ranked Ole Miss? (We're not talking Texas losing to TT here). Shouldn't a true top team be able to play well week in and week out?
GEORGIA - THE TERRIBLE TWO's:
*2 bad play calls in the 1st quarter red-zone appearance
*2 missed field goals in the first half
*2 dropped passes in the end zone
*2 turnovers...twice
*2 missed pass interference calls by the refs (resulting in UF touchdowns)
*2 bad coaching calls (early on-side kick...and I'm sure there must have been at least one other)
NOTABLE:
I'm glad that Urban didn't do anything stupid Saturday...I had already formed my opinion that he was going to make a button-hole of himself in seeking some sort of revenge adn he proved me wrong. Calling two timeouts with 44 seconds left? Eh...we'll believe him on that one as long as he lets "the celebration" die now like he should have a year ago.
WOW!: FIRST to WORST: BCS BEEF: WHOD'VE THUNK?: I HAVE TO ASK: INTERESTING: HEARTBREAKING: UNBELIEVABLE: BELIEVABLE: ARE YOU KIDDING?: NOTABLE: WASTE:
WOW!:
*Texas Tech over Texas! TT has been putting together a great offense the last few years and it is finally showing.
*BYU ran the most well executed 2-minute drill I've seen in a long time to pull off the close win over CSU.
FIRST to WORST:
This weeks biggest change: Lance (dropped from first to last place in our pre-season challenge). I don't think I've ever seen that.
BCS BEEF:
No real BCS beef this week - the chips seem to be falling in the right place so far for those money-mongering-anti-playoff-bafoons.
WHOD'VE THUNK...:
*That this late in the season we'd be talking Penn State, Alabama, Texas Tech in the same sentence as "national championship"?
I HAVE TO ASK:
*As good as Florida looked against UGA, if they pull off the SEC Championship do they still belong in the title game since they lost at home to still un-ranked Ole Miss? (We're not talking Texas losing to TT here). Shouldn't a true top team be able to play well week in and week out?
GEORGIA - THE TERRIBLE TWO's:
*2 bad play calls in the 1st quarter red-zone appearance
*2 missed field goals in the first half
*2 dropped passes in the end zone
*2 turnovers...twice
*2 missed pass interference calls by the refs (resulting in UF touchdowns)
*2 bad coaching calls (early on-side kick...and I'm sure there must have been at least one other)
NOTABLE:
I'm glad that Urban didn't do anything stupid Saturday...I had already formed my opinion that he was going to make a button-hole of himself in seeking some sort of revenge adn he proved me wrong. Calling two timeouts with 44 seconds left? Eh...we'll believe him on that one as long as he lets "the celebration" die now like he should have a year ago.
WOW!: FIRST to WORST: BCS BEEF: WHOD'VE THUNK?: I HAVE TO ASK: INTERESTING: HEARTBREAKING: UNBELIEVABLE: BELIEVABLE: ARE YOU KIDDING?: NOTABLE: WASTE:
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