College Football is almost back

[Guest]

I remember that he killed my team in High School, and that he's one of the best kickers in the Pac 10, probably the best. But that's just me. I'm sure everyone else that hasn't watched Oregon State more than just that one game only remembers the 3 missed PAT's.

[teke184 0]

And the people who remember those three blown PATs by him don't remember that LSU had, the previous season, forced All-World kickers at Ole Miss and Georgia blow important field goals and had, initially, gotten Auburn's kicker to blow a PAT later that year.

 

The Auburn kicker got another attempt due to a leaping penalty and hit it to put them up 10-9 for the win, but it was that close to LSU forcing yet another great kicker to blow kicks.

 

 

 

 

This is almost like if people said "Eli Manning... isn't he the guy who fell down against LSU and cost Ole Miss the SEC West title?", which is based on one Play Of The Week by the LSU defense that forced an Ole Miss lineman to step on Eli's foot and trip him on an important 4th down.

[Damaramu 0]

Well Teke that's the story of how the general public views football. They never want to give defense credit they just want to blame the offense and the offensive players. Believe me we know that here in Oklahoma all to well(after LSU and USC's defense dominated us and everyone in Oklahoma wants to blame it on the offense and not give the opposing defense credit).

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Well those interceptions and fumbles didn't help either, Dama.

[Damaramu 0]

Well those interceptions and fumbles didn't help either, Dama.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yeah but most of them were caused by the defense......well all except for the one where Jason White's brain fell out of his head and he threw the ball into a Trojan defensive huddle.

But like think of his first INT against LSU. It was right on the reciever but the DB managed to pop it up and the other DB that was in the area managed to snatch it out of the air after it was popped up.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Well those interceptions and fumbles didn't help either, Dama.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yeah but most of them were caused by the defense......well all except for the one where Jason White's brain fell out of his head and he threw the ball into a Trojan defensive huddle.

But like think of his first INT against LSU. It was right on the reciever but the DB managed to pop it up and the other DB that was in the area managed to snatch it out of the air after it was popped up.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It takes an offense to throw the ball into the defense's waiting arms. It's the offense's fault as much as it was the opponent's defenses' credit.

[Damaramu 0]

Yeah but sometimes a throw can be on target perfectly and a defensive player can get in there out of nowhere and just take it away. That's what happened on that INT that I pointed out.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Then the QB wasn't alert enough to sense that possibility. It's a two-way street, Dama. It's BOTH the offense's fault and the defense's credit.

[Damaramu 0]

Then the QB wasn't alert enough to sense that possibility. It's a two-way street, Dama. It's BOTH the offense's fault and the defense's credit.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Sometimes I really don't think it is the QB's fault. Sometimes the defense just makes an incredible play. I mean the best of the best throw INTs. Sometimes the reciever falls down and the only person standing there now is a DB. That's not really the QB's fault at all.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

In those cases of the WR falling down, then it's the WR's fault, which ties into the offense being faulted.

[Damaramu 0]

Yeah but if you're just faulting the offense then it seems like you're giving the defense no credit. A defense can turn a good offense into a bad offense and I think the credit goes to the defense rather than blaming the offense.

FSU's 2000 offense was awesome until they ran into a great defense at OU.

I mean there was no denying that OU's 2003(scoring 50 points on average a game) and 2004 offenses were awesome. But they were turned into a bad offense when they ran into a really great defense.

If USC runs up against a ball busting stifling defense then I believe they to will perform badly.

It's just how it happens and I don't think people give the defense the credit they deserve.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

It takes talent to be in the right place at the right time and luckily catching the ball? I was a starting DB in high school and college, I know it takes talent to be all over the field like a ballhawk, but trust me, it's 50% the offense's fault as it is 50% the defense's credit.

[Guest]

Exactly, it means that the QB made poor reads. 75% of the time, that's the reason for an interception.

[Coolclint 0]

Just to shift focus, I'm really feeling that UTenn isn't as good as the polls say they are. Something about them...maybe it's because I'm a Gator fan, and the Vols' schedule is highly unkind to them, as opposed to the UF schedule where they get UT and FSU at home.

[therealworldschampion 0]

Tennessee's schedule is absolutely deadly. They'll have a loss out of the 3 games at Florida, LSU, and Alabama and the Georgia game is going to be tough as well.

[Damaramu 0]

What if they win all of those games though? Then would everyone buy them as for real?

[teke184 0]

What if they win all of those games though? Then would everyone buy them as for real?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Probably, but they'd still have to beat LSU or Alabama again in the SEC title game to get to the Rose Bowl.

[ANKLELOCK 0]

Just to be realistic, I don't expect us to go undefeated with that schedule.

 

I was kind of hoping for the 1-loss, SEC champion, #2 team in the country going up against USC in the Nat'l Title Game route.

 

I won't get my hopes up for 13-0

[teke184 0]

Just to be realistic, I don't expect us to go undefeated with that schedule.

 

I was kind of hoping for the 1-loss, SEC champion, #2 team in the country going up against USC in the Nat'l Title Game route.

 

I won't get my hopes up for 13-0

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That 1 loss better be against LSU, Alabama, or a non-conference opponent because a loss against Florida or Georgia could knock them out of the SEC title game.

[ANKLELOCK 0]

I don't see them losing to Florida or Georgia. LSU is the main possibility, they seem to have our number to a degree.

[Secret Agent 0]

I don't understand these preseason polls. Is it based off last years performance? If so how in the world is LSU, Michigan, and Ohio State ranked ahead of OU? They only lost 1 game. :\

[Art Sandusky 0]

I'm not as optimistic as Anklelock. I see two, possibly three losses this year.

[Guest Ether]

I don't understand these preseason polls. Is it based off last years performance? If so how in the world is LSU, Michigan, and Ohio State ranked ahead of OU? They only lost 1 game. :\

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Partly. But it is also last impressions and how many people you bring back. Look at Auburn, who lost zero games, and are ranked something like 20. Utah, while a somewhat different case, isn't even ranked.

 

In Oklahoma's case, they lose a bunch of players, including a Heisman trophy winning quarterback, and the last time people saw, they were being destroyed by USC. Translation: Most people have less confidence in them so they will be ranked lower.

 

The reverse is true for USC. Everyone is appointing them as an invincable juggernaut. Why? Because they return their Heisman winning quarterback and were last seen destroying an excellent Oklahoma team. Everyone forgets the close calls against Oregon State, UCLA, California, and Stanford.

[Gert T 0]

I think having both Leinhart & Bush back and the fact they haven't lost a game in 2 1/2 years is enough for me to rank them #1. Close calls don't matter when you win all of them.

[Coolclint 0]

I think the new UF spread offense is the best possible thing for Leak and the rest of the offense. Add in the fact that they get to play at home for the most important games of the season (barring Georgia and the SEC Title Game, should they make it there), I'm feeling good about the Gators. I'm thinking a win over UT, a win over FSU, but the Georgia game...not so sure. I just really don't think UT's as good as their ranking. I highly doubt any team in the SEC East will go undefeated, so it's a matter of who beats who; one upset means the world here.

[Urban Warfare 0]

Stewart Mandel's Bowl Projections:

 

Rose: USC (BCS No. 1) vs. Ohio State (BCS No. 2)

Orange: Virginia Tech (BCS) vs. Tennessee (BCS)

Sugar: Florida (BCS) vs. Louisville (BCS)

Fiesta: Texas (BCS) vs. Iowa (BCS)

[Damaramu 0]

I don't understand these preseason polls. Is it based off last years performance? If so how in the world is LSU, Michigan, and Ohio State ranked ahead of OU? They only lost 1 game. :\

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Dude one poll has us ranked #5 and the other #7 I think that's damn good. Wasn't it SI's ranking that had us real low and I've seen others that have us around 16 so I think we're doing good.

[teke184 0]

I don't understand these preseason polls. Is it based off last years performance? If so how in the world is LSU, Michigan, and Ohio State ranked ahead of OU? They only lost 1 game. :\

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Partly. But it is also last impressions and how many people you bring back. Look at Auburn, who lost zero games, and are ranked something like 20. Utah, while a somewhat different case, isn't even ranked.

 

In Oklahoma's case, they lose a bunch of players, including a Heisman trophy winning quarterback, and the last time people saw, they were being destroyed by USC. Translation: Most people have less confidence in them so they will be ranked lower.

 

The reverse is true for USC. Everyone is appointing them as an invincable juggernaut. Why? Because they return their Heisman winning quarterback and were last seen destroying an excellent Oklahoma team. Everyone forgets the close calls against Oregon State, UCLA, California, and Stanford.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Right on.

 

LSU is on the rise because of the massive amount of talent coming back.

 

1. They return 3 RBs that could start at any top-line program but USC or Oklahoma (Alley Broussard (now injured), Justin Vincent, Joseph Addai)

 

2. They return 4 very talented WRs and a TE, including some that are much healthier now than last year. (Skyler Green, Dwayne Bowe, Xavier Carter, Early Doucet, and TE Davy Jones)

 

That doesn't include Amp Hill, who only quit LSU this week to transfer to a different program where he had a chance to play.

 

3. They have 3 very talented QBs, although none have put it together full-time yet. (JaMarcus Russell, Matt Flynn, and #1 QB recruit in the nation Ryan Perriloux)

 

4. They return a very experienced O-Line that has at least 2 NFL prospects.

 

 

The defense is a little more depleted, but I think there's a lot of raw talent that new Defensive Coordinator Bo Pelini can whip into shape.

 

 

Also, 2 of their 3 losses were last-second defeats that could have been avoided if one player hadn't gotten a penalty at Auburn or blown a coverage against Iowa in the Capitol One Bowl.

 

(The Georgia loss, however, was a total shitkicking revengefest by Mark Richt's boys, which was due to LSU owning them twice the year before)

 

 

This puts them ahead of Auburn, who went undefeated but lost their entire offense and some of their top defensive players.

[Bored 0]

Here's the complete list of former players, coaches, and some other people who will be voting in the new Harris Poll. Really how much college football do you think Terry Bradsaw watches?

 

Bobby Aillet

Bill Battle

Gene Bartow

Dick Bestwick

Joe Biddle

Blaine Bishop

Kim Bokamper

Terry Bradshaw

Wilt Browning

Earle Bruce

Brentson Buckner

Bob Casciola

Charlie Cavagnaro

John Congemi

Jake Crouthamel

Eddie Crowder

Peter Dalis

Charles Davis

Pete Dawkins

Gerry DiNardo

Bill Dooley

Boots Donnelly

Kevin Duhe

Spike Dykes

Bert Emanuel

Bump Elliott

Boomer Esiason

Don Fambrough

Foge Fazio

Bob Frederick

Andy Geiger

David Glazier

Jim Grabowski

Mike Grace

Bob Grim

Pat Haden

Bob Hammel

Dick Harmon

Tommy Hicks

Clarkston Hines

Lou Holtz

EJ Holub

David Housel

Rocket Ismail

Fred Jacoby

Charlie Johnson

Blair Kerkhoff

Mike Kern

Roy Kramer

Larry Lacewell

Dave Lapham

George Lapides

Steve Largent

Robert Lawless

Jack Lengyel

Jim Lessig

Ferd Lewis

Ted Lewis

Mike Lucas

Mike Lude

Tom Luicci

John Mackovic

Don Maynard

Don McCauley

Joe McConnell

Mike McGee

Lance McIlhenny

Ray Melick

Ted Miller

Darrell Moody

Jim Morse

Craig Morton

Jack Moss

Anthony Munoz

Chuck Neinas

Tim Neverett

Dave Newhouse

George Perles

Ed Podolak

John Pont

Steve Preece

Jason Rash

Homer Rice

Pat Richter

Paul Roach

Kenny Roda

Harvey Schiller

Dr. Terry R. Schmidt

Dick Schultz

Lee Roy Selmon

Dick Sheridan

Ken Shipp

Irwin Smallwood

Jim Ray Smith

Larry Smith

Sam Smith

Gary Spani

Amant Lou St.

Ron Stephenson

Nelson Stokley

Don Sweeney

Whit Taylor

Jack Thompson

John Toner

Steve Townsend

Glenn Tuckett

Max Urick

Roger Valdiserri

Bob Wagner

Frank Weedon

Frank Windegger

Bill Yeoman

Hugh Yoshida

[cabbageboy 0]

I'm already terrified. On Cold Pizza they had football experts saying U of L could go undefeated and play USC in the title game. I seriously hope we don't start believing all this hype a la 2002 and then go out and fuck off and lose to UK or something truly awful.

 

I too do wonder about Tennessee...do they have a lot more than last year? I didn't think they were much last year, but maybe that's because they came THIS close to losing to a 2-9 UK team.