Texas bowl teams

[austro]

Well, things are pretty unsatisfactory so far:

UT: stunk it up
Tech: looked good and won
Rice: stunk it up
A&M: stinking it up

I guess we're relying on Baylor and North Texas to bail us out tomorrow.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Coogs vs Vandy?!?!?

[austro]

Coogs vs Vandy?!?!?

Sorry, forgot about that one (but why is anybody but the creme de la creme playing after Jan 1?). On the other hand, UHou is currently kicking the shit out of UConn in hoops.

[chuck]

I didn't even know that Duke fielded a football team.

[subnuclear]

I didn't even know that Duke fielded a football team.

I used to go to games when I worked there. They have a nice stadium and there were always plenty of good seats. Usually free, too. This is the first time I've seen them lead at the half.

[Uncle Charlie]

Geez, the Aggie defense is epically bad.  That said, they came up with one spectacular stop/score tonight.

[BizidyDizidy]

What's the post-JFF plan?

[Mr. Happy]

That playground touchdown pass play of Manziel's was epic.

[HudsonHawk]

Sorry, forgot about that one (but why is anybody but the creme de la creme playing after Jan 1?).

Why is anyone playing after Jan 1st?

[drew corleone]

What's the post-JFF plan?

5-star QB recruits.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Why is anyone playing after Jan 1st?

ESPN. Money.

[ybbodeus]

UCF's Bortles is the qb to watch tonight. If he declares for the draft, the Jags are projected to take him with the 3rd pick. Hope he returns for his senior year, because the Texans won't pick him over Bridgewater.  Hate to think of Bortles on a division rival.

[Waldo]

Why is anyone playing after Jan 1st?

I was waiting for this to come up.  Happy new year, HH.

[Ebby Calvin]

Why is anyone playing after Jan 1st?

All due respect, but why does this matter?  I'm genuinely curious if it's something more than just "it's a recent thing."

[HudsonHawk]

All due respect, but why does this matter?  I'm genuinely curious if it's something more than just "it's a recent thing."

1.  Tradition.  I like the idea of the season ending on New Year's Day.  I like that it's a reward for those teams that have done especially well.  If you're not going to have a National Championship, and you want to stick to the bowl tradition, then stick to the bowl tradition.

2.  Timing.  New Year's Day is a holiday for most people.  January 5th, 6th, 8th, 20th, what have you, is typically not.  When you have to go back to work and back to your everyday schedule, it makes it more difficult.  Furthermore, they're forced to have them late in the evenings because they're on work days.  I have to get up at 4:30 am the day after the Sugar Bowl this year as well as the BCS Championship game.  I can't stay up and watch them, even if I wanted to.  Other years, the other bowls are the same problem. 

I realize it's all the rage to say "HH just wants to be different" around here, and if it makes you feel better, knock yourself out.  But I have my reasons.

[HudsonHawk]

UCF's Bortles is the qb to watch tonight. If he declares for the draft, the Jags are projected to take him with the 3rd pick. Hope he returns for his senior year, because the Texans won't pick him over Bridgewater.  Hate to think of Bortles on a division rival.

Word is, the Texans are not big on Bridgewater...not at all.  The word is not only is he not 6'2" or whatever he's listed, but that he's really under 200 lbs too...possibly even under 190.  

On a current note, UCF is stepping on their dick.  Three turnovers in their last three possessions, including two picks by Bortles.  But I like what he brings.

[Ebby Calvin]

I realize it's all the rage to say "HH just wants to be different" around here, and if it makes you feel better, knock yourself out.  But I have my reasons.

Not my intent in the least, but it is kinda fun to say.

Your #2 resonates with me the most.  The holiday atmosphere shrinks into the background quickly (and thankfully) once we get past January 1st, and agree that it'd be cool to cap the whole thing off with a NC game.  But it is kinda nice to have something to look forward to once work settles in.

[austro]

Word is, the Texans are not big on Bridgewater...not at all.  The word is not only is he not 6'2" or whatever he's listed, but that he's really under 200 lbs too...possibly even under 190. 

On a current note, UCF is stepping on their dick.  Three turnovers in their last three possessions, including two picks by Bortles.  But I like what he brings.

I'm not a Bridgewater believer, and I'm not impressed by what I'm seeing in Bortles. I wonder if you could snake-charm somebody into trading a real QB for the 1st pick.

[HudsonHawk]

But it is kinda nice to have something to look forward to once work settles in.

For me, it's called "Spring Training".  It's a little longer wait, though.

[HudsonHawk]

I'm not a Bridgewater believer, and I'm not impressed by what I'm seeing in Bortles. I wonder if you could snake-charm somebody into trading a real QB for the 1st pick.

I think everyone is coming to the same conclusion...you've got a bunch of 2nd QBs out there, and there's not much to distinguish one over the other.  No one stands out, and you can get one version or the other in the second round, particularly at the 33rd pick.  All the while, they keep saying Clowney may be the biggest impact defensive player to come out of school in the last 30 years. 

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

What's the post-JFF plan?

Kenny Hill next year, and the #1 QB from class of 2014 after that. Then again, we all know how highly touted QB prospects usually work out.

[jbm]

All the while, they keep saying Clowney may be the biggest impact defensive player to come out of school in the last 30 years. 

Watched Clowney today. He is physically special, but his motor (or brain) runs real slow.  I hope they don't use the top pick on him. 

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

North Texas won. Mean Green is still a dumb name.

[Mr. Happy]

I agree with HH about the bowl games. How long will it be before college football plays a game in February? I predict that the playoff system will drag it out that long one day.

[HudsonHawk]

Watched Clowney today. He is physically special, but his motor (or brain) runs real slow.  I hope they don't use the top pick on him. 

He mailed it in yesterday, for sure.  Is that the only game you've seen him play?

[drew corleone]

I agree with HH about the bowl games. How long will it be before college football plays a game in February? I predict that the playoff system will drag it out that long one day.

That would require a 32-team playoff, and I don't see that happening. When they eventually go beyond 4 teams I would think they'd just change the bracket structure to play the first round(s) at home sites prior to Christmas.

[jbm]

He mailed it in yesterday, for sure.  Is that the only game you've seen him play?

The only game I focused on him. I saw SC earlier in the year, but at that time, I didn't expect him to be available to the Texans.

[Mr. Happy]

That would require a 32-team playoff, and I don't see that happening. When they eventually go beyond 4 teams I would think they'd just change the bracket structure to play the first round(s) at home sites prior to Christmas.

I hope that you're correct. However, I still fear that I'll be right.

[drew corleone]

The NFL only plays one game in February, and college football knows it cannot compete with the NFL.

But looking at this as rationally as I am comfortable doing, given that we're discussing college football:

A. No one in charge seems particularly eager to even expand the field beyond 4 for the foreseeable future (i.e., the current contract, which runs through 2026).
B. Even if the money dictated that expansion is in everyone's best interests, the current structure's latest championship game occurs on January 13, and it's only that late because they have determined that Monday night is the best night for a title game (see: "not wanting to compete with the NFL," I assume) and are comfortable with an 11-day gap from semifinal to final. In keeping that same general process, opening playoff games on 13/31 and 1/1, subsequent rounds starting on the first Monday that is six or more days after the semifinals, and continuing on from there) it would take a 32-team field to push it into February.
C. Avoiding head-to-head competition with the NFL - especially during the playoffs - would require Thursday/Friday/early Saturday games, which are fine for the regular season, but probably don't bode well for attendance and tv ratings in January.

I get that pessimism is your thing and all, but this particular "fear" is misplaced, IMO.

[Mr. Happy]

I get that pessimism is your thing and all, but this particular "fear" is misplaced, IMO.

I am definitely not pessimistic or even cynical. I just know what the NCAA did with the basketball playoffs.

[drew corleone]

What? Created maybe the best three-week spectacle in sports? We should be so lucky in college football.

[HudsonHawk]

What? Created maybe the best three-week spectacle in sports? We should be so lucky in college football.

Until an unranked team wins it all, or even a team from a third rate conference makes the final.  You really think that will prevent the pissing and moaning?  The BCS is designed to specially eliminate that possibility.  Probably the only redeeming quality it has.

As for March Madness itself, it's gone straight down the johnnyflusher, along with college basketball in general.  But that's a different discussion.

[Mr. Happy]

What? Created maybe the best three-week spectacle in sports? We should be so lucky in college football.

I was talking about the massive expansion of the field over the years.

[drew corleone]

Haven't really watched it the past few years, HH, but that's because I think college basketball is borderline unwatchable. It does still seem to crown a highly ranked team almost every year, though. Maybe 68 is too many, but a lower percentage of NCAA bball teams make the tourney than do the NBA or NHL playoffs, though I know both of those are criticized for their all-inclusiveness.

I'm also far from a BCS hater, and I think it has done an admirable job of giving some level of credibility to the "MNC." I would eventually like to see the college football playoff include 12 teams, have home fields through the semifinals, and give the top four seeds byes, but obviously any system is going to have flaws. Show me a league outside of EPL that doesn't. MLB probably comes closest with the new balanced schedule, the the wild card play-in is pretty silly, IMO, as are best-of-5 WC series (though to a lesser extent).

[juliogotay]

I don't see anything balanced about the MLB schedule. There was a time when there was a beautiful symmetry to the schedule but that was totally jettisoned with inter-league play. I blame poverty, disease and world conflict on inter-league play.

[Ty in Tampa]

I blame poverty, disease and world conflict on inter-league play Bud Selig.

[juliogotay]

I stand corrected. I wasn't looking at the big picture.

[Limey]

On a current note, UCF is stepping on their dick.  Three turnovers in their last three possessions, including two picks by Bortles.  But I like what he brings.

IntanSchaubles?

[Limey]

I'm not a Bridgewater believer, and I'm not impressed by what I'm seeing in Bortles. I wonder if you could snake-charm somebody into trading a real QB for the 1st pick.

The Texans already have a JFF/Bortles-type QB, except the one they have already has half a season of NFL experience.  It would be dumb to use a high pick on Keenum-lite*.  How does the draft look for WRs and RBs?


* Which is why it's a distinct possibility.

[Mr. Happy]

The Texans already have a JFF/Bortles-type QB, except the one they have already has half a season of NFL experience.  It would be dumb to use a high pick on Keenum-lite*.  How does the draft look for WRs and RBs?


* Which is why it's a distinct possibility.

It should be loaded on both scores. Lots of juniors who have real talent are expected to declare or who have already declared.

[sporadic]

The Texans already have a JFF/Bortles-type QB, except the one they have already has half a season of NFL experience.  It would be dumb to use a high pick on Keenum-lite*.  How does the draft look for WRs and RBs?


* Which is why it's a distinct possibility.

JFF/Bortles are nothing like Keenum.  Bortles is a 6-3, 230lb big-armed pocket passer.  JFF brings MUCH more to the table in terms of ceiling than Keenum...they are not even in the same ballpark athletically.  Either would be an upgrade over Keenum.  As far as drafting a RB with your first pick, I just do not believe that is a very good move (considering how many good RB's come out of the later rounds EVERY year).

[Bench]

JFF/Bortles are nothing like Keenum.  Bortles is a 6-3, 230lb big-armed pocket passer.  JFF brings MUCH more to the table in terms of ceiling than Keenum...they are not even in the same ballpark athletically.  Either would be an upgrade over Keenum.  As far as drafting a RB with your first pick, I just do not believe that is a very good move (considering how many good RB's come out of the later rounds EVERY year).

Yeah.  I love Keenum, but Manziel and Bortles both have a lot more talent. 

[sporadic]

Yeah.  I love Keenum, but Manziel and Bortles both have a lot more talent. 

I like him too.  He is the kind of guy that can hold a clipboard and maintain a good team if/when their #1 guy goes down.  That is a great guy to have on your roster...

[drew corleone]

If my team needed a WR (and with Dez and Terrence Williams, they don't; they need a new GM, but that's not a hole that the draft can solve) I'd love to have Evans from A&M. That guy is a beast.

[sporadic]

they need a new GM, but that's not a hole that the draft can solve

I offered my services for far under market value...Jerry has yet to get back with me.  My argument was that I could do no worse - and with the money saved in taking me at such a reduced rate the next couple of facelifts would basically be on me.

[juliogotay]

I was a Cowboy fan from the Cotton Bowl teams until Switzer era. I can't take the Cowboys seriously any more because of the owner/gm/clown running it.

[geezerdonk]

I was a Cowboy fan from the Cotton Bowl teams until Switzer era. I can't take the Cowboys seriously any more because of the owner/gm/clown running it.

Ditto. My greatest sports fantasy is the Cowboys going 0-16.

[HudsonHawk]

The Texans already have a JFF/Bortles-type QB, except the one they have already has half a season of NFL experience.  It would be dumb to use a high pick on Keenum-lite*.  How does the draft look for WRs and RBs?


* Which is why it's a distinct possibility.

Bortles is "Keenum lite" the same way a Corvette is a "Kia lite".  The ONLY thing they have in common is they both play QB.  

[austro]

Bortles is "Keenum lite" the same way a Corvette is a "Kia lite".  The ONLY thing they have in common is they both play QB. 

To me, Bortles seems a lot more like a young Roethlisberger than a Keenum.

[sporadic]

To me, Bortles seems a lot more like a young Roethlisberger than a Keenum.

Roethlisberger-lite

[HudsonHawk]

Roethlisberger-lite

Nothing "lite" about Bortles. He's a big boy.

[austro]

I want Sammy Watkins on my team.

[chuck]

Brent Musburger. FML.

[hostros7]

Brent Musburger. FML.

Run to daylight at espn2 or espn news

[chuck]

Run to daylight at espn2 or espn news

I don't get ESPN News I don't think but ESPN2 is almost worse than Musburger because it's just some guys talking incessantly about nothing. It's like a never-ending Sonic commercial.

[hostros7]

I don't get ESPN News I don't think but ESPN2 is almost worse than Musburger because it's just some guys talking incessantly about nothing. It's like a never-ending Sonic commercial.

News is the better feed of the two.   Sumlin and the Pitt and BC coaches are sitting around analyzing the game. 

[hostros7]

Also, fewer cutaways and promos than the main broadcast.

[chuck]

I'm looking for a stream of ESPN News. The one on First Row isn't working.

[Navin R Johnson]

ESPN3.com has the game with your choice of the Auburn or FSU radio folks.  The Auburn guys are pretty solid.

[Nate Colbert]

Holy jeebus, there's more:

• ESPN Classic will have a "Sounds of the BCS" presentation, which will be absent of play-by-play. The broadcast will capture the natural sound of the Rose Bowl from 72 microphones (USA Today reported that is 30 more than a normal broadcast).
• The "BCS Command Center" will air on ESPN Goal Line. That platform will provide a split screen application with live game action and immediate replays of every play. The coverage will use the ESPN Radio broadcast call and incorporate live game statistics on the screen.
  

[chuck]

My goodness, that guy is fast.

[Duman]

War Eagle anyway. Rough way to end it but plenty of hope for next year.

[Bench]

That was a hell of a game. 

[Mr. Happy]

War Eagle anyway. Rough way to end it but plenty of hope for next year.

I told you earlier this season that the War Eagles had a bright future ahead, and I reiterate that. Malzahn is an offensive genius. He is going to be a burr in the side of Saban and LSU for years to come. Shitfick.

[Limey]

To me, Bortles seems a lot more like a young Roethlisberger than a Keenum.

According to UCF's head coach, Bortles is the anti-Rapistburger:

Bortles' girlfriend "deserves 6 million Googles".

[Duman]

I told you earlier this season that the War Eagles had a bright future ahead, and I reiterate that. Malzahn is an offensive genius. He is going to be a burr in the side of Saban and LSU for years to come. Shitfick.

Yes you did.  I am very excited about the future at Auburn.  Right now (Assuming Mason stays) we only lose two on offence.  I have confidence that Ellis Johnson will improve the defense  during spring practice.  And if Mason does bolt for the NFL, we have this guy coming next year who might be an adequate replacement.