College Football 2011-12

[dtowndough]

Joe, I read that Peterson turned it down. I've also heard that he's talked to Dan Mullen at Miss State. I think he previously hired him there.

On a different note, I'm heading to the CU/USC game friday night in Boulder. 27 and possible snow. Knowing my luck, Lane Kiffin will be his typical self, I'll have to sit through the whole game and USC will win by less than a touchdown. Then we'll go back to the bar, complain about how bad CU is/will be for the next three years. I sure do love me some football.

[SoCalJoe]

Joe, I read that Peterson turned it down. I've also heard that he's talked to Dan Mullen at Miss State. I think he previously hired him there.

On a different note, I'm heading to the CU/USC game friday night in Boulder. 27 and possible snow. Knowing my luck, Lane Kiffin will be his typical self, I'll have to sit through the whole game and USC will win by less than a touchdown. Then we'll go back to the bar, complain about how bad CU is/will be for the next three years. I sure do love me some football.

I knew Peterson was a pipe dream, why would you leave Boise to go to a basketball school? I heard Mullen's name also, but not sure if his style is suited to the west coast.

Have a great time in Boulder, my brother traveled up there for the Oregon-CU game and said he had a blast. Really shocking how far the Buffs have fallen to the point of not even competing in games (of course they do get to play Arizona at home, so there's hope). I know you have southern roots, who do you like in the LSU-Alabama matchup?

[dtowndough]

I think Alabama will take it. Not even comparing teams, they're at home and Saban lost to LSU last year. as long as he has 11 players on either side of the ball, I can't see Bama losing this one.

From a comparison stand point, I think it will be a great game to watch. Alabama can't throw the ball really. LSU has a great run defense. Alabama just has a great D all the way around. I guess that means physical and who can survive. I'll take bama -4.

[dtowndough]

On boulder, I'm just ready for it to be over. I have season tix, but will miss the Arizona game to catch Southern Miss/Central Florida back in Mississippi. I know it's easy to blame the previous coaches, but Hawkins really sank this team and it's traditions. he removed all trophies, awards and memorabilia from the athletic center. Wanted them to have their own identity. Embree has come in and tried to restore some traditions, they just have no talent right now. I think it will be at least two years before they are competitive again

[AggieMatt]

Hawkins didn't work out at all after leaving Boise. I know there's some thought that Peterson was the true "talent" in that relationship but I'm still not sold that the system works week in and week out. They do well when they have a month to gameplan for an opponent. Could they navigate a PAC 12 schedule? Utah hasn't fared too well in that vein.

As for Leach, he's a great offensive coach and is excellent in a place that can't compete for top talent. However, he is also a pr nightmare. The man has almost no tact and no filter. That can be refreshing and amusing at times but very embarrassing at others. His pirate shtick played well out in West Texas where they embraced the outlaw image and ran with it. However, he alienated a lot of the big cigars and admins at Tech with his "candor". He got sideways with the AD or the Pres (or both) and took every opportunity in the media to needle them. So to answer your question, I think it was both. He did get the shaft as it regards the James fiasco (with a "little" help from ESPN) but I have a hard time saying it was undeserved since he made enemies and then gave them enough rope to hang him.

Strictly speaking of on the field stuff, I doubt he'd ever get you to a Rose Bowl, but he'd get you into the top 3-5 in your league on a very regular basis. And his defenses, while never good, did get better over time. That's when he started beating the tu's and OU's on occasion. While he benefited from recruiting in TX, he never went head to head with tu/OU and didn't even compete with A&M much for recruits. He was good at getting those 2 & 3 stars that fit his system and then developed them. I don't know where Zona fits in the hierarchy of PAC 12 football (or AZ football for that matter) well enough to say if you should mess with him or not. If you're Oregon St or Wazzu, absolutely. If you're USC, UCLA, Washington or Oregon absolutely not.

I thought Maryland should have gone after him when their job came open, but his baggage may have been more problematic on the east coast. His offense would terrorize most of the ACC.

[SoCalJoe]

Matt, the AD is relatively young, looks and talks conservatively so my guess is he'll look to the U of Houston coach or the Louisana-Lafayette coach (ironically the final game of the season is against ULL). Recruiting Texas is important, but the next coach HAS to recruit California better than Stoops. LA-San Diego is a reasonable driving distance (6-7 hours) for families to send their kids to.

Always thought Wazzu would be a perfect fit for Leach.

Dirk Koetter started the Boise State machine before Hawkins and didn't fare very well either after leaving for Arizona State. I'm sure Peterson looks at those 2 and wouldn't leave unless the right job comes along.

Arizona is putting millions into the stadium/facilitie. Realistic Cats fans will admit except for two Top 5 finishes in the 90's we've been a middle of the Pac school at best, but this AD knows that football pays the bills, so I'm caustiously optomistic we'll raise our profile.

LSU-Alabama. Can the Alabama QB McCarron take advantage of the LSU D, when they commit to stopping Richardson?

[dtowndough]

I agree SoCal with the recruitment philosophy. that's why I think ultimately, CU will benefit more from Pac12 and more of a contributor. They never recruited Texas very well. When CU was good was McCartney/Barnett years. I didn't move out here until the Barnett years though. They both recruited Cali. CU has a much larger fan base in the Pac12 region than the Big 12. I think that went a long way in hiring the new coaching staff. It's filled with CU Alums and California ties. Hopefully one day i can say "i remember sitting in this stadium during the 1-11 years..."

[AggieMatt]

...and they were much better than these 0-12 years? J/k, I think the Buffs will improve in the Pac12 since, as you said, their glory years took place when they were pulling players out of CA.

Joe, so is Zona or State the primary football destination in AZ? Or are they equal? Is one bigger/richer than the other? I know historically, you own hoops there and they probably have the upper hand in baseball.

As for Leach recruiting, I don't know that he wouldn't recruit CA. Until he was OC at Oklahoma and HC at Tech, he didn't have any TX connections. In fact, he started his career in CA and was born there as well.

[dtowndough]

As for Leach recruiting, I don't know that he wouldn't recruit CA. Until he was OC at Oklahoma and HC at Tech, he didn't have any TX connections. In fact, he started his career in CA and was born there as well.

And a lawyer from Pepperdine or something like that.

[SoCalJoe]

As for Leach recruiting, I don't know that he wouldn't recruit CA. Until he was OC at Oklahoma and HC at Tech, he didn't have any TX connections. In fact, he started his career in CA and was born there as well.

And a lawyer from Pepperdine or something like that.

Forgot Leach had a law degree from Pepperdine.

Stay warm in Boulder tonight dtown!



Matt, I would love to say we have a higher or even equal profile to ASU, but right now I can't. Scum Devils came within 2 minutes of winning the National Title w/the Jake Plummer and the late great Pat Tillman, and have actually won the Rose Bowl. Plus they have put more money put into their program. What the Scummies don't want to hear is that we are 7 games above .500 all-time against them. Thankfully we have a new AD that wants football to be more than passing the time until hoops practice starts. The $$ is going to be spent, just need the fight coach.

Games of the Week;

#1 LSU at #2 Alabama. All signs point to Bama at home, but something keeps telling me to take the Tigers. A big special teams play might be the difference. Saban on 2 weeks prep give the Tide a hard fought W.

#9 South Carolina at #7 Arkansas. Another big game in the SEC w/2 teams that are hard to figure out. I'll take the Hogs to outscore them at home.

#8 Oregon at Washington. One of the fiercest rivalries that isn't publicized. A lot of these fans regard this game as bigger than their in-state game. The game is in Seattle, the Oregon QB should be back (but not 100%), and the Huskies can run the rock. The Ducks to win a tight one.

Texas A&M at #6 Oklahoma. Matt, this has to be a frustrating season knowing how good your team is despite the heartbreaking defeats (you and Wisconsin just have to shake your heads).

Upset Alert; Hard to find one, so I'll try to get Justin to respond. Iowa to rebound after their shocking loss to Minnesota over #15 Michigan.

[AggieMatt]

I'll take Bama at home in the "Game of the Decade". Same reasons, but ironically, I have that same feeling that LSU could take this one with a key turnover or special teams play.

USCe has been odd. They blew a game early, lost their qb, lost their all world hb, and yet here they sit with just one loss. Arky is enigmatic as well, but they've been solid at home. I'll take the pigs.

Oregon v UW doesn't get much mention b/c it's been rather one sided over the past decade. The Ducks have been very relevant while the Pups might as well have been in WITSEC. Ducks easy, UW can't defend. At all.

A&M @ Oklahoma will be a massacre. Stoops' teams always avenge losses...always. And usually big, especially in Norman. The A&M situation is an absolute mess right now and confidence is low in the locker room. Throw in a very poor defense and it's going to be bad.

As for the upset, I'll go with East Carolina over #25 So Miss. I know we have a So Miss fan on here, but this is not an attempt to wind him up. I just think it's more likely than the other upset options out there.

[DCHeather]

This probably one of the few times I'll post on this thread but, what in the world is up at Penn State? I always had a soft spot for PSU, because it's not too far away and have had a few friends end up going there...but wow, I don't think I can think of Penn State as an honorable institution after this.

[dtowndough]

As for the upset, I'll go with East Carolina over #25 So Miss. I know we have a So Miss fan on here, but this is not an attempt to wind him up. I just think it's more likely than the other upset options out there.

OUCH!!!

Luckily, the eagles were able to score 4 non-offensive TD's and win this one. I thought the Alabama/LSU lived up to all the hype with the defenses. I really want Stanford to beat Oregon this week so we can hopefully have LSU/Stanford for the title game.

Heather, I'm with you 100%. I've always respected that program and their accomplishments and loved watching their defenses. Totally shocked on this announcement. I really hope Paterno did the right things on this. I'll try to reserve judgement until we know more.

[SoCalJoe]

A quick thought on the LSU-Bama game. Both D's are great, but the QBs (all 3) involved in that game were absolutely horrendous (part of it was the D's, but part was because they stink)

Penn State. This story is shocking and hard to grasp. I also have a soft spot for PSU and went to a game there in the 90's. Just thinking about the lack of action and without the slightest concern for the only person that desperately needed help (the child) is infuriating. Sorry Joe Pa, but your statement does not hold water, while you "reported" the incident to your AD (let's not kid ourselves, Paterno has a helluva a lot more power than his "boss"), but where was the follow up??? The University President's initial statement was stupid and embarrassing. Nothing less than a complete house cleaning is in order. Paterno was given the right to leave on his own terms, that's no longer the case. I know we are supposed to wait for legal system to play out, but after reading what the attorney general has against this predator and the victims who have had their lives shattered it's time for decisive action instead of blind eyes.

[AggieMatt]

I agree on the offenses in LSU-Bama. The defenses obviously played a role, but not that big of one. LSU played man coverage on Bama's wideouts so they could fill the box and stop the run. As a result, Bama shouldn't have had so much trouble passing the ball. In games against other opposition, LSU's offense has varied and Bama's has been consistently poor. I'm hoping for LSU against anyone but Bama or Boise at this point. And I'd take Boise over a rematch.

On the Penn St thing, they're saying JoePa did meet the legal requirements. However, he has a job where he goes into the living rooms of young men and asks their parents to put their faith in him to coach and mentor their sons. While the law may not have required more, his job and morals should have. I don't believe his career will (or should) survive this, and that's a shame.