CuseCubFan69

I thought Kendall was hitting 287 for some reason. This isn't my favorite lineup but it's what have to root for so let's take it Cubs!

The Wolverines are 2-8 the last five years in the final two games of the season (i.e., Ohio State and bowl game). That's pathetic and unacceptable for a program of Michigan's ilk. I wonder how a lot of teams would have done playing OSU and then a bowl game record wise though. IMO, the OSU coach has Carr's number just as Carr had the previous OSU coaches. For many many years Michigan and OSU led the Big 10 and ran up scores of victories on the rest and once in a blue moon one of the other 8 would have a career year and win the Big 10. I agree that with their resources they should always be a top 25 team but they have to be careful and not fall into the Alabama (Bear) trap and go crazy firing coaches too quickly once Carr is let go.

Whoa....Eyre has a player option? Does that complicate things when it involves moving him? Of course, is it possible that he was injured and he's now over that injury? He was pretty effective last year wasn't he?

That hopefully increases his value and Hendry can sell high this off season.

Link I expect ND to win this game. Michigan has nothing. Hart or heart alone will not win this game. When was the last time Michigan finished outside of the top 20/25? What's worse is that they (and Florida St I believe) have the longest non losing seasons (500 or better) streaks going.

I don't feel like going back for all of those years but just to look at last year, that 11-1 Louisville team was ranked behind 12-1 Florida (No. 2) and 11-1 Michigan (No. 3). In addition, 10-2 WVU (No. 13) and 10-2 Rutgers (No. 16) were ranked behind USC and Auburn. Might as well throw 11-2 Wake Forest (No. 15) because they are certainly not a traditional power. Most definitely there are plenty of instances where Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and ACC teams with the same record get voted over Big East and Pac-10 teams. Just like there are instances where BE and Pac-10 teams will be ranked ahead of the other four conference teams. It happens, it's all subjective. And Cuse isn't arguing (far as I can tell) traditional powers being overrated, so much as regions and conferences being overrated. Wake Forest is in the south and he's said the southern teams are given the nod. Thus, they don't count against the argument. That's where I have the problem. I don't think the bias is for and against conferences and regions so much as certain teams. The teams I mentioned in my earlier post are generally given more benefit of the doubt than others even in their region. It's a team bias, not a conference or region bias. You are right, it is more specific teams than regions as the favoritism due to past performance and history but if you notice, their ain't no bias towards any eastern schools, positive that is. We might pop ahead of a surprise Big 10 team that is doing well when not predicted to do so but that's about it.

I'm jealous of a team that can call up/have players from their minor league system and they hit 20 or more home runs in a season.

I wonder if Wilken would jump over if the Pirates take the Jays guy? I certainly hope not, but with the uncertainty surrounding the Cubs' ownership I could see him wanting job certainty rather than risking the possibility of the new owner cleaning house. I also wonder if MacPhail might see an opportunity to raid the Cubs' front office. Let them raid away! :D I hope a new owner is found soon and get this doubt our of the way ASAP.

Same here. Going into the bottom of the second, I decided to spend the day skydiving instead, and it was still only 2-2 when I left, but I knew it would only get worse and I'm glad to have been away. I hope Sean Marshall gets to take his spot back now. Marshall has never been there before, and hes never started a game in September. Plus hes not a gamer, or a winner, so Marshall needs to stay in the bullpen, so his little rookie head doesnt explode from the pressures of pitching in Sept......... Marshall's just not gritty enough. Need more grit. GRITS. Maybe he used instant grits instead of learning how to make them from scratch.

I needed a laugh...thanks truffle!

I wonder if Wilken would jump over if the Pirates take the Jays guy?

Let's say the 6 BCS conference winners go. 2 spots left. Not a chance in horse hockey would the BE get one of the 2 remaining spots. That gives the SEC, Big 10 or 12 another team. Last year a 10-2 Rutgers or WV wouldn't have been seriously considered. The last 2 would have been either Michigan, Texas or LSU. Why, they travel. What does travel mean? Big money. GOB's like big money as does any businessman. It's rigged brother, trust me. That's just part of it. Who makes the decisions? It sure isn't anyone from out this way. Where are the bowls? Not here. Yes, they are not in the midwest either but the Big 10 has a heck of a lot of power when it comes to collegian football decisions. Just look at the Rose Bowl and how they won't give that deal up. It's tradition and a heck of a lot of money....and power. I realize the current system is based off of how much profit the college presidents can rack up - that's why there's no chance of a playoff system. But again, if there were a true playoff system, you would not rely on polls. Therefore, you would have teams earning their way into the playoffs, not making it in because some coaches and sportswriters - the vast majority of whom watch a very small number of games - think you're the best. Now I realize eliminating polls and creating a playoff system is extremely idealistic and, like I've said, has no chance of happening, but I argue eliminating any type of bias while you still rely 100% on opinions, is just as idealistic and unlikely to happen. How do you pick the 7th or 8th team? What do you do with a Boise St or Utah and this year maybe Hawaii? A playoff system doesn't have to be eight teams. It could be four, eight, 12, 16, or more. And there are multiple different ideas that have been brought up for choosing teams all the way from a college basketball-esque selection committee to every conference's division winner goes and gets a home game and the second place team in each goes in as a wild card of sorts. Athlon had the best idea I've seen for a playoff system 2 years ago. I'll try to find the magazine because I can't remember exactly how they set it up, but it's definitely doable. Athlon's playoff had 32 teams, but could easily have been cut to 16 and it kept together the current bowls (playoff games were based in current bowl sites). I've seen that but I don't remember the exact details. One of the things about college football that I love is the 1 and out type of thing that goes on now. I love that every week matters but the creampuff schedule thing just makes the playoff more appealing. It's all semantics at times when we debate what is a creampuff and what's not as jman and I had earlier. As you wrote, the league winner but that sometimes causes a problem due to playoffs (7-5 team wins Championship) and certain years the Big 10 (due to top teams not playing each other).

Let's say the 6 BCS conference winners go. 2 spots left. Not a chance in horse hockey would the BE get one of the 2 remaining spots. That gives the SEC, Big 10 or 12 another team. Last year a 10-2 Rutgers or WV wouldn't have been seriously considered. The last 2 would have been either Michigan, Texas or LSU. Why, they travel. What does travel mean? Big money. GOB's like big money as does any businessman. It's rigged brother, trust me. That's just part of it. Who makes the decisions? It sure isn't anyone from out this way. Where are the bowls? Not here. Yes, they are not in the midwest either but the Big 10 has a heck of a lot of power when it comes to collegian football decisions. Just look at the Rose Bowl and how they won't give that deal up. It's tradition and a heck of a lot of money....and power. All bias aside, if there was a playoff last year LSU likely would've won it. Travel or not, they were deserving. We'll never know. But, the only teams that beat the top 3 BE were in the BE and until they are beat what makes LSU better? LSU was talented yes but that perception is always in their and teams like them favor. It always is...always. What big time teams did those three top BE teams even play? Also, Florida didn't lose to anybody outside the SEC. What makes them any less deserving? Bias often goes two ways my friend. I totally agree. Who got to play OSU by the way? I'm not saying a BE team was more deserving it's the 1 loss and their gone that bugged me. Michigan had 1 loss and people were throwing a fit that they belonged in the BCS Champ game, I heard no one mention Louisville. Yes the bias goes both ways, against the BE and for the SEC in this case. You look in the past 40 years on how many eastern teams with the same record as a SEC, Big 10 or 12 team and finished #1 ahead of them. I can count them on my closed fist but look how many of those teams finished ahead of a team with a better record (1 loss or less) from the east and you won't have enough fingers or toes.

Let's say the 6 BCS conference winners go. 2 spots left. Not a chance in horse hockey would the BE get one of the 2 remaining spots. That gives the SEC, Big 10 or 12 another team. Last year a 10-2 Rutgers or WV wouldn't have been seriously considered. The last 2 would have been either Michigan, Texas or LSU. Why, they travel. What does travel mean? Big money. GOB's like big money as does any businessman. It's rigged brother, trust me. That's just part of it. Who makes the decisions? It sure isn't anyone from out this way. Where are the bowls? Not here. Yes, they are not in the midwest either but the Big 10 has a heck of a lot of power when it comes to collegian football decisions. Just look at the Rose Bowl and how they won't give that deal up. It's tradition and a heck of a lot of money....and power. I realize the current system is based off of how much profit the college presidents can rack up - that's why there's no chance of a playoff system. But again, if there were a true playoff system, you would not rely on polls. Therefore, you would have teams earning their way into the playoffs, not making it in because some coaches and sportswriters - the vast majority of whom watch a very small number of games - think you're the best. Now I realize eliminating polls and creating a playoff system is extremely idealistic and, like I've said, has no chance of happening, but I argue eliminating any type of bias while you still rely 100% on opinions, is just as idealistic and unlikely to happen. How do you pick the 7th or 8th team? What do you do with a Boise St or Utah and this year maybe Hawaii?

Let's say the 6 BCS conference winners go. 2 spots left. Not a chance in horse hockey would the BE get one of the 2 remaining spots. That gives the SEC, Big 10 or 12 another team. Last year a 10-2 Rutgers or WV wouldn't have been seriously considered. The last 2 would have been either Michigan, Texas or LSU. Why, they travel. What does travel mean? Big money. GOB's like big money as does any businessman. It's rigged brother, trust me. That's just part of it. Who makes the decisions? It sure isn't anyone from out this way. Where are the bowls? Not here. Yes, they are not in the midwest either but the Big 10 has a heck of a lot of power when it comes to collegian football decisions. Just look at the Rose Bowl and how they won't give that deal up. It's tradition and a heck of a lot of money....and power. All bias aside, if there was a playoff last year LSU likely would've won it. Travel or not, they were deserving. We'll never know. But, the only teams that beat the top 3 BE were in the BE and until they are beat what makes LSU better? LSU was talented yes but that perception is always in their and teams like them favor. It always is...always.

A nice win but let's see if he can get a 10 win season there.

Let's say the 6 BCS conference winners go. 2 spots left. Not a chance in horse hockey would the BE get one of the 2 remaining spots. That gives the SEC, Big 10 or 12 another team. Last year a 10-2 Rutgers or WV wouldn't have been seriously considered. The last 2 would have been either Michigan, Texas or LSU. Why, they travel. What does travel mean? Big money. GOB's like big money as does any businessman. It's rigged brother, trust me. That's just part of it. Who makes the decisions? It sure isn't anyone from out this way. Where are the bowls? Not here. Yes, they are not in the midwest either but the Big 10 has a heck of a lot of power when it comes to collegian football decisions. Just look at the Rose Bowl and how they won't give that deal up. It's tradition and a heck of a lot of money....and power.

Because they (gob) control the bowl system. If there was a playoff system last year, Who was going to go? OSU, Florida, USC and Oklahoma/Michigan. Did you see a BE team there? Once one lost they were booted out. Why? Penn State blows through the Big 10 and then has a somewhat close game in the bowl, this effected them even then. They are no longer #1, Nebraska is. If you look throughout college football history for the past 40 years or so you'll see the discrepancies of this. A lot of posters get peeved on how ND always gets the benefit of doubt but the BE is the bastard son of college football and the PAC 10 isn't far behind. Just look through the polls throughout the last 40 years and tell me when you see an eastern team with the same record as the ones I've mentioned be ranked ahead of them. The last time Syracuse was undefeated in 87 they were still ranked 4th and behind a 1 loss gob team. Heck, Florida and Auburn have moaned about this in the resent past but they've also benefited from this when it came to ties with an eastern team. Penn State didn't blow through Indiana and Chris Dittoe. That's what cost them the title. Go Hoosiers. :D That's right, they didn't blow them out like the rest of the league.

Well, I'm hoping it's SC or Ark!

They mocked that clown sack dance of Merriman rather than posing. Something I never really got about that. Merriman is also not being "classy" in the first place on LT terms then. Hell Merriman wouldnt even shake hands before the coin toss when the captains took the field Roidrage.

Plus this is a big game for both teams state wise. I wonder what the undre/over is going to be? Heck, even when Tennessee plays Vandy it's a good rivalry game. I'd put the over/under at 100. It might be higher scoring than one of their basketball games.

Because they (gob) control the bowl system. If there was a playoff system last year, Who was going to go? OSU, Florida, USC and Oklahoma/Michigan. Did you see a BE team there? Once one lost they were booted out. Why? Penn State blows through the Big 10 and then has a somewhat close game in the bowl, this effected them even then. They are no longer #1, Nebraska is. If you look throughout college football history for the past 40 years or so you'll see the discrepancies of this. A lot of posters get peeved on how ND always gets the benefit of doubt but the BE is the bastard son of college football and the PAC 10 isn't far behind. Just look through the polls throughout the last 40 years and tell me when you see an eastern team with the same record as the ones I've mentioned be ranked ahead of them. The last time Syracuse was undefeated in 87 they were still ranked behind a 1 loss gob team. Heck, Florida and Auburn have moaned about this in the resent past but they've also benefited from this when it came to ties with an eastern team.

I agree but when you are using something that works to get there and then go back to what doesn't, it just doesn't make sense to me. Work on the push for 2 yards on Monday and after but right now it isn't working and you do what you have to do to succeed.

I just don't understand the mentality of not taking advantage of what a defense is giving you. It's a stupid pee contest to run the ball when it's 2--3--4th and short.

I'm glad they decided to run after the success they had passing.