NCAA Football Random Thoughts

[Bear Pand]

I don't even understand what the problem is with the whole Wrigley situation. The Bears played football games there at one point. Maybe the playing field has gotten larger or something.

 

[packersfan4eva]

So...

Only one endzone is going to be used in the NW-Illini game because of safety concerns, and IU plays a home game against Penn State @ the Redskins' stadium. LOL at IU being so pathetic they sell away conference home games and play at "neutral" sites right in the other team's territory.

Solid weekend for the Big Ten coming up.

Well, we're gonna lose anyway, so why not make some extra money?

 

[Rayman]

I don't even understand what the problem is with the whole Wrigley situation. The Bears played football games there at one point. Maybe the playing field has gotten larger or something.

Weren't the posts on the goal line back then?

Edit: Looks like it ran North to South instead of East to West.

Also,

The football field ran north-to-south, i.e. from left field to the foul side of first base. The remodeling of the bleachers made for a very tight fit for the gridiron. In fact, the corner of the south end zone was literally in the visiting baseball team's dugout, which was filled with pads for safety, and required a special ground rule that sliced off that corner of the end zone. One corner of the north end line ran just inches short of the left field wall. There is a legend that Bronko Nagurski, the great Bears fullback, steamrolled through the line, head down, and ran all the way through that end zone, smacking his leather-helmeted head on the bricks. He went back to the bench and told Coach "Papa Bear" George Halas, "That last guy gave me quite a lick!" That kind of incident prompted the Bears to hang some padding in front of the wall.

 

[padman59]

Weren't the posts on the goal line back then?

Edit: Looks like it ran North to South instead of East to West.

Also,

Well, I'm not sure about the changes in field dimension, but you have to consider the offenses they ran back in 1938. I doubt they were running fades and other routes that could take the receiver out of the back of the endzone. I'd imagine the college football landscape was more of a rushing oriented attack then.

 

[Sportsbuck]

Paraphrased transcript of Tressel's half-time speech against PSU....

JT/SweaterVest Halftime speech vs. PSU on 11/13/2010
Sharing this with the MGoBlog community to give insight on what changed last Saturday's game between PSU and tOSU last weekend.

Having spoken to a number of people who were present during the halftime speech of the PSU game, I have a really good feel for how things went down. JT used language that is NOT JT LIKE and he called some people out in front of the team....definately NOT something he does. I am going to do my very best to outline what happened at halftime, but posting about it does not do it any justice....you'd really have to hear it from those that were there:

Once the team got into the locker, he politely asked all recruits to step outside for a few minutes. He asked a student assistant to get a cup of water. The assistant comes back 30 seconds later with Gatorade. JT flipped and screamed: "I've got a room full of football players that are not doing much right, dont tell me I have student assistants not doing things right...GET ME A GLASS OF WATER NOW." Student assistant comes back 10 seconds later with a cup of water and a face more red than a stop sign. More on that later.

JT asked the captains to walk to the center of the room and face a mirror (the locker room is full of mirrors). Once the captains were standing and facing a mirror, he asked them if the coaching staff did a good enough job preparing the team last week for the game. "Captains, if we failed as a coaching staff, I want to know right here, right now. C'mon...tell me. We have 20 minutes to get things fixed, but I need to know." Silence. "OK, silence is consent. So now I ask you this: look in the mirror and tell me what you see." Silence. "OK, maybe I did not make myself clear...that was a QUESTION that requires an ANSWER." Still silence....finally, Cam said, "coach, I see a guy that is not playing his best football." JT shot back, "Its November, Cam....its God d*** November! This isnt the God d*** spring game...ITS NOVEMBER and we are playing at home with the Big Ten Championship in our hands! Hey B-Rolle, what do you see?" Rolle: Coach, we are not doing a good enough job of leading this fooball team right now and I accept full responsibility, sir." JT: "B-Rolle, how many Big Ten Championships have you won and how many of those were handed to you?" I've won 3 and none of them were handed to me, sir." JT: "NONE....NOT A GOD D*** ONE OF THEM. Captains, please sit down with the rest of your teammates."

Next, JT went on about a 7-8 minute tirade...here are some of the highlights:

"This is NOT Ohio State football right now...this looks like a rag tag operation that's looking to skate by because of what they've done in season's past. 2008 and 2009 are not going to help you in 2010."
"ESPN is not here because of you, they are here because of HIM (Paterno)."
"That team is not on the same level as you, but they are good enough to take the game unless something is done about it."
"We spent all week with brave men & women that have served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice...they are here today as guests and we honor their service with a horse (bleep) performace like that?"
"We are not losing this game. Absolutely not. Every single time we lose tothat team, t-shirts are made. Not here, not today."
"If you play for 30 minutes, we will coach for 30 minutes and we will not let up until the clock reads zero."

At the conlusion of his speech, he looks at the captains sitting in the front and says, "thanks, guys...now I have to go to church twice tomorrow."

After the game in the locker room, JT called the student assistant to the middle of the room in front of the team and apologized to her and presented her with the game ball

 

[KillaK]

I love watching a UNC game and hearing them talk about Bruce Carter, I went to high school with that dude.

 

[Maize]

So after today, as upset as the game made me, it was under the spread I had in my head. If Michigan kept it within 25, I was happy. Moral victory. Really hoping we can find a way to go nab Dick Bumpas away from TCU. RichRod is staying, unless David Brandon has already made a decision otherwise.

 

[Bear Pand]

I hate being a fan of Purdue football.

The Athletic Department is content with being mediocre.

Our coach is a joke who doesn't understand clock or game management. Purdue loses so many timeouts, and gets so many penalties because of this it's ridiculous. Not to mention the losses.

The fanbase as a whole doesn't care and loves counting moral victories.

This program is never going to compete for anything.

 

[Sportsbuck]

Just when Terrelle Pryor was actually doing well, he fucks it up with that INT.

Looking on the bright side though, we played awful and we're only down 4.

 

[NAHSTE]

Gotta admit, this game at Wrigley is pretty cool.

...

LSU is playing great on both sides of the ball, but somehow Ole Miss is still hanging around. Giving up a few too many big plays on defense, but overall we're shutting them down.

 

[Sportsbuck]

Uhh... we played awful today. Pryor looked good at times but just awful on those 2 pick's, can't believe Posey dropped a wide open touchdown pass on the prettiest, and most clutch play Pryor has ever made.

10-1 (6-1)... one more win and we're co-Big Ten Champs for a 6th straight year,and probably BCS bound. That's all I care about at this point.

 

[Maize]

Uhh... we played awful today. Pryor looked good at times but just awful on those 2 pick's, can't believe Posey dropped a wide open touchdown pass on the prettiest, and most clutch play Pryor has ever made.

10-1 (6-1)... one more win and we're co-Big Ten Champs for a 6th straight year,and probably BCS bound. That's all I care about at this point.

Any chance Michigan makes it close next week? I'm thinking...

Ohio State - 35
Michigan - 24

 

[Sportsbuck]

Any chance Michigan makes it close next week? I'm thinking...

Ohio State - 35
Michigan - 24

As of right now I really don't see it. This defense of ours excels in shutting down spread attacks, and we've got an opportunistic secondary that will make Denard think twice.

And point blank I don't see Michigan being able to stop our offense. I'm expecting a blowout to be honest, unless Denard goes off or Pryor has a nuclear level meltdown.

My early call is probably:
Ohio State: 42
Michigan: 14 or 21

 

[Fox1994]

I don't think .500 should be bowl eligible. And I think Notre Lame should keep those sexy green jerseys.

Also, all three of my teams lost this week. My high school lost to Bishop Gorman in the region semi-final, the Trojans got killed last night, and Oakland got killed this morning/afternoon. =P

 

[packersfan4eva]

I don't think .500 should be bowl eligible. And I think Notre Lame should keep those sexy green jerseys.

Also, all three of my teams lost this week. My high school lost to Bishop Gorman in the region semi-final, the Trojans got killed last night, and Oakland got killed this morning/afternoon. =P

This.

There are too many bowl games out there. A 6-6 Big 10 team should not be playing in the post-season. That's like an 18-13 college basketball team going to a post-season tournament. It should not happen.

 

[CCBrink]

NC State is back in the rankings once again. We have had bad luck with being ranked this season. Losing both times the week we entered the rankings. Can't happen this week with a chance at the ACC Championship on the line.

 

[Sportsbuck]

I'm starting to get very concerned that Andrew Luck and other top prospects are going to stay in school if a new CBA isn't reached soon, and that my Panthers will unfortunately be stuck with the #1 pick what could possibly be a horrible draft.

 

[Goober]

I'm starting to get very concerned that Andrew Luck and other top prospects are going to stay in school if a new CBA isn't reached soon, and that my Panthers will unfortunately be stuck with the #1 pick what could possibly be a horrible draft.

I'm torn on whether or not I want JJ Watt to enter the draft. I don't think he will.

 

[Sportsbuck]

Rumor is that RichRod is gone after The Game no matter the result.

 

[NAHSTE]

Rumor is that RichRod is gone after The Game no matter the result.

Really? I thought he had bought himself another year with the moderate improvement. Too bad WVU wouldn't have him back.