GatOrlando

Oh boy.... Pawlll is going to be upset on Monday. He said Texas was going to roll. Is Arch overrated or is the Ohio State defense that good?

Orange is the new black Charles. It's hard to believe that Leavitt was once a hot coaching prospect after the 2007 season. One where he led USF to number two in the country at one point. Jim had to run that program out of a makeshift trailer as USF had the same facilities as that fake high school in Ohio called Bishop Sycamore.

I remember seeing kids wearing Nebraska jerseys in school when I was a little lad in the 90's. I remember seeing names like Favre and Aikman and thinking " What's a Favre or what does Aikman mean?" I thought they misspelled Favor and Ache Man. This was before I became a football fan, really sports in general. But Nebraska jerseys were prevalent nation wide. There were kids in Florida wearing Husker gear. I saw Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State to go along with Florida, FSU and Miami. I also distinctly remember seeing those old colorful Starter 90's jackets when I'd visit family up north. Those things had personality man. Seems like everything is bland and homogenous today. That's one of the reasons why I liked watching Oregon because they weren't afraid of being bold. But back to Nebraska and what many have said, they don't have that large following nationwide anymore. I still see a few Husker shorts out here in Arizona, but they are dwarfed by Notre Dame, Michigan, and Ohio State. Those folks are spread out everywhere and those Buckeye fans will do that OH-IO randomly when there's a large contingent. I do a polite golf clap and congratulate them for knowing how to spell. I'll tell you they weren't doing much of that in the 2006 BCS Title game though😂

This question could be asked about many programs like USC, Miami, or even Florida. But those three have several built in advantages and it's a matter of if not when imo. Like Michigan, Texas or Notre Dame. But Nebraska has no home recruiting base, and the truth is kids nationwide have never known Nebraska to be what people over thirty have seen. The Huskers dominated with a mix of their weight program, walk on monsters and the ability to stack guys on the depth chart. Their option offense was also nearly impossible to stop with the monsters on their line. The defense was black shirt nasty and they rolled teams with more speed like Texas, Oklahoma or Florida. They ran Peyton Manning out during his last Volunteer start in the Orange Bowl, and to me they were the true 1997 champions. Since they got blown out in consecutive games to end the 2001 season it seems like they've just lost their place. First they fired alum Frank Solich after 2003 and hired Bill Callahan. He completely changed the culture and it didn't work. After that it was hot head Pelini, but for all his negatives he did keep them at nine wins. They tried going back to the Callihan system with longtime Oregon State coach Mike Riley and that started their ten year stretch of no bowl game participation. After that they tried to emulate Michigan and hire their golden boy Scott Frost. A guy who led UCF to their best two years ever. Nebraska fans were so happy, but then the games happened.... Frost is now a man seen as a lazy pariah. Matt Rhule has been at the helm for three years now. If he fails by Nebraska standards this year, he might be on the hot seat. My question is what should Nebraska be expected to achieve? Will they ever get into the B1G hierarchy? Can they make a playoff? Can they make a run like Notre Dame did last year?

B1G and SEC want new states. I seriously doubt FSU or Miami gets into the SEC. My best guess is FSU goes B1G and Miami goes to the Big 12 or they stay and become the centerpiece of a depleted ACC. Clemson isn't close to AAU status, so maybe the SEC brings them in despite having South Carolina. Virginia and North Carolina want to be in the SEC and they are in states without a SEC member. Duke brings nothing to football, it's a small private school. I would go out and get ASU if I were B1G to help the western teams like previously mentioned. Notre Dame? Old question, old answer. Until it's forced upon them, they aren't changing. Too many financial and scheduling advantages to join a conference with heavyweights.

We could have three playoff rematches from week zero and a GO5 Eliminator.

The time to be in Arizona is Fall and Winter. Fisch is a Gator graduate, until that job comes open I don't see Jebidiah going anywhere.

There's an easy answer to your last question Jon. Arch Manning is the prodigy, the consensus next big thing. Many feel like Texas would've been better with Manning starting last year. Georgia is heading into this year with Mike Bobo calling plays and Gunner Stockton taking the snaps. Most feel that Stockton is a major downgrade from Carson Beck. So with Texas you have Sark and Manning to go along with a defense that gave that Ohio State juggernaut fits. In Georgia you have Kirby and that defense which will be great, but Stockton is seen as a ?. I think that Georgia is still king until Texas proves they can take that crown. Georgia beat Texas twice last year, including an overtime affair where Stockton came in for Beck and composed the winning score. Both will make the playoff anyway, it's just a matter of who gets the bye. It might be more beneficial to host a playoff game over getting that bye until the format changes anyway. I know that bye didn't do Georgia or Oregon any favors last year. Meanwhile Texas and Penn State got to the semis with pretty sweet draws imo.

I heard on one of those YouTube podcasts "The Monty Show" that there is talk of a twenty team format. According to him the SEC was only holding the nine game card was because they wanted the B1G to agree to their preferred format and by acting like going to nine games was a huge sacrifice that the B1G got a huge win. But others have said Sankey folded. I'm kind of over hearing about realignment and CFP negotiations. Football is officially back! Iowa State won a Big Twelve top 25 showdown vs Kansas State in Ireland. UNLV which is a trendy G05 playoff team is in a twenty four to twenty four point deadlock with Idaho State. Playoff implications in week zero?

True . I haven't gone through that luckily, I do have buddies who have and they laugh at me when I say it's gonna be okay. I am an optimist at heart, probably naive at worst. I had an old guy tell me when I asked him advice about women and he told me that no man has the book on them. As I've gotten older I've found that to be true. How the heck did I get myself into this discussion? 😂 Oh yeah Herbert, Tebow and relationship talk. To get back on track though, Herbert has a lot of money in the bank. I hope he protects that wealth. I remember watching hard knocks several years ago and one of the things they had was a financial planner for the rookies. The average NFL career lasts less than three years, and most of those guys aren't making generational wealth on their first contract.

Two trains of thought on that. First is you need to be secure and happy with who you are as a person. If you don't like you, it's near impossible to think others will. Second and more importantly to back up what I feel at least. Finding someone else that is genuinely interested in enriching your life is what makes you organically wanting to make them happier as well. Don't be a fake. Be honest with your loves and your distastes. Be open to feedback on your own behavior. I've found that there are legitimate things I can improve about myself. I think a human being who thinks they are already beyond compare is destined to find they are repugnant. Me, I'm someone who loves my alone time. I don't like huge crowds and some times I just need my space. I'm open and honest about that, but I do like having friends around sometime. I've found my personal space and sanity compromised at times, but then there are those moments I wouldn't trade for anything. Memories are with me that I'll carry for life. I don't regret a second of it, good or bad. Some of my best memories come from putting a smile on a depressed friends face, or surprising a significant other. I didn't do it to get something or make them think higher of me. I just liked seeing them smile. That was truly a lasting memory. Companionship can be found with a dog, cat, turtle, friend or maybe chat gpt. Maybe some never need that connection to something. I'm no counselor and it's none of my business, but we all walk this path and we all travel it a little differently.

I remember when Tim Tebow was being courted by Katy Perry. I was concerned that Tim would've dipped his toes in that world like Eli Manning did with Brittany Spears during his Ole Miss days. Tim stayed off that path and is now happily married to a nice woman whose name I don't know. It's best to keep your personal life as personal as possible imo. As any married or committed person would likely tell you, and as a man I can tell you that when your wife/fiance/girlfriend is happy, you'll be much happier.

They all should've, but the world isn't fair. I'm okay with that because I never expected Michigan to lose it's title. I did expect a postseason ban for at least a year though. But that didn't happen, there weren't even any show clauses to my knowledge.

Jon you overwhelm me with your research sir. I do have an off topic story about how people over in the UK didn't understand how we are obsessed with how our sports teams perform at "University". They equate extended education as nothing more than a tool to get a higher profession. I asked a couple jokingly who was the national champion in tiddly winks and I got the dryest stares you could imagine. I felt like I had just been in the Sahara for a month straight. As far as the Ducks go, I've heard this might be the last year for your annual "Civil War". I imagine the Beavers will try and keep that series going, but I don't see the benefit of it being home and home to the Ducks. Maybe a 2 for 1? Florida is still hated by Hurricane fans because that same proposition was made by Steve Spurrier back in the day. Those touchy Hurricane fans still hold it against the Gators to this day. In some ways they hate us more than they hate FSU. Here's hoping both the Ducks and Gators send little brother back to their respective holes with memorable losses.

I have no personal distaste for the man. I do find him to be hypocritical when he complains about how certain programs don't follow the rules when it comes to the etiquette of football. This is a guy who broke covid rules multiple times, got suspended but said it was nothing. Coach you got suspended because you didn't respect the rules laid forward. It wasn't for a cheeseburger or a sleepover. It was impermissible contact during covid. I'm not even in the camp that wanted Michigan to lose their title or have it stripped from John's resume. I respect the job he did at Stanford, San Francisco, and now LAC. But he also has to own his losses and the rules he broke. Most Michigan fans refuse to accept that their golden boy cheated. But boy did they want him gone after the 2020 season. It's clear something needed changing. He made those changes and it worked out for all those and most importantly for Jim. But to me he isn't a bastion of college etiquette and Michigan isn't above suspicious behavior seen at such lower institutions as anybody but big blue. Seriously those people think they're like Harvard or Yale. It's a great public school, a public ivy even. But you aren't royalty, you aren't Cambridge University for Heavens sake.

Tony really wants that play in weekend, I think that's the carrot he's eyeing. Plus he pitched an annual B1G vs SEC in season agreement like there is in basketball. As a viewer I could go for that. We might even get that Oregon vs Alabama matchup everyone wanted in the 2010's.

I respect the players. I'll even give a clap for Sherrone Moore a clap for standing in there and keeping that team together. Who I won't ever celebrate is John Harbaugh. He is a guy who claims he does everything by the book. He claims to love Michigan. But he is a guy who couldn't get the job done, he was on the verge of being fired and was caught and suspended several times but never once admitted his faults. What does he do after running away from his greatest rival in 2020? He finds a more creative way to cheat, and he knew one day the truth would come out so he puts feelers out to numerous NFL teams for three years. Those three years just so happen to be his best three years, and he's getting closer each time to breaking through. His players Tstay after the heartbreaking loss to TCU for one last ride, Jim is still trying to get a job. Finally he breaks through after serving two different suspensions. He gets Michigan that title and rides off into the NFL. What has he said about the Stallions situation? Nothing. He makes a brief statement about doing things the right way and Michigan people buy it with a smile. They claim he did nothing wrong. Looking at his actions and all the evidence tells a different story. I'm not telling Michigan fans to not celebrate the title. That would be hypocritical as I still celebrate the 2006 and 2008 titles under Urban Meyer. Those squads were full of questionable players that we all know of. There were cover-ups from the top down, but there were also people who were genuinely good people and players who I'm still celebrating as just great guys and gals who made that time special. But Urban did scummy things and the people who did those terrible things and got away with it deserved punishment. What Michigan did wasn't criminal, but it was cheating. There was lying and what did the conspirators get? They got everything they wanted. Not a great lesson to college kids.

Many in SEC land say the B1G needs to go along with the 5+11 model because it's what everyone wants. The B1G was willing to listen if the ACC and SEC go to 9 conference games. Sankey originally agreed, but he was told by SEC coaches that 9 games was impossible. Sankey went back and said no to the 9 games, but still wants the B1G to agree to the 5+11 model. SEC people are putting the potential estimated 6 to 10 million dollar loss if no expansion is ratified in time for next year. It's stupid business for Pettiti to throw away that amount of money, but that isn't lost money because it's never been there. It's like saying you will buy stock and it will double it's value by your estimations. That's not money in your pocket, it's figurative bookkeeping. I'm tired of these games by the SEC, it's pure cowardice to say one extra game is impossible. I like what the B1G is doing and see this proposition as a counter by saying if the SEC doesn't agree with this expansion than it's poor business because of all that lost future revenue..

Remember the wild idea Missouri coach Eli Drinkowitz pitched at SEC media days? Well it may not be as robust at that, but sources are reporting a model where there are 20 campus hosted playoff games!!! The B1G and SEC would get a guaranteed 7 teams, the Big 12 and ACC would get 5. ESPN.comSources: Big Ten ponders jump to 24 or 28 in CFPWhile the idea is in the very early stages, the Big Ten's proposal for a 24- or 28-team College Football Playoff eliminates conference title games and offers a large number of auto bids for all four p

Begs the question if it's better to start vs somebody you should beat easily or if you should start off with a banger to test your mettle quickly. In the old days an early loss would bury, but as Notre Dame proved, you can lose to a lower level squad at home and still make the playoff.

I don't know for sure, but according to many in Tennessee, Clemson, and TCU circles, this is a big deal. I had no interest in the story, but it was brought up to me many times. There's a lot of circumstantial evidence, but the NCAA has been pretty useless in court cases recently. As for Tennessee, Miami and most of the SEC cheating regarding recruiting? Yeah I believe it. There were a lot of shady things happening everywhere, but the NCAA didn't enforce the rules because of the fact they were making money off the football games themselves. Why did they decide to go after SMU, USC and Miami then? Because it was so excessive and those programs were in major media markets. The NCAA had to do something to say "See we do have morals". You can go over the speed limit to a point. But you better not do it in a school zone, and you better not make it over five mph on holiday weekends. Many Ohio State fans are crying about this because they believed they were hammered unfairly over something that didn't give them any sort of advantage in schematics or recruiting. They had guys who were selling their personal property for tattoos. For that transgression they lost their head coach, they got two seasons worth of games wiped out, they got scholarship reductions, and they got a postseason ban that cost them a shot at the 2012 National Title despite going 12-0. Is it fair? Probably not, but the NCAA has it's rules and those players broke them. Their head coach covered up their violation and lied about it. If I was to be honest about it, I'd say Florida deserved a punishment for all of the player arrests and coverups in our 2009 squad. There was a pretty good documentary done about that mess. But as far as the wristbands, the scouting, and the effect of Stallions. The video below is done by a Tennessee guy who does his research on it. He obviously has a reason, and yes he is bias towards the SEC. But as far as the South Carolina and Michigan ties and the advantage Stallions provided? I believe it. Like I said, look at Michigan under Harbaugh before Stallions. Look at them after, and I mean right after. Their recruiting didn't change. But all of a sudden they became significantly better. A winning culture can create momentum, it doesn't matter how you get there. I believe Michigan changed their culture after getting momentum and has kept it going even after losing their advantage. But let's not overlook the fact that despite their wins over Ohio State and Alabama to end the season. They went back to losing five games. Oregon won't lose five games any time soon under Lanning or anybody imo. Alabama won't be losing five games even after Saban. Ohio State hasn't lost five games this century outside of that 2011 season which was a result of tatoogate. Look at their recruiting and culture at those places. Look at Michigan and tell me if there isn't any smoke. Also look at how quickly Harbaugh was trying to get out of town after he started winning. Jim was interviewing for NFL jobs for two off-seasons. Not just one, to me he knew something was coming. Why would he want to leave Michigan before the 2023 season when all of his players wanted to come back and finish their story?

Well the punishment for the Stallions spy gate has finally been given. After more than two years of investigations the NCAA decided thirty million dollars and an additional Sherrone Moore suspension is the penalty. I'd say that's pretty light considering the allegations that Michigan altered the 2022 playoff by giving South Carolina the plays to help beat both Tennessee and Clemson. Remember that was a six win South Carolina squad that hammered both in back to back weeks. There were some special bands the Gamecock players wore those two games, but never again or before. I personally don't know what advantage Stallions provided, but I do know Harbaugh was on the verge of being fired prior to 2021. He couldn't beat Ohio State or win the B1G. But after pulling out of the 2020 game because of "health concerns" he went 3-0 vs Ohio State and ran the B1G. Losing just three games over his last three years and winning the 2023 National Title as his swan song. Michigan fans are the most smug I've ever come across. I will cheer for just about anyone to be at them that's not named FSU, Miami, Georgia or Tennessee. Heck I actually went against even that when Georgia beat the bricks off them in 2022. I thought Alabama would take care of business in the Title Game to rationalize that. The Ducks embarrassing Michigan this past year and 2007 was great entertainment. One of the reasons I'm a secondary fan of your great program.

The enemy we can all agree on. Thank you to the Knights. Here's hoping that enemy is defeated in our lifetime.

Con-zano and his followers who say Oregon betrayed Oregon State and will regret their move to the B1G need to read this. Oregon supports their athletic department , yes there's one very huge supporter. But it's not like the fans and alumni give nothing. I used to watch PAC TEN football after dark when I'd be out past midnight. There were many great games, but you could tell the difference in environment. These games started at 8 pm Pacific Time You could start games at 8 pm Eastern Time, or Central Time for programs in the SEC or B1G and the crowds would be there as if it were a five PM kickoff. There's just different levels to these programs and you see it week in and week out. I've talked to fans from Utah, Arizona State, and Arizona a lot during football season and they would often tell me that there were many apathetic game day atmospheres in the PAC. The two they said were the toughest to get tickets to? Oregon and Washington. I have walked up several times and been able to get really cheap Sun Devil tickets on game day. The times I couldn't? You guessed it, Oregon, Washington and Utah. Arizona too, but that's pretty obvious.

Sixteen of the top 25 are from either the B1G or SEC. Seventeen if you put Notre Dame in that "preferential viewpoint" position. Boise State is ranked 25th. Not much shock with the rankings. So Texas vs Ohio State will determine the number one ranked squad entering October. Notre Dame vs Miami will likely propel one of those into a season long top five position as neither plays anybody nearly as tough the rest of the way. Unless Florida can actually live up to the hype. I see Alabama crushing Florida State, and Iowa State vs Kansas State in Ireland being a huge early Big 12 game. They call it Farmageddon in the Midwest. Week two we get a top 25 matchup with Michigan going to Oklahoma for early B1G/SEC bragging rights.