I LOVE the call to go for 2 in that situation. Its just a bowl game so the loss really doesn't mean anything for them so it was the perfect time to go for it.
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They'll go as far as Cutcliffe takes them, and then they'll fall right back to misery once he leaves. You'd think they would want to capitalize on the success right now, but they are really only investing the bare minimum just to get up to ACC minimum standards in terms of facilities and resources. If they do that get their act together and do it soon they won't have any sustainability after Cutcliffe retires, which won't be too too far away.
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Trust me, they don't care. Football is a quaint afterthought to them, from the student body to the alumni base to the administration. They are, and will forever remain, a basketball school that is simply flirting with football competence right now. This is no different than the Spurrier years at Duke, and will fade just as quickly.
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Yeah, UNC, Duke, and WFU put so little into football. It seems they do the bare minimum to keep the checks rolling in and complaints from conference affiliates at a dull roar.
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Man, there are just good games left and right today. If you haven't already, head on over to ABC and catch the tail end of Miami/USC-e. 17-14 cocks with 12:27 to go. Tee hee... cocks.
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As much as I hate the Mountaineers I can't support this. Apparently it is a student assistant who was a former Line Backer. Still... uncalled for.
This is A&M student assistant (& former LB) Mike Richardson. Not a coach but still no excuse for it: https://t.co/jpSkYgZfW6— Brent Zwerneman (@BrentZwerneman) December 29, 2014
He also threw an elbow.
Props to our coaches for consistently running such a honorable program.
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The only better thing than this wvu implosion is BAHAHAHA JUST KIDDING THERE'S NOTHING BETTER
edit -my recap:
aTm grad asst punching wvu players
wvu player punches helmeted guy
wvu player gets tossed, flips off ref
wvu kicker gets slapped in the nads after making a FG
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Still early, but Clemson is starting to open a can of whoop ass on Oklahoma. Dominating them in every phase of the game and have already scored on a big plays on both offense and defense.
Still 4 minutes go in the first quarter.
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So the "internet" fans of Miamimare calling for a new coach at Miami. At what point do they get their wish? Al golden has gone: 6-6, 7-5, 9-4 with bad loss in bowl game and now 6-7.
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Al Golden and Randy Shannon have the same career records in 4 seasons at Miami (28-22) and both were 0-2 in bowls. Shannon was 7-5 in his final season, at least. Golden's team tanked. I really thought they'd be a much better team than they ended up being.
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I thought Golden would do well down there, but it doesn't look like that is the case. I would have thought the U would be closer to relevance by now.
I'm reminded of The U 30 for 30, when they were talking about Schnellenberger recruiting Overtown and how Joe Paterno walking into that neighborhood would have been absurd. Well, Golden is a PSU guy with a Paterno-type approach, and I'm thinking he just isn't a good 'fit' for the U.
I think it would be sweet if Jimmy Johnson came out of retirement to coach them again. A horse can dream...
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I think the issues in Miami are systemic rather than a coaching problem. Shalala hung the football program out to dry. They are behind the curve in terms of facilities and (shocking to say) resources. Students don't show up to Pro Player Land Shark Sun Life Stadium and the program has lost much of its identity. I don't think this is a "find the right coach" problem as much as it's a "right the ship" problem. Until they invest in the program, I don't see any coach having more success than Shannon and Golden have had.
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Sometimes during the bowl season I'm confused about which team is which on the field. Thank you Maryland for solving that problem by placing the school name very subtly on your helmet. Between that and the fact that you are losing, I know it's the Terps.
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Correct. The SEC is such a great conference they can simultaneously have tough games "week in and week out" and also have half their conference or more be disavowed by their own conference fans when they lose
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No, the two plays were very different. I've seen plenty of D-linemen pick off, and scored TDs on, batted or tipped passes like that. What I had never seen was a QB about a foot away from being sacked in the endzone throw a desperate pass into the ankles of his O-line, while a D-lineman fell down in the endzone to catch the ball. It was wild.
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And the DL was in the end zone when he caught the ball. In the VT- LOLUVA game. The DL caught the ball in the field of play & returned it for a fat man TD.
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Remember when everyone said no one from the SEC West had lost to a team outside the SEC West, and then the rest of us asked who they had played outside the SEC West, and we never got a legitimate answer? Guess this is what happens when the SEC West goes against competition with a pulse.
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The problem here is that the committee failed to put four SEC west teams in the playoff.
This whole TCU embarrassment could have been avoided. Obviously, we need to tweak the system.
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But, but, but... Miss St had a brutal out of conference schedule against the likes of Southern Miss, UAB, South Alabama, and Tenn-Martin. That surely justifies why they were ranked #1 in the nation for 5 weeks this season.
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Is it bad that I desperately want to see a VT flag or VT sweatshirt proudly displayed behind Dr Lou on Bourbon St right in the middle of all those Buckeye fans?
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His weakness has always been general cluelessness on defense. If he had someone the quality of Bud coaching defense he would be much much better off for it.
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Bud Foster rumored to be going to Arizona. There was a plane going from Arizona to Virginia. Bud Foster is rumored to have said that he, "...likes what Arizona has to offer. I think Virginia Tech has more to offer, so I'm waiting to see if Arizona has anything else to offer. I'm still 100% committed to Virginia Tech".
~ #sources
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With TCU beating the piss out of Ole Miss and Boise whipping Zona, I think it's becoming clear the talking heads on ESPN don't have a damn clue on what they're saying. So glad they have as much influence on the game and the playoff as they do.
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Except Gameday is camped out in New Orleans, and because ESPN, and because media, &c, so we'll be hearing about SEC every night for the next week (read: 8+ months).
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This raises a good question - how much option does the GT defense actually face in practice? They know that other schools don't use it (mostly), so wouldn't the scout team be showing them normal offensive looks as their preparation? Throwing some option against them might be crazy enough to work on occasion. Might.
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Even if the practice squad ran straight spread, the defense would see the option more than any other team out there just by virtue of casually seeing the offense practice and by watching game tapes.
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They would face the option offense almost exclusively in spring ball, and the option is not uncommon with spread offenses. They really get a double dose of it.
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There's a part of me that loves watching teams that don't play GT just get shell shocked by the flexbone. Makes me just think of French's "death by a thousand cuts" line.
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TBH when CPJ first came to GT I felt the exact same way. French was responsible for making me understand why the flexbone is so damn different than defending basically any other offense. If you don't see it regularly it's gonna mess with you.
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Awesome game GT! I hate to say it but man was it fun to watch the highlights of that game. Hard to believe we came within a field goal of losing to them. Go ACC beat the SEC to the ground!
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It was awesome hearing Musberger (sp?) openly mocking the SEC and the Mississippi schools during the telecast. He may not be the greatest commentator, but he's been around long enough to know that college football is cyclical and that the SEC isn't quite what it's hype to be by his bosses.
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Musberger said something bad about the SEC? That is honestly shocking to me. I got so sick of listening to him seemingly proudly shouting the AL-A-BAMA CRIMson TIDE over the last five years. I hate that guy. He sucks and when he retires I will be happy.
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Pretty sure I just spotted a baylor player with 'K. Fuller' on the back of his jersey. Immediately called my bookie and bet my house that baylor covers. Lock of the century.
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What a beautiful TD run by Gordon, great vision and patience. Saw the blocks a slowed down just a half step to let his lanes open up. Would love to to have our freshman develop half that vision for next year.
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I don't know if this has been discussed, but what exactly does declaring a B12 champ have to do with who is the better team? You watched all the games and have the stats. This isn't the AP poll, just decide on a team!
And tell me again why Alabama has the no. 1 ranking and FSU had to move up to 3?
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It was just the go to excuse to allow Ohio State to get the last playoff spot. TCU and Baylor didn't have the national brand appeal. Had it been Texas or Oklahoma, it would have been different.
Alabama is number one over undefeated Florida State because of all those impressive wins over top 5 SEC west teams.
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Funny part is that I posted the comment, right after the successful on side kick. 5 sec after I posted the comment, Cook threw the pick that was almost a pick6.
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Given the rules in football now, that should be a penalty. MSU player Cutback hit moving towards his own endline, and the guy clearly left his feet and went high.
People will celebrate the hit, but that should be exactly what they are trying to eliminate from the game, not some of these ridiculous "targeting" calls they make
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Anyone else having trouble with the Oregon/FSU game on watchespn? It's telling me the video is having trouble loading. The pregame played fine, but right before kickoff it stopped. (I don't have espn and use a friend's login to watch online.)
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Ya, I'm getting same thing. Excited to be watching it in SD, and by excited I mean at least I don't have to watch that goddam Christian Dior commercial 100 more times. I mean wtf drives their car on the beach through the salt water?!?!
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Looks like Jimbo finally figured out not to put the whole game on Jameis to open the game, and that leaning on his running game will probably win the game for him.
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That play where FSU got called for face ask should have been a procedure penalty on Oregon. They had 2 guys in motion. The WR moved forward just at the snap while they had a motion man just behind the right tackle, at the snap.
The refs are letting these guys run fast and loose with the rule book.
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SEC officials have long been the worst in major college football from a mechanics standpoint. They're just not sharp with their assignments and the way they run the game, and it shows sometimes in their calls. I've been less than excited about the quality of the officiating today. I've been happy to see a couple really good crews the past few bowl games though.
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I'm watching these guys close and there is no way an ACC ref would let us be set this short a period of time. There seems to always be a guy just getting set at the hike.
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This is the kind of offense we need to mimic. FSU has no answer on defense, they're absolutely gassed out there so every offensive mistake is amplified 15 fold. You can still run run run with the ball, but if you keep snapping so fast, you tilt the field in your favor. And to have a defense like ours and to pair it with an offense that remotely resembles this would be deadly on the east coast.
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I know it's Oregon, but with all the 4 and 5 stars on the field for FSU they should at least be able to slow them down somewhat. Their defense has underwhelmed all year.
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I might have helped if FSU's Defensive Coordinator decided to stop trying to stop a three man wide receiver screen with only two defenders. They were just giving away yards.
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I am very much enjoying watching the Nolies who have been in the news for legal issues most over the past year be the ones to derp as bad as they are tonight.
I guess karma really does exist.
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Huh? They fought back to pull within 5 at the half and they got the ball to open the 2nd half. That play had no effect on how FSU played the rest of the game.
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I saw some walking by the defense immediately after that.
The offense was still playing until they got the dropsies but I saw some serious non persuit immediately following and I even posted on it above.
#5 was walking and just watched a TD go in.
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As part of off season reading I'd love to see Mason/French do a breakdown of Oregons offense and how its so effective and what type if wrinkles they throw in etc. Just a thought I had!
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Wow. A Princess Di joke? Sir Elton would like a word:
Also, I made club 10k! I'd like to think it was on the strength of insightful analysis and genius commentary, but we all know it's snark and Wang jokes, all the way down.
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Nnadi gets his name called picking up the gimme fumble. Did nothing otherwise. Has Mario Edwards even been on the field after his first team ACC honors for no reason?
No ill will towards some of these boys, and for as much as the Hokies frustrate me over the years, I have never seen our lunch pailers up and quit like this FSU team.
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You always hear how the way teams react to adversity is a reflection of the values of their coaches. ....take note, recruits.....and parents of recruits, too.
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Its a condition in there work release program. After the game they must return to locker room immediately to be handcuffed and escorted back to there cells. #Criminoles
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That is embarrassing and is an indicator of the character of that team. I hope someone from the media asks Jimbo about this so we can hear an explanation. I don't want to hear any 'competitor' bullshit either. When the game is over, you congratulate your opponent.
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True. That receptions graphic they put up was ridiculous. Cooper with 118, next highest on the team was 37. And yet that Ohio State DB gave up outside leverage to THAT GUY.
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So, Jones is their 3rd string QB (based on start of season) and has played just 1 game prior to this. Right? So, how does he have 1/2 his helmet full of stickers? Seems odd to me.
Okay, carry on...
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That taunt like that is one thing I hate.
It's one thing to be a poor loser, quite another to taunt when someone else does something good.
There is no room for poor sportsmanship.
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It's one thing to be a poor loser, quite another to taunt when someone else does something good
No kidding, he wasn't even in on the tackle. Side note, I don't think I have seen Reuben Foster make contact below the shoulder on the guy he is trying to tackle. He goes high every time.
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I think you're grasping for straws here... any QB in college or the NFL is going to say the same thing. He was just backing his teammates, FSU definitely didn't help themselves. Props to Jameis for not being one of the sore FSU losers who bee-lined for the locker room at the final whistle.
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After getting beat by 39, I would expect him to say something along the lines of "They(Or could say We) forced us into some mistakes and capitalized and it cost us."
Saying "Lets be real" and not giving the other team that bitch slapped you up and down the field their due is very disrespectful.
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In all fairness, except for the turnovers the FSU offense was moving the ball very well. They were only outgained by 100 yards. Turnovers were the only place they were at a very large disadvantage on the stat sheet.
They just let it snowball straight to hell in a handbasket.
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Never thought I'd ever see trickery pay off like that though. Bama wasn't fooled at all, but the throw was perfect and the receiver made a ridiculous catch.
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In case anyone was wondering, this is a pretty good officiating crew, ironically out of the Pac-12. Their mechanics have been sharp, the white hat is making clear, direct calls, and they've done a good job with their preventative officiating. Coming in, separating guys without throwing dumb flags, keeping the sidelines clean, etc. They've been good tonight.
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I have to keep reminding myself that it wasn't a "fluke" win. We were healthy at that point and Bud's D played their nuts off. And yes, Brewer and the young playmakers on O played a great game.
It was our Hokies at their best this season.
I still have it on DVR and will for some time to come.
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Never thought this game would be such a punters' duel. Back-to-back inside the 5 punts. That last one was a thing of beauty though. Thought for sure that cover guy was gonna knock it into the end zone.
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That's Joey Bosa, one of the best DEs in the country. It looked like he struggled quite a bit on that drive setting the edge and pursuing from the back side too. And he got absolutely run over on that TD run (admittedly by 3 guys, but still).
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No, that was a good no-call there. The ball was short and a little inside. In college, that defender doesn't have to play the ball to avoid a PI call. There was some handfighting, but the officials won't bail out the QB on a bad throw there. Same thing happens on a well-thrown pass to the outside, you'll see the flag.
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I always assumed the rule was meant to protect the kickers legs and running into was like bumping into the body or the kicker after both feet were on the ground.
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Running into the kicking leg isn't all that dangerous, cause as you saw, he can sort of twist and deflect the blow. Hitting the plant leg is how you start screwing up ligaments and stuff, cause he's got 100% of his weight on that foot that's planted in the ground.
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It is but the plant leg is more vulnerable to injury than the kicks my leg as it is able to move with the hit. The plant leg basically just gets crushed if hit.
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Time to see if OSU and Bama will lean on their best players (Elliott and Henry, respectively) to win the game, or if they'll try to get fancy and lose it. If Jones drops back on this first down, I'd strongly question Meyer's desire to win this game.
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Hey, 4 of those teams weren't playing for anything and two thought they should be in the playoff. I'm not sure what the excuse for Bama is yet, maybe the refs not setting the ball fast enough for them?
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Well come on, that's a little harsh isn't it. You just know they weren't up for the games because they were disappointed to be playing against sub-par conferences in their bowl games.
If they'd just seeded the championship bracket with all SEC teams like they should have, they'd be no worse than 4 and 1. (because we all know that when SEC plays SEC, neither team really loses).
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Not saying it made the difference -- but on that last Bama drive the clock kept running after the incomplete pass (the one that looked like a possible catch and fumble). They called it incomplete, but the clock kept running. Bama probably lost 20 seconds there.
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You are right. I just rewound (is that a word) the DVR and they did call that a catch and down before fumble. In real time, I thought they called it incomplete. I was wrong.
Looking at it again, I think that was clearly a fumble. It should at least have been reviewed.
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But then Bama wouldn't have had a chance to tie it up. We couldn't have had that. I'm no conspiracy guy but it seemed a little like the refs were trying to help Bama out.
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Well that would have stopped the clock and influenced the game too. Bama seemed pretty eager to get back to the line and OSU wanted time off the clock. Are you actually able to throw the challenge flag with no timeouts? I was hoping Saban would have thrown it to nullify the reception and get that time back on the clock.
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Always thought the SEC would get exposed once you had to prove it in the field instead of winning beauty pageants.... But I didn't think the conference as a whole would collapse like this.
The SEC myth is dead.
Oh, and when healthy, we're the team that goes into Columbus and punks the team now playing for the National Championship. That's pretty nice.
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Just going to point out now that there are people on this board who said that that Ohio State team had only marginally improved since we played them. Even with a third string QB, they beat an elite Alabama team. They have gotten better every single game, and are much better than when we played them in the Shoe.
I'm very worried about the game in Blacksburg next year, but I'll be damned if it won't be exciting.
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Okay this is really OT but I had a dream the other night that Kurtis Drummond transferred to VT, what makes it weirder is that I have barely heard of the guy other than the couple times I watched Michigan State this season. Guess that means it's happening!
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Decided to look at the advanced stats (cause numbers never lie, but they can say pretty much whatever you want).
Virginia Tech had the #2 passing S&P+, second only to Clemson. Michigan State was #8
FEI and F/+ don't have specific passing/rushing breakdowns, but are much less kind to Michigan State's defense (#43 and 24 ranked defense, respectively).
Also, according to the football outsiders pro-stats, looking at the NCAA defensive line rankings, Virginia Tech had the #1 adjusted sack rate.
Anyways, considering Tech had the #2 ranked passing defense, best pass-rushing line, and a pretty much unanimous top-10/top-5 defense overall based on advanced stats, I don't think it's a stretch at all to say OSU didn't face a better one since September.
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To further the Defense wins Championships
Oregon #3 in points scored per game this year and #3 in offensive yards per game will play
Ohio St #4 in points scored per game this year and #8 in offensive yards per game
For the National Championship
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We beat OSU with 7 new starters on D and a new QB, 2 freshmen RB's, 2 freshmen WR's, and a RS freshman TE. There is not excuse that can be made for OSU losing to us, and our D will return most starters next year to remind them and the nation that we are the best defense they will face!
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They lost their Heisman candidate quarterback and had to use a very green quarterback against a defensive coordinator that eats them for breakfast. Not saying that caused them to lose, but it helped, considering how much better he was playing after a few games.
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They have also relied very heavily on their running game after their loss to us until their QB got into his rhythm and went back when they had to bring in the 3rd stringer.
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guess they should have tried that against us. My point is, everyone has an excuse for losing, but given their ability to win all season I don't think having a 2nd string QB is a good one.
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When both teams are young, it usually favors the defense. Solid defense and special teams play won us that game, and the offense played well enough to take advantage of the field position (longest offensive drive of the night was only 65 yards).
But I have to say that I hate seeing this mentality from so many of our fans. I understand that we all want to be able to have a bright spot to hold onto going into next season, and that I seem like an ass for always pulling the brakes on the party train, but the OSU team we beat and the one you see now are not the same. It's grasping at straws to think we could be the OSU team you just watched tonight. They've gone 11-0 since that game, we've gone 5-6, and a lot of people seem to be dismissing this through injuries.
The fact is we lost two games back to back before the injury bug really started to set in. So either everyone we played is much better than they're perceived, or Ohio State has gotten much better. You have two teams who were pretty close to one another that game, and they ended up going in opposite directions. There are a few possibilities: the coaching staffs are equal and their players simply have a higher ceiling, the players are equal and their coaching staff is better at developing talent and gameplanning, or some combination of the two.
Honestly, I don't think that the injuries had nearly as much impact as others think, especially on offense. Losing RBs hurt, but Coleman was a starter one year ago. Let's not act like he is a typical third string player. The defense definitely felt it more, but the offense just could not perform consistently throughout the season.
Also, they play Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, and Iowa next year. All of those teams were ranked higher than Virginia Tech in Total Defense, with Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan State being ranked higher in scoring defense as well.
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I noticed they were throwing a lot of screens however their players were executing them flawlessly. They run screens how they are supposed to be run and made me realize why we throw it so much at times. They just do it better.
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They definitely do. One that stood out in my mind was absolutely flawless - 3 guys split wide, 2 run forward and throw perfect blocks, and the third gets the ball and cruises 12 yards before he's touched. It seems like, too often our screens are 2-on-2, relying on a good block and a move by the other WR to make a man miss. Our initial blocks haven't really been great, coupled with the fact that it doesn't seem like we ever get a numbers advantage to go more than 3-4 yards.
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I'm pretty sure I remember the play you are talking about and I instantly had the same thoughts. Man, I wish our guys could block like that when we run those screens.
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I wish there was a way to stat check this, because to me it felt like we were consistently getting 5-6 yards on the bubble screen. Certainly enough to keep it as a staple of the offense.
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I think someone broke it down in a game or postgame thread because there were a lot of complaints about screens that week. We were getting something like 4 yd/screen and things weren't nearly as bad as they seemed, especially with the state of the running game. We are OK with screens in terms of success and execution, but to see how Oregon uses it to great effect, even explosive plays, makes me envious. Their execution is so much cleaner. If we threw blocks the way they did, we'd average a couple more yards per attempt. That, over the course of the season, would make a difference.
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Also, teams have to respect the vertical threat and play off the receivers in coverage for screens to be really lethal. Seems like as the season wore on, no opposing defenses were worried about our vertical passing threat. Really hard to set a bubble screen when the DBs are playing two yards off the receivers.
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True story. Mariota also gets the ball out very quickly. Seems like Brewer is a bit slower with the snap throw. That affects timing, as well, and gives the DBs a split-second longer to respond.
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Arm strength issue, IMO. Brewer can't get enough mustard on the pass to get it to the receiver fast enough. Also, and this is pure conjecture on my part, it seems like we have our receivers aligned really, really wide on bubble screens. Like the ball will be left hash and we're throwing it practically to the right sideline. Maybe the slower delivery is just exaggerating how far the pass is actually traveling, though.
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The Oregon players were executing the screens flawlessly, but FSU kept putting only two defenders out on the three Oregon players. Mariota probably just made the call at the line when he saw FSU consistently not line up to stop the screen. I am baffled how their Defensive Coordinator didn't make an adjustment. That is probably why Mariota threw so many screens.
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Yes!!! I love these. Maybe those two guys should follow suit with the Florida and Penn State OLs that declared. Seems to be the trend. Block your own guy, go to NFL, profit.
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What makes me enjoy this the most is that FSU fans were absolutely ruthless to UF after it happened to them... And now it happens to FSU in one of the most lopsided losses in BCS history/playoff/New Years 6 history.
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Though to be fair, 77 just followed his block, which carried him into 35. 35 was trying to get to his assignment on the OLB and just didn't adjust in time. Funny as hell on tape but I don't see the ineptness here that the infamous UF play displayed, where it looked like the two O linemen honestly committed to blocking each other.
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SVP is definitely going to play up on that now that his precious Terps are in the B1G.
That being said, even with FSU's loss, I still say that overall, the ACC still had the biggest statement season from top to bottom this year. VT over Ohio St, GT over Miss St, Clemson whipping Oklahoma,and the final weekend whipping with FSU over UF, Clemson over SCar, and GT over UGa. Lots of big wins everywhere, but you listen to anyone at ESPN, and its like it never existed.
I loathed how the Ohio St loss is getting brushed aside as them having a bad all around evening.
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Yep. The whole "they lost because they got up on the wrong side of the bed" kind of thing pissed me off, too. Or maybe, just maybe, the result on the field was real. VT at its best beat OSU, who is a good team. The inexperience argument also doesn't hold water to me. Sure there were some new guys for OSU, but we played new guys at just about every skill position, and their recruiting baseline was higher than ours. On that field, on that night, we were the better team. Now we have to repeat it.
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Maybe, just maybe, when we aren't busy having to start a new OL because of injuries or having to go with our 4th and 5th string RBs cause of injuries, or when the guy who led the conference in INTs last year isn't out with an injury, or when we are legitimately rolling 3 deep at TE instead of having only one healthy... maybe when that all happens we are a team that can beat anyone on any given night. When you start gutting our 2-deep with injuries the result will be a team not playing to the level it once was.
I have hopes that 2015 will be the start of another special era for VT football, after seeing what Ohio St has done. The team we beat isn't much different at all than the team that won last night, and our defense had their way with their OL. Hope the coaches have all these quotes about how Ohio St only lost because they were playing bad on repeat throughout the offseason. I want our team feeling disrespected on Labor Day. I want that same chip on their shoulder we showed in Columbus.
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What it comes down to is, ESPN sells a product. And their product isn't college football. It's hype. They package hyperbole for the consumer. In many ways, how ESPN packages their college football is reminiscent of how Vince McMahon used to hype up wrestlers. The marquee games are battles between two behemoths whose power cannot be comprehended by mere mortals. The narrative doesn't work if ESPN admits that a national championship caliber team can be beaten by a 7-6 ACC team with a losing record in conference, so they have to explain the loss away and illegitimize it. OSU had to have a bad night against us, because if you admit that a 7-6 squad can present a matchup nightmare for a playoff team it deflates some of the breathless hyperbole.
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Yeesh... what the heck happened to Pitt's secondary? On 3 plays with less than 2 minutes to go they left receivers so alone they were calling therapists for emotional support.
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From David Teel Tweet: ACC bowl favorites went 0-4. BC, UNC, Miami and, epically, Pitt.
So, the ACC is 4-7 in bowls with all winners being underdogs. Meaning the ACC was expected to go 4-7 and did. Funny how accurate Vegas is, when looking in aggregate (yeah, they can be wrong on individual games, but on average they are deadly accurate).
As a follow up:
Among the 12 SEC teams, only 4 were underdogs, according to Vegas. The highly regarded SEC West (Best division ever according to a Stewart Mandel story, prior to bowl season) is a combined 2-5 in bowl season. SEC overall is 4-5 for bowl season, with Tenn, Missou and Florida games still to be determined (win out by the 3 and they hit the Vegas prediction, too, just not the way that Vegas envisioned).
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UCLA is finally looking like its preseason ranking. The way that the voters love them, if Hundley wasn't leaving early, UCLA would be 2015 preseason top 3.
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UCLA is destroying K-State worse than they did against us in E.P. It's also only the first half, and they haven't "Zumwalt'd" the opposing QB out of the game.
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Watching Tennessee play earlier, I couldn't help but think of Tyrod when looking at their QB Josh Dobbs. Kid has some monster playmaking ability with his legs and a more than capable arm. Decision making was kind of questionable at times but find me a true sophomore QB who's only started a handful of games that makes perfect decisions. Anyway, I'm not gonna lie, he terrifies me for our matchup in 2016.
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Absolutely pathetic story out of Tally. Players and fans who traveled to the game returned to campus this afternoon to find their vehicles vandalized with keyed paint jobs and slashed tires by apparent angry fans over the result of the game.
Theres nothing worse than spoiled fanbases acting spoiled after losses. Its essentially why I cant stand Bama. Stay classy FSU. Glad to see your one year removed from the championship and 26 game win streak did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for your fans. Give me a break...
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Wow, complete crap form a fan base from which we've come to expect nothing less. The good news is that there is, of course, absolute gold in the comments. The top one, and my favorite:
Good news is that the UPD and Tallahassee PD are investigating, so the criminals will be brought swiftly to justice.
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I enjoy every time Chris Petersen is losing. That noise state game still hurts, and I also root against them almost every chance I get (except when they play loluva in the near future).
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That game against Boise St. (Wait...what game? we never played Boise...) is the ONLY reason I constantly hate on them. Normally I always pull for the "not power 5 underdogs", but they and their smurf field can eat it for the rest of eternity
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We started the 2010 season against them at Landover, Md. They won by 3 points. Also the first time David Wilson pulled a mighty mouse and decided to run the kickoff out of the end zone after he caught it in the end zone and the other return specialist signaled him to take a knee. Got all the way to 9 or was it 11 yard line before being tackled. Oh well, the kid was a baller, but sometimes his decisions left me pulling my hair out.
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That moment when you realize Chris Petersen left Boise State, the day AFTER seeing Bryan Harsin on the sideline at the Fiesta Bowl. Petersen is the poster child for generic football coach. (Harsin too, apparently.)
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While pooping your pants in public generally ranks up there in the worst days of your life, he did win the bowl MVP award, so I guess it wasn't so bad after all.
And of course, here's the Taiwanese animation of it:
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Comments
I am watching WKU put on a clinic against Central Michigan right now. First half for WKU, 6 posessions, 6 TDs, 440 yards of offense.
This happened.
Holy shit what a way to end a season!
EDIT: Although I'm seeing that they actually lost that game because they didn't convert the 2-point conversion. Bummer
I believe that was a huge mistake to go for two. Go to ot.
I LOVE the call to go for 2 in that situation. Its just a bowl game so the loss really doesn't mean anything for them so it was the perfect time to go for it.
If course I turned it off at half since wku was crushing them.
UNC is playing like garbage, so that must mean it's time for ACC bowl season to start!
This UNC game made me start watching High Plains Drifter on AMC. "Christmas with the Duke" on Christmas eve was awesome.
Duke now leading ASU late in the 4th
#goAcc
Tough loss for the Dookies.
Yep. At some point we are going to have to admit that these aren't the dookies we used to know and love. They are building a respectable program.
They'll go as far as Cutcliffe takes them, and then they'll fall right back to misery once he leaves. You'd think they would want to capitalize on the success right now, but they are really only investing the bare minimum just to get up to ACC minimum standards in terms of facilities and resources. If they do that get their act together and do it soon they won't have any sustainability after Cutcliffe retires, which won't be too too far away.
They'll still beat loluva consistently even after Cutcliffe leaves
Trust me, they don't care. Football is a quaint afterthought to them, from the student body to the alumni base to the administration. They are, and will forever remain, a basketball school that is simply flirting with football competence right now. This is no different than the Spurrier years at Duke, and will fade just as quickly.
Yeah, UNC, Duke, and WFU put so little into football. It seems they do the bare minimum to keep the checks rolling in and complaints from conference affiliates at a dull roar.
If that's the case then Cutcliff won't be there long. Some school that cares about football will have him change allegiance.
Man, there are just good games left and right today. If you haven't already, head on over to ABC and catch the tail end of Miami/USC-e. 17-14 cocks with 12:27 to go. Tee hee... cocks.
People talk about how VT has declined look how far Miami has fallen
That time of year again for ACC to play below their potential thus giving more ammo to the "ACC sucks" crowd.
The acc did really well in bowl games last year.
Except us...But we were on a bye...
Shit, can't use that during bowl season
They were 5-6.
Missed XP by BC in OT may cost them the game, EIGHTH time this year according to ESPN announcers.
Acc not doing so hot right now...
Except for the Hokies!!!!
As much as I hate the Mountaineers I can't support this. Apparently it is a student assistant who was a former Line Backer. Still... uncalled for.
He also threw an elbow.
Props to our coaches for consistently running such a honorable program.
that's insane. No excuse for shit like that.
part of me wishes the player reacted and punched him back. The other part of me respects him for holding back.
To Kevin Sumlin's credit, when he was told about this at halftime, he apparently told the guy "don't come back out of the locker room."
Hopefully he's gone. Student assistant, I believe, so his position should likely be easily filled by someone who isn't an asshat.
wvu looks like they're going to lose this one. so far it's been a good bowl season for VT Football!
My girlfriend grew up in a half-Mountaineer family. I told her that if WVU won today, we're done. Glad to see A&M is putting this one away.
The only better thing than this wvu implosion is BAHAHAHA JUST KIDDING THERE'S NOTHING BETTER
edit -my recap:
aTm grad asst punching wvu players
wvu player punches helmeted guy
wvu player gets tossed, flips off ref
wvu kicker gets slapped in the nads after making a FG
I dunno, LOLUVA's annual implosion is usually pretty fun.
klempson strikes first with a huge TD run
It was actually on a bubble screen... Why can't we do that? Ever?
Most DB's won't help us out by over pursuing, like OU did on that play.
Edited for damn autocorrect
Still early, but Clemson is starting to open a can of whoop ass on Oklahoma. Dominating them in every phase of the game and have already scored on a big plays on both offense and defense.
Still 4 minutes go in the first quarter.
What conference was it that got left out of the playoff? Oh yeah....
Oklahoma looks like they are ready to get back on the bus.
Oklahoma did not meet expectations this year, but will be a nice "name" victory for the ACC, because Clemson is going to bury them.
R.I.P. Oklahoma
Big Game Bob strikes again.
So how was that fumble review "indisputable video evidence"? At least the call won't cost OU the game.
Showing up cost OU this game!
Bud Foster doesn't need a get back coach!
Venables is a friggin maniac
With this rout, Clemson is putting in pretty much all their seniors. Also, SGT Daniel Rodriguez is getting some snaps, which is pretty cool.
So to prove it could ALWAYS be worse, Texas has 29 yes TWENTY NINE total years with just over 11 minutes left in the game.
Currently (about 6:30 to go), they have more penalty yards (29) than net yards gained (25). Wow.
And yet people don't believe me when we go 6-6 in the regular season....
The irrational calls for Strong to be fired will be well, Strong.
Nice selling point by Dabo at then end their stating their last 3 bowl victories, LSU, OSU and now OU. All premier programs.
Did he say it or yell it?!
I hate all things Clemson!
So the "internet" fans of Miamimare calling for a new coach at Miami. At what point do they get their wish? Al golden has gone: 6-6, 7-5, 9-4 with bad loss in bowl game and now 6-7.
Al Golden and Randy Shannon have the same career records in 4 seasons at Miami (28-22) and both were 0-2 in bowls. Shannon was 7-5 in his final season, at least. Golden's team tanked. I really thought they'd be a much better team than they ended up being.
I thought Golden would do well down there, but it doesn't look like that is the case. I would have thought the U would be closer to relevance by now.
I'm reminded of The U 30 for 30, when they were talking about Schnellenberger recruiting Overtown and how Joe Paterno walking into that neighborhood would have been absurd. Well, Golden is a PSU guy with a Paterno-type approach, and I'm thinking he just isn't a good 'fit' for the U.
I think it would be sweet if Jimmy Johnson came out of retirement to coach them again. A horse can dream...
I think the issues in Miami are systemic rather than a coaching problem. Shalala hung the football program out to dry. They are behind the curve in terms of facilities and (shocking to say) resources. Students don't show up to Pro Player Land Shark Sun Life Stadium and the program has lost much of its identity. I don't think this is a "find the right coach" problem as much as it's a "right the ship" problem. Until they invest in the program, I don't see any coach having more success than Shannon and Golden have had.
True. I wish they were better. I think college football is better when Miami is good.
I agree. I want a return to VT/Miami having national implications.
Double post glory
Butch Davis is a lot more likely to return to UM than any previous coach...
The ACC is being so goACC this bowl season again and I could hear the "SEC" chants from the UGA fans on TV.
Pac-12 are looking like 4-0 so far this bowl season, maybe I was wrong about who is the best (SEC) conference....
Sometimes during the bowl season I'm confused about which team is which on the field. Thank you Maryland for solving that problem by placing the school name very subtly on your helmet. Between that and the fact that you are losing, I know it's the Terps.
Ugh...ESPN brought back that graphics package they tested in that first 12/20 bowl.
I like the score bug across the bottom of the screen...less intrusive.
Hating this, and just like in the VT bowl game ESPN is missing live plays because of cut always.
Or commercials.
How did they miss the first play of the 4th quarter of our game? That guy in the red shirt has ONE JOB.
I wonder if they have some test viewers out there who's job it is to provide feedback, or is it just a matter of different producers for each game.
TCU making the SEC West and playoff committee look like garbage at the moment.
But it's just Ole Miss, they're not really SEC.
/s
Correct. The SEC is such a great conference they can simultaneously have tough games "week in and week out" and also have half their conference or more be disavowed by their own conference fans when they lose
I don't know how often one sees a D-lineman intercept a ball in the endzone for a TD, but that definitely just happened. Sad Dr. Bo is sad.
In almost 50 yrs of watching football, I don't recall ever seeing it.
Loving the beat down on the #3 team in the SEC.
Sunshine never should have cut his hair.
Maybe you blocked out this years Tech-UVA game?
No, the two plays were very different. I've seen plenty of D-linemen pick off, and scored TDs on, batted or tipped passes like that. What I had never seen was a QB about a foot away from being sacked in the endzone throw a desperate pass into the ankles of his O-line, while a D-lineman fell down in the endzone to catch the ball. It was wild.
And the DL was in the end zone when he caught the ball. In the VT- LOLUVA game. The DL caught the ball in the field of play & returned it for a fat man TD.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is what happens when the SECSPN media insists that a team that lost three games in their division is still a top 10 team.
Match them up with a team that got knocked down to a second tier game in favor of a big brand name program, and you get this...
No one should be shocked by the result
You talking about ole miss?
I saw that and was really happy.
R.I.P. Ole Miss
After watching this TCU beatdown of "#9" Ole Miss, I think that I would much rather watch TCU play Bama than OSU. Can the committee get a do over?
Why isn't TCU playing Ohio state as the 1 seed?
I know. I know. That's crazy talk. Shall not question the SEC.
I can't be the only one enjoying this SEC meltdown right now.
Remember, being in the SEC was the big argument for why Ole Miss and Miss St were ranked so high even after the losses.
But that Land Shark defense.... holding TCU well below their scoring average against Baylor this year.
I loved when the DLineman got the pick 6 in the end zone, he did the landshark hand signal on his helmet
Remember when everyone said no one from the SEC West had lost to a team outside the SEC West, and then the rest of us asked who they had played outside the SEC West, and we never got a legitimate answer? Guess this is what happens when the SEC West goes against competition with a pulse.
The problem here is that the committee failed to put four SEC west teams in the playoff.
This whole TCU embarrassment could have been avoided. Obviously, we need to tweak the system.
But, but, but... Miss St had a brutal out of conference schedule against the likes of Southern Miss, UAB, South Alabama, and Tenn-Martin. That surely justifies why they were ranked #1 in the nation for 5 weeks this season.
Is it bad that I desperately want to see a VT flag or VT sweatshirt proudly displayed behind Dr Lou on Bourbon St right in the middle of all those Buckeye fans?
So Rich Rod is getting schooled by Boise St.
His weakness has always been general cluelessness on defense. If he had someone the quality of Bud coaching defense he would be much much better off for it.
BREAKING
Bud Foster rumored to be going to Arizona. There was a plane going from Arizona to Virginia. Bud Foster is rumored to have said that he, "...likes what Arizona has to offer. I think Virginia Tech has more to offer, so I'm waiting to see if Arizona has anything else to offer. I'm still 100% committed to Virginia Tech".
~ #sources
I cried for him.
With TCU beating the piss out of Ole Miss and Boise whipping Zona, I think it's becoming clear the talking heads on ESPN don't have a damn clue on what they're saying. So glad they have as much influence on the game and the playoff as they do.
Well. Arizona simply ran out of breath. And lost.
I think their qb made horrible decisions the entire game.
GT. Intercepts at the Miss 37 on the first series.
Is it okay for me to cheer for GT, but against PJ?
Yes.
i seriously hope gt gets destroyed in this game. I can't stand them or their coach or their offense.
"C'est la vie"
I'm hoping GT crushes them.
#LOLSEC West
If it was a team from literally any division than the SEC West, I'd be all aboard here... shoot, any way they can both lose?
I don't like the sec and love seeing them lose in bowls, but I hate pj and gt so I really hope they lose. so far they're playing well though
Anything to have the sainted SEC lose. Everything else is secondary.
Intercourse the SEC
http://youtu.be/1k1ccguXiws
Paul Johnson and his man boobs make me gag whenever the camera shows him, but it'd be nice for the acc to have a win over miss st
Even more gross was wet-shirt man-boobs.
But I applaud PJ for the backhanded "at least we don't have to hear about the SEC for another week" comment in his post-game interview. Amen.
Except Gameday is camped out in New Orleans, and because ESPN, and because media, &c, so we'll be hearing about SEC every night for the next week (read: 8+ months).
GT just got robbed of a huge error in calling the fumble as after the whistle.
Horrible call.
Hope that call doesn't make a difference in the game. Terrible.
Looking like it might, unfortunately.
14 - 3 instead of 21-0, maybe.
GD Hail Mary.
I just saw the final score in the TCU vs #SECisgreatgame
42- 3
TCU took them to school.
So that's why Ole Miss never showed up.
If GT wins, someone please put that TD run in GIF form so I can show all 4 missed tackles to the next person who uses the phrase, "SEC defense"
That 54 yd run by anOSU is another.
Justin Thomas is a scary man. He just made 2 or 3 Bulldog defenders look totally clueless. Thank goodness for Bud Foster.
Yeah, on that TD run. It was like sandlot ball,where one guy just outclasses the playground.
Gotta watch him next year.
Definitely. He's probably the most talented QB I've seen at GT in a long time. Got a great arm, too.
Yup, he's going to be a thorn in our sides for years to come. And fast as all get out
Why the heck would you run a pitch option against the GT defense that sees option plays Every Single Day?
This raises a good question - how much option does the GT defense actually face in practice? They know that other schools don't use it (mostly), so wouldn't the scout team be showing them normal offensive looks as their preparation? Throwing some option against them might be crazy enough to work on occasion. Might.
Even if the practice squad ran straight spread, the defense would see the option more than any other team out there just by virtue of casually seeing the offense practice and by watching game tapes.
They would face the option offense almost exclusively in spring ball, and the option is not uncommon with spread offenses. They really get a double dose of it.
Should be Miss State ball, his forward progress was stopped. /s
(this was for the QB fumble before the touchdown, forgot my DVR was behind)
There's a part of me that loves watching teams that don't play GT just get shell shocked by the flexbone. Makes me just think of French's "death by a thousand cuts" line.
The vaunted SEc should have no problems with tackling a run.
I'm sure some ESPN giy said.
TBH when CPJ first came to GT I felt the exact same way. French was responsible for making me understand why the flexbone is so damn different than defending basically any other offense. If you don't see it regularly it's gonna mess with you.
But SEC.
They should handle anything easily.
Because SEC.
They will use the "but but but option" excuse as to why Miss St loss doesn't count
They being SEC ding dongs
In this case, because their def coordinator went to Florida.
GT played a great game tonight. 452 yards rushing is pretty phenomenal.
When do the good SEC teams start to play?
Nuts to PJ, but GT isn't stealing recruits. #GoACC
This GT vs Miss St game is a textbook example of one coach playing chess and the other coach playing checkers.
Chinese checkers vs. checkers. #AsianDating.com (hopefully I'm not the only one who saw this ad)
Or "2048" vs. checkers.
Finally someone else admits they see it also! Got so much crap when I asked about it, wait until the SEC ad pops up.
More like that super hard, three-level Star Trek Chess vs eating at Checkers (its a drive-in restaurant if you are unfamiliar with the name).
That's "three dimensional chess", thank you very much. /pushes glasses up nose.
I don't watch Star Trek...OK (raises hand)
I was going to just post a .gif of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory making an insensitive remark, but I held back.
Checkers or Rallys
Didn't help that MSU's defensive coordinator left for Florida before the game
Just really makes those Miami and Duke loses hurt more. (For ACC) both games were winnable.
Can we get a gif of rich rods face at then end of the game. He made a bunch of wtf?? Faces in like the span of 1 min.
Continuing to run the football when you're up by three scores. Despicable.
He should go for 2 after the next TD.
GT wins.
Awesome game GT! I hate to say it but man was it fun to watch the highlights of that game. Hard to believe we came within a field goal of losing to them. Go ACC beat the SEC to the ground!
It was awesome hearing Musberger (sp?) openly mocking the SEC and the Mississippi schools during the telecast. He may not be the greatest commentator, but he's been around long enough to know that college football is cyclical and that the SEC isn't quite what it's hype to be by his bosses.
Musberger said something bad about the SEC? That is honestly shocking to me. I got so sick of listening to him seemingly proudly shouting the AL-A-BAMA CRIMson TIDE over the last five years. I hate that guy. He sucks and when he retires I will be happy.
Hats off to GT. Way to represent the ACC on the national stage.
Paul Johnson is an a-hole, but so am I and he's the head coach I like the most behind Frank Beamer.
I laughed out loud when CPJ said that.
I still hate him and his offense.... but the SEC comment was timed perfectly, and it was GOLDEN.
I would love to see Wisky continue the collapse. Watching the rationalization of the SEC fans has been as entertaining as the games themselves
I agree drinking whiskey for wiscy today!
If Wisky's QB suddenly remembers how to be accurate, they would have a much better chance.
Pretty sure I just spotted a baylor player with 'K. Fuller' on the back of his jersey. Immediately called my bookie and bet my house that baylor covers. Lock of the century.
Center Kyle Fuller.
"K" in front of the last name implies that there's at least on additional Fuller on the team.
Clay Fuller.
How did the selection committee miss this?!?
Aaaaand I'm homeless.
What a beautiful TD run by Gordon, great vision and patience. Saw the blocks a slowed down just a half step to let his lanes open up. Would love to to have our freshman develop half that vision for next year.
If michigan state was in the SEC west they'd be getting destroyed right now.
Melvin Gordon is a man. So many little things that he did on that run to appreciate.
I don't know if this has been discussed, but what exactly does declaring a B12 champ have to do with who is the better team? You watched all the games and have the stats. This isn't the AP poll, just decide on a team!
And tell me again why Alabama has the no. 1 ranking and FSU had to move up to 3?
It was just the go to excuse to allow Ohio State to get the last playoff spot. TCU and Baylor didn't have the national brand appeal. Had it been Texas or Oklahoma, it would have been different.
Alabama is number one over undefeated Florida State because of all those impressive wins over top 5 SEC west teams.
I guess that second part was more rhetorical in nature, given the...success...of the rest of the West teams.
FAT MAN TOUCHDOWN!
That was 390 lb OL catching pass & taking it in.
Doink!
I don't envy that Auburn kicker one bit
Me neither. His 2 misses have given the country leeway to take shots at his entire division.
This whole bowl season so far.
This must be a pic of the north side of the building.
Would love to see Mich St do to Baylor, what Baylor did to TCU.
And that just happened...
And I'm loving it.
Funny part is that I posted the comment, right after the successful on side kick. 5 sec after I posted the comment, Cook threw the pick that was almost a pick6.
How big was that offensive face mask call, right?
here's a link to an article discussing bowl attendance (or lack thereof) ... it is a couple days old, but at the time of the article the Military Bowl was the only sellout. Sorry if it's been posted elsewhere
That was awesome. Kick gets blocked and the kicker gets destroyed. My dad and absolutely lost it.
I lost it too when he went horizontal after that block. that was a great 4th quarter to watch if you weren't a Baylor fan
TKP, enjoy.
Edited for a better tweet.
Given the rules in football now, that should be a penalty. MSU player Cutback hit moving towards his own endline, and the guy clearly left his feet and went high.
People will celebrate the hit, but that should be exactly what they are trying to eliminate from the game, not some of these ridiculous "targeting" calls they make
Holy cow... Cotton Bowl.
Sparty playing a little Beamer Ball with the blocked kick, late touchdown, and finishing with sacks.
RIP Baylor Bears
The B1G is redeeming themselves
anOSU beating bama, in the next game would complete the utter failure of the SEC west & complete redemption of the B1G.
Anyone else having trouble with the Oregon/FSU game on watchespn? It's telling me the video is having trouble loading. The pregame played fine, but right before kickoff it stopped. (I don't have espn and use a friend's login to watch online.)
I get "you are not authorized to watch this video".
Game is back up for me now, just in time for halftime
Seems like a nationwide issue with WatchESPN based on the twitters.
Ya, I'm getting same thing. Excited to be watching it in SD, and by excited I mean at least I don't have to watch that goddam Christian Dior commercial 100 more times. I mean wtf drives their car on the beach through the salt water?!?!
So I'm going for Oregon here. Don't need the ACC is good talk because of fsu while they are stealing our recruits.
Go Ducks!!
^^^ Agree I cant pull for FSU anymore I hope Oregon destroys them.
Looks like Jimbo finally figured out not to put the whole game on Jameis to open the game, and that leaning on his running game will probably win the game for him.
The Rose bowl has been a great game so far.
Geez us keereist, how the heck do you miss that pass interference? o'Leary was on the ground.
}#{^{>{ SEC refs
http://www.secrant.com/mobile/rant/display.aspx?p=54679453
And here, folks, we have an all out sec melt down. They're now bickering about east vs west. Drink it up.
Jeez that website design looks like it went back in time 10 years.
Only way Oregon loses this is if they continue to beat themselves. Holding, soft coverages with no pressure, Mariota throwing a pick...
I agree.
When the refs are on your team, it's really tough for the other team.
I might be looking through ACC colored glasses, but I really feel like the refs are missing some big penalties that Oregon is committing.
That play where FSU got called for face ask should have been a procedure penalty on Oregon. They had 2 guys in motion. The WR moved forward just at the snap while they had a motion man just behind the right tackle, at the snap.
The refs are letting these guys run fast and loose with the rule book.
SEC officials have long been the worst in major college football from a mechanics standpoint. They're just not sharp with their assignments and the way they run the game, and it shows sometimes in their calls. I've been less than excited about the quality of the officiating today. I've been happy to see a couple really good crews the past few bowl games though.
I hope that other school from Alabama loses today, as well.
Man this game is entertaining, can Famous Jamies respond again?
FSU has no defensive answer. Getting passed to death.
Watching Oregon's offense is simultaneously exhilarating and depressing. If our offense could be half as effective...
I'm watching these guys close and there is no way an ACC ref would let us be set this short a period of time. There seems to always be a guy just getting set at the hike.
This is the kind of offense we need to mimic. FSU has no answer on defense, they're absolutely gassed out there so every offensive mistake is amplified 15 fold. You can still run run run with the ball, but if you keep snapping so fast, you tilt the field in your favor. And to have a defense like ours and to pair it with an offense that remotely resembles this would be deadly on the east coast.
I know it's Oregon, but with all the 4 and 5 stars on the field for FSU they should at least be able to slow them down somewhat. Their defense has underwhelmed all year.
#5 did not persue during the TD play.
They have been able to move the ball, but turnovers are killing them when you can't stop them.
Cook is killing FSU with his butter fingers.
That might be the dagger on FSUs season...
Really hate to see that program with a case of the sads on the sidelines
I love seeing Oregon trolling with FSU's defense, they look so lost
I might have helped if FSU's Defensive Coordinator decided to stop trying to stop a three man wide receiver screen with only two defenders. They were just giving away yards.
A couple (called) PIs would have kept this a little closer, and let FSU play their game a little more.
--They're moving down the field with ease, then either fumbling or getting a bad/missed call.
the noles are finally mortal once more. Go Buckeyes, win it all.
We Skrong!
HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA Famous Jamies LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF was that fumble?
Weirdest fumble II've seen.
It's right up there with the Tahj Body stumble-fumbleception-pick 6 against FSU a few years ago.
That fumble is a future TKP gif.
I am very much enjoying watching the Nolies who have been in the news for legal issues most over the past year be the ones to derp as bad as they are tonight.
I guess karma really does exist.
Indeed!
Bahahahaha again!
And now Oregon fans are mocking the chop.
I bet if that football were crab legs, he wouldn't have fumbled it.
The ball did its best impression of Jameis fleeing Publix.
Holy smokes. Pretend to hold on to the football.
WOW! Its snowballing now.
Turnovers for dessert tonight, fellas.
Wow, seems Oregon is going to rename The Rose Bowl to The Woodshed.
This is exactly what I wanted to see after Josh Sweat chose them.
Oregon just scored again. klempson can now live that one down
Damn. More daggers in this game than Julius Caesar
Someone remember to turn off the lights when the last passenger exits the FSU bandwagon.
Can we get a gif of jumbo telling Jameis to "calm the f down or he'll go to the bench."
Annnnnd another td. Go Ducks!
Not a gif, but...
https://vine.co/v/Ow3XBZTQ2EI
Like the beat down of Winston & FSU !
All these 4 and 5 stars on defense for FSU getting whipped. They have literally no clue what to do.
Or they have quit. Up to them which one is worse.
It looked to me like most of the FSU team gave up when O'Leary was tackled in the endzone and Oregon got away with it.
I watched the FSU defense walking through it after that.
Huh? They fought back to pull within 5 at the half and they got the ball to open the 2nd half. That play had no effect on how FSU played the rest of the game.
I saw some walking by the defense immediately after that.
The offense was still playing until they got the dropsies but I saw some serious non persuit immediately following and I even posted on it above.
#5 was walking and just watched a TD go in.
Kid caught it, I said, "fumble it," cause, y'know, that'd be funny.
He fumbled. Awesome.
As part of off season reading I'd love to see Mason/French do a breakdown of Oregons offense and how its so effective and what type if wrinkles they throw in etc. Just a thought I had!
59-20 with 10 minutes to go and FSU has just plain quit on the game.
Wow, shows the kind of heart that team has. Hope you enjoy your stay, Sweat.
Even Herbie said they've quit.
The Criminoles have packed it in with 11 min to go! GLORIOUS!!!!!!
Wonder how many FSU homers will try to blame this on O'leary not being 100%.
30%. The rest will blame the refs, because most FSU "fans" don't know who Nick O'Leary is.
Oregon please score 70+!!!!
After the last TD, I was shouting for them to go for two. Would have been a total Oregon move.
I am furious. WatchESPN is crashing like...hell all I can think of is Princess Diana, sorry, awful metaphor.
Twitter is trending on this. F*ck ESPN.
Wow. A Princess Di joke? Sir Elton would like a word:
Also, I made club 10k! I'd like to think it was on the strength of insightful analysis and genius commentary, but we all know it's snark and Wang jokes, all the way down.
I get it.
Nnadi gets his name called picking up the gimme fumble. Did nothing otherwise. Has Mario Edwards even been on the field after his first team ACC honors for no reason?
No ill will towards some of these boys, and for as much as the Hokies frustrate me over the years, I have never seen our lunch pailers up and quit like this FSU team.
Out of curiosity, does anyone remember how bad Oregon beat UVA?
Was it like 66-9 or something?
EDIT: 59-10. Oregon let up at halftime though vs the Hoos.
59-10
59-10.
Not sure, but I think it was 59-10
No I just checked with the college football database and it turns out we were all wrong. It was actually 10-59.
I like the move by Oregon to save the Gatorade bath for the title game.
Classy of the FSU players to completely ignore congratulating Oregon players. See ya later, punks.
Yup I was highly impressed with the display of sportsmanship...
You always hear how the way teams react to adversity is a reflection of the values of their coaches. ....take note, recruits.....and parents of recruits, too.
Stay classy, Florida State.
Most of the team went straight to the lockers at the whistle and didn't bother shaking hands post game.
They were appropriately blasted by Herbie for the Bush League maneuver.
Its a condition in there work release program. After the game they must return to locker room immediately to be handcuffed and escorted back to there cells. #Criminoles
"Nearly 70% of FSU's team didn't shake hands and just went to the locker room"- Herbie
That is embarrassing and is an indicator of the character of that team. I hope someone from the media asks Jimbo about this so we can hear an explanation. I don't want to hear any 'competitor' bullshit either. When the game is over, you congratulate your opponent.
Kirk Herbstreit is so 1995!
GO BUCKEYES!
Wow, tOSU shoulda jumped on that ball in the endzone
Bama's entire gameplan:
90s cartoon references, anyone?
GIVE THE BALL TO TUCKER!!
Just substitute Cooper for Tucker. They both wear #9 after all.
What a run
Great start for the Buckeyes
Bud Foster > kirbynotsosmart
To be fair... Kirby doesn't have any Fullers, Kannibals or Dadis to put on the field.
One of my nephews had a friend at the RB. Apparently, the duck fans turned the FSU warchant into:
"Nooooooooo, Means Nooooooooo"
Whats Deshawn Hand's #?
9
DAYUM. #PuntingIsWinning
Costly fumble
What up with the fumbles tonight?
Reminds me of the Buffalo Wild Wings commercial.
Jesus Christ, that punt was spectacular
yeah baby! I like seeing Bama get punished
I want the red tide to fail.
Ohio needs to win this.
Buckeyes can't make these kind of mistakes
If I was Lane Kiffin, I wouldn't call another pass the entire game unless it was 3rd and 6+
Except that I have Amari Cooper at my disposal.
Edit: I was typing this before that TD reception. :-)
True. That receptions graphic they put up was ridiculous. Cooper with 118, next highest on the team was 37. And yet that Ohio State DB gave up outside leverage to THAT GUY.
So, Jones is their 3rd string QB (based on start of season) and has played just 1 game prior to this. Right? So, how does he have 1/2 his helmet full of stickers? Seems odd to me.
Okay, carry on...
He does a great job holding the clipboard.
C'mon Ohio State, the hopes and dreams of millions of anti-Sabans are counting on you!
Not to mention, it gives me at least another week to proudly display my VT car magnet (if OSU wins).
Crucial stop there
Bama probably just dealt the knockout right there. Not. Good.
"Not. Good" is a matter of perspective. My wife is a diehard Bama fan, so she (and I guess, I) beg to differ.
Bama could blow this open Oregon style if OSU doesn't get a TD this drive
Me thinks it's about to happen.
Will be interesting to see next week as Oregon will not hand the game to Bama like the Buckeyes are in the process of doing
I doubt OSU thought they were going to hand it to Bama either. My point -- we don't know what Oregon will or will not do. Bama too for that matter.
That taunt like that is one thing I hate.
It's one thing to be a poor loser, quite another to taunt when someone else does something good.
There is no room for poor sportsmanship.
No kidding, he wasn't even in on the tackle. Side note, I don't think I have seen Reuben Foster make contact below the shoulder on the guy he is trying to tackle. He goes high every time.
That was close to being a pick 6
It easily could have been, had he gone around the receiver instead of through.
Bama is subbing players like crazy on defense. They aren't going to have that luxury against Oregon. All of those big boys are going to get worn out.
So Jameis Winston was very humble and showed genuine respect for Oregon in the post game.
Oh, just kidding...
You're right, Jameis, that 39 point loss really could have gone either way if not for a couple plays....
They were just a few blocks away....
I think you're grasping for straws here... any QB in college or the NFL is going to say the same thing. He was just backing his teammates, FSU definitely didn't help themselves. Props to Jameis for not being one of the sore FSU losers who bee-lined for the locker room at the final whistle.
After getting beat by 39, I would expect him to say something along the lines of "They(Or could say We) forced us into some mistakes and capitalized and it cost us."
Saying "Lets be real" and not giving the other team that bitch slapped you up and down the field their due is very disrespectful.
I do think FSU handed the game to Oregon. They got a couple bad calls then handed the ball over a stack of times.
FSU would not let themselves score after the start of the 3rd. You simply cannot make that many mistakes at that level of ball.
Not to defend the crab thief but, FSU handed it over too many times.
... So are they skrong?
In all fairness, except for the turnovers the FSU offense was moving the ball very well. They were only outgained by 100 yards. Turnovers were the only place they were at a very large disadvantage on the stat sheet.
They just let it snowball straight to hell in a handbasket.
Bucks show some fight with that TD
Take note. That's a punt.
Go Jones, Go!
Oof.... bad use of a TO there. Might end up missing that one.
MOAR TRIPLE-REVERSE PASSES!
Nice TD.
Good play call.
I guess Lefty pulling that one on them still hurts.
Trickery pays off.
Never thought I'd ever see trickery pay off like that though. Bama wasn't fooled at all, but the throw was perfect and the receiver made a ridiculous catch.
I stop watching and they score back to back TDs. 4FSS.
In that case, go to bed!
Or stare at your preferred ceiling
I like the best Gameday signs thing.
Thought 14 through 7 were funnier then 7 through 1.
LOVE It. Keep your foot on the gas, Meyer!
12 Gauge!
In case anyone was wondering, this is a pretty good officiating crew, ironically out of the Pac-12. Their mechanics have been sharp, the white hat is making clear, direct calls, and they've done a good job with their preventative officiating. Coming in, separating guys without throwing dumb flags, keeping the sidelines clean, etc. They've been good tonight.
Tonight is just a huge reminder of how spectacularly well our whole team played against this team
This. Totally this.
I have to keep reminding myself that it wasn't a "fluke" win. We were healthy at that point and Bud's D played their nuts off. And yes, Brewer and the young playmakers on O played a great game.
It was our Hokies at their best this season.
I still have it on DVR and will for some time to come.
So do I.
So:
VT > anOSU on the field
VT > Bama by stats
VT wins double national championship?
Momentum is all Ohio State's right now
Best Buck punt on the night.
Never thought this game would be such a punters' duel. Back-to-back inside the 5 punts. That last one was a thing of beauty though. Thought for sure that cover guy was gonna knock it into the end zone.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! BAMA THROWS A HUGE PICK!
WOW. What a pick-6. OSU knew what was up. 3rd down, probably going to Cooper. Throw three guys around him and see what happens.
We have gotten a pick this year on that very same drop.
That DE #97 let Henry get right behind him in that catch.
That's Joey Bosa, one of the best DEs in the country. It looked like he struggled quite a bit on that drive setting the edge and pursuing from the back side too. And he got absolutely run over on that TD run (admittedly by 3 guys, but still).
Just missed a sack there also.
How Bama will win this game: Henry left, Henry right, Henry up the middle.
How Bama will lose this game: doing literally anything else on offense for long periods of time.
I might sprinkle in a little Yeldon. Otherwise, agree.
Yeldon's had a hamstring issue, but yes, give him a couple plays to give Henry a rest every now and then.
And then keep running Henry.
Didn't realize he was injured.
Strike my prior comment.
Should have been an interference call there.
No, that was a good no-call there. The ball was short and a little inside. In college, that defender doesn't have to play the ball to avoid a PI call. There was some handfighting, but the officials won't bail out the QB on a bad throw there. Same thing happens on a well-thrown pass to the outside, you'll see the flag.
Ruh roh that punt and sloppiness back there
Bad luck bounce for ohio.
Wow what a gift wrap for Bama. Starting at the pop 25 after a punt without a return.
Dodged a huge bullet there.
YES!
So anOSU plan to advance the ball is to punt then get an INT.
Not outta the woods yet
Should have been roughing, hit him right in the kicking leg
Generally, the kicking leg is running into, plant leg is roughing. Unless you really crush him.
I always assumed the rule was meant to protect the kickers legs and running into was like bumping into the body or the kicker after both feet were on the ground.
Running into the kicking leg isn't all that dangerous, cause as you saw, he can sort of twist and deflect the blow. Hitting the plant leg is how you start screwing up ligaments and stuff, cause he's got 100% of his weight on that foot that's planted in the ground.
It is but the plant leg is more vulnerable to injury than the kicks my leg as it is able to move with the hit. The plant leg basically just gets crushed if hit.
The Urban Crier comes out
Damn there is some great coverage on special teams tonight.
Time to see if OSU and Bama will lean on their best players (Elliott and Henry, respectively) to win the game, or if they'll try to get fancy and lose it. If Jones drops back on this first down, I'd strongly question Meyer's desire to win this game.
Good call.
*Gracious bow*
Careful Urban your heart problems.
Starting too many times inside the 5.
That might do it.
2 pts.
Puts 2 TDs to tie.
He waited for that hole to develop. That was so slow developing it looked strange.
Holy gamebreakers batman!
We beat one of the two teams playing for the National Championship.
MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Show me your O face! OSU v. Oregon
I was yelling at them to take 10 more seconds off the clock, then he busted past the secondary and I said, "nevermind."
I know it won't, but this bowl season should officially end the "SEC is the best conference" crap.
Nah, they'll talk about how well Alabama lost.
C'MON BUCKS
That safety is trying to make me look like an idiot....
Ugh
And just when you think it's over its not.
What in the hell was that for a first-down call?
One where Urban looks like a genius if it works and a moron if it doesn't.
Part of me likes the "go big or go home" attitude, but the rest of me wants them to bleed the clock and get a couple of tough yards.
That's what they should have done on that 3rd down instead of the 12 yard loss they just took.
I'm guessing he wanted a TD to put it away.
Low % call though.
Urban must be playing 5th dimensional chess or something. I have no idea.
My thoughts on that onside kick:
Why pass back there? Mike London School of Clock Management!
4th and 20.
Minute 30 but no timeouts.
Ohio st did not handle that clock well.
Looked like a fumble to me.
1 play left. 8 seconds.
GAME!
Blouses... #secWEST
Best division in college football, huh?
Hey, 4 of those teams weren't playing for anything and two thought they should be in the playoff. I'm not sure what the excuse for Bama is yet, maybe the refs not setting the ball fast enough for them?
Sugar Bowl + Pac-12 refs = Big Ten favor
Well come on, that's a little harsh isn't it. You just know they weren't up for the games because they were disappointed to be playing against sub-par conferences in their bowl games.
If they'd just seeded the championship bracket with all SEC teams like they should have, they'd be no worse than 4 and 1. (because we all know that when SEC plays SEC, neither team really loses).
Is it bad that this makes me giddy?
int and run it out until the clock is gone.
wife says, "Suck it, Saban."
Much respect to our Buckeye friends. Well played. Going to be a very interesting championship game.
Hey Alabama you just lost to the team that lost to VT...suck it!!!
Image of Kendall & Kyshoen getting OSU turf for the lunch pail I'll just leave this right here............
Not saying it made the difference -- but on that last Bama drive the clock kept running after the incomplete pass (the one that looked like a possible catch and fumble). They called it incomplete, but the clock kept running. Bama probably lost 20 seconds there.
No, they called that pass complete. The clock should have kept running. I sure they didn't want that complete in hindsight.
We aren't talking about the same play. This was an incomplete pass. Therefore, the clock should have stopped. It didn't.
I was wrong. They called that play a catch and down before fumble. That's why the clock ran.
And the clock shouldn't stop, anyway. They didn't get a first down.
We aren't talking about the same play. This was an incomplete pass. Therefore, the clock should have stopped. It didn't.
Edit : I was wrong.
No, the possible catch and fumble was ruled complete. I thought for sure it was a fumble.
You are right. I just rewound (is that a word) the DVR and they did call that a catch and down before fumble. In real time, I thought they called it incomplete. I was wrong.
Looking at it again, I think that was clearly a fumble. It should at least have been reviewed.
But then Bama wouldn't have had a chance to tie it up. We couldn't have had that. I'm no conspiracy guy but it seemed a little like the refs were trying to help Bama out.
There was only 1 incomplete pass on the last Bama drive, it was the next to last play of the drive, and the clock did stop
Remarkable the officials didn't even review that play, eh? Not the least bit questionable, here at the biggest stage.
Well that would have stopped the clock and influenced the game too. Bama seemed pretty eager to get back to the line and OSU wanted time off the clock. Are you actually able to throw the challenge flag with no timeouts? I was hoping Saban would have thrown it to nullify the reception and get that time back on the clock.
Always thought the SEC would get exposed once you had to prove it in the field instead of winning beauty pageants.... But I didn't think the conference as a whole would collapse like this.
The SEC myth is dead.
Oh, and when healthy, we're the team that goes into Columbus and punks the team now playing for the National Championship. That's pretty nice.
On the bright side, when it comes to moral victories, we have our own championship game to play for - probably against the skins I imagine.
Just going to point out now that there are people on this board who said that that Ohio State team had only marginally improved since we played them. Even with a third string QB, they beat an elite Alabama team. They have gotten better every single game, and are much better than when we played them in the Shoe.
I'm very worried about the game in Blacksburg next year, but I'll be damned if it won't be exciting.
Oh fuck these announcers... "we saw these guys against Virginia Tech and they were not a good football team that night"
Yeah, throwing out the window for a moment the fact that they haven't seen a pass rush and a secondary like that since...
TEAM-----------Passing YPG Allowed--Sacks per game-----INTs
VIRGINIA TECH______199.0 (28th) _________3.77 (3rd)________12 (50th)
WISCONSIN_________164.3 (4th)__________2.77 (23rd)_______6 (110th)
MICHIGAN STATE____196.0 (24th)_________3.09 (9th)________17 (12th)
PENN STATE________178.2 (9th)__________2.38 (44th)_______16 (15th)
They played better secondaries, but they did not play a better pass rush.
Number of INTs doesn't mean better secondary.
The YPG and INTs together are a pretty good indicator. I guess I should have specified, those are passing YPG allowed. Will edit.
Fullers. We have more Fullers. We win.
I get the joke, but it really doesn't contribute anything to a discussion about defensive secondaries.
Actually, I wonder if anyone on that list has more than one All-American in their secondary.
Using the All-American lists recognized in forming the consensus All-American lists:
AP: http://collegefootball.ap.org/article/2014-ap-all-america-team-list
FWAA: http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2014/allamerica141217.html
AFCA: http://www.afca.com/article/article.php?id=2581
WCFF: http://waltercamp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2014-Walter-Camp-All-Am...
SN: http://www.sportingnews.com/photos/4630079-college-football-sn-all-ameri...
Kendall Fuller (CB Virginia Tech) is 2nd Team FWAA, WCFF, 3rd Team AP
Kurtis Drummond (S Mich St) is 1st Team FWAA, 3rd Team AP
Trae Waynes (CB Mich St) 2nd Team WCFF, SN, 3rd Team AP
So yes, one of the teams on that list has more than one All-American.
*Edited to include link to AP and player positions.
Okay this is really OT but I had a dream the other night that Kurtis Drummond transferred to VT, what makes it weirder is that I have barely heard of the guy other than the couple times I watched Michigan State this season. Guess that means it's happening!
Interesting, nice work.
Decided to look at the advanced stats (cause numbers never lie, but they can say pretty much whatever you want).
Virginia Tech had the #2 passing S&P+, second only to Clemson. Michigan State was #8
FEI and F/+ don't have specific passing/rushing breakdowns, but are much less kind to Michigan State's defense (#43 and 24 ranked defense, respectively).
Also, according to the football outsiders pro-stats, looking at the NCAA defensive line rankings, Virginia Tech had the #1 adjusted sack rate.
Anyways, considering Tech had the #2 ranked passing defense, best pass-rushing line, and a pretty much unanimous top-10/top-5 defense overall based on advanced stats, I don't think it's a stretch at all to say OSU didn't face a better one since September.
Awkward..,...if wasn't on my phone is but an appropriate gif here
To further the Defense wins Championships
Oregon #3 in points scored per game this year and #3 in offensive yards per game will play
Ohio St #4 in points scored per game this year and #8 in offensive yards per game
For the National Championship
Man, the transitive property applying to football sure would be nice right about now.
SEC camp right now:
Rest of College Football:
SEC is in full implosion and FSU embarrassed themselves this afternoon. The first 24 hours of 2015 have been pretty nice.
Oregon looked good tonight, but I'm sticking with my pick OSU!
An all anOSU championship.
SEC loses, everyone wins!
ETA, yes, I realize Oregon isn't actually anOSU. But I'm rollin'.
We beat OSU with 7 new starters on D and a new QB, 2 freshmen RB's, 2 freshmen WR's, and a RS freshman TE. There is not excuse that can be made for OSU losing to us, and our D will return most starters next year to remind them and the nation that we are the best defense they will face!
They lost their Heisman candidate quarterback and had to use a very green quarterback against a defensive coordinator that eats them for breakfast. Not saying that caused them to lose, but it helped, considering how much better he was playing after a few games.
they seem to be winning with their 3rd string QB just fine
They have also relied very heavily on their running game after their loss to us until their QB got into his rhythm and went back when they had to bring in the 3rd stringer.
guess they should have tried that against us. My point is, everyone has an excuse for losing, but given their ability to win all season I don't think having a 2nd string QB is a good one.
The epic quest to explain away our W in the Horseshoe continues...
When both teams are young, it usually favors the defense. Solid defense and special teams play won us that game, and the offense played well enough to take advantage of the field position (longest offensive drive of the night was only 65 yards).
But I have to say that I hate seeing this mentality from so many of our fans. I understand that we all want to be able to have a bright spot to hold onto going into next season, and that I seem like an ass for always pulling the brakes on the party train, but the OSU team we beat and the one you see now are not the same. It's grasping at straws to think we could be the OSU team you just watched tonight. They've gone 11-0 since that game, we've gone 5-6, and a lot of people seem to be dismissing this through injuries.
The fact is we lost two games back to back before the injury bug really started to set in. So either everyone we played is much better than they're perceived, or Ohio State has gotten much better. You have two teams who were pretty close to one another that game, and they ended up going in opposite directions. There are a few possibilities: the coaching staffs are equal and their players simply have a higher ceiling, the players are equal and their coaching staff is better at developing talent and gameplanning, or some combination of the two.
Honestly, I don't think that the injuries had nearly as much impact as others think, especially on offense. Losing RBs hurt, but Coleman was a starter one year ago. Let's not act like he is a typical third string player. The defense definitely felt it more, but the offense just could not perform consistently throughout the season.
Also, they play Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, and Iowa next year. All of those teams were ranked higher than Virginia Tech in Total Defense, with Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan State being ranked higher in scoring defense as well.
I'd imagine there will be some great schadenfreude offerings the next few days on the Finebaum show.
I went to bed at the half. You're welcome
Anyone see this stat from the Oregon game?
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=400610177
Guess Stiney has been on to something for a long time... /s
I noticed they were throwing a lot of screens however their players were executing them flawlessly. They run screens how they are supposed to be run and made me realize why we throw it so much at times. They just do it better.
They definitely do. One that stood out in my mind was absolutely flawless - 3 guys split wide, 2 run forward and throw perfect blocks, and the third gets the ball and cruises 12 yards before he's touched. It seems like, too often our screens are 2-on-2, relying on a good block and a move by the other WR to make a man miss. Our initial blocks haven't really been great, coupled with the fact that it doesn't seem like we ever get a numbers advantage to go more than 3-4 yards.
I'm pretty sure I remember the play you are talking about and I instantly had the same thoughts. Man, I wish our guys could block like that when we run those screens.
I wish there was a way to stat check this, because to me it felt like we were consistently getting 5-6 yards on the bubble screen. Certainly enough to keep it as a staple of the offense.
I think someone broke it down in a game or postgame thread because there were a lot of complaints about screens that week. We were getting something like 4 yd/screen and things weren't nearly as bad as they seemed, especially with the state of the running game. We are OK with screens in terms of success and execution, but to see how Oregon uses it to great effect, even explosive plays, makes me envious. Their execution is so much cleaner. If we threw blocks the way they did, we'd average a couple more yards per attempt. That, over the course of the season, would make a difference.
Also, teams have to respect the vertical threat and play off the receivers in coverage for screens to be really lethal. Seems like as the season wore on, no opposing defenses were worried about our vertical passing threat. Really hard to set a bubble screen when the DBs are playing two yards off the receivers.
True story. Mariota also gets the ball out very quickly. Seems like Brewer is a bit slower with the snap throw. That affects timing, as well, and gives the DBs a split-second longer to respond.
Arm strength issue, IMO. Brewer can't get enough mustard on the pass to get it to the receiver fast enough. Also, and this is pure conjecture on my part, it seems like we have our receivers aligned really, really wide on bubble screens. Like the ball will be left hash and we're throwing it practically to the right sideline. Maybe the slower delivery is just exaggerating how far the pass is actually traveling, though.
The Oregon players were executing the screens flawlessly, but FSU kept putting only two defenders out on the three Oregon players. Mariota probably just made the call at the line when he saw FSU consistently not line up to stop the screen. I am baffled how their Defensive Coordinator didn't make an adjustment. That is probably why Mariota threw so many screens.
Someone PLEASE embed the video of Urban Meyer finding out the score of the FSU/Oregon game.
Have you seen the longer one where he says he has to leave to get ready.
So.... this happened yesterday
Yes!!! I love these. Maybe those two guys should follow suit with the Florida and Penn State OLs that declared. Seems to be the trend. Block your own guy, go to NFL, profit.
What makes me enjoy this the most is that FSU fans were absolutely ruthless to UF after it happened to them... And now it happens to FSU in one of the most lopsided losses in BCS history/playoff/New Years 6 history.
Where is the flag for hands to the face?
That is amazing.
Though to be fair, 77 just followed his block, which carried him into 35. 35 was trying to get to his assignment on the OLB and just didn't adjust in time. Funny as hell on tape but I don't see the ineptness here that the infamous UF play displayed, where it looked like the two O linemen honestly committed to blocking each other.
And ESPN just kicked off the SEC spin cycle in absolute glorious fashion this morning on First Take
"They play one another so hard during the regular season, so they don't have much more to give post season." - Skip Bayless
Skip actually said that garbage!
It's all part of the plan. Someone on ESPN gets paid to take some ridiculous viewpoint so they can fill hours debating. Meanwhile...
SVP is definitely going to play up on that now that his precious Terps are in the B1G.
That being said, even with FSU's loss, I still say that overall, the ACC still had the biggest statement season from top to bottom this year. VT over Ohio St, GT over Miss St, Clemson whipping Oklahoma,and the final weekend whipping with FSU over UF, Clemson over SCar, and GT over UGa. Lots of big wins everywhere, but you listen to anyone at ESPN, and its like it never existed.
I loathed how the Ohio St loss is getting brushed aside as them having a bad all around evening.
Yep. The whole "they lost because they got up on the wrong side of the bed" kind of thing pissed me off, too. Or maybe, just maybe, the result on the field was real. VT at its best beat OSU, who is a good team. The inexperience argument also doesn't hold water to me. Sure there were some new guys for OSU, but we played new guys at just about every skill position, and their recruiting baseline was higher than ours. On that field, on that night, we were the better team. Now we have to repeat it.
Maybe, just maybe, when we aren't busy having to start a new OL because of injuries or having to go with our 4th and 5th string RBs cause of injuries, or when the guy who led the conference in INTs last year isn't out with an injury, or when we are legitimately rolling 3 deep at TE instead of having only one healthy... maybe when that all happens we are a team that can beat anyone on any given night. When you start gutting our 2-deep with injuries the result will be a team not playing to the level it once was.
I have hopes that 2015 will be the start of another special era for VT football, after seeing what Ohio St has done. The team we beat isn't much different at all than the team that won last night, and our defense had their way with their OL. Hope the coaches have all these quotes about how Ohio St only lost because they were playing bad on repeat throughout the offseason. I want our team feeling disrespected on Labor Day. I want that same chip on their shoulder we showed in Columbus.
What it comes down to is, ESPN sells a product. And their product isn't college football. It's hype. They package hyperbole for the consumer. In many ways, how ESPN packages their college football is reminiscent of how Vince McMahon used to hype up wrestlers. The marquee games are battles between two behemoths whose power cannot be comprehended by mere mortals. The narrative doesn't work if ESPN admits that a national championship caliber team can be beaten by a 7-6 ACC team with a losing record in conference, so they have to explain the loss away and illegitimize it. OSU had to have a bad night against us, because if you admit that a 7-6 squad can present a matchup nightmare for a playoff team it deflates some of the breathless hyperbole.
They're trying so hard to pretend they won.
Where is Pitt playing this second rate bowl at? You can see another name under the end zone paint.
TCU's home field
So 4 hours from Houston and the place is almost empty.
Pitt is about to screw around and lose this game.
Pittsburgh pls
So Duke, Miami and now Pitt screw up bowl win chances #goACC.
Jesus, really Pitt?
.... and Houston takes the lead.
Yeesh... what the heck happened to Pitt's secondary? On 3 plays with less than 2 minutes to go they left receivers so alone they were calling therapists for emotional support.
^^^ comment of the day, if not bowl season.
This is really sad, but even more funny.
Houston with almost 300 yds of O in the 4th qtr? I wouldn't believe it, if I hadn't sat here and watched it.
Pretty sure Oregon and Houston's coaches were playing Madden during their respective bowl games.
Boyd dropped a potential game-winner.
Tyler Boyd with a critical drop
Our just dropped a TD winning rec.
Greatest bowl season ever and that doesn't even include the fact that we have a play off.
Well thats one way to choke a game away, good job, Pitt
Can we give them back to the American?
Military Bowl > Armed Forces Bowl
Pitt just Clemson'd their bowl game.
From David Teel Tweet: ACC bowl favorites went 0-4. BC, UNC, Miami and, epically, Pitt.
So, the ACC is 4-7 in bowls with all winners being underdogs. Meaning the ACC was expected to go 4-7 and did. Funny how accurate Vegas is, when looking in aggregate (yeah, they can be wrong on individual games, but on average they are deadly accurate).
As a follow up:
Among the 12 SEC teams, only 4 were underdogs, according to Vegas. The highly regarded SEC West (Best division ever according to a Stewart Mandel story, prior to bowl season) is a combined 2-5 in bowl season. SEC overall is 4-5 for bowl season, with Tenn, Missou and Florida games still to be determined (win out by the 3 and they hit the Vegas prediction, too, just not the way that Vegas envisioned).
UCLA is finally looking like its preseason ranking. The way that the voters love them, if Hundley wasn't leaving early, UCLA would be 2015 preseason top 3.
UCLA is destroying K-State worse than they did against us in E.P. It's also only the first half, and they haven't "Zumwalt'd" the opposing QB out of the game.
Miles Jack is fun to watch, as long as he's not playing against your team. Lockett is impressive for KSU too.
It was fun watching Logan Thomas truck Myles Jack in the Sun bowl last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRUHnmEte9E
... and as I read your comment, Jack goes full on idiot on a play.
Watching Tennessee play earlier, I couldn't help but think of Tyrod when looking at their QB Josh Dobbs. Kid has some monster playmaking ability with his legs and a more than capable arm. Decision making was kind of questionable at times but find me a true sophomore QB who's only started a handful of games that makes perfect decisions. Anyway, I'm not gonna lie, he terrifies me for our matchup in 2016.
Plus the Fr (?) RB, Hurd. Kid is 6'3" 230 and runs VERY well (so as big as Pitt's Conner but looks like he runs faster).
Ok St DT wildcat TD run.
Gotta love the fat man wildcat
Absolutely pathetic story out of Tally. Players and fans who traveled to the game returned to campus this afternoon to find their vehicles vandalized with keyed paint jobs and slashed tires by apparent angry fans over the result of the game.
http://deadspin.com/fsu-linebacker-players-returned-home-to-find-cars-keye-1677206894
Once again, Josh Sweat, hope you enjoy your stay.
Theres nothing worse than spoiled fanbases acting spoiled after losses. Its essentially why I cant stand Bama. Stay classy FSU. Glad to see your one year removed from the championship and 26 game win streak did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for your fans. Give me a break...
Blake Sims (sp) twitter was littered with death threats, suicide recommendations and other outrageous things.
Dalvin Cook's too
Wow, complete crap form a fan base from which we've come to expect nothing less. The good news is that there is, of course, absolute gold in the comments. The top one, and my favorite:
I enjoy every time Chris Petersen is losing. That noise state game still hurts, and I also root against them almost every chance I get (except when they play loluva in the near future).
That game against Boise St. (Wait...what game? we never played Boise...) is the ONLY reason I constantly hate on them. Normally I always pull for the "not power 5 underdogs", but they and their smurf field can eat it for the rest of eternity
We started the 2010 season against them at Landover, Md. They won by 3 points. Also the first time David Wilson pulled a mighty mouse and decided to run the kickoff out of the end zone after he caught it in the end zone and the other return specialist signaled him to take a knee. Got all the way to 9 or was it 11 yard line before being tackled. Oh well, the kid was a baller, but sometimes his decisions left me pulling my hair out.
That moment when you realize Chris Petersen left Boise State, the day AFTER seeing Bryan Harsin on the sideline at the Fiesta Bowl. Petersen is the poster child for generic football coach. (Harsin too, apparently.)
WHAT A PUNT AND DOWNING OF IT!
Insane catch by the Huskies' Williams, not that it meant anything that half.
24-0, I'd say that's a respectable start for Okie State
This bowl season, the ESPN app for Apple TV has been about as "clutch" as the SEC.
Not sure if I want ECU to win...to make theM a more respectable win next year, ...and we will win.
Or if I want Florida to lose because I hate the SEC
Going with Florida to lose.
Ecu's Redzone o is horrible
They shot themselves in the foot so many times.
Looks like Jeff Driskel's most likely last act as a Gator is to seal the win for this game.
Though at least D. J Durkin will get one win under his belt as an interim HC before he moves onto his next job.
LT3 sighting in Carolina!
ICYMI...
Florida RB Adam Lane, Jr. pooped his pants during the Birmingham Bowel (groannnnnn but you know I had to make the joke).
While pooping your pants in public generally ranks up there in the worst days of your life, he did win the bowl MVP award, so I guess it wasn't so bad after all.
And of course, here's the Taiwanese animation of it:
That explains why none of ECU's defenders wanted to tackle him.