College Football less than a week away!

**Arty50** · 10-16-2005, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Viva

Maybe next time, he'll have the grounds crew cut the grass?

Yeah, cause NFL teams never do that. Nor do other college teams. Besides, it really slowed down Reggie Bush wouldn't you say?

I'm really sick of hearing about the grass.

**Viva** · 10-16-2005, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by Arty50

I'm really sick of hearing about the grass.

We lost one of our players, Desmond Reed, for the year after he went down, untouched, while backing up to receive a kickoff. His knee got jerked around and he fell backwards over it.

Now, I don't know for a fact that the wheatfield growing in Notre Dame Stadium contributed to this, but I've never seen anything like it before.

**Arty50** · 10-16-2005, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by Viva

We lost one of our players, Desmond Reed, for the year after he went down, untouched, while backing up to receive a kickoff. His knee got jerked around and he fell backwards over it.

Now, I don't know for a fact that the wheatfield growing in Notre Dame Stadium contributed to this, but I've never seen anything like it before.

I did that about half a dozen times in my brief football career on everything from dirt to long grass. Hyperextensions are actually fairly common. His was just worse than normal.

Also, he wasn't "backing up" to receive the kickoff. He misjudged the ball, turned around to retrieve it, and jammed his leg while taking an awkward step forward to try and grab the ball. His awkward movements had a lot more to do with it than the grass. It was just one of those really freak things. A slightly similar accident happened to an ND defensive end. When a 270 lb. body hurdles over another player, sometimes knees go in bad directions.

The reason I know all this detail is because I watched the replays very closely. I hate seeing football players get injured. I've seen way too much of it, and my prayers go out to them.

**scoober** · 10-17-2005, 09:16 AM

The grass is such a non-issue, as we all saw. Sucks that Reed got his leg out in front of him, but I can attest as well, playing on just about any type of turf out there, that it was just a bad circumstance.

I'm glad it wasn't a real October day, 45 and raining, otherwise SC fans would have been complaining about that as well.

The last minutes of the game killed me. Just before the 4th and 9 play my brother called me on his cell from the student section and just held the phone up... the sound was unreal and made me want to be there like I've never wanted to be somewhere else in my life.

USC is amazing, Bush is amazing. So easy to hate because they are so good. The only part of that team that still pisses me off is Leinart. He didn't deserve that win, and in my eyes he does not even deserve to be playing this year.

A halftime interview with him went like this:
NBC tool: "So you're pretty much done with your academic career, that's basically all behind you now?"
Leinart: "Yeah, well I actually am still enrolled, I am taking one class, it's a dancing class"
skip to Leinart again: "Yeah, I really don't make it on to campus much anymore lately"

That's really just spectacular. A stand up example of college sportsmanship. Their star quarterback, the leader of the team and a leader amongst the student body is taking one dancing class and really doesn't show up on campus much. Leinart shouldn't even be eligible for the Heisman because of that.

Compare that to Brady Quinn (or any ND player) who takes a full course load and lives (as required by ND) in the dorms. That's what makes me feel the worst. Games are games and you win and lose and move on, but that entire student body and the real student athlete's hearts were broken because some 8th year senior who should be getting his ass handed to him on an NFL practice team right now got an illegal push in the back from the real star on the team and managed to get over the goal line.

CS · 10-17-2005, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by scoober

The grass is such a non-issue, as we all saw. Sucks that Reed got his leg out in front of him, but I can attest as well, playing on just about any type of turf out there, that it was just a bad circumstance.

I'm glad it wasn't a real October day, 45 and raining, otherwise SC fans would have been complaining about that as well.

The last minutes of the game killed me. Just before the 4th and 9 play my brother called me on his cell from the student section and just held the phone up... the sound was unreal and made me want to be there like I've never wanted to be somewhere else in my life.

USC is amazing, Bush is amazing. So easy to hate because they are so good. The only part of that team that still pisses me off is Leinart. He didn't deserve that win, and in my eyes he does not even deserve to be playing this year.

A halftime interview with him went like this:
NBC tool: "So you're pretty much done with your academic career, that's basically all behind you now?"
Leinart: "Yeah, well I actually am still enrolled, I am taking one class, it's a dancing class"
skip to Leinart again: "Yeah, I really don't make it on to campus much anymore lately"

That's really just spectacular. A stand up example of college sportsmanship. Their star quarterback, the leader of the team and a leader amongst the student body is taking one dancing class and really doesn't show up on campus much. Leinart shouldn't even be eligible for the Heisman because of that.

Compare that to Brady Quinn (or any ND player) who takes a full course load and lives (as required by ND) in the dorms. That's what makes me feel the worst. Games are games and you win and lose and move on, but that entire student body and the real student athlete's hearts were broken because some 8th year senior who should be getting his ass handed to him on an NFL practice team right now got an illegal push in the back from the real star on the team and managed to get over the goal line.

Yeah, because I'm sure, if you didn't have to, you'd just go ahead and take a full load of classes instead of spending your time trying to help your team become the first ever to 3 peat as national champs.

C'mon man, don't be stupid.

**cinnepa** · 10-17-2005, 09:36 AM

sure is quiet at work today....notre dame and penn state lose, and on an nfl note, the giants get beat too....

**Viva** · 10-17-2005, 09:37 AM

The uncut grass was a stupid gimmick. I agree that it didn't affect the outcome. As far as playing on it, I dunno. Arty, I played in City Section (You went to Loyola, right?) and all of the fields that I played on were cut. So, I have no idea what it's like to play on a long-grass surface. I think it's pretty stupid, though. Tell me, do you think the grass may have affected ND's last field goal attempt?

Neither grass-length, cold, rain, fog, hail, light snow, hundred+ degree temperatures are going to negatively impact this team, at least not for long. I've watched them play in all of the above in during the past three and a half seasons. They have the will to win.

Matt Leinert's a fifth-year, but I can understand how it seems like forever since he's kicked Notre Dame's ass the last three seasons. Although, I would have liked to have seen him go pro, I still give him credit for earning his degree in four years. He put in his time.

**scoober** · 10-17-2005, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by CS

Yeah, because I'm sure, if you didn't have to, you'd just go ahead and take a full load of classes instead of spending your time trying to help your team become the first ever to 3 peat as national champs.

C'mon man, don't be stupid.

I'm not being naive, I just think it's lame.

So much money is spent to ship Leinart around the country to play, to train in the best facilities, to provide him with gear, to get him BJs from Nick Lachey... and all he has to do is take a dancing class. There's nothing wrong with being a 5th year, people are red-shirted all the time. But I just expect a little more and if I was associated with USC I would be embarrassed.

My opinion is that "going for a three-peat" is not a valid reason to stick around. The team should be able to accomplish that on their own. Part of what CFB is supposed to be is that you have to deal with the challenge of players coming in and going out on a 4 year cycle.

CS · 10-17-2005, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by scoober

I'm not being naive, I just think it's lame.

So much money is spent to ship Leinart around the country to play, to train in the best facilities, to provide him with gear, to get him BJs from Nick Lachey... and all he has to do is take a dancing class. There's nothing wrong with being a 5th year, people are red-shirted all the time. But I just expect a little more and if I was associated with USC I would be embarrassed.

My opinion is that "going for a three-peat" is not a valid reason to stick around. The team should be able to accomplish that on their own. Part of what CFB is supposed to be is that you have to deal with the challenge of players coming in and going out on a 4 year cycle.

Not a valid reason? Let's see, he literally gave up millions of dollars to come back and do something that has never been done. Kid plays simply because he loves the game, but that's not valid enough for you? Why is this so bad? A kid has 4 years of eligibility to play and you think it's unfair that he acutally uses them?

I mean yeah, why not go pro, get millions, sit on the bench, or worse, start for a lousy team and get destroyed every week, or come back to lead the baddest-ass offense around and try to win that 3rd title?

I guarantee if it was someone from Notre Dame doing the same thing you wouldn't be bitching about it.

**Viva** · 10-17-2005, 10:40 AM

I'm siding with Scooby here. I'd rather see JD Booty get his chance now as our quarterback.

This also would have allowed USC, with Booty, Bush, and FB Brandon Handcock, to line up with an all-genitalia backfield.

**scoober** · 10-17-2005, 10:45 AM

For the love of the game or so he can be deified for one more year and date B level celebrities?

I just think he should be taking more classes than one dance class, which he openly admits to on national tv, thats all. Give him any semblance of a course load and it doesn't bother me. A friend of mine I watched the game with played D1 tennis. He was required by NCAA rules to carry a 12 credit minimum to be eligible to play. Does that not exist anymore? A 12 credit dance class? Intense!

Typically when ND strings out a red shirt for a 5th year they enroll in any one of the graduate programs on campus. A lot of times it is in the MBA curriculum. At one of the better business schools in the country.

**scoober** · 10-17-2005, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Viva

This also would have allowed USC, with Booty, Bush, and FB Brandon Handcock, to line up with an all-genitalia backfield.

See... that is worth it right there.

**sea2ski** · 10-21-2005, 08:43 AM

So which of the undefeated will join the ranks of the once beaten.

Texas or Texas Tech.

**Helicrackjnky** · 10-22-2005, 05:03 PM

Just in case you missed USC wins Again!Cruise control til 1/4/06!!

**sea2ski** · 10-26-2005, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Helicrackjnky

Just in case you missed USC wins Again!Cruise control til 1/4/06!!

So how does it feel to cheering for the number two team in the land?

**snow_slider** · 10-26-2005, 12:26 PM

If VA Tech beats Boston College tomorrow night and Miami next week, they should cruise to an undefeated season too. However, if Texas and USC remain undefeated, Tech won't get a shot at THE bowl. They will be this season's Auburn.

Sucks to be a Tech fan and see that, but at least they are playing great football.

**Helicrackjnky** · 10-26-2005, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by sea2ski

So how does it feel to cheering for the number two team in the land?

I am very confident as to who will be #1 come 1/5/06!

**Gebster** · 10-26-2005, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by Helicrackjnky

Just in case you missed USC wins Again!Cruise control til 1/4/06!!

So did UCLA. so ha!

**Helicrackjnky** · 10-26-2005, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by Gebster

So did UCLA. so ha!

Enjoy your short lived Glory while you can fucla's day of reckoning is a short time away!

**sea2ski** · 10-27-2005, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by snow_slider

If VA Tech beats Boston College tomorrow night and Miami next week, they should cruise to an undefeated season too. However, if Texas and USC remain undefeated, Tech won't get a shot at THE bowl. They will be this season's Auburn.

Sucks to be a Tech fan and see that, but at least they are playing great football.

Hey if Alabama or Georgia go undefeated you could have the alternative national championship game. Let the debates continue.

**jayfrizzo** · 10-30-2005, 09:32 AM

Paging Teledave. I was really looking for a good old-fashioned revenge ass whipping, but Spurrier's curse lives on.

**Viva** · 10-31-2005, 11:34 PM

Finally something I think we can all agree on:

**Mountain Freak** · 11-01-2005, 09:02 AM

So how many teams are going to finish undefeated? 3,4,5? It's really looking exciting down the stretch here.

**James Carvile** · 11-01-2005, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by Mountain Freak

So how many teams are going to finish undefeated? 3,4,5? It's really looking exciting down the stretch here.

Alabama
Va Tech
USC
Texas

All very real possibilities to go undefeated.
If I had to rank these teams from most likely not to go undefeated to most likely to go undefeated. I would probably put them in the order above.