2011 College Football Thread

[southbymidwest]

Quite excited about Urban Meyer coming back to Ohio State. If reports are correct, he will be retaining Luke Fickell, the interim HC this year, as Asst. Head Coach. I certainly hope so. Luke did a good job in a very difficult situation this year, bleeds scarlet and grey, and will make a great head coach one day. Go Bucks!

[wareagle93]

Who would have thought OSU and Michigan would be in these positions a year ago? Wow.

I think Michigan has a legit shot at winning their bcs game (if they get a bid) provided they get the right matchup-Houston, Clemson (if they win the ACC title game) or one of the Big East Teams.

I don't think they'd have much of a chance against Oklahoma/Oklahoma State or Georgia (if they win the SEC Title Game), particularly one of the Oklahoma's. UM's secondary was awful against a below-average passing quarterback, and if it wasn't for him overthrowing 2-3 receivers that were 15+ yards behind the UM secondary, osu would have won. Just imagine what Justin Blackmon would do against that secondary, good lord. Landry Jones and Brandon Weeden would be licking their chops.

Regardless, I think Michigan is on the verge of being back. They are upping their OOC scheduling (Alabama next year) and Brady Hoke, and his staff, imo, have done the best coaching job in the country. The work they've done with that defense, which really does not have any guys who will be stars and/or contributors down the road in the NFL (outside of Roh and Mike Martin) has been unbelievable. Great coaching job, all-around. They've also taken the pressure off of Denard on offense. Last year, the word "offense" did not exist in their vocabulary. It was almost all Denard. They've done a good job adding an extra dimension in the running game with the running backs, to take the pressure off of him.

Their recruiting is picking up, too. It wouldn't surprise me if Michigan won their side of the Big Ten next year, they have a lot coming back. Hoke is locking up blue-chipper after blue-chipper, it sounds like a very exciting time to be a Michigan fan!


As for OSU, I think it's a great hire, but I think it will take a year or so for OSU to be immediate Big Ten contenders.

They still have quite a few kinks to work out, which will require time (Rome wasn't built in a day), but I think they'll get a HUGE boost in recruiting. Good luck to schools recruiting in the midwest or more specifically, the state of Ohio. Urban could very well build an impenetrable fence around the state, to a degree like he did at Florida.

It'll be interesting to see if there is a re-match for the title game, as experts like Brad Edwards claim there is a 90% chance of that happening. Let's see how this final week plays out!

[southbymidwest]

Originally Posted by wareagle93

Who would have thought OSU and Michigan would be in these positions a year ago? Wow.

I think Michigan has a legit shot at winning their bcs game (if they get a bid) provided they get the right matchup-Houston, Clemson (if they win the ACC title game) or one of the Big East Teams.

I don't think they'd have much of a chance against Oklahoma/Oklahoma State or Georgia (if they win the SEC Title Game), particularly one of the Oklahoma's. UM's secondary was awful against a below-average passing quarterback, and if it wasn't for him overthrowing 2-3 receivers that were 15+ yards behind the UM secondary, osu would have won. Just imagine what Justin Blackmon would do against that secondary, good lord. Landry Jones and Brandon Weeden would be licking their chops.

Regardless, I think Michigan is on the verge of being back. They are upping their OOC scheduling (Alabama next year) and Brady Hoke, and his staff, imo, have done the best coaching job in the country. The work they've done with that defense, which really does not have any guys who will be stars and/or contributors down the road in the NFL (outside of Roh and Mike Martin) has been unbelievable. Great coaching job, all-around. They've also taken the pressure off of Denard on offense. Last year, the word "offense" did not exist in their vocabulary. It was almost all Denard. They've done a good job adding an extra dimension in the running game with the running backs, to take the pressure off of him.

Their recruiting is picking up, too. It wouldn't surprise me if Michigan won their side of the Big Ten next year, they have a lot coming back. Hoke is locking up blue-chipper after blue-chipper, it sounds like a very exciting time to be a Michigan fan!


As for OSU, I think it's a great hire, but I think it will take a year or so for OSU to be immediate Big Ten contenders.

They still have quite a few kinks to work out, which will require time (Rome wasn't built in a day), but I think they'll get a HUGE boost in recruiting. Good luck to schools recruiting in the midwest or more specifically, the state of Ohio. Urban could very well build an impenetrable fence around the state, to a degree like he did at Florida.

It'll be interesting to see if there is a re-match for the title game, as experts like Brad Edwards claim there is a 90% chance of that happening. Let's see how this final week plays out!

I agree with a lot of your post, but I think OSU will be in the hunt next year, for a number of reasons, but my post would go 2 pages if i enumerated them. Also, you are right, Urban is a ferocious recruiter, that is one of the reasons BGSU hired him way back when, when he was an assistant coach at Notre Dame. Hoke at Michigan may have been able to get some Ohio kids this year, but hopefully not so many next year, except maybe in Toledo. Or the ones that Urban doesn't see fitting into the program.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by southbymidwest

I agree with a lot of your post, but I think OSU will be in the hunt next year, for a number of reasons, but my post would go 2 pages if i enumerated them. Also, you are right, Urban is a ferocious recruiter, that is one of the reasons BGSU hired him way back when, when he was an assistant coach at Notre Dame. Hoke at Michigan may have been able to get some Ohio kids this year, but hopefully not so many next year, except maybe in Toledo. Or the ones that Urban doesn't see fitting into the program.

Problem is, most kids have signed commitment letters for next year already. One from our high school signed his commitment letter for Michigan State in late August/early September. You might be right for the year after that though.

I think with Hoke and Urban, we could see a rivalry like in the Bo/Woody years, which would be huge fun

[southbymidwest]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Problem is, most kids have signed commitment letters for next year already. One from our high school signed his commitment letter for Michigan State in late August/early September. You might be right for the year after that though.

I think with Hoke and Urban, we could see a rivalry like in the Bo/Woody years, which would be huge fun

Sorry for not being more specific-the kids who have signed early signing period national letters of intent for the 2012-2013 year are off the board. But there still are some highly recruited kids who may have given verbal commitments that are not binding, but have not signed their NLI's. Coaches can and do poach these kids, or the kids change their minds for a variety of reasons before the regular signing period. Not too surprising when some kids give verbal commitments during their sophomore year of high school, for heaven's sake.

[AXOmom]

1) If I was a Gator (I'm not), I'd be annoyed, but college coaches being disingenous is hardly surprising unfortunately.

2) While we are discussing Florida, let me say a BIG thank you to to them on behalf on my beloved Denver Broncos for Tim Tebow. I didn't think God cared about football - apparently I was entirely mistaken because I just can't think of any other way to account for why he keeps winning games. It defies all football logic. Of course, the next game could change everything.

3) Great teams playing each other do not necessarily make for great football games. Case in point: Bama and LSU. That would NOT be a good game unless something radically changes with one of them in a month. It wasn't a good game last time. It set new standards for boring. 5 field goals in 4 quarters and an overtime isn't a good game. I'd rather be forced to watch Dune five times in a row. I'd rather watch 6 straight hours of golf or ice curling. I'd rather call the last game good, give LSU the BCS trophy and be done with it.

4) On the topic of new coaches: If there are any out there that need a job, the Pac-12 suddenly has two openings, and I'm thinking a third may open up by the end of the week (the first two offer better weather). Conversely, if any Big East teams are in need of coaches - we've now got a couple available.

[GatorDG]

Obviously from my name, you can tell I am a Gator fan. LSU and Bama in the National Championship game!! Anything else would be a disappointment for a good game. Sorry UGA, I do not see the upset. In case you did not notice the only decent team in the east was USC and you lost to them. Heck, you only beat us by 6 and we were just plain awful this year.

As far as Urban: I cannot speak for the rest of the Gator Nation but I am really disappointed and feel betrayed. When he resigned he said that it was because he just could not find the balance between super intense coach and family man. We loved him at UF or at least did. When he came out and said 'the last year has taught him how to balance family and coaching' I had to laugh out loud. How in the world could 8 months as an ESPN commentator teach him how to balance? Maybe he is counting the coaching he did for his son's high school team.

When Spurrier left, in true Spurrier style, he told it like it was; he wanted to move on to another challenge. We still love Spurrier, even though he is coaching in our division of the SEC. We look at Urban the way the LSU folks look at Saban - a man whose word is not to be trusted.

Maybe Urban could not take the intensity of the SEC and felt he needed to go to the Big 10 where things are not as intense

[AGDLynn]

He could not deal with LAT (Life After Tebow).

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by AGDLynn

He could not deal with LAT (Life After Tebow).

That's exactly right. He couldn't handle the break up!

[tootiepie2]

Hopefully in a few years after they rebuild the team it will turn out as good for you as it has for LSU. For a while there was a lot of bitterness toward Saban and dislike for Miles. Now we can look back and see how lucky we are. I don't think to many people would trade Les for Nick now!!!

[AXOmom]

So as of today the Pac-12 has fired 4 coaches this season (3 in the last 2 days). Just curious if any football trivia buffs out there know the record number of coaches in a conference to lose their jobs in one season cause I'm thinking we're pushing it.

[CougADPi]

Official news out of Washington State, Mike Leach has been hired as the new head coach! I'm not sure how I feel about this considering his history, but I think it will be good for the school. Time will tell.

[wareagle93]

Originally Posted by CougADPi

Official news out of Washington State, Mike Leach has been hired as the new head coach! I'm not sure how I feel about this considering his history, but I think it will be good for the school. Time will tell.

I may be in the minority, but I think Leach got shafted/blackmailed at Tech what with Craig James, his son, and the university officials and all.

Numerous players (past and current-when the investigation really heated up), as well as many coaches and members of the medical staff backed up Leach's side of the story about the "electrical closet" and the claims that Adam James was "locked and thrown in there like a caged animal." I also believe the team medical staff and head doctor backed up his side of the story as well.

Anyways, I think that's a solid hire. He'll bring some excitement back to the program and put the fans in the seats. Expect a lot of points on the board next year! His offenses at Tech were really fun to watch.

http://dennis-dodd.blogs.cbssports.c...70202/19238949

It's a pretty interesting read.

[CougADPi]

Originally Posted by wareagle93

I may be in the minority, but I think Leach got shafted/blackmailed at Tech what with Craig James, his son, and the university officials and all.

Numerous players (past and current-when the investigation really heated up), as well as many coaches and members of the medical staff backed up Leach's side of the story about the "electrical closet" and the claims that Adam James was "locked and thrown in there like a caged animal." I also believe the team medical staff and head doctor backed up his side of the story as well.

Anyways, I think that's a solid hire. He'll bring some excitement back to the program and put the fans in the seats. Expect a lot of points on the board next year! His offenses at Tech were really fun to watch.

http://dennis-dodd.blogs.cbssports.c...70202/19238949

It's a pretty interesting read.

True. And goodness knows that WSU needs all the excitement it can get. It has been a rough decade for the Cougs and this announcement has everyone excited about Cougar football for the first time in awhile.

[WCsweet<3]

Didn't have an opinion either way, but WHO HITS A KICKER! I mean damn.