College Football 2017 (5 Viewers)

[lancer]

Army beat Duke and Navy somehow beat SMU. The Navy game was very frustrating to watch as Navy led 34-11 at the half but managed to win 43-40 only on a FG as time expired. Navy's defense is horrid. Plus, Navy survived one of the stupider plays I've ever seen called on the field. Navy had driven to the 4 or 5 yard line with only about a minute left. On 2nd down the O-line cleared a path for the Navy runner, who had a clear path to the end zone. He deliberately fell to the ground at the one, foregoing the TD in order to kill more clock, on orders from the sideline! It is now 3rd down, no time outs left, clock running. Navy gets stuffed on 3rd down, so now it's 4th and goal, 13 seconds left, clock running. An SMU injury stopped the clock long enough for Navy to get the placekicker on the field so that when the clock restarted, Navy kicks the game winning FG as time ran out. All neatly done, except that without the injury, Navy probably doesn't get that kick off and OT results. Navy almost outsmarted themselves by foregoing the sure TD with 30 seconds left. I still don't understand that call. To top off the luck for Navy, their FG kicker was a replacement for the regular kicker who was injured. The replacement kicker had already botched two extra points and he was supposed to kick the game winner? Stupid strategy, but it worked. Better to be lucky than good, but someone needs a swift kick in the butt for that series of calls. Really unlike Navy's head coach Ken Niumatalolo to make an error like that, but he got away with it. Whew! -- Al

 

[Panzer ace]

Army beat Duke and Navy somehow beat SMU. The Navy game was very frustrating to watch as Navy led 34-11 at the half but managed to win 43-40 only on a FG as time expired. Navy's defense is horrid. Plus, Navy survived one of the stupider plays I've ever seen called on the field. Navy had driven to the 4 or 5 yard line with only about a minute left. On 2nd down the O-line cleared a path for the Navy runner, who had a clear path to the end zone. He deliberately fell to the ground at the one, foregoing the TD in order to kill more clock, on orders from the sideline! It is now 3rd down, no time outs left, clock running. Navy gets stuffed on 3rd down, so now it's 4th and goal, 13 seconds left, clock running. An SMU injury stopped the clock long enough for Navy to get the placekicker on the field so that when the clock restarted, Navy kicks the game winning FG as time ran out. All neatly done, except that without the injury, Navy probably doesn't get that kick off and OT results. Navy almost outsmarted themselves by foregoing the sure TD with 30 seconds left. I still don't understand that call. To top off the luck for Navy, their FG kicker was a replacement for the regular kicker who was injured. The replacement kicker had already botched two extra points and he was supposed to kick the game winner? Stupid strategy, but it worked. Better to be lucky than good, but someone needs a swift kick in the butt for that series of calls. Really unlike Navy's head coach Ken Niumatalolo to make an error like that, but he got away with it. Whew! -- Al

Al:

While I make no secret that I feel that certain schools deserve more credit than others for succeeding in collegiate sports based on academics, none deserve more admiration than the service academies.

Not only are they limited in recruiting, but based on scholastics and training their practices during the week are incredibly short compared to any other schools.

Based on those limitations, it is amazing that Air Force, Army and Navy are competitive. They win on heart. I'll take that over winning on talent.

-Jason

 

[jazzeum]

What an embarrassing loss for ND. I'm sure there have been worse losses in their history but right now I'm hard pressed to think of them.

 

[Warrior]

What an embarrassing loss for ND. I'm sure there have been worse losses in their history but right now I'm hard pressed to think of them.

Them getting demolished in the national championship game several years ago as the Tao girlfriend story broke was pretty bad as well.

Looks like Alabama, Oklahoma, Clemson and Miami will be in the top 4 with Wisconsin still looming; Alabama still has their rivalry game at Auburn, Oklahoma still has the conference championship game vs either TCU or OSU, I think Clemson plays Miami in a conference championship game as well?

So there are still a lot of moving parts to this................

 

[jazzeum]

That’s true, the Championship game was worse. Perhaps they were overrated this year.

 

[Combat]

Alabama is playing someone called Mercer this weekend. ESPN gives Bama a 99.7% chance of winning. I assume there is a .3% chance that aliens will land and abduct the Bama team bus on the way to the game since that seems like the only way they could lose. This is a shameful game to play at this stage of the season. A team like Penn. St. played Michigan, Ohio St. and Mich St. in a row with the last two games on the road. Bama schedules cupcake games between their tough games and most SEC teams play a seven or eight game home schedule. Only occasionally will they play a ranked non-conference opponent and then it is usually on a neutral field. That gives them a huge advantage at this stage of the season. There should be a major penalty for this kind of nonsense in the rankings.

 

[Panzer ace]

Alabama is playing someone called Mercer this weekend. ESPN gives Bama a 99.7% chance of winning. I assume there is a .3% chance that aliens will land and abduct the Bama team bus on the way to the game since that seems like the only way they could lose. This is a shameful game to play at this stage of the season. A team like Penn. St. played Michigan, Ohio St. and Mich St. in a row with the last two games on the road. Bama schedules cupcake games between their tough games and most SEC teams play a seven or eight game home schedule. Only occasionally will they play a ranked non-conference opponent and then it is usually on a neutral field. That gives them a huge advantage at this stage of the season. There should be a major penalty for this kind of nonsense in the rankings.

It seems like a few teams in the SEC deploy this strategy. This week Auburn plays Louisiana-Monroe and South Carolina plays Wofford.

 

[Combat]

It seems like a few teams in the SEC deploy this strategy. This week Auburn plays Louisiana-Monroe and South Carolina plays Wofford.

My USC Trojans have NEVER played one of these FCS I-AA teams (or whatever they are called) in a hundred plus years of college football. I can understand that these smaller schools get a decent paycheck to take a beat down against the SEC but it would be like an NFL team playing a high school team during the playoff run. And having that count in the standings. I know the SEC fans claim they play the toughest conference schedule but even that is not true in recent years. Teams like TN, Arkansas, and several others have been down or even awful. They are top heavy with a couple of great teams and a lot of bad teams.

 

[lancer]

Alabama is playing someone called Mercer this weekend. ESPN gives Bama a 99.7% chance of winning. I assume there is a .3% chance that aliens will land and abduct the Bama team bus on the way to the game since that seems like the only way they could lose. This is a shameful game to play at this stage of the season. A team like Penn. St. played Michigan, Ohio St. and Mich St. in a row with the last two games on the road. Bama schedules cupcake games between their tough games and most SEC teams play a seven or eight game home schedule. Only occasionally will they play a ranked non-conference opponent and then it is usually on a neutral field. That gives them a huge advantage at this stage of the season. There should be a major penalty for this kind of nonsense in the rankings.

Bama does this about this time of the season, they schedule a cupcake game. In 2014, it was Western Carolina (a 48-14 win), in 2015, it was Charleston Southern (a 56-6 win), and in 2016 it was Chattanooga (a 31-3 win). It is done as a non-conference break in their SEC schedule, but it is no excuse for playing such a throw away game at this time of the year. -- Al

 

[Rutledge]

Alabama is playing someone called Mercer this weekend. ESPN gives Bama a 99.7% chance of winning. I assume there is a .3% chance that aliens will land and abduct the Bama team bus on the way to the game since that seems like the only way they could lose. This is a shameful game to play at this stage of the season. A team like Penn. St. played Michigan, Ohio St. and Mich St. in a row with the last two games on the road. Bama schedules cupcake games between their tough games and most SEC teams play a seven or eight game home schedule. Only occasionally will they play a ranked non-conference opponent and then it is usually on a neutral field. That gives them a huge advantage at this stage of the season. There should be a major penalty for this kind of nonsense in the rankings.

Some very old and dear friend’s son is the starting offensive tackle for Mercer. T Marchman is an absolutely outstanding football player. He and his fellow Bears WANT Bama.

I would advise not summarily dismissing an entire group of young men as unworthy, ala shameful, or cupcakes, relative to any other group of young men.

 

[bradleyl30]

Calling BS on this.

Bama had the 3rd toughest schedule in the nation at the beginning of the season according to CBS. They usually start the season with tough opponents to sharpen their fangs while many other programs have easy games up front.

The Bleacher Report had their schedule at #2 at the start the season. The include the statement of Bama having one of the toughest mid-season stretches.

Roll Tide!

 

[Warrior]

Calling BS on this.

Bama had the 3rd toughest schedule in the nation at the beginning of the season according to CBS. They usually start the season with tough opponents to sharpen their fangs while many other programs have easy games up front.

The Bleacher Report had their schedule at #2 at the start the season. The include the statement of Bama having one of the toughest mid-season stretches.
Roll Tide!

After playing this team of young men who WANT Bama, they go to Auburn and then play in the SEC Championship game vs Georgia; if they get to the final four of college football, they certainly will have earned it while other teams like Miami and Wisconsin have played the true march of the tomato cans.....................one of Clemson/Miami will be out, leaving the winner of Alabama/Georgia and Oklahoma if they win their conference championship game, Wisconsin will get the fourth spot if they beat Michigan and then win the conference championship game, still a lot of football left to play...................

 

[Panzer ace]

One thing worth noting in regards to NCAA schedules is how long ago some of the games were set-up.

For example in 2015 LSU and Oklahoma, two storied programs agreed to play a home at home series. Starting in 2027.

 

[Combat]

Some very old and dear friend’s son is the starting offensive tackle for Mercer. T Marchman is an absolutely outstanding football player. He and his fellow Bears WANT Bama.

I would advise not summarily dismissing an entire group of young men as unworthy, ala shameful, or cupcakes, relative to any other group of young men.

How do you rate Mercer's chances? Are you rushing to Vegas to place a bet on them winning? LOL.

 

[Combat]

Calling BS on this.

Bama had the 3rd toughest schedule in the nation at the beginning of the season according to CBS. They usually start the season with tough opponents to sharpen their fangs while many other programs have easy games up front.

The Bleacher Report had their schedule at #2 at the start the season. The include the statement of Bama having one of the toughest mid-season stretches.

Roll Tide!

That it is only because they play in a good conference. They have no choice but to play conference teams like Georgia and Auburn. It's their non-conference schedule that is a complete joke. That is where they have the choice to play other competitive teams or cupcakes. No SEC team or any other team that is in competition for the college football playoffs should be allowed to play I-AA schools or have more home than road games every year. Other teams in competition for the playoffs don't do that.

 

[tdubel]

I can't believe I am saying this, but I am routing for Miami against Clemson. FSU almost came back against an overrated Clemson team, need I remind you they lost to Syracuse................ I can't stand Dabo nor Clemson. GO CANES, I actually said it! Who can't root for the Canes after they sent Mighty Mouse and the mighty ND packing!!!!

TD

 

[Panzer ace]

How do you rate Mercer's chances? Are you rushing to Vegas to place a bet on them winning? LOL.

As of two hours ago the game was off the board with no line (for entertainment purposes only).

 

[Warrior]

I can't believe I am saying this, but I am routing for Miami against Clemson. FSU almost came back against an overrated Clemson team, need I remind you they lost to Syracuse................ I can't stand Dabo nor Clemson. GO CANES, I actually said it! Who can't root for the Canes after they sent Mighty Mouse and the mighty ND packing!!!!

TD

I can't muster any hate towards Dabo................he delivered the eulogy at Kevin Turner's funeral, the former Alabama running back who played for the Patriots and Eagles and died from ALS, Dabo and he went to Alabama, Dabo recruited Kevin's son to Clemson, which drove Kevin bananas, but he laughed it off, he was on the national championship team, plus the way he handled the loss to Syracuse was class all the way, went into the Syracuse locker room to congratulate the Syracuse players for the way they played.

He goes a little nuts on the sidelines, but his heart is in the right place...........:wink2:

 

[Rutledge]

How do you rate Mercer's chances? Are you rushing to Vegas to place a bet on them winning? LOL.

Why bother playing games if the Vegas odds makers have it all figured out?

I rate Mercer’s chances as much better than a joke, shameful cupcake or unworthy,

I do wonder what would happen if my friends son, the “joke” who starts at left tackle for Mercer, lined up across from you. How do you think you’d fare against their “cupcake”, hoss? I presume you could squash such a shameful joke of a football player, right tough guy?

 

[bradleyl30]

That it is only because they play in a good conference. They have no choice but to play conference teams like Georgia and Auburn. It's their non-conference schedule that is a complete joke. That is where they have the choice to play other competitive teams or cupcakes. No SEC team or any other team that is in competition for the college football playoffs should be allowed to play I-AA schools or have more home than road games every year. Other teams in competition for the playoffs don't do that.

This logic is so flawed I barely know how to respond. Because they have the 2nd or 3rd toughest schedule in college football they should schedule even tougher opponents? That’s laughable!

Also, this is how the Mercer’s of the world get better. When I was playing college football we wanted to play the best to test ourselves. I applaud Mercer for stepping up.