West Virginia

[Terry in Crapchester]

Before I read the rest of your post, this stuck out...

The BCS game (unless it's the title game) would then pit them against somebody who actually had to work to get there and then is pissed that they got stuck playing W. Virginia rather than being matched up against somebody who would elevate their program.

Yeah, just like UGA was pissed 'bout having to face 'em last year. Oh, and how PSU was pissed 'bout having to face a four loss FSU team that almost beat 'em. You're arguments are like a seive.

Two great examples, actually. In both games you had far better teams playing down to the level of their competition.

Georgia was ranked #7 in the final BCS standings. West Virginia was ranked #11.

Based on those rankings, do you really think that Georgia was the far better team? Certainly they weren't, at least not for one evening.

[M2]

Before I read the rest of your post, this stuck out...

The BCS game (unless it's the title game) would then pit them against somebody who actually had to work to get there and then is pissed that they got stuck playing W. Virginia rather than being matched up against somebody who would elevate their program.

Yeah, just like UGA was pissed 'bout having to face 'em last year. Oh, and how PSU was pissed 'bout having to face a four loss FSU team that almost beat 'em. You're arguments are like a seive.

Two great examples, actually. In both games you had far better teams playing down to the level of their competition.

Annie, your screws are coming loose.

[MuchoBulls]

Then restore the W. Virginia-Va Tech rivalry game and keep it there, from now on. We don't need Maryland-W. Virginia.

I'm not sure if there is bitterness from the Big East about the VT defection to the ACC. I do not believe any Big East team has a signed series with either VT or BC since they have left. USF still has 3 games left with Miami with the potential for it to become an annual game.

WVU did sign a 1 and 1 with FSU. I'm not sure how many openings they have left in future years.

[Van]

Terry, W. Virginia is currently ranked #5 or whatever, which should tell you all you need to know about the validity of rankings.

Do you really think they're the 5th best team in the country? Do you really think they'll be such a team by season's end, just because their record will likely give them that ranking?

I actually wasn't impressed at all with Georgia last season either but there sure as hell is truth in the notion that one team that's excited to play in a bowl game will likely play much better than another team who isn't excited to be there. We've seen this over and over again down through the years, where larger programs come out flat and play like crap in lesser bowl games against underdog teams who were thrilled to be there...

I just can't get excited by a team who gets to coast all season long and then gets up for one bowl game, especially when that bowl game is against a beaten down and dispirited team who had to tough it out all season long only to end up in a game they didn't want.

Of course the game still has to be played and the Georgias of the world still need to perform but that doesn't mean I'm not still aware of the dynamics behind what's being played out there on the field...

[PSUFAN]

Since we're calling our shots in here, I do not think WVU will emerge from the regular season undefeated.

[Van]

Before I read the rest of your post, this stuck out... Yeah, just like UGA was pissed 'bout having to face 'em last year. Oh, and how PSU was pissed 'bout having to face a four loss FSU team that almost beat 'em. You're arguments are like a seive.

Two great examples, actually. In both games you had far better teams playing down to the level of their competition.

Annie, your screws are coming loose.

Care to explain your bowl game loss to Taco Tech then?

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Even when Maryland was "good" they really...weren't. Not much, anyway.

WTF does that mean?

In typical Van fashion, you discredit someone on the basis of "because I say so."

You're not really going to convince anyone with such vague, shortsighted arguments.

Maryland churned out a 10, an 11, and another 10 win season, back-to-back-to-back...in a BCS conference. By most standards that's considered "good."

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

And for the record, if I'm Pete Carroll...I'm looking to schedule as many good OOC games as I can, because that Pac 10 schedule, in most years, sure ain't gonna help your cause.

[Van]

"Good" yes, but "not much", is what I said.

Did anybody fear Maryland? Was Maryland beating real powers? Did Maryland dominate in their BCS bowl games?

Bottom line with W. Virginia, wouldn't Va Tech rather than Maryland be the better OOC rivalry game to keep?

[Van]

And for the record, if I'm Pete Carroll...I'm looking to schedule as many good OOC games as I can, because that Pac 10 schedule, in most years, sure ain't gonna help your cause.

It'll always be much better than the Big East's, plus Pac 10 schools go out of their way to schedule OOC.

[Ken]

Before I read the rest of your post, this stuck out...

The BCS game (unless it's the title game) would then pit them against somebody who actually had to work to get there and then is pissed that they got stuck playing W. Virginia rather than being matched up against somebody who would elevate their program.

Yeah, just like UGA was pissed 'bout having to face 'em last year. Oh, and how PSU was pissed 'bout having to face a four loss FSU team that almost beat 'em. You're arguments are like a seive.

Two great examples, actually. In both games you had far better teams playing down to the level of their competition.

Your point also misses the main point which is that a Penn State actually had to fight through the regular season in order to get to that game. W. Virginia didn't. FSU didn't. Well, actually, FSU did, and they fought poorly and lost all over the place and they won the bid by default anyway.

Would W. Virginia have gotten into the Sugar if they actually played in the SEC all season long? You're lying your ass off if you say anything but, "No, of course not. They wouldn't have won the SEC if they actually had to play in it all season long."

No, that's YOUR opinion that PSU and UGA played down to their competition. You're really not getting this are you?
While your argument could be analogous to a gill net, your head must be like a rock. 'Cuz you're just being plain stubborn.

As far as your second point, I'm at least open-minded enough (and frankly, not an idiot) to understand that WVU would have had an equal chance to make a BCS game should they have been a member of the SEC last year. Only an idiot would float the argument that they wouldn't have, this after WVU jumped all over last year's SEC champ (gasp!).

Are you aware of just how elementary you sound, van?

[M2]

Two great examples, actually. In both games you had far better teams playing down to the level of their competition.

Annie, your screws are coming loose.

Care to explain your bowl game loss to Taco Tech then?

Annie, since you seem to know everything... you would then know that Cal's top 4 wide receivers were out of the game due to injury and they played redshirt freshman and true freshman at receiver who hadn't played all year.

Teford coached liked shit that game and it cost us. He called the game like we still had wide receivers that could catch. After the 1st quarter we were in the lead and running on them like crazy, with JJ Arrington having over 100 yards rushing in the 1st quarter alone. Then Tedford abandoned the running game, for what reason? I wish I knew.

[Van]

Ken, are you aware of just how P.C. you sound??

I'm simply willing to call a spade a spade and you're not. You want to try to be fair and even handed and open minded in a situation which simply cries out for castigation.

I feel no need to sugar coat it. W. Virginia (or Louisville) is going to get a far too easy ride into another BCS game this year. I'll never be as impressed with their 12-0 or 11-1 regular season as I'd be with a two loss Michigan or LSU squad. If they then ride into some lesser BCS bowl game with their whole season's validity on the line and they're pitted against a team on a downer who already fell short of their season's goal then nope, I'm still not going to be all that impressed with them.

Is that fair? Probably not. Do I care? Definitely not.

Gotta prove it to me all season long; that's my criteria. If that's not your criteria, fine, that's your prerogative.

[Van]

m2, every time Cal loses you claim the same two reasons: injuries, and an abandonment of the running game.

You never cop to the yards and points your D gave up which took the running game option away from your offense. Taco Tech scored at will against you and you weren't going to be able to counter that offensively with sustained seven minute drives on the ground.

You guys were pissed off and deflated at even having to play that game. Taco Tech was thrilled to be there and they were lying in wait for you. That's what killed you.

That, and the fact that you're Cal and you always choke in big games away from home when your conference is counting on you to represent...

[Terry in Crapchester]

I actually wasn't impressed at all with Georgia last season either but there sure as hell is truth in the notion that one team that's excited to play in a bowl game will likely play much better than another team who isn't excited to be there. We've seen this over and over again down through the years, where larger programs come out flat and play like crap in lesser bowl games against underdog teams who were thrilled to be there...

I just can't get excited by a team who gets to coast all season long and then gets up for one bowl game, especially when that bowl game is against a beaten down and dispirited team who had to tough it out all season long only to end up in a game they didn't want.

What? Are you saying that Georgia wasn't excited to play in the Sugar Bowl game last year? It was a de facto home game for them, and Georgia needed the win in the SEC championship game against a LSU squad that was favored going into that matchup. Without it, Georgia probably would have been headed to the Outback, Peach or Cotton Bowl -- a significant step down from the Sugar in any event. By early December, the Sugar Bowl was the best option available for Georgia, and I'm pretty sure that anyone connected to their program knew that.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

It'll always be much better than the Big East's

Ahh, so you'll "always be better" than the conference you amount to a pile of shit?

Props on that, I guess.

plus Pac 10 schools go out of their way to schedule OOC.

Yeah, that's kinda my point. They realize they really have to.

[Van]

I actually wasn't impressed at all with Georgia last season either but there sure as hell is truth in the notion that one team that's excited to play in a bowl game will likely play much better than another team who isn't excited to be there. We've seen this over and over again down through the years, where larger programs come out flat and play like crap in lesser bowl games against underdog teams who were thrilled to be there...

I just can't get excited by a team who gets to coast all season long and then gets up for one bowl game, especially when that bowl game is against a beaten down and dispirited team who had to tough it out all season long only to end up in a game they didn't want.

What? Are you saying that Georgia wasn't excited to play in the Sugar Bowl game last year? By early December, the Sugar Bowl was the best option available for Georgia, and I'm pretty sure that anyone connected to their program knew that.

True, which is why Georgia was a dispirited team by season's end. They had higher hopes than a best case scenario Sugar Bowl match up with W. Virginia.

[Van]

It'll always be much better than the Big East's

Ahh, so you'll "always be better" than the conference you amount to a pile of shit?

Props on that, I guess.

Anti West Coast bias (plus Cal's ineptness) being what it is, hey, we find our comforts where we can!

:-)

plus Pac 10 schools go out of their way to schedule OOC.

Yeah, that's kinda my point. They realize they really have to.

But they do it, is the point. From Stanford and Washington all the way up to Orgeon, Cal, UCLA and even USC the Pac 10 does it and they do it every year, regardless of their relative conference strength in any given year. They all try to schedule as best as they can, every year.

The Big East and the ACC really need to follow suit. In fact so do all the conferences, starting with the mandatory implementation of balanced home-road schedules.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

But they do it, is the point.

Of course they do. Their cream-of-the-crop will get snubbed come BCS bowl time if they don't. It doesn't impress me that they do what they need to do in order to maintain any respect at all.

A couple tough OOC games can't be compared to a routinely tested, season long conference schedule. Rarely does the Pac 10 provide that.

[Dinsdale]

But they do it, is the point. From Stanford and Washington all the way up to Orgeon, Cal, UCLA and even USC the Pac 10 does it and they do it every year, regardless of their relative conference strength in any given year. They all try to schedule as best as they can, every year.

Magoo...Van's getting pretty stupid up in this thread, so you probably shouldn't bail him out and make him sound coherent.

The anti-West Coast sentiment is so obvious to those of us on this side of the country, it's no longer even annoying...it's comical.

Let's go back 10-15 years or so...sure, most schools are going to have a down year or stretch of a couplefew years here and there...sure. Hell, even Nebraska has been off it's game, as a non-PAC example. But in those 10-15 years, Oregon, USC, UCLA, occasionally UDub, Wazzu, and even Oregon State with some monsterous defenses for a couple of years there, have absolutely brought the lumber.

I don't think the Lesser Portions of the country realize how stupid they sound when they hate on the Conference of Champions.

[Van]

Mgo, the Pac 10 provides it a helluva lot more than the Big East or the ACC, both of whom nevertheless schedule like dogshit OOC and both of whom also receive automatic BCS bids for their conference champs.

For that matter, the Big 12 is no better in conference than the Pac 10 and they too do not schedule OOC nearly as aggressively as the Pac 10. The Big 12 is usually one or two good teams and then a bunch of filler, and the filler rises to the top much less frequently than it does in the Pac 10.

In the Pac 10 we've seen every team but Stanford rise to the top of the conference and subsequent high rankings in recent years. The Big 12 simply can't make any such claim and the Big 12 is FAR more than the Pac 10 the home of the routine 66-2 beat down...

[Dinsdale]

For that matter, the Big 12 is no better in conference than the Pac 10 and they too do not schedule OOC nearly as aggressively as the Pac 10.

Over the last ten years or so, Nebraska has absolutely hidden in fear from scheduling a H&H with Oregon. They talk a mean game, but when it comes time to sign the paper, they suddenly grow a vagina. Florida State has pulled the same crap, as well....among other teams.

I guess the easiest way to maintain your air of superiority over the PAC is to never schedule a game in their houses. And it's not like PAC10 fan hasn't noticed that when USC was looking like it was in for some down years, everyone wanted to jump on that bandwagon...whoops. Just like everyone and their brother wants to play Washington the next few years...a proud program, that will be back soon -- their urban setting is too much of a recruiting tool to let them stay down. Hell, while they may fall short, even Kal has made changes to try and compete.


Which is why Ducksfan will always respect Oklahoma...even though they tried to back out of their Autzen trip.

But it's just a little odd that when a PAC10 team is looking like it's in for some down years, the SEC and Big12 suddenly want to schedule games...ponderous.

[Van]

For that matter, the Big 12 is no better in conference than the Pac 10 and they too do not schedule OOC nearly as aggressively as the Pac 10.

I guess the easiest way to maintain your air of superiority over the PAC is to never schedule a game in their houses. And it's not like PAC10 fan hasn't noticed that when USC was looking like it was in for some down years, everyone wanted to jump on that bandwagon...whoops. Just like everyone and their brother wants to play Washington the next few years...a proud program, that will be back soon -- their urban setting is too much of a recruiting tool to let them stay down. Hell, while they may fall short, even Kal has made changes to try and compete.


Which is why Ducksfan will always respect Oklahoma...even though they tried to back out of their Autzen trip.

But it's just a little odd that when a PAC10 team is looking like it's in for some down years, the SEC and Big12 suddenly want to schedule games...ponderous.

Excellent post.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Mgo, the Pac 10 provides it a helluva lot more than the Big East or the ACC, both of whom nevertheless schedule like dogshit OOC and both of whom also receive automatic BCS bids for their conference champs.

Big East, Big 12, sure. I'll give you those two.

But nah, east coast homerism or not, the Pac 10 ain't on the ACC's level. In one of their best years, maybe, but they'll never be consistently better than, what is now the newly formed the ACC.

Oh, and these aren't my "anti west coast" feelings here. In case you can't do the math, I'm also quite a few miles from the south, and the atlantic coast. I don't exactly have any ties to those schools, nor do I lump myself in with either of those regions.

If (and when) Miami and FSU get back to form, there's no reason that conference shouldn't be right up there with the SEC, or even better. Miami, FSU, and Va Tech are perennial powerhouses. The Pac 10 offers up SC...a pretty consistently ranked Oregon...and who else? That third spot is always recycled between programs that can't sustain success. Nobody ever fears anyone in your conference outside of SC, on any sort of national championship-type scale.

And fuck, you know your conference is pretty damn good when we're talking about how "shitty" a couple of ranked teams are, in Miami and FSU.

However, in Miami's case, I see them losing to Louisville tomorrow, likely rendering them unranked soon.

And ya, before you lambaste me for it, I decided to bring myself down to your level and throw in some conjecture.

[Van]

Mgo, it's not like you don't deal in conjecture all the time yourself, as do all of us, but hey, whatever makes you feel better about yourself is fine with me. You're a good enough poster, you've earned the right to luvs you some Mgo, by whatever means necessary.

:-)

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Yeah, I'll deal with conjecture if the argument's based on "future" events. In that case, you don't have much of a choice. Which is why, for the most part, I stay away from such debates.

Couldn't help myself this time.

[Dinsdale]

Couldn't help myself this time.

Yup...had to get that oh-so-trendy PAC10 haytin' in there.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

No, I had to "get it in there" because it was a ludicrous statement that warranted criticism.

The Pac 10's beyond the ACC? That's some serious homerism, right there.

I don't hate the Pac 10, and most people don't hate the Pac 10 any more than you guys homer the fuck out of them.

But no, I don't hate the Pac 10 and I don't hate the West Coast. It's a fuck of a lot better than the south, that's for damn sure.

Raise up off my junk dins, I've been pimping your little Duckies hard in this game tomorrow. They better pull through.

[Dinsdale]

They better pull through.

"Pull through"?

Hell, they're going to pull out, and sling it right in Soonerfan's eye.

[Sky]

Ahh how I love the occasional Dins sighting whenever Oregon is have a good season or right before a good game. I think you guys are going to get beat, again. How many time in a row is this, like 8?

[Terry in Crapchester]

No, I had to "get it in there" because it was a ludicrous statement that warranted criticism.

The Pac 10's beyond the ACC? That's some serious homerism, right there.

If you're talking top to bottom, I'll agree with that. In fact, you could've made an argument for that even before the ACC expanded, ERRR, raided the Big East.

But if you're talking about the strength of the conference champion (which apparently is the way some people here rate the strength of an entire conference), it's unlikely that the ACC champ will be stronger than the Pac-10 champ this year. In fact, you'd have to go back to '00 for the last time it went down like that.

[Dinsdale]

Ahh how I love the occasional Dins sighting whenever Oregon is have a good season or right before a good game.

You don't remember my epic "Onterrio Smith WILL win the Heisman" posts a few years ago?

Blame your own memory for that.

I'm usually pretty quiet as I read this here forum(you're welcome-btw), but since Soonerfan is at minimum a large cog in the engine that drives this place, and OU is about to take a humbling...well, here I am. Matter of fact, my name was brought up in regards to this game and the associated sig bets, before I ever posted on the subject...but don't let FACTS get in the way of...whatever it was you were getting at.

If you're somehow implying that my support/homerism for U of O has wavered at any point in my years on these boards...well... you're straight up LYING. And I'm fairly certain there's some old-timers on these forums who will vouch for that.

This is one of the more highly-anticipated weekends in CFB in years...not just on my end, but it's a weekend that features more matchups between ranked teams than there's been in something like 13 years. That said, what should I be doing...waiting for monday morning to call my shot and make my predictions?

I think you guys are going to get beat, again. How many time in a row is this, like 8?

After tomorrow, the series will stand at 6-1 in OU's favor, although 4 of those games were played from 1975 and prior.

[Ken]

Screw it, van. You're obviously too obtuse, stubborn, and all-'round ignorant to carry on a legit discussion 'bout WVU.




When I googled 'tunnel vision', this also appeared. Not sure what the hell it is, but I'm pretty sure it also fits you well.

[Van]

Ken, you offer nothing except bleating out "W. Virginia beat Georgia!" over and over so until you address all the other things leading up to that game (and their schedule this season) you offer nothing at all here.

You're impressed by W. Virginia. You think their little bowl victory over an average and dispirited Georgia team validates them to the point that they deserve high rankings and a possible shot at the BCS title game. You think their overall schedule merits it.

Great.

Everyone's free to have idiotic takes and this one's yours. Enjoy your mulligan.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

The Big East certainly can't be compared to the SEC, ACC, or Big Ten, but there are definitely some teams in that conference that will test WVU. Some solid teams.

Too many people have let the polls make every decision for them. Of course, some folks who reside on the west coast don't have any other baramoter for decision making, because their regional coverage obligations won't allow for them to see many of these teams.

Yeah, the system only allows for 25 teams to be "ranked," but that doesn't mean the talent stops at #26. There's a lot of good football teams out there, and talent is all over the freaking country. How the fuck else can Air Force go into Neyland Stadium and fall a two point conversion shy of winning? Being tested isn't just limited to going against the top ranked teams in the country.

[Dinsdale]

Of course, some folks who reside on the west coast don't have any other baramoter for decision making, because their regional coverage obligations won't allow for them to see many of these teams.

I guess I'm not "some folks" then. Although I haven't been able to capitalize on it much this season, I can flip on the tube at 9:30AM in the morning and start watching something of the East Coast variety -- seems like a lot of Tennessee games, lots of FSU, Georgia, every once in a while Auburn....probably not too far removed from the mix you get where you are, although I have no idea on this, as I don't give a poop about what games are on at your house. And I don't have to stay in front of a TV all saturday night to see the West Coast late games. Usually 2 networks plus whatever cable stations, so there's multiple games to choose from, generally.

And there's that dish thing, if I was really into it...but I get plenty of games as it is.

So there.

[Terry in Crapchester]

I guess I'm not "some folks" then. Although I haven't been able to capitalize on it much this season, I can flip on the tube at 9:30AM in the morning . . .

Dins awake at 9:30 AM? I call bullshit.