The College Football Thread 2006

[SlowwHand]

Projected movement of the line.

[Guynemer]

It's not gonna matter, Dan. If Florida manages to keep it within two scores, I'll be flabbergasted.

[SlowwHand]

I see how you are. Ok. Texas vs. The World.

[DanS]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Projected movement of the line.

OK. That's cool. I was thinking that I didn't understand the bet and that you were going to say that I gave you 8 points against the line, or 16.5 points total.

[Drake Tungsten]

Only 4 people have signed up thus far... come on, you slackers.

Who wants to try and predict the point spread a month before the game? One injury and you're screwed...

[SlowwHand]

I'd rather rethink a game than hurry through them all at the last minute.

[mrmitchell]

Originally posted by DanS
Thought this was a fun interactive chart of who voted for whom in the coaches' poll. The votes for USC are all over the place!

You think that's something. Arkansas is anywhere from 9 to 20.

And I admit we had a disappointing end for the regular season, but once again we are ranked lower than a team we beat the dog out of.

[Drake Tungsten]

Florida passed Michigan by the slimmest margin in BCS history to deny the Wolverines a rematch with Big Ten rival Ohio State in the Jan. 8 national championship game. Instead, No. 3 Michigan will play in its third Rose Bowl in the past four years.

Carr said it was one of the most disappointing moments in his 27 years with the Wolverines.

"Sometimes, in athletics, you get a bad bounce, and things don't go your way," Carr said. "And we have to move on from this."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2691653

Boo ****ing hoo, Lloyd. I guess you'll have to settle for a Rose Bowl matchup with USC...

[SlowwHand]

Don't you know the Rose Bowl appreciates his enthusiasm?

[SlowwHand]

OSU quarterback Troy Smith wins Heisman

By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP Sports Writer
1 hour, 11 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Winning the Heisman Trophy was easy. The hard part for Troy Smith was staying composed.

To the surprise of no one, the Ohio State quarterback was the runaway winner of the award that honors college football's best player.

Seconds after his name was called Saturday night, he hugged everyone important in his life — coaches and family — let out a deep, deep sigh and headed for the podium.

"Normally, I'm pretty cool in pressure situations, but my heart is pounding so fast now," he said.

"I'm at a loss for words. I just can't believe this is happening. ... It means everything. Just to be here in this situation. I love everybody back home in Columbus."

Just two years after nearly derailing his career by taking money from a booster, Smith received 801 first-place votes and won the Heisman by 1,662 points — both the second-best marks in the 71-year history of the award.

Arkansas running back Darren McFadden (878) finished second, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn (782) was third and West Virginia running back Steve Slaton (214) was fourth.

Only O.J. Simpson's 1,750-point victory in 1968 was more lopsided than Smith's.

"I haven't spent that much time dreaming about it," Smith said of winning the Heisman. "But I'll be dreaming about it tonight. It's pretty cool."

The senior moved to the front of the Heisman race in September with a flawless performance against Texas and finished off a perfect regular season by throwing four touchdown passes against Michigan.

Now, there's only one thing left for Smith to do: Beat Florida for the national championship on Jan. 8.

A huge smile lit up Smith's face when his name was announced. After getting a hug and handshake from Quinn, Smith headed to the row of chairs directly behind him, where his mother, Tracy, and sister, Brittany, were sitting.

They each took turns giving Smith a big squeeze. But Smith wasn't done with the hugs — one for Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and another for his high school coach, Ted Ginn Sr.

Mom wiped away a tear and his sister shouted "Yeah, Troy!" as Smith ascended the stairs to give his speech and collect his big bronze statue.

"The Smith family is loud. Very emotional all the time," Smith said. "I wouldn't have it any other way.

The 22-year-old Smith is the sixth player from Ohio State to win the Heisman and first since tailback Eddie George in 1995. And it's the school's seventh Heisman — Archie Griffin won two in 1974-75 — tying Notre Dame and Southern California for the most.

"Now I'm part of that elite group," Smith said.

Smith received 86.7 percent of the first-place votes, a record, and his point total of 2,540 places third in Heisman history behind Simpson (2,853) and fellow Southern California tailback Reggie Bush, who had 2,541 last season

USC had been on a Heisman run, winning two straight and three of the last four, before Smith stepped in. Just like USC's Bush and Matt Leinart, and Oklahoma's Jason White in '03, Smith will play for the national title as a Heisman winner.

"I'm still in awe over this situation," he said, sporting dark three-piece suit with red pinstripes and a Buckeyes' scarlet and gray tie.

"I represent these colors to the fullest," he said.

It's been quite a journey.

"I'm proud of him and everything he's accomplished," Quinn, a fellow Ohioan, said of Smith. Knowing his background, knowing where he comes from, I think it's an important thing to understand why he's so driven and so deserving of such an award."

Smith came to Ohio State as part of a heralded recruiting class in 2002, but his signing was little more than a footnote. His claim to fame was being Ted Ginn Jr.'s quarterback at Glenville High School.

Smith was labeled an "athlete" coming out of high school, the type of player who might ultimately find a home at wide receiver or defensive back.

Even Tressel wasn't sure he'd play quarterback, but he saw potential.

But Smith, a foster child as a teen with a quick temper, also had a penchant for finding trouble. After getting kicked off the basketball team at a private high school for elbowing an opponent, he transferred out of the suburbs of Cleveland to inner-city Glenville High. Smith, who is black, said the white opposing player used a racial slur against him.

At Ohio State, Smith was involved in a fight outside a dorm in the fall of 2003 and found guilty of disorderly conduct.

On the field, Smith couldn't beat out Justin Zwick, the highly touted blue-chipper from the '02 class, at the start of the 2004 season. But when the Buckeyes lost three straight and Zwick got hurt, Smith got his chance and righted the Buckeyes with his running and passing.

Then he tripped himself up again.

An
NCAA investigation determined he took $500 from an Ohio State booster in the spring of 2004. He could have been gone from the Buckeyes for good. Ultimately, he had to repay the money and sit out a bowl game and the first game of 2005.

Back from suspension, he finally became a star.

Smith finished the '05 season with consecutive 300-yard passing games in victories over Michigan and Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, essentially kicking off his '06 Heisman campaign.

Once known more for his speed and elusiveness, Smith's become the consummate pocketpasser. Accurate and poised, he's fourth in the nation in passer rating (167.9) with 2,507 yards passing and 30 TD passes.

He heads into the BCS championship game 25-2 as a starter, and — Gators beware — Smith has been at his best when the Buckeyes have needed him most.

The first Ohio State quarterback in 70 years to lead the Buckeyes to three straight victories over Michigan, Smith had 1,051 total yards with seven touchdown passes and another TD run against the Wolverines.

He's 11-1 as a starter against ranked opponents, with a chance to improve on that mark in the biggest game of his career in Arizona against Florida.

"Finally, now that's out of the way," Smith said. "Now let's move on to preparation for the University of Florida and the national championship."

[Ned]

I wonder how the Bears could draft Smith. They need a good QB.

[DanS]

Most teams should have at least one bite of that apple, if they wish. He definitely could fall past the first round.

[SlowwHand]

This guy cites 3 QB's in 1st round.
Not Smith though.

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/sub/mockdraft.html

[Tuberski]

Link doesn't seem to work Slowwy, All I get is a Texas truck commercial.

Then it aborts.

ACK!

[SlowwHand]

Operator then. It works for me.