College Football is BACK!

[onewhippedpuppy]

One week and counting! I can't wait. I honestly can't remember an opening weekend this interesting, with a number of matchups between top 25 teams. Thursday 9/3 has 16 Oregon at 14 Boise State, Saturday has 13 Georgia at 9 Oklahoma State, 20 BYU at 3 Oklahoma, and 5 Alabama at 7 Virginia Tech. There's also multiple other interesting non-conference games. Time to stock up on beer and chips.

[Highlander179]

GO Army, Beat Navy!!!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Highlander179

GO Army, Beat Navy!!!

Heh!

My problem is that I am a retired Navy O-6 with a father that graduated from WP in 1952.

Conflicted.

Go Bears!

[sammyg2]

I've been watching the USC quarterback controversy very closely.
After mark Sanchez went to the NY Jets, Aaron Corp was named as the starting quarterback until he cracked his fibula.
He might be back in time, but if not Matt Barkley will take over. Barkley was the gatoraide national high school athlete of the year and is supposedly God's give to football even though he's a true freshman. I don't think he can live up to his hype, and he has lots of hype. he gives the ESPN guys woodies.
Aaron Corp is a better QB. He is smarter, more accurate, and can run like a gazelle.
He's good for 300 yds passing and 100 yards rushing per game. If he's healthy.

He's also from Orange Lutheran high school. My favorite team. We're members the lutheran church here. I watched him play all of his senior year when they won the Ca. state championship.
soooooo, I might be a tad biased.

Here's what i posted about him a couple of years ago (it might be a littel optomistic)

BTW the quarterback from O LU has signed a letter on intent with USC.
He throws well and runs the option play well enough to make bear bryant proud.
He rushed for over 1000 yards in the regular season and passed for over 2500. Not bad for a quarterback.
My bet is that in a couple of years he'll be playing for the national championship, and after that he might even be in the running for the heisman.
http://www.ocvarsity.com/players/det...616&seasonID=8

Here's what ESPN said about Barkley (when he was still in high school).
I have never, ever read a more positive recommentation for anyone. They basically said he is perfect in every way.
They love this kid so much they probably spank just thinking of him:

Matt Barkley | QB

Scouts Grade93
Rank: #1
Hometown Santa Ana, CA
High School Mater Dei High School
Position rank QB # 1
Height 6'3"
Weight 222 lbs.
Last Updated: 8/27/2009 Data provided by Scouts, Inc.

Evaluation

Barkley's polish, mechanics, footwork--and most importantly, his production--already give him the look of a college player. He has prototype size and is a true pocket passer. Understands timing and has a great sense of anticipation and ball placement. He's extremely accurate and throws a very catchable ball when he sets his feet, addresses his target and steps into his throw. He's tough and willing to stand in and take a hit. Shows exceptional fundamentals and ball-handling skills. Has outstanding balance and shoulder tilt in the pocket when working through progressions. Shows sound and consistent drop speed and excellent poise when rushed. Plants and delivers off the drop with ease. Does the little things very, very well. Has Tom Brady-like athleticism--just enough to sidestep the rush and buy a second chance to unload the ball. Keeps his eyes downfield in the face of the rush. Has solid delivery mechanics and a consistent release that's quick enough to beat the rush. Winds up just a bit, but it's nothing to be alarmed about. Has the size to stand and deliver and enough arm to place the ball into tight spots at intermediate ranges. Shows flashes of ability to drive the ball vertically. Has a very good (if not great) arm, and can put some mustard on his throws when necessary. Compensates for any lack of ideal zip with timing and an understanding of when the ball needs to get out. He is not a guy that shows great wrist velocity on the ball when released. Rarely misses the strike zone, and shows enough athleticism to get out of the pocket on either side and convert some throws. Faces solid high school competition and consistently plays at a high level. Barkley has all of the necessary tools and clearly has been well-coached. In an age of dual-threat quarterbacks, he's an ordinary athlete who nevertheless will be way ahead of most of his peers as a passer. Pocket awareness, timing, size and arm strength define his game.

Notes
Enrolled January 2009. Official Visits: USC - December 12th. 2008: Completed 177 of 325 attempts (54.5-percent) for 2,877 yards, 23 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. 2007: Gatorade's Male Athlete of the Year. Gatorade's National Player of the Year. California's Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior. Los Angeles Times Player of the Year. Inaugural Joe Montana Quarterback of the Year award winner. Threw for 3,576 yards, completing 63-percent of his passes, with 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Also recruited by Stanford, Washington, Colorado...

[sammyg2]

Wow, it gets better.
Aaron Corp is back at it, playing QB only 17 days after cracking his fibula.

That's a pretty fast recovery, but there's so much pressure it's still not enough. Brutal:

By Gary Klein
August 27, 2009
A day after USC quarterback Aaron Corp proclaimed himself ready to start the season opener against San Jose State on Sept. 5, Coach Pete Carroll relayed a different message:

Not so fast.

Corp has not missed a beat in terms of passing efficiency since returning from a leg injury. But Carroll is waiting for the third-year sophomore to prove he can sprint and elude pressure without fear.

"That's one part of it I want to see -- that he's confident in his ability to run and escape and all that," Carroll said Wednesday after practice. "He's never played when he wasn't like that."

Corp's speed and elusiveness, coupled with his passing, made him a nearly unstoppable dual threat at Orange Lutheran High.

During spring practice, he frustrated the Trojans' defense by converting multiple third-down situations with his legs, a factor that helped him win the starting job heading into the summer.

On Wednesday, Carroll thought Corp missed an opportunity to show he was completely confident in the stability of his left leg. On one play, according to Carroll, Corp got past the line of scrimmage but did not weave or improvise through the secondary as he would have done before suffering a cracked fibula on Aug. 10.

"I'm a little reluctant to think he'll be comfortable if he can't run like he always has," Carroll said. "I don't want him to get in a bad situation."

USC did not make quarterbacks available to the media on Wednesday.

But Corp said on Tuesday that he could do "everything right now that playing quarterback at USC [requires] me to do. I feel good and it's only going to get better."

The Trojans practice today and have a walk-through Friday before playing Saturday's mock game at the Coliseum, which is regarded as something akin to a final exam for evaluating Corp and freshman Matt Barkley.

"We'll get three big days this week and we'll go see how it looks," Carroll said.

Corp again looked mostly sharp in competitive passing drills, throwing two short touchdown passes during a seven-on-seven period. His lone misstep was a fumbled snap exchange during a team scrimmage drill.

Barkley took the bulk of the first-team snaps and avoided major error as he continued his drive to become the first true freshman quarterback to start an opener for the Trojans.

[pwd72s]

Go Boise State!

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Go Boise State!

I'm down with that. There's a young reciever up there, Austin Pettis. The guy is awesome. Potential to be the best receiver in college football. I'll be rooting for him.

Did I mention that he played at Orange Lutheran with Aaron Corp where he had 72 receptions for 1,079 yards and 13 touchdowns?

[onewhippedpuppy]

So Sammy, which team will upset USC this year? I can't wait to hear Herbstreet explain why USC is still the best team ever, despite being beaten by Stanford.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I'm down with that. There's a young reciever up there, Austin Pettis. The guy is awesome. Potential to be the best receiver in college football. I'll be rooting for him.

Did I mention that he played at Orange Lutheran with Aaron Corp where he had 72 receptions for 1,079 yards and 13 touchdowns?

I have two favorite teams in the PAC 10...Oregon State, and whoever is playing the Ducks.

[krichard]

Longhorns season tickets - check
Parking pass for tailgaiting - check
Two of my favorite beers on tap at home with 96" HD projection screen for away games - check

Looks like it's going to be a good rest of the year!

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

So Sammy, which team will upset USC this year? I can't wait to hear Herbstreet explain why USC is still the best team ever, despite being beaten by Stanford.

Dunno, but iffn't it happens it will prolly be on halloween.

If it's anything like last year, the USC haters will be all happy that they lost one game and totally ignore the fact that USC went 12-1 and beat up on a team in a BCS bowl will still finish in the top 4 or 5 in the nation.

I don't think they will win all 13 games this year, maybe 11 or 12 but not 13.
That's better than most teams will fare.

Oh and before someone comes back as reincarnated Mule and starts talking about how USC doesn't play anyone, last year they beat up on Ohio State (who were ranked #5), Penn state (who were ranked #6), Oregon (who were ranked #20), and Cal (who were ranked #21).

BTW, USC gave up a total of FOUR touchdowns to those 4 ranked opponents and a total of 12 touchdowns all year.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. They beat stanford 45–23.

[BRPORSCHE]

Keg - check
girls - check
Crappy UH team - check!

[Moses]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I have two favorite teams in the PAC 10...Oregon State, and whoever is playing the Ducks.

Ha!

[schamp]

It's a rebuilding year for Georgia I think. Good thing this year we don't play Alabama and Florida will make sure we don't play Alabama in the SEC championship game. Best thing for Georgia this year is it's the last year we see Tebow. We will be lucky to beat Auburn. My pick to win it all is Alabama.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Moses

Ha!

Ohhh, that's GREAT! There is a curse to being on the cover of Sports Illustrated... The year that mag picked the Beavers a #1 in pre season, they had a terrible season.

[curlesw]

Once again, I'll pull for Auburn and they will end up breaking my heart.

Looking forward to watching Tebow, the Gators will repeat.

Wayne

[gt350mike]

Originally Posted by curlesw

Once again, I'll pull for Auburn and they will end up breaking my heart.

Looking forward to watching Tebow, the Gators will repeat.

Wayne

AU has a lot of my money (my son is a Sr.) but I think you're right......as much as I hate to say it, FL will beat UA in the SEC championship and win the National Championship. Where is Mule in this "discussion"????

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I have two favorite teams in the PAC 10...Oregon State, and whoever is playing the Ducks.

that is funny

What is that crap on his shoulder pads, ersatz feathers? Not only on the cover, but with a silly looking uniform, the Ducks are doomed.

Cal might just beat SC

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Oh and before someone comes back as reincarnated Mule and starts talking about how USC doesn't play anyone, last year they beat up on Ohio State (who were ranked #5), Penn state (who were ranked #6), Oregon (who were ranked #20), and Cal (who were ranked #21).

Answer- when they either play a schedule the equal of an SEC or Big 12 South team or win every game. For starters, they should really stop picking on overrated Big 10 teams.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Tobra

that is funny

What is that crap on his shoulder pads, ersatz feathers? Not only on the cover, but with a silly looking uniform, the Ducks are doomed.

Cal might just beat SC

Oregon Ducks have an owner...that would be Phil Knight of NIKE. He and his staff pick and design the uniforms. "Donated" of course.