njhoya78
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Post by njhoya78 on Dec 2, 2014 20:23:23 GMT -5
The idea of a football program in football-crazy Alabama being shut down is startling, although it does appear that in-state politics had more than a little to do with the decision to shut down UAB's team. It does pose a question, though, as to state colleges running large athletic budget deficits, as to how much longer will taxpayers be called upon to fund money-losing programs? Rutgers and Maryland's moves to the Big Ten were deemed palatable to local politicians when the largesse of fund distribution from the B1G was made known to be a monetary lifeline.
I am looking in particular at Connecticut here. The Huskies football games aren't even played near Storrs; the stadium is 28 miles from campus, in Hartford. UConn doesn't draw very well, and there has been only marginal success on the field. Perhaps, at some point (especially after the decision to shut down UAB's program), the UConn Board of Trustees will take a hard look at the pros and cons of the American Athletic Conference and a D-1 football team versus the Big East Conference and a lower level football team.
Maybe, just maybe, we could see the Huskies back where they really belong. In the Big East.
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Dec 3, 2014 15:30:05 GMT -5
The idea of a football program in football-crazy Alabama being shut down is startling, although it does appear that in-state politics had more than a little to do with the decision to shut down UAB's team. It does pose a question, though, as to state colleges running large athletic budget deficits, as to how much longer will taxpayers be called upon to fund money-losing programs? Rutgers and Maryland's moves to the Big Ten were deemed palatable to local politicians when the largesse of fund distribution from the B1G was made known to be a monetary lifeline. I am looking in particular at Connecticut here. The Huskies football games aren't even played near Storrs; the stadium is 28 miles from campus, in Hartford. UConn doesn't draw very well, and there has been only marginal success on the field. Perhaps, at some point (especially after the decision to shut down UAB's program), the UConn Board of Trustees will take a hard look at the pros and cons of the American Athletic Conference and a D-1 football team versus the Big East Conference and a lower level football team. Maybe, just maybe, we could see the Huskies back where they really belong. In the Big East. That's only happening after the next round of Power 5 conference realignment. The really good basketball schools like Memphis and UConn aren't going to drop their football teams until they know for sure they won't be able to move up into the ACC/Big 10/Big 12, at which point their finances would change dramatically.
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njhoya78
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Post by njhoya78 on Dec 3, 2014 15:42:27 GMT -5
I think you're right, TBird41, but I also don't think that UConn will ever get into the ACC, because of Boston College's reluctance to have competition in a neighboring state. UConn is likely not getting into the Big Ten, nor into the Big 12. How much in the way of red ink will they tolerate in Storrs? I guess that's the $64 million question, in more ways than one.
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Nevada Hoya
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Dec 3, 2014 15:55:40 GMT -5
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Dec 3, 2014 17:05:16 GMT -5
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Dec 3, 2014 17:23:45 GMT -5
Week 15 Picks for Games that Matter:
Northern Illinois over Bowling Green for the MAC title (Friday) Oregon over Arizona in a revenge game for the Pac-12 title (Friday) Oklahoma over Oklahoma State in the Bedlam game for the Bedlam Bell Alabama crushes Mizzou for the SEC title K-State upsets Baylor Georgia Tech upsets Florida State for the ACC title (save us Yellowjackets, you're our only hope) Wisconsin upsets Ohio State for the Big Ten title Boise State over Fresno State for the Milk Can and the Mountain West title
North Dakota State and South Dakota State will meet in the second round of the FCS playoffs, but will not play for the Dakota Marker. The Governor's Cup will not be awarded to the Eastern Washington-Montana victor, as it is during the regular season. Should rivalry trophies be on the line in playoff games?
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Dec 3, 2014 20:55:38 GMT -5
Austin, let's assume all your picks prove to be correct. Which teams do you think would make the playoffs? Alabama, Oregon, TCU and My guess would be Georgia Tech based on finishing the season strongly with wins over FSU and Georgia. By the way, I happen to agree with you on FSU/Georgia Tech, but if FSU wins, so what? There's no way they beat Alabama and the Oregon/TCU winner.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Dec 3, 2014 23:38:58 GMT -5
Austin, let's assume all your picks prove to be correct. Which teams do you think would make the playoffs? Alabama, Oregon, TCU and My guess would be Georgia Tech based on finishing the season strongly with wins over FSU and Georgia. By the way, I happen to agree with you on FSU/Georgia Tech, but if FSU wins, so what? There's no way they beat Alabama and the Oregon/TCU winner. If all my picks are correct (very doubtful), then Florida State, K-State, and Michigan State would all have a shot at the 4th playoff slot. K-State would have the most momentum, having just defeated Baylor in Waco. I think Georgia Tech would have to win by four TDs to move up to #4 from #11. FWIW, the latest FiveThirtyEight forecast gives K-State a 2.6% chance of making the playoffs and Georgia Tech a 1% chance of making the playoffs. fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/college-football-playoff-update-tcu-promotion-shakes-up-odds/I think FSU would be crushed by Bama in a worthless round one game. I don't think K-State or Georgia Tech would defeat the Crimson Tide, but at least we'd have a fun and scrappy underdog to root for instead of the overrated defending champs. I also think FSU getting into the playoff in year one would not encourage top teams to schedule tough opponents in future seasons.
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SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Dec 4, 2014 10:25:15 GMT -5
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Dec 4, 2014 10:46:57 GMT -5
If only there were another recent instance of a coach quickly turning around a moribund MWC team before leaving just as quickly for one of CFB's elite programs...
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SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Dec 4, 2014 11:10:53 GMT -5
There are no guarantees in life, but McElwain was the highly successful OC at 'Bama for four years, including their national Championship years of 2010 and 2011. He took a HC job in the Mountain West learn how to be the HC and to prove himself. Now he's got a shot at a legit D1 program that needs a change to return to prominence. Good luck to him and to UF.
Michigan is a mess. I don't know who they'll get or how they'll turn it around.
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Dec 4, 2014 11:45:50 GMT -5
There are no guarantees in life, but McElwain was the highly successful OC at 'Bama for four years, including their national Championship years of 2010 and 2011. He took a HC job in the Mountain West learn how to be the HC and to prove himself. Now he's got a shot at a legit D1 program that needs a change to return to prominence. Good luck to him and to UF. Michigan is a mess. I don't know who they'll get or how they'll turn it around. On behalf of DJ Owens, I respectfully disagree. I hope UF fails and fails miserably.
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Post by BubbleVisionBiff on Dec 4, 2014 13:34:25 GMT -5
Fake Bo Pelini @fauxpelini · 28m 28 minutes ago KNOCK KNOCK! WHO'S THERE?? MIKE RILEY! MIKE RILEY WHO?? YEAH THAT'S WHAT I SAID TOO
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njhoya78
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Post by njhoya78 on Dec 4, 2014 15:36:20 GMT -5
I'm not a Bo Pelini fan by any stretch of the imagination, but his worst seasons are, by and large, far more impressive than Mike Riley's best seasons at Oregon State. In the Beavers' losses this season, they never surrendered less than 35 points. Nebraska only gave up over 35 points in one game. If the Cornhuskers are going for a change in culture, and Riley does seem to be a much better human being than Pelini, this can make some sense. From a pure football accomplishment standpoint, though, this is a bit of a head scratcher.
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njhoya78
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Post by njhoya78 on Dec 4, 2014 15:37:39 GMT -5
If only there were another recent instance of a coach quickly turning around a moribund MWC team before leaving just as quickly for one of CFB's elite programs... Why is Chris Christie wearing a Michigan shirt?
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SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Dec 4, 2014 15:54:26 GMT -5
Nebraska has hired Mike Riley to lead its football program.Riley, 61, comes from Oregon State, where he coached since 2003 after a three-year stint as coach of the San Diego Chargersespn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11978459/nebraska-hires-mike-riley-replace-fired-bo-peliniI didn't realize Riley was 61. Also Nebraska finished the regular season at 9-3 under Bo Pelini, who was fired this week after seven seasons, and will learn its postseason destination Sunday..... Oregon State finished 5-7 this season.... It's not every day that a guy with a .700+ winning percentage gets the boot, only to be replaced by a guy whose tenure at Oregon State left a .523 mark and a record v .500+ teams of 27-31. Guess we'll sit back and see.
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Dec 4, 2014 21:09:53 GMT -5
Austin, let's assume all your picks prove to be correct. Which teams do you think would make the playoffs? Alabama, Oregon, TCU and My guess would be Georgia Tech based on finishing the season strongly with wins over FSU and Georgia. By the way, I happen to agree with you on FSU/Georgia Tech, but if FSU wins, so what? There's no way they beat Alabama and the Oregon/TCU winner. If all my picks are correct (very doubtful), then Florida State, K-State, and Michigan State would all have a shot at the 4th playoff slot. K-State would have the most momentum, having just defeated Baylor in Waco. I think Georgia Tech would have to win by four TDs to move up to #4 from #11. FWIW, the latest FiveThirtyEight forecast gives K-State a 2.6% chance of making the playoffs and Georgia Tech a 1% chance of making the playoffs. fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/college-football-playoff-update-tcu-promotion-shakes-up-odds/I think FSU would be crushed by Bama in a worthless round one game. I don't think K-State or Georgia Tech would defeat the Crimson Tide, but at least we'd have a fun and scrappy underdog to root for instead of the overrated defending champs. I also think FSU getting into the playoff in year one would not encourage top teams to schedule tough opponents in future seasons. I give Michigan State zero shot, as they didn't even make it to the Big Ten Championship game. If FSU loses, I give them nearly zero shot, as the committee is clearly looking for a reason to run away from them. Kansas State would definitely be a possibility. On the other hand, if you're right on Oregon, right on Wisconsin (and aren't they favored as a result of the Ohio State quarterback mess?), right on Georgia Tech and wrong on Kansas State, then Baylor would clearly figure to be the fourth team. Alabama, Oregon, TCU and Baylor would provide insane offensive fireworks. I'd love to see that.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Dec 5, 2014 15:37:26 GMT -5
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Dec 5, 2014 17:49:53 GMT -5
I give Michigan State zero shot, as they didn't even make it to the Big Ten Championship game. If FSU loses, I give them nearly zero shot, as the committee is clearly looking for a reason to run away from them. Kansas State would definitely be a possibility. On the other hand, if you're right on Oregon, right on Wisconsin (and aren't they favored as a result of the Ohio State quarterback mess?), right on Georgia Tech and wrong on Kansas State, then Baylor would clearly figure to be the fourth team. Alabama, Oregon, TCU and Baylor would provide insane offensive fireworks. I'd love to see that. I think you're right about Michigan State. I initially included them because they're currently ranked above K-State, but lack of momentum + failure to win any big games + no conference championship puts them in the same boat as the other MSU (Mississippi State): out of the playoffs. For the record I'd like to see K-State in the playoff more I'd like to see Baylor. The Bears arguably played a weaker schedule than FSU and should be punished for that, just like the 'Noles. Also, the Bears can score big points with Bryce Petty under center, but if he's out with concussion issues the Bears might have difficulty putting up points against Alabama.
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thebin
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Post by thebin on Dec 7, 2014 8:20:23 GMT -5
Playoff should be 8 or 16 games and first round should be next Saturday. 2 teams about to be screwed worse than any team ever was in BCS system. They half-assed this thing trying to salvage all those horrible second tier bowls. Trying to have their cake and eat it to.
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