2012 College Football

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Mike Bulgakov

I am somewhat fascinated by the level of passion for college football in the SEC, Texas, and Florida. ESPN showed a documentary about SMU football, the payments to players, and the obsession for college football in Texas, which amazed me.

My rival was Stanford, but it was all for fun with no real animosity. In the San Francisco Bay Area, college football is generally not taken very seriously.

Football is a religion in the South.

[Power Player]

I was always a college football fan as a kid, but I never felt that white hot intensity of a huge victory or crushing defeat until attending FSU, sitting at a game for a kickoff as a freshman and realizing that this was my school now.

I used to root for multiple teams and just watch the games, and after that it became a little different.

Still im not a hardcore maniac fan...in a way college football has slowly turned me off with the greed, the crazy fans who do not attend the colleges and are just obnoxious to people, and how obvious it is that $$$ = titles now.

FSU is having a very strong season so far and I love the team. I just have lost a lot of respect for the game over the years due to how it is run.

[norbac]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I was always a college football fan as a kid, but I never felt that white hot intensity of a huge victory or crushing defeat until attending FSU, sitting at a game for a kickoff as a freshman and realizing that this was my school now.

I used to root for multiple teams and just watch the games, and after that it became a little different.

Still im not a hardcore maniac fan...in a way college football has slowly turned me off with the greed, the crazy fans who do not attend the colleges and are just obnoxious to people, and how obvious it is that $$$ = titles now.

FSU is having a very strong season so far and I love the team. I just have lost a lot of respect for the game over the years due to how it is run.

There is definitely a stronger connection for me with the Penn State football team than with any other team I root for. College football in general to me is more appealing than its professional counterpart. In my opinion, there is more passion from the players and the fans are much more into it than the NFl, creating a better atmosphere.

[BigServer1]

Originally Posted by norbac

There is definitely a stronger connection for me with the Penn State football team than with any other team I root for. College football in general to me is more appealing than its professional counterpart. In my opinion, there is more passion from the players and the fans are much more into it than the NFl, creating a better atmosphere.

Couldn't agree more.

I challenge anyone to go to an NFL game, even a team like the Packers, and then go to a game at Alabama, LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon or any other top tier program. There's simply no comparison. The noise, passion, fan interactions are all at another level. I feel the same way about college players. They just seem to want it more.

[tricky]

College football is to the South and *******, what Association Football is to the rest of the world. When you're attending a game in the Horseshoe, the Swamp, Happy Valley, Death Valley, etc. the vibe is absolutely incredible. You have both the national awareness and a communal sense of local pride. While you have that with some professional sports, note that the passion of those teams always get compared to college football teams, not the other way around.

Texas' passion extends down to the high school level in a manner that dwarfs even supposed hotbeds like Florida and SoCal.

Yeah, Texas really is on another level. It's a supply chain for not only the Big-12, but the entire country in every single position (not just the flashier speed ones.) Florida has a similar system, but the net isn't as wide or thorough.

And there's tiers to college football rivalry . . .

Like Bulkagov, I went to Cal, but I didn't grow up with a big passion for the football team (Tom Holmoe era.) I have relatives that went to both Cal and Stanford, so the rivalry is fun for the extended family. I'm annoyed the game was in October, but it kinda comes and goes for me.

On the other hand, I'm a 3rd tier Buckeye fan, and I grew up on Buckeye football since I was a kid. I have Wolverine coworkers, and we talk trash all season up to the big game. It's the one game that salvages a bad season, and it's also the game that makes a undefeated season meaningless to me.

[norbac]

Originally Posted by BigServer1

Couldn't agree more.

I challenge anyone to go to an NFL game, even a team like the Packers, and then go to a game at Alabama, LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon or any other top tier program. There's simply no comparison. The noise, passion, fan interactions are all at another level. I feel the same way about college players. They just seem to want it more.

No better way to spend a Saturday for me than tailgating before heading in to Beaver Stadium.

Originally Posted by tricky

College football is to the South and *******, what Association Football is to the rest of the world. When you're attending a game in the Horseshoe, the Swamp, Happy Valley, Death Valley, etc. the vibe is absolutely incredible. You have both the national awareness and a communal sense of local pride. While you have that with some professional sports, note that the passion of those teams always get compared to college football teams, not the other way around.

Yeah, Texas really is on another level. It's a supply chain for not only the Big-12, but the entire country in every single position (not just the flashier speed ones.) Florida has a similar system, but the net isn't as wide or thorough.

And there's tiers to college football rivalry . . .

Like Bulkagov, I went to Cal, but I didn't grow up with a big passion for the football team (Tom Holmoe era.) I have relatives that went to both Cal and Stanford, so the rivalry is fun for the extended family. I'm annoyed the game was in October, but it kinda comes and goes for me.

On the other hand, I'm a 3rd tier Buckeye fan, and I grew up on Buckeye football since I was a kid. I have Wolverine coworkers, and we talk trash all season up to the big game. It's the one game that salvages a bad season, and it's also the game that makes a undefeated season meaningless to me.

Yup, that sums it up perfectly for me.

[BigServer1]

Kevin...Ouch man.

Do you think Beamer will be around much longer? He's definitely old.

[Kevin T]

Originally Posted by BigServer1

Kevin...Ouch man.

Do you think Beamer will be around much longer? He's definitely old.

Horrible game from Tech with the kicker being special teams really let them down. This game was textbook 'how to absolutely control time of possession and still lose". You know I've been saying for years now that I have nothing but absolute respect for the man but he's not adapting. The modern college game is really passing him. Some coaches get through this by hiring up and coming O and D coordinators but Beamer hasn't even done that. You can probably look up my comments from the Stanford bowl beat down a couple of years ago (Harbaugh's last game) and my opinion hasn't changed...Beamer always gets outcoached and outschemed by the top coaches. Va Tech gets the players. They just aren't utilized properly.

[Power Player]

If we dont go up to Hokieland and absolutely lay out Va Tech, I will be disappointed. We need this game. I still take it very seriously even though VT is having a letdown season.

[BigServer1]

Originally Posted by Kevin T

Horrible game from Tech with the kicker being special teams really let them down. This game was textbook 'how to absolutely control time of possession and still lose". You know I've been saying for years now that I have nothing but absolute respect for the man but he's not adapting. The modern college game is really passing him. Some coaches get through this by hiring up and coming O and D coordinators but Beamer hasn't even done that. You can probably look up my comments from the Stanford bowl beat down a couple of years ago (Harbaugh's last game) and my opinion hasn't changed...Beamer always gets outcoached and outschemed by the top coaches. Va Tech gets the players. They just aren't utilized properly.

Beamer seems to have a really hard time managing his talent and getting the most out of them. It's always staggering to me when you see teams that consistently get 2-4 star recruits win a ton of games, and you've got historic, blue chip programs that can't win with 4-5 star talent. Seems to be that it comes down to coaching, and players buying in to the program. Neither seems to be happening at VaTech.

[mikeler]

The thing I noticed in the Clemson-VT game this year was that VT certainly had a chance to win that game but made so many mistakes including special teams which was always their forte.

[chrischris]

Yes they missed out big time in that game . I cant see why but all systems failed. VT arent on their game basically.

[Kevin T]

Originally Posted by BigServer1

Beamer seems to have a really hard time managing his talent and getting the most out of them. It's always staggering to me when you see teams that consistently get 2-4 star recruits win a ton of games, and you've got historic, blue chip programs that can't win with 4-5 star talent. Seems to be that it comes down to coaching, and players buying in to the program. Neither seems to be happening at VaTech.

Absolutely. The word from my UVA friends is that their new staff is really making in-roads/developing relationships with the Tidewater/Hampton Roads area/high school coaches. Tech has really dominated recruiting in this area (where most of the big dogs in VA come from-Vick, Curry, Iverson, Mike Tomlin of the Steelers) over the last 15 years but that wasn't always the case. They really need to bring in fresh blood, at the very least a crew of young, energetic, highly regarded coordinators. Tech has always won with solid D and special teams, even during the brief Vick era. They are never going to blow you out offensively. That's how the kids want to play these days and recruits will start (already are) looking to the "sexier" programs.

[BigServer1]

Originally Posted by Kevin T

Absolutely. The word from my UVA friends is that their new staff is really making in-roads/developing relationships with the Tidewater/Hampton Roads area/high school coaches. Tech has really dominated recruiting in this area (where most of the big dogs in VA come from-Vick, Curry, Iverson, Mike Tomlin of the Steelers) over the last 15 years but that wasn't always the case. They really need to bring in fresh blood, at the very least a crew of young, energetic, highly regarded coordinators. Tech has always won with solid D and special teams, even during the brief Vick era. They are never going to blow you out offensively. That's how the kids want to play these days and recruits will start (already are) looking to the "sexier" programs.

This has been the biggest equalizer in CFB I think. Alabama, USC, Notre Dame, etc. will always get on the lists of top guys, but more and more players are flocking to higher speed, high profile offenses. Kids want to score, they want to get on sportscenter, and some 2000s power programs (Oregon especially) are taking advantage of that.

[Power Player]

VaTech with Vick was awesome. I loved watching it. It was fun playing them in the title because I felt they were the team that deserved to be in it with us.

suggs/stith/moore/vick..nasty. Just weak at DB and couldnt cover Warrick.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Power Player

VaTech with Vick was awesome. I loved watching it. It was fun playing them in the title because I felt they were the team that deserved to be in it with us.

suggs/stith/moore/vick..nasty. Just weak at DB and couldnt cover Warrick.

That was an entertaining national title game except for the fact that FSU won.

[Kevin T]

Originally Posted by Power Player

VaTech with Vick was awesome. I loved watching it. It was fun playing them in the title because I felt they were the team that deserved to be in it with us.

suggs/stith/moore/vick..nasty. Just weak at DB and couldnt cover Warrick.

Warrick was a great, great college football player and Weinke was solid. If I remember correctly, Tech was top 3 defensively and averaged > 250 yards rushing per game that season. FSU was money in the red zone. Another crazy stat from that Sugar Bowl is that FSU only ran for like 30 yards and Tech's total offensive yardage was way higher but they still lost by 17. Great game. I had just moved to start my PhD program the weekend before that game. It was awesome just to see Tech reach that level.

[Kevin T]

Originally Posted by BigServer1

This has been the biggest equalizer in CFB I think. Alabama, USC, Notre Dame, etc. will always get on the lists of top guys, but more and more players are flocking to higher speed, high profile offenses. Kids want to score, they want to get on sportscenter, and some 2000s power programs (Oregon especially) are taking advantage of that.

Yep. Tedford has killed Cal and allowed Stanford, USC, Oregon and even Nevada and Boise St to get better California football talent. I once heard an interview with Tedford discussing the difficulties of recruiting at Cal-Berk. He said something to the effect of kids go to USC/UCLA and see the beach, tan bodies and glitz of LA, then come here and walk by 5 different protests, a Code Pink banner or two and some crazy hippie living in a tree.

Rich Rod has AZ looking good in less than a year. The Pac 12 has great schools/locations (for the most part) and high powered offenses. The SEC...well, it's the SEC and recruits are knocking on the door. If Nebraska can give up a generations-long mindset of run, run, option, option, run, run, run, then the Va Techs and Big 10 schools of the world can certainly shake things up.

[Kevin T]

Originally Posted by Power Player

VaTech with Vick was awesome. I loved watching it. It was fun playing them in the title because I felt they were the team that deserved to be in it with us.

suggs/stith/moore/vick..nasty. Just weak at DB and couldnt cover Warrick.

Absolutely. FSU scorched the secondary. Suggs was a beast. He made players look like they were trying to rope a bull or something. Thing is, VaTech has tried to bring in Vick 2.0 (Marcus Vick=bust, Tyrod Taylor, Logan Thomas) but he's a once in a blue moon type of talent. Maybe one guy per year with that type of talent and you don't get that guy every year. Logan Thomas has been a huge letdown this year. He was getting a lot of NFL buzz last season but his stock has crashed...poor mechanics and poor decisions.

[Power Player]

We have been looking for the next charlie ward forever..it will never happen. Those guys are just special players.