2011 College Football Thread
 

It's almost that time of year...

USA Today Preseason Rankings

Can't wait :D

ETA: Forgot to link the source: http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings

Labor Day! I can't wait!! I have tickets for the LSU-Oregon Game at JerryWorld. CANNOT WAIT!

*fingers crossed for a good year*

I'm also hoping that this will be as wonderful as it seems: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6708649.

College football is the only thing that makes the end of summer not suck.

LOL. That stadium has been the bane of my existence since it went up. I'm sure that game will be incredible there, though ;)

I can't wait for Michigan-Notre Dame. There is a group of us that watches this game yearly, and this year, it's a night game so it'll be even more exciting :D

wavycutchip's house is anxiously awaiting the Arkansas (my alma mater) and Oklahoma (hubby's alma mater) seasons to start! College football is my time of year! Can't wait, too!

Yeah, the tickets are hideous with a picture of the stadium behind the printing. No university logos. Just Jerry and his hubris. Oh...and a big silver star for the Cowboys.:rolleyes:

Amen! So many SEC schools are represented at my house that we root for them all!

I hope (for everyone's sake) that they finish up the roads by the time the game rolls around. They're still doing construction on the highway next to the stadium, and most of the surface streets are still pretty bad.

The last time I was in the area during a game was AWFUL. Traffic for miles and miles. I'll be sure to stay far away whenever i hear of a game going on lol

That being said, there are a lot of things to do around the stadium area, so after the game, y'all should be able to have fun!

I don't care who does it, but BEAT BSU!!

Jealous!

And Knight Shadow thanks for starting up my favorite thread again! Hope it is still my favorite thread in January!

Ditto Lol

College Colors Day
 

http://www.visitmusiccity.com/images...ay.php?id=2357

College Colors Day is an annual celebration of school tradition and spirit where fans across the country wear the colors and apparel of their favorite college or university. The 2011 holiday falls on Friday, September 2. Nashville is kicking it off early and celebrating BIG this year. We're painting the town red, white and blue as the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky University meet the University of Kentucky Wildcats on the gridiron.

Go Cats!

Roll Tide!

Hate you...

Even though I'm going to be attending AU, I still think that the tigers are arguably the most interesting team.

The first 4 games, particularly the Mississippi State and @Clemson, could very well determine how our season goes from there. Both of those games could go either way, but I'm more worried about the Clemson game on the road, particularly with the recruiting class they brought in-namely, those two stud linebackers.

The 4 game stretch of South Carolina, LSU, Arkansas and Florida will be difficult as well.

I think Georgia can and will bounce back. Even though they lost A.J Green, they still have a lot of talent. They could very well win 10+ games, provided they don't start out 0-2 against BSU and SC out of the gate-good news is both are virtually (BSU is in Atlanta) home games, but that's what VT thought last year and look how that turned out.

SC has a generous schedule with 8 home games (I believe), and aside from a week 2 trip to Athens, doesn't have road tests until later on in the season.

Arkansas should be very good, I think Tyler Wilson is the real deal, and they have, imo, the best group of skill guys (RB, WR) in the country-3 deep at RB and 4 stud wideouts. It comes down to their defense.

Bama should be solid, as much as it pains me to say, and I still think they'll be solid at WR with experienced guys like Maize and Hanks, quite possibly even Carter. Their defense should be very good. It will be interesting to see how their QB situation is settled-both are very talented, but very inexperienced...I still think A.J gets the nod.

LSU has some solid skill guys-Randle and Sheppard on the outside, Peterson over the middle at TE. The OL has a lot of experience, and the defense will speak for itself. Losing Ridley at RB I think will be huge, and their QB situation between Lee and Jefferson is spotty at best. I actually think their most talented QB is Mettenberger (sp?) who signed with UGA a few years ago, then I believe went the JC route one year ago.

Miss St. should be very good, they have a very good backfield. Linebacker is a big question mark, and this year, they won't be sneaking up on anyone, which will be a challenge.

Florida should be improved. Charlie Weis should be a good addition, and although they are VERY, VERY young, they have a TON of talent. I really like the talent and speed within their front 7.

Tennessee is virtually all Sophomores, but I still think they can be competitive.

My Picks: Alabama out of the west vs. SC out of the east in Atlanta.

But, I agree, I too am looking forward to the LSU-Oregon and BSU-UGA games.

See ya there, sister!

Awesome!!! You should PM me your info so we can meet.

:p My husband does, too! He has to work nights that week and plans to root for Oregon despite his fanatacism regarding the Tigers just so I'll have a miserable time at the game. It's just payback because he went to the LSU v Georgia game two or three years ago and left me on call in Maryland. Sucks to be him!

Now you've gone and put WC and I in the very uncomfortable position of hating you and loving your husband. ;)

We'd be happy to send him any Oregon shirt he wants while he cheers (and we have millions of options) because we'll need all the football mojo we can get.

Normally I wouldn't admit to that but since our star corner can't limit his penchant for speed to the football field and one of our starting linebackers can't stay out of the liquor cabinet and in his own residence - I'll own up to being worried about this one. Sigh...apparently expecting college students to be responsible for a whole freakin' 6 months is just too much to ask.

Can't wait for another completely unmemorable Illini season. :rolleyes:

In other news, my guy says he's going to become an LSU fan based on his recent move, lol. Maybe I'll jump on the bandwagon too.

Did y'all move to Louisiana?

He did. Fingers and toes are crossed that I get this really great job I applied to that I'm interviewing for so I can get down there too!!

As my husband and I say...ANYONE BUT CAROLINA!!! (Meaning UNC!)

GO WOLFPACK!!!!! It'll be interesting to see how they do this year without Russell Wilson :(

Looks like another tough SEC year for Kentucky! I love them anyway. GO CATS!!!

GO CATS! I love Kentucky & WKU is the top rival for my alma mater, EKU, so I really hope the Cats beat them! :)

No kidding. UK faces five Top 25 football opponents - three on the road. :eek:

:D :D :D

Texas A&M close to announcing move to SEC

As a native Texas, and one who is not very fond of A&M, I have mixed emotions. I hate to see many of the in-state rivalries fall by the wayside, especially the UT-A&M game. It was also great to watch Tech beat up on them year after year. However, I do sympathize with them (and other Texas schools) with what UT has tried to pull with thier Longhorn network. Even though the NCAA put the end to their plans to air high school football games on the network, the whole thing just kind of reeks.

I do think it would be a good move financially for A&M, and honestly am not sure how they would fare. I have enjoyed them being the cellar-dwellers of the Big 12, but admittedly they are supposed to be somewhat better this year. I also think that this could really help with recruiting the Texas base.

Should be interesting to watch, as no doubt this will only be the first of many dominoes.

Breaking News: Texas A&M set to join the SEC. Missouri, Clemson and Florida State may follow. Wow!!!

I didn't know Clemson and FSU were considering moving to the SEC. I hope, for the sake of the ACC, that doesn't happen.

^I am dreading a Pac-16 where we have to play Texas all the time again (unless it was last year's Texas... That might be okay.)

In any case, I'm looking forward to the first year in the Pac-12. C-O-L-O-R-A-D-O! Go Buffs!

http://images-mediawiki-sites.theful...9440733914.png

^^^^Welcome to the Pac uh....12, yeah, that's it 12 (hard to keep track these days). I grew up in Denver and my father was a CU alum (just took a call for him from the alum association this evening actually), so I spent HS wearing a Buffs t-shirt to bed (when I wasn't decked out in my beloved Bronco gear). You'll now replace WSU as the school I root for after the Ducks.

I wouldn't worry about UT - we don't want them. Now HS Texas running backs on the other hand...

Pearlbubbles! I'm going to the CU vs Ducks game! Will you still be in Boulder?

Ugh Pac-12 is hard enough to say. I'm ignoring at Pac-16 or any other version henceforth.

AXOmom: But does Larry Scott want them? I think he still does and that worries me. Thankfully it sounds like the SEC gave A&M the boot for now, so this is all speculation anyway.

WCsweet<3: I'm living in Denver right now, but don't you worry, I definitely have season tickets!!! Most of the people I know prefer calling it the 12-Pac anyway, which sounds like a tailgate party in the making. :)

Two teams that I feel are flying under the radar are Missouri and Wisconsin. Yes, Mizzou lost Gabbert and Aldon Smith, but they return virtually everyone else (especially on offense-great group of backs and receicers and a solid o-line). Gary Pinkel is one of the best coaches in the country, and it doesn't seem like he gets enough credit. James Franklin, who will step in for Gabbert, is a terrific duel-threat qb and Mizzou always has good quarterbacks directing the offense. I think they can win 10 games again. Wisconsin loses a lot (Tolzein, Watt, Clay, Carimi, Moffett, etc.) but also returns a lot. They have a great pair of backs in Ball and White, underrated wideouts and always one of the top o-lines in the nation. I think that the addition of Russell Wilson makes them big 10 favorites. For you bulldogs fans in GA out there, if they can go 1-1 or 2-0 out of the gate, I can see them winning around 10 games. The old ball coach down in Columbia should also have a very solid team.

I liked you from the Auburn and UGA threads. Now, I might just dump my future husband and marry you. :D

Where did you confirm this?

I saw this link today and it looks to have been last updated on the 14th.
http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/NEW...ie-machen.aspx

It was a link from earlier in the day; saying that very reliable sources basically told Doug Gottlieb that A&M was pretty much set to join the SEC.

There was an announcement, but it was later rescinded.

Ah! That makes sense then.