NCAA College Football - General Discussion

Kremlin Watcher

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One of the few days of the year that I normally completely clear the decks for is opening Saturday of college football season. I'd still be sitting there with nuclear missiles raining down.
 
So, naturally, Saturday the 5th is the day I have pack up the car and drive my eldest to New York City for move-in day at Columbia.
 
The only concession I was able to wring out of my wife and daughter was that at 7:30 p.m., I must have unfettered access to a television. Any television. The game is on NBC so I don't need anything fancy. I'll sit at a fucking rest stop if I have to. But I am not missing a single snap of Year Two of the Charlie Strong era. Win or lose, we are going to show up and the post-Mack era begins in earnest.
 

SoxJox

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It's a tough opening in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus.  I'll definitely be watching that game.
 
Edit: It just dawned on me that this is not their opener, which is instead vs Utah Thu 9/3.  Sachmoney's "One day! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" over in the Michigan thread slapped spome sense into me.
 

rguilmar

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SoxJox said:
It's a tough opening in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus.  I'll definitely be watching that game.
Especially starting 5-6 freshmen plus many more in the two deep. Hell of a first college game experience.

I'll be watching through my fingers.
 

SoxJox

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It just dawned on me when seeing KK's and canderson's avatars on the same page.  Is there something going on with Texas. the Kremlin, and the Soviet emblem?  Coincidence?
 

Kremlin Watcher

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Back in the 80s, the University of Texas got a grant from the federal government (Title VII? Title IX? Don't remember) to open a comprehensive Soviet Studies department (Cold War and all), and it became the best of its kind in the region, competing nationally with the east and west coast schools for undergraduates, graduate students, and professors. I was one of the first undergraduates to benefit from that program. Not sure about canderson.
 

Bosoxen

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Kremlin Watcher said:
One of the few days of the year that I normally completely clear the decks for is opening Saturday of college football season. I'd still be sitting there with nuclear missiles raining down.
 
So, naturally, Saturday the 5th is the day I have pack up the car and drive my eldest to New York City for move-in day at Columbia.
 
The only concession I was able to wring out of my wife and daughter was that at 7:30 p.m., I must have unfettered access to a television. Any television. The game is on NBC so I don't need anything fancy. I'll sit at a fucking rest stop if I have to. But I am not missing a single snap of Year Two of the Charlie Strong era. Win or lose, we are going to show up and the post-Mack era begins in earnest.
 
Have I mentioned that I'll be stuck at a wedding about a three-hour drive from South Bend? I don't think I'll ever hate my life as much as I will that day. And I was really looking forward to that wedding, until the day I noticed the schedule conflict.
 
I don't intend to miss a single snap either, but the only way I'll be able to pull that off will be to watch that game on DVR when I get back home.
 

Deathofthebambino

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I haven't had a chance to check in here yet, but did nobody watch the first game of the season on Saturday?  
 
I know the offseason is obviously dominated by off field news, coaching changes, arrests, etc., but damn, let's get to some real football.  FCS Powerhouses, four time defending National Champ, North Dakota State (ranked #1) and Montana (ranked No. 12) met to kick off the season, and if it's a sign of things to come this year, football is going to be as awesome as ever.  Even though the game was in Montana, any time the Bison lose, it's an upset, and Montana knocked them off with a last second 38-35 victory.  NDSU QB, and potential first round pick, Carson Wentz, was his usual self, throwing for 2td's and running for 2, but the defense couldn't stop the Montana attack when they needed to, and Montana QB, Brady Gustafson, a first time starter, went off for 434 yards and 3td's. 
 
Some legit FCS player of the year candidates in this game, particularly on offense.  Besides Wentz, NDSU has RB, King Frazier, a junior this year (transferred from Nebraska after his freshman year) and he went for 145 yards from scrimmage and a td.  Their stud WR, Zach Vraa, opened the season with 4 grabs for 35 yards and a score.  
 
On the other side, Montana RB, John Nguyen, had 134 yards from scrimmage, but a couple of receivers stole the show.  A name to watch, Ellis Henderson, who has been tearing it up for the Grizzlies for a couple years as a receiver/kick returner, had 7 catches for 133 yards and a td, and with a true weapon on the other side in Jamaal Jones (8 catches, 119 yards, 1td), I expect a monster year for Henderson. 
 
I literally cannot fucking wait for Thursday.  Every game, FBS, FCS, bring it on.  I watched no less than a dozen high school games this week that were televised (if you guys don't check them out when you can, you're insane.  These kids are fucking unreal.) and I was as happy as a pig in shit.  Bring on the season. 
 

SoxJox

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Deathofthebambino said:
I haven't had a chance to check in here yet, but did nobody watch the first game of the season on Saturday?  
 
I know the offseason is obviously dominated by off field news, coaching changes, arrests, etc., but damn, let's get to some real football.  FCS Powerhouses, four time defending National Champ, North Dakota State (ranked #1) and Montana (ranked No. 12) met to kick off the season, and if it's a sign of things to come this year, football is going to be as awesome as ever.  Even though the game was in Montana, any time the Bison lose, it's an upset, and Montana knocked them off with a last second 38-35 victory.  NDSU QB, and potential first round pick, Carson Wentz, was his usual self, throwing for 2td's and running for 2, but the defense couldn't stop the Montana attack when they needed to, and Montana QB, Brady Gustafson, a first time starter, went off for 434 yards and 3td's. 
 
Some legit FCS player of the year candidates in this game, particularly on offense.  Besides Wentz, NDSU has RB, King Frazier, a junior this year (transferred from Nebraska after his freshman year) and he went for 145 yards from scrimmage and a td.  Their stud WR, Zach Vraa, opened the season with 4 grabs for 35 yards and a score.  
 
On the other side, Montana RB, John Nguyen, had 134 yards from scrimmage, but a couple of receivers stole the show.  A name to watch, Ellis Henderson, who has been tearing it up for the Grizzlies for a couple years as a receiver/kick returner, had 7 catches for 133 yards and a td, and with a true weapon on the other side in Jamaal Jones (8 catches, 119 yards, 1td), I expect a monster year for Henderson. 
 
I literally cannot fucking wait for Thursday.  Every game, FBS, FCS, bring it on.  I watched no less than a dozen high school games this week that were televised (if you guys don't check them out when you can, you're insane.  These kids are fucking unreal.) and I was as happy as a pig in shit.  Bring on the season. 
I watched most of the NDSU - Montana game but got called away and missed the ending.  It was a great opener.  Was impressed with play on  both sides of the ball by both teams.
 

LeftyTG

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RingoOSU

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ethangl said:
How in the world does Okie State end up opening with a roadie against a MAC team?
They made one of those 2 for 1 deals where they go there for one, and C.Mich. comes to Stillwater twice in upcoming seasons. If the Cowboys are going to keep playing like they did last night, they deserve to be playing thursday evening football.
 

Kremlin Watcher

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TCU didn't impress much, but I think that win will look pretty good by December. Despite having a QB that makes Tyrone Swoopes look like Vince Young, Minnesota hung around all game. The Gophers are a good football team, and TCU looked jittery and unfocused. Boykin in particular looked bad.
 
Looking forward to seeing Baylor's offense tonight so Charlie can begin to scheme how to shut it down.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Wild start in this Baylor/SMU game.  Halfway through the 1st quarter, it's already 14-14. Baylor's offense looks unstoppable, but their defense doesn't look like it can stop anyone.  SMU's skill position players are breaking tackles and making guys miss left and right, and SMU's skill guys aren't exactly returning All-American.  
 

Dan Murfman

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Rutgers coach suspended for 3 games.
 
 
"This suspension is the result of the very detailed extensive investigation that we carried out over the past several weeks regarding the allegations that the football coach had an inappropriate contact with a faculty member who was the instructor of one of our football players, a contact that is in violation of the university policy,'' Barchi told NJ Advance Media. "That is what it's about. That is what it's in response to.''
 
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2015/09/kyle_flood_suspended_as_rutgers_coach.html
 

Deathofthebambino

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This is following the arrest of their star WR, Caroo, who was suspended indefinitely from the team after an altercation broke out between his girlfriend and another girl outside the stadium, and he came along and slammed his girlfriend to the ground (at least that's how I think it went based on the story I read on my phone).  He was the 7th current or former Rutgers player arrested in the last MONTH.  Some not so good things going on down in Jersey right now. 
 

Clears Cleaver

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the twitter rumor is that Kiffin had an affair with a prominent Bama bnooster's wife. Then got into a fight/argument with Saban. Kiffin wife is leaving him and he's going resign or just be replaced.
 
supposedly....
 

SoxJox

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So it's now official. NCAA bans satellite camps.
The rule will prevent FBS schools from hosting camps or clinics at facilities that they do not use regularly for football practice or play. It also prevents coaches from working as guest instructors at another school's camp.

"The Council approved a proposal applicable to the Football Bowl Subdivision that would require those schools to conduct camps and clinics at their school's facilities or at facilities regularly used for practice or competition," stated the NCAA. "Additionally, FBS coaches and non-coaching staff members with responsibilities specific to football may be employed only at their school's camps or clinics. This rule change is effective immediately."
 

Infield Infidel

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I figure Sun belt recruits the south, and occasionally finds some diamonds, or at least rubies, in the rough. MWC recruits California hard, same reason Pac12 voted to ban.

In any event even if MWC and sun belt flipped it'd be 8-7 in favor to ban.
 

Infield Infidel

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Sbnation.com has a story that includes tweets from players against the ban
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/4/9/11395238/ncaa-satellite-camp-rule-change-reaction

They not only banned satellite camps, they banned coaches visiting other teams' camps. A lot of what the coaches say about this depends on where they coach. I'm sure if Meyer was at Florida or Bielema was at Wisconsin they would think differently from how they think now. But I like what Willie Taggart, coach of USF (my school), said about it last year. A ban helps him but he didn't want it:

"If you really think about it, [camps are] the right thing to do. Kids are going to camps all over the country, spending all this money to try and get the most amount of exposure, when it's the schools that have all the money. The schools should be moving around so the players can get a larger variety of teams."

This is smart for two reasons, first it's good and easier for players to get more exposure at more far-flung schools, and second, Taggart might end up coaching in a place like Kansas or Indiana and satellite camps or coaching at another team's camp would help him. He's close with the Harbaughs (they had a camp scheduled at USF this year) so I'm not surprised.
 

WayBackVazquez

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Obviously as a Michigan fan I am not impartial here, but this is a laughably bad rule. Has anyone even offered a legitimate reason for this? It's obviously protectionism, and the cold weather conferences should threaten nuclear options. This rule wouldn't even pass the rational basis test if it were a law.
 

Infield Infidel

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Here's Dan Mullen
" “Are they flying their whole compliance office to these camps, making sure things are done right?” Mullen said. “ All that. Our compliance guys are at practice here. And budgetarily, (the NCAA's decision) made sense to me.”

Fundamentally, as a recruiter, Mullen disagreed with traveling to host camps.

“I want guys coming to our campus for camps,” Mullen said. “Young men come and get the experience of being on a college campus, seeing what the experience is, seeing what it’s all about here at a place like Mississippi State.”

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2016/04/09/mullen-no-satellite-camps-best-college-football/82839268/
 

WayBackVazquez

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That's less than persuasive. Essentially "we don't want other people to do it, because then we might have to do it, and it will cost money." He may as well just come out and say he's lazy.
 

twibnotes

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Big Ten commissioner delany is weak. He didn't fight hard to protect the conference's (and students') interests on this. To allow this to happen without going after the SEC for stuff like over-signing is pathetic.
 

sachmoney

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I have no idea what Delaney was doing. He is just a man with a job right now. He's not exactly doing it. He's been an empty suit lately.

I can't say this doesn't affect Michigan at all. However, it hurts Michigan a lot less than a school like Nebraska, which needs these camps to see kids and be able to interact with them, since they are recruiting outside their footprint. It hurts the smaller schools. I don't think that those schools were vocal enough from the get go. A lot of this seemed like Harbaugh vs the SEC, but Harbaugh should have had a lot more allies in this fight. Heck, a lot of coaches should have been fighting harder for this than Harbaugh. You don't need to have the economic resources for a Summer Swarm. You need to be able to send coaches to a couple camps to get that extra evaluation time. You basically can't send coaches to any camp outside your school now. Regional camps like Sound Body/Sound Mind are going to suffer from this. That's ridiculous.

Much of this is coaches putting themselves ahead of the welfare of the kids. Coaches don't want to work harder while they're making millions of dollars from these schools. Harbaugh is willing to work harder. The kids are suffering as a result of the laziness of certain coaches. You don't have to do these camps if you don't want to. But no, we don't want to do them, so we don't want anyone to do them. That's the attitude of those coaches right there. It's infuriating.

I can't wait for the next thing Harbaugh does to piss off those coaches.
 

SoxJox

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...but Harbaugh should have had a lot more allies in this fight. Heck, a lot of coaches should have been fighting harder for this than Harbaugh.
I'm kinda surprised we haven't heard more from James Franklin, who supposedly started the whole thing back in 2014, although he is on record as being surprised by the pushback against camps because "it" had been going on for a long time. But I don't think he was very specific about what "it" was - I don't believe nearly anything as formal as what he did that year and last.
 

ethangl

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I think the lack of a reaction from other parties might indicate these camps are not as important as y'all think they are.

Personally I would have banned the slumber parties and shitty cakes before the camps but that's just me.
 

WayBackVazquez

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Which other parties? Like Urban Meyer?

"The biggest thing that I did not realize that was part of it is that now that the MAC schools can't come here," Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said on Monday during his weekly press availability. "Probably hundreds of scholarships have come out of here to those young players. I know my son (Nate) is getting recruited now a little bit and what camps do you send him to? Not many kids can play at Ohio State, so don't send them, or send them. I did not realize that was part of the conversation about… I wish they would revisit that part of it."
Mark Helfrich?

On Monday, Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich said he wasn't in favor of the decision made by the NCAA.

"We were on the other side of that vote," he said.

"We're in a place where we'd like to go out and visit guys, or have an opportunity for us pay for it. It's a rule. Play the rules as they come. It was surprising to have it come out Friday and then to have it happen that quickly."
Mike Leach?

“It appears that the selfish interests of a few schools and conferences prevailed over the best interests of future potential student-athletes,” WSU coach Mike Leach said in a text message to the Seattle Times. “The mission of universities and athletic programs should be to provide future student-athletes with exposure to opportunities, not to limit them. It appears to me that some universities and conferences are willing to sacrifice the interests of potential student-athletes for no better reasons than to selfishly monopolize their recruiting bases.“I will be fascinated to hear any legitimate reasoning behind this ruling. We need to rethink this if we are actually what we say we are.”
 

RedOctober3829

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This is the dumbest rule I think the NCAA has and there are many. Not only is it taking away exposure for thousands of student-athletes it also takes money out of the pockets of coaches who depend on working a few camps a year for extra money.
 

SoxJox

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might indicate these camps are not as important as y'all think they are.
Who's "y'all"? From most reports, it was the SEC that served as the primary motivator toward the ban. Must have seemed pretty important to them. And the NCAA, in its infinite wisdom, evidently considered it to produce a sufficiently serious consequence as to ban it.
 

sachmoney

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It seems like there were more than a few coaches that didn't realize the ramifications of the rule.

Following up on what RedOctober said, these camps were also a way of developing relationships with other coaches. Hey, you lost your defensive coordinator or position coach to [prestigious program]. Well, remember that young coach that we really liked from that camp, may be we should call him for an interview?

The overturning or closing of the loophole was done so poorly.
 

Tangled Up In Red

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