NFL/NCAA 2007 thread [Archive]

strangeirish

02/09/2007, 12:33 PM

Stunning upset indeed. They didn't look out of place either. Surely it's time for Carr to go now. At least I won't have to listen to a couple of Michigan employee's whine about not being selected to play for a national championship this year.

Dodge

04/09/2007, 9:44 AM

Good news lads

"Also TV3 announces the return of NFL to terrestrial TV in Ireland with exclusive Irish rights to NFL coverage for the coming season including live coverage of the Superbowl from Phoenix, Arizona in February 2008."

http://www.tv3.ie/media.php?action=news&id=123

Danny

04/09/2007, 11:29 AM

can someone explain to me how the NCAA divisions/bowls etc work in less than 100 words ?
only got NASN recently and began watchin it at the w/e

cheers

Aberdonian Stu

04/09/2007, 11:40 AM

The champions of the six major conferences - ACC, Pac 10, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, Big East - each get one automatic bid to one of the 4 major bowls - Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, Orange. There are two guaranteed 'at-large' bids for either a second team from one of these conferences, a winner of another conference or an Independent programme (basically Notre Dame) based on where they finish in the BCS polls.

The other 28 or so bowls are based on bids arranged between all the conferences at the start of the season and are assigned based roughly on where a team finishes.

The top two teams according to the BCS polls, which is based on a voting system, play in the BCS National title game which is the fifth BCS bowl.

Usually the two competitors are conference champions of one of the major conference. This means an extra 2 'at-large' bids are opened up for the other BCS bowls, bringing the total to four.

No one conference can send more than 2 teams to one of the 5 BCS bowls.

If this sounds arbitrary and confusing to you then you are perfectly correct.

Dodge

04/09/2007, 11:57 AM

can someone explain to me how the NCAA divisions/bowls etc work in less than 100 words ?

Nope. Stu's is nearly double that. ;)

Its all about the polls.

Michigan (ranked 5th pre season) are already ****ed as a result of losing to Appalachian state (who can't receive a ranking as they're not involved in a bowl qualifying conference)

I've been in the US twice when the BCS (or its predecessor) teams have been announced and its always controversial

Danny

04/09/2007, 12:30 PM

cheers lads, one fo the lads told me it was pretty confusing and they were right.

OneRedArmy

04/09/2007, 12:54 PM

Warm weather cities host bowls aimed (and ultimately favouring) cold weather schools so lots of alumni can come and spend buckletloads of money at an otherwise quiet period for hotels and other tourist infrastructure.

The end.

EDIT: Bring on a proper playoff system ("academic concerns" my hole...........)

Dodge

04/09/2007, 1:03 PM

Warm weather cities host bowls aimed (and ultimately favouring) cold weather schools so lots of alumni can come and spend buckletloads of money at an otherwise quiet period for hotels and other tourist infrastructure.

Would definitely explain why schools from Texas, California and Florida dominate...

OneRedArmy

04/09/2007, 1:17 PM

Would definitely explain why schools from Texas, California and Florida dominate...Thats only in the last 10 years or so. Remember that the bowl system has changed a lot over the last few decades. My post above was only half in jest.

Having spoken to someone involved in one of the bigger bowls they'd much prefer to go back to at-large invites. Heat doesn't travel to heat.

Everyone wants Notre Dame/Ohio State/Michigan/Penn State. TV money makes a bit of a difference but trust me, the local committee groaned when Florida made the BCS bowl last season.

Dodge

04/09/2007, 1:23 PM

Oh I know, I was just pointing out that its not completely true. And the SEC is by far the strongest conference. In real terms there's no way Notre Dame should've got a BCS bowl last year

Aberdonian Stu

04/09/2007, 1:46 PM

The SEC is the strongest conference but no by far as so many of its proponents seem thing.

For all the sandal-wearing hippyness of it the Pac 10 is a decent second. As a Notre Dame fan it pains me to say it but USC, UCLA, Cal and Oregon State are powerful sides that command respect. Its opponents would point to the lower teams being worse with the likes of Stanford but they're no worse than Mississippi State. The middle is where the SEC wins out in the head to head between the two conferences.

These things are cyclical though.

Dodge

04/09/2007, 1:49 PM

Agreed, and I think UCLA will improve on previous years. Absolutely loved them beating USC in the last "regular" game of last season

max power

06/09/2007, 12:44 PM

anyone get a password for tickets to the game in wembley ?????

I got mine today and tickets go on sale at 10 next wen !

Dodge

06/09/2007, 12:47 PM

Already have my tickets booked :)

max power

06/09/2007, 1:05 PM

Already have my tickets booked :)

git..

OneRedArmy

06/09/2007, 1:29 PM

Haven't checked my email yet but not hopeful.

I think there's less than 10,000 tickets in this tranche and its first come first served so it will be fingers on buzzers.

Although I do have the Packers v Vikings to look forward to a few weeks later...:D

SkStu

06/09/2007, 8:32 PM

any of you get to watch the CFL? I hear its on Setanta back home. Great game (slightly different to the NFL) and my local team (Saskatchewan Roughriders-been to a good few of the games) leading the Division at the mo.

Main differences between CFL and NFL is that there ae only 3 downs in CFL and only one foot needs to be in bounds on a catch. Its actually a lot faster and a bit better than the NFL in my humble and biased opinion.

max power

06/09/2007, 9:52 PM

right just over 2 hours to kick off. Got my Reggie jersey on, colts glass in hand and colts slippers on..

Let the games begin and in 122 dys time i'll enjoy the Super Bowl on Miami !!!! But the Colts won't be in it:(

Dodge

06/09/2007, 10:00 PM

Its actually a lot faster and a bit better than the NFL in my humble and biased opinion.

The skill level is nowhere near as good but I find the CFL rules are far better. I watch quite a bit of it. Have kind of taken on the Rough Riders as my team (but dn't really care if you know what I mean...)

Aberdonian Stu

06/09/2007, 11:09 PM

I hate the CFL with a passion. The three down rule makes it so boring.

SkStu

07/09/2007, 5:11 AM

no way man! By its nature it encourages more mid to long passing leading to better catches and better mistakes. I find it more exciting than NFL. Though Manning was a joy to watch tonight and the skill level is far higher in the NFL.

Aberdonian Stu

07/09/2007, 8:33 AM

Too many short drives, with 2 and outs. I was really excited when it first came to Setanta and have never been so disappointed. It takes all the fun out of Football. Long passing is only good if it's not expected every bloody time, the game needs a stronger running element to open up the passing game rather than making it just a series of bombs.

max power

10/09/2007, 2:21 PM

can't use my password to buy tickets for wembley.

I'll like a real NFL fan to have a chance to get them, anyone wants it just PM and its yours. First to Pm,

Max

max power

10/09/2007, 3:07 PM

tickets gone:o

Aberdonian Stu

30/09/2007, 12:20 AM

A load of huge upsets this weekend. From the top 10 alone, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Texas and Rutgers all fell in upsets and the day isn't over yet.

OneRedArmy

30/09/2007, 8:51 AM

A load of huge upsets this weekend. From the top 10 alone, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Texas and Rutgers all fell in upsets and the day isn't over yet.Add in Florida losing to Auburn........... at home. :mad:
USC were also run close but won by 3 points.

LSU look a cut above in the SEC.

strangeirish

30/09/2007, 2:15 PM

I watched that game. Fair play to Auburn, they didn't play like an unranked team. Florida's offense never got in a rhythm, but still had a chance to win it with about 4 minutes left, but had a crucial three and out.

Aberdonian Stu

30/09/2007, 8:07 PM

Yeah I watched the first quarter of Auburn-Florida before fatigue got the best of me.

max power

21/10/2007, 11:17 PM

Wow what a finish by the Bears, 1.44 left on the clock. No timeouts and on their own 3 yard line.......down by 4 and they get the touchdown with 9 seconds on the clock. What a final drive.

strangeirish

21/10/2007, 11:33 PM

Yeah, couple of good ones this week. Texans and Titans was a wild one also. Houston looked liked they were out of it, but came roaring back scoring 29 fourth quarter points, only to lose by a field goal as time expired.

The big game this weekend though, is the Colts coming to Jacksonville. Gonna be a dandy!

Boo_Boy

22/10/2007, 12:34 AM

Wow what a finish by the Bears, 1.44 left on the clock. No timeouts and on their own 3 yard line.......down by 4 and they get the touchdown with 9 seconds on the clock. What a final drive.

brilliant finish,Griese is really improving.

theworm2345

22/10/2007, 4:32 AM

HAHAHA No lie, Griese is 100x better than Rex and Rex should be working selling tickets from now on because I pray he never gets near the field again

max power

22/10/2007, 11:26 AM

The big game this weekend though, is the Colts coming to Jacksonville. Gonna be a dandy!

Yeah its gonna be a late night tonight

Boo_Boy

22/10/2007, 7:19 PM

HAHAHA No lie, Griese is 100x better than Rex and Rex should be working selling tickets from now on because I pray he never gets near the field again

totally agree!:D

Aberdonian Stu

22/10/2007, 7:21 PM

Another bizarre weekend in College Football. We've become so accustomed to it this season that when Vanderbilt knocked off Number 6 South Carolina no-one batted an eyelid.

Real ale Madrid

23/10/2007, 3:58 PM

anyone know if it is possible to get the #2 BC v #8 VA Tech game live on the net? NASN are not showing it live with the world series. Biggest game in BC's history i think - realistic national title contenders if they can pull it off. Been to a few of thier games before and would love to watch this.

Dodge

24/10/2007, 9:41 AM

Probably available on the net. Visit here for streaming info http://www.myp2p.eu (later in week I'd guess)

Real ale Madrid

26/10/2007, 9:03 AM

Burny89

26/10/2007, 11:10 AM

great time to be in New England

SkStu

26/10/2007, 5:50 PM

Thanks Dodge, dident get to see the game but Ryan threw 2 TD's in the last 2 mins to take BC from 10-0 down to 14-10 winners. BC now should have a shot at playing in the national championship and thier first BCS game ever! And the red sox won again too!

unreal final quarter in that game - actually just the final 5 mins! Great stuff. I only saw the second half but it was supposed to be a pretty crap game apart from those final 2 drives.

Aberdonian Stu

28/10/2007, 8:25 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?&brand=null&videoId=3083220&n8pe6c=1

As the commentator puts it "That was one of the most miraculous plays in all of College Football"

OneRedArmy

29/10/2007, 4:04 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?&brand=null&videoId=3083220&n8pe6c=1

As the commentator puts it "That was one of the most miraculous plays in all of College Football"Maybe ridiculous is a more appropriate word. Even for Division III the tackling was farcical.

Not a patch on Boise State's Statue of Liberty.

Aberdonian Stu

30/10/2007, 11:52 AM

I don't think that's comparing like with like though. Boise's was a deliberate play from start to finish, the Trinity boys were essentially calling it on the fly after the first pass. Two very different scenarios, both of which were awesome to behold in their own right.

Jerry The Saint

01/11/2007, 10:19 AM

They'd obviously been watching the Rugby World Cup :)

max power

04/11/2007, 9:14 PM

21 for the Pats is Gay...........sorry i'll get my coat:o:D

max power

04/11/2007, 10:45 PM

typical, sat feed oges down on the biggest game of the season so far:mad:

Aberdonian Stu

05/11/2007, 10:32 AM

Couldn't stay awake for the Pats comeback. So disappointed, I'm not a fan of either side but missing that is still annoying.

To compound matters the feed on the Celtics-Raptors NBA game I was watching went down in the dying seconds of overtime so I had to rely on audio only commentary to find out Ray Allen hit a three for the win.

OneRedArmy

07/11/2007, 4:18 PM

My ticket for the Packers vs Vikings on Sunday finally arrived today (also seeing the Bulls vs Raptors the previous night).

Can't believe how well the Packers have done in the first half of the season, surely one of the biggest surprises so far.

Stadium regulations list for Lambeau includes a cheesehead and a foam finger in the list of permitted items (but not a camera case.......).:D