| Author |
Topic:
The College Football Thread
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Jedi Greg Maddux
Registered:
Aug '99
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Date Posted:
6/22 3:27pm
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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Obese_1_Ka-Blooey posted:
The most exciting thing for me so far is the Pac 10 vs. Big 10 showdown early next season. There's both a battle between the top teams in their respective conferences (U$C and Ohio St.) and a battle between second-tier teams Cal and Michigan St. I'm not saying that there's as much trashtalking between Pac 10/Big 10 as between Pac 10/SEC (which UCLA vs. Tennessee is for), but it will be interesting.
And yes, I just called my Bears a second-tier Pac 10 team. We'll be lucky to repeat our 7-6 record with such an inexperienced offense. Especially if Longshore wins the starting job again. Longshot + noob receivers = INT. Running won't be an issue, though the Bears will probably platoon Jahvid Best with Tracy Slocum or Shane Vereen; this would end our 6 year streak of having a 1000+ yard runner.
Luckily, Cal probably has the most solid linebacking core in the conference led by Zack Follett, Anthony Felder, and Worrell Williams. Switching to a 3-4 defense will certainly benefit the defense. Having 4 linemen last year didn't do anything, so it won't be much worse to eliminate one of them. 
While I won't go so far as to say Cal will be night-and-day better than last year, I think the PAC-10 is just soft enough this year for Cal to save face after being so disappointing last year, considering some publications had them as a national title-type team. Cal was insanely talented last year, but I think it ultimately rests on Jeff Tedford's shoulders this year. I know they had injury problems, but if Tedford really can coach (I think he's no longer the "it" coach when it comes to helmet NCAA teams and the NFL) then he'll be able to adjust to whatever adversity Cal goes through this year. I don't think Cal will be *quite* as talented this year, but they'll still be good. Anything less than eight regular season wins will be disappointing, and Tedford may lose his job if he has a repeat of last year, or worse.
Watch out when Colorado State comes to Berkeley this September. Cal almost dropped last year's game in Fort Collins, and CSU actually has a competent new coaching staff and a new attitude to go with it. I'm not going to say that the Rams will pull off the upset, but Cal may be in for a battle again. If Billy Farris is decent and some receivers emerge (other than TE Kory Sperry) I think CSU will surprise some folks.
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Obese_1_Ka-Blooey
Registered:
Jan '06
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Date Posted:
7/1 5:00pm
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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Jedi Greg Maddux posted:
While I won't go so far as to say Cal will be night-and-day better than last year, I think the PAC-10 is just soft enough this year for Cal to save face after being so disappointing last year, considering some publications had them as a national title-type team. Cal was insanely talented last year, but I think it ultimately rests on Jeff Tedford's shoulders this year. I know they had injury problems, but if Tedford really can coach (I think he's no longer the "it" coach when it comes to helmet NCAA teams and the NFL) then he'll be able to adjust to whatever adversity Cal goes through this year. I don't think Cal will be *quite* as talented this year, but they'll still be good. Anything less than eight regular season wins will be disappointing, and Tedford may lose his job if he has a repeat of last year, or worse.
Watch out when Colorado State comes to Berkeley this September. Cal almost dropped last year's game in Fort Collins, and CSU actually has a competent new coaching staff and a new attitude to go with it. I'm not going to say that the Rams will pull off the upset, but Cal may be in for a battle again. If Billy Farris is decent and some receivers emerge (other than TE Kory Sperry) I think CSU will surprise some folks.
I agree. Even though Cal has certainly "downgraded" in their offensive game, a shot at winning 8+ games, as you said, is quite reasonable. The rest of the conference, save U$C, has also lost a lot of talent, and quite possibly will be very weak in comparison to the other big conferences. Tedford seems to have "cooled off" in some eyes, but he's still a genius for having brought the team where it is today. I can still remember the years immediately preceding the Tedford era when winning 5 games was an accomplishment for Cal. We underachieved last season, but Cal fans are still very proud of the job that Tedford has done.
One of the biggest reasons why Colorado State hung with Cal for so long last year was that our defense was incredibly shabby. Our D-line was depleted, and the secondary was still a work in progress. I think the improvements in those areas this year will help Cal come the game vs. CSU. Offensively, in last year's game vs. CSU, Cal tried too hard to utilize DeSean Jackson after his monster performances earlier in the year. While it payed off a bit when he rushed for a 70 yard TD, Cal didn't spread the ball around enough. With a receiver core that's totally unknown and a plethora of running backs, expect Cal to mix it up more on offense, which can and will help against a team like Colorado State.
Oh, and speaking of DeSean, the PS2 cover of NCAAF 09 is sweet. 
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s65horsey
Title: EUC Manager
SWC Lil' Sis
Registered:
Jun '06
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Date Posted:
7/1 7:58pm
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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Texas A&M's offense should be at its peak, but our defense is brand new. This is probably going to be a frustrating year.
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Rogue...Jedi
Title: Arena Manager
Registered:
Jan '00
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Date Posted:
7/1 9:13pm
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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Carolina's going to be the opposite of that. Our defense should be fine, especially getting MLB Jasper Brinkley and DL Nathan Pepper back from injury... but our offense? One very good WR in Kenny McKinley, a solid running back in Mike Davis, a big question mark at QB - don't even know who's going to start there, but maybe Chris Smelley? - and who knows what else. Not what you think of when you think "Steve Spurrier"
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rechedelphar
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
7/10 11:45am
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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Has any one the new NCAA Football 09 commercial. The one that features Clemson??
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Jedi Greg Maddux
Registered:
Aug '99
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Date Posted:
7/16 9:10pm
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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I think Clemson's getting too much love this year. I know it has partly to do with the quality (or lack thereof) in the ACC and Clemson is certainly a talented team, but I really think Tommy Bowden is the one holding the Tigers back. He's been there for nearly a decade and has little to show for it. He's never reached 10 wins once (he blew his chance to do that last year in the Peach Bowl) and if he can't do that this year (for crying out loud, there's 2 I-AA/FCS teams and home game against Duke on the schedule) the already-antsy Tiger fans will be calling for his head.
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DarthIntegral
Title: Manager
SWC & Arena
Registered:
Jul '05
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Date Posted:
7/17 5:53am
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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I agree with you, JGM. I can't believe the outcry against him hasn't been louder. How many times has he squandered talented squads by losing multiple games to teams that were underdogs?
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rechedelphar
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
7/17 6:27am
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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This year is the year. We have Davis and Spiller who will both be amazing and Harper coming back. An ACC title is really a necesity this year for Bowden. I think the perfect defnition of the bowden era was the Boston College game last year. The atmosphere was unbelievable, everything felt right. we scored on the opening drive, but somehow lost. I really don't know how we lost that game.
When we used to have average talent, Bowden would loose a game he shouldn't like to Duke or Wake but also win a game we shouldn't like in the Orange Bowl vs Miami in 04 or vs FSU.
Now however Clemson has the talent to win every game, last year there wasn't a single game where I thought "we can not win this" and this year should be no different.
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Clemson football: 20-17 loss to Maryland, next: vs Wake Forest
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Rogue...Jedi
Title: Arena Manager
Registered:
Jan '00
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Date Posted:
7/17 7:31am
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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Clemson's had the talent for a while, they just can't actually win. I'll believe they can win this year when I see it.
And rech, yes, I've seen that horrid commercial.
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rechedelphar
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
7/17 1:31pm
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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they just can't actually win
pretty funny
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A more defined Southern poster with a swag like mine.
West Bromwich Albion Baggies
1-0 win over Fulham , next: vs Manchester United
Clemson football: 20-17 loss to Maryland, next: vs Wake Forest
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Onoto
Title: Risk Host
Registered:
Oct '04
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Date Posted:
7/17 1:35pm
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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DarthIntegral posted:
I agree with you, JGM. I can't believe the outcry against him hasn't been louder.
I think his last name might have something to do with it.
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Rogue...Jedi
Title: Arena Manager
Registered:
Jan '00
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Date Posted:
7/17 1:38pm
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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I'll still take Bobby any day 
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rechedelphar
Registered:
Mar '04
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Date Posted:
7/17 3:32pm
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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In his prime, but FSU has gone nowhere but south in the last few years. Clemson winning 3 of 4 vs them and a few 6-6 years thrown in and subpar recruiting. I don't think that Bobby over Tommy at this point at this point would be wise.
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Hey never have you seen in your lifetime,
A more defined Southern poster with a swag like mine.
West Bromwich Albion Baggies
1-0 win over Fulham , next: vs Manchester United
Clemson football: 20-17 loss to Maryland, next: vs Wake Forest
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Jedi Greg Maddux
Registered:
Aug '99
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Date Posted:
7/17 6:01pm
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
- Date Edited:
7/17 6:02pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Jedi Greg Maddux
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I remember a time not all that long ago when Bobby owned his son in the Bowden Bowl, now Tommy is getting his shots in before Bobby hangs it up.
The thing about FSU is that the overall quality of their coaching staff is showing. Aside from Bobby (who only does a limited amount of actual coaching anyway) and OC Jimbo Fisher (seen by many as B. Bowden's successor), they have a bunch of average (at best) assistant coaches, and now they're facing a LOT more competition, not only do they have Miami, Florida, and heck, most of the SEC and ACC to deal with, but now they have South Florida, UCF, CUSA, Sun Belt and even I-AA teams looking to make things that much more difficult for FSU. All FSU has going for it right now is that it's now beating Miami on a consistent basis, but that's only because the Hurricanes have major problems of their own. I don't see either FSU or Miami being national title good for quite a while.
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Obese_1_Ka-Blooey
Registered:
Jan '06
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Date Posted:
7/23 12:09pm
Subject:
RE: The College Football Thread
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Thought rechedelphar would be happy to know that rivals.com has Clemson ranked #9 in their preseason countdown.
Rech, how bad will they choke this year?
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California Football: 3-1 (1-0 Pac 10); Next game: October 4 vs. Arizona St.
Jahvid Best: 59 Car, 421 Yards, 7.1 YPC, 4 TD (Injured)
Roll On You Bears!
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