The Swamp

Congratulations to the university champions.

A_B wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 4:49 pmI’m exhausted.

It ended up being a fun game. Not sure how PSU will fare without McSorley next year, but the OC is young and seemed to be improving. It sounds like UK is losing a bunch. Josh Allen is a monster.

testuser2 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:03 am

A_B wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 4:49 pmI’m exhausted.

It ended up being a fun game. Not sure how PSU will fare without McSorley next year, but the OC is young and seemed to be improving. It sounds like UK is losing a bunch. Josh Allen is a monster.

Do they still have that backup QB who is better or did he transfer?

testuser2 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:03 am

A_B wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 4:49 pmI’m exhausted.

It ended up being a fun game. Not sure how PSU will fare without McSorley next year, but the OC is young and seemed to be improving. It sounds like UK is losing a bunch. Josh Allen is a monster.

YEah, next year likely will be a step back for UK. Lots of defensive talent leaving, but the good news is that all that talent developed under stoops and crew so maybe they have more ready to step up.

Really would prefer a new OC, because we won't have Benny Snell to bail us out next season. Not sure Wilson is the answer at QB either.

All of these Hot Takes about fairly meaningless bowl games are pretty ridiculous.

One of many examples are people making a big deal out of LSU beating UCF... UCF were playing without their star QB. I don't care who was/wasn't playing for LSU, losing your QB in college is a massive blow. I'm not saying UCF deserved a playoff spot, but that is absolutely a Top 10 team, no question. They make an 8 team playoff, hands down.

Trace McSorley breaking his foot is going to be another bellwether for players opting out of these stupid bowl games. Why the fuck would you mess with your playing future to play in the VRBO(?!) Citrus Bowl?

I was kind of shocked Chase Winovich played in the Peach Bowl for M. Dude has nothing to prove and everything to lose, especially with his style of play.

=-=-=-=-=

Circling all the way back to brian's proposed playoff... That just isn't realistic, for a whole host of reasons we've kind of covered over the years, the biggest three being:

* There's just too much money wrapped up in these bowl games, both for the local communities, ESPN/FOX, and most of the conferences/schools involved.

* As noted, reducing the number of regular season games and dropping the conference championships is a non-starter for the schools and conferences involved, as well as the TV networks. I think there's a decent counter-argument that a March Madness type of tournament would level this off, but going from where we are today to a full-on tournament is asking an awful lot.

* I just don't think the P5 wants to get matched up with a bunch of potential first round match-ups that could lead to upsets. They control the system right now, what's in it for them to open up a potential leveling of the playing field by expanding and including the other conferences?

All of this is to say, going to an 8 team tournament/playoff is the incremental step that might open things up to even more expansion. I'm not against brian's proposal, I just think realistically you need to chip away at things. That's exactly what happened with basketball. Most of are barely old enough to remember, but that tournament used to be ridiculously hard to get into (which is why the NIT used to be such a big deal.) Now we're arguing about teams with losing conference records being on the bubble or not with 68 teams making the field.

Gunpowder wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:14 am

testuser2 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:03 am

A_B wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 4:49 pmI’m exhausted.

It ended up being a fun game. Not sure how PSU will fare without McSorley next year, but the OC is young and seemed to be improving. It sounds like UK is losing a bunch. Josh Allen is a monster.

Do they still have that backup QB who is better or did he transfer?

The backup had knee surgery a few weeks ago. So it was third string or broken foot QB. No idea if they have any recruits coming in, but I expect they will take a hard hit on O next year. Snell was a fun player. It's fun to watch someone putting in max effort and showing some emotion. I'm surprised he stuck around until his senior year.

I ended up muting most of the game and listened to radio for a wrestling tournament that PSU is in. That was much more interesting than most of the game.

PSU's back-up played some snaps against MI and I was pretty impressed. He threw an absolutely ridiculous INT, but other than that he was a beast to bring down on the run and seemed to have a decent arm.

FWIW, McSorley was clearly playing hurt against M. No idea if that is related to his foot injury, but the kid is a gamer.

testuser2 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:43 am

Gunpowder wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:14 am

testuser2 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:03 am

A_B wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 4:49 pmI’m exhausted.

It ended up being a fun game. Not sure how PSU will fare without McSorley next year, but the OC is young and seemed to be improving. It sounds like UK is losing a bunch. Josh Allen is a monster.

Do they still have that backup QB who is better or did he transfer?

The backup had knee surgery a few weeks ago. So it was third string or broken foot QB. No idea if they have any recruits coming in, but I expect they will take a hard hit on O next year. Snell was a fun player. It's fun to watch someone putting in max effort and showing some emotion. I'm surprised he stuck around until his senior year.

I ended up muting most of the game and listened to radio for a wrestling tournament that PSU is in. That was much more interesting than most of the game.

Snell is a junior and has declared.

It could be argued that UK had their best ever defensive player and offensive player on same team. Though I would likely put Couch slightly ahead of snell.

testuser2 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:43 am

Gunpowder wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:14 am

testuser2 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:03 am

A_B wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 4:49 pmI’m exhausted.

It ended up being a fun game. Not sure how PSU will fare without McSorley next year, but the OC is young and seemed to be improving. It sounds like UK is losing a bunch. Josh Allen is a monster.

Do they still have that backup QB who is better or did he transfer?

The backup had knee surgery a few weeks ago. So it was third string or broken foot QB. No idea if they have any recruits coming in, but I expect they will take a hard hit on O next year. Snell was a fun player. It's fun to watch someone putting in max effort and showing some emotion. I'm surprised he stuck around until his senior year.

I ended up muting most of the game and listened to radio for a wrestling tournament that PSU is in. That was much more interesting than most of the game.

Possibly, though for as good as McSorley was as a college QB, I think they were hamstrung quite often when they needed to actually move down and score against good teams because he was just so meh throwing the ball.

Kliff kingsbury probably kicking himself for not waitin a few weeks.

A_B wrote: ↑Sat Jan 05, 2019 7:09 pm Kliff kingsbury probably kicking himself for not waitin a few weeks.

honestly would have loved to see the language in the contract and if this was specifically prohibited

if the reports that he is considering resigning are correct, I *really* want to see the language in the contract.

(eta: the contract can't be FOIA'd since USC is private)

Might as well enjoy the CFP Final in what will be its final appearance ever in Santa Clara/San Francisco.

There's sooooo many venues that would kill to hold this game and where the fans in that region would actually support it that I doubt SC gets another shot. New stadiums in LV and LA coming online will also affect future bids from Levi's. Suspect in the near future the only three west coast locations for title game will be Phoenix, Las Vegas and LA.

Yeah, not a lot of local interest in Alabama vs. Clemson out here. So many other things for people to blow their money on, here, and college football isn't the biggest deal for the locals. Neither Stanford or Cal sell out their games with any regularity. Not to mention that it rained all weekend and everything is all wet and grey right now. I think with Alabama and Clemson being in the final four every season, some of the novelty has worn off with their fans, so they haven't purchased as many tickets as they did in years past. An expensive flight to an expensive area.

EDSBS & the Shutdown Fullcast crew have been all over this.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:18 pm Yeah, not a lot of local interest in Alabama vs. Clemson out here. So many other things for people to blow their money on, here, and college football isn't the biggest deal for the locals. Neither Stanford or Cal sell out their games with any regularity. Not to mention that it rained all weekend and everything is all wet and grey right now. I think with Alabama and Clemson being in the final four every season, some of the novelty has worn off with their fans, so they haven't purchased as many tickets as they did in years past. An expensive flight to an expensive area.

It is a perfect storm of reasons -- not all of which are related to tepid support from folks in the area. As you noted, flights and lodging are at least twice as expensive in the Bay Area for traveling fans compared to most places the game could be played.

I think the only possible argument that could be made to consider SC as a venue again would involve proximity to Silicon Valley, but don't think that holds a lot of water/matters very much.

I think different areas should get a shot at the game, much like they usually do for the Super Bowl. I think it should move around the country as much as possible. But with three West Coast "supervenues" (a term I made up, but which I think applies to venues like MB Stadium in Atlanta, Jerryworld, PHX and the new venues in LV and LA) set to be online by 2021, doesn't make a whole lot of sense to revisit northern California any time soon.

Sure: Atlanta, Dallas, Pasadena (Or that new big stadium), New Orleans.

I can see the point: Phoenix

Maybe: Indy (big Ten!), Miami

I cannot decide how I feel about Vegas. Yes, it will likely be a great venue. But man, if they aren't paying the players by then, it would be a huge frigging uproar.

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:47 pm Sure: Atlanta, Dallas, Pasadena (Or that new big stadium), New Orleans.

I can see the point: Phoenix

Maybe: Indy (big Ten!), Miami

I cannot decide how I feel about Vegas. Yes, it will likely be a great venue. But man, if they aren't paying the players by then, it would be a huge frigging uproar.

My guess is that Pasadena would have the same issues that Levi's is having this year if a west coast team isn't in the mix.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:50 pm

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:47 pm Sure: Atlanta, Dallas, Pasadena (Or that new big stadium), New Orleans.

I can see the point: Phoenix

Maybe: Indy (big Ten!), Miami

I cannot decide how I feel about Vegas. Yes, it will likely be a great venue. But man, if they aren't paying the players by then, it would be a huge frigging uproar.

My guess is that Pasadena would have the same issues that Levi's is having this year if a west coast team isn't in the mix.

I give it the Rose Bowl bump!

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:47 pm Sure: Atlanta, Dallas, Pasadena (Or that new big stadium), New Orleans.

I can see the point: Phoenix

Maybe: Indy (big Ten!), Miami

I cannot decide how I feel about Vegas. Yes, it will likely be a great venue. But man, if they aren't paying the players by then, it would be a huge frigging uproar.

I don't see why paying the players matters for playing the game in Vegas. There is a Division I football school that will be playing its games in the same venue that would be used for hosting the final. Not much different having a final there vs. a game versus Air Force that I can discern.

Brontoburglar wrote: ↑Sat Jan 05, 2019 7:22 pm

A_B wrote: ↑Sat Jan 05, 2019 7:09 pm Kliff kingsbury probably kicking himself for not waitin a few weeks.

honestly would have loved to see the language in the contract and if this was specifically prohibited

if the reports that he is considering resigning are correct, I *really* want to see the language in the contract.

(eta: the contract can't be FOIA'd since USC is private)

I thought this was the NFL abiding by an old rule, no?

what about weather?

supposed to be in the low 50s with Bay Area wind. I would not want to go.

Rush2112 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:59 pm

Brontoburglar wrote: ↑Sat Jan 05, 2019 7:22 pm

A_B wrote: ↑Sat Jan 05, 2019 7:09 pm Kliff kingsbury probably kicking himself for not waitin a few weeks.

honestly would have loved to see the language in the contract and if this was specifically prohibited

if the reports that he is considering resigning are correct, I *really* want to see the language in the contract.

(eta: the contract can't be FOIA'd since USC is private)

I thought this was the NFL abiding by an old rule, no?

In honoring an AD's block of an interview, yes. I'm referring to the agreement between KK and the school that would allow the school to block him from interviewing.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:18 pm Yeah, not a lot of local interest in Alabama vs. Clemson out here. So many other things for people to blow their money on, here, and college football isn't the biggest deal for the locals. Neither Stanford or Cal sell out their games with any regularity. Not to mention that it rained all weekend and everything is all wet and grey right now. I think with Alabama and Clemson being in the final four every season, some of the novelty has worn off with their fans, so they haven't purchased as many tickets as they did in years past. An expensive flight to an expensive area.

That'll work out well.

https://vine.co/v/i1lg0wgpZQe/embed/simple

degenerasian wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 5:01 pm what about weather?

supposed to be in the low 50s with Bay Area wind. I would not want to go.

"Bay Area wind" is normally only an issue in San Francisco, on the water. The south bay generally has much warmer, milder weather than SF. But, this rain and wind we've gotten the past few days certainly is an issue.

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:58 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:50 pm

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:47 pm Sure: Atlanta, Dallas, Pasadena (Or that new big stadium), New Orleans.

I can see the point: Phoenix

Maybe: Indy (big Ten!), Miami

I cannot decide how I feel about Vegas. Yes, it will likely be a great venue. But man, if they aren't paying the players by then, it would be a huge frigging uproar.

My guess is that Pasadena would have the same issues that Levi's is having this year if a west coast team isn't in the mix.

I give it the Rose Bowl bump!

All of these, plus Tampa.

Have to laugh at a couple of tweets stories about the “overpriced” drinks at the CFP final since they’re the same or cheaper than T-Mobile Arena though.

Also... Getting to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara for a 5:00 game start is really fucking hard from anywhere in the Bay Area.

The crowd looks pretty solid.

Coming from a guy who, overall, knows how to fill Levi’s.

This game is great so far. It's nice not caring who will win.

The spread went from -6 to -4. Those guys are still ok.

The total went from 60 to 57. Those guys are dead.

We're about at the time where I can go to bed without missing anything other than a(nother) furious Bama comeback. That's ideal.

Time for teams to start planning for tanking the 2020 season ahead of the 2021 draft, because that Clemson QB...he will be worth it.

I honestly don't think this dude is joking. Imagine being this much of an idiot.

Hilarious. I see a lot of crazy shit from tOSU fans, but the level of entitlement that exists in Bama Nation is off the charts. Glad I don't have to deal with that nonsense, too.

tennbengal wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:58 am Time for teams to start planning for tanking the 2020 season ahead of the 2021 draft, because that Clemson QB...he will be worth it.

Deadspin has an article up bemoaning the fact that this kid can't just declare now. And I'm not sure they're wrong about it.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 11:46 am

tennbengal wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:58 am Time for teams to start planning for tanking the 2020 season ahead of the 2021 draft, because that Cartersville QB...he will be worth it.

Deadspin has an article up bemoaning the fact that this kid can't just declare now. And I'm not sure they're wrong about it.

FIFY

https://www.ajc.com/blog/high-school-sp ... q8UJAIJwK/

I didn't watch a minute of this last night but when you live in the midwest, apparently what that game amounted to was: "SEE??? NOTRE DAME TOTALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE PLAYOFF! WE DIDN'T GIVE UP THAT MANY POINTS TO CLEMSON11!!111"