Too early for college football? ('09 Version)

Joseph---I tell you what----let's hold off until January-----
most of the pundits are wrong most of the time anyhow. 
How about a ND/PSU bowl game.  That should settle it.

Your right about the Big 10 or 11 or whatever it is---Purdue, N'western, Minn, Wisc,  
Ill and Ind really weaken that conference, and then the best team OSU gets kicked around in the bowls-----what ever happened to the cloud of dust.  Bo and Woody
are gone but not forgotten. 

ancient mariner: I don't know why you are assuming Penn State will lose at home to Ohio State. In the past 4 years of OSU winning the Big Ten, Penn State has shared 2 of those Big Ten Championship by beating Ohio State and representing the Big 10 because of the head to head wins. Penn State won its BCS game the first time and lost the 2nd time.

Aside from OSU's beat downs in some recent Nat'l Championship games, let's not forget, that they won the title in 2002.

And, in recent years, two teams from the Big Ten have played in a BCS game. When that happens, the other bowl eligible teams get upped (the #3 team plays in the #2 spot and so on down) this has actually hurt the Big Ten, as the match-ups have not been favorable. But, I should point out, that Penn State has held up their end of the bargain - in the past 4 years, they are 3-1 - losing last year (the 08 season), but wins in bowl games for the 07, 06 and 05 seasons.

Penn State has played in the Big Ten for 16 seasons. They've been to 12 bowl games, and are 9-3 in those games. They have won the Rose, Citrus, Outback (3), Fiesta,  Alamo(2) and Orange Bowls. In those wins they beat teams from: SEC (4x), Pac-10, Big 12 (3x) and ACC.

Losses came to SEC (2) and Pac-10.

So, since joining the Big-Ten, Penn State, is 9-3 in post season play and hold a 4-2 record over the SEC, a 3-0 record over Big 12, 1-0 over ACC and are 1-1 vs. Pac-10.

Why people crap on PSU, is beyond me. 

quote=the ancient mariner



We both play Mich and MSU--
 
Bad assumption: You lose to Ohio St and we lose to USC
If you look at preseason polls (which can'tr be trusted 0 but we have no choice, since we're looking at who has the tougher load before the season starts)

PSU----------Notre Dame

Akron--------Nevada ----------even up Actually Nevada whould be better
Syracuse----Navy---------------Navy tougher May not be true this year - you gotta let Syr. show they are that bad. neither recieved voteds, so you HAVE to say EVEN
Temple -----Stanford-----------Stanford maybe true - but Stanford didn't get one vote either.
Iowa---------Pitt       -----------even Stephen Iowa better - did you not watch football last season? Iowa is RANKED Pitt is not, Iowa is tougher
Illinois-------Boston College---BC easy NOT: Illinois has higher preseason rating. Another one in favor of PSU
E. Illinois----Conn    ------------Conn in a walk true
Minn----------Wash--------------even I would lean with Minn - they're on the up - Wash is terrible and aren't expected to be any better - son't get fooled with reputation. Minnesota got a vote, Wash didn't again, PSU gets the preseason tougher team.
N'western---Purdue------------even  Again, NU got votes, Purdue didn't. NU is tougher on paper. 
Indiana------Wash St----------Wash St maybe - both Wash and Wash St do not look any good, but IU should be near/at the bottom of Big Ten. So, I'd say even, not clearly Wash St. Since neither rec'd votes, you have to say EVEN

if you're trying to judge the tougher road, before any game is played, you then need to resort on preseason polls, and Penn State has the tougher road, than ND:
 
Penn State plays 2 top 25 teams, ND plays 1. Penn State plays more top 50 teams as well.
 
It's not a screamingly more difficult road, but on paper, PSU has the tougher haul...Despite Phil Steele's analysis using last years records as the basis for his ranking.
 
And how do you know Phil Steele is an imbecile? He put Syracuse at #30!!!!????!!?!?!?!?
They play in the big east! They're even playing a 1-AA team! you've GOT to be kidding.
FSU at #1? They don't even play the preseason ACC best team. They play a 1-AA team in non-conference.  You cannot take Phil Steele's analysis seriously.
 
 
 

It IS too early to be talking college football if all you can discuss is Notre Dame and Penn State.

Notre Dame football is a joke, I can't believe people still talk about them like the 4 horsemen are still playing...

Davydd-
I am hearing good things about the Gopher's new stadium.  A team in Minnesota absolutely shouldn be playing football outdoors.  If tickets aren't too hard to get, I may try and get to a game this year.

Actually Penn State is my second favorite team because I always liked Joe Paterno since I saw him play for Brooklyn Prep against St John's Prep. I think it was 1944.  
Even then I was a big Notre Dame fan----since 1935 actually.

But Joe Rogo and I kid each other about the two teams------it is all in fun.

I never get crazy about something I can do nothing about-----life is too short to be nasty, or get upset about college football.

And Gee
G Needles
Be nice
To Weis
He's a Jersey guy.

the ancient mariner


Actually Penn State is my second favorite team because I always liked Joe Paterno since I saw him play for Brooklyn Prep against St John's Prep. I think it was 1944.  
Even then I was a big Notre Dame fan----since 1935 actually.

But Joe Rogo and I kid each other about the two teams------it is all in fun.

I never get crazy about something I can do nothing about-----life is too short to be nasty, or get upset about college football.

And Gee
G Needles
Be nice
To Weis
He's a Jersey guy.

 
Jeez, Are they saying that there are other teams besides PSU and ND
 
Who woulda thunk!

Scorereader





And how do you know Phil Steele is an imbecile? He put Syracuse at #30!!!!????!!?!?!?!?
They play in the big east! They're even playing a 1-AA team! you've GOT to be kidding.
FSU at #1? They don't even play the preseason ACC best team. They play a 1-AA team in non-conference.  You cannot take Phil Steele's analysis seriously.
 
 
 

 
I am now looking at a copy of  Phil Steele's "College 2009 Football Preview"
 
On page 315,  Syracuse is listed as #99  in the Power Poll Top 120.

Yea Joe ---Strange things are happening. 
The world is bigger than we thought.

Hey Grey how come your reading such high class literature.  I thought you limited yourself to the Daily Telegraph.

buffetbuster


Davydd-
I am hearing good things about the Gopher's new stadium.  A team in Minnesota absolutely shouldn be playing football outdoors.  If tickets aren't too hard to get, I may try and get to a game this year.

It appears to be a state of the art class A stadium. Since it seats more people than they averaged at the Metrodome, tickets might be available. But who knows? Here is the website on it.

http://stadium.gophersports.com/

Don't forget the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers had won 6 national championships in football. The glory years could come back with this move.

Greymo

Scorereader





And how do you know Phil Steele is an imbecile? He put Syracuse at #30!!!!????!!?!?!?!?
They play in the big east! They're even playing a 1-AA team! you've GOT to be kidding.
FSU at #1? They don't even play the preseason ACC best team. They play a 1-AA team in non-conference.  You cannot take Phil Steele's analysis seriously.
 
 
 

 
I am now looking at a copy of  Phil Steele's "College 2009 Football Preview"
 
On page 315,  Syracuse is listed as #99  in the Power Poll Top 120.

That's the power poll, I'm talking about Strength of Schedule Poll. The conversation was about ND's strength of schedule v. Penn State's -not their power poll positions.
 
I missed one aspect though, as of July 29, he put South Carolina ahead of FSU - in an earlier version on his website, he had FSU in 1st. (keep in mind, he changes his SOS all Spring long - he says, due to scheduling changes - although schedules don't chage much from April to July - so his print version of his rankings are at the time of the publishing)
 
see Orlando Sentinel article on SOS: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college/2009/07/phil-steeles-toughest-schedule.html
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

BTW - I should point out, that Steele has a history of overrating the ACC and FLorida teams in general _ look at his history of Florida and ACC schools in his preseason poll and final AP poll results  (see Clemson from last year). But FSU at #2? He must have a high regard for the ACC this year - and to put FSU at the top of SOS in the ACC when they don't play the supposed top team in the ACC (VaTech) and they play a 1-AA team is a little odd in the least.
 

Minnesota Golden Gophers - ---"The Glory Years could come back with this move". 

Davy I hate to say this,  but unless this move means moving the stadium to where the weather is hot and so are the girls, Minny-so-ta's glory years are just a golden dream. 

They were great years ago.

the ancient mariner


I believe football played in college should be between two teams whose students are in college to get an education.  It ain't that way no mo'. 
 

I agree completely.  College sports is out of control and a complete joke.  I'd like to roll it all back to about 1950 when the kids were students and they had fun playing a little ball on the side.

Oh, and  GO HAWKEYES!!!!

WarToad

the ancient mariner


I believe football played in college should be between two teams whose students are in college to get an education.  It ain't that way no mo'. 
 

I agree completely.  College sports is out of control and a complete joke.  I'd like to roll it all back to about 1950 when the kids were students and they had fun playing a little ball on the side.

unless you plan on eliminating pro-football - or somehow find a way to make pro-footbal salaries on par with those pro salaries of the 50's, that'll never happen. What you're talking about doesn't happen in high school. Since kids are striving for multi-million dollar contracts - they have to start training at a young age. It may not be "right" but it's the situation when this kind of money is on the line for these elite players.
 
But, your attitude is a bit over the top. To begin with, while we - like ESPN, focus on the top athletes, the vast majority of college football players are not pursuing professional sports as a career. Only 1% of these athletes will make it. Another 2-3% are hoping tey have a shot. The rest of the 97% know that college is the end of their sports career - and football is "on the side."
 
If you want that to be the case for ALL players, start watching D-III football. The play level with remind you of the 50's, and none of the players are on scholarship and football is definately on the side in the scheme of their education -although, they workout in the gym and practice an awful lot for an unpaid, part-time, no future endeavor. They certainly do play for the love of the game.
 
I whole-heartedly disagree with you that college sports is a complete joke. As an Iowa fan, I suggest you go to Iowa City and tell that to their varsity wrestling team. They'd be glad to roll you back to 1950 - you may never return
 
 

I made a trip through the Holy Land today.
 

 
I'll bet there isn't anything that high in South Bend, or all of Minnesota

Gators start the season at #1 in the AP Poll .

The first Saturday (Sept. 5th) of the season has its usual batch of mismatches, but there are some real interesting games; 'Bama is at VA Tech, Boise St. hosts Oregon & BYU visits Okla. Then on Labor Day night, Miami's at FSU. That should shake up the polls a bit.

big 12 coaches/youngstown connection:

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/1408190.html

So. Carolina over NC State 7-3.
Boise St. over Oregon 19-8.

Looks like the defenses are more than a little ahead of the offenses this early in the season.

How about the fireworks after the Boise St.-Oregon game last night!
 
Brad

FYI - Today is National College Colors Day - so wear your college gear today with pride!



We are...

PENN STATE

Notre Dame and Penn State both have relatively easy schedules.   Arguing about some of the teams that ND and PSU play is like choosing who is worse between the Royals, Orioles, Pirates and Nationals in MLB- they are all lousy. 

Notre Dame has had some top 10 recruiting classes in the last several years, so I don't think it's time to call them dead yet.  I don't know enough about the inner operations in most schools as to whether "they do it right" or not, but on the surface, they sure seem to.  As far as Notre Dame and their training tables, there are a lot of rumblings that that is about to change soon and Notre Dame players will be having a training table. 

In my opinion, if you're going to watch college athletics, don't mix the word "education" in there.  The elite programs are high-revenue producing profit centers for the universities- and I don't think that any program goes unscathed in bending requirements for high level athletes.
 
 

We University of Oregon fans are mightily embarassed after our running back threw that punch at the Boise State player and tried to punch a few fans. Thank God the Oregon coaches, the Oregon players and the Boise State  fans, coaches and players all kept their heads and the situation did not get worse. The running back has been suspended for the year and has gone from a draft pick to nothing. This is one of the worst moments in U of O history. I am glad the school took quick and decisive action.

saps




In my opinion, if you're going to watch college athletics, don't mix the word "education" in there.  The elite programs are high-revenue producing profit centers for the universities- and I don't think that any program goes unscathed in bending requirements for high level athletes.
 
 

Yes, the Penn State women's volleyball team (the most elite women's volleyball program in the country for the past few years) is really raking it in.

I'll clarify.  Elite football and basketball programs (primarily) are large revenue generators for the universities that help subsidize other programs, such as women's volleyball, wrestling, etc.  The revenues are not specifically applied to the program that is producing them, but the lion's share certainly does go into the high-producing program.  

 

ND has a big game with Michigan.  Maybe The Mariner will come out of hibernation