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Subject: "2013 CFB offseason post" Previous topic | Next topic
3xKrazy
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21584 posts
Wed Feb-27-13 10:35 PM

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"2013 CFB offseason post"


          

Let's kick it off...

Sparty hires Jim Bollman as OC? For reals? They can't actually be serious, can they?

I don't know whether to laugh or to pity MSU fans. What a god awful hire.

  

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Topic Outline
Subject Author Message Date ID
I'm excited for Gary Andersen at UW and the end to the arrogant prick
Feb 28th 2013
1
LOL
Feb 28th 2013
2
we should have beat TCU. Stanford game was one we could have won
Feb 28th 2013
3
      yeah they got out-coached by TCU
Feb 28th 2013
4
      all we had to do was run the damn ball with John Clay
Feb 28th 2013
9
      could be, but if 2007-2009 can happen to UM
Feb 28th 2013
5
           I think it would and I don't think Gary Andersen is DickRod
Feb 28th 2013
7
                if wisconsin went to a bunch of cap one and outback bowls for 10 yrs
Feb 28th 2013
14
                     i disagree with all this
Mar 01st 2013
17
lmao@ suddenly shitting on beilema
Feb 28th 2013
6
      fuck yeah i'm shitting on him - mostly with the way he left and what he'...
Feb 28th 2013
8
Scott Cochran tour of Bama weight room
Feb 28th 2013
10
lol @ putting the cardio room upstairs so it doesn't distract players
Feb 28th 2013
12
      Must. Stay. Focused.
Feb 28th 2013
13
The 4 Bama players who were arrested dismissed from team
Feb 28th 2013
11
almost to 85. nice of them to make it easy on the staff
Feb 28th 2013
15
      Roll Tide
Feb 28th 2013
16
      ^^^^^^^^^^
Mar 01st 2013
18
      vvvvvvvvvv
Mar 01st 2013
24
      lol
Mar 01st 2013
26
National Championship Game or Bust.
Mar 01st 2013
19
I don't know about the best offense
Mar 01st 2013
22
OSU needs one of the incoming frosh to step up
Mar 01st 2013
23
      JALIN MARSHALL!
Mar 01st 2013
28
           RE: JALIN MARSHALL!
Mar 08th 2013
38
                jalin defiintely gets talked about less cause he committed so early
Mar 08th 2013
41
                     yeah I figured Jordan Hall would be in the Percy Harvin role
Mar 12th 2013
48
                          ahhh im sick of hearing about the percy harvin role
May 30th 2013
125
Y'all can't beat Bama, Oregon, FSU or TexAM. #Speeeeed
Apr 22nd 2013
66
      RE: Y'all can't beat Bama, Oregon, FSU or TexAM. #Speeeeed
Apr 28th 2013
78
      LOL
Mar 04th 2014
312
           Your alma mater supports rapists. Be proud, young man.
Mar 04th 2014
313
                *pats your head* nice try, troll!
Mar 04th 2014
314
                     so apparently trolling = posting shit you don't like?
Mar 04th 2014
315
                          no it's engaging in fallacious/reductive arguments to provoke a response...
Mar 05th 2014
316
                               does this count as one of your many Ws?
Mar 05th 2014
317
                               and your post wasn't designed to provoke a response?
Mar 05th 2014
318
      ^^^^this was pure hating lol
Mar 04th 2014
310
USC is so beyond fucked.
Mar 01st 2013
20
details? and why can't they be replaced?
Mar 01st 2013
21
      Four players no longer part of USC program
Mar 01st 2013
25
      that could very well just be standard attrition
Mar 01st 2013
27
      they didn't even use the full limited amount of schollies they had
Jul 16th 2013
211
Gardner got the medical hardship
Mar 05th 2013
29
not surprised but real happy
Mar 05th 2013
30
lol wow, that's some bullshit
Mar 05th 2013
31
      Flagable offense
Mar 05th 2013
32
           courtesy of @Bry_Mac...
Mar 05th 2013
33
I just placed a bet on Bridgewater for Heisman today
Mar 07th 2013
34
Jesus. Might have to get on that too
Mar 07th 2013
35
South Carolina has the best cover for their spring media guide
Mar 07th 2013
36
Saw it comin a mile away
Mar 08th 2013
37
      it'll be about 10 years before they stop showing that regularly
Mar 08th 2013
40
           Hey, it is one of the greatest plays in the last 10 years
Mar 08th 2013
42
           yep...i thought Michigan was gonna put that game away that drive
Mar 08th 2013
43
                That was the very next play after "the spot"
Mar 08th 2013
44
                     lol the single best officiating break any of my teams has ever got
Mar 08th 2013
45
           Jack Hoffman's TD run booted it off the main stage
Apr 23rd 2013
72
                LOL no
Apr 23rd 2013
73
                     ended the 42 week run on ESPN
Apr 23rd 2013
75
lmao @ kerry coombs...fast forward this about 40 secs in
Mar 08th 2013
39
Can Johnny Manziel be stopped?
Mar 08th 2013
46
Sooo..now we know why Se'Von Pittman transferred
Mar 12th 2013
47
Dirty dirty ducks
Apr 16th 2013
49
LMAO @ probation and loss of *A* scholarship
Apr 16th 2013
50
there is 1 thing that is "new" in all of this -
Apr 16th 2013
51
      It's pretty obvious dude...
Apr 16th 2013
52
           Actually what's "pretty obvious"
Apr 16th 2013
53
                I've read that the redacted segments are supposed to claim that
Apr 16th 2013
54
                     sfmatt is treading hard.. like an (Oregon) duck in that river in Egypt
Apr 22nd 2013
55
                     I've read that too, and infante knows his shit
Apr 22nd 2013
63
some storylines (not related to your team) youre interested in this offs...
Apr 22nd 2013
56
Few things I'm interested in
Apr 22nd 2013
57
T Bridge may win the Heisman
Apr 22nd 2013
58
add manziel, braxton, tajh boyd into the mix
Apr 22nd 2013
59
      marcus mariotta too....nm
Apr 22nd 2013
61
           yep...solid qb talent pool this year
Apr 22nd 2013
62
georgia/clemson best early big game matchup?
Apr 22nd 2013
60
RE: some storylines (not related to your team) youre interested in this ...
Apr 22nd 2013
64
Can Clemson take the next step? {swipe}
Apr 22nd 2013
65
They can't even beat FSU, next step ha!
Apr 22nd 2013
67
      ^^^^^WINNING
Mar 04th 2014
311
So Cal has a new coach and a new fast paced, high octane offense!!
Apr 22nd 2013
68
See you @ Cal Memorial in the second week of September..nm
Apr 23rd 2013
69
Troy Williams TD pass from Washington Spring game....
Apr 23rd 2013
70
Trojans offer Snoop Dogg's (fuck a Lion) son
Apr 23rd 2013
71
It will be interesting to see where Nate Dogg's son goes
Apr 23rd 2013
74
Lolverines trying their hardest to get fans in on time...
Apr 27th 2013
76
this obese MF'er stay encouraging an unhealthy lifestyle
May 02nd 2013
81
GLAZED!!!
May 02nd 2013
83
Legends & Leaders are dead! Thank You Dark Overlord Delaney
Apr 28th 2013
77
i'm glad the names are gone but i don't like the lineups
May 02nd 2013
84
      If there's a time for Fitz to make his move it is now
May 04th 2013
85
           does he even want to make a move?
May 04th 2013
91
                sorry, I did a poor job of clarifying
May 04th 2013
92
                     right. does fitz want a bigger gig?
May 07th 2013
96
Nothing like a sucker punch to let people know whos boss...LSU RB Jeremy...
Apr 30th 2013
79
ESPN INSIDER - Post-spring breakout players for '13
May 02nd 2013
80
4 STAR RB Craig Lee has qualified for UCLA..
May 02nd 2013
82
Butch Jones is KILLING it on the recruiting trail.
May 04th 2013
86
that's probably his selling point as well...
May 04th 2013
87
He and his staff are just great recruiters.
May 04th 2013
90
We'll see what things look like after a 6-win max season...
May 04th 2013
88
      I'd be stoked with 6 wins
May 04th 2013
89
Big Ten spring recruiting capsules
May 05th 2013
93
Projected Big Ten Standings
May 06th 2013
94
Projected SEC Standings
May 06th 2013
95
wow, Gamecocks dont have to play Bama, LSU, or A&M?
Jun 01st 2013
139
Nope, you stayin' in TALLAHASSEE boy!
May 07th 2013
97
C'mon!! Let the yute come to GA!!
May 08th 2013
100
Projected Big 12 standings
May 07th 2013
98
Projected ACC Standings
May 07th 2013
99
LOL
May 08th 2013
101
Projected Pac-12 standings
May 08th 2013
102
bunch of my Oregon brethren discussed this recently...
May 13th 2013
104
Whats going on in Austin? Daniel Gresham Decommits From Texas
May 13th 2013
103
should be brown's last year...get those resume's ready
May 13th 2013
105
Make-or-break scenarios for QB prospects
May 15th 2013
106
Driskel is so far away from being a NFL quarterback
May 15th 2013
107
It was a strange inclusion
May 16th 2013
108
Why do we talk about Logan Thomas every year?
May 28th 2013
112
because he's still amazingly talented
May 28th 2013
116
lol
May 28th 2013
118
Is Texas A&M a BCS title team?
May 23rd 2013
109
Is this the Longhorns' year?
May 28th 2013
110
Typical UGA off-season (link)...
May 28th 2013
111
RE: Typical UGA off-season (link)...
May 28th 2013
115
More Butch Jones hype
May 28th 2013
113
Is he recruiting with the new regime, chance to play right away mantra?
Jun 03rd 2013
144
      i cant believe some of hte players Kentucky is landing...
Jun 03rd 2013
145
           evidently dreams of the Liberty Bowl are exciting
Jun 06th 2013
156
BTW It's exactly 2 years since TatGate happened and Tressel's resignatio...
May 28th 2013
114
Ohio State was also very fortunate
May 28th 2013
117
      Completely agree....God knows who we would have hired instead
May 28th 2013
119
      the Chip Kelly effect
May 28th 2013
120
           i dont follow...?
May 28th 2013
124
      im not entirely sure tressel gets fired had this not been the case
May 28th 2013
121
           I think Tressel was done one way or another
May 28th 2013
122
Can Georgia make a BCS title run?
May 28th 2013
123
Can Oregon win without Kelly?
May 30th 2013
126
*T*OSU's national title path
May 30th 2013
127
seems like a mirror imprint of strengths and weaknesses
May 31st 2013
128
LMFAO
May 31st 2013
130
      It is true, Nebraska has the best offense in the Big Ten
May 31st 2013
131
           our offense is still missing that multi purpose h-back that Meyer craves
May 31st 2013
132
                Ted Ginn?
May 31st 2013
136
                     Yup, Ginn + Santonio..its been 6 years
May 31st 2013
137
someone got paid to write this dumbass sentence smhlol
May 31st 2013
129
Gordon Gee is hilarious and pretty awesome
May 31st 2013
133
Lol, he needs to keep his mouth shut more often but I think he's hilario...
May 31st 2013
134
LMAO I think we're a little passed that point
May 31st 2013
135
michigan's national title chances
Jun 01st 2013
138
D'Shawn Hand visited TOSU,& pretty much confirmed he's a lolverine
Jun 03rd 2013
140
LMFAO - i really want to know who said that
Jun 06th 2013
155
He's doing a good job. But I don't find myself getting excited over
Jun 03rd 2013
141
      im sure you prefer this to Dick Rod's recruiting though....
Jun 03rd 2013
142
      No doubt...
Jun 03rd 2013
143
      no one can know how hard a kid is willing to work
Jun 06th 2013
154
Vanderdoes to UCLA
Jun 04th 2013
146
it's absolute bullshit he cant play this season if he wants...
Jun 04th 2013
147
      Yeah, it sucks.
Jun 05th 2013
153
Thanks for everything President Gee!!!
Jun 04th 2013
148
lol, that dude can't keep his mouth closed
Jun 04th 2013
149
it sucks bc that dude had a knack for generating GOBS of money
Jun 04th 2013
150
ESPN needs to sign him NOW
Jun 04th 2013
151
Identifying 2013 Sleepers
Jun 05th 2013
152
Explaining my preseason top 5
Jun 10th 2013
157
Early value bets for CFB games
Jun 10th 2013
158
B1G recruiting
Jun 10th 2013
159
Camps attract next gen stars
Jun 10th 2013
160
another 5 star leaving USC ....smh...
Jun 12th 2013
161
he can't leave SC if he was never there to begin with
Jun 12th 2013
162
      true....lol...but while UCLA got top recruits...JC guys and transfers
Jun 12th 2013
163
      sounds like he was forced into staying....
Jun 12th 2013
164
Oregon's NCAA saga comes to a close before Friday
Jun 12th 2013
165
....what happened?
Jun 19th 2013
166
      ^^^^^^^^obviously furious
Jun 19th 2013
168
Aww Bret Bielema doesn't like having to gameplan for hurry up offenses
Jun 19th 2013
167
I'm excited for the Sonny Dykes era to get started at Cal and to see thi...
Jun 19th 2013
169
Too bad Tedford called plays like a eunuch in that game...
Jun 19th 2013
170
      Luckily for me Tedford is no longer coahing at Cal
Jun 19th 2013
171
sfmatt was right about the Oregon decision coming before Friday
Jun 25th 2013
172
they *deserve* a two year bowl ban...1 minimum
Jun 26th 2013
174
1 scholarship, 3 years probation. Unreal.
Jun 26th 2013
175
      http://i.imgur.com/86ZPSXh.jpg
Jun 26th 2013
177
      if it hasn't already been made clear
Jun 26th 2013
179
      Without question. You wanna win? Cheat.
Jun 26th 2013
183
      Ole Miss will get blasted tho...we can't just let anyone into the club
Jun 26th 2013
187
           That signing day, I imagine, looked like Blue Chips 2
Jun 26th 2013
190
      oh... is that why the NCAA is saying we were very cooperative?
Jun 26th 2013
188
      oregon's biggest penalties were losing CK and dontre wilson
Jun 26th 2013
182
Devin Gardner predicts win over "Ohio State"....
Jun 26th 2013
173
"shrug"
Jun 26th 2013
176
much ado about nothing...not sure what he's supposed to say
Jun 26th 2013
178
      Mike Hart hate is fine but can we please agree sparty created little bro...
Jun 26th 2013
181
           RE: Mike Hart hate is fine but can we please agree sparty created little...
Jun 26th 2013
184
                hmmmm, let me get back to you
Jun 26th 2013
186
                     you really walked into that one
Jun 26th 2013
189
                          I contemplated being specific but I let it go
Jun 26th 2013
191
                               he was a much better player than DG will ever be, yes
Jun 26th 2013
192
                                    imo, it was a media creation that sparty fell in love with
Jun 26th 2013
194
Nike - The Opening
Jun 26th 2013
180
my bad...
Jun 26th 2013
185
*throws tomatoes at post*
Jun 26th 2013
193
:]
Jul 13th 2013
195
lol
Jul 14th 2013
196
losing the best coach yall ever had and skating NCAA sanctions
Jul 14th 2013
197
      http://hscalifornia.scout.com/a.z?s=153&p=8&c=1&nid=5589368
Jul 14th 2013
198
      can urbs flip him?
Jul 14th 2013
201
           yea yea ok. And - No.
Jul 14th 2013
202
      a few years ago we lost the best coach we had ever had
Jul 14th 2013
203
           ooooh waterfalls....
Jul 14th 2013
204
                they're coming
Jul 14th 2013
206
Top CFB schedule winners, losers
Jul 14th 2013
199
Potential spoiler teams for 2013
Jul 14th 2013
200
lol KENTUCKY???? That is absurd
Jul 14th 2013
205
      Yep, they did lose to WKU and 40-0 to Vandy AT HOME last year
Jul 16th 2013
207
           RE: Yep, they did lose to WKU and 40-0 to Vandy AT HOME last year
Jul 16th 2013
208
Butch Jones still racking up on the recruiting trail.
Jul 16th 2013
209
running game, good special teams, and a stingy defense...
Jul 16th 2013
210
Cortez McDowell and Eric Lauderdale in the past three days.
Jul 16th 2013
216
Two more 4-stars over the weekend. Four in one week.
Jul 22nd 2013
231
      CBJ's recruiting is making me hate Dooley even more
Jul 22nd 2013
233
           That dude and his staff were worthless.
Jul 22nd 2013
242
Will Muschamp lob grenades with Jeff Driskel accuracy @ Urban Meyer
Jul 16th 2013
212
uh oh...don't wanna get that will muschamp angry
Jul 16th 2013
215
This isn't an anti-CFB offseason post but
Jul 16th 2013
213
by all means don't let any of us stop you
Jul 16th 2013
214
I don't post a lot though. I'm encouraging others to make separate posts...
Jul 16th 2013
219
Win a few natl championships and they think they have all the answers...
Jul 16th 2013
217
lol
Jul 16th 2013
218
i completely agree, and we do that during the season
Jul 16th 2013
220
You stay classy, Columbus...
Jul 22nd 2013
221
I believe the Meyerites would encourgae a seperate post for this
Jul 22nd 2013
222
if its true, too bad. hope the victim is ok. good luck carlos
Jul 22nd 2013
223
sucks that meyer encouraged his starting rb to punch a chick
Jul 22nd 2013
224
i dont blame Urbz. natural result of a OH-FL collabo.
Jul 22nd 2013
225
      we can blame tressel since he recruited hyde
Jul 22nd 2013
226
           *****dumb & deleted***
Jul 22nd 2013
227
           snark in a woman beater post
Jul 22nd 2013
228
                lol, i was just kidding
Jul 22nd 2013
229
                     lol
Jul 22nd 2013
230
                          i thought it worked
Jul 22nd 2013
234
                               dam.
Jul 22nd 2013
236
           the FL half of the collabo is Hyde
Jul 22nd 2013
232
                ^^^^^needs to hire ceej as a joke writer
Jul 22nd 2013
235
                     finally gettin by due
Jul 22nd 2013
237
                     i wasnt sure why you brought up tressel.
Jul 22nd 2013
238
                          well i brought up tress because he recruited hyde...not urban
Jul 22nd 2013
239
                               apparently you still need it explained to you.
Jul 22nd 2013
243
                                    RE: apparently you still need it explained to you.
Jul 22nd 2013
244
40 days left knuckleheads nm
Jul 22nd 2013
240
its official, Carlos Hyde kicked off team
Jul 22nd 2013
241
who cares about stable? there are only so many balls to go around
Jul 22nd 2013
245
just saying , it helps to have a RELIABLE 1-2 RB duo...now who?
Jul 22nd 2013
246
RE: just saying , it helps to have a RELIABLE 1-2 RB duo...now who?
Jul 22nd 2013
248
      I agree he isnt as good as those guys, but he's still good.
Jul 25th 2013
298
but he was proven...don't underestimate that
Jul 22nd 2013
250
      absolutely...it sucks. but the show goes on.
Jul 22nd 2013
251
What's the word on THE Vonn Bell?
Jul 22nd 2013
252
the word is your 'insiders' were conjuring up nonsense once again
Jul 22nd 2013
254
not kicked off the team, suspended indefinitely
Jul 22nd 2013
255
      you'd think they could've announced that at 8am this morning
Jul 22nd 2013
256
      translation: He'll be back for the UM game for sure... lol
Jul 22nd 2013
257
           shit I hope he's back for Cal...nm
Jul 22nd 2013
258
                there's video of the incident
Jul 23rd 2013
262
We (Fresno State) should be in the mix for a BCS bid
Jul 22nd 2013
247
how does fresno match up against rutgers week 1?
Jul 22nd 2013
249
      Probably a defensive battle.
Jul 22nd 2013
253
Shiny new Bama weightroom...remind me to feel bad for student athletes
Jul 23rd 2013
259
this argument always throws me
Jul 23rd 2013
263
it's always about these poor college athletes scraping by
Jul 23rd 2013
267
      eh, true...
Jul 24th 2013
287
remind me why we need to enrich the tourism coffers of southern cities?
Jul 24th 2013
268
way to go, hoke!
Jul 23rd 2013
260
he only called him? he couldnt make a personal visit to the kid?
Jul 23rd 2013
261
gotta love stories like this
Jul 24th 2013
271
Great story.
Jul 24th 2013
272
http://tinyurl.com/n7w5g8l
Jul 23rd 2013
264
it looks like Jackie Treehorn's house
Jul 23rd 2013
265
      LMFAO
Jul 24th 2013
275
      uh, obviously?
Jul 24th 2013
284
           do they give facility tours to the public?
Jul 24th 2013
288
                oh hellllllllll no.
Jul 24th 2013
289
                     OSU's facility is blocked off too
Jul 24th 2013
291
                          the alumni group puts together tours sometimes...
Jul 24th 2013
293
WHOOPS...sorry for almost ruining your life
Jul 23rd 2013
266
That is disgusting
Jul 24th 2013
269
Wow...there should be charges against HER...
Jul 24th 2013
273
agreed...the max penalty for whatever she falsely accused him of
Jul 24th 2013
276
      plus having to pay up the tens of millions that hyde stood to lose
Jul 24th 2013
286
The sports media is terrible.
Jul 24th 2013
278
is it up still?
Jul 24th 2013
281
RE: is it up still?
Jul 24th 2013
282
lol doyle is such a dickbag
Jul 24th 2013
285
dan wetzel too...but it won't happen.
Jul 24th 2013
290
so everyone agrees he should be able to punch her now tho..
Jul 24th 2013
279
So since the Clowney hit will get you ejected now,stop showing it right?
Jul 24th 2013
270
This sport will be dead in 5 years. So sad.
Jul 24th 2013
274
I only wish we weren't wearing those fucking alternates in that game
Jul 24th 2013
280
Yep.
Jul 24th 2013
283
making that kind of judgment call an ejectable offense
Jul 24th 2013
292
i agree...a 15 yard penalty is one thing
Jul 25th 2013
294
I was fully expecting to see a flag come on that play
Jul 25th 2013
296
Derek Carr played with a hernia and abdominal tear all last season. Wow
Jul 24th 2013
277
Day 1 of the Urban Meyer inquisition is over...
Jul 25th 2013
295
Braxton Miller and others raving about Dontre Wilson's skill set
Jul 25th 2013
297
George Campbell, No. 1 WR for 2015 commits to Michigan..
Jul 28th 2013
299
Jon Runyan's kid is part of the 2015 class too...I feel old.
Jul 28th 2013
300
I used to play basketball w/ Big John Runyon back when he was
Jul 28th 2013
305
      Hard to believe he's the same guy in the State Capital nowadays
Jul 28th 2013
307
so does ESPN 5* RB from KY Damien Harris
Jul 29th 2013
309
I suppose when you are as pathetic a football school as UK
Jul 28th 2013
301
sociopathic shit...nm
Jul 28th 2013
302
      You have to be a loser in the most literal sense of the word
Jul 28th 2013
304
           was prob kentucky's director of recruiting who did it
Jul 28th 2013
306
Demetrious Knox is a Buckeye. Thanks Mack Brown.
Jul 28th 2013
303
great get but im too nervous about next year's oline to enjoy it
Jul 29th 2013
308

temps2020
Member since Oct 21st 2003
8780 posts
Thu Feb-28-13 10:25 AM

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1. "I'm excited for Gary Andersen at UW and the end to the arrogant prick"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Bielema was and his inability to win a Rose Bowl.

Andersen is already a better recruiter and our team will be more prepared and tougher. We were fine in those areas with Bielema but not as good as we could have been.

We have some holes to fill and WR (again), replacing Ball, Wagner and Frederick, Mike Taylor and we are not deep in the secondary.

We got Coach Chad K coaching our d-line who turned Star Louteli from Utah into a top lineman.

I think Melvin Gordon is gonna beast as Ball's replacement. It will be interesting to see who's gonna emerge as the starting QB. We have a lot of depth now with Philips back and Stave healed. We got a Juco kid Tanner McEvoy who's 6'4" and can run and throw. Should be fun in camp.

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
35261 posts
Thu Feb-28-13 10:43 AM

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2. "LOL"
In response to Reply # 1


  

          

>his inability to win a Rose Bowl.

they've played better teams in each rose bowl, and lost 3 games by total 15 points

for your sake i hope the grass is greener on the other side, but i wouldnt really count on it

  

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temps2020
Member since Oct 21st 2003
8780 posts
Thu Feb-28-13 11:00 AM

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3. "we should have beat TCU. Stanford game was one we could have won"
In response to Reply # 2


  

          

but lots of termoil and injuries.

I think Andersen can at least get us back to the Rose Bowl and win.

Losing 3 in a row stings a bit.

  

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will_5198
Charter member
63111 posts
Thu Feb-28-13 11:02 AM

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4. "yeah they got out-coached by TCU"
In response to Reply # 3


          

although that's fair, since Gary Patterson is the second-best defensive mind in college football

--------

  

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temps2020
Member since Oct 21st 2003
8780 posts
Thu Feb-28-13 02:35 PM

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9. "all we had to do was run the damn ball with John Clay"
In response to Reply # 4


  

          

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
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Thu Feb-28-13 11:05 AM

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5. "could be, but if 2007-2009 can happen to UM"
In response to Reply # 3


  

          

it wouldnt blip anyones radar if wisconsin missed the next 10 Rose Bowls

THAT would sting a lot worse than losing them

  

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temps2020
Member since Oct 21st 2003
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Thu Feb-28-13 02:32 PM

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7. "I think it would and I don't think Gary Andersen is DickRod"
In response to Reply # 5


  

          

but we'll see

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
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14. "if wisconsin went to a bunch of cap one and outback bowls for 10 yrs"
In response to Reply # 7


  

          

u think anyone would care except wisconsin fans?

they wouldnt

they would take the opportunity to kick you while you're down about celebrating BB leaving then never replicating his success

but it would surprise no one. wisconsin just doesnt have the tradition *yet* and theyve done this in a historically mediocre big 10.

  

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guru0509
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17. "i disagree with all this"
In response to Reply # 14


  

          

>u think anyone would care except wisconsin fans?
>
>they wouldnt


>they would take the opportunity to kick you while you're down
>about celebrating BB leaving then never replicating his
>success


>but it would surprise no one. wisconsin just doesnt have the
>tradition *yet* and theyve done this in a historically
>mediocre big 10.


______________________
Planet Asia & Gensu Dean - Abrasions
Inspectah Deck + 7L & Esoteric - CZARFACE
Cocaine 80s - The Flower Of Life

  

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3xKrazy
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6. "lmao@ suddenly shitting on beilema"
In response to Reply # 1


          

i mean i agree but thats quite a change from previously held (and very recent) opinions.

personality aside, bielema overachieved at wisky. gonna be really really tough for andersen to match that.

i guess its mandatory to hate on your former coach regardless of how much he did for your program. (see: florida/urban)

  

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temps2020
Member since Oct 21st 2003
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8. "fuck yeah i'm shitting on him - mostly with the way he left and what he'..."
In response to Reply # 6


  

          

said to players while on the way out. plus his hissy fits on Twitter attacking fans at UW.

I'm immensely grateful for what he did at UW. I think he overachieved in the sense that he's not the best in-game coach when the game is close.

He's a decent recruiter and a players' coach. But he rubbed a lot of alumni and board members the wrong way and he had a big mouth.

I let shit slide cuz he was our coach and I think he was unfairly criticized by a lot of people in certain instances.

But, his true colors came out in how he left and how he's acted since being gone.

  

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yoose2lurk
Member since Feb 02nd 2005
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10. "Scott Cochran tour of Bama weight room"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1477450

---
Dynasty -
noun, plural dy�nas�ties.
1. a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group; Roll Tide.

Alabama Crimson Tide: 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 Nat’l Champ

  

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will_5198
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12. "lol @ putting the cardio room upstairs so it doesn't distract players"
In response to Reply # 10


          

"Everybody in the university uses this room. I don't like looking at it."

--------

  

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yoose2lurk
Member since Feb 02nd 2005
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13. "Must. Stay. Focused. "
In response to Reply # 12


  

          

---
Dynasty -
noun, plural dy�nas�ties.
1. a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group; Roll Tide.

Alabama Crimson Tide: 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 Nat’l Champ

  

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yoose2lurk
Member since Feb 02nd 2005
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11. "The 4 Bama players who were arrested dismissed from team"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1477629

The four University of Alabama football players arrested on Feb. 11 are, in Nick Saban's words, "no longer associated with the football team."

That comes as no surprise. No one seriously thought any of the four - Eddie Williams, D.J. Pettway, Tyler Hayes and Brent Calloway - would be playing for the Crimson Tide in 2013, given the seriousness of the criminal charges they face. Yet there was an immediate uproar, at least in some circles, that Saban didn't act first and ask questions later. That might have been the most dramatic path - but it might not have been the best.

In the 16 days that passed while the players were "indefinitely suspended," none of the four played or practiced football. Meanwhile, during that time, Saban got to meet with all the players, and their parents. "We met with everybody," he said.

He got a chance to determine precisely who was involved with what and look at their futures, not as Alabama football players, but as individuals. In the meantime, the official university procedures designed both to protect the student body at large and to respect the rights of the accused were able to unfold. In other words, two weeks did not cause the world to end.

The situation was bad for everyone involved - first and foremost, the victims. No one should lose sight of them. Beyond that, the accused have squandered an opportunity that thousands of individuals would love to have, not just wearing the Alabama uniform but, more importantly, the free college education. Their families have endured more and likely still face a painful and potentially expensive trip though the legal process.

They also left Saban in a no-win situation by leaving him no choice. He took some criticism, not a withering blast but a few swipes, because he didn't throw the four out the door immediately. Two weeks later, he is taking at least a few hits for dismissing them at all, at least from some journalists who relate the dismissals to Alabama's roster management. (I assume those individuals would feel better if the four had been kept on, which doesn't make much sense.)

Roster management is a valid issue but had nothing to do with this announcement, which was made as part of a review of several personnel items by Saban on Wednesday morning.

Will any of the four ever play football again? It depends on the outcome of their legal journey, of course. There might still be an athletic future for one or two, perhaps after a transfer or a junior college stop and a fairly lengthy probationary period. There might not. Jail remains a possibility. Whatever happens, the future does not depend entirely on the four players themselves - they ceded that control by their actions. But their entire future, athletic or not, depends on what they learn from this incident.

"Some learn by words, some learn by consequences and some can't learn at all," Saban said Wednesday.

The consequences have already been harsh, and should be harsher. But if they can't learn at all from it, that would be the worst outcome of all.

---
Dynasty -
noun, plural dy�nas�ties.
1. a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group; Roll Tide.

Alabama Crimson Tide: 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 Nat’l Champ

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
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15. "almost to 85. nice of them to make it easy on the staff"
In response to Reply # 11


  

          

  

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yoose2lurk
Member since Feb 02nd 2005
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16. "Roll Tide"
In response to Reply # 15


  

          

---
Dynasty -
noun, plural dy�nas�ties.
1. a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group; Roll Tide.

Alabama Crimson Tide: 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 Nat’l Champ

  

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soulfunk
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18. "^^^^^^^^^^"
In response to Reply # 15


  

          

  

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yoose2lurk
Member since Feb 02nd 2005
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24. "vvvvvvvvvv"
In response to Reply # 18


  

          

http://alabama.rivals.com/boxscore.asp?Game=39252

---
Dynasty -
noun, plural dy�nas�ties.
1. a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group; Roll Tide.

Alabama Crimson Tide: 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 Nat’l Champ

  

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guru0509
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26. "lol"
In response to Reply # 15


  

          


______________________
Planet Asia & Gensu Dean - Abrasions
Inspectah Deck + 7L & Esoteric - CZARFACE
Cocaine 80s - The Flower Of Life

  

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guru0509
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19. "National Championship Game or Bust."
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

and hopefully its Alabama (or TAMU) that we get to knock off.

A Rose Bowl win over Oregon would be a nice consolation prize however, considering we lost pretty much the entire defensive line and LB unit.

Easy schedule? Check.

If we can go undefeated with a new coaching staff & players that don't fit the current offensive scheme... imagine what this team will do with another year in the system and more familiarity with the coaching style, decision making , etc.

Shiieeeeet............

(Those 15 bowl practices we missed out on are crucial though, especially for the upcoming season)

Best offense in the B1G? Check.

Best QB in the B1G? Check

Best coach in the B1G? Check

The key question is the defense. A lot of young guys will see the field this year, and hopefully some of them grow up really really fast (especially along the d-line and LB units)


I have a hunch that this is Braxton's final year too...
______________________
Planet Asia & Gensu Dean - Abrasions
Inspectah Deck + 7L & Esoteric - CZARFACE
Cocaine 80s - The Flower Of Life

  

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
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22. "I don't know about the best offense"
In response to Reply # 19


  

          

I like the one in Lincoln better, yes Braxton is a better QB but I think the pieces around Taylor are superior

<-Fear Ameer

  

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3xKrazy
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23. "OSU needs one of the incoming frosh to step up "
In response to Reply # 22
Fri Mar-01-13 06:11 PM by 3xKrazy

          

and be someone you need to account for on the outside and take pressure off brax and the inside run game.

it was the missing piece in last year's offense.

obviously, it's hard to predict what a true frosh will do but they're very highly touted so if one of them can come in and make a splash...watch out.

  

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guru0509
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28. "JALIN MARSHALL!"
In response to Reply # 23
Fri Mar-01-13 11:53 PM by guru0509

  

          

>
>they're very highly touted


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaXVjlJoIkE

______________________
Planet Asia & Gensu Dean - Abrasions
Inspectah Deck + 7L & Esoteric - CZARFACE
Cocaine 80s - The Flower Of Life

  

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DonVito
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38. "RE: JALIN MARSHALL!"
In response to Reply # 28


  

          

Fellow Middletown alum.

We've sent plenty of players to OSU, but none as highly coveted as him since Cris Carter. If he works out as well as Carter did, y'all are straight

  

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3xKrazy
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41. "jalin defiintely gets talked about less cause he committed so early"
In response to Reply # 38
Fri Mar-08-13 09:40 AM by 3xKrazy

          

he does have to learn a new position, though.

jordan hall is also something of a forgotten man that could step up. he would've helped last year.

  

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
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48. "yeah I figured Jordan Hall would be in the Percy Harvin role"
In response to Reply # 41


  

          

As for relying on Freshman, Braylon Heard requested a transfer because of the RB talent coming in with 5A Texas player of the year in Adam Taylor and the top Cali RB in Terrell Newby arriving late summer.

<-Fear Ameer

  

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guru0509
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125. "ahhh im sick of hearing about the percy harvin role"
In response to Reply # 48


  

          

hopefully dontre wilson/jalin marshall/ezekiel elliot step up and own that position so we can call it "the dontre wilson/jalin marshall/ezekiel elliot" role

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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isaaaa
Member since May 10th 2007
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66. "Y'all can't beat Bama, Oregon, FSU or TexAM. #Speeeeed"
In response to Reply # 19


          


After Holiday Sale, take advantage of 25% off www.karmaloop.com w/ rep code JR9103 | Nike, G-Star, Spiewak, etc.
+ a full line of Women's wear (Jeffrey Campbell, etc.)

  

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guru0509
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78. "RE: Y'all can't beat Bama, Oregon, FSU or TexAM. #Speeeeed"
In response to Reply # 66


  

          

Bama? Cant say until maybe 3 or 4 games into the season...once I see how our D-line/LB play is..the secondary will be nasty. BELEE DAT.


Oregon? Lol, old news. I guess it would be cool to show em that you can field an elite defense & offense at the same time.

FSU? Worry about NC State first, let alone THE Ohio State...

Tex A&M would be an interesting game for sure, but I'd take Braxton over Johnny (obv) and Urban over Sumlin.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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brown sugar
Member since Jan 22nd 2005
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312. "LOL"
In response to Reply # 78


  

          

>the secondary
>will be nasty. BELEE DAT.

LOL

>FSU? Worry about NC State first, let alone THE Ohio State...

LOLOL

>Tex A&M would be an interesting game for sure, but I'd take
>Braxton over Johnny (obv)

LOLOLOLOL

<-- BAUGH SO HARD

  

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guru0509
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313. "Your alma mater supports rapists. Be proud, young man. "
In response to Reply # 312
Tue Mar-04-14 04:32 PM by guru0509

  

          

http://imgur.com/gxComzk

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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brown sugar
Member since Jan 22nd 2005
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314. "*pats your head* nice try, troll!"
In response to Reply # 313


  

          

<-- BAUGH SO HARD

  

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3xKrazy
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315. "so apparently trolling = posting shit you don't like?"
In response to Reply # 314


          

the definition of the word has become awfully diluted of late...it's so confusing.

  

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brown sugar
Member since Jan 22nd 2005
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Wed Mar-05-14 12:00 AM

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316. "no it's engaging in fallacious/reductive arguments to provoke a response..."
In response to Reply # 315
Wed Mar-05-14 12:02 AM by brown sugar

  

          

my post was about the complete and utter "L" he sustained
by missing the mark on every prediction he made. it had
nothing to do with UM or rape allegations, but that's how
he chose to respond instead of addressing the real issue,
which was his L.

as far as reductive arguments go, i'm SURE u of m truly
"supports" rapists.

the mark of a troll (speaking from experience I used to
troll all the time on here) is refusing to reply to the substance
of the post and just bring up extraneous shit nonstop.

I've accepted this is guru's schtick and it's behavior like
that that has diluted the quality of these boards.

*shrugs*

troll on.

<-- BAUGH SO HARD

  

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guru0509
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317. "does this count as one of your many Ws? "
In response to Reply # 316


  

          

of the post and just bring up extraneous shit nonstop.
>
>I've accepted this is guru's schtick and it's behavior like
>that that has diluted the quality of these boards.
>
>*shrugs*
>
>troll on.


you're such an idiot, lol.

i dont even have anything negative to say about your sub standard football team. it's bad enough.

now your alma mater doesnt even have any morals.

just sad all around.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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Wed Mar-05-14 03:37 PM

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318. "and your post wasn't designed to provoke a response?"
In response to Reply # 316


          


>as far as reductive arguments go, i'm SURE u of m truly
>"supports" rapists.

****Gibbons thanked the coaching staff for their support, and he specifically thanked Hoke for giving him an opportunity to kick despite on-field issues early in his career under former coach Rich Rodriguez. Hoke became head coach in 2011.

“I’d like to thank coach Hoke for giving me the opportunity to kick here after my struggles and believing in me and for Team 134 (the Michigan 2013 team) for having my back ever since I’ve been here,” Gibbons said at the banquet.****

Gee, sounds like support to me. Especially that part where Gibbons thanked the coaching staff for their support. You're welcome, Brendan!

Banquet speeches aside, playing the kid despite knowledge of his sexual assault was an implicit sign of support from the staff/university.


>the mark of a troll (speaking from experience I used to
>troll all the time on here)

I know your distorted self-image leads you to believe otherwise but you are STILL a troll. But please continue to cry about others trolling. The lack of awareness is really funny.


>is refusing to reply to the
>substance
>of the post and just bring up extraneous shit nonstop.

I didn't see an outright "refusal". You popped shit and then Guru popped shit back about an issue that's current and far more important than some prediction made a year ago.

And there's nothing extraneous about it. A rape cover-up is relevant and interesting. 2 things that the on-field football program for michigan is not. For a guy that blogged about free tattoos like it was his part-time job, you'd think you'd get it. But apparently not.


>I've accepted this is guru's schtick and it's behavior like
>that that has diluted the quality of these boards.

Yes, because bumping up a year old thread to type out "LOL" 20 times really added a new level of thought provoking complexity to this board.

I must have been asleep for the "golden era" of okp when this board operated as a formal, university style debate competition. I'm not sure what deluded fantasy you've concocted but this place is the same as it's always been...a sports message board where people talk shit all day. Get over it.

  

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isaaaa
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310. "^^^^this was pure hating lol"
In response to Reply # 66


          


New Mantra: anti-gentrification, cheap alcohol & trying to look pretty in our twilight posting years (c) Big Reg


Get 25% off www.karmaloop.com w/ rep code JR9103 |
Nike, G-Star, Herschel, Adidas (Men's & Women's clothing)

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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Fri Mar-01-13 05:30 PM

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20. "USC is so beyond fucked."
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

They just lost 3 more players.

And they can't replace them. (scholarship wise.)

This is crazy

  

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3xKrazy
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21. "details? and why can't they be replaced?"
In response to Reply # 20


          

>They just lost 3 more players.
>
>And they can't replace them. (scholarship wise.)

I thought they just have to be at X number each year

  

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guru0509
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25. "Four players no longer part of USC program"
In response to Reply # 21


  

          

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/21792210/four-players-no-longer-part-of-usc-program

Tight ends Junior Pomee and Christian Thomas and defensive linemen Christian Heyward and DeVante Wilson are no longer with the USC program, the school confirmed on Friday.

Pomee's omission from the roster is due to his arrest in early February. He has been removed from all team activities in the meantime. It is unclear why Heyward, Thomas and Wilson have departed.

None of the four received significant playing time in their careers, but losing them will definitely hurt USC's depth. The Trojans are already limited to 75 scholarship players due to NCAA sanctions, and coach Lane Kiffin has exacerbated that issue by signing under the yearly limit in his last two recruiting classes.

All four of these players were from the 30-man recruiting class of 2011, which was supposed to bolster USC's depth heading into sanctions. However, that class is now missing eight players, and several others have either been injured or haven't lived up to expectations.

The Trojans open spring practice on March 5, but with such a thinned-out roster, one wonders how much Kiffin will actually be able to accomplish.

Tags: Christian Heyward, Christian Thomas, DeVante Wilson, Junior Pomee, Southern California Trojans, NCAAF

______________________
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3xKrazy
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27. "that could very well just be standard attrition"
In response to Reply # 25
Fri Mar-01-13 08:44 PM by 3xKrazy

          

except standard attrition hurts like a mutherfucker when you have schollie reductions and then on top of that you're UNDERsigning, lol.

good time to be a walk-on at SC

  

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Bombastic
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211. "they didn't even use the full limited amount of schollies they had"
In response to Reply # 21


  

          

they kept like 3 to 5 and rolled them over for next year.

It seemed stupid to me but I decided not to get mad about it because I figure if they suck up this year with Kiffin & he flames out like I'm expecting, then they can fire him & have almost a full number of schollies to pass over to the next coach in his first offseason then be off sanctions completely after that.

  

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Ceej
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29. "Gardner got the medical hardship"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Shanes gonna have 2 years to watch and learn!!!!

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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cgonz00cc
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30. "not surprised but real happy"
In response to Reply # 29


  

          

  

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guru0509
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31. "lol wow, that's some bullshit"
In response to Reply # 29


  

          

oh well..

http://tinyurl.com/devinscared


______________________
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Cocaine 80s - The Flower Of Life

  

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Ceej
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32. "Flagable offense "
In response to Reply # 31


  

          


>http://tinyurl.com/devinscared

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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guru0509
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33. "courtesy of @Bry_Mac..."
In response to Reply # 32


  

          

"Wait... there's a medical hardship thing that teams use to try to KEEP players?" ~Nick Saban


______________________
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Cocaine 80s - The Flower Of Life

  

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Y2Flound
Member since Aug 16th 2005
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34. "I just placed a bet on Bridgewater for Heisman today"
In response to Reply # 0
Thu Mar-07-13 07:40 PM by Y2Flound

  

          

It's paying +1500

Have you seen Louisville's schedule this year? They are going undefeated.

http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-13/big-east/2013-louisville-cardinals-football-schedule.php

  

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Ceej
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35. "Jesus. Might have to get on that too"
In response to Reply # 34


  

          

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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guru0509
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36. "South Carolina has the best cover for their spring media guide"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/scar/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/2013-spring-guide.pdf
______________________
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Inspectah Deck + 7L & Esoteric - CZARFACE
Cocaine 80s - The Flower Of Life

  

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Ceej
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37. "Saw it comin a mile away"
In response to Reply # 36


  

          

Too bad hes in the NF........oh wait

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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3xKrazy
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40. "it'll be about 10 years before they stop showing that regularly"
In response to Reply # 37


          

kinda like the the marcus ray/david boston shot

  

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Ceej
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42. "Hey, it is one of the greatest plays in the last 10 years"
In response to Reply # 40


  

          

The context of the play adds so much to it too that many people dont even realize.

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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cgonz00cc
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Fri Mar-08-13 10:01 AM

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43. "yep...i thought Michigan was gonna put that game away that drive"
In response to Reply # 42


  

          

  

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Ceej
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44. "That was the very next play after "the spot""
In response to Reply # 43


  

          

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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cgonz00cc
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Fri Mar-08-13 10:15 AM

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45. "lol the single best officiating break any of my teams has ever got"
In response to Reply # 44


  

          

and thats what happens next

smh

  

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
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Tue Apr-23-13 09:42 AM

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72. "Jack Hoffman's TD run booted it off the main stage"
In response to Reply # 40


  

          

Michigan fans you are welcome

<-Fear Ameer

  

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cgonz00cc
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73. "LOL no"
In response to Reply # 72


  

          

  

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
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75. "ended the 42 week run on ESPN"
In response to Reply # 73


  

          

again you are welcome sir

<-Fear Ameer

  

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3xKrazy
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39. "lmao @ kerry coombs...fast forward this about 40 secs in"
In response to Reply # 0


          

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lEOw1RLCkC8

  

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guru0509
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46. "Can Johnny Manziel be stopped?"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

fuck that Johnny Football shit btw

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/blog/_/name/haney_travis/id/9023228/how-defenses-defense-johnny-manziel-2013-college-football


Given the attention donated in the past couple of months to his social calendar, it's quite possible that we've started to forget about the sort of season Johnny Manziel had for the Texas A&M Aggies in 2012.

You know, the one in which he averaged nearly 400 total yards a game and accounted for 47 touchdowns on the way to becoming the first freshman Heisman winner.

One small slice of the population, however, has not lost sight of Manziel's historic level of production -- because they're working to prevent it from happening again. And can you blame SEC defensive coordinators for their motivation? It's only their livelihoods on the line.

"People are going to have a better plan for him," one SEC defensive assistant told me this week.

Yes, the cat-and-mouse game that Manziel initiated as a first-year starter is entering its second season. Catch him if you can.

"Those tempo teams, the thing not many people realize is they want to run the ball. They want to spread you out all over the field and run it," the SEC assistant said. "If you've got Johnny Manziel in the backfield and there's one back, it really becomes two backs.

"He's always a constant threat for the run game, the designed runs and the plays he just makes with his feet."

There are no secrets now about Manziel, though Florida -- one of two losses for A&M and its QB -- was the only team that was truly caught flat-footed, since it was his college debut.

So how will defenses go about corralling him now that the so-called "book" is readily available?

The first objective, opposing coaches told me, is to stop the run -- whether it's Manziel doing the running or the team's backs.

"We didn't do that," another assistant told me, "they got settled in and we were playing behind the whole game. Being able to run for first downs is what allows them to get in their tempo offense, run a bunch of plays. Defensively, you have to figure out how to prevent that. We didn't."

The perception that the Ags will drop off without Luke Joeckel -- the left tackle who could go first overall in next month's draft -- is a bit overblown. Jake Matthews, who will move from right to left tackle, is a first-rounder in his own right. And one A&M coach told me this week that Cedric Ogbuehi, moving from guard to right tackle, "has a chance to be the best one of all of them." He'll likewise be coming to a 2014 draft board near you.

On top of that, A&M might have the deepest pool of running back talent in the country. Veteran Ben Malena averaged 5.9 yards a carry last season. Youngsters Trey Williams, Oregon transfer Tra Carson and Oklahoma transfer Brandon Williams will all vigorously compete for carries.

All those are complementary pieces to Manziel, who averaged 7 yards a carry and 18 yards per scamper on his 21 rushing scores. Eight of the running scores were 20 or more yards.

Generally, the response for a DC is using a linebacker or safety to be responsible for the athletic quarterback as a spy. And the opposing coaches said they did and will use some of that against Manziel.

But the best means of defending Manziel and the A&M offense, those coaches said, is to scrap your standard base scheme and get as many athletic defenders as possible on the field. Invent more "spurs" and "stars" and "rovers" and "bandits." Whatever you call them, get the hybrid-DB types on the field.

Running some version of nickel or dime -- Auburn's base under new DC Ellis Johnson will be a 4-2-5, for instance -- eats up some of the space that is the most valuable commodity to players like Manziel and offenses like Kevin Sumlin's.

Now, most teams around the country do not necessarily have the personnel to do that very well, but the SEC is uniquely positioned so that most teams do.

One coach pointed toward A&M's two losses as examples. Florida and LSU can trot out athlete after athlete at linebacker and defensive back. Manziel gouged the Gators in the first half. They adjusted and turned him into a passer in the second half, allowing them to escape with a three-point win. The Tigers also did a good job of stifling Manziel and the Aggies' offense, as A&M averaged just 4.9 yards per pass and 3.5 yards per rush in the loss.

And that's where the focus is for A&M. As Sumlin told me this week, it's a matter of changing "an athlete who's a quarterback into a quarterback who's an athlete."

That growth was evident as 2012 went along. Against Florida, when the run was taken away, the Aggies lost. Against Alabama, when the run was taken away, Manziel made just enough plays through the air -- the development of his receivers throughout the course of the season helped with this -- to complete the upset.

"He's evolving and our offense is evolving," Sumlin said. "That's something we all do together, we change a little bit and he's part of it."

The balance is sort of a tricky one for a coaching staff, encouraging Manziel to stay in the pocket and go through his reads versus allowing him to do what he does best, freelancing and making plays with his legs.

That challenge was passed from 33-year-old Kliff Kingsbury, now the head coach at Texas Tech, to 27-year-old Jake Spavital. Fortunately for A&M, Spavital was easily the natural choice.

He had been on Sumlin's staff at Houston, where he worked with Case Keenum. He worked with Brandon Weeden on Dana Holgorsen's offense at Oklahoma State and then with Geno Smith on Holgorsen's West Virginia staff.

Additionally, Spavital is one of Kingsbury's best friends. He regularly exchanged and picked apart A&M film a year ago, unbeknownst to him the sort of advanced scouting he was doing.

"He's the kind of young guy, just like Kliff, that can relate to and communicate well with Johnny," Sumlin said of Spavital.

"I know he can run and make plays," Spavital said this week. "My whole goal is to keep developing him as a quarterback and keep him in the pocket as long as I can.

"We want to develop him as a thrower, but not handcuff him and let him play ball."

In watching film, Spavital said the Ole Miss game was one that stuck with him in terms of Manziel's development. Why? It was probably the offense's worst game all season, Manziel included. Yet the Aggies managed a late rally, fueled by Manziel.

After his third turnover of the game, his second interception, the Rebels led 27-17 with 12:20 to go. By then, Manziel was gun-shy on most throws. As a result, he was relying too much on his running ability and not letting plays develop downfield.

But Kingsbury was patient with his young quarterback. He continued calling the same passing plays, imploring Manziel to use his arm. The game-winning touchdown in the final minutes was a 20-yard out route that Manziel had given up on several times earlier in the game.

"When he was forced to throw, he did a hell of a job," Spavital said. "You could see him progress as a quarterback as the year went on. With how teams are going to try to game plan him, that's what we have to do."

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Inspectah Deck + 7L & Esoteric - CZARFACE
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guru0509
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Tue Mar-12-13 05:39 PM

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47. "Sooo..now we know why Se'Von Pittman transferred"
In response to Reply # 0
Tue Mar-12-13 05:56 PM by guru0509

  

          

Report: Three Freshman Ohio State Football Players Linked to Alleged Rape....

http://abc6onyourside.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wsyx_osu-football-players-linked-alleged-rape-case-22742.shtml




no charges filed so "alleged" being the key term here...but yea..not good.

ugh.


edit, the incident happened in october..but no report was filed until november

  

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guru0509
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49. "Dirty dirty ducks "
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Reports: 'Major' violations occurred

http://m.espn.go.com/ncf/story?storyId=9177148&src=desktop

So I guess it's PAC 12 tradition to flee like a coward after cheating for a number of years...smh
_________________________________
this is...food for thought
you do the dishes ©

  

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cgonz00cc
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35261 posts
Tue Apr-16-13 12:46 PM

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50. "LMAO @ probation and loss of *A* scholarship"
In response to Reply # 49


  

          

jesus christ

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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Tue Apr-16-13 01:02 PM

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51. "there is 1 thing that is "new" in all of this -"
In response to Reply # 49


  

          

the NCAA and Oregon have agreed that Lyles became a Recruiting Agent of Interest.

That's *ALL*

There's still no LOIC tag attached to this, and the language from the NCAA Enforcement Staff in the public records released by Oregon suggest that there was no intent to deceive or act unethically.

If you all want to continue overreacting to highly sensationalized headlines be my guest.

There's still no reason to think that Oregon is going to be destroyed over this, or face USC like penalties.

There's also no suggestion that any players will ever be ruled ineligible *cough/hack* LMJ.

So again, we wait until Oregon's appearance with the COI to see what penalties come of this. In the meanwhile, the director of the Enforcement Staff has left and taken a job with Auburn. *facepalm*

  

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guru0509
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52. "It's pretty obvious dude..."
In response to Reply # 51


  

          

Oregon paid Lyles to "steer" players towards Eugene

And the Ducks proposed self penalties are a joke (just like our 5 game suspension for Tressel)

...but after Auburn skated, I honestly have no idea what to expect from the NCAA anymore



_________________________________
this is...food for thought
you do the dishes ©

  

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sfMatt
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53. "Actually what's "pretty obvious""
In response to Reply # 52


  

          

is that you - like many people talking about this today - haven't bothered to read any of the documents that the articles are basing their information on. The language pretty clearly states that Lyles didn't steer anybody anywhere.

  

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calij81
Member since Jan 17th 2007
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Tue Apr-16-13 10:28 PM

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54. "I've read that the redacted segments are supposed to claim that"
In response to Reply # 53


          


The heavily redacted “Finding 3” in the Oregon documents relates to gifts provided by Lyles to prospects.

— John Infante (@John_Infante) April 16, 2013



Those gifts included clothing, cash, and “free or reduced-cost services, rentals, or purchases of any type.”

— John Infante (@John_Infante) April 16, 2013



@georgeschroeder @andy_staples A very short name also got fined $20,000. Both are almost certainly Kelly.

— John Infante (@John_Infante) April 16, 2013

I don't know how reliable this guy is but this is out there.

  

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guru0509
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55. "sfmatt is treading hard.. like an (Oregon) duck in that river in Egypt"
In response to Reply # 54


  

          

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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63. "I've read that too, and infante knows his shit"
In response to Reply # 54


  

          

been following him for a minute (since before the Lyles thing)

but ultimately like everyone else he's still not sure of the specifics because the bylaws reference a number of different scenarios and the heavily redacted documents don't spell out which scenario is actually relevant.

  

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guru0509
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56. "some storylines (not related to your team) youre interested in this offs..."
In response to Reply # 0
Mon Apr-22-13 02:26 PM by guru0509

  

          

Life after Landry...Jones is gone, and it's now the Blake Bell era. Does Bob Stoops finally have a big time QB again under center?

Mack Brown.. 2005 was a long time ago..and Bob Stoops owns the souls of Longhorn fans

Louisville...how far can they get? Can Teddy Bridgewater carry this team again?

Devin Gardner time....

The circus in LA also known as SC...is this Lane's final year?

No Chip Kelly means at least 1 or 2 losses for the Ducks...very rare can a new coach come in and lead a team to an undefeated season..that team would have to be truly special to pull off a feat like that

can Dabo Swinney ever put together a good defense to go with that offensive firework show?

Kliff Kingsbury at TTU!


Holgerson's offense should be interesting to see without Geno Smith under center...

speaking of QBs...Jameis Winston (the number 1 dual threat QB of his class) will prob win the starting job @ FSU...

Butch Jones has a murderous schedule his first year @ UT ....


-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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Frank Mackey
Member since May 23rd 2006
2903 posts
Mon Apr-22-13 02:26 PM

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57. "Few things I'm interested in"
In response to Reply # 56


          

-Manziel's sophmore slump?
-Chip Kelly-less Oregon Ducks
-Lane being Lane

  

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Ceej
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58. "T Bridge may win the Heisman "
In response to Reply # 56


  

          

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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3xKrazy
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59. "add manziel, braxton, tajh boyd into the mix"
In response to Reply # 58


          

could be a really solid competition

clowney will get a nyc invite off his outback bowl highlight alone. but given manti's invite last year i wouldn't be mad at that in the slightest.

  

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guru0509
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61. "marcus mariotta too....nm"
In response to Reply # 59


  

          

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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62. "yep...solid qb talent pool this year"
In response to Reply # 61


          

.

  

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3xKrazy
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Mon Apr-22-13 03:07 PM

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60. "georgia/clemson best early big game matchup?"
In response to Reply # 56


          


>can Dabo Swinney ever put together a good defense to go with
>that offensive firework show?

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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Mon Apr-22-13 04:55 PM

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64. "RE: some storylines (not related to your team) youre interested in this ..."
In response to Reply # 56


  

          


>No Chip Kelly means at least 1 or 2 losses for the
>Ducks...very rare can a new coach come in and lead a team to
>an undefeated season..that team would have to be truly special
>to pull off a feat like that

But how often is that new HC actually hired from within, with basically everybody from a uniquely long-tenured staff still on board?

  

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guru0509
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65. "Can Clemson take the next step? {swipe}"
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http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/blog/_/name/haney_travis/id/9189835/can-clemson-tigers-take-next-step-elite-status-2013-college-football

CLEMSON, S.C. -- You forget how much the campus here resembles an SEC school until you visit, and particularly when you visit a day after being in Athens and two days after being in Auburn.

The late Southern author Lewis Grizzard once said Clemson was "Auburn with a lake." It's funny because it's true.

In fact, if the SEC were inclined to add another member -- and if it did not already have a school in the state; it would not want to do that to South Carolina -- Clemson would be a nice fit. Fervent fans. Big-time facilities. A national championship banner. It would work on a lot of levels.

But in this current reality, the Tigers are often hammered -- like most every other ACC program -- for playing a schedule lacking in clout. So it goes; it's a basketball league, still and maybe always.

But note that when Clemson hosts Georgia to open the 2013 season, it will be the Tigers' third consecutive SEC opponent and the fourth since the beginning of last season.

"And it'll be the third straight top-10 SEC opponent," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said, adding clarity to the thought. He laughs. "We're the SEC North. We have our own division."

Even so, it doesn't independently mean anything that the Tigers are playing these SEC heavyweights. How are they doing against them?

Let's review and then preview.


• The win against Auburn in the Atlanta kickoff game felt momentous at the time, but the shine came off it as the other Tigers' season progressed -- regressed, really -- until the firing of coach Gene Chizik.

So that didn't carry great weight in the end, even if Swinney says he thinks Auburn had the talent to win seven or eight games in 2012. In the end, it didn't; it won three and has a new coach, as a result.

• South Carolina? The rival? That's a sore spot these days for anyone wearing orange, Swinney included. The Gamecocks have won four straight in the rivalry for the first time since 1951 to 1954. (Swinney was born in 1969.)

It is not just that South Carolina is winning. It is dominating. The average score since 2009, Swinney's first full season, is 31-13.5.

"We've got to fix that," Swinney said wistfully, nodding when I point out that this is as good as South Carolina's program has ever been. "We've been good, but they've been a little bit better on that day."

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables asked me last summer if I thought the Tigers would beat the Gamecocks. I told him I didn't think so. He asked me why. I said it started up front. I told him I thought South Carolina's lines, and not just the freakish Jadeveon Clowney, were just better right now. And that is likely what separates the programs, as well as Clemson from most SEC teams.

• So it did bode well when Clemson knocked off LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, even if the ultimate rally required goofy play-calling from Les Miles' staff. It was not as if Swinney shrugged off beating LSU as good fortune. Clemson did hang in long enough, close enough to make a late push. It kept playing. "It was another step forward," Swinney said. "We finished great."

And then there is Clemson's next SEC challenge, Georgia. It's the first time the schools, separated by about 90 miles, have played in a decade. Swinney said the game was on the long-range schedule when he was promoted from receivers coach to the head job.

"I was just hoping to keep my job until 2013," he said, laughing. "It seemed like a long way off then, but it's gone quickly. Even then, I looked at it. People are excited about that game.

"I'm excited, but then I'm not. I'm not overly excited about playing a team that's that good."

That could work both ways. All these SEC games, more than any other program outside the 14-team league, could work to make the ACC seem far more palatable, winnable for the Tigers.

And their conference schedule is as manageable as it's going to get for any team that could legitimately contend for a national title. FSU comes to Death Valley. There's no North Carolina or Virginia Tech.

Early in our conversation, something sparked Swinney to say "when you're trying to be elite, the margin for error is small." And Clemson does feel close to elite, even if it is not quite there.

The Tigers lost only to Florida State and South Carolina a year ago, teams that combined for 23 wins. Both of those programs are currently pushing elite status, the Gamecocks for the first time and the Seminoles for the first time in about a decade.

A couple of things have separated Clemson from the top shelf, and it will have to address them in 2013. For one, the Tigers' yards-per-rush number -- 4.2, 69th in FBS -- was low. And that was with veteran back Andre Ellington and quarterback Tajh Boyd developing a run element to his game.

So what now that "Hot" Rod McDowell, who averaged 5.4 yards per on just 83 rushes, is the lead back? It will help that a previously inexperienced offensive line has matured, though it does lose veteran Dalton Freeman. Coordinator Chad Morris told me last week that his offense does require balance, so McDowell, D.J. Howard and Zac Brooks will have to help push the team toward that -- along with another good year from Boyd (10 rushing TDs) on the ground.

Secondly, coordinator Brent Venables' defense needs to continue its upward trend. Through the first six games in 2012, the Tigers were 112th out of 120 FBS teams in yards per play allowed (6.56). In the final seven games, however, the Tigers were 22nd in the country (4.91), demonstrating marked improvement under the first-year coordinator.

Granted, LSU was up and down all season on offense, but Clemson held it to 219 total yards and nine first downs in the bowl -- a reason Clemson was able to come from behind. Only one team held LSU's offense to fewer yards -- Florida, with 200 -- all season long. And the LSU offense faced the likes of South Carolina (406 yards of offense), Texas A&M (316) and Alabama (435).

Venables tailored the young-and-learning pieces to his system, and it showed by season's end. If that momentum carries into the start of 2013, this could be a Clemson team that takes the next step toward elite status.

"Our goal is to be a legitimate top-10 team, top-15 team," Swinney said. "If you're around there, then you're in it. That's where we're trying to consistently be, be one of those teams.

"If you live in that area, and the ball bounces your way, you've got a chance."

And if that does happen, Clemson -- as an ACC champ … or champ of the fictitious "SEC North" -- could very well run into another SEC team in a much bigger setting.

Here are some other notes from my travels the past two weeks …

• Michigan losing linebacker Jake Ryan, the team's leading tackler from a year ago, to an ACL tear was a big blow, but coach Brady Hoke and coordinator Greg Mattison were both extremely optimistic that Ryan would be able to return by midseason.

"If there's anyone who is going to come back faster than the doctors say he's going to, it's him," Mattison told me Wednesday.

Hoke echoed that, saying Ryan is "as unorthodox of a player as I've seen." Hoke had to laugh when he told us that he actually turned Ryan away when Hoke's staff was still at San Diego State.

"I told him when I got here that there was no way he was good enough to play at Michigan because he wasn't good enough for San Diego State," Hoke said, laughing. "We still remind him of that in the hallways."

• In complimenting Georgia QB Aaron Murray's athleticism, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn told me last week that Murray could probably be effective in a spread or zone-read system instead of the Bulldogs' pro-style set. But Mark Richt did not agree.

"He's a great athlete," Richt told me, "but this is the right system for him. This is what he needs to be running."

The numbers back him up. Even without an elite, A.J. Green-level receiver, Murray was first in the country in 2012 in yards per attempt (10.1), second in passing efficiency (174.8) and fifth in touchdowns (36).

• On the topic of Georgia receivers, the Bulldogs are hopeful that midterm enrollee Jonathan Rumph might have an impact on the offense. He had 96 yards and two touchdowns in the G-Day spring game, turning the heads of the team's coaches.

The effort was particularly useful considering Malcolm Mitchell was sidelined after minor knee surgery for a meniscus tear. Mitchell, who also repped at cornerback last season, is expected to be fine by even late-summer workouts.

• Michigan tackle Taylor Lewan had a pretty terrible mustache when I met with him Wednesday. He said it's an offensive line bonding thing. His is not even the worst. One of the younger linemen had to shave his because it was so hideous.

"We figured why not do it?" said Lewan, who spurned the NFL to play another college season. "It's Ann Arbor. No one's here in the summer, anyway. There's no one to make fun of us."

We asked defensive coordinator Greg Mattison if he wanted to get in on it.

"That's an O-line thing," he said. "Don't you know I hate O-linemen? That's totally for the other side."

• While I was sitting with Lewan, he noticed behind me that the "SportsCenter" crew was talking about tackles in next week's draft. He named Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel, Central Michigan's Eric Fisher and Oklahoma's Lane Johnson like they were best buds. I said, "You could have been one of them."

He responded, "I didn't want to be just one of them."

Another Michigan man, Jake Long, went first overall in 2008. That might not be possible for Lewan in 2014, because of Jadeveon Clowney, but he could certainly be the first tackle selected. A&M's Jake Matthews could be in the running, as well.

• I loved hearing the story about how Morris and Malzahn got to know each other. Morris was a Texas high school coach, struggling to keep his job after missing the playoffs.

He had heard about Malzahn's innovative take on the Delaware Wing-T and, in an attempt to hang on at Stephenville High, went to visit him at his Arkansas high school.

Fast forward 10 years, and Malzahn has a giant office in Auburn's facility and Morris has a comfy spot inside Clemson's West Zone facility. The two coaches still stay in regular contact. In fact, Malzahn has been a confidant for Morris as he has entertained job opportunities and offers. It's a similar road Morris is currently traversing.

"It's flattering to be wanted, to be talked to," Morris said. "It's going to take a very special place for me to leave here."


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isaaaa
Member since May 10th 2007
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Mon Apr-22-13 09:30 PM

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67. "They can't even beat FSU, next step ha!"
In response to Reply # 65


          


After Holiday Sale, take advantage of 25% off www.karmaloop.com w/ rep code JR9103 | Nike, G-Star, Spiewak, etc.
+ a full line of Women's wear (Jeffrey Campbell, etc.)

  

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isaaaa
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311. "^^^^^WINNING"
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New Mantra: anti-gentrification, cheap alcohol & trying to look pretty in our twilight posting years (c) Big Reg


Get 25% off www.karmaloop.com w/ rep code JR9103 |
Nike, G-Star, Herschel, Adidas (Men's & Women's clothing)

  

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calij81
Member since Jan 17th 2007
13929 posts
Mon Apr-22-13 11:37 PM

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68. "So Cal has a new coach and a new fast paced, high octane offense!!"
In response to Reply # 0


          

We will also have a new QB and guess what else we have that will be new!?!? NEW UNIFORMS!'

Oh we also have a new defensive scheme, switching from a 3-4 back to a 4-3.

New is cool!

  

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guru0509
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Tue Apr-23-13 12:07 AM

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69. "See you @ Cal Memorial in the second week of September..nm"
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-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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Warren Coolidge
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Tue Apr-23-13 12:19 AM

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70. "Troy Williams TD pass from Washington Spring game...."
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

rockin the Kurt Warner #13...lol.

He looks good for yuggin...

  

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guru0509
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71. "Trojans offer Snoop Dogg's (fuck a Lion) son"
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Trojans offer Snoop Lion's son
April, 21, 2013
APR 21
4:24
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/college-football/rumors/post?id=4983

PM ET
By Vince Verhei | ESPN.com
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Cordell Broadus (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar) is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound, Class of 2015 wide receiver. His father is Snoop Lion, formerly Snoop Dogg of hip hop fame and a passionate USC Trojans supporter. And now, those same Trojans have offered Broadus a scholarship. It seems like a match made in sports-and-music heaven, but the younger Broadus says he's not ready to commit.

“It’s real big,” Broadus tells Blair Angulo of WeAreSC on ESPN.com. “USC has a great education up there. It’s a private school, so that’s great. It’s a school I’ve always been dreaming of having the opportunity to attend. The dream came true.”

“This will mean a lot to him, but this just isn’t for him," Broadus said concerning his father's love for USC. "He just wants to see me happy at the end of the day. I’m just sitting back right now. I have two years left so I’m not really worried about it. I want to keep my grades up and do the right things so I can keep getting these offers.”

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
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Tue Apr-23-13 09:45 AM

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74. "It will be interesting to see where Nate Dogg's son goes"
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seems like Mr. Naijiel Hale wants to go to Oregon if they offer

<-Fear Ameer

  

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guru0509
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76. "Lolverines trying their hardest to get fans in on time..."
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Not even making this shit up....

Brady Hoke promises free donuts to Michigan students for noon home games


http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/brady-hoke-promises-free-donuts-michigan-students-noon-171120243--ncaaf.html


Dave Brandon tells fans to please support the team.....

"If you pay a price for a ticket, how much of an investment are you making in that ticket? We did a study to find out what other schools are charging for student tickets, because maybe we're too low. Maybe one of the reasons students aren't showing up is because they feel like they haven't made enough of a significant investment in the ticket."

"That wasn't our motivation. Our motivation was to get the students into the seats and be there to support the team."

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2013/04/michigans_dave_brandon_defends.html

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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81. "this obese MF'er stay encouraging an unhealthy lifestyle"
In response to Reply # 76


          

sad really

mich's female student body doesn't need that kind of encouragement

  

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Ceej
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83. "GLAZED!!! "
In response to Reply # 76


  

          

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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guru0509
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77. "Legends & Leaders are dead! Thank You Dark Overlord Delaney"
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Sun Apr-28-13 01:50 PM by guru0509

  

          

East
Indiana
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
*THE* Ohio State University
Penn State
Rutgers

West
Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Purdue
Wisconsin

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9220734/big-ten-schools-ok-realignment-9-game-schedule


The Big Ten on Sunday approved new East and West divisions for the 2014 season as well as a nine-game conference schedule beginning in 2016.

The league's presidents and chancellors voted unanimously to approve the recommendations from the athletic directors Sunday morning during a conference call.

The division realignment coincides with the arrival of new conference members Maryland and Rutgers.

Gone are Legends and Leaders, the controversial division names the Big Ten adopted in 2011, as the league went with a clear geographical model and geographic names for its new alignment.

The Big Ten East will include: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers. The Big Ten West will include: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin.

Every East division team is located in the Eastern time zone, while every West division team except Purdue is located in the Central time zone.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told ESPN.com that geography was the first priority in aligning divisions, followed by preserving rivalries and then competitive balance. The Big Ten used competitive balance as its top priority in aligning the Legends and Leaders divisions in 2011.

"It's pure geography," Delany said. "Last time, we were a combination of competitive balance and geography being last. So those names weren't available to us last time. We didn't have a lot of discussion on it."

League athletic directors met six times to discuss the divisions after Maryland and Rutgers joined in November. The presidents and chancellors spent 15-20 minutes discussing the moves Sunday before voting.

The league considered the results of a Big Ten Network survey in December, asking fans about the new division alignment.

"We thought the geography was a good way to bind the conference together," Delany said. "We also wanted to preserve as much tradition as we could, and we do that through the protection of the rivalries. Everybody will play everybody at least once in a four-year cycle, even though it's a bigger conference.

"It's good for the fans, it's good for the players. It strengthens our schedule from the perspective of the postseason and binds the conference together in a powerful way."


Delaney also said there have been no discussions about divisions in other sports but that basketball scheduling is next on their agenda.

The Big Ten will have a 31 percent increase in league games (from 48 to 63) despite adding just two new members.

Rivals Purdue and Indiana will play the league's only annual division crossover game. In the previous alignment, every Big Ten squad played one protected crossover each year. Although Purdue-Indiana is the only protected crossover, the league will have cross-division rotations.

"In the first 18 years, you're going to see a lot of competition between teams at the top of either division," Delany said. "We call that a bit of parity-based scheduling, so you'll see Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa playing a lot of competition against Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan. But it will rotate. Early on, we feel this gives the fans what they want."

The Big Ten will join the Pac-12 and Big 12 with a nine-game league schedule for 2016. The East division teams will have five conference home games in even-numbered years, and West division teams will have five conference home games in odd-numbered years. Big Ten team will play all of the other conference squads at least once every four years.

Big Ten athletic directors discussed moving to a 10-game conference schedule, but it ultimately proved too difficult because many league teams need to play at least seven home games a year to meet their budgets.

"It was fully explored," Delany said of a 10-game league schedule. "It would have been nice, but we were having difficulty seeing 28 nonconference games and getting accomplished what we want in terms of major matchups. We felt we'd have a much harder time getting to seven home games.

"We just thought it was a reach. Who's to say in the future where we may go, but right now, we felt nine was the right place to be."

The Big Ten last played nine league games in a season in 1983-84.

The league's athletic directors and presidents also approved a scheduling model that includes at least one team from a major FBS conference per year and no FCS teams. Delany hopes the model will be in place league-wide by 2016.

The league approved a nine-game schedule in August 2011 but went back to eight after forming a scheduling partnership with the Pac-12. When the partnership fell apart last summer, the Big Ten decided to keep an eight-game league schedule, which will remain for the next three seasons.

The Big Ten's initial division alignment for the 2011 season was based primarily on competitive balance rather than geography. Teams such as Wisconsin and Illinois were moved in the opposite division from some of their rivals, and several top rivalries, such as Michigan-Ohio State, were protected with crossover games.

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I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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temps2020
Member since Oct 21st 2003
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Thu May-02-13 04:25 PM

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84. "i'm glad the names are gone but i don't like the lineups"
In response to Reply # 77


  

          

I suppose this gives the Badgers are great shot at the title game each year. not sure how I feel about that.d

  

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
13992 posts
Sat May-04-13 04:35 AM

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85. "If there's a time for Fitz to make his move it is now"
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longterm it should be UNL and UW most every year

<-Fear Ameer

  

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3xKrazy
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91. "does he even want to make a move?"
In response to Reply # 85


          

i get the feeling he doesn't want to bang with the big boys

has he even interviewed for a bigger gig?

  

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
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92. "sorry, I did a poor job of clarifying"
In response to Reply # 91


  

          

Fitz meaning Northwestern

Wisconsin has a new coach, Pelini has an extremely green defense that wasn't special last year, Iowa is trending downward under Ferentz, Purdue has a new coach, Illinois is a tire fire

<-Fear Ameer

  

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3xKrazy
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Tue May-07-13 08:33 AM

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96. "right. does fitz want a bigger gig?"
In response to Reply # 92


          

.

  

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guru0509
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79. "Nothing like a sucker punch to let people know whos boss...LSU RB Jeremy..."
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2013/04/lsu_rb_jeremy_hill_punched_vic.html


A cell phone video shows LSU running back Jeremy Hill punching a man from behind and then celebrating with high fives when a second unidentified man knocked the victim out with another punch, according to a Baton Rouge Police report on the incident.

Hill, 20, LSU's leading rusher last season was arrested for simple battery early Saturday morning after the fight, which occurred outside Reggie's, an off-campus bar in Tigerland. He was suspended indefinitely by LSU Coach Les Miles, the school announced Monday.

The second suspect has not been identified but police are continuing to search for him. Hill has not been formally charged by the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's office.

The victim, Connor Baldridge, told Baton Rouge Police officer Clifford Crouch he was struck in the head two or three times and remembers waking up on the ground after Crouch arrived on the scene at approximately 2:13 a.m., according to the report.

Crouch watched a video provided by witness Casey Franz, who recorded the incident on his cell phone. In the report, Crouch says the video clearly shows Baldridge get up off the ground and walk away from the two suspects. Hill then punched Baldridge behind the left ear and Baldridge was then punched again by the second suspect, Crouch said in the report.

Hill and the second man can be seen in the video giving each other high fives and flaunting in front of Baldridge, the report says. The video operator can be heard saying "Jeremy Hill punching people."

With assistance from LSU campus police, Crouch located Hill near his residence at the West Campus Apartments and arrested him. Hill admitted he had been in Tigerland but was not involved in the fight. Hill continued to deny his participation in the incident even after being shown the video.

Hill's attorney, Marci Blaize, did not return calls to NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, but she told the Advocate in an email that, "Obviously, Jeremy was there as the video indicates. However, there is most likely more to the story than what is contained in a 30-second video." Blaize's email also said she was still gathering information.

Baton Rouge Police are still searching for the second man, who may be charged with felony second degree battery, according to the police report.

Hill posted a $500 bond and was released from East Baton Rouge Parish Prison at 11 a.m. Saturday, but the incident could land him back behind bars and could jeopardize his season because of a two-year probation he is serving. He rushed for 752 yards and 12 touchdowns last season as a freshman.

Hill and Avery Tate pleaded guilty to misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile in January of 2012. The two, then students at Redemptorist High School, were arrested for engaging in a sexual act with a 14-year-old girl in the school locker room in December of 2010. Both were given suspended six-month prison terms and put on active supervised probation for two years with the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney's Office. A condition of the probation was that he refrain from all criminal conduct, The Advocate reported.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said police are still looking for the second suspect.

Moore said the charge against Hill could be upgraded but is "probably appropriate for simple battery." He also said Hill could be called, this week or next, before District Judge Bonnie Jackson, who granted the probation in the first trial, for a review of the probation terms.

"It's her call but I think that's what's going to happen," Moore said.

Moore said Jackson might follow standard procedure of waiting for the newer case to develop and be resolved.

"He's presumed innocent, obviously," Moore said. "She will probably wait and see what happens before a decision on revocation (of probation) or not.

"I haven't received all the reports yet. I have a general idea of what happened and I've looked at the video."

Former LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson was sent back to prison under a similar situation. Jefferson had a pending charge of simple battery from the Shady's barfight incident when he was arrested for simple possession of marijuana last October. At a discovery hearing, presiding District Judge Chip Moore ordered Jefferson back to prison for violation of the bond condition for the first arrest.

Jefferson then pleaded guilty to the first charge and was released. The possession charge is pending. Moore said "different judges rule different ways."

Hill's suspension was the fourth time in the past year an LSU player has been suspended. Miles twice suspended punter Brad Wing for positive drug tests and kicked star cornerback Tyrann Mathieu off the team last August for multiple failed drug tests.

In August of 2011, quarterback Jefferson and linebacker Josh Johns were suspended for their roles in the Shady's barfight. Later that season, Mathieu, running back Spencer Ware and cornerback Tharold Simon served a one-game suspension for positive drug tests.





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guru0509
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80. "ESPN INSIDER - Post-spring breakout players for '13 "
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http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/blog/_/name/haney_travis/id/9235200/florida-state-jameis-winston-leads-post-spring-breakout-players-college-football


College football just entered its quietest month of the year, but that means we are just that much closer to the start of the season. Just four more months. You can make it.

In the meantime, let's project the breakout players for the 2013 season that began to show signs of stepping forward this spring.



1. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State Seminoles
I wrote last month about quarterback battles that could produce stars, this year's version of Johnny Manziel and Marcus Mariota. Not long after I focused on Winston, the race was called. Sort of.

Clint Trickett, at one point considered the favorite to win the job, is transferring to West Virginia. Winston was that good in the spring, despite the fact that he moonlights as a Seminoles relief pitcher.

Coach Jimbo Fisher swears the competition is not closed, insisting Jacob Coker is still in the mix. But one Florida newspaper columnist has already compared Winston to Charlie Ward.

Is Winston ready?

"He saw what just happened to E.J.," one person close to the FSU program told me, referring to E.J. Manuel's first-round selection last week. "That got him fired up even more. He had a nice, solid spring. He's an impressive guy."

But Ward? He was a Heisman winner and national champion. Winston is bigger and likely has a bigger arm, but does he have the intangible qualities, and unique running ability, that made Ward a star? With all due apologies to Coker, we're about to find out.



2. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor Bears
When I visited Waco a year ago, I requested to speak with Seastrunk. The SID guys tempered my request by saying he was third on the depth chart and might not play much. If I make it back this year, my request will be approved without pause.

Seastrunk finished the season with five 100-yard performances in the team's final six games. Baylor won each of those games, by the way. So the Oregon transfer was on the verge of breaking out when his team -- one of the hottest in the country, with a signature win against Kansas State -- ran out of games.

Seastrunk just got over 1,000 yards, even though he had just 181 through Oct. 27. What's the ceiling this season in Art Briles' offense? Is it 1,500? More? At what point does he become a Doak Walker candidate, a Heisman hopeful?

Some of it could depend on how good Bryce Petty is as a first-year starter, but those close to the program speak highly of him and he is the latest to join the choir of quarterbacks receiving tutelage from George Whitfield. After seeing how Nick Florence acclimated, even before Seastrunk surged, Bears fans have to feel pretty good about Petty. Petty, like Florence, had time to watch and learn. He's a fourth-year junior.



3. Jordan Jenkins, LB, Georgia Bulldogs
A lot of coaches I know considered Jarvis Jones the best linebacker in college football last year. (Sorry, Manti.) Jones' disruptiveness -- to the tune of 24.5 tackles for a loss, 14.5 of them sacks -- was unparalleled.

Jenkins, who had five sacks as a freshman, was on the field with Jones. Now it's his turn on a unit that will replace two first-rounders, including Jones, and a total of 12 players who started at least one game.

But Jenkins will be the cornerstone, and his rise late last season might have been a preview of what we'll see in the next two falls.

"He gets upfield in a hurry," defensive coordinator Todd Grantham told me during a recent visit. "He has a knack. We had to get him on the field."

Grantham also credited how smooth Jenkins' movement is for someone who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 257 pounds. (Jones is 6-3, 241 pounds, for the sake of comparison.)

The SEC sack race between Jenkins and South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney could be outstanding. What would the over-under be? It could be 15 or more. Jenkins is in a terrific system to push the 2014 No. 1 overall pick.

Jenkins might wind up being the preeminent defensive star, but safety Josh Harvey-Clemons has stood out in the spring work -- so much that Grantham is considering a safety-linebacker hybrid position that will get him on the field more often, sometimes making the scheme a 3-3-5.



4. Brandon Williams/Trey Williams, RB, Texas A&M Aggies
Earlier in the week, I asked someone on the A&M staff if any of the young backs had started to gain separation. He said not really, noting that veteran Ben Malena would be the lead runner and that both Williamses had great springs.

Trey Williams might receive the nod as No. 2 since he did play last year, averaging 5.8 yards on 65 carries. Then again, Brandon played some at Oklahoma as a freshman when I covered the Sooners in 2011. The tall, shifty runner was not that productive, but he showed flashes.

Malena's inherent value is in his ability to protect Johnny Manziel, something the coaching staff said the younger players are still learning. Whoever picks it up fastest could see the field more, though both Williamses -- and Oregon transfer Tra Carson -- have enough playmaking ability that they'll all get touches in Kevin Sumlin's system.

The situation reminds me a bit of Georgia's a year ago, when Ken Malcome, who has since transferred, was listed as a starter ahead of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. That worked out in the end for the Bulldogs (and introduced college football fans to two of the better young backs in the country). And this should for the Aggies.



5. Stephen Morris, QB, Miami Hurricanes
Is it possible for a player who passed for more than 3,000 yards and 20-plus touchdowns to fall into the breakout category? It's stretching the definition, for sure, but Morris' 3,345-yard, 21-TD season in 2012 was quiet, wasn't it?

I mentioned North Carolina earlier in the week as one of the nation's preeminent sleeper teams, but Miami -- also in UNC's division -- could be another. If the Hurricanes start turning heads and competing for a BCS spot, Morris could quickly become the face of the program's long-awaited resurrection (so long as the NCAA does not quash it, after all).

Miami returns its entire starting offense, including seven receivers who caught passes from Morris. It might come as a surprise to some that the Hurricanes were 16th in the country last season in yards per play (6.46).

Morris and Miami might not be so under the radar this season. Already this week, Brock Huard of Insider listed Morris as his eighth-rated QB prospect.

"No quarterback made more throws that forced me to rewind the tape ... than Morris," he wrote. "He has unique arm talent but must play every snap consistently."



6. Kelvin Taylor, RB, Florida Gators
When I talked to Gators coach Will Muschamp in March, he did not seem at all concerned about the running back spot following the loss of workhorse Mike Gillislee.

"We've recruited pretty well at that position," Muschamp said.

Taylor, the son of former UF standout Fred Taylor, arrived in January as the most decorated of those recruits. Muschamp said Taylor's ability to adapt to the winter workouts was "pretty remarkable." After a solid spring, he ran for 60 yards in the team's final scrimmage.

So Taylor is on schedule -- even if Muschamp, expectantly, says there is still much for the freshman to learn. Matt Jones and Mack Brown are listed No. 1 and No. 2 on the depth chart, but Taylor will have the summer and fall to continue catching them. Muschamp has said they will all play, though Gillislee's 244 carries a year ago says the staff is not afraid to ride one guy if he gets going.

If you're looking for a candidate to be this year's version of Gurley or Marcus Lattimore in the SEC East, Taylor would be a good place to start.



7. Nelson Agholor, WR, USC Trojans
The last time I had Trojans receivers coach Tee Martin on the phone, I asked him how Agholor was coming along now that Robert Woods is gone.

Martin compared it to the way Marqise Lee, when he was entering his sophomore year, began to emerge once everyone got wise to stopping Woods. Now it's Lee who will command the attention from defenses, creating opportunities for others -- most notably Agholor.

"He's a still young guy, still makes mistakes, still learning," Martin said, "but he's got something to him. He can play."

That's why Lane Kiffin left the Golden State to mine Agholor from the Sunshine State.

There is the matter of who is going to throw to Lee, Agholor and the other receivers. Max Wittek and Cody Kessler are dueling this spring and summer, and freshman Max Browne might eventually enter the equation. Martin was complimentary of all three, saying the offense would be in good shape regardless of the starter.



8. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri Tigers
We had Green-Beckham projected as an impact player a year ago, and it turns out we were a little early. Some of it, including a pot arrest, was on him. Some of it, unsteady quarterback play and a rough first go-around in the SEC, was not really his doing.

But now that Green-Beckham knows what he is up against -- and Missouri does too, for that matter -- he could easily produce the way a former top prospect is expected. Even against elite-level corners, Green-Beckham's size -- 6-6 and 220 pounds -- figures to lead to progression.

"We saw him coming around," said one SEC assistant who played Missouri later in the year. "It didn't make us look forward to seeing him again."

After seven receptions in his first five games, and then the two-game suspension, Green-Beckham averaged 4.2 catches and 53.4 yards in the final five games. He had four of his five touchdowns in that span, becoming the red zone threat that had some comparing him to A.J. Green and Julio Jones.



9. Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama Crimson Tide
I was told late last season, when I covered the Texas A&M game in Tuscaloosa, that Clinton-Dix was quickly emerging as the Tide's top player in the secondary. And that was including cornerback Dee Milliner, who went in the first round last week.

In talking this week with TideNation reporter Alex Scarborough, he said the coaching staff is high on Clinton-Dix's ability to cover and close on the ball. That was on display in the BCS title game, when Clinton-Dix got across the field to intercept a deep throw down the sideline that was tipped by a Tide corner.

Clinton-Dix appeared at No. 24 on Todd McShay's initial 2014 Big Board, and he could rise with his play this fall. He might not be as physical of a safety as Mark Barron was at Bama, but his instincts and range are considered on par with or better than the No. 7 pick in the 2012 draft.



10. Wesley Johnson, OL, Vanderbilt Commodores
You won't find the next Barrett Jones at Alabama. No, he's up Interstate 65 in Nashville, Tenn.

When we were in town in January for the coaches' convention, Vanderbilt O-line coach Herb Hand was already preaching the gospel about Johnson. I told him Wednesday I was including Johnson in this post, and he again lit up about the veteran.

"THE most versatile offensive lineman in the country," he said via text. "Hands down."

That went along with my link to Jones. Hand called it a "solid comparison" to the scholarly Jones, who was a fourth-round pick in last week's draft after a decorated career for the Tide.

Hand reminded me that Johnson had 38 career starts at four positions. In 2,462 career plays, he has never once been called for a hold.

Vanderbilt has regularly produced NFL prospects in the past few years, but Johnson is a part of a team that has been to consecutive bowl games -- and the Commodores won nine games in 2012. Repeat: Vanderbilt won nine games in 2012. As an SEC team. That should count for something for the team's leaders, Johnson included.



11. Devin Gardner, QB, Michigan Wolverines
A year ago, we wondered if Gardner could be a viable target for Denard Robinson. Heck, that much had not changed by October. But then Robinson hurt his elbow and Gardner was thrust into duty.

When I visited Ann Arbor last month as part of the ESPN bus tour, Gardner was like the mayor of the football facility. It means something to be comfortable in your skin, doesn't it? And it means something to be comfortable at your position, doesn't it? Especially for a quarterback.

"I missed it," Gardner said. "I mean, I am a quarterback. I have played quarterback since I was 6."

Gardner threw 11 touchdowns in the final five games after he took over, and the coaching staff said he looked more at ease with each week.

A couple of hours before I interviewed coach Brady Hoke, I ran into him in the hallway. He immediately started talking about Gardner's development.

"He needs to understand a punt is not a bad play," Hoke said. "Sometimes it's OK to throw it away, throw it underneath. no need to force things."

That is what Hoke has been drilling into Gardner's head this spring. A more efficient, smarter quarterback could emerge this fall -- which is saying something considering he was not even a quarterback at this time last year.



12. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina Tar Heels
Honestly, I was not all that familiar with Ebron until I visited Chapel Hill last week and coach Larry Fedora said he expected a 55- or 65-catch, 10-touchdown season from his junior tight end. That got my attention. It's rare that coaches establish statistical goals for players -- and volunteer them to a reporter.

Ebron did not have a 100-yard game last season, but he did average 3.3 catches and 52.1 yards a game. The catches could double, and the yardage should jump too. Don't be surprised if Ebron is a hot draft name next spring, with versatile tight ends taking more precedence these days in the NFL than running backs.

An athletic, pass-catching tight end is a great fit in Fedora's up-tempo system, and quarterback Bryn Renner really settled in toward the end of his first season in the offense. Renner completed 71 percent of his passes and averaged 332 yards a game in the team's final four games of 2012.

For Ebron and Renner to have big years, the multipronged run game -- picking up for electric second-round pick Gio Bernard -- will have to provide balance. Even in the carry-share, keep an eye on early-enrolling freshman Khris Francis. He had a 100-yard showing in the team's spring game and has the same sort of skill set -- good target on checkdowns, elusive -- that made Bernard effective in the offense.



13. Dontre Wilson, RB, Ohio State Buckeyes
"The next Percy Harvin" is a tag that has sometimes been handed out -- maybe because we, as observers, really would like to see that again in the college game -- but never realized by players on past Urban Meyer-coached teams. While it's probably unfair to put that on a player who isn't even on campus yet (and no, we haven't seen what he can do this spring), Wilson could be an early-impact guy for the Buckeyes. He likely would have been an instant hit in Oregon's tempo offense, but his late flip to Ohio State creates even more of an immediate opportunity for the Texas speedster.

Meyer told me recently that several newcomers would contribute, and he was almost certainly referring to Wilson as one of them. Even with gradual improvement, if Wilson does pan out -- this year or beyond -- it could open the door for Meyer to land additional gamebreaker types. Accounting for a player in the Harvin mold, in addition to Braxton Miller's playmaking ability, would create serious issues for the Buckeyes' opponents.



14. Daniel Sams, QB, Kansas State Wildcats
Big 12 blogger David Ubben wrote this week -- and I agree with him -- that Sams is the fastest quarterback in the conference. The only problem with including him in this list is that he might not wind up being the starter by September.

Junior college transfer Jake Waters has pushed Sams since enrolling, and both put up monster numbers in K-State's spring game. Sams was 18-of-28 for 391 yards and four touchdowns, and he ran for another score. Waters missed on only four of his 18 passes, throwing for 249 yards and three scores. He also ran for a TD.

You can see Bill Snyder's dilemma. He likely will not name a starter until the week of the Wildcats' opener.

Projecting the end result, both Sams and Waters might be too talented to keep the other off the field. It could be a week-to-week, hot-hand kind of thing, or perhaps Sams, with his athleticism, could be used at the same time as Waters. The players and circumstances are different, but Northwestern's Kain Colter (a 2012 breakout choice) and Michigan's Robinson were used in a variety of ways while a more conventional passer took the snaps. In each case, the coaching staffs said they were finding ways to get their most talented players on the field. So instead of Sams or Waters, it should be Sams and Waters -- at least at times.



15. Arik Armstead, DL, Oregon Ducks
The offense gets the bulk of the publicity in Eugene, but No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan joins Haloti Ngata as Oregon D-linemen who have been early first-rounders. Is Armstead working toward that territory?

Jordan included, Armstead was surrounded by talent a year ago, but he will need to make more of an imprint as a sophomore. He appears ready, having stayed in shape -- maybe even tightened up a bit -- by playing for the Sweet 16 hoops team. He stepped right off the hardwood and onto the spring football field.

Good luck getting a pass over the middle of the Oregon line. In addition to Armstead, 6-8 and 280 pounds, fellow sophomore DeForest Buckner (6-7, 285 pounds) will be involved in the tackle rotation.

Running back Thomas Tyner, a freshman who could start from day one, could easily fit into this discussion. He will likely produce in the plug-and-play attack that saw Kenjon Barner seamlessly step in for LaMichael James -- although Barner had been in the fold for some time.

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Travis Haney
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• Joined ESPN as Insider's national college football writer in April 2012
• Previously wrote for The Oklahoman and The Post and Courier

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I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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Warren Coolidge
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Thu May-02-13 02:53 PM

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82. "4 STAR RB Craig Lee has qualified for UCLA.."
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he probably won't be able to impact us this year...at least not early on...but he received a qualifying ACT score that will allow him to enroll in the fall...

gives us some very solid RB depth a year from now...

  

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BennyTenStack
Member since Sep 09th 2007
5681 posts
Sat May-04-13 11:01 AM

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86. "Butch Jones is KILLING it on the recruiting trail."
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And honestly has done absolutely nothing wrong since taking the job. He's knocking everything out of the park. We'll still probably suck this year because we have no depth, but after a few of these classes, we'll be back. I really think we have the coach that will put us back on top. We got very lucky with him.

  

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guru0509
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Sat May-04-13 11:15 AM

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87. "that's probably his selling point as well..."
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> because we have no depth,


who wants to wait nowadays

"fuck a redshirt, you come to Knoxville, you'll play right away if youre good enough"....


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I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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BennyTenStack
Member since Sep 09th 2007
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Sat May-04-13 12:01 PM

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90. "He and his staff are just great recruiters."
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Dooley and his gang of bums had the same playing time to sell, and they never came close to this level of recruiting success.

  

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Frank Mackey
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Sat May-04-13 11:40 AM

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88. "We'll see what things look like after a 6-win max season..."
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BennyTenStack
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89. "I'd be stoked with 6 wins"
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As long as we show visible improvement, everyone should be happy.

  

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guru0509
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93. "Big Ten spring recruiting capsules"
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http://insider.espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/9232480/big-ten-spring-recruiting-capsules


Big Ten spring recruiting capsules
Updated: May 3, 2013, 4:20 PM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
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Spring practice is finished, and the recruiting cycle for the 2014 class is well under way. With the first quarter of the recruiting calendar behind us, here's a look at how the Big Ten is faring on the trail.



Illinois Fighting Illini
Who they have: The Illini began their 2014 class with some solid momentum back in early March. Their first two commitments pledged on the same day about an hour apart. Centerville (Ohio) High defensive lineman Tito Odenigbo was pledge No. 1 for Illinois. It should be a familiar name as his older brother, 2012 ESPN 150 lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo, was also pursued by the Illini. Three-star Nick Allegretti (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East), the No. 6 center nationally, committed not long after Odenigbo on March 11. Receiver Mike Dudek was commit No. 3 and was a heavy lean to the Illini the minute they offered. Illinois landed one more commit, quarterback Chayce Crouch (Newark, Ohio/Newark Catholic), on the first day of May.
Who they want: Illinois coach Tim Beckman is making some strides in recruiting, but the Illini are still struggling mightily in-state. They need to keep the top in-state players at Illinois. ESPN 150 linebackers Clifton Garrett (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) and Nyles Morgan (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) are not paying much attention to Illinois. The same goes for Jamarco Jones (Chicago/De La Salle) and Parrker Westphal (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook). ESPN 150 linebacker Kyron Watson (East St. Louis, Ill./East St. Louis) is high on the Illini, however. In-state prospects Nile Sykes (Lombard/Montini Catholic), Eric Shute (Glen Ellyn/Glenbard West) and Jauan Wesley (Harvey/Thornton) are also interested in Illinois.
Spring storyline: Beckman was considered an ace recruiter at Toledo, and what could get the ball rolling for Illinois is how well its top 2013 signee, quarterback Aaron Bailey, does in Champaign.
Bold prediction: The Illini will land a few solid prospects out of Ohio once again, and they will hold on to them (see: Reon Dawson, 2013). -- Jared Shanker
Scouts' overall trend: Down. The Illini have posted no ranked classes since 2008. Lack of playmakers and a poor perception of the program by prospects has hindered their recruiting efforts. They can sell playing time, though, as 2013 DE Paul James III will likely play as a true freshman. -- Tom Luginbill




Indiana Hoosiers
Who they have: The Hoosiers do not have any commitments in their 2014 class.
Who they want: Indiana ended up finishing the 2013 class strong after flipping a couple of four-star prospects from the Hoosier State. So far in 2014, it does not look promising as far as in-state prospects go, but the same was said in early 2013. Dominique Booth (Indianapolis/Pike), Brandon Lee (Indianapolis/Lawrence Central) and Austin Roberts (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) are all four-star recruits with Indiana offers. At this point, Lee is the most likely to end up in Bloomington, although he is far from a Hoosiers lean. Talented cornerback Donovan Clark (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) and fast-rising tackle Lukayus McNeil (Indianapolis/Decatur Central) could both commit to Indiana soon, though. Dareian Watkins (Galion, Ohio/Galion) has Indiana among his finalists, but he is very unlikely to pick Indiana. Fellow Ohioan Colt Pettit (Hamler/Patrick Henry) is high on Indiana, though.
Spring storyline: The Hoosiers did not sign a quarterback in 2013 and are not in great position for any offered QB in 2014, so it will be interesting to see if they can make a run at one or go to the juco ranks as they did in 2012 -- when they did both.
Bold prediction: A year after flipping two four-star prospects from Indiana, the Hoosiers will do it once more in the 2014 cycle. -- Jared Shanker
Scouts' overall trend: Up. Coach Kevin Wilson has quickly infiltrated uncharted areas for the Hoosiers, including California and Georgia. QB Nate Sudfeld played as a freshman and was a steal from the 2012 class. Improvement is on the way. -- Tom Luginbill



Iowa Hawkeyes
Who they have: Iowa connected in January on perhaps its top target, OG Ross Pierschbacher of Cedar Falls (Iowa) High, the No. 1 prospect in the state, 47th overall in the ESPN 150 and the top recruit nationally at his position. Pierschbacher, the only Class of 2014 offensive invitee to the Opening last year, turned down offers from Notre Dame and Stanford, among others. ATH Jay Scheel (La Porte, Iowa/Union) was pursued by Big Ten rival Nebraska before picking the Hawkeyes, and OT Lucas LeGrand of Dubuque (Iowa) High is another who should fit well in Iowa City.
Who they want: Despite Kirk Ferentz's puzzling decision to de-emphasize the state of Florida, Iowa has yet to abandon all top talent-producing areas. Prospects like No. 3-rated S Jamal Adams (Lewisville, Texas/Hebron) hold Iowa offers. But the majority of its prospects reside north of the Mason-Dixon line, from OT Damian Prince (Forestville, Md./ Bishop McNamara) to LB Clifton Garrett of Plainfield (Ill.) South and ATH Dareian Watkins of Galion (Ohio) High.
Spring storyline: The Hawkeyes opened up the offense in practice, incorporating the fast-paced concepts that have swept college football, yet seemed so foreign in Iowa City. Keep an eye on how it impacts targets like WR Austin Roberts of (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) and RB Justin Jackson (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbar North).
Bold prediction: Coming off a four-win season, with unusual staff turnover over the past two years, Ferentz has one year left to prove to recruits that his system and style still work. -- Mitch Sherman

Scouts' overall trend: Even. Iowa has the same problem as Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State -- a poor player pool to draw from regionally. The Hawkeyes have a reputation for taking two- and three-star prospects and developing them into winners, but misses in the offensive backfield with RBs Greg Garmon and Brandon Wegher have hit them hard. -- Tom Luginbill



Michigan Wolverines
Who they have: Despite having smaller numbers, Michigan's 2014 class is off to a great start. Seven of its eight commits are in the ESPN 150, and major needs have been addressed. Quarterback Wilton Speight (Richmond, Va./Collegiate School), offensive linemen Mason Cole (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake) and Juwann Bushell-Beatty (Paramus, N.J./Paramus Catholic), tight end Ian Bunting (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale) and wide receivers Drake Harris (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and Maurice Ways (Beverly Hills, Mich./Detroit County Day) will make the transition to a pro-style offense easier for Michigan. The defensive side is looking just as strong with tackle Bryan Mone (Salt Lake City/Highland) and linebacker Michael Ferns (Saint Clairsville, Ohio/Saint Clairsville) leading the way.
Who they want: With about nine spots left, Michigan is looking to make an impact with top-tier talent in 2014. The Wolverines have high interest from CB Jabrill Peppers (Paramus, N.J./Paramus Catholic), who is No. 2 in the ESPN 150, and DE Da'Shawn Hand (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge), who is No. 4. Each prospect has Michigan in his top group. The commitment of Bushell-Beatty, Peppers' high school teammate, could help the Wolverines land Peppers soon. Michigan would still take one more receiver, despite having two committed. On defense, the Wolverines are in the top group with defensive back Parrker Westphal(Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), defensive end Malik McDowell (Detroit/Loyola) and linebacker Kyron Watson (East Saint Louis, Ill./East Saint Louis). All are ESPN 150 prospects who could very well end up in the maize and blue.
Spring storyline: Michigan is after some elite prospects and could be close to adding a few big pieces soon. Peppers has said he might be close to a decision, and Michigan is currently at the top.
Bold prediction: The Wolverines have a fewer scholarships available in the 2014 class, which might limit the overall class ranking. That being said, Michigan will close with a top-three class come signing day. -- Tom VanHaaren
Scouts' overall trend: Up. A roster overhaul has been under way for the Wolverines since Brady Hoke's arrival, and it is happening more quickly than expected. Recruiting in two seasons has made Michigan bigger and more athletic on the fronts and fast at the offensive skill spots. The Wolverines are looking for their third straight top-10 class in 2014. -- Tom Luginbill



Michigan State Spartans
Who they have: The Spartans have secured six commits so far, but top-rated commit Byron Bullough (Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis) is a Michigan State legacy with two older brothers currently on the team. His father, two uncles and a grandfather also played at the school. They've also secured two defensive players, tackle Enoch Smith Jr. (Chicago/Mount Carmel) and inside linebacker Deon Drake (Detroit/Cass Tech). Offensively, Michigan State has commitments from quarterback Chris Durkin (Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline) and offensive linemen Chase Gianacakos (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles) and Brian Allen (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central).
Who they want: The Spartans seem to have the inside track for ESPN 150 defensive lineman Lawrence Marshall (Southfield, Mich./Southfield), who would be a huge get for the Spartans; he has offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Ole Miss, among others. Four-star athlete Dareian Watkins (Galion, Ohio/Galion) will be visiting MSU. The Spartans want him as a wide receiver but they're so high on him that if they fill up at WR, they'd be happy to change his offer to one as a defensive back. Other to keep an eye on: ESPN 150 defensive lineman Malik McDowell (Detroit/Loyola) and Vayante Copeland (Dayton, Ohio/Thurgood Marshall).
Spring storyline: Look for the Spartans to pick up some lower four-star and three-star commits. Coach Mark Dantonio has the ability to project talent and bring in under-the-radar guys who do well for the Spartans. So a lower-ranked class isn't a panic signal for Spartans fans.
Bold prediction: This summer, Marshall chooses the Spartans over his slew of offers. He would be Michigan State's top-ranked commit by far and would be just the sixth ESPN 150 commit at Michigan State since 2006. -- Chantel Jennings
Scouts' overall trend: Even. Significant losses to the NFL draft in each of the past two years have left this roster young and inexperienced. Expect two exciting Class of 2012 WRs in Monty Madaris and Aaron Burbridge to emerge and help out young QB Andrew Maxwell. The Spartans have been in the upper-middle of the pack in recruiting for a while (finishing 35th in the 2013 class rankings) and for the most part have been the same on the field. -- Tom Luginbill



Minnesota Golden Gophers
Who they have: The spring game paid big dividends for Minnesota, as the Gophers landed two recent commitments. Kansas City (Kan.) Wyandotte athlete Dimonic McKinzy committed on April 28, potentially giving the Gophers their dual-threat quarterback of the future. A day later, Minnesota got stronger on the other side of the ball when Steven Richardson (Chicago/Mount Carmel) committed. Richardson is undersized at just 5-foot-11, but the Gophers fell in love early and offered him several months ago. Three-star running back Jeff Jones (Minneapolis/Washburn) was the first commitment and a big one for the Gophers. However, there is a lot of speculation Jones already has one foot out the door and will not sign with Minnesota.
Who they want: Keeping Jones is priority No. 1 for Minnesota, which still has a long way to go to get Jones' name on the dotted line. There is a good amount of in-state talent this year, and Minnesota has to capitalize on that. Three-star Frank Ragnow (Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen) was offered early and likes Minnesota, but he has had several big-time suitors come recently in Florida State and Nebraska. Center J.C. Hassenhauer (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) was offered last year by Minnesota but added a Vanderbilt offer recently. Owatonna (Minn.) High defensive end Andrew Stelter is also high on Minnesota after the Gophers were his first offer. Tight end Gaelin Elmore (Somerset, Wis./Somerset) and linebacker Colton Moskal (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich Senior) are two out-of-state prospects with Minnesota at or near the top.
Spring storyline: There is some buzz around the job head coaah Jerry Kill is doing, and he took advantage early with the Jones commitment.
Bold prediction: The Gophers will land Hassenhauer but lose out on Ragnow. -- Jared Shanker

Scouts' overall trend: Even. Jerry Kill has won everywhere he has been, and Minnesota is starting to get competitive again, but it is a difficult job. The Gophers have had one ranked class in the last eight. Marquis Gray was a fine athlete at QB but never materialized into the player they thought he would. -- Tom Luginbill



Nebraska Cornhuskers
Who they have: It's a short list. The Huskers count only one commitment -- from S Luke Gifford of traditional Nebraska high school power Lincoln Southeast. Gifford is a prep teammate of OG D.J. Foster, who's also coveted by Florida and Georgia. The presence of Gifford and Foster alone would mark an upgrade in in-state talent over the past two years for the Huskers, who signed only one player from Nebraska in each of the 2012 and 2013 classes.
Who they want: For starters, Foster. Nebraska usually wins out for elite prospects close to home, but the longer Foster stays uncommitted, the more likely that another suitor will steal him. The Huskers always place importance on finding a quarterback early. Dual-threat QBs Darius Wade (Middletown, Del./Middletown ) and Zack Darlington (Apopka, Fla./Apopka) occupy spots on the Huskers' recruiting board, as do a long list of ESPN 150 prospects, including teammates Adoree' Jackson, the nation's No. 2 cornerback, and LB Dwight Williams of Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra.
Spring storyline: Nebraska has handed its defense to young playmakers after it was gouged last season in losses to UCLA, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Georgia. It needs more talent on that side of the ball -- prospects in the mold of LB Raekwon McMillan (Hinesville, Ga./Liberty County), CB Tony Brown (Beaumont, Texas/Ozen) and DE Solomon Thomas (Coppell, Texas/Coppell).
Bold prediction: A year ago grabbing QB Johnny Stanton and RB Terrell Newby out of California, the Huskers will again strike gold out West. -- Mitch Sherman
Scouts' overall trend: Even. Leaving the Big 12 had its advantages and disadvantages for the Cornhuskers and it might have cost them a bit of their recruiting prowess in Texas. For a program that takes great pride in its famed Blackshirts defense, Nebraska has not recruited difference-makers on defense as you would expect, and it has been apparent on the field. The Huskers have not signed a single ESPN 150 defensive lineman in the past eight classes. -- Tom Luginbill



Northwestern Wildcats
Who they have: Who do the Wildcats have? How about the beginning pieces of what could become the best recruiting class in Northwestern history. For a second straight year, Northwestern has landed a top-flight quarterback from Illinois. In 2013 it was ESPN 300 quarterback Matt Alviti; in March, Clayton Thorson (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North), a candidate for the 2014 ESPN 300, pledged to Pat Fitzgerald. Three-star Klein (Texas) Collins athlete Jordan Thomas was the first commit for Northwestern in December. Northwestern was hot in April, adding significant pieces for Thorson. Offensive tackle Ben Oxley (Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake) committed and was then followed by running back Solomon Vault (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg Senior).
Who they want: The Wildcats are in the running for some of the state's top prospects in 2014, beginning with ESPN 150 defensive back Parrker Westphal (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook). Westphal has been to campus recently. Four-star running back Justin Jackson (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) has the Wildcats among his favorites too. Four-star athlete Dareian Watkins (Galion, Ohio/Galion) has Northwestern among his finalists and it could come down to the Wildcats and Michigan State for his commitment, which is expected to come later this month. Garrett Dickerson (Oradell, N.J./Bergen Catholic), high school teammate of 2013 signee Kyle Queiro and 2014 commit Cam Queiro, has Northwestern among his top group and has a brother on the Wildcats' roster. Dickerson is No. 4 nationally among tight ends.
Spring storyline: The Wildcats became a legitimate contender for top Midwest prospects and are competing -- and beating -- traditional programs like Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Bold prediction: Northwestern will sign three ESPN 300 prospects. -- Jared Shanker
Scouts' overall trend: Up. It isn't flashy, but this program has made very good decisions in recruiting quarterbacks, nabbing Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian recently and many before them. This has kept the Wildcats competitive in the conference despite not having great players on defense. They were just five minutes away from being 12-0 this past season. -- Tom Luginbill



Ohio State Buckeyes
Who they have: The recruiting class of 2014 is in its infant stages, but Ohio State has one gigantic commitment from a school that is usually associated with Michigan in ESPN 150 CB Damon Webb from Detroit Cass Tech. The Buckeyes also have a solid tandem in linebackers Sam Hubbard (Cincinnati/Moeller) and Kyle Berger (Cleveland/Saint Ignatius). With an emphasis on the offensive line this season, Ohio State has locked up tackles Marcelys Jones (Cleveland/Glenville) and Kyle Trout (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster). Speedy running back Parris Campbell Jr. (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary's) is also part of the class, as is defensive end Dylan Thompson (Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic). At only 15 years old, Campbell wowed Ohio State coach Urban Meyer in the Ohio Division III state championship when he led Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in a three-touchdown performance.
Who they want: Offensive linemen and a lot of them. The Buckeyes lose four starters after this season. They are targeting ESPN 150 tackle Jamarco Jones (Chicago/De La Salle) first and foremost. Junior college standouts Chad Mavety (Garden City, N.Y./Nassau C.C.) and Jermaine Eluemunor (Rockaway, N.J./Lackawanna College) are also targets. Linebackers are still strong on their list, as 150 juniors Raekwon McMillan (Hinesville, Ga./Liberty County) and Clifton Garrett (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) are very much in consideration. Dante Booker, a teammate of Campbell's, is also a big target. ESPN 150 athlete Marshon Lattimore, a teammate of Marcelys Jones', is high on their list, as are 150 standouts Jabrill Peppers (Paramus, N.J./Paramus Catholic) at defensive back, Deshaun Watson (Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville) at quarterback, Lorenzo Carter (Norcross, Ga./Norcross) at defensive end and Demarre Kitt (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) at wide receiver.
Spring storyline: There are two holes in Ohio State's arsenal: linebacker and offensive line. The Buckeyes plugged those holes by nabbing two at each position in this class and continued to throw more offers out in an attempt to fill the need. They'll add at least two more in the trenches, as four starting seniors will be gone after the season. Though Ohio State loses no one at linebacker after 2013, it's a position of need on a very young unit.
Bold prediction: Ohio State has a lot of ground to make up in the class rankings, but Urban Meyer closed out 2013 by grabbing five ESPN 150 standouts, an ESPN 300 phenom and two four-star wide receivers in the final two months. The Buckeyes will receive commitments from McMillan, Lattimore and a few more ESPN 150 stars and finish in the top five once again. -- Brad Bounival
Scouts' overall trend: Up. Even with scholarship restrictions, Urban Meyer has the Buckeyes rolling, mostly on confidence and renewed leadership. An unexpected 12-0 campaign in 2012 and two exciting classes in a row (No. 3 in 2013 and No. 6 in 2012) should keep Ohio State at or near the top of college football's elite programs. Most important, Meyer knows what it will take to beat the SEC. -- Tom Luginbill



Penn State Nittany Lions
Who they have: Penn State boasts one of the nation's best groups of 2014 wide receivers right now. De'Andre Thompkins (Swansboro, N.C./Swansboro) is No. 54 in the ESPN 150, Chris Godwin (Middletown, Del./Middletown) is a four-star recruit and Troy Apke (Pittsburgh/Mt. Lebanon) is a rising star who reportedly runs the 40-yard dash in the 4.4s. Adding a four-star linebacker in Troy Reeder (Wilmington, Del./Salesianium) didn't hurt either.
Who they want: ESPN 150 quarterback Michael O'Connor (Bradenton, Fla./IMG Academy) is high on Penn State's list with the departure of sophomore QB Steven Bench, and the Nittany Lions are also hoping for an offensive tackle like Alex Bars (Nashville, Tenn./Montgomery Bell) to help protect him. Defensively, PSU is searching for a defensive tackle like Thomas Holley (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln) and several defensive backs like Troy Vincent (Baltimore/Gilman) and Dravon Henry (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa).
Spring storyline: With limited scholarships and a depleted roster, Bill O'Brien has had to strike a balance between talent and versatility. Most commits in this class can play more than one position, and several -- including Nick Scott -- can play both ways.
Bold prediction: Penn State will reel in at least two more commits before the end of May and grab its final linebacker of the 2014 class. -- Josh Moyer
Scouts' overall trend: Even. Time will tell just how competitive Bill O'Brien can keep the Nittany Lions over the next three seasons and beyond, but he seems to be making the most of the situation. A successful 2012 campaign might just lead to surprising, yet small, recruiting classes in 2014 and 2015. The Nittany Lions will need them since the talent and numbers are dwindling. -- Tom Luginbill



Purdue Boilermakers
Who they have: First-year coach Darrell Hazell made an early 2014 splash when he landed a commitment about a month after taking over the job. Three-star outside linebacker Brandon Garner (Arlington, Texas/Timberview) accepted an offer shortly after the new year.
Who they want: Four-star linebacker Brandon Lee (Indianapolis/Lawrence Central) is a priority for the Boilermakers, and it would be a big statement for Hazell to land one of the top players out of Indianapolis, where much of the state's talent resides. Purdue was the first to offer ESPN 150 offensive tackle Denzel Ward (Bradenton, Fla./IMG Academy) and he visited the Boilermakers in April. He is originally from Chicago, so he has connections to the area. Gelen Robinson (Saint John, Ind./Lake Central) landed an early offer from Purdue too. A teammate of Garner's at Timberview, Damian Walker, also has a Purdue offer.
Spring storyline: Hazell is similar to Illinois coach Beckman in that both were considered the conference's best recruiters when they were coaching in the MAC. That has not translated to the Big Ten just yet for Beckman, and Hazell is stepping into a similar situation at Purdue.
Bold prediction: Although Ward is a Florida lean, if he doesn't end up in Gainesville, Purdue will be a contender. -- Jared Shanker
Scouts' overall trend: Down. Bad luck and injuries have riddled this program the past three seasons. The Boilermakers recruited Florida and the South hard, but it hasn't translated to wins yet. Two good QBs, Austin Appleby and Danny Etling, signed in back-to-back years and could give the Boilermakers signs of life, and coach Darrell Hazell is the real McCoy. -- Tom Luginbill



Wisconsin Badgers
Who they have: A new coaching staff, but same old Wisconsin. The Badgers are building up the offensive line early, even though both commits along the line came under former coach Bret Bielema. ESPN 150 offensive tackle Jaden Gault (Monona, Wis./Monona Grove) is solidly committed to new coach Gary Andersen. Three-star guard George Panos (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) is listening to other teams, but he also remains committed to Wisconsin. The defensive line, specifically on the interior, has a pair of commitments too. Four-star prospect Craig Evans (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) says he is committed, but it is a tenuous and flimsy commitment at best. Three-star tackle Conor Sheehy (Milwaukee/Marquette University) joins Evans on the inside.
Who they want: The Badgers would love to add another big-time ESPN 150 lineman, and their top target at the position is Chicago De La Salle tackle Jamarco Jones. Jones could have the Badgers among his top group when he cuts his list because he visited Wisconsin during the season. The No. 1 fullback nationally, Gerald Owens (Westville, N.J./West Deptford), has a strong relationship with running backs coach Thomas Hammock and is intrigued at being the next bigger back to come through Wisconsin. Washington (Pa.) High running back Shai McKenzie, also a more physical runner, likes Wisconsin. Owens is from South Jersey, which produced all-time Badgers great Ron Dayne. Four-star athlete Troy Vincent Jr. is a Wisconsin legacy as his father graduated from the school.
Spring storyline: With Andersen's ties out west, the Badgers could have a more national class in 2014 with several prospects from the state of Utah.
Bold prediction: The Badgers will hold on to Evans come signing day. -- Jared Shanker
Scouts' overall trend: Up. New coach, same results? Time will tell, but this program has thrived by not overreaching its recruiting ability and ensuring that the prospects available to them fit into a scheme they can succeed in. If coach Gary Anderson's record is any indication, expect the Badgers to keep rolling. -- Tom Luginbill

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guru0509
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94. "Projected Big Ten Standings"
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http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9227725/ohio-state-buckeyes-top-projected-big-ten-standings-2013-college-football

Spring practices have wrapped up across the country, and there's not much more data we can pull into our projection model for the fall. At Football Outsiders, factors such as five-year program ratings, returning starters, quarterback reliance and more have featured into the projections. We'll publish final projections based on play and drive efficiency in the Football Outsiders Almanac this summer, but we can take a sneak peek at preliminary projections through the lens of our drive-based FEI ratings.

For this series, we first ran preliminary projections for team, offensive and defensive efficiency. Then we calculated win likelihoods in each scheduled game, producing a projected record and win total range. Running the win likelihoods through 1,000 simulated seasons, we calculated the frequency with which each team claimed a conference crown.

Today we're looking at the projections for the Big Ten, which includes two tightly contested divisions and a surprise winner in the Legends.

Big Ten Leaders


1. Ohio State Buckeyes
Projected finish: 10-2
Win total range: 9-3 to 12-0
Chance to win Big Ten: 30 percent
The Buckeyes went undefeated but unrewarded last season, and Urban Meyer's success in Year 2 has been consistent at every stop he's made in his career. Ohio State returns nine starters on offense, including Heisman-hopeful quarterback Braxton Miller, and a leap forward on that side of the ball will make the difference between a mere conference leader and a national championship contender. The Buckeyes produced a respectable 2.7 points per drive a year ago (29th nationally) but went three-and-out on more than a third of their possessions (70th). Our model favors Ohio State in each individual game, and both division challengers, Wisconsin and Penn State, have to make the trip to Columbus.



2. Wisconsin Badgers
Projected finish: 10-2
Win total range: 8-4 to 11-1
Chance to win Big Ten: 24 percent
New coach Gary Andersen inherits a healthy program in Madison, and 15 returning starters should allow for a smooth transition this fall. Joel Stave looks to be the starter at quarterback after a strong spring game, but the Badgers didn't ask much of that position a year ago; only 38.7 percent of Wisconsin's total offense was produced by a quarterback in 2012, the third-lowest percentage nationally.

The Badgers ranked third in pinning opponents deep and forcing them into 80-plus-yard fields. Andersen's old team, Utah State, ranked first in that category. Look for field position to be a driving factor in Wisconsin's success again this fall.



3. Penn State Nittany Lions
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win Big Ten: 7 percent
The Nittany Lions stumbled out of the gate a year ago but found their footing and finished with a respectable eight wins in Bill O'Brien's first year at the helm. Improving on that record will require new faces to step up on defense. Only five starters return to a unit that ranked 10th nationally in points surrendered per drive. The Nittany Lions were particularly stingy in the red zone, allowing scores on only 65.9 percent of opponent red zone possessions, the fourth-best rate in the nation.

The schedule is a challenge, with road trips to Ohio State and Wisconsin. We give Penn State a 94 percent chance of losing one or both.



4. Indiana Hoosiers
Projected finish: 6-6
Win total range: 4-8 to 8-4
Chance to win Big Ten: 0 percent
The Hoosiers haven't had a nonlosing season since 2007, but with 19 returning starters this year, the program has a chance to take a relatively big step forward. The defense needs to make the biggest leap in order to get to bowl eligibility. Indiana allowed 18.4 percent of opponent drives to average at least 10 yards per play last season, and the Hoosiers were able to produce above-average defensive efficiency only twice last year, against Massachusetts and Illinois.

The road slate is brutal (at Michigan State, at Michigan, at Ohio State, at Wisconsin), but our model projects a 47 percent chance of winning six of eight home games.



5. Purdue Boilermakers
Projected finish: 2-10
Win total range: 1-11 to 4-8
Chance to win Big Ten: 0 percent
Purdue didn't have much success in any phase of the game last season, prompting the exit of Danny Hope and the hire of new coach Darrell Hazell. The Boilermakers aren't projected to have much success early on, with the toughest schedule among all Big Ten teams, according to our model. Purdue's first seven Football Bowl Subdivision opponents this fall won a combined 71 games last year.

Hazell has eight returning defensive starters, and the biggest opportunity for improvement on that side of the ball comes with defending value drives. Once opponents crossed the Purdue 30-yard line in 2012, they averaged 5.6 points per possession, 112th nationally.



6. Illinois Fighting Illini
Projected finish: 3-9
Win total range: 1-11 to 5-7
Chance to win Big Ten: 0 percent
Senior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase has produced more than 7,000 yards of total offense in his career, and he projects to be one of the few bright spots for the Illini in 2013. Even though our model gives Illinois a better chance of doing well in nonconference play than it does Purdue, which is why Illinois' projected overall record is better, it has the Illini finishing behind the Boilermakers in the Big Ten standings.

Illinois couldn't get anything going last year, ranking among the 10 worst FBS teams in first-down success rate, percent available yards earned, explosive drive percentage, overall efficiency and points per drive. Field position management was abysmal as well; Illinois allowed opponents to start possessions eight yards closer to the end zone on average last year, third worst nationally.

Big Ten Legends


1. Michigan State Spartans
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win Big Ten: 20 percent
The Spartans lost five conference games last year by a total of 13 points, and our projection model suggests that a pendulum swing back in their favor may be in store this fall. A total of 15 starters return, including eight on offense, the unit that has the most room for growth this year. Michigan State earned only 39.2 percent of available yards (93rd nationally), negating a raw starting field position advantage.

The defense returns seven starters and has ranked among the top 10 in opponent-adjusted defensive FEI in each of the past two years. The biggest reason the model favors the Spartans in the Legends division is the schedule. Michigan State avoids all of the Leaders Division contenders and hosts Michigan in East Lansing, giving the Spartans a 40 percent chance of going 7-1 or 8-0 in league play.



2. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win Big Ten: 14 percent
A blowout loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game and a bowl game loss to Georgia spoiled the end of last season, and the frustration of consistent good-but-not-elite performances is mounting a bit for Nebraska fans. The projection model thinks more of the same is in store this fall. Senior quarterback Taylor Martinez will blow past the career 10,000-yard mark in total offense before Big Ten conference play begins, but he and Nebraska need more consistency to be a conference champion. Thirty-three percent of their offensive possessions have ended in a three-and-out or worse in the last three seasons.

The schedule is back-loaded, with five November games that all could trip up the Huskers.



3. Northwestern Wildcats
Projected finish: 7-5
Win total range: 5-7 to 10-2
Chance to win Big Ten: 3 percent
The Wildcats have one of the larger projection win total ranges in the Big Ten according to our model, due to six games that could be decided by a single score. The home schedule includes games against Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State, and our model gives Northwestern a 52 percent chance of winning at least two.

Ball control was the key to the Wildcats' success last year, boasting an offense that gave up only 15 turnovers on the season and ranked 16th in producing drives of 10 or more plays. Fifteen starters return to a team that was above average nationally in both offensive and defensive points per possession last year.



4. Michigan Wolverines
Projected finish: 7-5
Win total range: 5-7 to 9-3
Chance to win Big Ten: 1 percent
This projection model isn't too kind to the Wolverines, a program with an elite historical tradition but one that is still seeking its identity in the Brady Hoke era. The offense was prolific in spots under quarterback Devin Gardner after he took the reins midseason, but there is youth along the offensive line that will probably keep Michigan from being a contender. If the Wolverines can help themselves on defense and special teams, it can ease the burden. But Michigan started twice as many drives from inside its own 20-yard line (24 percent) as its opponents (12 percent) and lost the field position battle eight times, including in four of its five losses.



5. Iowa Hawkeyes
Projected finish: 6-6
Win total range: 4-8 to 8-4
Chance to win Big Ten: 1 percent
The Hawkeyes are a program drifting in the wrong direction, missing out on a bowl appearance last year for the first time since 2007. The projection model likes their chances to easily win at least three nonconference games, so the path to bowl eligibility isn't a terribly high hurdle, with games against Minnesota and Purdue on the slate and the opportunity to steal one or two at home against the likes of Michigan State, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Iowa was competitive on defense last year, giving up only 1.9 points per possession, but the offense needs a spark. Iowa produced an explosive drive (10-plus yards per play) on only 5 percent of its possessions last year, 119th nationally.



6. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Projected finish: 5-7
Win total range: 3-9 to 7-5
Chance to win Big Ten: 0 percent
The rebuilding effort for Jerry Kill continues and gets a big boost with 10 returning offensive starters, including quarterback Philip Nelson. The Gophers will need it, since Minnesota managed to produce only 1.6 points per drive (106th nationally) and went three-and-out on more than 40 percent of its possessions. The projection model gives Minnesota an outside shot at bowl eligibility, but the Golden Gophers don't have better than a 31 percent chance of winning any individual Big Ten game.

A focus on sound special teams could help -- Minnesota lost the special-teams battle nine times last year -- and could be the difference in 2013 between the high and low end of its win range.

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guru0509
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95. "Projected SEC Standings"
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http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9246655/alabama-crimson-tide-top-projected-sec-standings-2013-college-football

Spring practices have wrapped up across the country, and there's not much more data we can pull into our projection model for the fall. At Football Outsiders, factors such as five-year program ratings, returning starters, quarterback reliance and more have featured into the projections. We'll publish final projections based on play and drive efficiency in the Football Outsiders Almanac later this summer, but we can take a sneak peak at preliminary projections through the lens of our drive-based FEI ratings.

For this series, we first ran preliminary projections for team, offense and defensive efficiency. Then we calculated win likelihoods in each scheduled game, producing a projected record and win total range. Running the win likelihoods through 1,000 simulated seasons, we then calculated the frequency with which each team claimed a conference crown.

On Monday we're looking at the projections for the SEC, which features a handful of top programs with one team clearly favored to win the league title.

SEC West


1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Projected finish: 11-1
Win total range: 10-2 to 12-0
Chance to win SEC: 62 percent
There's no such thing as absolute certainty in college football, but Nick Saban has built a program in Tuscaloosa that comes close. The Crimson Tide have produced three championships in the past four seasons along with a handful of the most dominant single-game performances our team efficiency ratings have ever measured. Our model situates Alabama head and shoulders above the rest of the conference -- the Tide won at least a share of the SEC West title in 908 of the 1,000 simulated seasons.

Alabama was only truly vulnerable last season when it turned the ball over. In games versus LSU, Texas A&M and Georgia (games in which Alabama outscored its opponents 77-74), the Crimson Tide lost more than 25 points in scoreboard value on turnovers. Against its other FBS opponents, Alabama gained more than 67 points in scoreboard value on turnovers. This fall, against a schedule with few potential pitfalls and armed with elite talent across the field, Alabama is the clear front-runner to win the SEC.




2. LSU Tigers
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win SEC: 8 percent
The LSU Tigers have played a top-5 schedule in each of the past five seasons according to FEI, and this year's slate figures to be very difficult, as well. A nonconference game against TCU to start the season, cross-division games against Florida and Georgia and a road trip at Alabama in November all could derail a top team. Our model gives the Tigers a 71 percent chance of losing at least two of those four games. LSU's success has consistently been propped up by special teams (five straight top-10 ratings), defense (three straight top-10 ratings in opponent-adjusted efficiency) and field position (three straight top-10 ratings). If those performance levels are maintained, the upper end of the projection window is likely assured.



3. Texas A&M Aggies
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win SEC: 5 percent
Now that everyone in the SEC has had a chance to see what quarterback Johnny Manziel can do, repeating the same level of prolific production may be a challenge for the Aggies' offense. Losing left tackle Luke Joeckel to the NFL may be the bigger challenge to overcome. The Aggies were exceptionally efficient last season, earning 65.7 percent of available yards (measured from starting field position to end zone), the fourth-best rate measured among all teams in the past six seasons. An even bigger step back is expected on a defense that returns only four starters. Texas A&M's starting field position ranked 114th last season, and if the defense can't force opponents off the field this campaign, it will put the Aggies in a hole even more frequently.



4. Ole Miss Rebels
Projected finish: 7-5
Win total range: 5-7 to 9-3
Chance to win SEC: 1 percent
Ole Miss returns 18 starters this fall, and that experience will be critical against a schedule that takes the Rebels on the road against each of their first four Football Bowl Subdivision opponents. If Mississippi keeps its head up through that slate (53 percent chance of going 2-2 or better against Vanderbilt, Texas, Alabama and Auburn), a run of six straight home games could position Ole Miss as a dark horse division contender. More than likely, the Rebels will settle for an extra win or two over last season. Improvement in field-position management would help -- the Rebels started nearly twice as many drives from inside their own 20-yard line (28 percent) as their opponents did (15 percent).



5. Auburn Tigers
Projected finish: 6-6
Win total range: 4-8 to 8-4
Chance to win SEC: 0 percent
Our projection model factors in five seasons of program success, so Auburn is buoyed somewhat by the championship run in Gene Chizik's second season. But 2012 was so disastrous that the bottom half of the projection window seems much more likely than the top half. The Tigers ranked 119th in opponent-adjusted offensive efficiency last season and 100th in opponent-adjusted defense. Only a top-25 special-teams efficiency pushed them over the top in one of their two FBS victories. There's nowhere to go but up, and with a relatively weak nonconference schedule, Auburn should have little trouble improving on its record, at least marginally.



6. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Projected finish: 5-7
Win total range: 3-9 to 7-5
Chance to win SEC: 0 percent
Coach Dan Mullen hasn't had any success against the top dogs in his division, and most of the Bulldogs' games against Alabama and LSU haven't even been close. This year, Mississippi State faces five opponents ranked among our projected top 20 (Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma State, South Carolina and Texas A&M), and our model gives the Bulldogs a 48 percent chance of losing all five. To have more success, the Bulldogs need to take advantage of every opportunity they create. Opponents started 32 percent of their drives deep in their own territory last year against Mississippi State (fourth-highest rate nationally), but the Bulldogs allowed 22 percent of opponent drives to last at least 10 plays (also fourth highest in the nation).



7. Arkansas Razorbacks
Projected finish: 5-7
Win total range: 3-9 to 7-5
Chance to win SEC: 0 percent
New head coach Bret Bielema was consistently producing double-digit win totals at his last job in Wisconsin, but the SEC West presents a tougher challenge. Arkansas could be a top-40 program and still struggle to be bowl eligible, with road games against Florida, Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss, plus a home schedule that includes Texas A&M and South Carolina. Our model gives Arkansas an 80 percent chance of losing five of those six games. In 2012, the Razorbacks ranked dead last nationally in offensive consistency and twice lost games in which the special-teams value they surrendered was greater than the scoring margin of the game. Fixing those fundamentals needs to be a top priority with a young team.

SEC East


1. South Carolina Gamecocks
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win SEC: 10 percent
Coach Steve Spurrier has made a habit of complaining about imbalanced conference schedules in the SEC, but his team looks to be the beneficiary of the phenomenon this fall. South Carolina won't play Alabama, LSU or Texas A&M in the regular season, the key reason our projection model vaults the Gamecocks to the top of the SEC East. It also helps that defensive superstar Jadeveon Clowney returns to a unit that ranked fifth nationally a year ago in opponent-adjusted efficiency, the best ranking South Carolina has produced under Spurrier. However, they'll need more consistency on offense -- they ranked 75th in avoiding three-and-out drives -- to be more than a division contender.



2. Georgia Bulldogs
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win SEC: 7 percent
The Bulldogs' offense may be among the best in the nation this fall, with 10 returning starters to a unit that was the most consistently explosive in the country. Georgia averaged at least 10 yards per play on 26.5 percent of its offensive possessions in 2012. Quarterback Aaron Murray ranked second nationally in pass efficiency rating, and the two-headed tandem of freshmen running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall combined for more than 2,000 yards on the ground. Few returning starters on defense will make things interesting, and high-scoring shootouts make upsets more likely. The Bulldogs will need to be on their game right out of the gate, with tough games against Clemson and South Carolina in the first two weeks.



3. Florida Gators
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win SEC: 7 percent
With a completely unproductive offense last season, the Gators squeezed as much scoreboard production out of their defense and special-teams units to win. Florida produced a total margin of victory in FBS games of 121 points, 99 percent of which was credited to non-offensive value, according to our analysis. Sustaining that kind of success isn't likely, so the offense will need to produce in this campaign. The Gators ranked 109th nationally in avoiding three-and-outs last year, and the 15 programs ranked below them averaged 2.3 FBS wins a year ago. Florida could help its offense a little by improving its field position. In 2012, the Gators started 26.3 percent of offensive possessions inside their own 20-yard line, the 15th-highest rate in the country and second worst in the SEC.



4. Missouri Tigers
Projected finish: 7-5
Win total range: 4-8 to 9-3
Chance to win SEC: 0 percent
The Tigers played the nation's toughest schedule last season according to FEI, but they get a bit of relief this year with one of the SEC's easiest slates. Quarterback James Franklin is back for what all Tigers fans hope will be an injury-free senior season. He missed action against two of the toughest opponents Missouri faced last year, Alabama and Texas A&M, after totaling 3,853 yards in his first year as the starter in Columbia. Missouri certainly needs his production; the Tigers averaged only 1.5 points per drive a year ago (106th nationally), and ranked 118th in points per value drive, a measure of success on scoring opportunities after the offense crosses the 30-yard line.



5. Vanderbilt Commodores
Projected finish: 6-6
Win total range: 4-8 to 8-4
Chance to win SEC: 0 percent
The Commodores played a bit over their heads last year according to our analysis, winning at least one more game than a team with Vanderbilt's efficiency measures ought to have been expected to win. Vanderbilt's success hinged often on field-position advantages. In each of their last three games, the Commodores generated at least 12 points worth of value on field position alone. That was huge for an offense that didn't move the ball well (ranked 104th in avoiding three-and-outs) and a defense that had trouble getting opponents off the field (ranked 102nd in allowing methodical drives). The upper end of Vanderbilt's projection requires wins against Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee, all projected in the toss-up range in our model.



6. Tennessee Volunteers
Projected finish: 5-7
Win total range: 3-9 to 7-5
Chance to win SEC: 0 percent
The Volunteers pay visits to Oregon and Florida in the first three weeks of the season, a pair of back-to-back road trips that may be unrivaled in college football this season. October features games against Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama in a four-week span. If Tennessee can survive those stretches with any kind of confidence, a strong finish to the season can push the Volunteers into a bowl game. That confidence needs to come from an experienced defense that must improve its production; Tennessee ranked 99th in generating turnovers last year, and 96th in overall defensive efficiency.



7. Kentucky Wildcats
Projected finish: 4-8
Win total range: 2-10 to 6-6
Chance to win SEC: 0 percent
The Wildcats face Western Kentucky and Miami (Ohio) in the first two weeks, and they better find success in those games because the rest of the season projects to be miserable. Our model pits Kentucky as a significant underdog against seven of its other nine FBS opponents, and gives the Wildcats a 20 percent chance of losing all nine games. A year ago, Kentucky scored only 1.4 points per drive and allowed 3.1 points per drive, the ninth-worst margin in the nation. Head coach Mark Stoops produced dominant defenses as the coordinator at Florida State, but it will take a few years to bring in the personnel to make an impact at Kentucky.

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HecticHavoc
Member since May 13th 2005
7591 posts
Sat Jun-01-13 10:50 PM

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139. "wow, Gamecocks dont have to play Bama, LSU, or A&M?"
In response to Reply # 95


  

          

this has gotta be their year doesnt it?

i just hope Arkansas doesnt lose the home game against SC by a lot. but as always i have high hopes for the Hogs

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isaaaa
Member since May 10th 2007
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97. "Nope, you stayin' in TALLAHASSEE boy!"
In response to Reply # 0


          

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9249015/no-6-recruit-matthew-thomas-wants-release-florida-state-seminoles



After Holiday Sale, take advantage of 25% off www.karmaloop.com w/ rep code JR9103 | Nike, G-Star, Spiewak, etc.
+ a full line of Women's wear (Jeffrey Campbell, etc.)

  

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VonClay
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100. "C'mon!! Let the yute come to GA!!"
In response to Reply # 97


  

          

Instagram: @von_clay

  

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guru0509
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98. "Projected Big 12 standings"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9230729/texas-longhorns-top-projected-big-12-standings-2013-college-football


Spring practices have wrapped up across the country, and there's not much more data we can pull into our projection model for the fall. At Football Outsiders, factors such as five-year program ratings, returning starters, quarterback reliance and more have featured into the projections. We'll publish final projections based on play and drive efficiency in the Football Outsiders Almanac later this summer, but we can take a sneak peak at preliminary projections through the lens of our drive-based FEI ratings.

For this series, we first ran preliminary projections for team, offense and defensive efficiency. Then we calculated win likelihoods in each scheduled game, producing a projected record and win total range. Running the win likelihoods through 1,000 simulated seasons, we then calculated the frequency with which each team claimed a conference crown.

Today we're looking at the projections for the Big 12, which has seen two teams emerge as big favorites to win the league title.



1. Texas Longhorns
Projected finish: 10-2
Win total range: 8-4 to 12-0
Chance to win Big 12: 39 percent
A BCS championship game appearance against Alabama at the end of the 2009 season feels like a lifetime ago, but our projection model likes the Longhorns' chances at reclaiming the conference crown. With 19 returning starters, a strong program history, and top-five talent on the roster, Texas has everything it needs on paper. The schedule is friendly as well -- an Oct. 26 game at TCU is the only true road game against another projected Big 12 contender.


The Texas offense has made strides in each of the past two seasons, but the defense will be the difference between the high and low end of our projection window. Texas allowed 19 percent of opponent drives to last at least 10 plays last year, and posted its worst value drive defensive efficiency rating of the past five seasons.



2. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Projected finish: 10-2
Win total range: 8-4 to 11-1
Chance to win Big 12: 30 percent
The Cowboys were better than their 8-5 record last year according to our efficiency data, losing twice when the field position value difference in the game was greater than their margin of defeat. If Oklahoma State can fix that issue, offensive efficiency can take them the rest of the way. Despite featuring multiple quarterbacks in the lineup last season, the Cowboys consistently moved the ball, ranking ninth nationally in first down success rate, a 5 percent improvement over their 2010 and 2011 offenses that led the way to double-digit wins. Mike Gundy's teams have posted top-10 special teams efficiency ratings in each of the past three seasons.



3. Oklahoma Sooners
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win Big 12: 16 percent
With only 11 returning starters and question marks at key positions, Oklahoma appears to be in transition this fall. Blake Bell may have an edge in the quarterback race, but he still needs to prove that he can carry the load -- Landry Jones was responsible for producing 70 percent of the team's total offense over the past three seasons.

Defensively, Oklahoma faced the nation's toughest set of opponent offenses last season according to FEI, and it is likely 2013 won't be much easier. The schedule includes a particularly tricky stretch against Notre Dame, TCU and Texas in consecutive weekends. Our model forecasts a 54 percent chance the Sooners will lose at least two of those games.



4. TCU Horned Frogs
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win Big 12: 14 percent
TCU is a popular pick to contend for the conference championship, and if so, the nine starters returning on defense will lead the way. Gary Patterson's teams have posted top-20 opponent-adjusted defensive efficiency ratings in four of the past five years. The offense needs to settle on a quarterback and take advantage of the field position generated by the defense. A year ago, TCU ranked second nationally in starting field position, but ranked 95th in first down rate, wasting scoring opportunities much too frequently.

The month of October is the most critical stretch, with games at Oklahoma, at Oklahoma State and home against Texas. Winning two of three -- our model gives TCU a 35 percent chance to do so -- will keep the Horned Frogs in contention.



5. Kansas State Wildcats
Projected finish: 7-5
Win total range: 5-7 to 9-3
Chance to win Big 12: 1 percent
Bill Snyder has a history of outperforming expectations, and his Kansas State teams have defied our projection model for several years. But with the departure of Collin Klein, the return of only eight starters and the potentially unsustainable turnover success of a year ago, our data insists that a big step back is in store for the Wildcats.

Kansas State started offensive drives, on average, 11 yards closer to the end zone than its opponents -- the equivalent of 120 yards of offense over the course of a game. If that can be replicated, Kansas State will finish at the top of its projection window with ease.



6. Baylor Bears
Projected finish: 7-5
Win total range: 5-7 to 9-3
Chance to win Big 12: 0 percent
A year ago, Baylor graduated the most prolific offensive weapon in program history, Robert Griffin III, and still managed to maintain its ranking as the No. 1 opponent-adjusted offense in college football this past fall behind Nick Florence. Another new starter at quarterback will take the field in 2013, and Art Briles' offense isn't expected to miss a beat.

Here's the problem: Opposing offenses barely miss a beat against Baylor, either. The Bears ranked 120th nationally in opponent methodical drives (21 percent last at least 10 plays) and 105th nationally in opponent explosive drives (19 percent average at least 10 yards per play). The bottom 25 teams in those efficiency measures won an average of only 3.5 games last year.



7. West Virginia Mountaineers
Projected finish: 6-6
Win total range: 4-8 to 8-4
Chance to win Big 12: 0 percent
The Mountaineers were rolling early on last year, but a five-game losing streak in the heart of the Big 12 schedule and an underwhelming loss to Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl has West Virginia trending rapidly in the wrong direction. On top of that, coach Dana Holgorsen needs to replace a dozen starters including offensive stars Geno Smith and Tavon Austin. Efficiency and explosiveness on offense have been trademarks of Holgorsen's teams, but defense is the biggest concern. West Virginia allowed 52 percent of opponent drives to cross the Mountaineers' 30-yard line in 2012. Over the past six seasons, teams that allowed that high of a rate averaged only 2.4 FBS wins on the year.



8. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Projected finish: 6-6
Win total range: 4-8 to 8-4
Chance to win Big 12: 0 percent
Six wins is a modest goal for new coach Kliff Kingsbury, and a nonconference schedule featuring two FCS opponents helps the cause. Texas Tech returns eight starters defensively, and they'll need that experience to make up for possible growing pains on offense. A year ago, the Red Raiders gave up 2.8 points per opponent drive -- they were one of only three teams with a winning FBS record to finish among the bottom 25 in points surrendered per drive. If they repeat that performance, Texas Tech probably will fall to the bottom of its projection window.



9. Iowa State Cyclones
Projected finish: 3-9
Win total range: 2-10 to 5-7
Chance to win Big 12: 0 percent
The Cyclones posted back-to-back bowl seasons in 2011 and 2012, but with only nine starters returning this fall, a slide back to the bottom of the league is likely in order. Coach Paul Rhoads has positioned Iowa State as a dangerous giant killer, but not a threat for the conference title. Defensively, the Cyclones have yet to finish among the top 75 in the country in forcing three-and-outs or surrendering available yards, two data points that are only going to be worse with a young team. Nonconference games against Iowa and Tulsa will probably put Iowa State in a hole early on as well.



10. Kansas Jayhawks
Projected finish: 3-9
Win total range: 1-11 to 4-8
Chance to win Big 12: 0 percent
The Jayhawks are projected to have less than a 25 percent chance of victory in any single Big 12 game, but progress with this program will be measured less by wins and more by narrowing the margin of defeat. Closing the gap with the Big 12 requires doing the little things right, such as eliminating the seven-yard starting field position differential from last year and tightening up special teams deficiencies that cost Kansas more than 40 points of scoring value on the season.

The Jayhawks' defense also needs to focus on limiting big plays -- Kansas gave up an explosive drive (average of 10 yards per play or more) on 20 percent of opponent possessions last season.

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guru0509
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99. "Projected ACC Standings"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9250501/clemson-tigers-top-2013-projected-acc-standings-college-football


Spring practices have wrapped up across the country, and there's not much more data we can pull into our projection model for the fall. At Football Outsiders, factors such as five-year program ratings, returning starters, quarterback reliance and more have featured into the projections. We'll publish final projections based on play and drive efficiency in the Football Outsiders Almanac this summer, but we can take a sneak peek at preliminary projections through the lens of our drive-based FEI ratings.

For this series, we first ran preliminary projections for team, offensive and defensive efficiency. Then we calculated win likelihoods in each scheduled game, producing a projected record and win total range. Running the win likelihoods through 1,000 simulated seasons, we calculated the frequency with which each team claimed a conference crown.

On Tuesday we're looking at the projections for the ACC, which features two intriguing division races.

ACC Atlantic


1. Clemson Tigers
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win ACC: 24 percent
The Tigers' two toughest games, according to our projections, are against nonconference opponents Georgia and South Carolina that bookend the season. In conference play, Clemson draws its toughest opponents, Florida State and Georgia Tech, at home in Death Valley. Home-field advantage is the primary factor that vaults Clemson to the top of our ACC projections.

The explosive tandem of quarterback Tajh Boyd and receiver Sammy Watkins lead the way for an offense that scored 3.1 points per drive last year (eighth nationally). The bottom half of our projection window could come true thanks to a defense that struggles against big plays. In each of coach Dabo Swinney's four seasons, Clemson has given up a higher percentage of explosive drives (possessions that average at least 10 yards per play) than the year before.



2. Florida State Seminoles
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win ACC: 18 percent
The Seminoles claimed their first conference championship since 2005 last season, and Florida State appears to have elevated itself back to being the program to beat in the ACC. But with only 10 returning starters this fall, another run at a BCS bowl will likely have to wait. The Seminoles will have new faces all over a defense that ranked second nationally in forcing three-and-outs (47 percent of opponent possessions) and gave up 1.3 points per drive.

Coach Jimbo Fisher's program ranked among the top 15 in special-teams efficiency in his first two seasons but dropped out of the top 30 last year. Value generated in the kicking game and possession exchanges will help relieve the pressure on a young team.



3. NC State Wolfpack
Projected finish: 7-5
Win total range: 4-8 to 9-3
Chance to win ACC: 3 percent
New coach Dave Doeren lost only four total games in his two seasons at Northern Illinois, and he inherits a program that hasn't lost fewer than four games in one year since 2002. The Wolfpack have had moments in the last decade, but they've been terribly inconsistent and uninspiring. On offense over the past six years, NC State never ranked better than No. 52 overall in generating explosive drives, and its opponent-adjusted offensive efficiency plummeted to 78th overall last season. The Wolfpack defense generated more scoreboard value than the offense in five of their six Football Bowl Subdivision wins last year.



4. Syracuse Orange
Projected finish: 6-6
Win total range: 4-8 to 8-4
Chance to win ACC: 2 percent
The Orange make their debut in the ACC with a schedule that is not conducive to generating momentum, especially with a new head coach and new starting quarterback at the helm. Syracuse faces losable games against five of its first six FBS opponents (Penn State, Northwestern, Clemson, NC State and Georgia Tech), only one of which will be played in the Carrier Dome. Our projection model gives the Orange a 49 percent chance of losing at least four of those five.



5. Boston College Eagles
Projected finish: 5-7
Win total range: 3-9 to 7-5
Chance to win ACC: 0 percent
Steve Addazio is the new head coach at Boston College, inheriting a program that has won fewer games against FBS opponents in each successive season since 2005. The disastrous 2012 campaign featured only one FBS victory and only two losses decided by a touchdown or less. Boston College lost the field position battle in 10 games, costing itself more than 40 points on the year in field position value alone.

Despite all that, our projection model likes the Eagles' chances against two other ACC Atlantic weaklings, and three of their four nonconference games should be wins. That means bowl eligibility is possible, but Boston College fans will probably settle for a step in the right direction.



6. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Projected finish: 5-7
Win total range: 3-9 to 7-5
Chance to win ACC: 0 percent
The Demon Deacons have 16 starters back this fall, but those players have a lot of work to do to make Wake Forest a conference contender. Wake Forest ranked last in the country last year in generating value drives, possessions that start on the team's own side of the field and reach at least the opponent's 30-yard line. The defense gave up 2.5 points per drive (81st nationally), and special teams cost Wake Forest 2.5 points per game (117th nationally). Those units need to improve significantly this fall for the Demon Deacons to sniff the upper end of their projection window. Our data gives Wake Forest only a 59 percent chance of winning three or more conference games.



7. Maryland Terrapins
Projected finish: 4-8
Win total range: 2-10 to 6-6
Chance to win ACC: 0 percent
The Terrapins went three-and-out on 50 percent of their offensive possessions last season, the second-worst rate nationally in 2012 and one of the worst we've measured by a major conference team in the last six seasons. In that span, teams that went three-and-out on more than 40 percent of drives averaged only 3.3 FBS wins, so improvement on offense needs to be extraordinary for Maryland to have much success this year.

The defense was decent last season (25th in limiting available yards), but only five starters are back on that side of the ball. Our projections peg Maryland as the underdog in nine games this fall.

ACC Coastal


1. Miami Hurricanes
Projected finish: 9-3
Win total range: 7-5 to 11-1
Chance to win ACC: 16 percent
The projection model finds lots to like about Miami's chances to win its first ACC Coastal title. Nineteen returning starters are tied for the most in college football this year, its program rating (No. 28) is respectable, and the rest of its division and its conference schedule aren't particularly daunting.

To truly contend, Miami's defense needs to step up. The Hurricanes allowed 20 percent of opponent drives to last at least 10 plays (118th nationally) and gave up an average of 4.6 points on those possessions (105th nationally). An asset to any contender, Miami excelled last season in managing field position, forcing opponents to start drives five yards deeper than the national average.



2. Virginia Tech Hokies
Projected finish: 8-4
Win total range: 6-6 to 10-2
Chance to win ACC: 14 percent
Quarterback Logan Thomas is back in Blacksburg, but he's one of the few offensive weapons Virginia Tech returns this fall. The leading rusher and passer last year for the Hokies, Thomas accounted for more than 72 percent of Virginia Tech's offense in 2012. That wasn't good enough. The Hokies scored only 1.7 points per drive and ranked 94th in raw efficiency. Special teams had been a hallmark of Frank Beamer's program for years, but Virginia Tech was below average according to our efficiency measures in each of the last two years.

The Hokies face Alabama in their opener, a brutal opponent for a young offense, but no Florida State and no Clemson on the schedule makes the conference slate manageable.



3. North Carolina Tar Heels
Projected finish: 8-4
Win total range: 6-6 to 10-2
Chance to win ACC: 11 percent
Our FEI projection model expects to see a four- or five-team race in the ACC Coastal Division, and North Carolina may be in control or totally out of the race early in the conference season. The Tar Heels play Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Miami in their first three conference games, two of which are on the road, and our model gives the Tar Heels only a 40 percent chance of winning two or more of those three. There's a 70 percent chance North Carolina will lose no more than one other conference game the rest of the way.

Turnovers were everything for UNC last year. The Tar Heels lost turnover value in only four games, coinciding with the four games they lost. With 15 starters back and hungry after sitting out the postseason while on probation, North Carolina can make a run for the ACC title.



4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Projected finish: 8-4
Win total range: 6-6 to 10-2
Chance to win ACC: 8 percent
Coach Paul Johnson started strong five years ago, but Georgia Tech hasn't been a factor in the conference race in each of the last three seasons. That could change with eight starters back on each side of the ball. As is to be expected from a triple-option offense, the Yellow Jackets have ranked among the top 15 nationally in producing methodical drives throughout Johnson's tenure, but success has been less consistent. In its ACC championship-winning season, Georgia Tech averaged 4.7 points per methodical drive. That number dipped below four points per methodical drive over the last three years. Tech needs to push more of those drives into the end zone and improve field position as well. Georgia Tech's opponent starting field position ranked 14th worst in college football last year.



5. Pittsburgh Panthers
Projected finish: 7-5
Win total range: 5-7 to 9-3
Chance to win ACC: 4 percent
The Panthers' first year in the ACC will be difficult, but nine starters are back on defense, which will help keep nearly every game competitive. They boasted a classic bend-but-don't-break unit last season that ranked 112th in limiting opponent methodical drives but gave up only 4.3 points per drive that crossed the Panthers' 30-yard-line (21st nationally).

The schedule features a tough home opener against Florida State in the first weekend, but our model projects that Pittsburgh has a good chance to get on an early roll in its next five or six games. The end of the schedule is toss-up territory. A strong start and Pittsburgh is a conference contender, but if it drops a few early on, bowl eligibility may be out of reach.



6. Virginia Cavaliers
Projected finish: 4-8
Win total range: 2-10 to 6-6
Chance to win ACC: 0 percent
The Cavaliers were the third-worst team in the country last year in managing field position. Opponents started 22 percent of their drives on Virginia's side of the 50-yard line, and the Cavaliers had short fields on only 5 percent of their drives. That's not a recipe for success, especially with an offense that earned a first down on only 60 percent of its drives and ranked among the nation's worst in generating big plays.

Our model projects a rough start with nonconference games against BYU and Oregon in the first two weeks. A three-game swing in October against Ball State, Maryland and Duke provides the only opportunity to string three wins together.



7. Duke Blue Devils
Projected finish: 4-8
Win total range: 2-10 to 6-6
Chance to win ACC: 0 percent
Last season, the Blue Devils played in a bowl game for the first time in 17 years, but there were red flags in their performance throughout the season that suggest a return back to the bottom of the ACC may be in store. Duke's opponent-adjusted defensive efficiency has steadily declined throughout coach David Cutcliffe's tenure, bottoming out at 113th nationally last year. Duke was fifth worst nationally in red zone defense as well. The Blue Devils lost four straight games at the end of last year's regular season, and we calculate a 39 percent chance they'll repeat the same late-season skid this year.

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
35261 posts
Wed May-08-13 08:31 AM

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101. "LOL"
In response to Reply # 99


  

          

except for that whole "had a chance to win the ACC with 3 minutes left against FSU" thing

>Coach Paul Johnson started strong five years ago, but Georgia
>Tech hasn't been a factor in the conference race in each of
>the last three seasons.

  

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guru0509
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102. "Projected Pac-12 standings"
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http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9254145/oregon-ducks-top-projected-pac-12-standings-2013-college-football


By Brian Fremeau | Football Outsiders
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Spring practices have wrapped up across the country, and there's not much more data we can pull into our projection model for the fall. At Football Outsiders, factors such as five-year program (FEI) ratings, returning starters, quarterback reliance and more have featured into the projections. We'll publish final projections based on play and drive efficiency in the Football Outsiders Almanac later this summer, but we can take a sneak peak at preliminary projections through the lens of our drive-based FEI ratings.

For this series, we first ran preliminary projections for team, offense and defensive efficiency. Then we calculated win likelihoods in each scheduled game, producing a projected record and win total range. Running the win likelihoods through 1,000 simulated seasons, we then calculated the frequency with which each team claimed a conference crown.

On Wednesday we're looking at the projections for the Pac-12, which features three contenders -- and one clear favorite -- to win the conference title in 2013.

Pac-12 North


1. Oregon Ducks
Projected finish: 11-1
Win total range: 10-2 to 12-0
Chance to win Pac 12: 49 percent
A mid-November overtime loss to Stanford was the only blemish on last season's record, and the Ducks are loaded for another run at a championship this fall. Quarterback Marcus Mariota, running back De'Anthony Thomas and almost every receiving threat from a year ago is back on an offense that averaged more than 49 points per game. Last season, the Ducks ranked among the top 10 nationally in almost every efficiency metric we measure, and they'll have little trouble putting points on the board in 2013.

The question marks for the Ducks are on defense, as the team lost several key contributors along its defensive line. The real secret to Oregon's success has been its ability to keep opponents from matching it stride-for-stride. On value drives -- possessions that begin on the offense's side of the 50-yard line and cross the opponent's 30-yard line -- Oregon has consistently outpaced the rest of college football, offensively and defensively. In five of the past six seasons, the Ducks have ranked among the top three in net points per value drive.

2. Stanford Cardinal
Projected finish: 10-2
Win total range: 9-3 to 12-0
Chance to win Pac 12: 26 percent
Stanford lived on the edge all season in 2012, playing 10 games decided by a touchdown or less and coming up on the right side of the ledger in eight of those contests. That's not usually a recipe for continued success, but the projection model loves any team that returns 15 starters to a program that has lost only five times in three years. The 2012 team was carried by its defense, which ranked third nationally in opponent-adjusted efficiency, and was responsible for generating more scoring value than the offense in six victories last year.

On offense, the Cardinal need to find consistency that eluded them throughout the 2012 campaign. Quarterback Kevin Hogan took over the starting job midseason and completed 71 percent of his passes, but Stanford's five leading receivers and its leading rusher were seniors. The good news is that Stanford has time to find new playmakers with a back-loaded schedule this fall.



3. Oregon State Beavers
Projected finish: 8-4
Win total range: 6-6 to 10-2
Chance to win Pac-12: 2 percent
Oregon State took a big step forward on both sides of the ball last season, ranking in the top 25 in opponent-adjusted offense and defense after ranking outside of the top 70 in those categories the previous season. But the Beavers haven't topped rival Oregon since 2007 and they've lost three straight to Stanford -- and those top division foes are projected to continue those streaks this season. Improvement areas for 2013 include field position (the Beavers ranked 93rd nationally in drives started inside their own 20-yard line) and turnovers (Oregon State lost turnover value in two games that exceeded its margin of defeat in those contests).

The back half of the schedule is challenging, with games against Stanford, USC, Arizona State, Washington and Oregon over the final six weeks of the season. Our projection model gives the Beavers a 63 percent chance of losing three or more in that stretch.



4. Washington Huskies
Projected finish: 6-6
Win total range: 4-8 to 8-4
Chance to win Pac-12: 0 percent
The season hinges on three key games in the first six weeks -- home against Boise State on Aug. 31, at Stanford on Oct. 5 and home against Oregon on Oct. 12. Our projection model gives Washington a 65 percent chance of losing all three games. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has brought the program back to respectability, but the Huskies haven't been able to break through and make much of a run in the conference race. And last season marked a significant regression on offense, the primary culprit in the Huskies' sluggish start. Washington produced an explosive drive -- those that average at least 10 yards per play -- on only 8 percent of its possessions (110th nationally), and a methodical drive -- those that run 10 or more plays -- on only 10 percent of its possessions (also 110th), the two primary ways in which offenses establish an identity. That lack of efficiency was especially costly, given that Washington ranked No. 7 nationally in starting field position.



5. California Golden Bears
Projected finish: 4-8
Win total range: 2-10 to 6-6
Chance to win Pac-12: 0 percent
Coach Sonny Dykes makes his debut with a Bears team that has a long way to go to become a conference contender. Dykes' last program, Louisiana Tech, was the nation's best team in terms of moving the ball into field position, driving 63 percent of its possessions from inside its own territory across the opponent's 30-yard line. Last season, California produced value drives on only 30 percent of its possessions. With a new system and new starters all over the field, California fans will have to be patient in terms of results. Our model gives Cal a win likelihood of less than 25 percent in seven of its nine conference games.



6. Washington State Cougars
Projected finish: 2-10
Win total range: 1-11 to 3-9
Chance to win Pac-12: 0 percent
Mike Leach didn't inherit a healthy program last season, but he didn't have anywhere close to the impact fans expected, either. Washington State's offense didn't do anything well, as it ranked 114th in raw efficiency (a measure of a team's actual drive success against expected drive success based on field position), 110th in first-down rate and 103rd in points per drive. Defense and special teams were problematic as well; as a result, Washington State ranked second to last nationally in field-position advantage. The good news is that there's nowhere to go but up, though playing one of the most difficult schedules in the league means that there will be few opportunities to actually improve in the win column.

Pac-12 South


1. USC Trojans
Projected finish: 10-3
Win total range: 8-5 to 12-1
Chance to win Pac-12: 15 percent
The Trojans fell well short of lofty expectations last season, and as a result, USC's program FEI rating fell out of the top 10 for the first time in more than a decade. This is not a program on the rise, but coach Lane Kiffin still has a roster more talented than every opponent USC will face this fall. The schedule is conducive to building momentum as well, with four games out of the gate that ought to be easy wins, a relatively weak Pac-12 South division and a cross-division slate that does not include Pac-12 North favorite Oregon. Four of the Trojans' six losses last year came by 10 points or less. To win those tight games this fall, USC needs to capitalize on scoring opportunities. After crossing the opponent's 30-yard line, USC averaged only 4.5 points per drive in 2012, which ranked 87th in the nation.



2. Arizona Wildcats
Projected finish: 8-4
Win total range: 6-6 to 10-2
Chance to win Pac-12: 4 percent
Rich Rodriguez's first season at Arizona was a success on both sides of the ball. The defense improved incrementally, field position was managed more consistently and the Wildcats ramped up their offensive efficiency to No. 9 in our opponent-adjusted offensive metric. That improvement can continue with 17 starters coming back this fall. A new quarterback will take the reins in 2013, but Rodriguez has previously groomed success at that position with young talent. The Wildcats could help themselves by improving on special teams. Arizona has ranked no better than 96th overall in special-teams efficiency over the past three seasons, and that unit cost the team two games last year that were decided by a single score.



3. Arizona State Sun Devils
Projected finish: 7-5
Win total range: 5-7 to 9-3
Chance to win Pac-12: 4 percent
Few teams in the country will be as tested as much early in the season as the Sun Devils. In a four-week span from Sept. 14 to Oct. 5, Arizona State will face Wisconsin, Stanford, USC and Notre Dame, four opponents projected in our FEI top 20. Our model gives the Sun Devils a 25 percent chance of losing all four games. After that gauntlet, however, the model likes Arizona State to go on a run, which could position it as a division contender by season's end. A total of eight starters are back on defense, headlined by 2012 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Will Sutton. The Sun Devils gave up only 36 percent of available yards in 2012, 15th fewest nationally.



4. UCLA Bruins
Projected finish: 6-6
Win total range: 4-8 to 8-4
Chance to win Pac-12: 0 percent
This may be the biggest surprise in the projection model, but not when you consider the key factors that went into the formula. UCLA ranks only 57th over the past five seasons, according to FEI, and the Bruins' 2013 schedule is much more difficult than the one they tackled a year ago. Earlier this spring, we discussed UCLA as one of the programs closing the talent gap, but coach Jim Mora may need a few more years to push all of those recruits to the top of the conference title race. His debut season was a dandy, but there are more pitfalls in store this campaign. The next step is a small step back for UCLA. The model gives the Bruins a 69 percent chance of losing all four games on road trips to Nebraska, Stanford, Oregon and USC.



5. Utah Utes
Projected finish: 6-6
Win total range: 4-8 to 8-4
Chance to win Pac-12: 0 percent
The primary areas of concern for Utah this fall are on the offensive side of the ball. The Utes were one of the weakest nationally in terms of avoiding three-and-outs (114th), earning available yards (108th) and producing explosive drives (115th). They had one of the best kickoff return teams in the country last year, but they graduated their top returners. This is a program that still needs to walk before it can run with the big boys in the Pac-12, and all of the big boys are on the schedule this fall. From Week 3 to Week 12, Utah is projected to be the underdog in seven of eight games, and our model gives it only a 23 percent chance of going .500 in that stretch.



6. Colorado Buffaloes
Projected finish: 3-9
Win total range: 1-11 to 4-8
Chance to win Pac-12: 0 percent
Last season, the Buffaloes were the nation's worst team in terms of producing explosive drives on offense. They were also the nation's worst team in terms of stopping explosive drives on defense. That is a lethal combination, especially against a Pac-12 schedule that includes a handful of teams that can rip off big plays with consistency. If the Buffaloes do nothing else but work on preventing big plays, they may not improve their win total very significantly, but they'll keep themselves competitive deeper into games. That's pretty much the biggest impact new coach Mike MacIntyre can hope for in his first season.

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I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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Mon May-13-13 11:15 AM

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104. "bunch of my Oregon brethren discussed this recently..."
In response to Reply # 102


  

          


>
>
>The question marks for the Ducks are on defense, as the team
>lost several key contributors along its defensive line.

Nice try. We lost Dion Jordan who played the hybrid role, and a backup defensive linemen that spent multiple games with injury.

What he meant to say is that we've lost two of our starting linebackers to the NFL in Kiko Alonso, and Michael Clay. Those are the singular question marks for this squad. The DBs and returning defensive linemen are all veterans.

  

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guru0509
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Mon May-13-13 09:27 AM

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103. "Whats going on in Austin? Daniel Gresham Decommits From Texas"
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Mack Brown usually has 3/4ths of his class locked up by now.

http://texas.scout.com/2/1290681.html


Fort Worth All Saints running back Daniel Gresham is no longer a member of Texas's 2014 recruiting class after decommitting this week.

A 235-pound running back/fullback hybrid, Gresham was the fourth player to give a verbal pledge to the Longhorns, committing to Texas last August. But while Gresham, Scout.com's No. 2 fullback, wasn't considered especially solid, especially after taking a visit to Ohio State earlier this year.

Texas now has 13 commitments in the 2014 class.

Gresham's decommitment wasn't much of a surprise, as many expected him to quickly follow Fort Worth All Saints teammate Demetrius Knox, who decommitted last month. Best friends, Gresham and Knox have expressed a desire to play together at the next level.

Gresham's decommitment leaves the Longhorns with just one running back committed for 2014, Houston Eisenhower's Donald Catalon. Texas has extended offers to 12 running backs in the class.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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105. "should be brown's last year...get those resume's ready"
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.

  

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guru0509
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Wed May-15-13 07:33 PM

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106. "Make-or-break scenarios for QB prospects "
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god damn, so many good college qbs vying for that bronze trophy in january...


http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/blog/_/name/haney_travis/id/9277087/make-break-scenarios-johnny-manziel-other-2014-qb-prospects-college-football



After eight quarterbacks were taken in the first round in the 2011 and 2012 NFL drafts combined, EJ Manuel was the only first-day QB in 2013.

Maybe NFL teams were just waiting for the 2014 crop. It should more than make up for this year's class, considered weak going in and validated when onetime first-round projections Matt Barkley, Ryan Nassib and Landry Jones landed in the fourth round.

Four, or maybe more, in 2014 sounds about right. Mel Kiper has broken down his top five QB prospects as things stand, with Teddy Bridgewater ranked at the No. 1 spot.

Outside of Bridgewater, who enters the season as the favorite to be the first quarterback taken and has fewer question marks (at the moment, at least) than the other passers in this class, what could go right or wrong for the top quarterbacks this season that would lead to their stock shifting?

I took a look at 10 draft-eligible quarterbacks, some of which are just behind Bridgewater on Kiper's list and others who are a bit further down, and looked at make-or-break scenarios for each during the 2013 season.



Tajh Boyd, Clemson Tigers
Make: Boyd made a huge jump as a junior, slimming down and becoming a legitimate running threat. Offensive coordinator Chad Morris told me in April that changed the whole offense, opening up myriad opportunities that previously were not available. If Boyd has another gear after another offseason of work, it'll cement to NFL teams his status as a dual-threat prospect -- in the Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick mold.

As far as the passing game, he reduced the number of chances taken last season. A resurgent season from receiver Sammy Watkins could be helpful to Boyd -- both during and after the year.

Boyd was on the right track. If he continues his current trek, he could land in the first half of the first round.

Break: Yes, Watkins is back, but Boyd had him and 2013 first-round pick DeAndre Hopkins as options last season. The year before that, he had third-round tight end Dwayne Allen. If defenses lock down on Watkins and no one else comes along, Boyd, as he did late in the 2011 season, might feel like he has to do too much and again make turnover-inducing mistakes. ACC teams might also better scheme how to make Boyd one-dimensional. He's gifted, but he isn't on Johnny Manziel's level of shiftiness.

Projection: Status quo. Boyd is a nice prospect who has improved every year he's been at Clemson -- and particularly since Morris arrived on the scene and revamped the offense. There's no reason to think he'll regress, not with it being his last college season and not with NFL teams carefully watching.



Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M Aggies

Make: Manziel, who is working this spring with instructor George Whitfield, shows improvement as a passer. He progresses in decision-making, knowing when to take off and when to remain in the pocket and take the extra time to find a receiver downfield. The freelancing took him to an unbelievable freshman season, the first-ever Heisman season. But that might not be there, at least as often, as a sophomore if defenses catch up -- and it almost certainly will not be there as a pro (not to the same degree, at least).

Additionally, NFL teams would probably turn their heads more if Manziel can lift the Aggies to a new level, an SEC or national title, than if he has another big statistical season. They know he can put up numbers; they want to see physical development or leadership advancement.

Break: He becomes stagnant in his development, leaning too often on his legs for scouts' liking. He starts taking too many chances in the passing game, trying too hard to be the passer the next level is seeking and less of the dual-threat that has made him what he is now. Manziel winds up missing coordinator and position coach Kliff Kingsbury more than we think he will, even if Kingsbury's replacement, Jake Spavital, is as close of a fit as there is going to be.

And this: What if this YOLO offseason does come back to haunt him in some way? (There's no reason to believe that would happen, though, with the Cotton Bowl as evidence.)

Projection: Make. Manziel is a unique player, someone who is extremely athletic and extremely confident. He seems to be fueled by criticism or skepticism. There have been few rises as quick as Manziel's in 2012, when he was named the starter in mid-August and named the Heisman winner in early December.



Marcus Mariota, Oregon Ducks
Make: He becomes the 2013 version of Manziel, statistically, and does it at 6-foot-4 and around 200 pounds. Remember that Chip Kelly is gone, but his offense is not. Mark Helfrich will want to make that point, so expect the throttle to stay close to the floorboard. That should benefit Mariota, who was already the most efficient full-time starting freshman in the country (32 touchdowns, six interceptions) in 2012. He averaged 7.1 yards a carry, but he didn't have to run nearly as much as Manziel. And that's more of the NFL model, since he'll have even fewer rushing opportunities at the next level.

One more thought: If the Eagles are drafting somewhere in the teens next year, how appealing would Mariota be to Kelly? (Sorry, Matt Barkley.)

Break: Mariota goes backward without Kelly running the show. There's no fluid replacement for Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James before him; it takes Thomas Tyner and others time to get acclimated, and De'Anthony Thomas simply isn't durable enough for anything other than the intermittent catch or carry. All of that forces the action to the QB position too much, and Mariota proves unready.

Projection: Make. In terms of size, Mariota is precisely what the NFL wants. If he even replicates what he did a year ago -- a 68.5 completion percentage and plus-26 in TDs-to-INTs -- NFL teams will begin to salivate to have someone like him. I know some coaches who believe he could become the name in the coming college season (as in the Heisman race) and draft lead-up. He's that big and gifted.



AJ McCarron, Alabama Crimson Tide
Make: He might not be a first-round guy, no matter what, but someone's going to fall in love with McCarron's efficiency. And why not? He completed 67.2 percent of his passes a season ago and 66.8 percent two seasons ago as a first-year starter. McCarron threw 30 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 2012, leading the country in QB rating. The NFL likes quarterbacks who throw accurately without many errors.

Nick Saban has shown he is comfortable letting McCarron throw more and more, balancing what was a run-first system prior to his promotion. McCarron isn't built like Thomas or some others, but at 6-4, 210 pounds, he is what the pro level is seeking on a lot of levels. He just needs to continue what he's been doing, and he will get a shot.

Break: Really, it is difficult to envision this. Saban and Doug Nussmeier are not going to put their offense, or McCarron, in spots where he is exposed. Perhaps that will lead to residual questions for scouts, to be answered in the Senior Bowl, workouts and so on. He has won two titles in two seasons as a starter. That will turn heads.

Projection: Status quo. And that's a good thing for McCarron. He'll again flirt with a 70 percent completion percentage and maintain that high efficiency rating. What will be interesting to watch is how receiver Amari Cooper grows as a sophomore. Is he the next Julio Jones-level talent, and what could that mean for McCarron?



David Fales, San Jose State Spartans
Make: Fales isn't at an Football Championship Subdivision school like Joe Flacco was, but he could be a similar outside-the-mainstream prospect if he repeats what he did in his first season out of junior college. Fales led the country in completion percentage (72.5) and averaged 9.3 yards per attempt, throwing 33 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. And he elevated his team, taking the Spartans from six victories the previous two seasons combined to 10 in 2012.

On a list filled with the dual-threat guys the NFL currently loves, Fales is your pure pocket-passer. There will always be a spot for guys like that.

Break: Playing where he is, it makes the numbers more important -- even if again topping a 70 percent completion percentage is a lot to ask. If he turns out to be a one-year wonder and flops against suspect competition, it will place more of a burden on how Fales works out. He could also miss coach Mike MacIntyre, who recruited Fales, spent three years with the Spartans and is now at Colorado.

Projection: Make. Fales was playing juco ball because he didn't mesh well with Chris Ault's pistol at Nevada. He's a newcomer, but he appears to have the physical tools and arm to play the position. Still, it's a big year for Fales to show he can do it for more than just one season.



Braxton Miller, Ohio State Buckeyes
Make: The second year in a new offensive system, coaches tell me, is the biggest season of growth. There's less learning and more playing. That'll apply to a couple of others on this list as well.

Coach Urban Meyer told me last month that Miller was getting more intentional about playing quarterback.

"He's a prideful guy. He works at his trade," Meyer said. "He wants to get better. This is as serious of an approach as I've seen from him."

How has that played out?

"I've seen him around here more," Meyer said, referring to OSU's football facility.

So Miller is committed, according to his coach. If young players such as newcomer Dontre Wilson and veteran players such as running back Carlos Hyde -- who Meyer said could be one of the best in the country this season - provide complements, Miller could flourish and become a desired QB commodity.

Break: The playmakers around him do not develop rapidly enough, and Miller is reduced to his role from a year ago -- doing whatever it takes, primarily with his legs, to eke out close victories. Of course, if Miller could again lead the Buckeyes to an undefeated regular season, that would bode well for his intangibles as a winner. But it would be awfully difficult if he had to again bear the burden (and risk injury) like he did in 2012. And it will be that much tougher in 2013, now that OSU is postseason-eligible.

Projection: Break, at least as a quarterback. He'll improve, but he could find himself in the same camp as Michigan's run-first Denard Robinson. It's difficult to escape that stigma, and some scouts are already wondering if Miller will be an NFL running back or receiver. No one's doubting the athleticism, just the passing ability. Meyer disagrees -- saying Miller "absolutely" can be an NFL quarterback -- but it might take Miller more than one season to get there, especially if it takes6 time to develop options around him.



Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech Hokies
Make: Hey, remember him? He was the tank of a quarterback we were all chatting about this time last summer. But then he completed 51.3 percent of his passes and had 16 interceptions to go with 18 touchdowns.

So regulating those numbers, getting the completions in excess of even 60 percent and cutting the picks in half, would be a start. NFL guys will still drool for the 6-6, 260-pound frame if he shows he can do something with it. And he had a nice spring, Hokies offensive assistant Shane Beamer told me Tuesday.

"There isn't nearly as much talk about him," Beamer said. "I think that's made him more comfortable. He looks more at ease, and he made good decisions throughout the spring."

Beamer said Thomas worked well with new coordinator Scot Loeffler, who has brought discipline to an offense that might have needed it. I was told last fall that Thomas took far too many chances -- but some of that was because the offense was so stagnant, particularly at the receiver position. It's still a question mark entering this season. The Hokies need D.J. Coles to come back from injury and be the productive player he was in 2011. If not, Thomas might have to work the slot and underneath stuff, dink and dunk, to put together drives.

Break: If those receivers don't come along, or even if they do, Thomas could again settle into a pattern of forcing throws that are not open. Thomas has had back-to-back seasons in which the numbers do not match the potential, so the status quo would be a "break." He has to demonstrate, regardless of what's around him, that he is not just a 55 percent college passer in Daunte Culpepper's body.

Projection: Make. Sort of. With Loeffler's help, Thomas should be better than he was a year ago. He looked at times as if he had just made the move from tight end, which happened years earlier. If he does boost the stats, it will not take much to get NFL teams interested. He could be a combine star and leap up draft boards, even if he isn't the first- or even second-team All-ACC QB. (If I'm picking today for those spots, I'd choose Boyd and Miami's Stephen Morris.)



Brett Hundley, UCLA Bruins
Make: This is the most intriguing guy on the list. He's lower down on the prospects list, but he's 6-3 and coordinator Noel Mazzone told me Monday that Hundley is up to 230 pounds from playing at 205 a year ago.

"He looks the part," the coach said. "He looks like you like them to look. ... I'm always in a better mood when I've got a good quarterback."

Mazzone is all kinds of fired up about how Hundley looked in the spring. It's the quarterback's second year in the offensive system.

"Last year he was a really talented kid who had a learner's permit," Mazzone said. "He had to have someone in the passenger's seat to drive the car. This year, he might be able to drive it by himself."

If the redshirt sophomore is what his coach thinks he could be, he might be in line for a leap on the field -- and in the draft arena. When and how Hundley runs is something to watch. Mazzone said Hundley is making better decisions, before and after the snap.

"He understands, conceptually, how all the pieces fit together," Mazzone said.

Break: Sometimes what coaches and fans see in the spring is fool's gold -- or it requires more time to develop. Perhaps Hundley, at this point, is better in practices and against teammates than in live action. There's also the matter of personnel. He doesn't have a big-time receiver, and Mazzone said three or four backs will work to replace the durable Johnathan Franklin.

Mazzone called Franklin "the mayor" of last year's team. What if Hundley, even in his third year, isn't ready to take over the office? He could be a year away.

Projection: Make. This is an incredibly gifted guy who is bulking up and maintaining his athleticism. The Bruins were surprise Pac-12 title-game competitors in Jim Mora's first year, so Hundley could flourish in his second year in the system. Mazzone sure seems sold, and scouts could follow as they watch him this fall.



Aaron Murray, Georgia Bulldogs
Make: Just keep it up. Murray, quietly, led the country in 2012 in yards per attempt (10.1) and was second behind McCarron in QB rating. And he put up those numbers with a so-so offensive line and in the post-A.J. Green UGA era, though he did have a strong run game to create downfield chances.

Murray is 6-1 -- not prototypical height for an NFL quarterback, but tall enough to play the position, as Drew Brees and others can attest. Brees isn't a bad comparison. Like the former Purdue quarterback, Murray is athletic enough to escape pressure but isn't a pure runner like some of the others listed.

Break: That said, Brees was a second-rounder. Are we in a new era of scouting that doesn't just look at something like height? Maybe. To some extent. It just takes one team. But if that team doesn't need a quarterback, teams might pass based solely on the height.

As far as the football this fall, what if the backfield of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall -- in the same vein as Manziel -- cannot duplicate the big first-year numbers. Malcolm Mitchell is expected to be fine following minor knee surgery, but if he is a step slow, it takes away one of Murray's more viable targets.

Projection: Status quo. He isn't going to grow, so that means -- in the NFL world -- that he's going to go only so high in the draft. But after watching Murray play and perform for three years -- it feels like 13, doesn't it? -- it's difficult not to believe he won't be one of the early-round steals. He's smart and accurate. That plays in any league.



Jeff Driskel, Florida Gators
Make: He isn't being looked at as a high-end prospect, but playing at a very visible program, would it take much for him to get there? The name I've heard associated with Driskel is Troy Aikman because of Driskel's arm and mobility. He moves well for someone with a 6-4, 237-pound frame, though he is more of an escapability prospect than a runner.

Driskel did complete 63.7 percent of his passes in his first year as the full-time starter, but, really, he was not asked to do all that much. He needs a chance to shine in his second season with coordinator Brent Pease, but much of that will depend on how his receivers play. Coach Will Muschamp was displeased throughout the spring with the continuing lack of playmakers, to the point that he is considering playing his best defensive back, Loucheiz Purifoy, on offense. If Purifoy winds up becoming a sensation, or if any of the receivers can be sufficiently productive, it could substantially elevate Driskel.

The run game was what removed the burden from Driskel a year ago, but Mike Gillislee is gone, so keep an eye on Matt Jones and freshman Kelvin Taylor -- the son of former Gators standout Fred Taylor -- to see how they affect the quarterback position. When I talked to him in March, Muschamp indicated he expected big things from Driskel, but he also was upbeat then about the receiver position, only to reverse course after watching it in the spring.

Break: Driskel could have a similar season and remain an enigma, a big, talented prospect who no one is all that sure about. With as many skill players as there are in the state of Florida, coaches I talk to cannot figure out how Urban Meyer and Muschamp have swung and missed on so many. As you have seen, many of these quarterbacks are only as good as those around them, and Driskel might have had the least to work with in 2012.

Projection: Status quo. I think he will improve, and so will those around him, but I could see Driskel staying another year. It would make him a stronger candidate, and he could avoid this QB-heavy draft and try to raise his profile as a senior.

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• Joined ESPN as Insider's national college football writer in April 2012
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will_5198
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107. "Driskel is so far away from being a NFL quarterback"
In response to Reply # 106


          

he shouldn't even be listed right now.

here's an example: 3rd and long against LSU, Florida is in an empty shotgun set. horrible down for the Gators, but they play it safe and call for receiver screens on both sides. LSU shows an overload pre-snap, and run a simple 4-on-3 blitz.

so with a free man coming, all Driskel has to do is make the easy throw to either screen (LSU corners are playing off). Driskel drops back, sees Minter coming unblocked, looks to his right and ignores the wide open receiver, looks to the left and ignores the *other* wide open receiver, then gets sacked.

everybody has bad reads, bad throws, bad decisions, but plays like that make me question whether Driskel has ever read a playbook longer than five pages. Troy Aikman?

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guru0509
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108. "It was a strange inclusion"
In response to Reply # 107


  

          

you got all these playmakers, and then Driskel lol

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BennyTenStack
Member since Sep 09th 2007
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Tue May-28-13 03:39 PM

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112. "Why do we talk about Logan Thomas every year?"
In response to Reply # 106


  

          

He sucks. He is not, nor has he ever been, a consistently good quarterback.

  

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will_5198
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116. "because he's still amazingly talented"
In response to Reply # 112


          

he'll get a few more chances to play up to it.

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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118. "lol"
In response to Reply # 106


  

          

>Break: Mariota goes backward without Kelly running the show.
>There's no fluid replacement for Kenjon Barner and LaMichael
>James before him; it takes Thomas Tyner and others time to get
>acclimated, and De'Anthony Thomas simply isn't durable enough
>for anything other than the intermittent catch or carry. All
>of that forces the action to the QB position too much, and
>Mariota proves unready.

Mariota doesn't give a fuck.
and Byron Marshall will have a better career than Kenjon Barner did. Barner had good acceleration but couldn't do a damn thing up the gut. Marshall is going to wreck this year.

  

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guru0509
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109. "Is Texas A&M a BCS title team?"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9302040/examining-texas-aggies-bcs-national-championship-chances-college-football

Aggies have the offense of a championship team, but the D needs to keep up
Originally Published: May 23, 2013
By Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN Insider



COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- As the dust settled on the maroon-and-white spring game, a two-hour nationally televised showcase for Texas A&M and its Heisman Trophy winner, Johnny Manziel, the highly publicized quarterback sat before reporters inside the Bright Football Complex and spoke of "slaying the dragon."

The words were hatched last season, Manziel said, in the days leading up to what turned out to be a seminal moment for Manziel and the Aggies, their showdown against No. 1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. He and his personal quarterback coach, George Whitfield, referred to beating the Crimson Tide as a dragon that Manziel and the Aggies needed to slay.

This year, Manziel said there is a new dragon that needs slaying. The doubters. The haters. Those who thought Texas A&M's 11-2 campaign in its debut SEC season was nothing more than beginner's luck.

"Now there's a big dragon out there for us with all the people that are doubting A&M and all the people that are doubting me, that last year was a fluke," Manziel said on April 13. "So that's a chip on my shoulder and that's a dragon we need to slay this year."

The message? The Aggies are here to stay. There are a couple of words that haven't been uttered much around College Station that are now being seen as a real possibility: national championship.

Even if that's not to be, contention for the SEC championship and another good season in the nation's premier football conference should be in order. ESPN Insider Brian Fremeau has the Aggies going 9-3 this season, a respectable mark, if not what the Aggies are ideally hoping for. A season with nine wins or more would make it the third time in four seasons that the Aggies have reached that mark, the sign of a program on the rise.

Why they'll win a national championship
1. They are returning the best player in college football ... and he might be even better this year
With apologies to Jadeveon Clowney, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is the best player in college football. He has the trophy to prove it. And there's reason to believe he'll be even better this season. While much of the attention during the offseason has been on his Twitter and Instagram accounts and all the places he has been (Cabo San Lucas, Toronto, courtside at NBA games, to name a few), there hasn't been nearly as much talk about what Manziel is doing to better himself for his redshirt sophomore campaign. What has he been doing? A lot.

Texas A&M coaches noted that Manziel improved this spring, and his spring-game performance was evidence. Quarterbacks coach Jake Spavital, who has spent almost his entire coaching career in the Air Raid-style of offense the Aggies run, said that Year 2 is when a quarterback "really takes off" because of the greater grasp he has on the scheme. And Manziel continues to work at his craft, recently spending four days in California with Whitfield working on multiple aspects of his game.

He's already starting at a very high place. Manziel ranked No. 1 in the country last season in ESPN's new college QBR metric, which measures a quarterback's contributions through passing, running and avoiding sacks and turnovers, adjusted for opponent strength.

2. Manziel has plenty of talent around him, too
Let's not forget, the Aggies have a pretty loaded offense even without Manziel. This unit was one of the best in the country last season and will be again. They kept drives alive with the nation's best third-down conversion percentage (54.9). They went three-and-out just 22.8 percent of the time (seventh nationally).


The offensive line, which was arguably the best in the country last year, will be strong again as Jake Matthews slides from right tackle to left tackle and Cedric Ogbuehi moves to right tackle. The Aggies' best receiver from last year, Mike Evans, is back. And four talented running backs -- Ben Malena, Trey Williams and transfers Brandon Williams and Tra Carson -- will give the Aggies numerous options in the run game.

In many ways, the Aggies' running game was underrated last season (of course, some of the credit for their rushing success belongs to Manziel's scrambling, and the passing attack certainly opened things up a bit). They took great care of the ball (76.14 rush attempts per fumble, sixth nationally) and scored a touchdown on the ground every 11.6 rush attempts, which was second-best nationally. This could be one of the best run games in the nation again.

3. They have elite-level coaching
Head coach Kevin Sumlin is one of the best coaches in college football and has proved that with his track record of success in his short head-coaching career. He lifted Houston to great heights in his four years there, and his first season at Texas A&M was well above outsiders' expectations. Sumlin seems to have the right touch in multiple critical areas, whether it's hiring assistants, recruiting or handling players on the roster. Sumlin very much has the "it" factor, and the results reflect that.

And new offensive coordinator Clarence McKinney, who is taking over for new Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury, said the breakneck pace of the Aggies' offense could be even faster this year, if possible. Not only did A&M operate at a high tempo last season, but it made drives count, averaging 3.2 points per drive (No. 4 in the nation).

Why they won't win a national championship
1. The defense is thin up front
Defensively, the Aggies must replace several key players. The player who led Texas A&M in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks (Damontre Moore) is gone, and so are two seniors who were productive on the field and leaders in the locker room, Sean Porter and Jonathan Stewart.

What defensive coordinator Mark Snyder and his staff did last season was impressive because there weren't many expectations placed on the Aggies' defense going into 2012 and there were questions about depth, particularly on the defensive line. But that success might be hard to duplicate with a young front seven that's thin on experience. The Aggies return just three front-seven players (Kirby Ennis, Steven Jenkins, Julien Obioha) who started multiple games last season, and all three missed most or all of the spring recovering from injuries. Someone has to pick up where Moore left off as a pass-rusher, and at the moment there's no clear-cut sign of who that will be. A&M wasn't great at getting to the QB last season, either, ranking 52nd in the country in sacks percentage.

2. The secondary could be an issue
Texas A&M's young secondary needs to show improvement. Last season, 64.2 percent of the yards the Aggies allowed were passing yards, which ranked 92nd nationally. In many instances, that could be attributed to the Aggies having large leads and opponents throwing the football, as they had the 14th-most passes thrown against them in the country. But there were a few times (against Louisiana Tech, Alabama) when teams showed they could throw the football against A&M. The Aggies picked off only 2.5 percent of opponents' passes last season (74th nationally), which is another number to keep an eye on this season.

3. The kicking game is a concern
Another potential factor in the Aggies' title fight will be placekicker Taylor Bertolet -- who missed seven point-after-touchdown kicks last season and was 13-of-22 on field goals. He has to show more consistency. Leaving points on the field in big ballgames is a recipe for a loss.

Bottom line
The SEC is considered college football's toughest conference for a reason, and just because you say you have national championship expectations or potential doesn't mean it will happen. There are several tough teams to get through, particularly in the Aggies' division, the SEC West.

The two biggest games on the schedule this season are the same ones from 2012: Alabama and LSU. The Aggies get the Crimson Tide in their place, Kyle Field, on Sept. 14. Lurking later on the schedule is a Nov. 23 showdown in Death Valley against LSU. The Tigers were one of two teams that defeated the Aggies last season, and going to Baton Rouge, La., won't make things any easier on Texas A&M.

The high end of Fremeau's projection window has the Aggies going 11-1 -- which is understandable, given the difficulty of those two games. When factoring in a potential SEC championship game matchup, the computers give A&M just a 5 percent chance of winning the conference.

So while there's a ton of talent on this A&M team, particularly on the offensive side of the ball with Manziel, winning a national title in the Aggies' second season in the SEC might be asking a little too much. If A&M is able to make it to the BCS title game, it will be hard-earned.

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Sam Khan | email
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guru0509
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110. "Is this the Longhorns' year?"
In response to Reply # 109


  

          

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9318186/examining-texas-longhorns-bcs-national-championship-chances-college-football


From May 20-31, Insider's college football experts will examine the national championship chances of the 10 teams with the best odds to win the BCS title this season, according to Brian Fremeau's post-spring projections.

Today, Carter Strickland takes a look at the path the Texas Longhorns could take to the national championship game and the factors that could trip them up along the way.



AUSTIN, Texas -- In the minds of some, Mack Brown has spent all the useful currency he's accrued over the years with the Longhorns faithful. He has, in recent years, been forced into a new role: trading on the future.

And the picture the Texas coach has painted and continually pointed toward is supposed to come into better focus in 2013. That's the year Brown asked everyone to look toward while simultaneously asking them to avert their eyes from 2010 or 2011 or even the nine-win season of 2012.

"All the energy and work that we put into the last two years are going to start showing results," Brown boldly declared on a recent 2013 promotional video for the program.

"You want to get back to being one of the top football programs in the country, where we deserve to be and where our fans deserve to be,'' Brown said, apparently believing Texas' presence in the the top five was an inalienable right bestowed upon the program sometime after the battle of San Jacinto.

Given Texas' run through the first decade of this century, it's hard to fault that logic. Brown and Texas were fixtures on the national stage. The Longhorns still remain the last non-SEC program to win a BCS title game (2005). Ten-plus wins were expected, not raucously celebrated, because Brown had made more possible.

It's difficult to taste caviar and then have to marvel about the cracker upon which it rested. But that is the empty, and rather hungry feeling Texas fans have been left with for the past three seasons.

That is until now, according to Brown.


Now Texas, with 19 returning starters, a third-year starting quarterback, two of the top running back recruits in the country, a top-five defensive end, four defensive tackles who would start just about anywhere, an offensive line full of two- and three-year starters, 34 sophomores and juniors who played as true freshmen, a new offensive scheme, and a new playcaller and quarterbacks coach, is ready to contend for the Big 12 title and possibly more. The Longhorns also quite possibly have some resolve not to disappoint again, and feel the pressure of knowing if they do, there could be drastic changes throughout the program.

Sounds so easy, doesn't it?

Well, the computers seem to think all those variables help create a sound equation.

ESPN Insider Brian Fremeau projected Texas to finish 10-2 in the regular season with a win range total anywhere from eight to 12. The numbers also say that Texas' chances at winning the Big 12 are a league-leading 39 percent.

What factors could contribute to the Longhorns making a national championship run, and what could derail those hopes? Let's take a look.

Why they'll win the national championship
1. The Sooners have questions, so too does the Big 12
When Texas beats Oklahoma, rare as that is, it usually wins or shares the Big 12 title (2009, 2008 and 2005 are recent examples). And in 2013, the Sooners will be replacing some key players, including their long-time starting quarterback, Landry Jones, as well as much of the defense that held Texas to 13 offensive points during a thrashing in the 2012 Red River Rivalry.

As for the rest of the Big 12, well, it's suffering as well. Kansas State lost its best players on offense (Collin Klein) and defense (Arthur Brown). Oklahoma State quarterback Wes Lunt just transferred. West Virginia lost its top three offensive players in Geno Smith, Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin. Baylor still doesn't play defense. And TCU has questions surrounding quarterback Casey Pachall.

So not only have the personnel pieces lined up favorably for Texas to make a run this season, the schedule figures to be kind as well.

2. Experience should matter
No team in the country has played as many true freshmen (34) as Texas over the past two years. Those players now make up a two-deep that features 19 returning starters and depth at every position except for safety. Texas also has a quarterback in David Ash who has improved year to year and is now in an uptempo, spread offense, which should better suit his skill set.

3. The defense should be dominant
Someone had to say it. And it is tough to say, what with Texas putting the worst defense in school history on the field in 2012. But defensive coordinator Manny Diaz works better with experienced linebackers and he now has seven who have started at least one game. The defensive line goes eight deep. Both cornerbacks, Quandre Diggs and Carrington Byndom, are future NFL players. Safety is an issue after the departure of the great Kenny Vaccaro, but Texas can mix and match some players there.

Why they won't win the national championship
1. The Big 12 is still the Big 12
As favorable as the Texas schedule might appear to be in late May, there are some conference games that should cause some worry. Traditional Texas kneecappers -- OU and KSU -- might be way down. But both still have Bob Stoops and Bill Snyder on the sideline, two coaches who puzzled their way past Brown's teams even in the halcyon days of the century's first decade.

Baylor appears to have enough offensive speed to streak through anyone. TCU has nine starters back on a defense that held Texas to two field goals until the last minute in 2012. And Oklahoma State has been a better program than Texas over the past three seasons.

Lastly, while some fans might be focused in on Texas' Week 3 home game against Ole Miss, there's a different nonconference matchup that could cause the Longhorns trouble. In Week 2 they'll be traveling to face BYU, a team that ranked second in the nation in points allowed per drive last year and returns most of its back seven.

2. Texas doesn't score when it matters
Texas scored 2.81 points per drive last season. That was 16th nationally. However, there's one rather large caveat: Texas had a penchant for scoring late in games that were already lost. For instance, 13 of Texas' 21 points against OU came with the Sooners up 48. (The other eight points came from the Texas defense.) Seven of the 24 against KSU came with the Wildcats up 25 in the final minutes. Seven of the 13 points against TCU came in the final minutes with the Horned Frogs up 14.

3. Some stats lie
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Texas had a sack on 10 percent of its opponents' pass plays. That was eighth nationally in 2012. It's an impressive number until it is uncovered that 10 of those sacks came against Oregon State and another nine against Ole Miss and West Virginia. (Oregon State was 94th in sacks allowed; Ole Miss was 97th; WVU was 49th.) Texas' sack total against OU, TCU, KSU and OSU, four of the top six teams in the Big 12, was five. Oh yeah, and Texas' 2012 sack leader, Alex Okafor, is now in the NFL.

If the defense is to improve as much as it's needed for Texas to make a run at the Big 12 and national titles, the Horns are going to have to do a better job of getting after the quarterback.

Bottom line
The numbers can be massaged either way. They show a scenario in which Texas has an inside track at the national title; they also show a route where Texas is on the outside looking in. Until the games begin in August, they are all really predictions and ramblings, wrapped in the certainty of talent. In other words, it's exactly what Brown has been selling since the program started its recent descent.

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Carter Strickland | email
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Frank Mackey
Member since May 23rd 2006
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Tue May-28-13 02:14 PM

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111. "Typical UGA off-season (link)..."
In response to Reply # 0


          

“I don’t know, I sort of always liked playing them that second game because you could always count on them having two or three key players suspended,” Spurrier said.


http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/college/georgia-starter-harvey-clemons-faces-suspension-fo/nX4zz/

  

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atldan
Member since Sep 09th 2005
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Tue May-28-13 05:26 PM

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115. "RE: Typical UGA off-season (link)..."
In response to Reply # 111


          

First offense. No arrest. No failed drug test. WTF?

  

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BennyTenStack
Member since Sep 09th 2007
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Tue May-28-13 03:41 PM

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113. "More Butch Jones hype"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Not only does he currently have the best recruiting class in the conference (according to Rivals), he also making the current team work in the classroom. In the spring semester, the team recorded their highest cumulative GPA....EVER.

  

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
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Mon Jun-03-13 06:00 PM

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144. "Is he recruiting with the new regime, chance to play right away mantra?"
In response to Reply # 113
Mon Jun-03-13 06:01 PM by DeepAztheRoot

  

          

SEC proxy like Kentucky does?

great assistant coaches who close?

offensive scheme?

<-Fear Ameer

  

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guru0509
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145. "i cant believe some of hte players Kentucky is landing... "
In response to Reply # 144


  

          

these kids do know they're going there to play football right?


>SEC proxy like Kentucky does?
>
>great assistant coaches who close?
>
>offensive scheme?

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
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156. "evidently dreams of the Liberty Bowl are exciting"
In response to Reply # 145


  

          

because that is the ceiling for that program

selling regime change and playing right away

<-Fear Ameer

  

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guru0509
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114. "BTW It's exactly 2 years since TatGate happened and Tressel's resignatio..."
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

In the meantime, we've replaced one HOF national title winning coach with ANOTHER hall of fame 2x national title winning coach.

In addition to an undefeated season, 2 top 5 recruiting classes, and now we're the clear favorite to win the B1G and contend for the LAST EVER BCS title...(yoose, I know you hear those footsteps)

Those SEC demons are about to be vanquished. Remember I said it here first.

-------------------
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the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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will_5198
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Tue May-28-13 07:14 PM

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117. "Ohio State was also very fortunate"
In response to Reply # 114


          

Urban Meyer was a free agent at the time. the Buckeyes' attention will get any NCAA head coach to listen, but had Meyer been tied up, you might've had to wait through a three-year transition hire.

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guru0509
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119. "Completely agree....God knows who we would have hired instead"
In response to Reply # 117


  

          

and he seems to be rejuvenated and free from all the SEC baggage that was bothering him before....






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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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Tue May-28-13 07:56 PM

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120. "the Chip Kelly effect"
In response to Reply # 119


  

          

  

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guru0509
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124. "i dont follow...?"
In response to Reply # 120


  

          

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3xKrazy
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Tue May-28-13 08:15 PM

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121. "im not entirely sure tressel gets fired had this not been the case"
In response to Reply # 117


          

>Urban Meyer was a free agent at the time

it was easy to dump and run knowing they had Meyer in their back pocket

  

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guru0509
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122. "I think Tressel was done one way or another"
In response to Reply # 121
Tue May-28-13 09:04 PM by guru0509

  

          

I highly doubt he was going to be allowed back once his "suspension" was over.

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guru0509
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123. "Can Georgia make a BCS title run?"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9308776/examining-georgia-bulldogs-bcs-national-championship-chances-college-football

The offense will again be great, but rebuilt defense will be tested early
Originally Published: May 27, 2013
By David Ching | ESPN Insider
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Daniel Shirey/US Presswire
Led by Todd Gurley and Aaron Murray, Georgia's offense should be dynamic this season.
From May 20-31, Insider's college football experts will examine the national championship chances of the 10 teams with the best odds to win the BCS title this season, according to Brian Fremeau's post-spring projections.

Today, David Ching takes a look at the path the Georgia Bulldogs could take to the national championship game and the factors that could trip them up along the way.



ATHENS, Ga. -- ESPN Insider Brian Fremeau projects that Georgia will go somewhere between 7-5 and 11-1 this season, but we'll know by the end of September which end of that spectrum is the more likely outcome for the Bulldogs.

If the Bulldogs have a fast start in the first month against one of the nation's most challenging early schedules -- at Clemson, South Carolina, North Texas and LSU -- they are sure to rank among the top national championship contenders. Coach Mark Richt's club has stumbled out of the gate several times in the past few years, however, so recent history is not on the Bulldogs' side.

But with 10 starters returning on offense, including fifth-year senior quarterback Aaron Murray and tailback Todd Gurley, the Bulldogs should remain among the country's most prolific offenses. If a young defense that must replace 12 key contributors can perform adequately in the first month, the Bulldogs might even exceed their preseason expectations.

Fremeau gives Georgia a most likely projected finish of 9-3, and just a 7 percent chance of winning the SEC, so the computers obviously see the difficult schedule and defensive rebuilding effort as obstacles too challenging for a legitimate BCS run. If the Bulldogs are 3-1 or 4-1 after the first month of the season, though, keep an eye on Georgia to challenge for its third straight SEC East title -- and perhaps even bigger prizes.

Let's take a look at the factors that could propel the Bulldogs on a national championship run, and what could derail those hopes.

Why they'll win a national championship
1. The offense will be really good ... again
By almost any measure, 2012 was one of the most impressive offensive seasons in Georgia history -- and the Bulldogs return every key player from that record-setting unit except receivers Tavarres King and Marlon Brown. If the Bulldogs find themselves in the BCS conversation, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo's bunch will likely have set the pace.


With Murray at the helm -- Georgia led the nation last year with an average of 10 yards per pass attempt and was second nationally with 40.4 percent of its passes going for first downs -- and running backs Gurley and Keith Marshall, Georgia's offense should be able to pull its weight. The Bulldogs tied for third nationally in red zone offense, scoring 76 percent of the time they penetrated an opponent's 20-yard line, and led the country with an average of 7.09 yards per play.

2. The improved defensive depth will help
The defense will have fewer proven players and obviously will miss the seven veterans who were selected in the NFL draft, including outside linebacker Jarvis Jones (led the nation last year with 14.5 sacks, 24.5 tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles) and inside linebacker Alec Ogletree (led the team with 111 tackles in just 10 games).

With all of that proven talent, however, the Bulldogs didn't rotate as many players as they probably should have on defense. That was glaringly evident in such games as the SEC championship loss to Alabama, when the Bulldogs' gassed defense fell apart in the second half. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham seems committed to rotating more players this season, and that could pay off as the season progresses -- especially as they try to replace so many talented performers.

Why they won't win a national championship
1. Sluggish starts have become a trend for this team
Georgia hasn't been a particularly fast starter in the past several years. Dating back to 2009, the Bulldogs are 2-4 against BCS-conference opponents in the first two games of the season. That's an ominous sign, since the season opener at high-scoring Clemson is followed by a visit from South Carolina, which has defeated the Bulldogs three straight times.

Georgia won its first two games last season -- that hadn't occurred since 2008, when the Bulldogs were the preseason No. 1 team. Not only have they lost to Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks three times since then, but they've lost high-profile openers away from Athens against Oklahoma State (2009) and Boise State (2011).

2. The defensive transition could take time
The talent will be there -- the Bulldogs appear set to start at least five former ESPN 150 prospects on the reconstructed defense -- and the improved depth will make a difference, but it's only natural to expect some hiccups when inexperienced players step in for so many NFL-caliber players.

Grantham's defense was not as dominant as many expected at this point a year ago, but his group actually was more efficient than Bobo's offense in some ways. Georgia allowed just 1.35 points per drive, which ranked 15th nationally. The Bulldogs scored 2.72 points per drive, which ranked 20th. In other words, that group won't be particularly easy to replace overnight.

The Bulldogs will depend heavily on new starting safeties Josh Harvey-Clemons -- ESPN's No. 1 outside linebacker prospect in 2012, who is suspended for the opener -- and freshman Tray Matthews and returning part-time starter Jordan Jenkins to replace some of Jones' pass-rushing presence. But that will be tough against three highly ranked opponents in the first four games.

Bottom line
The Clemson game, which will air before a prime-time national TV audience on ABC, might be as important in the BCS picture, but three games will determine whether Georgia returns to Atlanta to play for a conference title for the third straight year. First, there are the aforementioned games against South Carolina and LSU. Then comes the annual showdown against Florida, a series in which Georgia owns a two-game winning streak for the first time since the 1980s.

If Richt's club somehow posts a 3-0 or 2-1 record in those games, another division title will be a much more likely outcome. Of course, Missouri, Tennessee, Vanderbilt or Auburn could sneak up on the Bulldogs and hand them an unexpected loss, but the Bulldogs are 14-2 against those teams over the past five seasons. They must find a way to reverse their middling early-season results, or this will shape up as a good-but-not-great season for Georgia when the potential existed for much more.

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guru0509
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Thu May-30-13 07:24 PM

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126. "Can Oregon win without Kelly?"
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http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9322740/examining-oregon-ducks-bcs-national-championship-chances-college-football


From May 20-31, Insider's college football experts will examine the national championship chances of the 10 teams with the best odds to win the BCS title this season, according to Brian Fremeau's post-spring projections.

Today, Brock Huard takes a look at the path the Oregon Ducks could take to the national championship game and the factors that could trip them up along the way.



Three conference titles in four years. Three consecutive 12-win seasons. The third time in 20 years that the program promoted an offensive coordinator from within to fill its head-coaching vacancy. And third-year quarterback Marcus Mariota is now looking for a first in Eugene, Ore., closing out key games in November and December and bringing home the national championship to the land that Nike built.

While most point to the coaching change at the top as a negative and question title viability with a newbie running the show, the Ducks' coaching staff is stable. In fact, the veteran coaching staff has built a veteran team capable of matching wits with an SEC powerhouse in January. The questions that will arise in the years to come have to do with the replenishing, recruiting and regrouping required to sustain long-term, high-level success. Chip Kelly knew this was a special group, and that's why the remarkably decisive signal-caller fought indecision four months ago before electing to jump to the NFL.

Here's a look at three reasons why 2013 could be the Year of the Duck, as well as three potential concerns that could end up clipping Oregon's wings.

Why they'll win a national championship

1. Their quarterback -- and offense as a whole -- will again be dynamic
The NFL has the perfect moniker for its difference-making quarterbacks: "Franchise." The college game needs one, and it should be "Institution." That perfectly describes Mariota. The country's sixth-most efficient passer in 2012 made the game look easy. His 68.5 percent completion rate shattered school records, and his 38 total touchdowns paired with just six interceptions defied his redshirt freshman experience. "Saint Mark" is known for his hard work off of the field, and isn't prone to repeat mistakes on it.

Add a supporting cast of eight other returning starters, including the most electrifying talent in the conference in running back De'Anthony Thomas and the best center and tackles in the league, and one can understand how the group ranked second in the Football Bowl Subdivision in scoring in 2012, racking up 49.5 points per game and 3.27 points per drive.

2. The pieces are in place for new coach Mark Helfrich to succeed right away
The Pac-12 Conference has shown through the past several decades that dynasties are hard to maintain. Success is often cyclical, and Kelly's record-setting pace of 46 wins to just seven losses in four years is as dizzying as his tempo was on the field. Yet Kelly, like new head coach Mark Helfrich, was smart enough to realize that keeping the cogs in the continuity machine is the best way to keep success humming.

The cogs in Eugene are defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti, linebacker coach Don Pellum, running back coach Gary Campbell, offensive line coach Steve Greatwood and strength and conditioning coach Jim Radcliffe. Those five have a combined 130 years of service at Oregon, and all were retained with Helfrich, as they were with Kelly five years ago. The Ducks' staff knows its system and players as well as any in college football. A veteran staff will march out a veteran defense comprising of 10 starters that are juniors or seniors. The infrastructure (and I'm not talking about the new $65 million football operations building) is exactly what a first-time head coach needs to thrive.

3. The schedule sets up nicely
This season, neither Boise State nor LSU loom in September, as they did in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Helfrich will get a softer slate with Nicholls State, Virginia and Tennessee to begin 2013, a triumvirate that accumulated just 10 total wins a season ago. Two rebuilding teams in California and Colorado follow before the meat of conference play arrives on the schedule in mid-October. Trips to Stanford and Arizona in November and the Civil War will close out the most difficult month of the season. The Ducks also avoid USC and ASU from the Pac-12 South Division, teams that can be enigmatic but are also dangerous because they have two of the more talent-laden rosters in the conference.

Why they won't win a national championship
1. There are some concerns at the linebacker spot
Scour the preseason conference rankings by position group and Oregon wins many contests on paper. The Ducks' QBs, RBs, OL, DL and DBs will all rank first or second among conference position groups in most preseason polls. Dig a little deeper, however, and one will find the second level of the Ducks' defense deeply unproven. That's what happens when NFL-bound Kiko Alonso, the defensive ringleader and "coach on the field" (according to Aliotti) departs.

In Aliotti's blitz-friendly scheme, instincts and the ability to play in space and diagnose tendencies are critical. While senior linebacker Boseko Lokombo has proved to be a ball-hawk, it will be incumbent upon him to get his fellow LBs to execute at the level of the secondary behind them and the three senior defensive linemen in front of them.

2. The depth isn't as strong as it usually is
Can you imagine what Kelly's scheme could have done in the old days, when schools had up to 110 scholarships compared to the current limit of 85? I can't. With injuries, graduation and natural defection, every coach in college football laments over the lack of depth as well as the challenge to stay at the scholarship limit. Oregon's tempo, pace and style further challenges the depth numbers. At their peak in 2010, the Ducks could confidently play 25 people defensively, but since then they have been challenged to get back to that mark.

With Bryan Bennett's transfer and Kenjon Barner's graduation, it will be imperative for Mariota and Thomas to be available every week. While every program can make a similar case for losing its stars, the drop-off from those two as well as center Hroniss Grasu, TE Colt Lyerla, DE Taylor Hart and CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is drastic.

3. The kicking game could be an issue
Kelly piled up 46 wins in four seasons largely without a consistent field-goal kicker. Over the past two seasons, Rob Beard (6 of 10 FGs) and Alejandro Maldonado (10 of 18 FGs) combined to make just 57 percent of their FG attempts, and the kicking game -- or lack thereof -- played legitimate roles in both of the Ducks' nail-biting losses the past two Novembers.

Kelly's swashbuckling attitude spearheaded an offense that outscored its opponents in conference play last year by an average of nearly 33 points per game. However, when the games got tight and were one-score outcomes (versus USC and Stanford), it was a field-goal differential that cost the Ducks a BCS title-game ticket. Throw in the graduation of punter Jackson Rice, and Helfrich could be looking at two new specialists if highly touted freshman kicker Matt Wogan beats out the mercurial Maldonado.

Bottom line
Time is of the essence in Eugene, and not because the coaching seat is getting hot, but because the Ducks' coaching staff knows its window of opportunity is now. The tradition and conviction to the program's game plan are embedded, and the starting 22 have the talent and upside to win a fourth conference title in five seasons. The computers like their chances as well, as ESPN Insider Brian Fremeau projects the Ducks will finish 11-1, with a win range of 10-2 to 12-0 (with a league-leading 49 percent chance to win the Pac-12).

Two cold November nights have undone Oregon's ultimate goal the past two seasons. This campaign, a Nov. 7 matchup at Stanford could very well have the conference division title and much more on the line. The conference's most effective, established system paired with the conference's best quarterback should prove to be the difference this November.

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Brock Huard
ESPN Insider
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• Six-year NFL QB, and three-year starter at University of Washington
• Co-host of the Brock and Danny Show on ESPN 710 AM in Seattle

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guru0509
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Thu May-30-13 07:26 PM

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127. "*T*OSU's national title path"
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http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9321190/examining-ohio-state-buckeyes-bcs-national-championship-chances-college-football

Do Buckeyes have what it takes to win it all in Urban Meyer's second year?
Originally Published: May 29, 2013
By Austin Ward | ESPN Insider


From May 20-31, Insider's college football experts will examine the national championship chances of the 10 teams with the best odds to win the BCS title this season, according to Brian Fremeau's post-spring projections.

Today, Austin Ward takes a look at the path the Ohio State Buckeyes could take to the national championship game and the factors that could trip them up along the way.



COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Perfection might have arrived a bit ahead of schedule for Urban Meyer. Ohio State can't do anything to improve its win percentage in Meyer's second year in charge of the program.

But the Buckeyes can provide an encore that could be more impressive than what they pulled off a year ago while sitting out the postseason because of NCAA sanctions if for no other reason than simply getting the opportunity back to play for more than a division title and pride.

Expectations were going to be enormous for Meyer this fall regardless of how many games he won last season, particularly with a roster loaded with offensive talent and a favorable schedule. But the numbers seem to support the possibility of a perfect record in 2013 as well.

On the low side of ESPN Insider Brian Fremeau's projections, the win range for the Buckeyes sits at nine. At the end of the regular season, it could be 12. (And the computers give them a league-leading 30 percent chance to win the Big Ten.) But what really motivates the Buckeyes is the chance to tack a couple of games on top of that in December and January, and there are plenty of reasons to think they can do just that. That said, there are also a couple of issues that might prevent them from raising a crystal football once again.


Why they'll win a national championship

1. The offense will be a juggernaut
Nobody put up more points in the Big Ten last season than the Buckeyes, but Meyer is far from satisfied, and he went into spring practice harping on some issues that kept the Buckeyes from being one of the best in the country in 2012. Ohio State finished at No. 25 in the nation by averaging 2.57 points per drive, leaving plenty of room for improvement for a unit that returns almost every starter. Having a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback certainly helps, and Braxton Miller appears more at ease operating the spread in his second year and more mature now as a leader heading into his junior campaign. Expect the lights on the scoreboard to get a workout.

2. A loaded secondary will carry the defense
The strength of the defense isn't a secret, and the Buckeyes aren't afraid to lean on the area with the highest concentration of talent to get results. There's a first-team All-America at cornerback, a pair of safeties heading into their third season as a starting tandem and a host of young players on the rise ready to lend a hand in the secondary -- and the coaching staff in intent on putting them all to good use. The front seven is something of a work in progress as it replaces six starters, so the math might change a bit for the Buckeyes as they roll out more nickel and dime packages to maximize their personnel in terms of total talent on the field, this while the guys closer to the line of scrimmage develop.

3. Meyer is a proven winner in Year 2
Bowling Green improved to nine wins. Utah went undefeated. Florida won the national championship. In all, Meyer is 34-4 during his second seasons at his previous stops on the coaching trail. The Buckeyes' 2013 schedule -- it's possible they won't face a top-25 team on the road or even at all until they get to Ann Arbor -- combined with his track record for producing results plus the talent he has to work with suggest big things are in store for the Buckeyes. Meyer wasted no time re-establishing the Buckeyes as a powerhouse a year ago, but the ball might really be rolling now for a proud program looking to get back on top of the college football world 11 years after the last national crown.

Why they won't win a national championship
1. There's a chance the young defense doesn't develop as quickly as planned
The Buckeyes are going to put up points in bunches; there's not much question about that. But if they're truly title contenders and capable of perhaps stopping the SEC's reign, they'll have to be able to slow teams down with a new cast of characters.

Despite some rough patches last fall, Ohio State finished No. 26 in the country while allowing 1.52 points per drive -- but that lags well behind the top team in that category and its .83 average, which belonged to title-winning Alabama. Ohio State has supremely talented ends in Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington ready for enhanced roles as sophomores, but it needs some young linebackers to step up along with them to get to the next level.

2. The offense could become too one-dimensional
Miller is capable of changing the game with just his feet, and he has plenty of help on the ground with senior tailback Carlos Hyde, a deep stable of running backs and a dangerous option attack. In fact, according to ESPN Stats & Information, Ohio State finished tied for 11th in the country last year by picking up 57.2 percent of its yards on the ground. But by the end of last season, teams were loading up the box and daring the Buckeyes to throw, and they played some tighter, lower-scoring games down the stretch as a result. Miller has shown clear strides with his mechanics and has a much better knowledge of how to read defenses and where to go with the football, and Ohio State needs him to become more dangerous with his arm to keep defenders honest.

Bottom line
Despite plenty of talk about Ohio State's strength of schedule, it won't be able to just waltz to the Big Ten title and then breeze to the BCS National Championship Game. A couple of tall hurdles stand in the way, and both of them factor into Fremeau's projection, which pegs the Buckeyes' most likely record at 10-2. Visiting Northwestern in a night game, for one, will be a major test for this rebuilt defense. The Buckeyes also have to hit the road at the end of November for the annual rivalry showdown with Michigan, which could have major implications for both teams. That said, the overall schedule is quite favorable, with other rivals Wisconsin and Penn State both visiting Columbus.

If the offense improves even more under Meyer and the defense transitions smoothly after replacing a lot of talent up front, there might not be anything that can derail the Buckeyes now that the sanctions are off the track.

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Austin Ward | email
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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
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Fri May-31-13 08:30 AM

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128. "seems like a mirror imprint of strengths and weaknesses "
In response to Reply # 127


  

          

between OSU and NU

both have holes on the D-Line and at LB, secondary is the strength

lots of returning starters on offense, good depth at RB with high ceiling frosh coming in Wilson/Elliott v. Taylor/Newby

fairly easy schedules

Ohio State has the definite edge on defense, but Nebraska is better on offense

<-Fear Ameer

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
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Fri May-31-13 09:01 AM

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130. "LMFAO"
In response to Reply # 128


  

          


>Ohio State has the definite edge on defense, but Nebraska is
>better on offense

  

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
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Fri May-31-13 09:29 AM

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131. "It is true, Nebraska has the best offense in the Big Ten"
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Fri May-31-13 09:32 AM by DeepAztheRoot

  

          

defense is up for grabs with all the personnel losses, but Ohio State has a chance to be the best

NOTE: I'm not suggesting Nebraska is a national title contender in any way, I am saying they are the best offense in the Big Ten

2nd best QB, behind Braxton Miller, elite RB in Ameer Abdullah, best WR corps in the Big Ten, solid, but not spectacular line, but a lot of depth and experience returns

<-Fear Ameer

  

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guru0509
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Fri May-31-13 09:46 AM

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132. "our offense is still missing that multi purpose h-back that Meyer craves"
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Fri May-31-13 09:52 AM by guru0509

  

          

and none of our wide receivers have really shown that "make you miss" type of elusiveness that we've missed for so many years

Philly Brown is a good receiver, but I wouldn't want him catching bubble screens..EVER.

I think Jordan Hall is a serviceable running back, but I wouldn't say he's someone that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.

edit, hopefully one of the freshman have a knack for returning kicks/punts too. Remember when teams were terrified of kicking to us? Me neither.

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DeepAztheRoot
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Fri May-31-13 06:38 PM

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136. "Ted Ginn?"
In response to Reply # 132
Fri May-31-13 06:41 PM by DeepAztheRoot

  

          

lightning fast Kenny "Throw to the Fro" Bell puts NU on top and Jamal Turner is not far behind

now that Braxton Miller runs a 4.32 40....*cough* though?

extra attention will have to be paid....Urban really has a gift in lowering 40 times

plus shit if nobody can stop Carlos Hyde and the running game any better than last year, may not need to throw it much until the postseason

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guru0509
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Fri May-31-13 09:02 PM

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137. "Yup, Ginn + Santonio..its been 6 years"
In response to Reply # 136


  

          

at one point tressel had running backs (boom herron + saine) returning kicks..it was pretty ugly lol


>now that Braxton Miller runs a 4.32 40....*cough* though?
>
>extra attention will have to be paid....Urban really has a
>gift in lowering 40 times


lol yea he was ridiculous about it at Florida and I remember we all clowned him mercilessly. let him tell it, demps + rainey broke the sound barrier regularly.

>plus shit if nobody can stop Carlos Hyde and the running game
>any better than last year, may not need to throw it much until
>the postseason


yea, im giddy about the stable of backs we have. hyde, rod smith, jordan hall, brionte dunn, warren ball, AND ezekiel elliot and dontre wilson coming in. this is an abundance of riches.

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cgonz00cc
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Fri May-31-13 08:56 AM

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129. "someone got paid to write this dumbass sentence smhlol"
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>The Buckeyes also have to hit the road at the end of November
>for the annual rivalry showdown with Michigan, which could
>have major implications for both teams.

  

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brown sugar
Member since Jan 22nd 2005
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Fri May-31-13 03:14 PM

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133. "Gordon Gee is hilarious and pretty awesome"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

This leaked audio tape was a goldmine of useful info and insight into the big 10 expansion process. He is kind of a cornball, but anyone crying out that this was offensive is an over-sensitive idiot. I gotta say tho he should be a little more careful about his public comments as a university president.

<-- BAUGH SO HARD

  

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guru0509
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Fri May-31-13 03:35 PM

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134. "Lol, he needs to keep his mouth shut more often but I think he's hilario..."
In response to Reply # 133
Fri May-31-13 03:41 PM by guru0509

  

          

cool ass dude too. very approachable and down to earth..he's always going to house parties/random campus events and walks around TOSU pregames and drinks with students..

he's a hell of a fundraiser too, probably why he's also the 2nd highest paid college president last year (after PSU's Graham Spanier LOFL)


edit, link
http://college-football.si.com/2013/05/31/ohio-state-gordon-gee-controversial-comments/



• 1:28: “My view, very candidly — and I’ve said this to you before and I’m not certain if Gene shares this, we haven’t really talked about this — but I think we’re moving precipitously toward about three or four superconferences of about 16 to 20 teams. And the possibility of them bolting from the NCAA is not unlikely.”

• 3:07: “And I want to make it very clear, we have never invited Notre Dame to join the Big Ten. And the reason is the fact that they — first of all they’re not very good partners. I’ll just say that. I negotiated with them during my first term and the fathers are holy on Sunday and they’re holy hell on the rest of the week. You just can’t trust those damn Catholics on a Thursday or Friday. Literally, I can say that.”

• 4:56: “The addition of Maryland and Rutgers to the Big Ten gives us 40 to 50 million more viewers, makes the BTN worth more money than God. I did say that. It’s a very powerful instrument for us.”

• 6:05: “The blocking strategy is that we simply have now put the ACC in an almost no-win position. So who do they immediately go to? Louisville. They may think about Cincinnati. They may think about Connecticut. But they’ve lost their foothold in that middle part of the area, in that middle part of the Atlantic coast.”

• 9:14: “I think the Big Ten needs to be predatory and positive rather than waiting for other people to take away from them. Very candidly, I think we made a mistake. Because thought about adding Missouri and Kansas at the time. There was not a great deal of enthusiasm about that. I think we should have done that at the time. So we would have had Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and then moved into that other area. I think, by the way, that that can still happen.”

• 9:42: “I also think this. This is a high possibility. If the ACC continues to struggle, and Florida State goes off to the SEC or something like that, and Clemson moves in a different direction, all of a sudden Virginia and Duke, which are very similar institutions to — and North Carolina — which are very similar institutions to the Big Ten, there is a real possibility that we may end up having that kind of T which goes south. And I could see them joining us. And I could see them having a real interest in joining us.”

• 11:03: “You know Penn State just abhors Pitt. It would be the same way. Even though we love Cincinnati as a city, we want it to be an Ohio State city. They’d have to take Gene out and shoot him to let Cincinnati into the Big Ten. There are some things that we just would not to. And that’s the way that Penn State also feels about Pitt.”

• 11:49: “I would see potentially Missouri and Kansas. By the way it goes without saying this all has to be speculation that remains right here. And I could also see a T that goes south all according to what happens with the ACC, but we need to be ready to move.”

• 14:30: “Someone was saying to me, well, you know, Bret Bielema leaving … that was a blessing for Wisconsin and they knew it. Because he was under tremendous pressure. They didn’t like him. Barry Alvarez thought he was a thug. And he left just ahead of the sheriff.”

• 18:44: “The smaller schools in the Divisions II and III, which have substantial power but no power in terms of television draw or anything else, they have increasingly become rigid about the way that we change some of the rules in support of the revenue-generating institutions. And eventually that’s gonna drive us all into a new kind of a configuration. And that’s where I think we’re going.”

• 19:52: “I think the presidents of the institutions are very clear that their number one criteria is to make sure that we have institutions of like-minded academic integrity. So you won’t see us adding Louisville … or the University of Kentucky.”

• 23:44: “The NCAA is a cacophony and it’s not a chorus. Until we can get a chorus, we’re not going to be able to deal with this arms race in the right way I think.”

• 24:54: “Well you tell the SEC when they can learn to read and write then they can figure out what we’re doing. I’ve been down there. I was the chairman of the Southeastern Conference for two years. I’ll tell you something. It’s shameful. It really is.”




>This leaked audio tape was a goldmine of useful info and
>insight into the big 10 expansion process. He is kind of a
>cornball, but anyone crying out that this was offensive is an
>over-sensitive idiot. I gotta say tho he should be a little
>more careful about his public comments as a university
>president.


-------------------
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the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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135. "LMAO I think we're a little passed that point"
In response to Reply # 133
Fri May-31-13 05:14 PM by 3xKrazy

          

>I gotta say tho he should be a little
>more careful about his public comments as a university
>president.

This is obviously who he is and he doesn't give 2 fucks.

Tressel scenario/back stabbing aside, he's a gotdamn riot and his comments are for the most part harmless. When you're that old you can be corny as all get out and it doesn't matter. It's part of the schtick.

I think the guy generates so much $$ for the university that he can say/do as he pleases.

I think he expensed 6 figures worth of bow ties to the university or something absurd like that.

  

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guru0509
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138. "michigan's national title chances"
In response to Reply # 0
Sat Jun-01-13 07:39 PM by guru0509

  

          

jk

there is no espn article

your chance of winning a title this year 1 percent higher than ours was last year

that being said, fat boy is recruiting hi ass off...first jabril peppers (lifelong m fan but still) and now chase winovich selects m over us as well...not bad.

the Elite 11 camp, and the Nike Football Training Camp camps are this weekend in Columbus so there are some big fish on campus (brandon harris, dshawn hand,etc)

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guru0509
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140. "D'Shawn Hand visited TOSU,&amp; pretty much confirmed he's a lolverine "
In response to Reply # 138
Mon Jun-03-13 09:01 AM by guru0509

  

          

Bruce Feldman: What is the craziest thing that has happened to you since you've been named the nation's No. 1 recruit?

D'Shawn Hand: Well, I ain't gonna say any names, but one coach told me that since I'm the No. 1 player, I'm gonna get to meet Michael Jackson. I said, "Isn't he already dead?" The coach goes, "Well, all right, you can meet Tito." I was like, all right. OK, I'm done.

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cgonz00cc
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Thu Jun-06-13 12:49 PM

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155. "LMFAO - i really want to know who said that"
In response to Reply # 140


  

          

>"Well, all right, you can meet Tito."

  

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soulfunk
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141. "He's doing a good job. But I don't find myself getting excited over"
In response to Reply # 138


  

          

any recruits since Will Campbell was supposed to be a huge can't miss 5 star and turned into a huge bust. I guess recruiting is just a big picture thing where you can't get too up or down on any individual player, and just look at the class as a whole, but it's easier for me to just not pay attention until cats show something on the field.


>that being said, fat boy is recruiting hi ass off...first
>jabril peppers (lifelong m fan but still) and now chase
>winovich selects m over us as well...not bad.

  

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guru0509
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142. "im sure you prefer this to Dick Rod's recruiting though...."
In response to Reply # 141
Mon Jun-03-13 10:07 AM by guru0509

  

          

>any recruits since Will Campbell was supposed to be a huge
>can't miss 5 star and turned into a huge bust. I guess
>recruiting is just a big picture thing where you can't get too
>up or down on any individual player, and just look at the
>class as a whole, but it's easier for me to just not pay
>attention until cats show something on the field.


these are the types of high ranked recruiting classes that we were used to seeing michigan get under LLLLLLoyd with the prototypical B1G football players (for better or worse)



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soulfunk
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143. "No doubt..."
In response to Reply # 142


  

          

  

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cgonz00cc
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154. "no one can know how hard a kid is willing to work"
In response to Reply # 141


  

          

  

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wallysmith
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146. "Vanderdoes to UCLA"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/college-football/story/_/id/9341683/eddie-vanderdoes-notre-dame-fighting-irish-top-dt-recruit-going-ucla

Incoming Notre Dame freshman defensive lineman and five-star recruit Eddie Vanderdoes will enroll at UCLA instead, he said in a statement Tuesday.

Vanderdoes' decision is the latest blow to the Irish and coach Brian Kelly as Vanderdoes was one of the nation's top recruits.

Vanderdoes was the top-ranked defensive lineman in the ESPN 150 for the Class of 2013 and the No. 10-ranked recruit overall.

"Over the past four months, circumstances have changed for me and my family, Vanderdoes said in the statement. "For very personal reasons, I feel a strong need to remain close to home and near those who are most important in my life."

Kelly issued a statement confirming Vanderdoes will not play for Notre Dame, but said the school would not release him from his letter of intent. That means Vanderdoes cannot play for UCLA until 2014.

He can take a scholarship and practice this season, but he must redshirt and will be eligible to play only three years of college football in a four-year period.

"I am honored and humbled that the University of Notre Dame thought enough of me as a person and a football player to offer me a scholarship," Vanderdoes said. "They have been very gracious to recognize not only how difficult a decision this was, but also how important it was for me to be near family at this time. I take my commitments seriously, but as circumstances changed, the most important commitment is the one made to family."

Several coaches across the country have reached out to Notre Dame and also Florida State coaching staffs to ask they not release high-profile incoming freshmen from their NLIs.

These coaches feared that a precedent could be set, forcing staffs to continue to recruit incoming freshmen after they already have signed. Florida State incoming freshman linebacker Matthew Thomas similarly has sought a release from his scholarship.

  

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guru0509
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147. "it's absolute bullshit he cant play this season if he wants..."
In response to Reply # 146


  

          

ND some dickheads.

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wallysmith
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153. "Yeah, it sucks."
In response to Reply # 147


  

          

But I can understand how it could establish a dangerous precedent in post-LOI recruiting.

  

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guru0509
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148. "Thanks for everything President Gee!!!"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Enjoy retirement.

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the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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temps2020
Member since Oct 21st 2003
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Tue Jun-04-13 02:23 PM

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149. "lol, that dude can't keep his mouth closed"
In response to Reply # 148


  

          

  

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guru0509
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150. "it sucks bc that dude had a knack for generating GOBS of money"
In response to Reply # 149


  

          

oh well.

it could be a lot worse.

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the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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151. "ESPN needs to sign him NOW"
In response to Reply # 148


          

pair dude up with Dr. Lou and May...ratings bonanza.

a weekly 5 min solo segment on gameday could work as well.

  

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guru0509
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152. "Identifying 2013 Sleepers "
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9341117/usc-trojans-teams-were-better-their-records-showed-last-season-college-football

Trying to determine which college football teams are better than others has long been a fruitless exercise, with teams that are seemingly equal having such a small sample of games and sometimes no common opponents. But computers are allowing us to connect those dots like never before, and advanced metrics have been developed that can dig into game data and better analyze team performance -- which can be a useful tool as we evaluate teams for next season.

Expected Points Added is a metric that surveys the game situation to measure how much a given play or drive affects a team's likelihood of either scoring or allowing points. ESPN's Production Analytics team has used EPA with the NFL for a couple of seasons, and this is how it works. This season, we'll be unveiling college football EPA.

Our college EPA operates in the same framework as the NFL, except for one significant addition -- an adjustment must be made for opponent strength, since it varies so greatly across college schedules. Offensive performance is graded against the quality of the opposing defenses, defensive performance is graded against the quality of the opposing offenses, and even the special teams are graded against the quality of the opposing units (kick return versus kick coverage, etc.).

The metric was created for the purpose of evaluating those three phases of the game, but you can get a fairly accurate representation of team strength by adding the adjusted EPA for all phases. Looking at those numbers from last season, we see that Alabama was the best team and Oregon was second best. No surprises there.

But as you're looking for this season's sleeper teams, knowing which ones might have been better than public perception last season is a good place to start. Here are five teams that played better than their records showed in 2012 -- and might not need to improve all that much to be a factor in their conference races in 2013.



USC Trojans
The Trojans didn't come close to meeting expectations a year ago, and it felt even worse because of a preseason No. 1 ranking that had set the bar as high as it could go. The star-studded offensive cast of Matt Barkley, Robert Woods, Marqise Lee and Silas Redd rarely dominated the competition, but the numbers suggest that USC's overall performance was that of a top-25 team, even though the Trojans received no votes in the final polls because of their 7-6 record.

To look at USC in this light, you must focus on the schedule. While the average fan might scoff at the suggestion that Pac-12 teams play defense, the truth is that the Trojans played several well-above-average defensive teams in 2012, and all but one of those games came in conference play. Three USC opponents -- Stanford, Notre Dame and Oregon -- ranked among the nation's top 10 in adjusted defensive EPA, and the Trojans' offense performed extremely well against the Ducks and moved the ball relatively well against the Irish.

Therefore, the opponent adjustment makes the 2012 USC offense look a lot better than it seemed on the field, although it still wasn't close to matching the preseason hype. When you consider that Barkley missed the final two games due to injury, including the offense's dismal showing in the Sun Bowl, there was at least an excuse for the late-season swoon.

There's no trophy for being the best six-loss team in college football, but maybe USC can take consolation in being better than many four- and five-loss teams as well. And it's a positive sign that the Trojans can bounce back in 2013.



Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Cowboys weren't ranked in the final polls last year, but they had the adjusted EPA of a top-10 team. When OSU won, it usually did so in dominant fashion (seven of eight wins were by 21 points or more), and all its losses were against quality teams (three by seven points or fewer). While the 84-0 win over Savannah State did skew the numbers a little, it was barely the team's most impressive win of the season after the opponent adjustment (just ahead of a 65-24 win over a Louisiana-Lafayette team that finished 9-4).

On offense, the Cowboys were their typically dynamic selves, not only producing high national rankings in the traditional statistical categories but also having EPA numbers that backed it up. The defense, however, is what made Oklahoma State a much better team than most people recognized. It's easy to look at the scores put up by several of OSU's opponents last season and not take the defense seriously, but EPA is looking at more than the scoreboard.

Consider these Football Bowl Subdivision rankings for the 2012 Cowboys: 99th in points allowed off turnovers, 111th in kickoff coverage, 114th in punt coverage and 119th in non-offensive TDs allowed. That's out of 120 teams.

The EPA calculation reduces the responsibility of the defense for allowing points after it's forced to protect a short field because of a turnover or a long kick return. And when the opponent scores a touchdown against the offense or special teams, defensive EPA is not affected at all. Add to this the obligatory adjustment for the quality of most Big 12 offenses and EPA suggests that the Cowboys had a fringe top-20 defense last year.

When you pair the Oklahoma State offense with a defense of that caliber, it doesn't seem far-fetched to think of OSU as a team that often played like one of the best in the country. If the Cowboys become even average in some of the categories mentioned above this season, they could significantly improve their record.



Wisconsin Badgers
You don't have to convince anyone in Nebraska that Wisconsin was much better than its 8-6 record might indicate. While there's no question that the Badgers struggled to find their identity in the first half of the season, they never lost a game by more than seven points, and half of their losses came in overtime. That, in itself, suggests that Wisconsin was a good team that had some bad luck.

Adjusted EPA shows Wisconsin to be one of the top 25 teams of 2012, and anyone who watched the Badgers' final five games would have difficulty disputing that. What is a little surprising is to see Wisconsin with an adjusted offensive EPA that ranked in the top 30 nationally. The Badgers, using three starting quarterbacks, posed little threat in the passing game and, as a result, were largely ineffective at converting on third down. But what they did extremely well -- a staple of their offenses in recent years -- was not turn the ball over.

EPA recognizes that a turnover does two things. It reduces the percentage chance of the offense scoring on that particular drive to zero, and it usually increases the odds that the opponent will soon score. A conservative offense that protects the ball may not be fun to watch, but it typically gives the team a chance to win. Wisconsin had that opportunity in the fourth quarter of all 14 games last season. It will be interesting to see what happens this season if the Badgers have a few more bounces go their way.



Baylor Bears
Losing a talent like Robert Griffin III figured to be a huge blow to a program without a history of competing at a high level, so when the Bears opened conference play last season with a 1-5 record, it may have seemed like Baylor's 15 minutes were up. Then the team got hot and won its final four games -- three against ranked teams. It wasn't quite enough to get the Bears into the final polls with an 8-5 record, but adjusted EPA recognized Baylor as a legitimate top-20 team.

Even without Griffin, the offense was the reason why. The Bears weren't merely good on that side of the ball; they were arguably the best offense in the nation, according to EPA. (It was close between Baylor and Texas A&M.) And Baylor accomplished it with balance, ranking top five in the country in adjusted EPA on designed running plays and adjusted EPA on called pass plays.

Even though Baylor had, by most measurements, one of the weaker defenses in the AQ conferences, it closed strong on that side of the ball. The Bears' three best performances of the season in adjusted defensive EPA came in the final four games -- wins against UCLA, Kansas State and Oklahoma State. While the Bears didn't hold any of those opponents under 24 points, they improved their EPA by contributing to the team effort with a surge of sacks and turnovers forced.

With an unstoppable offense and a defense that was making momentum-swinging plays, Baylor had the feel of the 2011 Oklahoma State team as the season ended. From Nov. 1 through the bowls, only Texas A&M had a higher adjusted net EPA than Baylor.



Oregon State Beavers
The only member of this list that was actually ranked in the final polls of 2012, Oregon State was considered by the voters to be about the 20th-best team in the country. Adjusted EPA, however, says the Beavers had an argument for being a top-10 team.

There was nothing flashy about this group from an EPA standpoint. After opponent adjustment, the OSU offense and defense both ranked top 20 in the nation for the season, and the special-teams unit was top 30. The Beavers had the best single-game offensive EPA performance of the year against the BYU defense and the best single-game defensive EPA performance of the year against the Wisconsin offense.

The one thing that stood out in the EPA numbers for Oregon State is that the team was consistently solid but rarely dominant. Typically, when one side of the ball played well, the other side was fairly average. That explains why five of the Beavers' 12 games against FBS competition were decided by four points or fewer. If OSU had found a way to win more than half of those games, it might have had a final poll ranking in line with its EPA numbers.

On Wednesday, I'll switch gears and look at five teams from 2012 that adjusted EPA says were not as good as public perception.

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Brad Edwards
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guru0509
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157. "Explaining my preseason top 5"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9358126/explaining-why-alabama-no-1-other-preseason-top-5-picks-college-football


Editor's note: This article was adapted from Phil Steele's college football preview magazine, which is available here.

There are many ways to rank college football teams in the preseason. While some analysts focus on where teams should start the season in the polls, my rankings are based on where teams will finish.

Another factor to keep in mind is that these are not completely reflective of my power ratings, which are based purely on talent. A great example from this year would be Northern Illinois, who I have ranked No. 26 in my preseason top 40 ahead of some quality BCS contenders like Arizona State, Ole Miss and Oregon State. In my power ratings they are only No. 54, but the reason they rank higher in my preseason poll is the fact they face my No. 124-ranked schedule out of 126 teams, and should win 10 or 11 games this year.

Keeping that in mind, here are my preseason top five teams for 2013:



1. Alabama Crimson Tide
This year I am going for my third correct national champion pick in the past six years. Unlike most years, I am not going outside the box in 2013, instead picking the preseason favorite.


The Crimson Tide have it all this year on both sides of the ball. They own my No. 9-rated offense led by quarterback AJ McCarron, who was No. 1 in the NCAA in pass efficiency last year and already has won two BCS titles with the Crimson Tide as a starter. At running back, T.J. Yeldon returns after a record-breaking freshman campaign that saw him top 1,000 yards. The Tide also return their top four receivers, led by my preseason first-team All-American selection Amari Cooper. The only question on the offense is the line, which loses three All-Americans and a combined 126 career starts. However, the Tide still have guard Anthony Steen, who is an All-SEC-caliber player, and tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, who is a possible first-round pick in next year's NFL draft.

On defense, last year the Tide had only five starters back and still allowed just 10.9 PPG. This year they have seven starters back, including seven of their top 10 tacklers. They have my No. 1 set of linebackers in the country led by C.J. Mosley, who had 48 more tackles than any other Bama player last year. The Tide also have my No. 3 set of defensive backs, giving them the best defense in the country.

As far as the schedule goes, Alabama does have to play Texas A&M on the road in September, but has a bye week prior to that game. Keep in mind that last year when they lost to A&M they were coming off a draining, last-second win against LSU. The Tide also have a bye week prior to their home game versus LSU later in the season, and they avoid the top three teams from the SEC East in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.

I feel this year's Alabama team is even stronger than last year's national championship unit, and the Crimson Tide are my pick to become the first school in history to win four national titles in five years.



2. Ohio State Buckeyes
Last year the Buckeyes were coming off a 6-7 season but had a huge turnaround under new head coach Urban Meyer, going a perfect 12-0 despite not having a bowl to go to at the end of the season. This year they have my Heisman Trophy favorite in quarterback Braxton Miller, four starters back on the offensive line and solid skill players. The defense does lose all four starting linemen, but not only do I like their replacements, I also think highly of their back seven, which features two of my preseason first-team All-Americans in linebacker Ryan Shazier and cornerback Bradley Roby. This is one of the most talented teams in the country, as all eight of Ohio State's units rank in the top 25 of my individual position rankings.

The schedule is light, as the Buckeyes will be favored in their first 11 games, with the toughest road games coming at Northwestern and then Michigan in the finale. In Meyer's previous coaching stops at Bowling Green, Utah and Florida, the team improved in his second season. The only thing better than a 12-0 season is another 12-0 season followed by a Big Ten title and an appearance in the BCS National Championship.



3. Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles let me down last year, as I had them ranked No. 1 in the preseason and figured they would go unbeaten. However, they had lost two All-Americans off the defense in DE Brandon Jenkins and CB/KR Greg Reid by the time the first game was over. The Noles were favored by at least two touchdowns in 13 of their 14 games and by seven in the other, but they blew two fourth-quarter leads and lost twice. FSU ended up having 11 players taken in the 2013 NFL draft, which was more than any other program in the country. The talent was there, but the ability to finish was not.

Despite those personnel losses and a tougher schedule than last year (FSU has to play Clemson and Florida on the road), this is a team that is capable of being a national title contender. Seven of the Seminoles' eight units rank in the top 12 of my positional rankings, with quarterback being the only one that does not. However, Jameis Winston has the potential to become a star redshirt freshman quarterback in the same way that Johnny Manziel, Brett Hundley, Everett Golson and Marcus Mariota did last year.

The Seminoles do not have as clear of a path to the title as they did last year, but four of my nine sets of power ratings call for them to have an unbeaten season.



4. Texas Longhorns
Only three teams in the country have all eight of their units ranked in the top 25 of my position rankings -- Texas, Alabama and Ohio State -- and I have two of those teams slotted to play in the BCS title game.

The Longhorns are in the top 20 of each one, but it was their defense that was the problem last year. After leading the Big 12 with the fewest missed tackles in 2011 (they were also the No. 1 defense in the Big 12 in YPG allowed), they had the most missed tackles in the league last year. Injuries played a part, as star defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat suffered a season-ending injury after six starts, and linebacker Jordan Hicks, who had 23 tackles in the first 2.5 games, was also lost for the year. Both return for 2013.

On offense, the Horns return 10 starters and both quarterbacks, their top four rushers and five of their top six receivers. Overall, Texas' 19 returning starters are tied for the most of any BCS team in the country this year. They do have to face TCU and Baylor on the road, but five of my nine sets of power ratings call for an unbeaten season. I have not picked Texas to win the Big 12 since 2009 (the last season they won the league and reached the BCS title game), but I am calling for that this year.



5. Oregon Ducks
Had former head coach Chip Kelly not left for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Ducks would have been picked by many to make the national title game. But even without Kelly around, the Ducks appear to be in great shape under new head coach Mark Helfrich (offensive coordinator the past four years), with 15 returning starters. Quarterback Marcus Mariota starred as a redshirt freshman last year with a 32-6 TD-to-INT ratio as a passer and an incredible 7.1 yards per carry as a runner. He returns this year along with slotback De'Anthony Thomas, who averaged 7.6 yards per carry and chipped in 445 receiving yards. They also should have a top-20 defense, led by my No. 1 secondary in the country.

The Ducks' schedule is tailor-made for success, as they will be favored in all of their games with the possible exception of their road trip to Stanford. They did beat the Cardinal in Palo Alto two years ago by 23 points. The Ducks have been the nation's bridesmaids of late, finishing No. 3, No. 4 and No. 2 in the past three years, respectively, but they have the talent to break through this year.

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Phil Steele
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guru0509
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158. "Early value bets for CFB games"
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http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9353565/alabama-texas-games-offering-early-betting-value-college-football


The Golden Nugget is known as downtown Las Vegas' largest resort, one of the oldest operations in Nevada and the place where casino baron Steve Wynn got his start. The venerable Nugget sports book is also known for its annual summer release of early lines on college games. Some Week 1 prices are already on the board at a few Caribbean books, but the Nugget has posted early numbers on 250 games, including matchups from each week of the upcoming season.

Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia and Louisville are favored in every one of their games, while Texas just misses that list, coming in at a pick 'em against Red River rival Oklahoma. These numbers will move significantly before the season, of course, but they do provide a sense of what the oddsmakers are thinking heading into fall practice.

Here's a look at a few spots to find value in the early going, including what promises to be a very highly touted showdown between Alabama and Texas A&M in Week 3:

Saturday, Sept. 7
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Pick-em) at Michigan Wolverines

We've been projecting Notre Dame's return to national prominence since Brian Kelly took over three years ago. While the Irish are indeed back in the spotlight, this year's Domers -- who were down several key 2012 performers even before a disastrous offseason that saw quarterback Everett Golson and others unexpectedly leave the team -- should be taking points on the road against an equally ascendant Michigan program. The Wolverines have the nation's top defensive coordinator in Greg Mattison and an ever-increasing cachet of talent on both sides of the ball.

The against-the-spread pick: Michigan

Saturday, Sept. 14
Alabama Crimson Tide (minus-6) at Texas A&M Aggies
As we'll explain in the coming weeks, neither of these teams is our pick to win the SEC this year, and both will be overvalued by the polls and perhaps the oddsmakers as well. Neither the school nor Johnny Manziel has handled the reigning Heisman winner's sudden success very well in an eventful offseason in College Station, and even if Nick Saban can't completely solve the elusive sophomore and the fast-paced A&M attack, there's still reason to think that Bama may romp in the revenge match on the strength of its own offense.

The Aggies lost heralded coordinators on offense and special teams and return just four starters on defense. The latter unit has neither the scheme nor the personnel to slow Alabama in a game that should be priced closer to low double digits.

The ATS pick: Alabama

Saturday, Sept. 21
Arkansas Razorbacks (pick 'em) at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Perhaps no athletic department has suffered a more scandal-ridden 2013 than the State University of New Jersey, but such distractions are just a bonus for those looking to fade this already troubled Rutgers squad. Last year's tremendous defense, years in the making, masked the precipitous drop from the Greg Schiano coaching staff to the current regime under Kyle Flood. With the bulk of the contributors from that outstanding stop unit no longer on campus, the Knights won't be able to conceal significant deficiencies in offense and leadership.

Arkansas is a difficult team to project in Year 1 of the Bret Bielema era, but the Hogs are a hungry, talented group that has too many horses not to lay some points in a grudge match versus a declining Rutgers outfit.

The ATS pick: Arkansas

Saturday, Oct. 12
Oregon Ducks (minus-14) at Washington Huskies
Superbooster Phil Knight is still writing checks and the general offensive philosophy that spurred the Ducks' rise to consistent top-five prominence is still in place, but don't underestimate the difference between savant Chip Kelly and 39-year-old newbie Mark Helfrich. Oregon will still be a powerful team, but a two-touchdown road price in this spot says that the expectations are practically the same.

Washington has allowed more than 43 points per game in this series during a nine-year losing skid, but defensive boss Justin Wilcox -- a real difference-maker in his 2012 debut -- now has a year under his belt and a deeper roster of talent with which to work. This is a program gradually on the rise, one that has been steadily closing the gap against the top of the Pac-12 more effectively than the Oregon scores indicate. The 2013 Huskies edition returns 17 starters and is Steve Sarkisian's best yet. Something in the high single digits would be a more appropriate number.

The ATS pick: Washington

Saturday, Oct. 19
Florida State Seminoles at Clemson Tigers (minus-2)
The Seminoles are a retooling group that's sporting six new coaches and the fewest returning starters in the ACC. Clemson is a loaded national contender with an offense that boasts a pair of Heisman candidates in Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins and the most sought-after coordinator in the sport in Chad Morris.

The Tigers are the clear favorite in the ACC this season, and giving anything less than a field goal at home is another great spot to fade consistent moneyburner Jimbo Fisher and his new-look Noles.

The ATS pick: Clemson

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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guru0509
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Mon Jun-10-13 11:52 AM

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159. "B1G recruiting"
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http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncfrecruiting/midwest/post?id=11364


Recruiting is the lifeblood of every program in the country, and every conference has its own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to landing top prospects. In the start of a weeklong series, we'll examine the BCS conferences plus Notre Dame to find each's strength, the biggest obstacle each faces and the overall view of the conference. First up: the Big Ten.

Biggest obstacle: There are two problems: perception and a limited talent pool. The consensus top states in the nation for talent are Florida, Texas, California and Georgia, and unfortunately for the Big Ten, none of them is in the Midwest. Talent can be found within the states in the Big Ten's footprint, but a good deal of work on the recruiting trail within this conference needs to be done outside of its base. For the 2013 class, only roughly 57 percent of the players signed by Big Ten teams came from the states that house Big Ten programs, and many of those came out of Ohio. By comparison, roughly 71 percent of the prospects signed by Pac-12 schools for 2013 came from within its own states, and in the SEC, that number was closer to 85 percent. Granted, California supplied the majority of the talent signed by the Pac-12 teams -- and the Golden State is big enough to supply an entire conference -- but the Big Ten lacks any one particular state that can act as a key feeder for an entire conference, like California for the Pac-12 or Texas for the Big 12. It's a problem because the farther these Big Ten teams have to stray from their base for talent, the tougher it is for it to lure prospects from competing programs that might be closer to home.

Besides having to often cast a wider net for talent than most of its BCS counterparts, the conference has also battled some perception problems about its ability to compete at the elite level nationally. Only one program, Ohio State, has won or even been to a BCS title game, and its past two appearances saw the Buckeyes come out on the losing end. Beyond the national title game, the conference has struggled in recent years to come out on the winning end of bowl games, in particular New Year's Day bowls. Coming up short on the national stage against rival conferences have left a dent in the perception of the Big Ten, which can create an obstacle in the ever-competitive arena of recruiting when battling for top talent.

US Presswire, Getty Images
Brady Hoke and Urban Meyer have made Michigan and Ohio State recruiting powers once again.

Biggest strength: Simply put, tradition and stability. This is a conference deep in tradition and anchored by some of the game's most storied and successful programs, including Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. In addition to a rich history, the conference also has strengthened itself in a time of change in college football that has left some teams and conferences uncertain about their future. Already armed with its own TV network, the Big Ten has expanded and added programs like Nebraska, which brings a rich tradition of its own, and more recently Rutgers and Maryland, which will join in 2014 and expand the recruiting base into the New Jersey/New York and Maryland/D.C. areas. There are some weak spots that the conference needs to strengthen to help itself on the recruiting trail, but the conference has a strong history behind it and a strong, stable path ahead of it.

Overall view of conference: Ohio State and Michigan are once again powers on the recruiting trail under new, strong leadership. The Wolverines under Brady Hoke's guidance finished with the sixth-ranked class for 2013 and currently sit in the top spot in the 2014 class rankings. Ohio State, now led by Urban Meyer, finished with the No. 3 class for 2013 and posted a 12-0 record for the 2012 season. (A postseason ban due to NCAA sanctions dulled some the impact the Buckeyes' season could have had on the conference.) Improving on the national perception of the conference can aid in recruiting and can come with another strong season by the Buckeyes, followed this time by postseason success.

In general, the conference can begin to push away some negative perceptions with more consistent success during the season and in the postseason. The talent pool isn't going to change greatly for the Big Ten, as much of it will continue to be found in the Southeast, Texas and California, but the league has increased its talent pool some with the additions of Rutgers and Maryland. More success on the national stage by more members of the conference, including the Buckeyes and the Wolverines, could provide a boost for the conference as a whole in recruiting.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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guru0509
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Mon Jun-10-13 11:56 AM

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160. "Camps attract next gen stars"
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http://insider.espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/9358944/georgia-bulldogs-texas-longhorns-usc-trojans-make-noise


Standout performers and recruiting buzz from this weekend's major events
Updated: June 10, 2013, 12:13 PM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
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Two ESPN 150 prospects -- No. 48 J.C. Jackson (Florida) and No. 123 Michael O'Connor (Penn State) -- announced their decisions this weekend, but that was far from the only news of note. From a number of 2015 prospects making noise (both on the field and off), to a possible package deal for Ohio State to coaches at Georgia, Texas and USC using team camps to get a glimpse into their future, the second weekend in June proved recruiting doesn't take a summer vacation.

Mack Brown Texas Football Camp in Austin, Texas

Texas hosted its second minicamp Sunday with the intent of finding some gems among a field loaded with 2015 prospects. The Longhorns found a whole lot more than that. A total of 10 recruits received new offers, and Texas landed three new commits: ATH Keke Coutee (Lufkin, Texas/Lufkin), former TCU commit S Johnny Shaw (Center, Texas/Center) and OT Connor Lanfear (Buda, Texas/Hays). Among the campers offered were TCU WR commit Emanuel Porter, 2014 WR Garrett Gray, 2015 QB Chason Virgil and 2015 CB Kris Boyd. Nebraska 2014 pledge S Jason Hall also landed an offer and admitted he's strongly considering flipping to the Horns. -- Max Olson, HornsNation

Mark Richt 7-on-7 Tournament in Athens, Ga.
Enlarge

Todd Kirkland/Icon SMI

Mark Richt is changing his pitch to recruits and encouraging them to make decisions sooner.

Georgia coaches are becoming more aggressive in recruiting. For years, prospects being recruited by Georgia would often mention how Mark Richt advised them to take their time. Recently though, Richt and his staff have adopted a first-come, first-serve policy among their offer holders -- which is speeding up the timetable for recruits like WR Shakenneth Williams, who earned an offer Saturday. -- Radi Nabulsi

Coming into the weekend, it appeared that Georgia was leaning toward not taking a quarterback in the 2014 class and instead focusing on 2015 quarterbacks, so I was intrigued by the group of rising junior signal-callers who came to throw for offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. Tyler Queen (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb), and Daniel David (Hoschton, Ga./Mill Creek) threw Friday in the Mark Richt 7-on-7, Queen, Ty Storey (Charleston, Ark./Charleston) and Jonathan Slade (McDonough, Ga./Union Grove) threw for Bobo on Friday afternoon and Queen returned to throw Saturday. But after impressing Bobo on Saturday, 2014 four-star prospect Jacob Park (Goose Creek, S.C./Stratford) earned an offer from Georgia. It should be interesting to see how that affects 2015 offers, which could go out after Bobo sees California quarterbacks Ricky Town (Ventura, Calif./Saint Bonaventure) and Kyle Kearns (Pleasonton, Calif./Foothill) next weekend. -- Kipp Adams, DawgNation

Nike Air Strike Passing Tournament in Dana Hills, Calif.

When Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei made a run to the CIF final last season, it caught many off guard. If the Monarchs do it this season, it won't be as surprising. Mater Dei blitzed the competition at this weekend's Dana Hills Airstrike passing tournament, rolling to the title with a 7-0 record. Senior QB Chase Forrest, CB Jonathan Lockett and two-way standout Matt Rockett were impressive, but a number of underclassmen made a statement. In the 2015 class, TE Kyle Penniston and WR Ben Humphreys were terrific, while 2016 WR Sammy Duarte and S Curtis Robinson showed flashes of ability as well. -- Erik McKinney
Class of 2017 WR Nathan Tilford (Upland, Calif./Upland) emerged as perhaps the region's most-promising incoming freshman. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound prospect held his own against some very good competition at the Dana Point (Calif.) Dana Hills Air Strike tournament on Saturday, proving he might be a reliable target for 2015 QB Tyler Hilinski this fall. Tilford landed a USC scholarship offer at the school's skills camp on Sunday -- an eyebrow-rising development since he has not yet played a down of high school football. -- Blair Angulo, WeAreSC

Nike Football Festival in McKinney, Texas

2015 QB Kyler Murray (Allen, Texas/Allen) officially has a decision to make. After a weekend of leading his team to the Nike Football Festival championship, Murray received news that he was offered by Texas A&M. The offer is important, as his father Kevin was the starting quarterback for the Aggies in the 1980s. The day before the festival and the offer, however, Murray told ESPN.com that he would weigh all of his options. While an offer from Texas A&M would be intriguing, it wouldn't be an automatic decision. Murray has options from Ohio State, Arkansas, Arizona State, Clemson and Texas Tech, and he's garnered interest from Texas, Oregon and North Carolina. -- Damon Sayles

McMurry University/University of Oklahoma Camp in Houston

The McMurry University/University of Oklahoma satellite camp in Houston on Sunday was washed away because of inclement weather, but there were plenty of notable names in attendance. Though the athletes were on the field for all of five minutes, one thing I learned came from a hot name in Houston this spring, four-star S John Bonney. He called Texas his leader early this spring but appears truly open to many of the schools that have offered him. He had a lengthy chat with Bob Stoops on Sunday, did the same a week prior with Art Briles when a Baylor camp came to Houston, visited with TCU coaches at their Houston camp Friday and he's going to hit the West Coast and the midwest for unofficial visits this summer. He has 30 offers, and he's doing his best to explore as many as he can. -- Sam Khan, GigEmNation

Ohio State camp in Columbus, Ohio

Package deals rarely come to fruition, but there's a strong chance one might with 2015 CB Ashton White (Washington D.C./Friendship College) and ESPN 150 OT Damian Prince (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara). White, who picked up an offer Sunday, excelled at the Ohio State camp and has long been an Ohio State fan. So has Prince, who is ranked 33rd in the nation and was spotted at a camp this weekend sporting Buckeyes gear. White hinted at the fact the two have talked about playing together -- wherever that might be. "This offer means a lot," White said. "Damian and I are very close. It would be great to play at the same college. We talk about it all the time. Wherever he goes, he'll give me advice." -- Brad Bournival, BuckeyeNation

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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Warren Coolidge
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Wed Jun-12-13 11:46 AM

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161. "another 5 star leaving USC ....smh..."
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http://floridastate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1514782

Matthew Thomas' wild post-national signing day saga will end at Florida State after all.

Thomas, a five-star linebacker and one of the jewels of FSU's 2013 recruiting class, released a statement to Warchant.com that says he will report to Florida State on Saturday.

"After meeting with coach Fisher and his staff and gathering all the information I have decided to honor my commitment to Florida State," Thomas said in a statement released to Warchant.com. "I also want to be close to my family and I want be part of what they are building at Florida State. I'm looking forward to winning games at Florida State and building towards my future."

All members of FSU's freshman class enrolling this fall are expected to report by Saturday.

Thomas inked a letter of intent with the Seminoles on national signing day in February, but uncertainty about began in May. Thomas, a Miami native, told the Miami Herald that he was having second thoughts about attending FSU in a story published May 7.

Talk about Thomas' decision on the Tribal Council

"I've told (FSU) it's nothing personal. I just didn't make the decision I really wanted to on Signing Day," Thomas told the Herald.

While speculation on Thomas' final destination ramped up in recent weeks, the confusion accelerated in the past 24 hours as Thomas' father Billy Thomas was quoted by multiple media outlets saying that his son planned to enroll at Southern Cal. USC was one of Thomas' three finalists on signing day.

"I asked him if he did everything he had to do in terms of paperwork and contacting the NCAA," Billy Thomas told USCFootball.com, the USC Rivals.com affiliate, on Monday. "Matthew said he put in his paperwork that he wanted to be released from Florida State and was just waiting for Florida State to contact him back."

FSU coach Jimbo Fisher has declined comment on Thomas since Thomas' public comments in May, but it is believed that the school had no plans to release Thomas from his National Letter of Intent. If Thomas enrolls at another school without a release from his letter, he would have to sit out one year and lose a season of eligibility.

Thomas declined further comment when asked to elaborate about his statement. But when asked if he was ready to get the saga behind him, Thomas said "most definitely."

"I'm on board, I'm here and let's win some games," Thomas said.

Thomas, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound star at Miami Booker T. Washington High, was rated the No. 2 outside linebacker and the No. 15 overall player by Rivals.com. He is one of two five star recruits signed by FSU in 2013, joining Brentwood, Tenn. cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

  

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3xKrazy
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162. "he can't leave SC if he was never there to begin with"
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I do wonder if SC continued to recruit him after signing his LOI which I assume would be a big no-no...

  

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Warren Coolidge
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Wed Jun-12-13 01:27 PM

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163. "true....lol...but while UCLA got top recruits...JC guys and transfers"
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coming TO their program....or CHOOSING their program over other top notch programs (ie the Bruins beating out Alabama twice in 2 weeks for top football guys) ...while that is happening for UCLA in both football and basketball..

SC got gys DE-committing...and NOT chosing them over other schools..

just pointing it out.....

  

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guru0509
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164. "sounds like he was forced into staying...."
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dude made it loud and clear that he wanted out the last few weeks, wasnt just a one time thing...

then suddenly he has a change of heart...

consider me skeptical.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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Wed Jun-12-13 01:38 PM

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165. "Oregon's NCAA saga comes to a close before Friday"
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and some folks are going to be furious.

folks that do not go by the online moniker of "sfMatt" I mean.

  

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guru0509
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Wed Jun-19-13 10:17 AM

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166. "....what happened?"
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-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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calij81
Member since Jan 17th 2007
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Wed Jun-19-13 11:05 AM

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168. "^^^^^^^^obviously furious"
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Oh you thought Matt meant last Friday? He meant a TBD Friday in the distant future.

  

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guru0509
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167. "Aww Bret Bielema doesn't like having to gameplan for hurry up offenses"
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http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/22464891/bret-bielema-wants-rules-changes-to-slow-down-no-huddle


Arkansas coach Bret Bielema and Alabama coach Nick Saban might not be on the most friendly of terms after Bielema told Arkansas fans this past March to compare his (superior) Big Ten record to Saban's. (Are there coaches with which Saban is on the most friendly of terms?) But the SEC West's current coaching overlord and the division's new-kid-on-the-block will see eye-to-eye on at least one topic: the rise of the no-huddle, up-tempo offense.

AL.com reported Monday that Bielema, a member of the NCAA's Playing Rules Oversight Panel, proposed a rules change that would create "a 15-second substitution period" after each first down to allow defenses to substitute. At the recent SEC spring meetings, Bielema framed it as a player-safety issue -- just as Saban did when asking for similar rules changes last October.

"Not to get on the coattails of some of the other coaches, there is a lot of truth that the way offensive philosophies are driven now, there's times where you can't get a defensive substitution in for 8, 10, 12 play drives," Bielema said, per AL.com. "That has an effect on safety of that student-athlete, especially the bigger defensive linemen, that is really real."

Saban said in the wake of his team's (relative) struggles with Hugh Freeze's up-tempo Ole Miss offense in 2012 that defenders have "a much greater chance of getting hurt" in the late stages of a long no-huddle offense, calling it also an issue of "fairness" and asking, "Is this what we want football to be?"

So Bielema will have at least one prominent supporter when it comes to attempting to push his proposal through. (He'll likely have another in Florida coach Will Muschamp, who also said he believed the no-huddle could be a saftey hazard.) But that doesn't mean the rule is on the verge of entering the NCAA's rulebook, not since the users of the up-tempo spread are just as empathic in their support of it as Bielema and the pro-style camp are in their opposition.

"If the offense doesn't sub, the defense shouldn't sub, and that's the way the rules are," Freeze told AL.com. "Offensive players are playing, too, the same number of snaps. Are they in danger also? ... They're having to play the same number of plays."

A (highly) cursory glance at injury numbers from the 2011 season would seem to back up Freeze's assertion. If Bielema's and Saban's theory is correct, teams that run no-huddle attacks (and face more extended-drive snaps not only in games, but throughout the season in practice) and play in spread-friendly conferences like the MAC or Conference USA should rank higher in starts lost to injury. But Phil Steele's tabulation of the 2011 injury numbers showed that the top-four most injury-stricken teams were all pro-style proponents, with clock-eating option team Army at No. 7.

Meanwhile, prominent no-huddle spread teams Northern Illinois and Houston -- whose defenses played the third- and fourth-most snaps in the country that year, respectively -- both finished in the top 10 for fewest starts lost to injury, with Freeze's own go-go Arkansas State team finishing at No. 1.

It's fair to say Steele's numbers only provide a rough estimate of actual injuries suffered, and that the common-sense dictum that tired athletes are more likely to suffer injury -- one held not just in football, but across the entire athletic spectrum -- likely has more than a little truth behind it. And no one's going to doubt Bielema's or Saban's sincerity when they say they want safer playing conditions for their players.

But when new Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson -- formerly every bit as sharp a critic of the no-huddle spread as Saban or Bielema -- just-so-happens to be A-OK with up-tempo attacks now that he's working for Gus Malzahn, it's also fair to assume that football concerns have at least as much to do with Bielema's and Saban's opposition as the injury issue. Until the day Chip Kelly comes out and agrees that no-huddle offenses are a safety problem, it's not going to be a coincidence that it's the slow-it-down pro-style coaches that want the rules changed to hurt the other guy's offense.

Tags: Southeastern Conference, Arkansas Razorbacks, NCAAF

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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calij81
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Wed Jun-19-13 11:08 AM

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169. "I'm excited for the Sonny Dykes era to get started at Cal and to see thi..."
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new offense in action.

We will beat Northwestern at home.

Then we will shock everyone when we beat Ohio State...shots fired at guru.

  

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guru0509
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Wed Jun-19-13 11:20 AM

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170. "Too bad Tedford called plays like a eunuch in that game..."
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dude played not to lose, and as a result, he lost.

definitely outplayed us in every way except FG kicking.

>Then we will shock everyone when we beat Ohio State...shots
>fired at guru.

lol, that would be an extremely sad flight home..you goin?

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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calij81
Member since Jan 17th 2007
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Wed Jun-19-13 11:41 AM

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171. "Luckily for me Tedford is no longer coahing at Cal"
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Sonny Dykes will actually go for it on 4th down, whereas Tedford will settle for a 40+ FG attempt.

I am planning on going to both the Ohio State and Northwestern games.

  

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calij81
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Tue Jun-25-13 05:11 PM

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172. "sfmatt was right about the Oregon decision coming before Friday"
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He was just a few weeks late.

The NCAA will pull the punishment for Oregon out of a hat tomorrow morning.

What if anything does Oregon get?

My guess: the loss of five scholarships over 3 years, they can only wear one home and away uniform combination for the next 4 years, and they have to bring back Robo Duck as their mascot for the next 5 years.

  

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guru0509
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174. "they *deserve* a two year bowl ban...1 minimum"
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...but who knows.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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Ceej
Member since Feb 16th 2006
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Wed Jun-26-13 12:10 PM

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175. "1 scholarship, 3 years probation. Unreal."
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http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/58228/ncaa-hands-oregon-ducks-3-year-probation

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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guru0509
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Wed Jun-26-13 12:13 PM

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177. "http://i.imgur.com/86ZPSXh.jpg"
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http://i.imgur.com/86ZPSXh.jpg

ridiculous

oh well.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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179. "if it hasn't already been made clear"
In response to Reply # 175


          

do not under any circumstances cooperate with the NCAA. ever.

OSU gave a how-to on sabotaging your program.

miraculously it worked out for us in the end.

  

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Ceej
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183. "Without question. You wanna win? Cheat."
In response to Reply # 179


  

          

Any chance you have DO IT. You will not be punished.

Making fun of programs for cheating at this point holds no water as they all are or better be or they suck.

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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3xKrazy
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187. "Ole Miss will get blasted tho...we can't just let anyone into the club"
In response to Reply # 183


          

>You will not be punished.


  

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Ceej
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190. "That signing day, I imagine, looked like Blue Chips 2"
In response to Reply # 187


  

          

zero chance there was any above board signings by them

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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sfMatt
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188. "oh... is that why the NCAA is saying we were very cooperative?"
In response to Reply # 179


  

          

if anything, the message is TO COOPERATE, because USC certainly DID NOT.

  

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3xKrazy
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182. "oregon's biggest penalties were losing CK and dontre wilson"
In response to Reply # 175


          

glad OSU was a direct beneficiary of their heathenness ways

  

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guru0509
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173. "Devin Gardner predicts win over "Ohio State"...."
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/22515846/qb-devin-gardner-says-michigan-will-win-vs-ohio-st

worked for mike hart...wait.....

-------------------
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the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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Ceej
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176. ""shrug""
In response to Reply # 173


  

          

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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3xKrazy
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178. "much ado about nothing...not sure what he's supposed to say"
In response to Reply # 173


          

he'll need to be dropped on his head a few thousand times before he reaches mike hart status

  

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Ceej
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181. "Mike Hart hate is fine but can we please agree sparty created little bro..."
In response to Reply # 178


  

          

he didnt go to a press conference and call sparty little brother.

Also DG has a long way to go to even be in the same breath as Hart in terms of accomplishments at Michigan.

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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3xKrazy
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184. "RE: Mike Hart hate is fine but can we please agree sparty created little..."
In response to Reply # 181


          

>he didnt go to a press conference and call sparty little
>brother.

nah, but he did go to a press conference after the 2006 loss in the game and talk about how mich was the better team, LOL.

>Also DG has a long way to go to even be in the same breath as
>Hart in terms of accomplishments at Michigan.

any possibility that DG will receive enough medical redshirts that will enable him to go 0-4?

  

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Ceej
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186. "hmmmm, let me get back to you"
In response to Reply # 184


  

          

>any possibility that DG will receive enough medical redshirts
>that will enable him to go 0-4?

I laughed.

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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3xKrazy
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189. "you really walked into that one"
In response to Reply # 186


          

lol

  

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Ceej
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191. "I contemplated being specific but I let it go"
In response to Reply # 189


  

          

0-4 aside, he still produced.

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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3xKrazy
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192. "he was a much better player than DG will ever be, yes"
In response to Reply # 191


          

but wait, mich didn't create the little brother stuff?

  

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Ceej
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194. "imo, it was a media creation that sparty fell in love with"
In response to Reply # 192


  

          

>but wait, mich didn't create the little brother stuff?

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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guru0509
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180. "Nike - The Opening "
In response to Reply # 0
Wed Jun-26-13 12:18 PM by guru0509

  

          

http://www.studentsports.com/blog/2013/06/17/opening-2013-official-invite-roster/

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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sfMatt
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185. "my bad... "
In response to Reply # 0
Wed Jun-26-13 12:23 PM by sfMatt

  

          

I had no idea they would take so long to make it public







;o


As to the angry folks, I don't know what to tell you, other than Oregon played in what at the time was a very grey area.

We paid $25,000 ABOVE BOARD - RECORDED, VETTED THROUGH COMPLIANCE, to a guy who:
- created itineraries for coaches' visits in Texas
- organized and (to a certain extent helped pay for) visits to MULTIPLE schools for prospects
- helped kids pick the school they wanted to go to
- funneled information in written form and verbally to coaches about prospects
- helped navigate prospects through qualification for the schools that those prospects had chosen

This was not pay to play, not even close. Nor was it an egregious example of us allowing current players to receive improper benefits.

And, EVEN AFTER Oregon had effectively BURNED Lyles, left him out to dry, ruined his business, he failed to say even once that Oregon paid him in exchange for the signatures of prospects. He even went so far to say that he was never given any indication by the Oregon staff that what they were doing was improper, or something that had to remain secret. The Oregon staff increased the odds of signing LMJ and Seastrunk by relying on Lyles - they did not guarantee anything, and by those players own admissions, they chose the school on their own.

  

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3xKrazy
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193. "*throws tomatoes at post*"
In response to Reply # 185
Wed Jun-26-13 12:42 PM by 3xKrazy

          

*sharpens pitchfork*

At the end of the day I don't think anyone really gives a fuck about Oregon (part of the reason why they skated) but rather the capriciousness of the NCAA.

the idea that universities will secede from the NCAA seems like a pretty chaotic solution as well.

I'd rather the NCAA just not be so fucking insane.

  

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sfMatt
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195. ":]"
In response to Reply # 0
Sat Jul-13-13 05:05 PM by sfMatt

  

          

enjoying this offseason immensely guys
(thought you'd like to know)

  

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guru0509
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196. "lol"
In response to Reply # 195


  

          








-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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197. "losing the best coach yall ever had and skating NCAA sanctions"
In response to Reply # 195


          

sounds like a blast, lol

  

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guru0509
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198. "http://hscalifornia.scout.com/a.z?s=153&p=8&c=1&nid=5589368"
In response to Reply # 197


  

          

http://hscalifornia.scout.com/a.z?s=153&p=8&c=1&nid=5589368

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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201. "can urbs flip him?"
In response to Reply # 198
Sun Jul-14-13 03:46 PM by 3xKrazy

          

fortunate for oregon that OSU doesn't really need any rb's in this class

  

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sfMatt
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202. "yea yea ok. And - No."
In response to Reply # 201
Sun Jul-14-13 09:45 PM by sfMatt

  

          

He's in love with this staff, and this time there's no possibility of a coach change opening the door for another program.

He showed out at the Opening better than Fournette - comparable size and considerably more agile.

Staff up here thinks he's Jonathan Stewart reincarnated - but Snoop didn't move this well when he was the same age.

lol @ 25th best RB...
Saban offered him too.

  

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sfMatt
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203. "a few years ago we lost the best coach we had ever had"
In response to Reply # 197


  

          

as well.

Chip Kelly was handpicked by that coach to be his successor.
Now Chip has more or less picked his successor, who gets to take over with probably the most talented roster Oregon's ever had.

We aren't going anywhere.

Also our utterly ridiculous new football building opens soon.

yeap

  

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guru0509
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204. "ooooh waterfalls...."
In response to Reply # 203
Sun Jul-14-13 10:52 PM by guru0509

  

          

>
>Also our utterly ridiculous new football building opens soon.
>
>yeap


how many crystal balls and heisman trophies you got in there tho?

=)

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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sfMatt
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206. "they're coming"
In response to Reply # 204


  

          

  

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guru0509
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199. "Top CFB schedule winners, losers"
In response to Reply # 0
Sun Jul-14-13 03:25 PM by guru0509

  

          

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9472912/teams-most-affected-schedules-2013-college-football


Top CFB schedule winners, losers
Three teams receiving biggest schedule boost, three taking biggest hit
Updated: July 12, 2013, 5:45 PM ET
By Phil Steele | ESPN Insider
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When projecting how teams will perform for the upcoming season, there are many factors to consider. I actually have nine different sets of power ratings that evaluate teams based on their returning talent, experience and overall production. I then plug these power ratings into complex formulas and play out their season nine different ways.

Many times there are teams that rank in the top 25 of my power poll (pure talent ratings), but actually are projected to have four or five losses and maybe even more. On the opposite side, teams that barely make my top 50 in talent ratings are sometimes projected to have only one or two losses.

The reason for these disparities comes down to one factor: a team's schedule. The strength of schedule, or lack thereof, could be the most important factor when projecting how a team will perform.

Let's take a look first at three teams that don't have elite talent but could still be in store for big seasons because of their easy paths, then look at three good teams that could stumble to mediocre records because of tough competition.

Schedule winners


Louisville Cardinals

The Cardinals enter 2013 fresh off their Sugar Bowl upset of Florida that vaulted them to No. 13 in the final polls. This year they return 16 starters, including 10 on defense, and are led by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. There is no doubting that Bridgewater is a top talent, but the rest of the team is not quite at that level. In fact, I rank the Cardinals just No. 19 in my power poll, which accounts for talent only.

The reason the Cardinals are No. 7 in my preseason top 40 is that they play my 98th-ranked schedule and will be favored in all 12 of their games this year. Their nonconference schedule features just one BCS team in Kentucky, which the Cardinals have dispatched in back-to-back years. The AAC is even more watered down this year with the loss of Syracuse and Pittsburgh and the additions of four former C-USA teams. If they can avoid an upset, the Cardinals have a great shot of going unbeaten, and five of my nine sets of power ratings actually call for it.




Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Huskers are my pick to win the Big Ten Legends division for a second straight year, despite ranking behind Michigan (No. 21) in my power poll at No. 27. The offense has some nice talent, especially at the skill positions (led by quarterback Taylor Martinez), but the defense returns just four starters and none of them made my preseason first-team All-Big Ten.

Last year, Nebraska was able to make the Big Ten championship game despite having to play both Ohio State and Wisconsin from the Leaders division in conference play. This year, the Buckeyes and Badgers are replaced by Purdue and Illinois. The Huskers also get to host two of the other three Legends division contenders in Michigan State and Northwestern. They open up with five straight home games, including a revenge game against UCLA.

The toughest game on the schedule is a trip to Michigan. However, the Wolverines have to play Ohio State and travel to Penn State, Michigan State and Northwestern. Because of the stark difference in schedules, the Huskers could even drop that game to the Wolverines and still finish with a better conference record.



Northern Illinois Huskies

For the second consecutive year, the Huskies are a legitimate threat to make a BCS game, despite ranking only 54th in my power poll. Last year, the Huskies played just two BCS teams and both were mediocre in Iowa (4-8), which they lost to in the season opener, and Kansas (1-11). The Huskies played one ranked team, Kent State, and when they finally faced some legitimate competition -- Florida State, in the Orange Bowl -- they were overmatched.

This year, they return 12 starters. The Huskies are led by quarterback Jordan Lynch, who is one of the better players in the country. The problem is that much of the talent surrounding him would be hard-pressed to start at many BCS programs. The reason the Huskies nearly cracked my preseason top 25 (No. 26) is that they play my No. 124 schedule. The Huskies will face two Big Ten teams (Iowa and Purdue) in nonconference action, but they are capable of winning both games. In MAC play, they avoid the top two teams from the East in Bowling Green and Ohio, and they will probably be favored in 11 games this year.

Three sets of my power ratings call for the Huskies to go unbeaten. If that happens, it will be back-to-back BCS bowls for the two-time defending MAC Champs.

Schedule losers


Florida Gators

Last year, the Gators were my surprise pick to win the SEC East. They finished the regular season 11-1 and were No. 3 before being upset in the Sugar Bowl. This year the Gators have just 10 returning starters. They will feature an improved offense, led by quarterback Jeff Driskel in his second year as the starter. While the Gators have just four starters back on defense, I rated their defensive line and defensive back units among the top in the SEC. Overall, the Gators were No. 12 in my power poll, but unfortunately, the schedule maker did them no favors as they play my No. 1 toughest schedule.

In SEC play, they have to play at SEC West powerhouse LSU. Other SEC East contenders Georgia and South Carolina have easier cross-divisional games. The Bulldogs get LSU at home, and South Carolina avoids Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU altogether. The Gators also have to travel to South Carolina, while they naturally play Georgia at a neutral site. Throw in two very tough nonconference games against Miami and Florida State, and the Gators, despite being nearly as talented as last year, will probably lose three regular-season games in 2013.



UCLA Bruins

Last year, Jim Mora rejuvenated a Bruins program that had become a perennial underachiever in the last decade. A 9-2 start, highlighted by a win over crosstown rival USC, had the Bruins in the top 15 for the first time since 2005 before they dropped their last three games. This year, they return 12 starters. The Bruins are led by quarterback Brett Hundley, who set a UCLA single-season total offense record with 3,470 yards last year. On defense, returning OLB Anthony Barr could be a top-10 pick in next year's draft.

Many analysts have UCLA in their preseason top 25, but I do not because of their tough schedule. In nonconference action, they must travel to Nebraska, which is my pick to win the Big Ten Legends. In conference play, the Bruins have arguably the toughest back-to-back road trip of any team in the country this year. They play Stanford on Oct. 19 followed by Oregon on Oct. 26 and must also play at USC this year. Overall, the Bruins have top-25 talent, but will find it hard matching last year's nine wins.



Mississippi State Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have become an annual bowl team under Dan Mullen, with three straight appearances. Two years ago, expectations were high for Mississippi State, but I had them picked lower than anyone else due to their schedule. They hosted LSU and Alabama, and most of their winnable SEC West games were on the road. Last year, the opposite was true; key division games were at home, and the Bulldogs jumped to a 7-0 start before the schedule toughened.

This year, they return 12 starters from an 8-5 team. While I rank them ahead of Northern Illinois in my power poll at No. 44, I do not even have the Bulldogs projected in a bowl this year due to their difficult schedule.

It starts with a nonconference game against a top-15 Oklahoma State team in Houston. They also play two dangerous opponents in Bowling Green and Troy, which are both capable of pulling an upset. LSU and Alabama are at home, while winnable games against Arkansas and Auburn are on the road. Throw in trips to Texas A&M and South Carolina, along with a home game against surging Ole Miss, and Mississippi State could be favored in just four games this year. On the flip side, if the Bulldogs were to play Northern Illinois' schedule, they would be favored in all 12 games.

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-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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guru0509
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200. "Potential spoiler teams for 2013 "
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/blog/_/name/mcgee_ncf_ryan/id/9462303/ole-miss-rebels-top-list-potential-spoiler-teams-2013-college-football

Spoiler alert!

No, I haven't been given any special Disney access into Avengers 2 or Star Wars VII. What I have been doing is poring over the 2013 college football schedule and trying to figure out what BCS outsiders have the best chance to spoil the party for someone else.

I'm talking about those teams that aren't expected by many to earn an invite to the five big January games, but their calendar includes national title hopefuls ripe for season-wrecking (see: Iowa State versus Oklahoma State 2011).

So, who are the top five 2013 BCS wrecking balls? Here we go.

1. Ole Miss
Likely preseason ranking: AP: NR, SEC West: 5th
Wrecking Ball Games: Sept. 14 at Texas, Sept. 28 at Alabama, Oct. 12 Texas A&M, Oct. 19 LSU
You could make a pretty nice argument for a few SEC West schools to be in this spot, particularly Mississippi State or Arkansas. That'll happen when your division has won five out of the last six BCS titles.

But it's the Rebels who are returning the core of an offense and defense that went a surprising 7-6 one year ago. With a little luck, that record could have been 9-4 because it included near misses against Texas A&M and LSU. This year both of those teams travel to Oxford, part of a brutal five-game stretch that also includes trips to Austin and Tuscaloosa. If Hugh Freeze can figure out a way to win just one of those games, it would likely be a BCS buster for four teams expected to be nicely placed within the AP's preseason top 20.


2. Kentucky
Likely preseason ranking: AP: NR, SEC East: 7th
Wrecking Ball Games: Sept. 14 Louisville, Sept. 28 Florida, Oct. 5 at South Carolina, Oct. 12 Alabama, Nov. 23 at Georgia
You could just as easily plug Tennessee, Missouri or Vanderbilt into this spot because the SEC members all play essentially the same conference schedule. But the Wildcats have more season-destroying potential because of their in-state rivalry with likely preseason top-10 pick Louisville.

There's also the Mark Stoops factor. He got the jump on most new guys via a relatively early hire date and is already blowing minds with his recruiting prowess. Kentucky is still going to have a rough go of it, more than likely picked to finish last in the division. But all it would take would be one upset and it could upset the apple cart for a top-shelf opponent.

3. BYU
Likely preseason ranking: AP: NR
Wrecking Ball Games: Sept. 7 Texas, Oct. 25 Boise State, Nov. 23 at Notre Dame
I toyed with a handful of Big 12 teams here for the same reason that I ultimately went with the Cougars. It's the Texas factor. The Longhorns seem right on schedule for another season entry in the midrange of the Top 25, knowing that just a couple of wins will push their brand name into the top 10 in a hurry. But as the old coach says on Saturday morning, "not so fast, my friend." They have to travel to Provo for the season's second game. A loss there to a team that's coming off an 8-4 season and is playing its best defense in decades would put the Horns' season into the wall while the green flag is still waving.

When BYU hosts Boise State in the eighth game, the Broncos could be undefeated and placed well inside the top 10. No one expects Notre Dame to be playing for a BCS berth when it hosts BYU at season's end, but then again no one expected that last year either. With Stanford the following weekend, the trap game potential for the Irish will be high.

4. Penn State
Likely preseason ranking: AP: NR, Big Ten Leaders: 3rd
Wrecking Ball Games: Oct. 12 Michigan, Oct. 26 at Ohio State, Nov. 23 Nebraska
The second season of the post-Joe Paterno era will begin with a solid core of young talent and, thankfully, a markedly diminished media circus atmosphere. The Nittany Lions far exceeded what was expected of them in 2012 with an 8-4 record. By the time they see Ohio State and Nebraska in the season's second half, the Buckeyes -- who follow a Penn State bye week -- should be at least a top-five team, maybe even in the top two. The Huskers will have only really been tested twice by the time they come to Happy Valley. I'm not saying that Bill O'Briens's team, which is being projected as a 6-6 or 7-5-level squad, will win one of those. I'm saying it could.

5. Washington State
Likely preseason ranking: AP: NR, Pac-12 North: 5th
Wrecking Ball Games: Sept. 7 at USC, Sept. 28 Stanford, Oct. 19 at Oregon
It's Year 2 for the Mike Leach show in Pullman, and the schedule, particularly the first half, is daunting. But that also feels like it could be the perfect time when the Air Raid could catch an opponent off guard. If wide receiver Dominique Williams can pick up where he left off and junior quarterback Connor Halliday can improve upon last year's completion percentage (or incoming true freshman QB Tyler Bruggman can meet even a little of the potential that Leach sees in him), there's a chance to put points on the board and knock a big team back on its heels.

Unlike last year, USC will probably enter the season hanging onto the bottom rung of the AP Top 25 instead of the top. A loss to the Cougars would tie an anchor around their ankles for the remainder of the season. The same goes for Stanford three weeks later -- a team that will still be in early-year offensive reconstruction mode.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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BennyTenStack
Member since Sep 09th 2007
5681 posts
Sun Jul-14-13 11:03 PM

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205. "lol KENTUCKY???? That is absurd"
In response to Reply # 200
Sun Jul-14-13 11:04 PM by BennyTenStack

  

          

They have a few months of good recruiting and now they are ready to upset people? They will still have the same TERRIBLE roster they had last year. Does this guy know they hired Mark Stoops, not Bob?.

  

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
13992 posts
Tue Jul-16-13 07:25 AM

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207. "Yep, they did lose to WKU and 40-0 to Vandy AT HOME last year"
In response to Reply # 205


  

          

selling a regime change and Vince Marrow's recruiting prowess for playing time early still ain't gonna mean shit other than a minor bowl berth at best

UK has never finished above .500 in conference since 1992 right?

<-Fear Ameer

  

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BennyTenStack
Member since Sep 09th 2007
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Tue Jul-16-13 12:41 PM

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208. "RE: Yep, they did lose to WKU and 40-0 to Vandy AT HOME last year"
In response to Reply # 207


  

          

>selling a regime change and Vince Marrow's recruiting prowess
>for playing time early still ain't gonna mean shit other than
>a minor bowl berth at best
>
>UK has never finished above .500 in conference since 1992
>right?

I think that's right. I seriously doubt they even sniff a bowl this year.

  

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BennyTenStack
Member since Sep 09th 2007
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Tue Jul-16-13 12:42 PM

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209. "Butch Jones still racking up on the recruiting trail."
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Number 1 class by a good margin on Rivals right now.

  

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guru0509
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210. "running game, good special teams, and a stingy defense..."
In response to Reply # 209


  

          

sounds like a pretty good formula to win games

the vols might have finally got a coaching hire right...

(this post is referring to Dillon Bates right? I know Urban Meyer is still recruiting Jalen Hurd who is also a beast)

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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BennyTenStack
Member since Sep 09th 2007
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Tue Jul-16-13 03:02 PM

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216. "Cortez McDowell and Eric Lauderdale in the past three days."
In response to Reply # 210


  

          

Both huge recruits for us. And Urban can try, but Hurd is as solid as it gets. He's our best recruiter.

  

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BennyTenStack
Member since Sep 09th 2007
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Mon Jul-22-13 09:55 AM

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231. "Two more 4-stars over the weekend. Four in one week."
In response to Reply # 209


  

          

  

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Frank Mackey
Member since May 23rd 2006
2903 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 09:59 AM

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233. "CBJ's recruiting is making me hate Dooley even more"
In response to Reply # 231


          

  

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BennyTenStack
Member since Sep 09th 2007
5681 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 10:46 AM

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242. "That dude and his staff were worthless."
In response to Reply # 233


  

          

I tried to have a good attitude about them at the beginning of each season, but MAN, seeing how easy Jones is making this look (I know it's a result of relentless work) really makes me realize how awful Dooley was.

  

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guru0509
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212. "Will Muschamp lob grenades with Jeff Driskel accuracy @ Urban Meyer"
In response to Reply # 0
Tue Jul-16-13 02:12 PM by guru0509

  

          

LOL

http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2013/07/23705/will-muschamp-calls-out-ohio-state-for-turning-florida-gators-in-ncaa


Two weeks ago, sources connected with the Florida Gators told Fox Sports the Ohio State coaching staff had turned in the Gators for a secondary NCAA violation related to an improper "bump," or contact between the Florida staff and a prospect.

Urban Meyer was quick to deny the charge, telling the Gainesveille Sun that there was "zero coach involvement" and an Ohio State spokesman doubled down, telling ESPN Meyer was unaware of the report "until well after it was done."

At SEC media days today, Muschamp was asked about the incident and didn't hold back:

Andy Staples ✔ @Andy_Staples

Muschamp: “We appreciate our friends from Ohio making sure we follow NCAA rules. They certainly know something about NCAA rules.”
1:48 PM - 16 Jul 2013

Will Muschamp on #OhioSt turning in #UF. "It's a dead issue. In both situations we were turned in by Ohio."



A little bit later:

Will Muschamp says coaches are 100% responsible for their players and can't stick their heads in the sand.
2:29 PM - 16 Jul 2013

Shots. Fired.

SOURCE @Andy_Staples

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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Tue Jul-16-13 02:58 PM

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215. "uh oh...don't wanna get that will muschamp angry"
In response to Reply # 212


          

lmao

  

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yoose2lurk
Member since Feb 02nd 2005
8999 posts
Tue Jul-16-13 02:36 PM

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213. "This isn't an anti-CFB offseason post but"
In response to Reply # 0
Tue Jul-16-13 02:36 PM by yoose2lurk

  

          

Why should we consolidate all things CFB? Other people make
all kinds of posts regarding basketball and pro football. I'd like
to see more separate posts regarding CFB. The sport needs more of a
presence on the boards.

---
Dynasty -
noun, plural dy�nas�ties.
1. a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group; Roll Tide.

Alabama Crimson Tide: 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 Nat’l Champ

  

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3xKrazy
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214. "by all means don't let any of us stop you"
In response to Reply # 213


          

.

  

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yoose2lurk
Member since Feb 02nd 2005
8999 posts
Tue Jul-16-13 03:48 PM

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219. "I don't post a lot though. I'm encouraging others to make separate posts..."
In response to Reply # 214


  

          

---
Dynasty -
noun, plural dy�nas�ties.
1. a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group; Roll Tide.

Alabama Crimson Tide: 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 Nat’l Champ

  

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Frank Mackey
Member since May 23rd 2006
2903 posts
Tue Jul-16-13 03:02 PM

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217. "Win a few natl championships and they think they have all the answers..."
In response to Reply # 213


          

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
10383 posts
Tue Jul-16-13 03:37 PM

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218. "lol"
In response to Reply # 217


  

          

  

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guru0509
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220. "i completely agree, and we do that during the season"
In response to Reply # 213
Tue Jul-16-13 04:27 PM by guru0509

  

          

just not as much during the offseason...

plus i like reading about all the teams in one post...


but go for it.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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Frank Mackey
Member since May 23rd 2006
2903 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 09:08 AM

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221. "You stay classy, Columbus..."
In response to Reply # 0


          

http://www.thundertreats.com/articles/sports/osu-rb-carlos-hyde-could-be-dimissed.html

The CUM virus is in full effect.

  

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Ceej
Member since Feb 16th 2006
66746 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 09:12 AM

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222. "I believe the Meyerites would encourgae a seperate post for this"
In response to Reply # 221


  

          

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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guru0509
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Mon Jul-22-13 09:18 AM

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223. "if its true, too bad. hope the victim is ok. good luck carlos"
In response to Reply # 221


  

          

rod smith, step right up.

hopefully one day we run a program as clean and blemish free as the Vols.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
Charter member
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Mon Jul-22-13 09:23 AM

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224. "sucks that meyer encouraged his starting rb to punch a chick"
In response to Reply # 221


          

don't know what he was thinking

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
35261 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 09:31 AM

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225. "i dont blame Urbz. natural result of a OH-FL collabo."
In response to Reply # 221


  

          

  

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3xKrazy
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Mon Jul-22-13 09:36 AM

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226. "we can blame tressel since he recruited hyde"
In response to Reply # 225


          

as long as we don't put the blame where it belongs its all good

  

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Ceej
Member since Feb 16th 2006
66746 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 09:37 AM

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227. "*****dumb & deleted***"
In response to Reply # 226
Mon Jul-22-13 09:43 AM by Ceej

  

          

>as long as we don't put the blame where it belongs its all
>good

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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3xKrazy
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Mon Jul-22-13 09:41 AM

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228. "snark in a woman beater post"
In response to Reply # 227


          

mods?

  

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3xKrazy
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Mon Jul-22-13 09:50 AM

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229. "lol, i was just kidding"
In response to Reply # 228


          

urbz really got all of you high strung

  

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Ceej
Member since Feb 16th 2006
66746 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 09:54 AM

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230. "lol"
In response to Reply # 229


  

          

No I really didnt wanna post that, it was dumb.

I'm glad your call to the mods was a joke tho, lol.

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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3xKrazy
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Mon Jul-22-13 10:17 AM

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234. "i thought it worked"
In response to Reply # 230


          

>No I really didnt wanna post that, it was dumb.

  

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Ceej
Member since Feb 16th 2006
66746 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 10:22 AM

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236. "dam. "
In response to Reply # 234


  

          

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
35261 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 09:57 AM

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232. "the FL half of the collabo is Hyde"
In response to Reply # 226


  

          

the OH part is, well...OH

  

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3xKrazy
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Mon Jul-22-13 10:18 AM

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235. "^^^^^needs to hire ceej as a joke writer"
In response to Reply # 232


          

.

  

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Ceej
Member since Feb 16th 2006
66746 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 10:23 AM

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237. "finally gettin by due "
In response to Reply # 235


  

          

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
35261 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 10:23 AM

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238. "i wasnt sure why you brought up tressel."
In response to Reply # 235


  

          

you seemed like you needed it explained to you.

  

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3xKrazy
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Mon Jul-22-13 10:26 AM

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239. "well i brought up tress because he recruited hyde...not urban"
In response to Reply # 238


          

and i also brought it up because i wanted to mockingly continue the train of asshat logic that permeates college football fandom

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
35261 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 10:50 AM

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243. "apparently you still need it explained to you. "
In response to Reply # 239


  

          

his recruiter was irrelevant to my comment.

but whatever, this is boring.

  

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3xKrazy
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Mon Jul-22-13 11:22 AM

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244. "RE: apparently you still need it explained to you. "
In response to Reply # 243


          

>his recruiter was irrelevant to my comment.

did i say it was supposed to be relevant?

>but whatever, this is boring.

yes, your joke was indeed very boring.

I am aware of what state Hyde is from.

  

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guru0509
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Mon Jul-22-13 10:30 AM

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240. "40 days left knuckleheads nm"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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guru0509
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Mon Jul-22-13 10:36 AM

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241. "its official, Carlos Hyde kicked off team"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

future 1st rounder Bradley Roby also arrested...ugh

before this, i would have said we had a top 10 RB stable in the country...

now? maybe top 25


Rod Smith, please learn how to hold on to the ball.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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Mon Jul-22-13 11:24 AM

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245. "who cares about stable? there are only so many balls to go around"
In response to Reply # 241


          

>before this, i would have said we had a top 10 RB stable in
>the country...
>
>now? maybe top 25

and there is more than enough talent for someone to pick up where hyde left off. hyde was a solid player but not spectacular. he can be replaced.

bradley roby is another story.

  

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guru0509
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Mon Jul-22-13 11:39 AM

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246. "just saying , it helps to have a RELIABLE 1-2 RB duo...now who?"
In response to Reply # 245


  

          


>and there is more than enough talent for someone to pick up
>where hyde left off. hyde was a solid player but not
>spectacular. he can be replaced.

you cant just replace 17 tds and a thousand yards...this definitely hurts. rod smith (came on a bit at the end, we'll see) , brionte dunn, warren ball and dontre wilson haven't proved anything.


>
>bradley roby is another story.


from what theyre saying he was drunk and disorderly, bouncers asked him to leave, he did, came back, refused to leave and they threw him out...

meh, whatever. dumb but not too serious.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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Mon Jul-22-13 12:58 PM

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248. "RE: just saying , it helps to have a RELIABLE 1-2 RB duo...now who?"
In response to Reply # 246


          


>you cant just replace 17 tds and a thousand yards...

you can't? we have 4 rb's waiting that came in with offers from almost every program in America...

carlos hyde isn't edddie george nor beanie wells nor even antonio pittman. he was a possible late round pick with good size who ran very hard. he did not have elite speed and was not a threat to take one tot he house. good programs replace guys like carlos hyde every year...hell, look at who bama has had to replace at the rb position over the past 5 years. they get it done.


>dontre wilson haven't
>proved anything.

dontre wilson wont be lining up at rb. but ezekiel elliot can. jordan hall can also slide down if necessary. they will absolutely find someone to rack up yardage behind this offensive line.


>from what theyre saying he was drunk and disorderly, bouncers
>asked him to leave, he did, came back, refused to leave and
>they threw him out...
>
>meh, whatever. dumb but not too serious.

I think he misses some games, which sucks. remember every punishment OSU hands out has to be 10x more severe than usual to appease the trolls.

  

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guru0509
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Thu Jul-25-13 12:27 PM

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298. "I agree he isnt as good as those guys, but he's still good."
In response to Reply # 248


  

          


>
>carlos hyde isn't edddie george nor beanie wells nor even
>antonio pittman. he was a possible late round pick with good
>size who ran very hard. he did not have elite speed and was
>not a threat to take one tot he house.

all true, but he was reliable as hell on that 2nd and long/3rd and short situations, and that proved to be extremely valuable for this sputtering offense last year.


but ezekiel elliot can.
>jordan hall can also slide down if necessary. they will
>absolutely find someone to rack up yardage behind this
>offensive line.

i always forget about ezekiel elliot for some reason...good point. i never really put much faith/stock in Jordan Hall, but hopefully he has a healthy senior season, and puts it all together.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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LegacyNS
Member since Jan 16th 2004
38095 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 01:05 PM

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250. "but he was proven...don't underestimate that"
In response to Reply # 245


  

          

Braxton & the staff knew they could count on him..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<---- 5....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlgiritpmfo

=======================================
Occupy Big Government..

Fannie, Freddie dole out big bonuses
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67292.html

  

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3xKrazy
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Mon Jul-22-13 01:11 PM

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251. "absolutely...it sucks. but the show goes on."
In response to Reply # 250


          

and if it were to happen at one position on this team and not have it be a killer...running back would be the spot. and they have all summer to figure it out.

if hyde had left early for the nfl i dont think expectations for this year's OSU team would be any different.

  

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Frank Mackey
Member since May 23rd 2006
2903 posts
Mon Jul-22-13 01:57 PM

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252. "What's the word on THE Vonn Bell?"
In response to Reply # 241


          

  

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3xKrazy
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Mon Jul-22-13 03:21 PM

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254. "the word is your 'insiders' were conjuring up nonsense once again"
In response to Reply # 252
Mon Jul-22-13 03:21 PM by 3xKrazy

          

find a new hate/jealousy fueled rumor mill, lol

  

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guru0509
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Mon Jul-22-13 03:53 PM

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255. "not kicked off the team, suspended indefinitely"
In response to Reply # 241


  

          

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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256. "you'd think they could've announced that at 8am this morning"
In response to Reply # 255


          

instead of letting the media and twitter trolls run wild

OSU PR department shits their pants per usual

  

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LegacyNS
Member since Jan 16th 2004
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257. "translation: He'll be back for the UM game for sure... lol"
In response to Reply # 255


  

          


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<---- 5....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlgiritpmfo

=======================================
Occupy Big Government..

Fannie, Freddie dole out big bonuses
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67292.html

  

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guru0509
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258. "shit I hope he's back for Cal...nm"
In response to Reply # 257


  

          

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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262. "there's video of the incident"
In response to Reply # 258


          

it's sounding like he'll be back eating meals with the team soon, lol.

  

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Wonderl33t
Member since Jul 11th 2002
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Mon Jul-22-13 12:57 PM

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247. "We (Fresno State) should be in the mix for a BCS bid"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Pretty easy schedule, and we should be good on both sides of the ball again. Rutgers and Boise at home, San Diego State on the road will be the tough regular season contests. Toughest game will doubtless be the potential MWC title game. Colorado in Boulder may be a wild card because we don't seem nearly as sharp on the road and I expect the Buffs to be really pissed off after last year.

Also, get ready to see a lot of Davante Adams highlights. Derek Carr is getting most of the pub, but Adams may be the best player on the offense, and maybe the team.

  

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3xKrazy
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249. "how does fresno match up against rutgers week 1?"
In response to Reply # 247


          

.

  

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Wonderl33t
Member since Jul 11th 2002
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253. "Probably a defensive battle."
In response to Reply # 249


  

          

Both teams have good D, and in week 1 the offenses usually aren't operating at max capacity. We should win with turnovers and home field advantage. Looking at the stats, it seems their QB likes to throw some picks. Probably end up like 24-14 Fresno winning.

  

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3xKrazy
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259. "Shiny new Bama weightroom...remind me to feel bad for student athletes"
In response to Reply # 0


          

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/alabama-athletic-facility-features-giant-hot-tub-other-224316516.html

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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263. "this argument always throws me"
In response to Reply # 259


  

          

I mean I'm not all about players being paid, but I fail to see how the use of amazing facilities immediately negates any argument for player compensation beyond a scholarship...

realistically they have a job, and this is where they work.

doesn't mean they get to make it rain when they are running around outside of the confines of campus or anything

  

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3xKrazy
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267. "it's always about these poor college athletes scraping by"
In response to Reply # 263


          

these dudes are living pretty charmed lives with access to things that your average college student could never dream of. and they're getting it for FREE

and those facilities include a whole lot more than to merely provide a 'working' environment. flat screen tv's, video games, lounges, food, etc...it's a hangout.

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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287. "eh, true... "
In response to Reply # 267


  

          

I just have a difficult time accepting that these amenities are things that "belong" to the kids, or significantly lower their outside expenses at any rate. I mean they get meals, but...

  

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
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Wed Jul-24-13 07:43 AM

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268. "remind me why we need to enrich the tourism coffers of southern cities?"
In response to Reply # 259


  

          

by outsourcing the postseason to 3rd party business vultures when it could go back to the university and the players?

<-Fear Ameer

  

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3xKrazy
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260. "way to go, hoke!"
In response to Reply # 0
Tue Jul-23-13 04:30 PM by 3xKrazy

          

a nice reminder for all you insane mf'ers who think that every coach (other than the coach of your fav team) is pure evil...


http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9500939/ohio-state-buckeyes-fan-named-cancer-michigan-invited-game-brady-hoke

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The 12-year-old Ohio State fan who named his cancer "Michigan" will attend the rivals' late November game as a guest of Wolverines coach Brady Hoke.

Hoke offered Grant Reed tickets to this year's matchup -- the rivalry is known as "The Game" -- in Ann Arbor. A Michigan spokesman confirmed that Hoke called Reed and his family Monday.

Columbus, Ohio, TV station WCMH reported Reed finished his final chemotherapy treatment a couple of weeks ago. Reed's father, Troy, told the station his son gladly accepted Hoke's offer.

"He gave a very clear yes -- he's very excited," Troy said, according to the TV station.

When Grant was diagnosed with cancer less than two years ago, he chose to name his disease Michigan. He wanted to beat it -- and he has.

"There was no way we could have pulled off getting tickets otherwise," Troy said of Hoke's invitation.

According to the TV report, the Rotary Club of Jackson, Mich., has offered to pay for the Reeds' hotel.

"It's getting hard to keep my dislike for them, because they've been so classy and unbelievable to us," said Troy, a former member of the Buckeyes' marching band. "But it won't be hard to cheer for the Buckeyes."

  

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guru0509
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261. "he only called him? he couldnt make a personal visit to the kid? "
In response to Reply # 260


  

          

(i tried. i cant do it)

good stuff.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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Ceej
Member since Feb 16th 2006
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271. "gotta love stories like this"
In response to Reply # 260


  

          

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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soulfunk
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272. "Great story. "
In response to Reply # 260


  

          

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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Tue Jul-23-13 07:18 PM

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264. "http://tinyurl.com/n7w5g8l"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://tinyurl.com/n7w5g8l

  

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3xKrazy
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265. "it looks like Jackie Treehorn's house"
In response to Reply # 264


          

is there a room where Oregon cheerleaders blow the recruits/players? If not...

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
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Wed Jul-24-13 09:01 AM

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275. "LMFAO"
In response to Reply # 265


  

          

almost got in trouble at work for that

lol

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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284. "uh, obviously?"
In response to Reply # 265


  

          

  

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3xKrazy
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288. "do they give facility tours to the public?"
In response to Reply # 284


          

:-)

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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289. "oh hellllllllll no."
In response to Reply # 288
Wed Jul-24-13 02:16 PM by sfMatt

  

          

even the Jaqua Center (Student Services for Athletes) is authorized personnel only above the ground floor.


(yes, you funny)

  

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3xKrazy
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291. "OSU's facility is blocked off too"
In response to Reply # 289


          

back in the day they used to give public tours

maybe all schools are keeping their newly renovated facilities off limits

  

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guru0509
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293. "the alumni group puts together tours sometimes..."
In response to Reply # 291
Wed Jul-24-13 05:17 PM by guru0509

  

          

and sometimes they open it up for campus visits..very seldom though

i got to walk through the WHAC, but i didnt get inside Tressels office or in the player development atrium...just the main hall where all the jewelry and hardware is (other programs, they just need a desk drawer. we needed a wing)

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
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266. "WHOOPS...sorry for almost ruining your life"
In response to Reply # 0


          

i wont hold my breath for apologies from media...

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--source--club-video-shows-ohio-state-running-back-carlos-hyde-didn-t-strike-alleged-victim-232225921.html


Source: Club video shows Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde didn't strike alleged victim

Surveillance footage from a Columbus nightclub appears to clear Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde of an alleged assault, a source familiar with the investigation told Yahoo! Sports.

Charges are not expected to be filed against Hyde after video from Sugar Bar 2 shows he didn't appear to make contact with an alleged victim who claimed to have been assaulted early Saturday morning, a source who spoke to Yahoo! Sports on the condition of anonymity said. The source said video shows Hyde speaking in the direction of the alleged victim just prior to her punching him in the head. The video then shows Hyde leaving the area and reaching back in the woman's direction in a non-confrontational manner, the source said. From the video, it doesn't appear Hyde ever made contact with the woman – either before or after she struck him, the source said.

The Columbus Police Department declined comment on the continuing investigation. A call to a proprietor of Sugar Bar 2 was not returned.
The alleged victim filed a police report Saturday, claiming she had been assaulted by an unknown man she believed she could identify by sight. Hyde was not named in the report or arrested, but was later named a "person of interest" as police investigated.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer suspended Hyde indefinitely on Monday, pending the outcome of the investigation. Meyer has also been dealing with the issues of All-Big Ten cornerback Bradley Roby, who was arrested on Sunday after allegedly refusing to leave a bar in Bloomington, Indiana.

"I have a clear set of core values in place that members of this football program are constantly reminded of and are expected to honor," Meyer said Monday in a statement released by Ohio State. "There are also expectations with regard to behavior. I expect our players to conduct themselves responsibly and appropriately and they will be held accountable for their actions."

  

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Ceej
Member since Feb 16th 2006
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269. "That is disgusting"
In response to Reply # 266


  

          

Heads should roll and they wont.

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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soulfunk
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273. "Wow...there should be charges against HER..."
In response to Reply # 266
Wed Jul-24-13 08:42 AM by soulfunk

  

          

>The source said video shows Hyde
>speaking in the direction of the alleged victim just prior to
>her punching him in the head. The video then shows Hyde
>leaving the area and reaching back in the woman's direction in
>a non-confrontational manner, the source said.

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
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Wed Jul-24-13 09:03 AM

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276. "agreed...the max penalty for whatever she falsely accused him of"
In response to Reply # 273


  

          

  

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3xKrazy
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286. "plus having to pay up the tens of millions that hyde stood to lose"
In response to Reply # 276


          

but let us all learn our lessons and not pile on until all the facts come out and are official. it's turning into a really weird story.

things we seem to know:

-her dad is a cop in nearby Westerville and is currently on tour in Afghanistan. She called his buddies to expedite the process of filing charges.
-she has now left the country and cannot be reached (lol). this could very well just be coincidence but it sure is interesting that she filed charges and didn't bother sticking around to meet with police when called upon.

If she's a student at OSU I'm wondering if the university gets involved with any type of recourse. Chances are they'd rather let this blow over and be out of the news ASAP.

The other issue is that once her identity is revealed and if she indeed is in the wrong...OSU fan vigilantes will go absolutely HAM on this chick. It's going to get really messy.

  

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brown sugar
Member since Jan 22nd 2005
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Wed Jul-24-13 12:35 PM

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278. "The sports media is terrible."
In response to Reply # 266
Wed Jul-24-13 12:35 PM by brown sugar

  

          

Gregg Doyel should be first in line to apologize btw. He ran
some hit piece that even I just shook my head at. I don't
know why people can't just WAIT to get all the details
before publishing their story.

<-- BAUGH SO HARD

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
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281. "is it up still?"
In response to Reply # 278


  

          

  

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Frank Mackey
Member since May 23rd 2006
2903 posts
Wed Jul-24-13 01:18 PM

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282. "RE: is it up still?"
In response to Reply # 281


          

http://www.cbssports.com/general/blog/gregg-doyel/22847385/id-like-to-believe-in-urban-meyer-but-i-cant-not-yet

  

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sfMatt
Member since Jun 20th 2002
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285. "lol doyle is such a dickbag"
In response to Reply # 278


  

          

  

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3xKrazy
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290. "dan wetzel too...but it won't happen. "
In response to Reply # 278
Wed Jul-24-13 02:21 PM by 3xKrazy

          

there's zero accountability in that profession. get your web clicks and its all good.

he'll save the piece and just re-print it the next time an OSU player fucks up which is inevitable and be on some 'see i told you so' shit.

and hyde's reputation takes a huge hit regardless.

  

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LegacyNS
Member since Jan 16th 2004
38095 posts
Wed Jul-24-13 12:58 PM

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279. "so everyone agrees he should be able to punch her now tho.."
In response to Reply # 266


  

          

amirite?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<---- 5....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlgiritpmfo

=======================================
Occupy Big Government..

Fannie, Freddie dole out big bonuses
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67292.html

  

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Ceej
Member since Feb 16th 2006
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Wed Jul-24-13 07:50 AM

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270. "So since the Clowney hit will get you ejected now,stop showing it right?"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Cool. thanks.

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

  

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BennyTenStack
Member since Sep 09th 2007
5681 posts
Wed Jul-24-13 08:13 AM

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274. "This sport will be dead in 5 years. So sad."
In response to Reply # 270


  

          

  

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Jayson Willyams
Member since Nov 18th 2004
3260 posts
Wed Jul-24-13 01:09 PM

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280. "I only wish we weren't wearing those fucking alternates in that game"
In response to Reply # 270


  

          

The only embarrassing part of those endless replays is how bush league our unis look. (The hit itself is glorious, I have no problem seeing our guy get jacked up like that. Charge it to the game and all that.)

__________
YARDS

  

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soulfunk
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283. "Yep."
In response to Reply # 280


  

          

  

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will_5198
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Wed Jul-24-13 04:33 PM

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292. "making that kind of judgment call an ejectable offense"
In response to Reply # 270
Wed Jul-24-13 04:34 PM by will_5198

          

is too asinine for words. unfortunately nobody cares if defenders get hurt, or else chop blocks would be ejectable as well.

--------

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
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294. "i agree...a 15 yard penalty is one thing"
In response to Reply # 292


  

          

but ejection for a hit on a ball carrier is kinda silly

ive always been in favor of ejecting guys who head hunt WR or punt returners (punt returners particularly) as they catch the ball

but thats not the same at all

  

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3xKrazy
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296. "I was fully expecting to see a flag come on that play"
In response to Reply # 270


          

I feel like anytime a helmet pops off it's automatic.

and coming on the heels of that fake punt atrocity i really thought it was a given the ball was going back to michigan plus another 15 yards.

  

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Wonderl33t
Member since Jul 11th 2002
21405 posts
Wed Jul-24-13 11:25 AM

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277. "Derek Carr played with a hernia and abdominal tear all last season. Wow"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Heisman imo

http://fresnostate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1528253

  

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guru0509
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Thu Jul-25-13 10:14 AM

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295. "Day 1 of the Urban Meyer inquisition is over..."
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

hopefully today some of these reporters talk about football.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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guru0509
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297. "Braxton Miller and others raving about Dontre Wilson's skill set"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

thanks Chip!!!


Our offense is going to be so fun to watch this year.

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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LegacyNS
Member since Jan 16th 2004
38095 posts
Sun Jul-28-13 01:26 PM

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299. "George Campbell, No. 1 WR for 2015 commits to Michigan.."
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2013/07/major_commitment_george_campbe.html


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<---- 5....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlgiritpmfo

=======================================
Occupy Big Government..

Fannie, Freddie dole out big bonuses
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67292.html

  

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guru0509
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300. "Jon Runyan's kid is part of the 2015 class too...I feel old."
In response to Reply # 299


  

          

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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LegacyNS
Member since Jan 16th 2004
38095 posts
Sun Jul-28-13 09:41 PM

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305. "I used to play basketball w/ Big John Runyon back when he was"
In response to Reply # 300


  

          

@ Carmen Ainsworth.. lol
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<---- 5....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlgiritpmfo

=======================================
Occupy Big Government..

Fannie, Freddie dole out big bonuses
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67292.html

  

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guru0509
Charter member
45358 posts
Sun Jul-28-13 10:00 PM

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307. "Hard to believe he's the same guy in the State Capital nowadays"
In response to Reply # 305


  

          

(R) Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from NJ's 3rd district

when I saw his ads on tv during election season, it took me a second to register that it was the former Pro Bowl tackle

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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cgonz00cc
Member since Aug 01st 2002
35261 posts
Mon Jul-29-13 02:32 PM

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309. "so does ESPN 5* RB from KY Damien Harris"
In response to Reply # 299


  

          

  

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DeepAztheRoot
Member since Dec 19th 2003
13992 posts
Sun Jul-28-13 05:17 PM

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301. "I suppose when you are as pathetic a football school as UK"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

you do what you can

http://www.thescore.com/home/articles/1239562-2015-recruit-complains-about-hot-fake-twitter-followers

<-Fear Ameer

  

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guru0509
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45358 posts
Sun Jul-28-13 05:59 PM

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302. "sociopathic shit...nm"
In response to Reply # 301


  

          

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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BennyTenStack
Member since Sep 09th 2007
5681 posts
Sun Jul-28-13 08:34 PM

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304. "You have to be a loser in the most literal sense of the word"
In response to Reply # 302


  

          

I can't imagine sinking that low in life. Making fake twitter accounts to attract 16-17 year old boys to your favorite school?

  

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3xKrazy
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21584 posts
Sun Jul-28-13 09:56 PM

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306. "was prob kentucky's director of recruiting who did it"
In response to Reply # 304


          

lol

  

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guru0509
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303. "Demetrious Knox is a Buckeye. Thanks Mack Brown."
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

another 5 star.

"The only official visit I will take is to Ohio State on October 26th, for the Penn State game," he said of what happens next for him. "I think Urban Meyer would prefer I don't take any more visits (laughs), and I respect that. I want to focus now on winning a state championship for my senior year and get back to just being a kid. I won't get a chance to do that ever again. I'm just so happy to say I am committed to Ohio State. It's great to be a Buckeye."

-------------------
I wanna go to where the martyrs went
the brown figures on the walls of my apart-a-ment...

  

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3xKrazy
Charter member
21584 posts
Mon Jul-29-13 10:45 AM

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308. "great get but im too nervous about next year's oline to enjoy it"
In response to Reply # 303


          

unless they get some juco's it's looking like a major clusterfuck

thanks bollman!

  

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