One
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 192
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Post by One on Oct 17, 2005 9:21:31 GMT -5
Notre Dame stadium was as loud on Saturday as I have ever heard it. The atmosphere was incredible. A (near) full moon was rising over the east stands just as the Irish and Trojans were trading blows in 4th quarter. It was the most exhausting 5 hours I have ever experienced. As an ND alum and fan, it was a heartbreaking result; however, it was the most exciting sporting event I have ever witnessed in person.
Also, Reggie Bush won the Heisman Saturday. To see him in person is to see that that he is truly in another class above the other 150 players on either sideline. He was the difference in the game. If he is not the first pick in the NFL draft next year (assuming he goes pro), the GM who does not select him should be fired immediately. Every single time he touched the ball, I feared USC was going to score a TD on that play. That guy is incredibly special.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Oct 17, 2005 11:31:22 GMT -5
Also, Reggie Bush won the Heisman Saturday. To see him in person is to see that that he is truly in another class above the other 150 players on either sideline. He was the difference in the game. If he is not the first pick in the NFL draft next year (assuming he goes pro), the GM who does not select him should be fired immediately. Every single time he touched the ball, I feared USC was going to score a TD on that play. That guy is incredibly special. I think Bush will win if USC runs the table, but if USC drops a game and Texas wins out then Vince Young becomes the front-runner. Both players have been special this season -- here are last week's stats for both: Young: 25-29 passing for 336 yards, 2 TDs. 10 rush for 58 yards, 3 TDs. Bush: 15 rush for 160 yards, 3 TDs.
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Oct 17, 2005 11:35:49 GMT -5
Quick picks for this weekend: Wisconsin over Minnesota Ohio St. over Mich. St. LSU over Fla. Texas over Colorado Michigan over Penn St. Notre Dame over USC (wishful thinking?) Fla. St. over UVA Cornell over Georgetown Ok Austin - I'll bite - Winner: Wisconsin Loser: Minnesota Spread: Vikings coke party Winner: Mich St. Loser: Ohio St. Spread: Imaginative Offense Winner: Florida Loser: LSU Spread: Better 1st year coach Winner: Texas Loser: Colorado Spread: Bush's approval rating (39) Winner: Penn St. Loser: Michigain Spread: 80 years of head coaching experience Winner:USC Loser: Notre Dame Spread: Having a defense, better former Pats coach Winner: Florida St. Loser: Virginia Spread: not playing dirty Winner: Georgetown Loser: Cornell Spread: 100 SAT points 2 for 8 - what a terrible weekend to pick games - I was only 8 seconds from going 4 for 8 - which is at least respectable.
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by SFHoya99 on Oct 17, 2005 17:40:12 GMT -5
I'm all for Bush as the #1 pick (esp. since he's bigger than people give him credit for), but could anyone see Leinart? Granted, he doesn't see much pass rush but he's got the size, athleticism, touch and arm, and he's got Carson Palmer as a reference.
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FormerHoya
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Post by FormerHoya on Oct 17, 2005 17:51:06 GMT -5
I'm all for Bush as the #1 pick (esp. since he's bigger than people give him credit for), but could anyone see Leinart? Granted, he doesn't see much pass rush but he's got the size, athleticism, touch and arm, and he's got Carson Palmer as a reference. Leinart's arm seemed a weak point, and although that last pass was absolutely perfect, I don't even think he was the best QB on the field on Saturday. Also, he seems, at times, to let the game come to him, but not in a good way, more like an Eddy Curry kinda way. Personally I think he played himself outta some money this year.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Oct 17, 2005 18:26:53 GMT -5
I'm all for Bush as the #1 pick (esp. since he's bigger than people give him credit for), but could anyone see Leinart? Granted, he doesn't see much pass rush but he's got the size, athleticism, touch and arm, and he's got Carson Palmer as a reference. Seems to me Heisman trophy voters usually take weird things into account. For example, if a team goes undefeated, that can give a good-but-not-spectacular QB like Jason White an edge. They will probably take into account the fact that Leinart won it last year and his stats probably won't be as good at the end of this season (33 TDs vs. 6 picks last season, 12 TDs vs. 5 picks halfway through this season). If a past winner regresses, even a little, I think voters start looking elsewhere. Also, in USC's biggest nationally televised game of the year, with all the voters watching, it was apparent that Reggie Bush, not Leinart, was the best player on the field for the Trojans. Leinart's not out of the mix yet, but with Bush as probably the new frontrunner, it's going to be tough because it will be difficult for Leinart to win a game where Bush (and/or Lendale White) don't also shine.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Oct 17, 2005 18:27:26 GMT -5
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Oct 18, 2005 22:21:10 GMT -5
I fail to see the controversy - the human polls and the computers all agree over who the top 5 teams are.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Oct 20, 2005 22:40:40 GMT -5
I fail to see the controversy - the human polls and the computers all agree over who the top 5 teams are. Yeah, there's really not any real controversy, I was just seeing if I could foment some false discontent. Just watched the UMD-Va Tech game in College Park. Va Tech did everything they could to hand the Terps the upset, and Ralph's team just couldn't get it done on O. At least I can sleep easy knowing Texas isn't the only national title contender playing sloppy. Hokies coaches should have a lot to talk about before Va Tech bounces back, blows out BC in Blacksburg next Thursday.
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the_way
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
The Illest
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Post by the_way on Oct 21, 2005 7:55:43 GMT -5
I fail to see the controversy - the human polls and the computers all agree over who the top 5 teams are. Yeah, there's really not any real controversy, I was just seeing if I could foment some false discontent. Just watched the UMD-Va Tech game in College Park. Va Tech did everything they could to hand the Terps the upset, and Ralph's team just couldn't get it done on O. At least I can sleep easy knowing Texas isn't the only national title contender playing sloppy. Hokies coaches should have a lot to talk about before Va Tech bounces back, blows out BC in Blacksburg next Thursday. Ralph needs to ge on the ball with recruiting if Maryland is ever going to contend. The difference in talent in Maryland vs. VA Tech was quite obvious. The game should have been a blow out. What was Beamer thinking in this game. If VA Tech was playing a top 25 team, they would have lossed easliy with their poor play.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Oct 21, 2005 10:59:44 GMT -5
Don't think VA Tech is going to blow out Boston College at all--if Tom O'Brien were at a school with great recruiting advantages (CA, TX, FL) he'd be noticed for being among best coaches in country. He'll outcoach Beamer and his team will hang tough, they're smart and don't beat themselves, and if you hang with Tech, they get frustrated and BC is more then equipped to go into Blacksburg and win---now I don't know if they will, but Eagles are known for pulling upsets--have done so against ND, Tech, and on the road too.
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Oct 21, 2005 12:41:55 GMT -5
From the how times have changed department - when was the last time a college football team played back to back games on Thursday?
Thanks, ESPN! ;D
Of course, being out here on the left coast, I never get to watch those games anyway.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Oct 21, 2005 16:28:01 GMT -5
Quick picks for Week 8:
Iowa over Michigan Alabama over Tennessee Texas over Texas Tech LSU over Auburn
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TigerHoya
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Post by TigerHoya on Oct 21, 2005 18:30:13 GMT -5
From the how times have changed department - when was the last time a college football team played back to back games on Thursday? Thanks, ESPN! ;D Of course, being out here on the left coast, I never get to watch those games anyway. NC State played last week at home against Clemson and the weekend before at Georgia Tech.
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TBird41
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
"Roy! I Love All 7'2" of you Roy!"
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Post by TBird41 on Oct 24, 2005 13:37:16 GMT -5
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One
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Post by One on Oct 24, 2005 16:45:22 GMT -5
While Texas jumping USC in the latest BCS standings is an interesting topic to debate, I do not think these standings should cause any substantial controversy in the eyes of Trojans fans unless and until Va Tech, Georgia or somebody else leapfrogs them in polls so that USC drops to 3rd. Only then would they not be part of the BCS title game, and only then would they truly have something to complain about. Further, I do not forsee that happening provided they win each week. On the other hand, if an undefeated team or two is left out of the title game for the second year in a row, that would be a controversy. But let's see if that is the case come the end of the conference title games.
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nychoya3
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Post by nychoya3 on Oct 24, 2005 17:21:46 GMT -5
1 and 2 don't matter. It's 2 and 3 that will create a lot of controversy. As you say, if VaTech leapfrogs USC, all hell will break loose. I don't think that is likely to happen, but what do I know? Imagine USC working on their 3rd straight unbeaten season with a 30 something game win streak, and not playing in the Rose Bowl. That would seriously suck for everyone.
I really thought Oklahoma would bring it to the Trojans last year with AP and a Heisman winner at QB and NFL talent all over the defense. And they got absolutely owned. Thus, I will never again say anyone is better than this USC team until I see them beat with my own eyes. And their win (such as it was) at ND is a better win that any by Texas thus far. They proved themselves with that game.
On Wisconsin! Badgers figure to smack Illinois around next week to get to 8-1, and then they head to Happy Valley for a game that could decide the B-10. What a send off for Alvarez. I love the Badgers, but I never in a million years expected them to be sitting 7-1 (with there only loss to NW!) at this point.
Finally, how about the Big East? What a pathetic excuse for a conference. I remember last year when Syracuse had a chance at the BCS until the final week. Now Pittsburgh and RUTGERS are right there with WVU for that deeply undeserved bid. It would actually be pretty funny to see Rutgers go play Florida State or someone like that and just get destroyed. It would dramatize just how far the conference has fallen in football.
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Oct 24, 2005 20:07:33 GMT -5
It might be a bad thing for the Big East in general, but I have to admit I would love to see Rutgers win the conference. I wonder if they might be the last choice by the various bowl committees for appearance in a BCS bowl. Hmm, let's see...Rutgers or LSU, Rutgers or UCLA, Rutgers or Wisconsin, whatever. Could you imagine a worse draw for a major bowl?
It would be a great illustration of what a putrid football conference the Big East has become.
And how about a few kind words for Northwestern? Back to back to back over Wisconsin, Purdue and Michigan State is pretty darn good.
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Post by AustinHoya03 on Oct 25, 2005 14:39:09 GMT -5
Sometimes the computers get it wrong, and rank teams like Texas Tech in the top 10. But sometimes the computers do what the humans don't have the guts to do.
For example, 5-2 Auburn clocked in at #19 in the AP poll this week. The Tigers' five wins have come against Ball State, Western Kentucky, and SEC bottom-feeders Arkansas, Mississippi State, and South Carolina. They have lost to the two good/decent teams they have faced: Georgia Tech and LSU. Why should they be ranked above Northwestern, who has the same record and has reeled off three impressive Big Ten wins in a row? How can Tennessee, a .500 team whose only marquee win came when LSU practically threw the second half, still be ranked? Why are 5-1 LSU and Miami considered better teams than 7-0 UCLA? The real answer is that some programs unfairly get credit based on what they did last season, or seasons before, or how they were ranked the previous week, or on how tough their conference is perceived to be, etc. Austin American-Statesman columnist Kirk Bohls mentions this in a column today on why he voted for Texas over USC in this week's AP poll.
"And here's the real zinger: The Longhorns deserve to top the Trojans.
The leapfrog reinforces what 10 of us in the Associated Press poll claimed on Sunday when we placed Mack Brown's bunch ahead of Pete Carroll's.
After listing USC first on my ballot all season long, I finally felt I was giving the Trojans too much love for what they've done the last three seasons. The national rankings are not supposed to be a lifetime achievement award. USC should get no credit for Carson Palmer. Or O.J. Simpson, for that matter. The rankings are simply a barometer of what a team has done lately, and more recently Texas is better than USC.
Marginally and maybe only statistically, but better.
It's a hard thing to quantify. A Rose Bowl kickoff would be more resolute."
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Oct 25, 2005 16:16:16 GMT -5
I agree totally, Austin. And while I agree with the philosophy of Bohl's statement, it just ain't convincing coming from an Austin columnist.
The worst thing about the voters is required need to move a team down if it loses and only when it loses. Notre Dame losing on the last play to USC should have moved them UP, not down. And a loss in Week Ten shouldn't be worse than a loss in Week 3.
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