SI.com: an early look at 2007

[T REX]

Not anytime soon....current BCS runs through 2010 I think? Rose & ABC through 2012?

Not going to happen in my lifetime. Not with that money being thrown around. It will take Boise suing the BCS for being exclusionary before anything happens.

[Cicero]

Pretty much The Usual Suspects


IMO they shouldnt come out w/ the first set of rankings until the 4th week.

[TheJON]

I kinda think Wisconsin will find year 2 a little harder than year 1 under Bielema. They were really fortunate to play that schedule and then when they finally played a good out of conference opponent, they got their ass kicked but had the game handed to them. Arkansas was far and away the more talented team. Losing Stocco and Joe Thomas will hurt their offense. Big-10 will be much stronger and they add Ohio State to the schedule. Look for a 9-3 season at best for Wisconsin.

I think USC, Florida, and LSU will clearly be the Top 3. In fact, I don't think next year anyone will be wanting a playoff because LSU and Florida will decide the #2 spot in their conference. USC probably will go unbeaten.

Ohio State had too many losses to be a Top 10 team. I know everyone said that about their defense losing 9 starters this year, but on both sides of the ball they've just lost too much. You can't lose Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr, Anthony Gonzalez, and Antonio Pittman and expect to be a Top 10 team. The D-line won't be as good either with the losses of Patterson and Pitcock. They'll be a 9-3 team.

So, USC, Florida and LSU will be 1-2-3. Then I think the next few spots will be battled by Texas, Michigan, and Louisville. I think Wake Forest will contend for the Top 10. Possibly even Miami, although most will disagree with that. Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, and California will be near the Top 10 too.

[Cicero]

Wake Forest is losing 22 seniors. This year was their shot.

[TheJON]

Yeah, that's right. I knew it was either a ton back or a ton gone. My bad. Scratch them from my list.

[T REX]

Check and see how many fifth year seniors they will have next year. That's how Grobe is building his program since he can't get the talent there.

UF replaces 9 players on D. That's tough in the defense dominated SEC. LSU loses Russell. THAT is a bigger loss since he was a three year starter if I'm not mistaken.

UF's offense will have to carry the load until the defense gets set.

[buckeye_in_sc]

Say hi to Jon our new Ball Sucking team of the week homer...

Wisconsin had the game handed to them...? What the FUCK...that game was there for either team to take and they didn't...in the 3rd quarter there were 7 possessions...6 punts and a pick between both teams...yeah I'd say Arkansas came ready to play...

what an idiot you are...

where is Iowa in all this for next year...? Yeah tOSU loses a ton of offensive talent but they return 3/5th's of a solid OL, Beanie Wells and a two very good WR's...plus on D they will have a deece back 7...I would say they finish at worst 3rd in the Big 10 behind Michigan and possibly Wisconsin...I think PSU and OSU maybe battling it out for Tampa...

[TheJON]

You're right, Buckeye, it was just crazy talk. I mean, clearly the 2 to 1 edge in total yards being in favor of Arkansas proves nothing. Or the fact that Arkansas had about 130 yards of stupid penalties......yeah, that was all Wisconsin's doing. You're right, Wisconsin was walking all over them. Clearly, they were better. I don't know what I'm talking about. Good points. Dolt.

[TheJON]

As for Iowa, assfucker.........

We'll be favored by a TD or more in almost every game. Really, this team could go anywhere from 9-3 to 12-0 with that schedule. We have more talent than EVERY team on the schedule. BUT, we had more talent than Northwestern, Indiana, and Minnesota this year but managed to lose those games. That said, I think we get back to our winning ways and go 10-2. Probably finished 6-2 in the Big-10 with OSU and Michigan off the schedule. This team is built for 2008, but 2007 should be a pretty good year. I think this season will be a wake up call for this team.

[buckeye_in_sc]

Way to play that mTOOOL card with stats there dickhead...all that matters is the final score Ferentz ball licker...

if Arkansas was soooo much better then they shouldn't have had all those penalties...fact of the matter is scoreboard says Sconsin 17 Arkansas 14...fuck off now...


apparently Wisconsin is better since they won...KYOA much? Um yeah I'd say so...

So you are saying you will be a TD favorite over Wisconsin?

[Goober McTuber]

I kinda think Wisconsin will find year 2 a little harder than year 1 under Bielema. They were really fortunate to play that schedule and then when they finally played a good out of conference opponent, they got their ass kicked but had the game handed to them. Arkansas was far and away the more talented team. Losing Stocco and Joe Thomas will hurt their offense. Big-10 will be much stronger and they add Ohio State to the schedule. Look for a 9-3 season at best for Wisconsin.

Wisconsin loses a total of 6 players. When Stocco got hurt, Tyler Donovan stepped in and threw for 228 and 308 yards. And he won’t necessarily start next year. Thomas was a stud at OT but Wisconsin always has good offensive linemen.

The team will probably be even better next year, and the OOC schedule is still pretty weak. Possible loss at tOSU, but they get Michigan in Madison. 11-1 all over again.

[TheJON]

Tyler Donovan is a lousy QB. Do not look at his stats. He throws like a girl. His stats were padded beyond belief in that Iowa game. He had 2 terrible throws that went for 40+ yards because of how poorly our DB played those plays. Had me, you, or anyone else been the DB on those plays, they would have either been incomplete or picked off. He didn't make 1 good throw that entire game. It was all either a 5 yard pass to a WR/TE that was not covered by anyone or those 2 long shitty throws he got lucky on. I'm not saying Stocco was an All-American but he is 10 times better than Donovan.

And Buckeye.....

Are you really this dumb? In all seriousness, please tell me away from these boards you don't believe that shit, right?? Winning a game ALWAYS proves you're the better team??? Oh really?? So there's no such thing as an upset?? Dude, the talent disparity between Arkansas and Wisconsin was so evident that, had you watched the game, I think even you could have told the difference. And you're a fucking idiot with no football knowledge. That's how much more talented Arkansas was. They were a much better team, but they made some stupid mistakes. They'd win 8 of 10 against Wisconsin easily and anyone that watched that game would know that. They kicked Wisconsin's ass up and down the field. Badgers didn't win that game. ARKANSAS LOST IT! It was just one of those games where the better team did not win. It happens. You'd be surpirsed to know, retard, that occasionally in sports there is this thing called an "upset." Now go away.

[buckeye_in_sc]

The spread was Arkansas by 1.5 I believe...they were so superior that the oddsmakers thought enough of that to install Arkansas as such an overwhelming favorite...

I watched the whole fucking game dolt...so Arkansas had more yards...we know that tells the whole story...right? A 3 point game and there was that much talent disparity? Hmm...interesting...you fucking have no clue do you? Well if they kicked Wisconsin's ass up and down the field how did they only put up 14 points then?

Are you going to tell me now that Tennessee lost their game and PSU didn't win as well?

FUCK OFF ball sucking homer...

[Goober McTuber]

Tyler Donovan is a lousy QB. Do not look at his stats. He throws like a girl. His stats were padded beyond belief in that Iowa game. He had 2 terrible throws that went for 40+ yards because of how poorly our DB played those plays. Had me, you, or anyone else been the DB on those plays, they would have either been incomplete or picked off. He didn't make 1 good throw that entire game. It was all either a 5 yard pass to a WR/TE that was not covered by anyone or those 2 long shitty throws he got lucky on. I'm not saying Stocco was an All-American but he is 10 times better than Donovan.

I think you're full of shit. And as I pointed out, he may not even be the starter next year. The Badgers seem to have high hopes for the QB who transferred from K-State.

One thing you can count on for sure: a Badger victory on September 22.

[MuchoBulls]

I'm liking some of the hype we're getting so far.

25 -

South Florida Bulls (9-4)
Who's back: QB Matt Grothe, LB Ben Moffit, CB Mike Jenkins.
Who's not: LBs Stephen Nicholas and Pat St. Louis.
Skinny: Sixteen starters return from this unsung Big East squad whose speedy defense shut down West Virginia's Slaton and White in a Nov. 25 upset.

[Cicero]

^^^^

Leavitt has done a great job recruiting the State of Fl.

I hope you guys can give UF a game this year. Seminole Nation will be rooting for ya.

[TheJON]

You're calling me a homer because I claim Arkansas was better than Wisconsin? Now you've gone to a new level of stupidity. Yeah, because everyone knows what a big Arkansas honk I am. Always have been. Duh!

Yep, South Florida will be a good team. I think the Big East title will come down to the Louisville-South Florida game. Probably favor Louisville, but still, could be a 10 win season for the Bulls.

[MuchoBulls]

I hope you guys can give UF a game this year. Seminole Nation will be rooting for ya.

We don't play Florida until 2010.

[Cicero]

Some USF fan just told me yesterday that they play UF next year. OOps. Well, best of luck in 2010.

[MuchoBulls]

Some USF fan just told me yesterday that they play UF next year. OOps. Well, best of luck in 2010.

The games were originally scheduled for 2008 and 2009. They are now scheduled for 2010 and 2011.

[T REX]

We were scared so we keep moving it back.

[Cicero]

We were scared so we keep moving it back.

Well, they are an OOC game.

[buckeye_in_sc]

^^^^^^

In state though...

[MuchoBulls]

We were scared so we keep moving it back.

I thought it was due more to that fact that you guys were looking to play Miami in both of those years.

[Vito Corleone]

Texas at #8 is about right they lose 4 on offense and 5 on defense. Two biggest areas of concern are Oline and D backfield. Oline has enough studs that I don't see too much problem getting them back to the elite level. The Dbackfield is another story, lots of really young and inexperienced talent and the only real returning starter is Marcus Griff and he will not be making anyone forget about his much more talented brother.

The strength of the team will be a nasty front 7 on defense and the skill positions on offense. Colt with all his receivers will open things up for Charles and the running game.

I could see this team easily go undefeated or end the season with 2 losses. I still see this team with 10 wins again.

[Mikey]

I think Stanford has a good shot at winning 2 games in 2007 under new coach Jim Harbaugh. That would be cool in their new stadium.

[Vito Corleone]

seeing Jim Harbaugh as the coach makes me feel old, It seems like yesterday we were talking about him as a sucky QB.

[TheJON]

Yeah, what the fuck was Bob Bowlsby thinking in hiring that guy. Heck, Iowa fucking State denied him the job. Bad hire by a shitty AD. Stanford fan better not waste their time complaining about the coach because he's gonna be a lifer. Once Bowlsby hires a guy, he's there forever regardless of what he does. And if you try and dispute anything he does, he'll just call you a "rank amateur."

Harbaugh will not be able to recruit and his only coaching job was done as a coach at a non-scholarship Division 1-AA program. I actually saw Harbaugh's team play at Drake for a half of football this year. They were pretty good. But still, it's non-scholly football. This is the fucking Pac-10. It's a huge leap. And it's not like he has a big name for recruiting. Captain Comeback was an average QB. And when he was in the NFL, the kids he will be recruiting were little kids. They're not that familiar with him. And on top of that, dude's got quite a few off the field problems. His wife left him because of his drinking problem. So why would a school like Stanford hire a guy like that? Oh that's right, because Bob Bowlsby is their AD.

[Killian]

Yeah, what the fuck was Bob Bowlsby thinking in hiring that guy. Heck, Iowa fucking State denied him the job. Bad hire by a shitty AD. Stanford fan better not waste their time complaining about the coach because he's gonna be a lifer. Once Bowlsby hires a guy, he's there forever regardless of what he does. And if you try and dispute anything he does, he'll just call you a "rank amateur."

Harbaugh will not be able to recruit and his only coaching job was done as a coach at a non-scholarship Division 1-AA program. I actually saw Harbaugh's team play at Drake for a half of football this year. They were pretty good. But still, it's non-scholly football. This is the fucking Pac-10. It's a huge leap. And it's not like he has a big name for recruiting. Captain Comeback was an average QB. And when he was in the NFL, the kids he will be recruiting were little kids. They're not that familiar with him. And on top of that, dude's got quite a few off the field problems. His wife left him because of his drinking problem. So why would a school like Stanford hire a guy like that? Oh that's right, because Bob Bowlsby is their AD.

Do you mean like the lifers, Buddy Teevens and Walt Harris?

And being in the NFL or having success in the NFL doesn't make you a great recruiter. It's all about personality. Take a look at any of the good recruiters. There isn't one of them that was an NFL star.

Harbaugh seems to be a good football coach, and he's made some noise in southern California with his team. If he gets Stanford to play .500 ball it will be a miracle, and lead him to a bigger job.

Fuck, he's bound for glory now that JON has written him off.

[buckeye_in_sc]

Shit if he winds up at .500 ball he is as good as Ferentz basically...

he might wind up at Iowa...

[TheJON]

I never said you have to be successful in the NFL. I'm just saying that he can't recruit solely on his name because he doesn't have a big name outside of Michigan. Harbaugh is an asshole. Dude went for 2 in a 40 point blowout just to run smack at an opposing team last year. That's classless. How's he gonna go into homes of the types of kids Stanford recruits and try and explain to them his drinking problem or explain how he put his drinking ahead of his wife? And there's no way to know he's a good coach, because he's never coached at a major college level or in the NFL. This ain't the Pioneer League!

And Bowlsby never canned Teevens. He just left Iowa for Stanford this past summer. But once Bowlsby gets his guy, he is like Bush and can't ever admit a mistake and correct that mistake. Walt Harris was not his guy. It was the hiring of the previous AD.

[Killian]

And Bowlsby never canned Teevens. He just left Iowa for Stanford this past summer. But once Bowlsby gets his guy, he is like Bush and can't ever admit a mistake and correct that mistake. Walt Harris was not his guy. It was the hiring of the previous AD.

Mea culpa.

As for him being a good coach, recruiter, etc., of course it's an unknown. Every coach was an unknown at some point. I'm sure the same things were said of Tressell when he made the jump. But the Harbaugh name has a history at Stanford, and within CA high schools. That was probably a big part of the decision. That and Bowlsby knows that Stanford, at best, will have it's coaches jump to other opportunities. He has to take a chance on a guy, so why not Harbaugh?

He's an asshole? So was Woody, Holtz and Bowden. Carrol faked a put against ND when he was up by 24. Willingham did it against Stanford when he was up 50. Most coaches are assholes.

[TheJON]

Sure, most are a-holes. But come on.....going for 2 in a 40 point blowout simply to rub it in the opponents face (Harbaugh admitted this much)?? There's no need for that crap. What kind of message does that send your players?

I just don't think a D-1A school should be hiring a coach that's only coaching experience came at non-scholarship D-1AA football. At least Tressel had many years of head coaching experience in the same state at a top nothc 1-AA school. He had long term relationships with the state high schools. Harbaugh only has a few years of that and at a lower level than Tressel.

[Killian]

Sure, most are a-holes. But come on.....going for 2 in a 40 point blowout simply to rub it in the opponents face (Harbaugh admitted this much)?? There's no need for that crap. What kind of message does that send your players?

I just don't think a D-1A school should be hiring a coach that's only coaching experience came at non-scholarship D-1AA football. At least Tressel had many years of head coaching experience in the same state at a top nothc 1-AA school. He had long term relationships with the state high schools. Harbaugh only has a few years of that and at a lower level than Tressel.

It's his last name. Take a look at his dad's history (Jack Harbaugh) and you'll see the connection.

And Holtz admitted for onside kicking against Bowden because Bowden ran the score up. When asked why Woody went for 2 when he was winning by 4 TD's, he said "Because I couldn't go for 3". Being an asshole isn't that bad of a thing. Look at Carroll.

[buckeye_in_sc]

or the time Woody and an assistant pushed their car over the Ohio/Michigan border because he told the coach that Michigan ain't getting a dime of his...

if you didn't think Jimmy Johnson wasn't an asshole or a bevy of other coaches...hell look at Mike Stoops...

does Tedford qualify as an asshole or asshat?

[WolverineSteve]

There's usually a back story to a coach running it up on someone.

I remember when there was a coach at Illinois that Bo hated (what the fuck was his name) so he ran it up whenever he wanted. I think it was the last time we scored 70 in a game.

[Goober McTuber]

There's usually a back story to a coach running it up on someone.

I remember when there was a coach at Illinois that Bo hated (what the fuck was his name) so he ran it up whenever he wanted. I think it was the last time we scored 70 in a game.

Mike White?

Bo Schembechler was one of several opinion leaders who ridiculed Illinois for its dependence on junior college players, treating us as a renegade program that deserved restriction. And over the course of a number of years, the Big 10 placed restrictions on the ability of junior college athletes to gain eligibility at Big 10 schools. Much of this was a reaction to the fear Mike White and Illinois (and coaches and teams like them) might rise up to compete for dominance in the conference.

http://illinois.scout.com/2/274451.html

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Harbaugh is an asshole. Dude went for 2 in a 40 point blowout just to run smack at an opposing team last year. That's classless.

And yet, this is precisely what a bottom-feeding program like Stanford needs...a guy with some killer instinct, regardless of how "classless" he may be.

[geau74]

23 -- Alabama Crimson Tide (6-7)
Who's back: QB John Parker Wilson, WR D.J. Hall, LB Prince Hall.
Who's not: RB Kenneth Darby, LB Juwan Simpson, S Jeffrey Dukes.
Skinny: Last year's team lost four SEC games by a touchdown or less. Enter Nick Saban, who inherits a potentially explosive offense with nine returning starters.



You've been warned.

WHO IS SABAN'S OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR?

[T REX]

Spurrier was the master of being a dick.

I'm sure many of you remember the story I posted about him running up the score on someone(throwing a deep pass for a TD already up by 30). When asked why, Spurrier recalled a game vs the Steelers when he was a Buc QB and that coach throwing a bomb, up something like 24-0 late in the fourth. Spurrier said he never forgot and to ask that coach about it. Ouch.