2006 College Football Pre-Season Thread

[AustinHoya03]

rdf said:

I don't think Big XII's respectability took a hit--at least the school acted on this before the NCAA and self reported/handled the situation. I respect teams who suspend/boot players who commit violations/break the law--it's what should be done and Bomar/Quinn have had more then just one run in, so it's not a shock they were involved.

Oh, I agree OU did the right thing here. I meant that OU probably would have been a preseason Top 5, but could drop out of the Top 10 now that the Paul Thompson Era has begun. The Big XII was weak last season and will be weak again this season, so a heavy blow to one of its best teams furthers the perception that the conference is near the bottom of the BCS barrel. That perception in turn hurts Texas. So as much as I'd like to dance on Rhett Bomar's proverbial grave right now, I won't because this development hurts my team, too.

St. Pete, I think everyone has a story about a college football booster doing questionable things. When I was a kid one of my schoolmates always had a personal chauffeur/NCAA football player to drive him to and from tennis lessons and home. The chauffeur had use of one of this kid's dad's cars (which was probably in theory restricted but in practice probably not), and got paid in cash. Probably way too much cash for driving snot-nosed kids around for a couple hours a day. The difference between these lucky drivers and Rhett Bomar? The latter had the poor sense to report his actual income. This sort of thing happens all over college football, and I'd be a liar if I said I didn't think it happens right here in Austin.

[AustinHoya03]

buffalohoya said:

Believe it or not, the WR you're talking about actually STARTED the season opening loss to TCU. He was something like 11-20-something for 100+ yards. He was moved to WR immediately after. And ironically enough, he had 11 catches for the rest of the season for about the same yardage.

Yeah, a lot of people around Big XII land thought Thompson got a raw deal after winning the job last season, and that Stoops sat him in favor of the Golden Boy just to shut the boosters/alums up after the loss to TCU in Norman.

buffalohoya said:

OU is in SERIOUS trouble.

I don't know how serious OU's trouble is. Bomar would have been a much better QB in 2006 than in 2005, but he wasn't that great in 2005. I think the net result of this is that instead of improving, OU takes a step backwards to its 2005 self. Maybe better than its 2005 self if Peterson is 100% the entire season. OU didn't get anywhere near the BCS in 2005, but the Sooners went 8-4 after dropping 3 of their first 5 and beat Oregon in the Holiday Bowl. They may not get to a BCS Bowl this season, but they'll be fine.

[hifigator]

I think you are a bit optimistic. They truly have no one at QB. I will tell you what I am betting on in OU games this year: the UNDER. They have a great defense and are one dimensional, that being running the ball. Even if they successfully move the chains it will keep the clock moving. I look for some low scoring affairs.

[RDF]

You have to remember a few things

1. Their entire team was "new" last year on offense--and Adrian Peterson got injured.

2. Kevin Wilson is going to run a Big XII "spread" like offense where QB runs a lot more--that suits Thompson more then Chuck Long who preferred Bomar and his passing.

3. OU has a much better defensive team.

4. They play in Big XII--and that means they'll have tough game against Texas, 1/2 other games and non conference wise, they'll lose at Oregon. but should win every other game--so my guess is a Cotton Bowl or Holiday Bowl appearance again.

Texas and Oklahoma are best two teams in Big XII but I like what Mike Gundy is trying to do at OSU--he's going to a Pro Style offense and some of his recruits were impressive and he's doing a nice job this year too. I really think if you run a different style in that league--you are at a huge advantage. We'll see if it pays off.

[AustinHoya03]

hifigator said:

Even if they successfully move the chains it will keep the clock moving.

hifi, how familiar are you with the rules of college football? I mean, I know Florida's program barely existed before 1990, but c'mon.

[RDF]

Actually Gators had a really good program when Charley Pell and Gaylen Hall were running things--but a little thing called PROBATION ruined that "Era". Neal Anderson, Lorenzo Hampton, James Jones were beasts though.

BTW, anyone else find it interesting that Gaylen Hall emerges at Penn State and all of the sudden their recruiting is 10 times better? Despite fact Paterno was losing about 6/7 games a year until last season? Hmm.........

[Deleted]

rdf said:

BTW, anyone else find it interesting that Gaylen Hall emerges at Penn State and all of the sudden their recruiting is 10 times better? Despite fact Paterno was losing about 6/7 games a year until last season? Hmm.........

A good friend of mine who's a Michigan undergrad alum and a NW med school alum pointed out the same thing, RDF. Of course, he's the same kid who made the (in my opinion) wise observation about college football: just like holding penalties, if you really look for NCAA violations you can find one at every school every time.

[TigerHoya]

More suspensions on the way at OU from what I hear.... extreme end of that is 3 more but I'm hearing from better sources it's less than that.

Here's the Coaches/USA Today preseason top 25:
www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2006-08-03-top-25-capsules_x.htm

[AustinHoya03]

Quick thoughts on the poll:

Wondering how much I can get now for my Texas-Ohio State tickets.

Tennessee is yet another example of a team being ranked in preseason on historical reputation and not last season's performance. Otherwise, though, this poll is pretty fair.

Louisville is ranked too high once again -- why do pollsters have such a love affair with this team?

Teams that will go straight up the polls: Miami, Michigan, Oregon, Nebraska

Teams that will drop like a rock: Notre Dame, UGA, Tennessee

[AustinHoya03]

Fun with Rhett Bomar and Photoshop

Thought I posted this last night but don't see it up here. Scroll down for the better stuff.

[TigerHoya]

18 is about right for Clemson. Week 2 and 3 will result in either a drop or a leap.

UGA will drop after they lose to SC (or at the very least have their usual close game with the Gamecocks.)

[hifigator]

I saw where California is an early 3 1/2 point favorite over Tennessee in Knoxville. As much as I hate the Vols, I was planning on taking the points. Now that Erik Ainge was suspended I just don't know. It's not that he is all that good, it's just that, like Oklahoma they have zero experience behind him. He split time two years ago with Brent (Brett?) Shaeffer who is now at Ole Miss and his backup was slated to be JimBob Cooter (no joke, that is his real name). If I remember correctly he was dismissed from the team as well. Phat Fulmer might have to suit himself up to start at QB.

[Filo]

Someone at ESPN likes the Mountaineers:
sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview06/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2542726

[TigerHoya]

Filo,
My wife's uncle was looking for a darkhorse pick to use in a pool at work when I saw him at a crab feast this weekend. After we talked for awhile the best one I came up with was WVU.

[hifigator]

West Virginia seems to be everyone's darling. Apparently their schedule is so easy that many are predicting they will run the table rather easily, obviously winnint the "Big" east along the way. I have seen them do similar several times only to get embarrassed come bowl time. It is hard to see too many of their opponents beating them though this year. I am not sure if they play Louisville or not but I think Louisville is overrated as well. They are the football equivalent of Gonzaga. Either way I do think WVU will come out from the Big East and "earn" yet another underserved BCS bid like Pittsburgh got two years ago.

[TigerHoya]

hifigator said:

West Virginia seems to be everyone's darling. Apparently their schedule is so easy that many are predicting they will run the table rather easily, obviously winnint the "Big" east along the way. I have seen them do similar several times only to get embarrassed come bowl time. It is hard to see too many of their opponents beating them though this year. I am not sure if they play Louisville or not but I think Louisville is overrated as well. They are the football equivalent of Gonzaga. Either way I do think WVU will come out from the Big East and "earn" yet another underserved BCS bid like Pittsburgh got two years ago.

Just like WVU's "embarassing" bowl win over a SEC team (a virtual home game for UGA in the Georgia Dome) last year?

[hifigator]

tigerhoya said:

hifigator said:

West Virginia seems to be everyone's darling. Apparently their schedule is so easy that many are predicting they will run the table rather easily, obviously winnint the "Big" east along the way. I have seen them do similar several times only to get embarrassed come bowl time. It is hard to see too many of their opponents beating them though this year. I am not sure if they play Louisville or not but I think Louisville is overrated as well. They are the football equivalent of Gonzaga. Either way I do think WVU will come out from the Big East and "earn" yet another underserved BCS bid like Pittsburgh got two years ago.

Just like WVU's "embarassing" bowl win over a SEC team (a virtual home game for UGA in the Georgia Dome) last year?

Sorry it took so long to respond. I hadn't seen this quote until you mentioned it in the now locked "grade" thread. I will give you that one. That was a very surprising game. I thought Georgia would win rather easily. But then again I missed all three games in that stadium during that period. I thought for sure LSU would beat Georgia. Wrong. I thought that Miami would beat LSU, not that I wanted that to happen at all, but I did think the Canes would win. Boy was I wrong. And then I thought that Georgia would handle the Mountaineers and I was wrong again. Hell, I was wrong when the game was played in the then Atlanta Fulton County Stadium and WVa beat the Gators 26-6. My feet still haven't thawed out from that game.

We did get them back in 94 however. They were undefeated and got "stuck" playing Flodida in the Sugar Bowl. They really thought that they should have been playing Nebraska for the National Title instead of FSU. FSU had one loss that season to Notre Dame. FSU had beaten us on a 3rd and 10 play where Warrick Dunn went the distance from 70 yards on a wheel route to seal the game. Anyway, FSU beat Nebraska and Notre Dame won their bowl game to finish with identical 11-1 records. FSU was handed the title even though Notre Dame had beaten them head to head. I still think that the Irish were robbed and I am certainly no Notre Dame fan.

Incidentally, Florida walloped West Virginia 41-7 ending any controversy from those toothless inbreds.

[RDF]

I HATE FSU and yet I can admit they deserved the title--they were #3 and ND lost to Boston College AFTER the win over FSU so how in the hell do they deserve the title over FSU--who beat Florida and Nebraska--the other undefeated team left in poll?? Florida beats a terribly overrated WVU team, and who's left a ND team or FSU? Go with the team who won out after they lost. Head to head is more of an argument if you have a situation like in '00--Miami beats FSU head to head and after they lose to a Washington team that ended up top 3 in country and yet FSU routs terrible Clemson/Florida teams and then loses to an offensively challenged Oklahoma team that Miami would've beaten by at least 2 TD's, but guess that isn't counting when you can hype Florida up in the other scenario.

[FLHoya]

rdf said:

Head to head is more of an argument if you have a situation like in '00--Miami beats FSU head to head and after they lose to a Washington team that ended up top 3 in country and yet FSU routs terrible Clemson/Florida teams and then loses to an offensively challenged Oklahoma team that Miami would've beaten by at least 2 TD's, but guess that isn't counting when you can hype Florida up in the other scenario.

And also...not have to mention whatever it was Miami did in their bowl game that year...can't remember...something about a personal foul on an Ibis comes to mind. ;D

[RDF]

flhoya said:

rdf said:

Head to head is more of an argument if you have a situation like in '00--Miami beats FSU head to head and after they lose to a Washington team that ended up top 3 in country and yet FSU routs terrible Clemson/Florida teams and then loses to an offensively challenged Oklahoma team that Miami would've beaten by at least 2 TD's, but guess that isn't counting when you can hype Florida up in the other scenario.

And also...not have to mention whatever it was Miami did in their bowl game that year...can't remember...something about a personal foul on an Ibis comes to mind. ;D

Hifi--do you remember how good that Hurricane team was? You should of all people--but guess that selective memory isn't good when Gators getting their rears kicked is on the table for discussion.