Thursday Afternoon College Football Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 02:44:24 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

It's finally here - the opiate I have been waiting for to take me away from my mundane concerns - COLLEGE FOOTBALL! the first game of the year is Wake Forest versus . . . Presbyterian! I like the Blue Hose(+44.5)! Just kidding. Here are my actual first picks of the 2010 college football season - Rhode Island (+24) over Buffalo, Southern Miss (+14) over South Carolina (also Under 46), Middle Tenn St (+1) over Minnesota, Pitt (+3) over Utah and the Rainbow Warriors of Hawaii (+21.5) over the USC Kiffins.

Go Gators!

Open Thread.

< President-Elect Obama On The Stimulus, January 7, 2009 | When The Truth Matters >

The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

Menu

Home | About | RSS
E-Mail | Comment Policy |
Search
Login

Make a new account

Existing Users

Username:
Password:
Creator and Principal Author
- Jeralyn E. Merritt
TL Alumni

Contribute To TalkLeft

Sections
Site Credits
- TalkLeft Graphics by C.L., Our Man in Hollywood (2006 - 2008)
- TalkLeft Header Graphic by Monk
- Powered by Scoop
Legal
- All Content Copyright ©2002-2024. Reprints only by permission from TalkLeft.com
- Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.
- TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.
"The pump don't work 'cause the vandals took the handles"
© 1965 Bob Dylan

Thursday Afternoon College Football Open Thread | 58 comments (58 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

WE ARE.....GOING TO BEAT MARSHALL!!! (none / 0) (#1)
by Buckeye on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 02:52:26 PM EST

OH (none / 0) (#2)
by trillian on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 02:56:54 PM EST

IO ;p

Parent

Go Buckeyes!!! (none / 0) (#3)
by BTAL on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 02:58:52 PM EST

And hopefully the Rainbow Warriors takes Lane Kiffin to school.

Parent

Well, if Hawaii is ever (none / 0) (#15)
by brodie on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 04:11:43 PM EST

going to beat USC in football, tonight may be the night. SC beginning its probationary period, with a kinda controversial new coach with a very mixed record of prior success, and new AD Pat "Don't Confuse Me With Tom" Haden, a pleasant regular fellow I once met yrs ago.

I hope for the best for the team for Haden's sake, but I don't know Kiffen, who's following a nice guy players' coach with a very solid record of winning and who refreshingly and consistently undercut the old saw that nice guys finish last.

Rooting for the CA team, though I'd like to see the Rainbow Warriors -- practically a CA team themselves -- make it entertainingly close.

Parent

: The only good thing USC gets with Kiffin (none / 0) (#17)
by BTAL on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 04:35:29 PM EST

is Monte.

Parent

Well, it would be a tad (none / 0) (#50)
by brodie on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 09:31:00 AM EST

awkward for the head coach son to have to give a tongue-lashing to the father def-coordinator, let alone fire him.

But it was their decision to work together and they must have anticipated something like this happening. Apparently the SoCal secondary is very young and inexperienced, and the D overall (along with the offensive line) is so thin that they couldn't afford to allow tackling during summer practice.

It really showed on both accounts. Not that the Hawaii starting QB isn't loaded with talent, but even his replacement was easily able to matriculate the ball down the field.

SoCal is lucky they don't have quite the tough schedule this year they usually have. But they do have to face Stanford and Cal, quality teams, plus UCLA always is capable of causing problems. Very unlikely this team will go undefeated; more like 9-3 or 8-4. A shame because their offense is nearly already of championship caliber.

Parent

posting this one again (none / 0) (#4)
by Capt Howdy on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 03:03:46 PM EST

cause I just cant stop watching it.

Jan Brewer's Opening Statement for the Gubernatorial Debate...OMG, It's a Train Wreck!

Justice Department... (none / 0) (#5)
by Tony on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 03:05:30 PM EST

files lawsuit against Arpaio.

And, in keeping with the theme of the thread, Boomer Sooner!

: About the only time (none / 0) (#16)
by brodie on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 04:16:37 PM EST

I can recall when a participant in a debate for an important political office lost during the opening argument.
And not for saying something stupid, but for utterly being unable to say anything.
Hehee.

Parent

futbol (none / 0) (#6)
by jharp on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 03:07:43 PM EST

I like Middle Tenn St. as Minnesota really sucks this year.

And I think the Pitt game is a suck bet. I know Pitt is on the road. But they are possibly a top ten team. No way should it be +3 when Utah will be very lucky to even win. Thus I'll take Utah.

Go Big Ten. Ohio State and now Purdue as my daughter just started school there.

: Since the Boilermaker's first game (none / 0) (#33)
by caseyOR on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:45:00 PM EST

is with Notre Dame, you'll be celebrating a win.
The most important game is Oregon State's opener at TCU on Saturday. GO, BEAVERS!!

Parent

Speaking of gambling and opiates... (none / 0) (#8)
by kdog on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 03:21:30 PM EST

Hit 4 out of 6 in the Pick-Six at the Spa yesterday...paid 300 large.

Was 3-3 in the first 3 legs before my picks fell apart...I had visions of grabbing two beers and hitting the emergency chute there for 20 minutes...back to the drawing board:)

Come on down (none / 0) (#18)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 04:37:08 PM EST

You're ready for the 20-40 game!

Parent

If legs 4 & 5... (none / 0) (#29)
by kdog on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:24:59 PM EST

had cooperated, I'd be in an open seat by now, puttin' a dent in your stack old man:)

Take 'em down in my continued abscence in the big leagues.

Parent

OT: kdog, you must be home by now (none / 0) (#31)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:32:53 PM EST

check out this cat: Lipbone Redding.

He's playing in LA tonight, although I'm going to see Dr. John...

Parent

: Sounds nice man... (none / 0) (#36)
by kdog on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:52:56 PM EST

the name kinda rings a bell too...the vocal horn work is impressive...hence the name.
Lipbone got soul...that's obvious 30 seconds in. Thanks for the turn on, I'm a gonna have to keep my eye out for him.
Enjoy the good doctor...want a review tomorrow!

Parent

funny and a little disturbing (none / 0) (#9)
by Capt Howdy on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 03:30:28 PM EST

Dog does the Merengue

the disturbing part may have more to do with the dogs partner than the dog.

Hmmmm.... (none / 0) (#10)
by mcjoan on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 03:30:44 PM EST

Seems to be something missing in your preview.

Labor Day (none / 0) (#11)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 03:37:56 PM EST

we'll get to it.

Parent

: I'll be watching (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by mcjoan on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 03:50:14 PM EST

to make sure that you do.

Parent

Is Michigan expected to be so pathetic (none / 0) (#14)
by oculus on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 04:10:04 PM EST

no one (well, BTD) cares they are playing Connecticut? How many teams are in the Big 10 now, anyways?

10 until next year. Still waiting for the names (none / 0) (#19)
by BTAL on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 04:37:51 PM EST

of the two new 6 team divisions, but they have split OSU and Michigan into different divisions. They did announce that there will still be the annual game but did not commit to it remaining as the traditional last game of year.

Parent

I'm pretty sure there are 11 teams in the (none / 0) (#21)
by oculus on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 04:43:35 PM EST

Big 10 now. Penn State.

Parent

Sorry, my mistake. Yes Penn State made 11 (none / 0) (#22)
by BTAL on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 04:53:50 PM EST

in 1990. 12 next year (at least that number was correct) ;)

Nebraska is the new entry.

Parent

Very confusing -- (none / 0) (#26)
by brodie on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:10:01 PM EST

doesn't college football already have a "Big 12" conference, mostly lower down in the midwest?

Looks like the "Big 10" needs to update and clarify their branding, preferably by going geographical and getting rid of the numerical nonsense.

"The Upper Midwest" Conference? "The Northern Alliance" Conference?

Parent

Have a look at the Big Ten logo (none / 0) (#28)
by BTAL on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:13:10 PM EST

Logo Image

Maybe they'll figure out how to replace the 1 on the right with a 2.

Parent

Cute, but it (none / 0) (#30)
by brodie on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:32:23 PM EST

is still probably going to confuse the heck out of folks, particularly America's Youth who are already struggling enough in the classroom not to have to worry about how many teams are actually in the "Big 10" conference.

The NCAA obviously needs to step in and begin to bring back those old fashioned values of truth in advertising that they used to champion -- that or hit the conference with some severe penalties and/or bowl sanctions until the situation is corrected.

Parent

: Big Ten is now a brand that is too valuable (none / 0) (#34)
by BTAL on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:46:03 PM EST

and has significant enough history that the "math" doesn't matter.
It will always remain as the Big Ten or until the NCAA collapses, I'll bet on the former.

Parent
: it is difficult to explain that (none / 0) (#41)
by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 08:54:53 PM EST

10=12 for large values of 10 to children. Adults, basic statistics. 2 + 2 =5 for very large values of 2.
Note, I'm a statistician, so to me it's funny :-P

Parent

Re: Michigan, maybe you can keep your fingers (none / 0) (#20)
by BTAL on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 04:38:43 PM EST

crossed to get Les Miles from LSU after this year ;)

Parent

If Miles loses to UNC, (none / 0) (#23)
by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 04:56:03 PM EST

Michigan might not want him! LSU might have an interim head coach for the rest of the season.

Parent

: Not sure they really ever wanted him (none / 0) (#25)
by BTAL on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:07:36 PM EST

even though he really wants that job.

Parent

Thinking--instead of buying $600 (none / 0) (#24)
by oculus on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 04:58:42 PM EST

worth of tickets for culture in L.A., college football would be a cheaper "opiate I have been waiting for to take me away from my mundane concerns." Less driving too. But then again, Salonen and Terfel will both be at Disney Hall (I hope--Terfel frequently cancels).

College football (none / 0) (#54)
by jbindc on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 10:50:13 AM EST

Has marching bands, so you can get your music fix while watching a game.

Parent

You'd think. Except half time coverage (none / 0) (#58)
by oculus on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 11:29:56 AM EST

doesn't include the marching bands--a real shame IMO.

Parent

: I agree (none / 0) (#65)
by jbindc on Sat Sep 04, 2010 at 02:38:17 PM EST

But then again, I'm biased since I was in the marching band in college. ;)

Parent

The good old days. (none / 0) (#27)
by lentinel on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:12:57 PM EST

I was watching the US Open.

It noticed that when the men play, there are two male commentators there - yakking incessantly. .
If they were seated next to you at the stadium, you would ask them to please shut up and let you watch the game.

When the women play, there is usually one woman commentator.
But she is always paired with a man. Never, ever, have I heard two women commenting on a women's game - let alone on one of the men's games.

We've come some of the way, but not that far.

The last decent tennis commentator was (5.00 / 2) (#37)
by caseyOR on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:55:52 PM EST

Chris Evert, who worked Wimbledon for years. Granted, she was somewhat hampered by the obnoxious John McEnroe,a nd she still managed to produce good commentary. When she left, the quality of the coverage dropped precipitously.

At the U.S. Open we have the aforementioned and horrific John McEnroe paired with the bland, boring and blah Mary Carrillo.

Surely, somewhere there are articulate, tennis-savvy, intelligent people who could be tapped to work the majors at the very least.

Parent

Now that you mention it, (5.00 / 1) (#38)
by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:59:44 PM EST

I remember her commentary fondly for its insight.

Parent

: Yes, she had great insight and institutional (none / 0) (#39)
by caseyOR on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 06:05:11 PM EST

memory. Plus, a big plus to me, she did not blather on and on during play, and she made valiant, although mostly futile, attempts to shut McEnroe up.

Parent

George Costanza and ice cream (none / 0) (#32)
by jeffinalabama on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:41:18 PM EST

always come to my mind before any players, past or present, when the Open is mentioned. Strange.

Parent

Here's another view. I still haven't (none / 0) (#35)
by oculus on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 05:47:43 PM EST

gotten used to female commentators re MLB or college football. Whatever is that woman doing on the sidelines?

Parent

Wish there (none / 0) (#40)
by brodie on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 07:24:10 PM EST

were more women covering college gridiron games, and not just the token women reporters doing the secondary "soft" coverage on the sidelines.

Be a refreshing change to see them regularly in the booth calling or color-commenting on major games.

30 yrs ago I would have thought we'd already have seen such changes by now, but actually progress has been a little slower than expected.

Parent

Beth Mowin ... (none / 0) (#42)
by desertswine on Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 10:15:25 PM EST

will be doing play-by-play on some college fb games this season on espn2. She is very, very good.

Parent

: I might have heard her (none / 0) (#51)
by brodie on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 09:38:09 AM EST

once, but usually there's so much college football on the major networks plus the main Espn channel, that I rarely have time to visit the Deuce for all that scintillating action from the likes of Montana State and West Texas Teachers State College.
Sounds like she's ready for a promotion to the primetime schedule of games.

Parent

and (none / 0) (#49)
by lentinel on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 09:03:02 AM EST

we should be asking why there aren't women football teams?

Why are there no women baseball teams?

Why must it continue to be that the boys play and the girls cheer them on?

It's the perpetuation of a patriarchal social system - not exhibitions of abilities in sport.

Parent

Forget women playing (none / 0) (#52)
by brodie on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 10:01:01 AM EST

tackle football, says I. Too brutal a sport already, and probably needs to be drastically reformed given some of the latest head injury studies. Would hate to see a lot of women included in the lengthy list of retired and permanently disabled ex-footballers. I don't like to watch women box, so would not want to watch them collide on the gridiron.

My sense of the current women's sports situation generally, is that even some women's sports that were once or briefly hot with the spectators, they are now struggling or aren't getting much important tv time. Women's pro basketball was sorta hot early on, not so much now.

In the 90s, nothing was hotter than Team USA women's soccer. But they seem to have disappeared from my cable system.

In the 70s, you had women's team tennis, the league Billy Jean King started. But it folded long ago, iirc.

Maybe only college women's hoops draws a decent teevee audience?

Parent

Women's gymnastics, skating, tennis, golf. (none / 0) (#57)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 11:28:15 AM EST

I think sports fans generally want to be wowed and naturally gravitate towards the biggest wow. Often, but not exclusively, it would seem the biggest wow comes from male athletes. And often, but not exclusively, males are the primary sports fans.

Parent

Women's skating, gymnastics, (none / 0) (#61)
by brodie on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 11:46:31 AM EST

even hockey, fine -- but only during the Olympics. Otherwise, as with men competing in those same sports, plus track and field, it's only a once-every-4 yrs deal for this viewer.

Women's tennis I might consider watching if they had a few more compelling or controversial personalities.

Parent

: I coach T&F. (none / 0) (#62)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 11:53:37 AM EST

There is some great coverage at the college level, but usually only for the big meets.
There is a lot of competition for viewer's eyes in the US, many sports just can't compete.

Parent
: I don't sit down to watch tennis (none / 0) (#64)
by jbindc on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 03:04:19 PM EST

But I'll watch a few minutes here and there of tje big tournaments. I find women's tennis so much interesting to watch because normally (outside of the marsthon at Wimbledon this year), women have so many more volleys. Men are about power, but the women are more about athleticism, IMO.

Parent

Here's an example of being wowed: (none / 0) (#63)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 02:49:21 PM EST

Roger Federer.

Parent

Semi-pro womens' football teams already exist. (none / 0) (#53)
by jeffinalabama on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 10:48:14 AM EST

Parent

Indeed, there is a women's league. (none / 0) (#55)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 11:20:06 AM EST

LA has a team, they play indoors. In helmets, shoulder pads and bikinis. Real athletes, real contact. Not at all "power-puff."

Parent

I guess that figgers. (none / 0) (#56)
by brodie on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 11:22:26 AM EST

But I've never seen it on the teevee, and frankly wouldn't care to watch if it were shown. Already get plenty of gridiron action from the men.

Women's sports appeal to me in some different areas -- mostly non-contact or light contact like soccer and basketball. Sometimes I'll enjoy watching them play softball, though I think I'd like to tweak that sport a bit, lengthen the base distances a tad, and extend back the fences which seem too close.

Parent

: I saw the LA team play on TV a few months ago (none / 0) (#60)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 11:37:49 AM EST

I was channel surfing. That they were in bikinis made me not immediately change the channel. That they were all really fit, and ran and moved and hit like real athletes, along with trying to figure out the indoor rules, kept my interest for the rest of the game.
google says there's another woman's league that's outdoor and in regular uniforms, but it's the first I've ever heard of them...

Parent

Nebraska over W. Kentucky (none / 0) (#48)
by weltec2 on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 02:34:19 AM EST

by at least 28. My guess is that Bo Pelini will go with experience over skill and stick with Zac Lee. Nevertheless, I think Nebraska will win by a healthy margin anyway.

Texas over Rice in a shutout. The score will be entirely up to Texas. How badly do they wish to humiliate Rice; on the other hand, what would be the point.

Oklahoma over Utah St. by 21.

So, a group of late 20-something (none / 0) (#59)
by oculus on Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 11:32:06 AM EST

guys in formal business attire walks into happy hour last night. TV is tune to football game in progress. One guy sighs, ah, college football. He was a happy man.

Thursday Afternoon College Football Open Thread | 58 comments (58 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment