College Football

Off Topic
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I wanted to make a personal observation on the retirement issue (and Bauer can speak more to this than me…)

I think Penn State and Florida State are going to let JoePa and Bowden retire on their own terms.

I also think (and I read something somewhere) that both Coaches will not leave the schools “high and dry”; they are already seriously thinking about successors; (and that JoePa actually has one in place on the Staff? Not sure on that one).

Yea; its big-time Sports. But what these two have done for their respective schools can’t even be measured.

Mufasa

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[quote]stew2310 wrote:
All good points but PSU and Northwestern are renowned for their academics. Which is why schools like that are having a harder time putting a perennial power on the field. [/quote]

Exactly. That was a major point of one of my first posts in this thread.

A big reason why the Southern schools are so dominant is because of their lax academic expectations, not just because they’re located in warm weather.

Regardless of where you’re from in the country, if you’re an incredible athlete, but dumb as shit, why the hell would you go to a Northern school that you know is going to be up your ass about your grades, when you can go to an SEC school that only cares that you bench 455 with a 37-inch vertical?

Of course the Southern schools are going to have a bigger crop of elite athletes to choose from. They’re in a ‘nicer’ climate, have hotter females, they don’t give a shit if you go to class, and they’re widely viewed as the best college football programs in the country. That sounds pretty appealing to anyone, let alone an 18-year old kid.

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[quote]Bauer97 wrote:
stew2310 wrote:
All good points but PSU and Northwestern are renowned for their academics. Which is why schools like that are having a harder time putting a perennial power on the field.

Exactly. That was a major point of one of my first posts in this thread.

A big reason why the Southern schools are so dominant is because of their lax academic expectations, not just because they’re located in warm weather.

Regardless of where you’re from in the country, if you’re an incredible athlete, but dumb as shit, why the hell would you go to a Northern school that you know is going to be up your ass about your grades, when you can go to an SEC school that only cares that you bench 455 with a 37-inch vertical?

Of course the Southern schools are going to have a bigger crop of elite athletes to choose from. They’re in a ‘nicer’ climate, have hotter females, they don’t give a shit if you go to class, and they’re widely viewed as the best college football programs in the country. That sounds pretty appealing to anyone, let alone an 18-year old kid.[/quote]

Not to be an ass, but you sound pretty bitter. I agree for the most part. However, there are some academically defensible schools down here in the south, they just tend not to do as well in football either. Hah!

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[quote]Mufasa wrote:
I wanted to make a personal observation on the retirement issue (and Bauer can speak more to this than me…)

I think Penn State and Florida State are going to let JoePa and Bowden retire on their own terms.

I also think (and I read something somewhere) that both Coaches will not leave the schools “high and dry”; they are already seriously thinking about successors; (and that JoePa actually has one in place on the Staff? Not sure on that one).

Yea; its big-time Sports. But what these two have done for their respective schools can’t even be measured.

Mufasa[/quote]

I can’t speak to anything relating to Bowden, but Paterno isn’t going anywhere, nor is anyone at Penn State ever going to ask him to leave.

I know Paterno has someone in mind from the current staff as his successor, although he has skirted the ‘successor’ question in recent years just because he doesn’t want to be bothered with questions about his retirement.

Even if he didn’t name a successor, Penn State would keep it in-house, regarding the next Head Coach there. For better or worse, and this goes for basically all their athletic teams, Penn State swears that nobody would be a better fit for a coaching job than someone who has been groomed within Penn State.

I personally don’t think FSU is quite as ‘rooted in tradition’ as Penn State, so I can see them going out and finding a big-name coach to follow Bowden.

Either way, a coaching vacancy at either of those schools could pretty much have their pick of the Head Coach litter, I would think.

65

[quote]DoubleDuce wrote:

Not to be an ass, but you sound pretty bitter. [/quote]

This is the typical assumption made whenever someone ‘from’ a different conference talks about an opposing region of the Country.

I’m not bitter at all, I LOVE Southern college football. Same goes for Big 12 schools (which is actually my favorite Conference).

I’m just pointing out simple facts. I don’t really give a shit if the SEC recruits kids with 2nd-grade reading levels, I just don’t ignore the fact that this practice may be part of the reason that they’re so dominant.

66

[quote]RockSolidFitness wrote:
Nebraska Fan here, we’ll see what Bo Pelini can do! Go Huskers![/quote]

8-4 with key wins over Va. Tech and KU. Losses to OU, Missouri, Texas Tech, and one other team that the 'Skers should beat but will somehow find a way to lose to. GBR!

(BTW, KU has a bear of a schedule this year and are super overrated. They will not be ranked at season’s end.)

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[quote]HG Thrower wrote:
I hope Beanie and OSU are ready for some of this:

and this:

Either way, its going to be a classic.

Maybe some T-Nation tailgate is in order…[/quote]

Absolutely love it. It will be a great game. I am really hoping that Sanchez doesn’t suck it up. I expect Pete to do a lot of running this year. Receivers looked good at the end of last season. It could be a great year if Sanchez is decent. Go Trojans!

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Guys like Paterno and Bowden have the integrity to leave when they are ready, and/or if at some point they are not making the grade. They will never be given an ultimatum, but they will know if they lost their mojo. Both Joepa and Bowden will die coaching, like Bauer said they are institutionalized. Coaching is in their blood. They put coaching before their own families.

When my coach John Robinson was fired over his answering machine, the team rallied for him because you dont do shit like that to someone of that caliber. I will never look at Mike Garrett the same after that.

I am also saddened to see that people here lack to see the talent and speed of us here in the West. The Pac 10 has gotten much better, and still have some of the best athletes in the country. California, Florida, Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are still the states that produce the best players time and time again.

BTW, Mark Sanchez (starting QB for USC) fractured his knee cap this week, so its anyone’s guess how that will affect things. As a Trojan Football Alumnus, I look forward to this season.

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Cal fan but I find myself caring lessa about that school every few hours. How the hell did they throw away all those games at the end? A damn nose dive from #2. I root for Mississippi State because I have a lot of ties to that school but I like most all SEC teams and live for that conference (wish I was good enough to play in that conference).

State’s returning one of the best secondaries in college football next year, and a beast of a running back (who, to support Bauer97, is, according to an athletic trainer I know who did his grad work at State, dumb as all fuck), D-Line is decent and some decent receivers but jack shit at QB.

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Troy Polamalu is a classless P.O.S

Plus that hit on Patrick Cowan was totally a penalty so im beginning to think he hurts his team more than he helps

Still dont know how your going to deal with the “little Animal”

Oh and wells is not only a fucking bulldozer…uh oh he can run too!!!

I will Be tailgating at every OSU home game but im not so hot on going to cali, if i land in jail there im kinda screwed lol at least here i can get bailed out.

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Isn’t Jimbo Fisher in place already to follow up Bowden?

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[quote]stew2310 wrote:
Bauer97 wrote:
stew2310 wrote:

Kids from down south play all year round and hate cold weather that is why LSU, Texas, Georgia, Florida, the U, USC, and all the those southern teams are the best programs year in and year out. Speed kills in college ball, and all the speed is staying down south.

Since when can you not play football in cold weather? I could have sworn it was a Winter sport…

I think players from the South stay down there because that’s where they’re from. So, the warm-weather schools keep ALL of their home-grown talent, plus they bring in some talent from other States who are lured to those schools by warm weather, hotter females, and bullshit academic standards.

Not debating the talent of Southern schools (I think it’s fairly undeniable), but I don’t think ‘being able to play year-round’ has anything to do with it.

Thats my point, these kids can be out on the field working on whatever they need to be working on in February. There aren’t that many places up north where one would want to be outside running routes in Feb. Football is a winter sport up here, down south its a year round sport. Why play in the snow when they can stay right where the are and play in 70 degree weather.

College football has lost a lot of parity, and location amongst many other things is the reason the same 10 schools are usually the top programs. One could agrue that Ohio State is a top 10 program, and I agree but they get their ass smacked every year in the National title to a school from down South.
[/quote]

Interesting debates and conversations in this thread, especially with insight from someone who actually played 1A college ball. Although I do agree with your main points, I have to utterly disagree with the comment that college football has lost parity. Not a chance! Look at last year’s string of events - U of M getting beat by Appalachian State. Texas and Oklahoma being inconsistant because of teams like Boise State and Missouri… “The” Ohio State getting DESTROYED by SEC teams two years in a row, (ahem, go Gators?) and even pre-season predictions like BYU and Fresno State being potential BCS-Busters.

I’m curious how many people anticipated Missouri, Kansas, and many other teams to do as well as they did.

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[quote]Bauer97 wrote:
DoubleDuce wrote:

Not to be an ass, but you sound pretty bitter.

This is the typical assumption made whenever someone ‘from’ a different conference talks about an opposing region of the Country.

I’m not bitter at all, I LOVE Southern college football. Same goes for Big 12 schools (which is actually my favorite Conference).

I’m just pointing out simple facts. I don’t really give a shit if the SEC recruits kids with 2nd-grade reading levels, I just don’t ignore the fact that this practice may be part of the reason that they’re so dominant.[/quote]

And this is entirely true. I’m a Gators fan, so I’m naturally a little prone to favor the SEC and southern teams, but I will admit that they definitely have a lower standard when it comes to academic integrity. It’s tough to give props to the Big 10 when that shit is SHOVED down my throat every day, (no homo,) but they are essentially a class by themselves when it comes to MAJOR 1A conferences.

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[quote]SSC wrote:
stew2310 wrote:
Bauer97 wrote:
stew2310 wrote:

Kids from down south play all year round and hate cold weather that is why LSU, Texas, Georgia, Florida, the U, USC, and all the those southern teams are the best programs year in and year out. Speed kills in college ball, and all the speed is staying down south.

Since when can you not play football in cold weather? I could have sworn it was a Winter sport…

I think players from the South stay down there because that’s where they’re from. So, the warm-weather schools keep ALL of their home-grown talent, plus they bring in some talent from other States who are lured to those schools by warm weather, hotter females, and bullshit academic standards.

Not debating the talent of Southern schools (I think it’s fairly undeniable), but I don’t think ‘being able to play year-round’ has anything to do with it.

Thats my point, these kids can be out on the field working on whatever they need to be working on in February. There aren’t that many places up north where one would want to be outside running routes in Feb. Football is a winter sport up here, down south its a year round sport. Why play in the snow when they can stay right where the are and play in 70 degree weather.

College football has lost a lot of parity, and location amongst many other things is the reason the same 10 schools are usually the top programs. One could agrue that Ohio State is a top 10 program, and I agree but they get their ass smacked every year in the National title to a school from down South.

Interesting debates and conversations in this thread, especially with insight from someone who actually played 1A college ball. Although I do agree with your main points, I have to utterly disagree with the comment that college football has lost parity. Not a chance! Look at last year’s string of events - U of M getting beat by Appalachian State. Texas and Oklahoma being inconsistant because of teams like Boise State and Missouri… “The” Ohio State getting DESTROYED by SEC teams two years in a row, (ahem, go Gators?) and even pre-season predictions like BYU and Fresno State being potential BCS-Busters.

I’m curious how many people anticipated Missouri, Kansas, and many other teams to do as well as they did.[/quote]

Ok let me re phrase my parity statement, because I do agree that there is still some parity. As far as App St, they were the better team for one day UM wins that game 99 out of 100 times. My point is that all the top high school players are consistently signing to play for the same 10 schools. Whats nice for the 300 schools is that a good majority of their players are staying 3 or 4 years so that they can remain somewhat competetive.

Either way I’m stoked about the upcoming season and I am really curious to see how the SEC plays out b/c I think that is where your National Champ is coming from.

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[quote]SSC wrote:
It’s tough to give props to the Big 10 when that shit is SHOVED down my throat every day, (no homo,) but they are essentially a class by themselves when it comes to MAJOR 1A conferences.[/quote]

Well, not to worry, because it’s not the entire Big 10 that holds themselves to such academic standards.

There are several Big 10 teams that fall below the 30% mark with regards to graduation rate. A certain one, that keeps blowing the Nat’l Championship game, happens to fall below 20%.

Again, nobody actually cares about this aspect of college football, but someone is bound to get offended by it.

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[quote]Bauer97 wrote:
SSC wrote:
It’s tough to give props to the Big 10 when that shit is SHOVED down my throat every day, (no homo,) but they are essentially a class by themselves when it comes to MAJOR 1A conferences.

Well, not to worry, because it’s not the entire Big 10 that holds themselves to such academic standards.

There are several Big 10 teams that fall below the 30% mark with regards to graduation rate. A certain one, that keeps blowing the Nat’l Championship game, happens to fall below 20%.

Again, nobody actually cares about this aspect of college football, but someone is bound to get offended by it.[/quote]

Jeez. Well, you let 70,000 jackasses into your college and that’s what’s going to happen.

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Here is my recommendation for the NCAA…

If a person can get a degree in Romance Languages and Literature (JUST an example, guys, so no flames!); why not a degree in “Football and Coaching”?

Here me out, now! (I’m serious!)

Just about all you can do with a “Romance” degree is teach “Romance”; and then only if you get a masters and/or PHD.

Why not have a degree that not only would hold these guys interest; but would prepare them better to at least Coach what they do best?

And don’t think that this would be a “fluff” degree.

Coaching has now become a VERY complex discipline, from nutrition to game tape analysis to play-calling. I could see business and money management as possible courses.

While I’m not suggesting that schools would go from 10% graduation rates to 90%…I bet the rates would go up…and guys would leave at least with something practical.

I just get pissed at the academics with degrees in Quantum Physics and Far Eastern Languages (oh…VERY practical stuff, huh?), who bring little to the school, turning their noses up at guys who put their all out on the Field.

(Rant button OFF! Guess I’ll never be on any committee for the NCAA!)

Mufasa

(By the way…I have an advanced degree!)

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[quote]Mufasa wrote:
Here is my recommendation for the NCAA…

If a person can get a degree in Romance Languages and Literature (JUST an example, guys, so no flames!); why not a degree in “Football and Coaching”?

Here me out, now! (I’m serious!)

[/quote]

I see your point. However, how many football coaches do you think we need? Keep in mind, “football coach” typically isn’t a career within itself, unless you’re coaching at the collegiate or professional level, which is tough to get to.

If a guy wants to be a football coach, they can take the ‘Education’ branch of Kinesiology, and study to become a Health/Phys Ed teacher, and coach at their school.

Any branch of Kinesiology has some tough required courses, though. In reality, the less-intelligent football players simply go with whatever Majors are the easiest. “Recreation and Park Management” was a popular one at Penn State.

I don’t think churning out 40 guys each year with ‘football coach’ degrees, from every major college, would lead to much more career success than what they’re currently leaving (or not leaving) with.

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[quote]Bauer97 wrote:
DoubleDuce wrote:

Not to be an ass, but you sound pretty bitter.

This is the typical assumption made whenever someone ‘from’ a different conference talks about an opposing region of the Country.

I’m not bitter at all, I LOVE Southern college football. Same goes for Big 12 schools (which is actually my favorite Conference).

I’m just pointing out simple facts. I don’t really give a shit if the SEC recruits kids with 2nd-grade reading levels, I just don’t ignore the fact that this practice may be part of the reason that they’re so dominant.[/quote]

Hah! No, I see it too and I agree with you. I guess you are just more passionate than me about it.

I had 3 guys I went to high school with that went on to high level college ball, and I can say with out a doubt that 2 of them wouldn’t have gotten into community college without football. One went to uga (quite possibly the dumbest guy I have ever met) the other went to Stanford (smart guy, 0 work ethic in academics). I was just under the impression that if Stanford did it, it was really an all around thing. I hope like you say I’m wrong and there are some schools out there with integrity.

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By the way, I’d just like to point out, no one hates the SEC more than I do.