College Football Thread - Pandemonium Reigns!

[Donegeal]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I forgot to say, Pac 10 and Big 10 network suck.

Corrected.

[-Jrabbit]

I'm just saying that passing yards looks like a poor predictor.

However, "Colt" is a great first name for an athlete.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I forgot to say, Big XII and Big 10 suck.

Fixed.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
Interesting how well that correlates with success in the NFL...

Heh... well all of those passers are system passers. Against fast defenses (a la NFL), spread passing offenses aren't as successful.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I forgot to say, Pac 10 and Big 10 suck.

I think the lack of big 10 and pac 10 teams on that list implies that those two conferences have rather fewer sucky defenses than the big 12 and such

[SlowwHand]

What list? A poll?

[PLATO]

Originally posted by reismark
SEC: LSU's locked up its berth in the title game regardless of what happens against Arkansas. The Tennessee/Kentucky clash will tell the tale for the other berth. Tennessee controls its destiny; with a win, it's in, but should they lose, Georgia will get the shot.

The Vols looked pretty bad for three quarters against Vandy, but looked unstoppable in the fourth. This is such a sign of how this team has performed all year. A series of massive ups and downs.

The longest winning streak in the nation of one team over another is Tennessee over Kentucky. 22 straight years.

It all depends on which Tennessee team shows up on Saturday. Kentucky could finally break the string or the Vols could hammer them. It is impossible to know which.

One thing is possible to know, however. If the Vols get passed Kentucky, it doesn't matter which Tennessee team shows up against LSU.

[DanS]

(1) Have to hand it to the Zooker. He started with nuthin' and has built a reasonably good team.

(2) As to sending out Carr, Henne, and Hart, (a) I'm sad to see Carr go, (b) I'm bewildered how Henne -- a good QB -- didn't put it together this year, (c) and don't mind that we're never going to see Hart again in a Michigan uniform.

(3) This sure is a wild year. Wouldn't be surprised to see LSU get beat by Arkansas.

[Guynemer]

Originally posted by DanS
(2) As to sending out Carr, Henne, and Hart, (a) I'm sad to see Carr go, (b) I'm bewildered how Henne -- a good QB -- didn't put it together this year, (c) and don't mind that we're never going to see Hart again in a Michigan uniform.

Regarding Henne, he's been playing hurt all season. First his knee, then his shoulder. He hasn't even been in the neighborhood of 100% healthy since week 1, and Hart has been as bad or worse since before the season began. The fact that Michigan went 8-4 with their two most important players in such a condition is really rather remarkable, and Carr deserves a lot of praise which he probably won't get.

And Christ Almighty, I'm gonna miss Mike Hart.

[SlowwHand]

Although only slight in differences, I agree with the AP poll over BCS.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The incredible thing is that the computers have West Virginia at #3. It was the computers that were hurting the Mountaineers in the BCS, but I guess beating a ranked opponent (Cincy) helped them out greatly.

[reismark]

This week's BCS projections:

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: LSU v. Kansas
ROSE BOWL: Ohio State v. Arizona State
ORANGE BOWL: Virginia Tech v. West Virginia
FIESTA BOWL: Missouri v. Oregon
SUGAR BOWL: Georgia v. Boston College

- LSU & Kansas are #1 & #2.
- Ohio State, Arizona State & Virginia Tech get plugged in according to traditional conference ties.
- The Sugar takes Georgia first to maintain its traditional SEC association.
- The Fiesta takes Missouri to maintain its traditional Big 12 association.
- Final allotment order is Orange, Fiesta, Sugar.
- Orange takes best team left (West Virginia).
- Fiesta takes best available team left (Oregon).
- Sugar takes best available team left (Boston College; Oklahoma, USC, Florida, & Texas cannot be taken since it would exceed the two-team-per-conference limit).
- Hawaii does not get an auto-bid since it did not finish ahead of any BCS conference champions in the rankings.

[SlowwHand]

I'd go with that. Besides an appropriate championship, I'll enjoy watching Oregon getting stomped.

[SlowwHand]

The line has USC favored by 3 1/2 over Arizona State.

[Lord Avalon]

Lloyd Carr: 'This is the right time'

Bob Wojnowski, John Niyo, Angelique S. Chengelis and Eric Lacy / The Detroit News
ANN ARBOR -- The Lloyd Carr era at Michigan is ending.

After 13 seasons as Michigan's head football coach, Lloyd Carr announced his retirement Monday during a morning press conference.

Carr, 62, reflected on his nearly 30 years at the university.

"On this week of Thanksgiving, nobody has more to be thankful for than I do," said Carr, who took several minutes to thank U-M officials, coaches and players before he said he was retiring.

Carr said the timing of his retirement was based only on what's best for Michigan.

"There are no other motives," Carr said. "To (announce retirement) later (after a bowl game) would be absolutely ridiculous" for the negative impact it would have on recruiting.

"This is the right time for Michigan and the right time for me."

Carr said his role in the search for a new coach will be entirely up to athletic director Bill Martin.

"When it gets to discussing any potential candidates, I defer to Bill Martin," Carr said.

It has been widely speculated that LSU coach Les Miles is the leading candidate. He is a former Michigan player and assistant coach.

Carr was asked whether the new coach should have ties to the University of Michigan.

"You remember a guy named Schembechler?" Carr said. "He wasn't a Michigan man. Fritz Crisler wasn't a Michigan man. Fielding Yost wasn't a Michigan man. I know Bill Martin wants to find the best coach in this country."

On Sunday, Carr told The Detroit News of his intention to announce his retirement on Monday.

It was an emotional scene when Carr addressed his players Sunday. It was quiet when he first went in the room, then he walked out and returned moments later. When he returned the players gave him a standing ovation.

"He got choked up a little bit, but he didn't have any tears or anything," senior defensive end Shawn Crable said. "I think it will be different after the bowl game when it's all done and he says, 'I'm out of here.'"

"Some guys were shocked," said senior linebacker Chris Graham. "Other guys didn't really know how to take it. But all the guys were disappointed."

Defensive back Morgan Trent said: "It's something I didn't think I would have to go through. It (the loss to Ohio State) is a lot by itself. Dealing with that and losing a coach is a lot at the same time."

Carr's decision to retire was unrelated to Michigan's 14-3 loss to Ohio State on Saturday. He stepped down after 13 years leading the Wolverines and 28 years overall at the school, opening one of the biggest jobs in college football.

Carr leaves a legacy of success and consistency, highlighted by a share of the 1997 national title. He won five Big Ten championships and guided the Wolverines to a bowl every season, and will retire as the third-winningest coach (121-40) in the school's history, trailing only Bo Schembechler and Fielding H. Yost.

This was one of Carr's toughest seasons, from the shocking loss to Appalachian State to nagging injuries incurred by stars Mike Hart and Chad Henne to the crushing finale against the Buckeyes. That was Carr's sixth loss in seven meetings with Jim Tressel and cost the Wolverines (8-4) the Big Ten title.

Carr had avoided the retirement question for fear of creating a distraction. But it had been speculated since he altered his contract last year, making it possible to collect deferred compensation even if he wasn't the head coach. Then in the spring, Carr made sure his assistants were given two-year contracts so they would have security if he left.

Even before the season, the task of leading such a high-profile program was exacting its toll on Carr. He talked in August about the pressures of the job, and it was clear retirement was a possibility.

"I think one of the most important things a leader can do is know when it's time to let somebody else lead," Carr said three months ago. "That's the right thing to do. Because it's a hard job."

For all of his success, Carr was unable to recapture the dominance of the 1997 undefeated team. Tressel also brought a new dynamic to the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, which stirred more scrutiny for Carr.

Still, he retires with a winning record against every Big Ten opponent except the Buckeyes (6-7).

Plenty of speculation lies ahead. But finally, speculation about Carr's future as Michigan's coach is over.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071119/UPDATE/711190428/1004/SPORTS

Thank you, Lloyd, for your years of service. You ran the program the right way.

But now it's time for new blood. Someone who will be a Michican Man, with all that that means, whether with U-M ties or not. And hopefully someone who will better develop players, better prepare them for all games, beat OSU & Sweatervest more often, and win more bowl games and championships.

Carr retires, says he has had the greatest of jobs

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071119/SPORTS06/71119022/1048/SPORTS

Freep has video excerpts.