The Official DIS College Football Thread

[ophie]

There cannot possibly be a worse stadium in college football than the Metrodome! It's a mile off campus and has no personality.

My most distinct memory of a Gophers game in the Metrodome is when they lost a 28 point lead in the 4th quarter of a game against Michigan two years ago!

I really don't know if that out-sucks the Orange Bowl. The OB is several miles from the campus, it was built in the 30s (and looks like it), and has steadily had it's capacity reduced since the mid-late 70s.

 

[ophie]

Since when does yardage equal struggling ? By that measure, I guess Tech must have gotten destroyed by NC State, since they were outgained almost two-to-one in that game. And I guess South Florida must have really struggled with Louisville, since they were outgained by nearly 140 yards on the game.

And, you may not realize it, what with VPI's lofty defensive rating, but WVU is #4 in the nation...right behind Tech's defense at #3. Granted, we didn't play any juggernauts like NC State (lost to UNC) or a QB with viral meningitis, but still...

Umm... you're the one bragging about your defense and then telling me that offensive yardage doesn't matter? What sense does that make? NC State, South Florida, and Louisville are all better teams than ECU. You had ECU at home, gave them 287 yards, and had to save the win. Sorry, but if I were a WVU fan that wouldn't inspire my confidence.

You want to pick on Tech's schedule? Who have you played? Syracuse (a juggernaut if I ever saw one), MD (sketchy at best), ECU, and Wofford. Wofford!!!! You're harassing their schedule and you're playing IAAs?!?! You really hate them to try to make that stretch.

 

[wvrevy]

Umm... you're the one bragging about your defense and then telling me that offensive yardage doesn't matter? What sense does that make? NC State, South Florida, and Louisville are all better teams than ECU. You had ECU at home, gave them 287 yards, and had to save the win. Sorry, but if I were a WVU fan that wouldn't inspire my confidence.

Correction...I was saying that our defense is every bit as good as Tech's, statistically. They average giving up two fewer yards per game than we do. Believe me...nobody has to sell me on Tech's Defense. It's their offense I haven't been terribly impressed with. Vick, IT SEEMS TO ME, is all name and little game. Maybe he proves me wrong before he leaves (or gets expelled again). But he hasn't done it yet.

You want to pick on Tech's schedule? Who have you played? Syracuse (a juggernaut if I ever saw one), MD (sketchy at best), ECU, and Wofford. Wofford!!!! You harassing their schedule and you're playing IIAs?!?! You really hate them to try to make that stretch.

Wofford was a replacement for Central Florida, who bought out their game in Morgantown in February of this year. We had to make sure we had that 6th home game for financial reasons, and took the only team we could find. Not our fault we scheduled them, but even if it had been, virtually every team in the country does it. How many directional Louisiana schools does LSU play every year ? Georgia has played Georgia Southern in the recent past. It happens pretty much everywhere.

And I'd hesitate saying that Syracuse and Maryland are all that bad. Ask F$U what they thought about playing in the Carrier Dome last year (against a worse 'Cuse team than they have this year). Ask ACC teams how many of them have gone in and dominated the Terps on their home field.

And could it just possibly be that WVU was looking ahead to this week, considering the quality of last week's opponent ? I mean, gee, that never happens, particularly with as young a team as we have, now does it ?

 

[Laura]

It was a big win, probably the biggest win of Mack Brown's tenure.

It was an awesome game. Too bad the Buckeyes didn't win. But at least they lost to a good team--no shame in losing to Texas this year. I hope the Longhorns win out!

 

[ophie]

Well, Central Florida finally won last week... they might actually be worse than Wofford. Not sure that replacement argument helps you out.

I never said Syracuse and Maryland were bad. I said Syracuse wasn't a juggernaut and Maryland was sketchy. My point is... when WVU fans accuse VT of being overrated it rings hollow to me. It's partisan moaning, not an opinion based in fact. Now, if you say that VT hasn't had much luck playing @ WVU recently and we should be on upset watch, I have to agree with you. But to say that Tech is overrated is just WVU fans pouting about their rival being good. The defense looks as tough as ever and the offense has done everything needed and more.

That said... I can't wait to watch the game tomorrow. It'll be good, I hope. If VT proves to be overrated I'll come back and admit it, but right now there's no way to justify that statement with the facts.

 

[wvrevy]

It was an awesome game. Too bad the Buckeyes didn't win. But at least they lost to a good team--no shame in losing to Texas this year. I hope the Longhorns win out!

That's the problem with rooting for a Mack Brown coached team. The guy has to be one of if not the best recruiter in the country. But when it comes to the BIG games (and that generally only means the Sooners), he just can't get it done.

So far this year, that Texas - OSU game is the best game I've seen. I still think if Tressel had benched Zwick earlier they'd have pulled it out. But Texas looks pretty good, too, so I don't mean to take anything away from them.

'Course, if they DO manage to get through the suddenly shakey Big 12, they get the dubious honor of playing USC in a virtual home game for the Trojans for the national title. Unfortunately for Horns fans, I just don't think they have the horses to hang with USC for long.

(Just realized that I'm sounding like a Trojan fan, but I'm actually not. I'm basically indifferent to football West of the Mississippi. I'm just that impressed with USC at this point. It's just like they've got another gear under the hood that nobody else has. They decide to "punch it", and nobody can hang with them. Will be interesting to see if anybody can manage to withstand that barrage long enough to make a game of it.)

 

[wvrevy]

Well, Central Florida finally won last week... they might actually be worse than Wofford. Not sure that replacement argument helps you out.

I never said Syracuse and Maryland were bad. I said Syracuse wasn't a juggernaut and Maryland was sketchy. My point is... when WVU fans accuse VT of being overrated it rings hollow to me. It's partisan moaning, not an opinion based in fact. Now, if you say that VT hasn't had much luck playing @ WVU recently and we should be on upset watch, I have to agree with you. But to say that Tech is overrated is just WVU fans pouting about their rival being good. The defense looks as tough as ever and the offense has done everything needed and more.

That said... I can't wait to watch the game tomorrow. It'll be good, I hope. If VT proves to be overrated I'll come back and admit it, but right now there's no way to justify that statement with the facts.

Florida played Wyoming earlier this year. LSU has a game scheduled with Appalachian State. Georgia plays Louisiana Monroe. Florida State played the Citadel. Miami plays Temple. Ohio State had Miami of OH and Sand Diego State. I'll say it again...these games happen everywhere. Every decent team tries to schedule a cupcake at home early in the season to "warm up" for the rest of the schedule.

As for them being overrated, no it is not a fact. Since the ratings are nothing but opinion, it's also not a fact to say that they're the third best team in the country. But it is my opinion that having a very good defense and blocking a couple of kicks isn't enough to earn you that kind of ranking. If their quarterback's name was Smith, I don't buy that they would still be ranked that highly.

It's not about "pouting" that Tech is ranked that highly. Shoot, I wish they were coming in ranked #1, as it would be better for WVU if we manage to win the game. But you have to admit that some teams, for no explicable reason, get more praise than they are truly deserving of. It's my belief that Tech is one such team, particularly with a guy named "Vick" at quarterback.

But hey...this is all just speculation at this point. Mine, yours...even Hokiefan33's (though he may have a direct line from Jesus, last I heard ) (Just a joke, Hokie fan...don't take it personally). The only thing that matters is the game, and BS'ing about the game helps pass the time until it's actually time for kickoff (a little under 17 hours, as I post ).

Here's hoping it's a safe game for both teams, and for the fans in the stands. Around 3:30 tomorrow, we should know one way or the other.

 

[ophie]

Florida played Wyoming earlier this year. LSU has a game scheduled with Appalachian State. Georgia plays Louisiana Monroe. Florida State played the Citadel. Miami plays Temple. Ohio State had Miami of OH and Sand Diego State. I'll say it again...these games happen everywhere. Every decent team tries to schedule a cupcake at home early in the season to "warm up" for the rest of the schedule.

No one ever said they didn't. I just said it was unfair to harass one team's schedule when yours is just as cupcakey.

 

[PrincessCLM]

But to say that Tech is overrated is just WVU fans pouting about their rival being good. That said... I can't wait to watch the game tomorrow. It'll be good, I hope. If VT proves to be overrated I'll come back and admit it, but right now there's no way to justify that statement with the facts.

Not a VT or WVU fan (me personally) - but sports casters believe that VT is overrated currently in the season because their wins weren't that impressive based on the teams that played and that VT has a nasty habit of not showing up the second half of the season and choking come Nov. Not my opinion but what sports casters are saying.

 

[ophie]

Not a VT or WVU fan (me personally) - but sports casters believe that VT is overrated currently in the season because their wins weren't that impressive based on the teams that played and that VT has a nasty habit of not showing up the second half of the season and choking come Nov. Not my opinion but what sports casters are saying.

Umm... sorry... but who're you watching? VT's scoring 40+ points a game and as my friend from WVU has so doggedly persisted in saying, "everyone plays cupcakes early" so the schedule point is bull. And, I'm sure if you ask UVA, Miami, and other traditional "2nd half" opponents of VT they'll tell you that they're dangerous all year long. The only chokes I can remember have already been discussed. I realize you said this isn't your opinion you're professing, but whose is it?

 

[Jonas Grumby]

Teams I love to hate? Miami & FSU.
You can say the same for FSU's 14-year run of top-five finishes. Sure they were great, but the ACC in those days was only marginally better than the Big East. Would never have happened in a power conference.

Well we had five of those top five finishes before we even even got into to ACC. And BTW Florida State has an 8-1-1 record against your "power" Big 10 with the tie coming against Penn State in the Gator Bowl in 1967 and it's only loss a was by two points to Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1986. Ohio State has never beaten the Seminoles. GO NOLES!!!!

 

[Buckeye 218]

Well we had five of those top five finishes before we even even got into to ACC. And BTW Florida State has an 8-1-1 record against your "power" Big 10 with the tie coming against Penn State in the Gator Bowl in 1967 and it's only loss a was by two points to Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1986. Ohio State has never beaten the Seminoles. GO NOLES!!!!

The point being that in a power conference, you have tough opponents week after week after week. Over the course of the season, that will eventually lead to a loss or two along the way. Even as an independent, FSU's schedule was not as brutal as an SEC or Big 10 slate. But before you get all bent out of shape, I never said FSU stunk, I said they were a great team. What I said (and I was right) was that their run of 14 or whatever straight top 5 finishes would never, NEVER have happened if they had played in the SEC or Big-10 during that time. I concede that the Buckeyes are 0-3 against FSU, I never claimed otherwise. On the other hand though, we did beat Miami when it counted....

 

[Jonas Grumby]

The point being that in a power conference, you have tough opponents week after week after week. Over the course of the season, that will eventually lead to a loss or two along the way. Even as an independent, FSU's schedule was not as brutal as an SEC or Big 10 slate. But before you get all bent out of shape, I never said FSU stunk, I said they were a great team. What I said (and I was right) was that their run of 14 or whatever straight top 5 finishes would never, NEVER have happened if they had played in the SEC or Big-10 during that time. I concede that the Buckeyes are 0-3 against FSU, I never claimed otherwise. On the other hand though, we did beat Miami when it counted....

I do have to admit I was pulling for the Buckeyes during that game! Always good to see the Canes and Gators get beat! No, I have a really good friend who's a Buckeye and we always like to give each other good natured grief. All part of the fun. But you said FSU would have never had that run in the SEC or Big 10- I'll just say we will never know.

 

[SideshowBob]

Not a VT or WVU fan (me personally) - but sports casters believe that VT is overrated currently in the season because their wins weren't that impressive based on the teams that played and that VT has a nasty habit of not showing up the second half of the season and choking come Nov. Not my opinion but what sports casters are saying.

Umm.... did you happen to catch the TOTAL domination last weekend of the #15 team in the nation? Have not played anybody??? Resulted in them vaulting to #3, and even gettting a first place vote.

SSB first to admit, and fear WV... but as bitter rival, and that home stadium is to be feared. Can never discount the home field advantage, as loved the huge smacking that VTU gave to Miami at Blacksburg when Miami came in as #2 or #3.....

 

[PrincessCLM]

Umm... sorry... but who're you watching? VT's scoring 40+ points a game and as my friend from WVU has so doggedly persisted in saying, "everyone plays cupcakes early" so the schedule point is bull. And, I'm sure if you ask UVA, Miami, and other traditional "2nd half" opponents of VT they'll tell you that they're dangerous all year long. The only chokes I can remember have already been discussed. I realize you said this isn't your opinion you're professing, but whose is it?

Saw it on ESPN this week

 

[ophie]

Well, I was just watching Gameday and they said just what I said, that they want to see more... that they want to see VT play away from Blacksburg. And today we will. Ten minutes to go.

 

[wvjules]

Silly me, I went to the store this morning and got caught in football traffic. I should have known better. But I had to have my coffee!

Five minutes to go!!!!!! Can't wait!

 

[tubaman]

17-7, Virginia Tech is winning. But the Mountaineers are gonna win!

I have 2 friends at the game. One is a WVU fan, the other VT.

 

[tubaman]

Touchdown WVU!

 

[ophie]

You've got to be freaking kidding me?!?! ABC cut away from an Overtime rivalry game to show me the kickoff of Syracuse & FSU?!?!?! What kind of sense does that make??

Just heard that they even cut away from the game IN MICHIGAN!!!

ABC gets

!!