2013 NCAA football thread

[valo403]

Originally Posted by nik-

No one else finds that article disgusting?

People complain about a kid living it up and enjoying the fame, but a journalist can go back to the 20's to smear his family?

WTF did I just read? That is sad, and I'm far from a Manziel fan.

How does one smear by presenting facts?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Nothing disgusting about it at all. Its actually quite enlightening as to why Manziel allegedly did what he did. The family has a pretty clear and obvious sense of entitlement, they have a history of skating as close to the line (and even past it sometimes) as possible, and Manziel clearly started to feel like his own family might be using him for personal gain. So he decided to try and cash in for himself as well, because he cannot say no apparently.

Most impressively is that everything in the article is sourced, so its not some kind of hit piece. Its simply a representation of the available data on the Manziels. The fact a lot of it is highly negative is on the Manziels, not Deadspin.

[valo403]

In somewhat related news, the SEC and Big Ten will no longer license their symbols and trademarks to EA Sports, so you have to figure that game is all but dead in it's current form.

Edit: Just read the below article and the schools themselves are still free to license, but I can't imagine they have much appetite to do that when every other organization involved is running the other way.

The writing is on the wall, things are going to have to change soon or courts are going to make them change.

http://kotaku.com/college-footballs-...l-w-1136039384

[Drake]

Just when you think the NCAA can't look any more moronic, you read a story like this:

Steven Rhodes felt a duty to serve his country and had a dream to play football.

But now, to his surprise, one is hindering the other in the peculiar case of the United States Marine and 24-year-old MTSU freshman football player versus the NCAA.

“This is extremely frustrating. I think it’s unfair, highly unfair,” Rhodes said. “I just got out of the Marine Corps, and I wanted to play. For (the NCAA) to say, ‘No, you can’t play right now,’ I just don’t understand the logic in that.”

Rhodes, an Antioch native, finished his five years of active service in the Marines this summer, when he called MTSU coaches in hopes of landing a spot as a walk-on player for the Blue Raiders. They happily granted the request of the athletic 6-foot-3, 240-pound Marine sergeant. He has played both tight end and defensive end thus far in preseason camp.

But not long after arriving on campus, Rhodes was told that his participation in a military-only recreational football league in 2012 would hinder his immediate eligibility to play Division I college football, per an NCAA rule.

Despite his age, military service and complete lack of college football experience, Rhodes must take a mandatory redshirt and not play a single game for MTSU this season.

Rhodes was shocked by the news. He knew what that recreational league was. It was not pay-for-play. It was not highly competitive. It was not even well organized.
“Man, it was like intramurals for us. There were guys out there anywhere from 18 to 40-something years old,” said Rhodes, chuckling and shaking his head. “The games were spread out. We once went six weeks between games.”

Rhodes had no sense that his immediate eligibility would be in question. He even sent an amateur video to MTSU’s coaches of his games at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Calif., where he was stationed as an air traffic controller alongside his wife, Adrienne, who is finishing her service in the United States Navy.

http://www.dnj.com/article/20130818/...ay-MTSU-season

[PIMking]

What is sad and lost in all of this is that players are already paid for playing.

I'm not talking their scholarship, I'm talking that they already get a $1000/mo stipend from the school (legally) once they move out of the dorms their soph season. Plus most get pell grants and that averages to about $800/mo during the school year. So roughly $1800/mo during the school year is what these kids get. That is more than their whole household made before they went to school. Plus add on the fact that 95% of these kids wouldn't get a sniff by any school based on their academic background alone, but they can play football so they get a valuable education plus room and board, medical, tutors, clothes, and food for free.

I'm sorry, if these guys want to get paid then pay them and pull their scholarships and make them pay for their school just like everyone else and I bet they would change their tune real quick.

Here is some things that I think could help, I know it will never happen but here is what I think:

1. Football players only have one class in the fall semester. Football is a class on its own, so allowing them to fully apply themselves in football would benefit the school and the player. But the players have to make up the required credits in the spring and summer semesters. This works two ways, one the player can get a degree in something useful and what they want and two keeps the students on campus during the summer and hopefully out of trouble.

2. Get the NFL involved with this, make it financially better for the player to get a degree before they go pro. Something like a 10% pay increase for those who have a degree

Pay scale A: Player graduates with degree drafted rounds 1-3 eg $100,000
Pay Scale B: Player without degree drafted rounds 1-3 eg. $90,0000
Pay Scale C: Player with Degree Drafted rounds 4-7 eg $80,0000
Pay Scale D: Player without degree drafted rounds 4-7 eg $70,0000

Those numbers are just examples but it's a financial reason for these players to actually get a degree

Now, I guess I sit and wait for you guys to blow holes in the idea

[nik-]

hey PIMking, you've been to Bryant-Denny ... what rows do you think are the best to sit around. Would rows 15-20 in the lower bowl be amazing seats or should I go higher up?

[PIMking]

I would go a little higher. The lower bowl is pretty flat.

[PIMking]

This isn't the best photo but close to what you're asking.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Drake

Just when you think the NCAA can't look any more moronic, you read a story like this:

http://www.dnj.com/article/20130818/...ay-MTSU-season

And the NCAA does a 180 on their ruling

The NCAA ruled Monday that Middle Tennessee State freshman Steven Rhodes can "play immediately" after serving five years in the Marines.

"Additionally," NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs Kevin Lennon said in a release, "he will maintain all four years of his eligibility."

It's a reversal from the NCAA's earlier decision to rule Rhodes ineligible because he played in a recreational league during his military service. School officials had said earlier Monday that they were working with NCAA officials to come up with a solution.

"It's nothing but a blessing," Rhodes said after Monday's practice

[nik-]

Originally Posted by PIMking

This isn't the best photo but close to what you're asking.

oooh yeah, pretty low.

Thanks!

[tvp2003]

Speaking of stadiums -- anyone ever been to the Rose Bowl and/or LA Coliseum? UCLA and USC play back to back at home on Nov 15 and 16 and I'm tempted to make the trip to watch both.

Looking for seating/ticket recommendations or general info

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Speaking of stadiums -- anyone ever been to the Rose Bowl and/or LA Coliseum? UCLA and USC play back to back at home on Nov 15 and 16 and I'm tempted to make the trip to watch both.

Looking for seating/ticket recommendations or general info

I saw ASU play UCLA at the Rose Bowl about 20 years ago, so i dont know how much it has changed if at all.

First off, tailgating is fantastic, and you choose which side of the stadium you do so by who you are there to cheer for. i was with ASU alum so we had that side complete with the cheerleaders, sponsor tents etc etc. It was amazing actually.

More amazing to me though is that all f that stuff takes place...on a golf course. The course goes all the way around the stadium and is also used as the parking lot. One warning. if its a night game..coming out of there it can be pitch black and really difficult to find your vehicle if you dont really take in a couple landmarks to help you...and avoid the bunkers!!

As for the seating itself...its awful. It s a MASSIVE stadium, but it is really flat, so any thing past the first 25 rows or so makes the field look really far away.

Really a lot of fun though and i would do it again in a heartbeat.

[Senator Clay Davis]

To summarize quickly:

The LA Coliseum is a dump located in the ghetto
The Rose Bowl is nicer, has better views and is not located in the ghetto.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Speaking of stadiums -- anyone ever been to the Rose Bowl and/or LA Coliseum? UCLA and USC play back to back at home on Nov 15 and 16 and I'm tempted to make the trip to watch both.

Looking for seating/ticket recommendations or general info

UCLA: Large stadium wrapped by a large parking lot in the middle of nowhere, have a driver arranged to pick you up as cab's can be scarce, and budget for alot of money in transport as you likely have a long drive in and out, in traffic. Or rent a car if you aren't drinking. Nice stadium, great sightlines for its size, down real low is OK, but best is maybe row 20 or so. If you go early, the only thing really to do is introduce yourself to existing tailgaters and mooch food.

USC: hmmm well, as someone else said, it's in the hood. I don't recall what cab service is like but for most large events NOT in the staples center cab access is generally not great, I'd have a driver (or rental car) planned. Stadium is awful, bad sightlines as you are a long ways away from the field, so make sure you are up high, minimum of row 20 I'd guess. I'd rather watch on TV than go to Memorial to be honest with you.

TBH there's other places I'd go to watch football if you have a spare weekend than LA. I don't know who's at home that weekend but new Husky stadium, Autzen stadium, and the horseshoe come to mind as places I'd go to watch a single game rather than 2 in LA.

[The Swedish Flame]

Talk about a different in College Football culture.

After spending three years at a Big 12 school I'm now at Illinois. Whereas football was one of the main things people were talking about down in Stillwater, it's more mentioned in passing here.

Maybe it's just the people I've interacted with, but the difference seems real.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by The Swedish Flame

Talk about a different in College Football culture.

After spending three years at a Big 12 school I'm now at Illinois. Whereas football was one of the main things people were talking about down in Stillwater, it's more mentioned in passing here.

Maybe it's just the people I've interacted with, but the difference seems real.

They also have a horrendous football program, at least recently. People aren't likely to be too excited about a team coming off a 2-10 season (following an epic collapse in 2011) which also hasn't won more than 7 games since 2007. They'll improve a bit this year, it'd be hard to be worse, but that program has a long way to go.

Go to a Big Ten campus where the football program isn't in such a sad state and you'll find a similar vibe as you did in the Big 12.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

UCLA: Large stadium wrapped by a large parking lot in the middle of nowhere, have a driver arranged to pick you up as cab's can be scarce, and budget for alot of money in transport as you likely have a long drive in and out, in traffic. Or rent a car if you aren't drinking. Nice stadium, great sightlines for its size, down real low is OK, but best is maybe row 20 or so. If you go early, the only thing really to do is introduce yourself to existing tailgaters and mooch food.

USC: hmmm well, as someone else said, it's in the hood. I don't recall what cab service is like but for most large events NOT in the staples center cab access is generally not great, I'd have a driver (or rental car) planned. Stadium is awful, bad sightlines as you are a long ways away from the field, so make sure you are up high, minimum of row 20 I'd guess. I'd rather watch on TV than go to Memorial to be honest with you.

Thanks for the info

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

TBH there's other places I'd go to watch football if you have a spare weekend than LA. I don't know who's at home that weekend but new Husky stadium, Autzen stadium, and the horseshoe come to mind as places I'd go to watch a single game rather than 2 in LA.

One of my "bucket list" goals is to see as many live college football games at stadiums across the US (i.e. the big ones). I went to my first game last year at Martin Stadium in Pullman (not exactly big but Washington State was my favorite team growing up). I figure I could try to hit 1-2 each year -- UCLA and USC are both teams I follow (I'm more of a Pac10/12 guy) so to get both on one trip would be great. UW is also on my list, and if I can get Oregon and Oregon State on the same weekend I would do that as well.

Some other places I want to go someday: Michigan, OSU, ND, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Va Tech... I could go on

[FlamingLonghorn]

Less than a week til Kickoff!!!! My Predictions for the BCS conferences

Pac 12 - Stanford (Oregon loses some mojo without Chip)
Big 10 - Ohio State
ACC - Clemson
Big East - Louisville
SEC - Bama
Big 12 - Texas (if they don't Mack Brown is most likely a goner)

Nat'l Champs - Bama over OSU in an absolute slaughter

[MacDaddy77]

heading to Phoenix on September 27 for guys sports weekend going to USC vs ASU game.

Have never been to a college game so were pretty pumped! managed to snag seats in the Lodge section so that we can drink throughout the game (key) playing the ASU golf course earlier in the day, anyone been?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

heading to Phoenix on September 27 for guys sports weekend going to USC vs ASU game.

Have never been to a college game so were pretty pumped! managed to snag seats in the Lodge section so that we can drink throughout the game (key) playing the ASU golf course earlier in the day, anyone been?

They dont serve alcohol at college games.