The Official 2011-2012 College Football Season Thread

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Well my Nebraska Cornhusker are ranked #10 in the first AP college football poll of the season. Not bad since we finished #20 last year. Should be a fun year in the Big 10 and (my absolutely rabid college football fan/University of Nebraska alum wife) Kim and I will be taking road trips to lots of games since they'll now be now closer to us.

Oklahoma is ranked #1 in the AP poll. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

With just weeks to go until the season begins, I'm really pumped. Now if they can just do away with the BCS and have true play-offs with winners from each conference competing then we'll extend the presently ridiculously short college football season and all have a blast.

This thread is open now for all comments regarding the 2011-2012 college football season...except for ones slamming Nebraska. (Just kidding. That would eliminate anyone from Florida, Colorado and Texas from posting.

[Firefly]

I hope Nebraska has a great season. I'm a big fan of theirs, but I haven't paid much attention to their off-season this year. It sounds like the good QB prospect signed a baseball contract. I hope Martinez does better. He fizzled after the injury last year. The whole end of last season was a bad memory.

[GeologyMule]

RADFORD UNIVERSITY HIGHLANDERS ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

---------

My university was a women's state teacher college from 1910 to 1979 when it became a co-ed university. We never had a football team so while I was there the joke was "Radford University Football: Undefeated since 1979".

About four years ago they started a club football team and apparently won a championship last year. So...watch out we are on a roll

[Vlcan]

Go Huskers!!!!!!!!!!

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

I hope Nebraska has a great season. I'm a big fan of theirs, but I haven't paid much attention to their off-season this year. It sounds like the good QB prospect signed a baseball contract. I hope Martinez does better. He fizzled after the injury last year. The whole end of last season was a bad memory.

Exact same for me. He seemed to have such promise early on. But injuries are a difficult part of the game...as are penalties.

[Firefly]

I was glad to see the Huskers win last night. They still look a little too shaky to me. I don't picture them winning the Big Ten title in their first year. The Iowa vs. Iowa State triple overtime game was pretty exciting as well.

[markatisu]

Iowa State beat Iowa in 3 OT yesterday, don't really care what happens the rest of the season because I had my National Championship game

Not to mention we sent Nebraska out of the Big 12 last year with a loss to us, that is always fun since it happens so rarely.

[Firefly]

Iowa State beat Iowa in 3 OT yesterday, don't really care what happens the rest of the season because I had my National Championship game

Not to mention we sent Nebraska out of the Big 12 last year with a loss to us, that is always fun since it happens so rarely.

Actually, Nebraska beat ISU last year.

sbnation.com:

For the second straight year, Iowa State hung a little too close for comfort to powerful Nebraska. This year, though, the Huskers pulled out a win.

Nebraska scored first in overtime, then thwarted an Iowa State two-point attempt with an interception, giving the Cornhuskers a 31-30 road win in Ames. Last year, the Cyclones staged a 9-7 upset in Lincoln.

Nebraska scored 17 straight points in the third quarter, then coughed up a 14-point fourth quarter lead. Neither team managed any points in the last ten minutes of regulation, however, forcing overtime between the Big 12 North leader and a team looking for a sixth win and bowl eligibility.

The Huskers relied on their running game with quarterback Taylor Martinez out, and Rex Burkhead and Roy Helu Jr. combined for 227 yards and three touchdowns. Austen Arnaud threw for 202 yards and three touchdowns in a losing effort.

You are falling into the Hawkeye fans' excuse No. 1 whenever they lose to the Cyclones.

[markatisu]

Actually, Nebraska beat ISU last year.

Yeah it was the year before, last year we defeated Texas for the 1st time

Nebraska can have the Big 10, they can pick on Minnesota, Indiana, and Illinois like they used to pick on Baylor, Iowa State and Kansas.

You are falling into the Hawkeye fans' excuse No. 1 whenever they lose to the Cyclones.

Yes I know this very well, I lived in Ames for 10 years and still live 10 miles outside it.

But in part its true, Cyclones fans are realistic. We understand there is never a National Championship or a Jan bowl game. The best we can hope for most of the time is a decent bowl game. I mean you are talking about a team that over the last few years has trouble against an FCS University of Northern Iowa.

We flirted with some success in the 2000's under Dan McCarney with Seneca Wallace (were we reached as high as #9 in the AP Poll), but in the end we are still Iowa State and NCAA Wrestling and Women's Basketball (and now Women's Volleyball) is the only collegiate sports we will ever get any respect in.

[Firefly]

The Cyclones are my second favorite team. I usually go to about one game a year of theirs. Now that they are in a different conference than the Huskers, they don't feel like rivals anymore. If the University of Texas weren't so jerky, I'd have wanted the Huskers to stay in the Big 12. With Oklahoma and Texas A&M exploring leaving, the Big 12 still doesn't seem very stable.

[markatisu]

With Oklahoma and Texas A&M exploring leaving, the Big 12 still doesn't seem very stable.

Nope, and it will suck if it dissolves because the Big 12 is MUCH more than just Football. Leaving that conference for a smaller one will just decimate so many other programs

Not to mention that the idea of super conferences are just a sham imho because until we get a true playoff system in college football its all a popularity contest and not an actual who is best and deserves to win the title.

I have never ever liked the fact that every other sport has a tournament except NCAA Football, they train these kids to be pros in the NFL and even the NFL has a tournament

[Tundra_Torque]

Go Buckeyes! Yesterday's win over Toledo was a close one.

[ksensor]

I have never ever liked the fact that every other sport has a tournament except NCAA Football, they train these kids to be pros in the NFL and even the NFL has a tournament

Oh, but NCAA football DOES have a playoff. For Division I-AA, II and III schools. But the NCAA and university presidents have been convinced that - for some reason - they couldn't make a playoff for I-A football work. Gotta keep giving millions to those Bowl Organizers, you know?

And, yes, I know they want us to call them FCS/FBS. I refuse.

[markatisu]

Oh, but NCAA football DOES have a playoff. For Division I-AA, II and III schools. But the NCAA and university presidents have been convinced that - for some reason - they couldn't make a playoff for I-A football work. Gotta keep giving millions to those Bowl Organizers, you know?

And, yes, I know they want us to call them FCS/FBS. I refuse.

Yeah that fact makes it even more stupid that we still have a bowl system in the top tier to decide the national champion

God forbid a team from one of 4 conferences (because lets face it the national champion usually comes from the Big 12, SEC, Pac 10, or Big 10) not get the chance to win the national title again

I think that is why I enjoy teams like Boise State or TCU, when they crash the party and ESPN has no choice but to talk smack about them and delegitimize their programs because they are not part of the accepted crowd.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

I was starting to worry there weren't many college football fans on the board. I'm pleased to see I was wrong.

It was a great weekend for football. My heart goes out to Notre Dame, which is just forty-five minutes from my front door, Hopes were so high for Notre Dame this year and now it's pretty much over.

On a brighter note, I'm pleased the Huskers pulled off win #2, but I gotta tell ya Kim and I had a nervous two and a half quarters sitting at the bar in Buffalo Wild Wings on Saturday night. We're not used to see them going into the locker room at halftime trailing a team like Fresno. And the score was not reflective of the win. The game was much closer than the score says.

Pros: I think Martinez is a top QB -- he can run, pass, you name it. I love the new no huddle strategy. It's got opposing teams scrambling. And keep your eyes on Ameer Abdullah. He keeps this up he's going to be in Heisman contention. The Blackshirts defense is strong and reminds me of the 90's glory days.

Cons: Lots of them. They seem stilted and stiff, running into each other on a lot of plays. I don't like seeing busted coverage. (You can't have that happen against a team like Wisconsin.) They've got a lot of kinks to work out. Saturday's going to be an interesting test against a Washington team that's always been tough for Nebraska.

Assessment: I'll go out on a limb and call them the hands-down winner for the Big Ten. They'll finish in the top ten...maybe the top five. And if Martinez stays health, Abdullah continues the way he has and everything clicks, well who knows? (No, I'm not going to say it... Alabama jsut looks unstoppable; jelled since the first snap of the season.)

Go Big Red.

On another note, how about the collapse of the Big Twelve? With Nebraska and Colorado gone, Texas A&M and OU leaving and Oklahoma State apparently not far behind, it's gonna end up being the Little Six. The conference is imploding. Sad because a lot of great games and rivalries came from it over the years.

[markatisu]

On another note, how about the collapse of the Big Twelve? With Nebraska and Colorado gone, Texas A&M and OU leaving Oklahoma State not far behind, it's gonna end up being the Little Six. The conference is imploding. Sad because a lot of great games and rivalries came from it over the years.

Colorado and A&M are not a loss if we are being truthful

Nebraska is going to have an interesting time, I wish them the best even though I hate them as a team...have even when I lived in MD

The Big 10 is a completely different league then the B12 so it will be interesting to see how they adapt.

Its OU's departure that will kill it, I am not sure why they would want to leave though because anyplace they move to makes them less of a giant. National Championship and big Bowl games have not been as kind to them in recent years as they once were.

It just sucks that the conference is going to be destroyed over football, especially for NCAA Mens and Womens Basketball where a college like Kansas or Baylor lives and breathes financially.

And ultimately for what, none of the Big 12 teams fit really in any other conference. They make up the Midwest for a reason.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Colorado and A&M are not a loss if we are being truthful

Nebraska is going to have an interesting time, I wish them the best even though I hate them as a team...have even when I lived in MD

The Big 10 is a completely different league then the B12 so it will be interesting to see how they adapt.

Its OU's departure that will kill it, I am not sure why they would want to leave though because anyplace they move to makes them less of a giant. National Championship and big Bowl games have not been as kind to them in recent years as they once were.

It just sucks that the conference is going to be destroyed over football, especially for NCAA Mens and Womens Basketball where a college like Kansas or Baylor lives and breathes financially.

And ultimately for what, none of the Big 12 teams fit really in any other conference. They make up the Midwest for a reason.

'Hate'? Hate, Mark?! (Nice that you wish them the best, though.) Gosh hate's a pretty strong word for a franchise that has some of the greatest and most respectful fans in the NCAA. Whenever Kim and I are in Lincolm for a game, when we go to the bars they always play the opposing team's fight song and every single Nebraska fan in the bar stands in respect. I'd like to see that happen for Nebraksa anywhere in Florida. Before gametime when we opened a can of wup-ass on the Canes in the Orange Bowl, the Florida fans had corncobs dangling nooses and kept asking us how our pet cows were. After the game I told them they needed 'canes' to hobble out of the stadium.

[markatisu]

'Hate'? Hate, Mark?! (Nice that you wish them the best, though.) Gosh hate's a pretty strong word for a franchise that has some of the greatest and most respectful fans in the NCAA. Whenever Kim and I are in Lincolm for a game, when we go to the bars they always play the opposing team's fight song and every single Nebraska fan in the bar stands in respect.

My wife grew up about 30min from Nebraska and we visit her parents often, lets just say I have seen my fair share of Cornhusker fans who were not so gracious

I know part of my recent feelings towards them was the reactions when Iowa State actually beat them in 02/04/09 or came close in 05/10 (of course all this has happened pretty much only in the 2000's lol) and the fans seeming to invent every excuse in the book except the one that includes on that day they got outplayed by someone they viewed as a nobody.

But like I said I wish them the best, let them beat the Hawkeyes and the rest of the Big 10...I will be rooting for that

I told my wife the only thing on earth that could make me a Husker fan happened, that was when they became in league rivals to the Hawkeyes!

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

My wife grew up about 30min from Nebraska and we visit her parents often, lets just say I have seen my fair share of Cornhusker fans who were not so gracious

I know part of my recent feelings towards them was the reactions when Iowa State actually beat them in 02/04/09 or came close in 05/10 (of course all this has happened pretty much only in the 2000's lol) and the fans seeming to invent every excuse in the book except the one that includes on that day they got outplayed by someone they viewed as a nobody.

But like I said I wish them the best, let them beat the Hawkeyes and the rest of the Big 10...I will be rooting for that

I told my wife the only thing on earth that could make me a Husker fan happened, that was when they became in league rivals to the Hawkeyes!

Please don't judge all Husker fans by the idiotic actions of a few. There are bad people in every group -- sports fans, politicians, people in general. Overall we're a pretty fair-minded group and dedicated to the principles of college sports.

And, by the way, anyone who regards Iowa State and it's fine program as a "nobody" doesn't know squat about football.

[Southzen]

My wife and I have seasons ticket to two schools, have had them for 10 years: LSU and McNeese State (we've left LSU day games, I hate LSU day games mostly because we have a crudy record at home during the day, and drove to watch McNeese State in the evening)

Even in the 1AA division, there has been controversy around bad calls and teams getting in that didn't deserve it. Regardless, there will always be contreversy.

I see the move by the SEC to grab more teams to basically build their own internal play off system within the organization. Not that it already some what doesn't exist within the SEC. I wouldn't mind seeing the SEC develop into a 24 team four division conference with a semi-play off to decide the conference champion. I am sure other conferences and teams cringe at that thought because I would have no doubt a contender from the SEC would almost always be in the title game. Though, I'm sure many are grumbling about the SEC's grab at Texas A&M. I think the ACC is trying to make moves to prevent Clemson jumping back into the SEC and other 'power house' teams like FSU jumping into the pool too.

I'm interested to see what happens with the rest of the Big 12, or what is left of it, it seems like it is being snacked on by all the surrounding conferences. It still makes almost no sense to me for Texas to go to the Pac 12, but I am sure it will. I think OU & OSU will in the end join the Big 10. That is IF the Big 12 continues to fall apart. Conferences are forever changing trying to lure schools they think will bulster their luster.

As much as I would like to see a playoff system in place, to see the tradition of the bowls go away would be sad. I don't understand why they don't make a semi-play off with four major bowls, Rose, Sugar, Orange, etc As for schools like Boise, I have respenct for them, I really do, however, I have my doubts that those schools would have the end of the year records they cary if they had to go against teams like Tenn, Bama, Florida, Texas, USC, Michigan, VaTech and so forth every weekend. Sure they win a big one here and there, and that is about they only big one they play besides the bowl game. And lets face it, beating Bob Stoops & OU in a bowl game is kind of cliche these days.


BTW, who would be down for a "You pick'em" thread each week for the top 25 teams playing. At the end of the bowl season, tally up the points just for fun?

[markatisu]

As for schools like Boise, I have respenct for them, I really do, however, I have my doubts that those schools would have the end of the year records they cary if they had to go against teams like Tenn, Bama, Florida, Texas, USC, Michigan, VaTech and so forth every weekend. Sure they win a big one here and there, and that is about they only big one they play besides the bowl game. And lets face it, beating Bob Stoops & OU in a bowl game is kind of cliche these days.

The point of contention is that when say Boise State gets the chance to take on a high caliber team they beat them. They have been slowly adding bigger named teams to try to shake this up, they did defeat Georgia this year already.

Its not their fault the "big boys" opt not to schedule them in.

Its an easy straw man argument to say they might not have the record or they don't have the talent when you refuse to accept the challenge.

Also what you just said could be used for 99.9% of all college football teams.

But even if they lose then so what? You honestly think 3/4 of college footballs upper elite would be as good as they are if they played the lowest ranked teams? Allowing them to compete is only going to make them better, that is the issue because most conferences refuse to compete with them.

The Boise State vs TCU Bowl game from 2 or so years ago was the biggest piece of **** copout by all of college football and every highly paid coach and team knows it. This was the BCS chance to say they did not belong but like chickens they just pitted them against each other to avoid possible embarrassment (like the kind Alabama saw when Utah soundly defeated them in the Sugar Bowl).

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

Oh, but NCAA football DOES have a playoff. For Division I-AA, II and III schools. But the NCAA and university presidents have been convinced that - for some reason - they couldn't make a playoff for I-A football work. Gotta keep giving millions to those Bowl Organizers, you know?

And, yes, I know they want us to call them FCS/FBS. I refuse.

I'm 100% for a playoff for a variety of reasons. First, in fairness, any team in any conference should have a shot at the championship. what the heck ever happened to our Rocky Balboa-a-kid-from-outta-nowhere-with-a-chance-to-win-it-all spirit?! If Peoria College (is there a Peoria College?) is good enough to be the last team standing, then they deserve it.

Second, I'll do anything to extend the ridiculously short college football season. I've barely gotten out my corduroy slacks and flannel shirts and it's all over!

As for the bowl games, I think it could be re-structured in an interesting way to have quarterfinals and semifinals and the finals becoming rhe bowl games, with the respective square-offs' venues chnging each season. Imo, it would shake up the whole system, excite the fans and create huge revenues for all involved.

And btw, Go Big Red!

[markatisu]

I'm 100% for a playoff for a variety of reasons. First, in fairness, any team in any conference should have a shot at the championship. what the heck ever happened to our Rocky Balboa-a-kid-from-outta-nowhere-with-a-chance-to-win-it-all spirit?! If Peoria College (is there a Peoria College?) is good enough to be the last team standing, then they deserve it.

Second, I'll do anything to extend the ridiculously short college football season. I've barely gotten out my corduroy slacks and flannel shirts and it's all over!

As for the bowl games, I think it could be re-structured in an interesting way to have quarterfinals and semifinals and the finals becoming rhe bowl games, with the respective square-offs' venues chnging each season. Imo, it would shake up the whole system, excite the fans and create huge revenues for all involved.

And btw, Go Big Red!

Exactly I never understood the argument that bowl games negate a playoff system. Each major bowl trades off who hosts the National Title game so why can't they do the same but just schedule the final two in the tournament the same way.

People are still going to pay to see College Football, the notion that people will stop going to Bowl Games if there is a playoff system is ludicrous.

[Southzen]

Its an easy straw man argument to say they might not have the record or they don't have the talent when you refuse to accept the challenge.

Ah, but LSU has not turned away any opponent. Even when everyone was afraid of Fresno State, LSU took them on; a few seasons ago LSU scheduled West Virginia before Rich Rod bailed out when other schools were shying away. Same could be said for App St, and so on. When Utah beat Bama, Bama was just coming off of getting their rears slapped around by poor coaching, management, sanctions, player issues, etc. Utah beat a Georgia team that has difficulty finding itself for the most part in the beginning of each season and for the last couple of years in the weaker, though some will argue, part of the conference. IMO Georgia and Tenn are sad reminders of what poor management of a star truly dominant program can do to itself. Do you really want to tell me Boise State who is now getting busted for NCAA violations

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/st...ship-reduction

would stand to win out with only one or two loses after playing a schedule that includes not ONE but TWO Top 25 teams that aren't even conference opponents in the regular season in a bruiser conference like the Pac 12 or SEC. I know I sound like a typical big school, big conference snob, but keep in mind, I am known to stay up watching even insignificant very un-ranked teams like Hawaii at 1am. I love the sport; I'm considering going up to watch Nebraska with a friend for his first big school game just to go (he is a Husker fan that lives in Indy). I'm not saying Boise St isn't a capable team of beating a larger power house school from time to time, any team is capable of catching another looking the other way, which is usually the case when it happens. What I am saying is that if Boise had a schedule FULL of schools that are potential power house teams along with teams KNOWN to through curve balls also thrown in, I don't think they would shine as brightly. If Boise St was so great, how come they weren't chomping at the bit to join the Pac 10 when it was looking for teams? Is it because they knew they would have a much more difficult time having a higher win loss ratio to get that non-BCS bid? Having one or two tough opponents to focus on for the whole year is much easier to do than preparing for a tough and potentially dangerous opponent almost every week, yes LSU takes a small school on from in state, it is an agreement with the university systems in the state to help the smaller schools raise money and give them exposure and so forth. That question of: If Boise State is so great, "why didn't they join up to a larger much more difficult conference when the opportunity came calling?" will always remain until they do so. Until that happens, I just can't and won't give them full credit. Maybe I will be proven wrong, and by so miracle, they will get into the title game against what I am willing to be will be LSU or Bama, but I'm doubtful. I could hear a school like USC or Michigan winning 9 games screaming like a mad man if that were to happen; then we would end up with some silly slip championship AGAIN.

[markatisu]

AI know I sound like a typical big school, big conference snob, but keep in mind, I am known to stay up watching even insignificant very un-ranked teams like Hawaii at 1am.

I don't want to offend you but yes everything you posted comes across as big school big conference snobbery. I live in Big 10 and Big 12 country, I hear it everyday. Its all *********.

My question is simple, if the Boise States and the TCU's are so worthless or unproven then schedule them and let the matter be settled on the field. Its not hard to understand and its not hard to do. Those schools would schedule the games because it means a high payout for them and a chance to prove itself, its the big conferences and the bigger schools that turn tail and run.

You can come up with 1 million excuses as to why people beat who they beat. The fact at the end of the day is those victorious still happen, it just makes college football fans sound ignorant to invent reasons why big teams lose.

What I am saying is that if Boise had a schedule FULL of schools that are potential power house teams along with teams KNOWN to through curve balls also thrown in, I don't think they would shine as brightly.

Perhaps not but until you give them a chance you can't legitimately make that claim.

If Boise St was so great, how come they weren't chomping at the bit to join the Pac 10 when it was looking for teams?

I would refuse to join the Pac 10 if I were any team, that league stinks for the most part. Take USC and the Oregons (of which the Oregon Ducks are about the most half assed can't live up to their potential team in NCAA) out of the situation and you have a sometimes up sometimes down Cal and Standford

Boise State would be better regional and power fit in a revamped Big 12 (their style of play) along with Utah and maybe Houston.