GatOrlando

That monstrosity of a mascot at Stanford is iconic for reasons. For me they make the trees from Wizard of Oz look good. You are called the Stanford Cardinal. Just become the fifth best Cardinal in sports. Being that this is Lee Corso's retirement year, I wish he could've done an Oregon game and an Ohio State game. Those are his two favorite mascots.

I love our armed forces. My grandfather served in the second world war. My father served in Vietnam. I went against their Army roots and joined the Air Force, or Chair Force as many Marines called us 😅. I've got some stories about meeting those guys. The technology we have that most don't even know about would shock your most ardent gear head. I won't get into even the little bit that I know about. But it's amazing stuff. I have a buddy who is looking to go back, but he wants to go into the Space Force. I can't even imagine the stuff he might see if that happens.

There was a time when pilots had to shoot at their enemies through their propellers. We went from there to the ENIGMA machine where the British decided the German's UBOAT transmissions. Fast forward to the 60's and we had BlackHawk copters that could navigate in dense rainforests. Fast forward to the 90's and we had Hummers that could traverse the dryest deserts or the muddiest swamps. Fast forward ten more years and we had stealth bombers that were almost invisible to radar. Now we have bunker busters, and apparently drones that will fight for us. The next step is obvious and scary, if you believe the Terminator or Matrix movies. Maybe one day we could stop building things to destroy ourselves. Imagine if we used all those resources to build something like a space station, or a moon base. Heck maybe find Atlantis. If you believe it existed.

Strength of schedule is amusing to me in many ways. I know it's a metric that SEC people use quite often. But here's the problem. Let's say Texas, LSU, Texas A&M, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Alabama, and Ole Miss all start in the top 20. All of those teams automatically are given a boost when they play each other. Missouri can lose to Texas and they won't drop far. Texas will gain the boost from playing Missouri and it's labeled a top 15 win. Missouri can lose four games to top 15 teams and they won't drop. They will be given the benefit of the doubt because they lost to four top 15 teams. But Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Washington, Maryland, and Michigan State will all start out the season with the same record as those in the SEC. They will not get the benefit of the doubt, and losses accrued will be punished far more severely. Oregon can beat Illinois before Illinois has a chance to prove they were a ten win team, and Oregon will not get the initial bump for beating Illinois, Nebraska, or Maryland. So each loss will lower their perceived ranking and the wins will give them less padding. After all losing to an unranked Illinois is far worse than a top 15 Missouri. But why did Missouri get the benefit of the doubt when the season started? Because they won ten games the season prior and won a Cotton Bowl over a less than motivated Ohio State squad. I don't know why this is hard to understand. I'm not jealous of other SEC squads and defecting my loyalties. First of all I am a fan of one team and will never cheer for Georgia or Tennessee in the playoff. If that makes me some kind of turncoat or Benedict Arnold, so be it. But we all know if you start on third base because of your brand or conference affiliation, you have a major headstart over those that have to win big from the start, and you better not lose even after you start off with a bang. A two loss Texas will always be given the benefit over a a one loss Indiana. If you don't take my word for it, look at this preseason SOS list. Go look at the last five years, look at the end season loss columns. Then look where those teams started the next year. Look where the benefit is given. https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/ranking/schedule-strength-by-other?date=2025-01-21

Napier said it's nothing that will go past next week. More precautionary.....I hope. Our season rests on that young man's arm.

I love and respect many things about Notre Dame. I love the history. I love Rudy. I love the fact Notre Dame not only has great football players, but great young men with high academic achievements. I love the song "Here Come The Irish". I love coach Holtz, even if he's a bit over the top. I love the sign "Play Like a Champion. I love Touchdown Gosh. I love the uniforms. But it's time for Notre Dame to join a conference. Actually it's time for college football to let Notre Dame know it's time to join a conference. Nobody has gotten more favorable positions than Notre Dame. They didn't have to split any of their playoff run revenue. They get that massive NBC deal, and they get their own special seat with the CFP committee. Time to save the ACC and join up Notre Dame.

When Foley was our AD he had a strict no leaving Florida for any OOC game. Florida would play FSU but the schedule would fill out with FIU, Citadel, and Bishop Sycamore. When Stricklin got hired he got us involved with an opening week game in Dallas vs Michigan. There was an outcry from Miami and UCF fans that Florida was dodging them. Yes that's for real, UCF fans are much like Oregon State without the heritage of at least ever being a conference mate. But Stricklin thought it would help recruiting by playing games in Miami and Orlando. Why he didn't see the two year slate coming after Texas and Oklahoma were announced as joining us beyond me. Everybody knew Florida was going to draw Texas. As far as beating Texas this year, it all depends on keeping Lagway healthy and BN not calling the same predictable and boring offense he has the first three years. Matter of fact Napier just needs to give up play calling like Ryan Day did, and Day is much better at it btw. Many SEC fans get mad when I say the league needs to go to nine conference games. Like you said, that would actually make Florida's schedule easier. It's the Ole Miss, MSU, Vandy, South Carolina, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Missouri like schools that protest the loudest. The same schools that spout off about the strength of the league top to bottom. Rhett Lashlee made a very valiant point in saying the SEC has six schools that have carried the league. I look at the B1G and see Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State. Now you have Oregon, USC, and maybe Washington.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25230453-notre-dame-ad-opposes-big-tens-cfp-bracket-model-you-have-earn-it-field "I happen to think that there should be automatic qualifiers for the Power 4 conference champions, and there should an automatic qualifier for the highest-rated G5 champion," he told Pete Sampson of The Athletic. "But then, whether it's 12, 14, or 16 (teams), I think you have to earn it on the field. And those should be at-large berths. I think that's the best way, the most repeatable way, to get the very best teams to compete for a national championship year-in and year-out. And I think most people agree with that. Both the decision makers, the general public, football fans, I think that's what people want to see."

Vanderbilt doesn't have a tough ooc conference game ever. FSU may be garbage, but they are still capable with transfer Cosstellanos(still a fool for calling out Bama). Plus top 15 Miami, top ten Georgia, Texas, and LSU, and potential top 20 Tennessee, and Texas A&M. I may be somewhat biased Jon, but is there a tougher set of games on paper? You know I don't buy the whole SEC can't play nine conference games because of some sos metric SEC coaches use as a crutch, but the Gators play two in State rivals that are P4 programs. Last year we had 3 ooc games vs P4 opponents. UCF was Big 12, even if they may still have had an American Conference roster as they've only been there two years, their third coming this year.

Pettiti needs to be loud and clear like Sankey is in getting his point across . Nine conference games across the board. An in season cross conference slate every year, that way the depth of the conferences can show out. No the ACC and Big 12 aren't on the same level. But the B1G wasn't near that level before they became ruthless and closed the gap. The SEC never missed the 4 team playoff, sending two teams multiple times. The B1G champion missed out a couple times, heck an undefeated ACC champion missed out in favor of a one loss SEC team. You gotta earn your respect in this game, the Big 12 has one playoff win in their entire history. The ACC had one program win the whole thing twice, but no other member even came close to making it in( outside of FSU getting blown out in '14 and being passed over in '23).

Good on Deion, I hope he is feeling better. Battling that can be debilitating, kudos for him to not only beat it, but also continue to work hard and lead Colorado to ten wins while doing so.

What are the ratings really worth? They give five star kids and five star programs the benefit of the doubt. Dante Moore is a more well known commodity, but there's something wild and exciting about the unknown behind door number three. Arch Manning is being hyped like he's going to win the Heisman and lead Texas back to the promised land. Why? Because of what he did vs Mississippi State? Quinn Ewers was once the highest rated recruit ever at Ohio State. The guy became a 7th round pick. Hype and branding are what these rankings are all about. Drew Allar is number one because Penn State is going to do what Michigan and Ohio State did, we all have to believe that. Super Sayin is going to be great because Nick Saban thought so, and now he's with Ohio State and the QB guru Ryan Day. Major Underwood is the ten million dollar man. Best talent money could buy, he's got to be awesome because look at all those attributes.

Autzen is about 50,000 maximum capacity smaller than Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. Neither Michigan or Ohio State come close to the decibel level from what I've heard. If Florida ever plays at Oregon I'm going to make it a point to go. After this year I'd like to ask my friends here if Penn State, Wisconsin, or Iowa is as loud as I've heard.

It's a great place if you have the $$$. I understand why pros gravitate there. I see the appeal for an 18 year old we with millions of NIL or collective money in their pockets. There are endless ways to enjoy being young and wealthy. Easy to get into trouble as well, which any of us at 18 could fall into despite our upbringing and being taught better. USC and Miami are always talked about by our great friends Cowherd and Finebaum. Cowherd loves those two while Finebaum hates them with a burning passion. I kind of wish they'd do a show together 😂. USC and Miami both have multiple titles, Heismans, huge branding, and no shortage of bag men and controversies. So there's always going to be the benefits of resources, but also the downfalls of distractions. It takes the right coach to juggle and walk the line. Neither have the right guy at the moment imo. Neither will ever have the home field advantage of an Oregon or Florida either.

USC has the same problem most programs do in major markets with pro sports, celebrities, nightclubs, and a million things to do everyday. Notice that Georgia Tech (Atlanta), Miami, UCLA(Los Angeles), Boston College, Rutgers(Jersey/New York) , Northwestern (Chicago), Temple (Philadelphia) Vanderbilt (Nashville) and just about every other program located in a major market just doesn't have the fan support. Eugene, Ann Arbor, Madison, Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge, College Station, Auburn,Gainesville, Athens(Georgia), Knoxville, Happy Valley,Oxford(Ole Miss), Clemson, Lincoln, and Norman are great home environments. Texas(Austin), Ohio State(Columbus), and Washington(Seattle) are really the lone mid to major metro markets that have great college atmospheres. Miami used to have a somewhat good environment when they were playing at the Orange Bowl, but Dolphins stadium is huge and soulless. The Coliseum and Rose Bowl are great, but they are like ghost towns unless USC is in dynasty mode or it's the actual Rose Bowl game filled with fans from outside LA. I know the article really wasn't about home environments, but I truly think there is a lack of passion with the USC program unless they are undefeated. Duck fans rock out every week. The passion level is at another level.

It's a way of trying to make paying players sound palatable. There's been a wink wink under the table payment plan in place since the Pony Express. The NCAA would go after certain cases just to make themselves feel better, but I've seen kids from downtrodden Orange Blossom Trail driving around in Jaguars, Lambos, and H2's back in the late 2000's around campus. I could barely afford gas for my beat up old Nova after buying things like textbooks and things the GI Bill didn't cover when I was in college.

When football players have more college stops than Madonna has husbands, you may have an issue. The Material girl has nothing on these youngsters today. Imagine getting two million dollars to sit and get a free education. Now imagine thinking that's not enough .

That just chaps away at many SEC fans. It's a signal that the B1G doesn't have to bow down to kiss the ring. Pettiti isn't feeling pressure to settle because he's afraid of the ACC or Big 12 getting mad at him. He isn't afraid of losing millions, he serves the interest of the B1G. If the conference members are telling him to not back off this line, he isn't going to back off the line.

I'm not sure, but Pawl feeds into the delusion because it's his core fanbase. He knows television isn't about reporting facts. It's about views. Love him or hate him, people have a feeling about him. Jo Bob and Delilah down at the Piggly Wiggly just buy into whatever they hear. I'm pretty sure they still think professional wrestling is a real sport. RIP to Hulk Hogan btw.

I'm tired of the narrative that adding one extra conference game would get SEC coaches fired. What? You expect me to believe Lane Kiffin, Shane Beamer, Sam Pittman, Eli Drinkowitz, or Billy Napier would be fired because of one extra loss a year? Especially if more teams get playoff spots? That's a bull crap excuse and anybody with a brain capable of any deductive reasoning would see that. Beating LSU and Ole Miss saved Napier(that and DJ Lagway). The nerve of this guy saying Pettiti is a pariah and not good at math or common sense because he is holding Sankey accountable for an agreement they had for the B1G to go with the SEC preferred playoff format as long as the SEC goes to 9 conference games, before backing out because SEC coaches said it was impossible. It's bull, and Alabama, Miss State, Ole Miss, and most SEC teams need the money more than the bigger and more prestigious B1G institutions. "The SEC..It just means more!!" More whining and complaining? The best coaches and players on the best programs are scared of one extra game? If it was my coach saying that while making millions,I would fire him for that alone. Texas, Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M, and I think Tennessee are the only SEC institutions with the academic prestige and donor list to keep up. The SEC relies on football to pay its bills. The B1G is a much better run and well financed league. I'm kind of embarrassed how uneducated some of these guys are. The guy in the video isn't dumb, he's just brainwashed. Please hold the line. I want my fellow SEC fans to wake up from the propaganda. It will give us more great games.

This is what I hear all the time guys. Just so you know what those in the SEC bubble think, what Pawl FineBoom serves everyday. Demand your leadership to stay strong. Don't give in.

I dug into your mascot history and found something terrifying......

Oregon is like that kid in the library that keeps getting shushed and told to be quiet, respect the rules. "There are guidelines here young man. Show respect to these hallowed halls" Oregon " WAAAZZZUUUUPPPPP"

SEC apologists will look at strength of schedule and say 9 of the top 10 hardest schedules are SEC teams. Ohio State is the first B1G member at number 8. My problem with this is the numbers are skewed because if you have the 9 best rated teams than of course the SOS is going to be higher when they play each other. Many SEC programs get overrated because of the myth of the league. Truth is the those sos numbers are a joke when 3 loss teams are viewed as top 15 teams. Ole Miss, Missouri, Texas A&M, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee,Texas, Georgia, and Alabama were top 15 most of the year. But teams lost to the likes of Kentucky, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Florida, and Vanderbilt. Oregon went undefeated. Ohio State lost at Oregon, and in a rivalry game to Michigan. Penn State lost to Oregon and Ohio State. Indiana lost at Ohio State. If Ole Miss, South Carolina, Alabama, or LSU belonged in the playoff they wouldn't have lost three times. Each having a far worse loss than anything the four B1G members had. People in Dixieland are so used to Sankey getting his way that it's almost incomprehensible that Petiti won't just give in. There's no way the SEC will lose in this battle of the wills. There's too much money to be lost, so Petiti needs to fold completely for the good of everyone. You know why? Because all the SEC coaches told Greg that going to a nine game schedule would cost them their jobs. It's just too hard to drop SunBelt November and play an extra conference game. I mean it's just the way it is🥸 Please. I hope Petiti stands his ground, more SEC programs need the expanded revenue than the B1G. Florida has to play FSU every year while Georgia gets Georgia Tech and everybody outside South Carolina doesn't have to worry about a big time OOC rivalry game. Who does Ole Miss play? Alabama at least usually schedules one tough game in September, but nobody else does. Everybody else has their rivalries included in those 8 conference games. I'd welcome the ninth game, I mean Florida already plays Georgia, LSU, and Tennessee every year. Ditching Miami for Arkansas or Missouri wouldn't be too terrible. Stand your ground B1G. Make the SEC give up something to get the format it wants. Sooner or later the pressure will build.

They tried to SMU their way in. Maybe if they forgo five years of any payout from television revenue it might work. I guess that PAC Who invite isn't as prestigious, as Memphis is willing to go paying 200 million plus to get in the "truck stop conference".