Too early for college football? ('09 Version)

While BYU over OK was the upset of the week, I think the Miami-FSU contest was the best game of the week, with the winner not known until the last few seconds. This would have made a great bowl game...the fact that it was in the season's first weekend was just icing on the cake.

And the fact that I am a UM grad and HUGE Hurricanes fan made it even better....although I think I lost 5 lbs during the game

saps


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.  

 

Yes, those sports help other students athletes achieve success. And the vast majority of NCAA participants do not go pro in their sport.
 
Also, money from these programs go to programs in their conference that do not have the large funds. For example, when Penn State went to the Rose Bowl, Indiana Athletic Department got some of the cash. And thta cash goes to the football program and other sports programs.
 
However, to say education doesn't play into it, is a very narrow view. These athletes get a free education for their efforts. And they use that education to get jobs in the fields of their major.
 
I hear pro-sport fans say all the time that college is just as corrupt as the NFL or NBA.   They use the TV money and bowl money to "prove" their point. But, the comparison is laughable. The argument is used to make themself feel better about wearing a Mike Vick shirt - even though, if Mike Vick had sone that in college, he'd be out.
 
Take the Oregon player who punched the Boise State player. He's OUT of college football. Ron Artest is still playing basketball, though -earning millions.
 
Education, is the absolutely still a major factor in NCAA sports - across the board. The money generated is used to promote the colleges to get the best students and student athletes to attend their university. Penn State athletes team had an 84% graduation rate. Wheaton College, in your neck of the woods, was only 2% higher, at 86%. Wheaton is a private school, Penn State is a state school. I'd say that Penn State is doing a pretty good job with their student athletes - getting them degrees. So, education is no joke at Penn State.
 
 

Scorereader

saps


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.  

 

Yes, those sports help other students athletes achieve success. And the vast majority of NCAA participants do not go pro in their sport.
 
Also, money from these programs go to programs in their conference that do not have the large funds. For example, when Penn State went to the Rose Bowl, Indiana Athletic Department got some of the cash. And thta cash goes to the football program and other sports programs.
 
However, to say education doesn't play into it, is a very narrow view. These athletes get a free education for their efforts. And they use that education to get jobs in the fields of their major.
 
I hear pro-sport fans say all the time that college is just as corrupt as the NFL or NBA.   They use the TV money and bowl money to "prove" their point. But, the comparison is laughable. The argument is used to make themself feel better about wearing a Mike Vick shirt - even though, if Mike Vick had sone that in college, he'd be out.
 
Take the Oregon player who punched the Boise State player. He's OUT of college football. Ron Artest is still playing basketball, though -earning millions.
 
Education, is the absolutely still a major factor in NCAA sports - across the board. The money generated is used to promote the colleges to get the best students and student athletes to attend their university. Penn State athletes team had an 84% graduation rate. Wheaton College, in your neck of the woods, was only 2% higher, at 86%. Wheaton is a private school, Penn State is a state school. I'd say that Penn State is doing a pretty good job with their student athletes - getting them degrees. So, education is no joke at Penn State.
 
 

Not really looking for an anrgument here.  When I'm watching college games, I'm focused on the athletes and not their education.  College sports aren't corrupt as a whole, although there is corruption within the system.  There is a lot of favoritism towards athletes in their within the elite programs, - even at such places as Penn State, Notre Dame, etc.  For all I know, Curtis Enis could have been running behind a lineman who was a Rhodes Scholar.
 
As to Wheaton College, that's pretty interesting.  I'm curious as to how grad rates are determined.  Both for colleges/universities as a whole as well as athletics.  Do you have any insight on this?  I don't, but if someone knows, I'd be curious to know.
 
Wheaton is an interesting school.  It's very religious and I believe it was founded by Billy Graham.  In fact, when you go there, you have to sign a document that you won't drink (alcohol, not all fluids) for the entire duration of your education, which includes holidays and summers, even if you're off-campus.

Scorereader


Take the Oregon player who punched the Boise State player. He's OUT of college football. Ron Artest is still playing basketball, though -earning millions.

 

I'm not sure why it doesn't seem to be getting much publicity, but even though Oregon basically ended Blount's college football career with the suspension he's not being stripped of his scholarship, which means he'll have the opportunity to complete his education and still make something of himself.  I don't know whether he will or not or even what his declared major is, but he's not being tossed completely on the scrap heap.  I hope he realizes this and takes advantage.
 
Brad

That's the second chance. No second chance at playing ball again, but a chance to make something of himself.

saps, I picked Wheaton because of your location and did the comparison. There's some formula. I found the stats online, but not on how they achieved those stats.

Athletic stats tend to be lower than actual graduation rates, because they don't take into account other factors, like transfering to another school.

I like the Curtis Enis reference. Another great penn state back who was lucky to have his college degree to fall back on, since his professional career was less than stellar - heck it was less than "alright." - in fact, closer to "pretty darn bad."

With its two-game "pre-season" over, Florida opens its SEC schedule by hosting Tennessee, whose coach has given the Gators all sorts of bulletin board fodder. It should be interesting!

Tennessee couldn't take care of UCLA at home, I don't think UF needs to worry.

Umm, what happened to the optimistic Notre Dame talk?

cavandre


Miami's first four games are FSU (#19), Georgia Tech (#15), Virginia Tech (#7) and then Oklahoma (#3). That's a brutal way to open a season!

Miami's 2-0 & seems to be getting better each week. They now have 9 days to get ready for VA Tech. This could get real interesting!

I have to agree, Miami might be a dark horse in the ACC.

While #1 & #2 both won, neither looked all that formidable against unranked opponents. Of course they both looked better than #3, who lost to Washington. Did anyone see that old fashioned a$$ whuppin' FSU threw at #7 BYU coming?

Florida #1 Texas #2,who knows how this will play out?

South Carolina beats Ole Miss 16-10. Two surprises in one game; SC beats a team in the top 5 & a Spurrier team wins because of its Defense.
 
So another top 5 team takes a hit...wonder who's next?

cavandre


South Carolina beats Ole Miss 16-10. Two surprises in one game; SC beats a team in the top 5 & a Spurrier team wins because of its Defense.
 
So another top 5 team takes a hit...wonder who's next?

 
It's breakin my heart to say this.  But I believe PSU is next.
 
Not a word Zio!

Joseph my boy, The Patron Saint of PSU football (JoePa) will
whoop those Hog farmers----have no fear.  Now that the Nittany Lions
are finished playing around with Akron and Temple and the like they
will get down to business. 

In the mean time------the Fighting Irish will have their hands
full with Frank Purdue and his chicks.  I know Frank misspelled
his name all those years, but chicken pluckers ain't too smart anyhow. 
He had his oven stuffed with roasters and money though !!!!!!!!!!

the ancient mariner


Joseph my boy, The Patron Saint of PSU football (JoePa) will
whoop those Hog farmers----have no fear.  Now that the Nittany Lions
are finished playing around with Akron and Temple and the like they
will get down to business.  

Here's the bowl. Sorry, Ancient.
 

Joe Pa threw the game---his God Father from Brook-a-lean told him
the spread and promised him another broken leg, or worse yet already. 
I was busy watching ND win big time ( no nails left on my fingers), but from
what I have read Paterno no longer coachs, he gives general directions and the assistants run the show---and they are running it into the coal filled grounds of PA.

Guiseppe Rogo-------it was a good game for the first few PSU plays I understand---then it was dullsville until Iowa got going.  Maybe JoePa will retire now and come down to St Pete and relax, he is getting gray.  He deserves a break.

And so they fall. ND's loss to (at that time) unranked Michigan now doesn't look so bad compared to the thrashings taken by Cal, USC, PSU, Ole Miss, FSU, UNC, Wash... and the squeakers won by Mich, Houston, Georgia, TCU, LSU, and Cincy.

Never before has "ranked" so much meant "opinion" as now. The only team I see really better than the rest is Florida. Good for them that they have a off week before coming up on LSU. It will be interesting to see if LSU, Arkansas, SoCar and Georgia will rise to the challenge.

Mosca, don't know how you can call PSU's loss a "thrashing." They were leading the game into the 4th quarter.
Iowa was underranked, and PSU was overranked for sure. I never thought PSU was #4/5 in the country. Probably 12th-20th. Iowa should be in the same neighborhood.

If Florida loses Tebow, they're done. Texas IMO is the best team in the country. They were better than OU last year, and they're better this year, too.

Va Tech is overrated - by fact that Miami was not a top 10 team in the country - not even close.

So is CinCin. They're 4-0 against teams no better than those Wisconsin has beaten, and Wisconsin is not ranked.

So if that's all that Paterno does, it's really time for him to step aside.  Great coach, great career.  Time to ahead off into the sunset.

I've never hear that about Paterno. In fact, I've heard the opposite, that he's very involved. That information came from an on campus source. The papers would like people to think he's not active - partly because I think they doubt it. But the assistants don't run the show. Joe does give them latitude, to a point, and allows them to do their jobs. After that loss, however, I think the leash will be tightened.

With a QB getting his first college start, USF beat one of Florida's big 3 in their own house and the game wasn't near as close as the score might indicate. Their defense out-hit & out-hustled the FSU offense for all four quarters. It seemed that every kid on the UCF squad wanted to let the FSU recruiters know that they made a big mistake when they didn't offer them a schlorship.

the ancient mariner


Joe Pa threw the game---his God Father from Brook-a-lean told him
the spread and promised him another broken leg, or worse yet already. 
I was busy watching ND win big time ( no nails left on my fingers), but from
what I have read Paterno no longer coachs, he gives general directions and the assistants run the show---and they are running it into the coal filled grounds of PA.

Guiseppe Rogo-------it was a good game for the first few PSU plays I understand---then it was dullsville until Iowa got going.  Maybe JoePa will retire now and come down to St Pete and relax, he is getting gray.  He deserves a break.

 
Now, Now,  Don't go struttin too much.  You may see Charlie on the beach before JoePa

You have a better chance of seeing Charlie at the buffet table than the beach.

saps


You have a better chance of seeing Charlie at the buffet table than the beach.

Charlie on the beach, belly up with people taking pictures...

Just wait a ------ing minute.  That's my coach your making fun of.  I
admit he is a chubby, but let's see how many Roadfooders can pass
the "I look great in a bathing suit" test.  Let he who is without fat throw
the first rock.  

I can sit here in my condo and look down at the pool---not
too many great figures, cause as Carol Channing once sang "We all loose
our shape in the end".    By the way what is the name of the Maryland coach ?
He must outweigh Charlie by 100#------

Actually, I don't care what a coach looks like if the team is winning. 
Bob Davies, Ty Willingham and Gary Faust were all thin losing coachs at ND.

So eat, drink and make merry we are 3-1 so far.  Keep winning Charles, ol' boy.

Got my fingers crossed vs Washington !!!!!

Aw heck, he's my coach too, nothin' says we can't laugh at our own... and I couldn't pass that test, although my girth is less the fat ass type and more the huge belly type.

Mosca-------a win vs Washington, a week to rest our wounds and then the
big one---USC at home-----if we win that game ND fans won't care about
Charlie's shape, just his figure(s)-------we got screwed by the push by Bush
so we are owed one------and this year would be the time.  Go Irish

Hey Joe------forgive us for not mentioning JoePa but he has had the limelight
much too long---time to fold up his game plan and silently steal away.