[GP1]

GP1 if your explanation is correct you'll need to explain Boise State and Utah to me.

Exceptions to the rule and not the rule. They are good teams though.

I'd also like to see either of those teams have the success they have had playing in one of the big three conferences. I don't think undefeated seasons would be in order for them.

[GP1]

There is an underlying theme to most of GP1's arguments about college football, and it correlates directly to his self-pleasure with having moved to the Carolinas. The Great GP1 moved to the Carolinas and is happy with his move. Ergo, everyone who didn't make the same move is stupid, or at least ignorant. The weather is so much better, the economy so much better, the girls so much hotter, the athletes so much better, that anyone with a brain should be there too. So, only warm weather campuses are appealing to young kids, only warm weather programs prosper, all things in the cold are destined to wither away.

It's an incredibly simplistic argument made by a young man who is still enamored with his (likely) first move away from home. It ignores the facts, including that the southeastern states only left essential poverty starting in the 1960s when corporations decided to crush the industrial unions by moving production to the deep south where they could pay lower wages and avoid unionization. Also, starting after WWII, retirees from the industrial north "discovered" places in the southeast where they could retire, pay fewer taxes and avoid harsh winters. The southeast's prospects have improved since then, basically at the expense of the industrial north and midwest. Of course, "prosper" is a relative term. Many areas in the deep south are still crushingly poverty stricken, and in large swaths of the southeast, one may avoid harsh winters but the "heat season" is simply winter in reverse, wherein the heat and humidity are so bad that you basically rush from air-conditioning to air-conditioning to avoid being in the elements.

Of course, any region can enjoy temporary success, at the expense of other places, by promising no or low taxes and by giving freebies to corporations to entice them. There is no free lunch however, and between those same corporate entities finding some even cheaper place/way to operate, and the endlessly rising cost of infrastructure maintenance/improvement, the free ride is going to end. In fact, it's already happening. Some of the most current big growth regions are in places like Kansas City, Boise, the state of Wyoming, Lincoln and other decidedly NON warm weather places. So, does The Great GP1 have an explanation for why Des Moines is growing fast, or why Boise has such a fantastic football program? Nope, because they don't fit his myopia. His model is 30 years old and no longer applies the way it once did. He'll catch up. He is The Great GP1.

Finally, someone has figured out The Great GP1. I sit on this computer thinking about destroying unions, worrying about the weather and fixated on half naked southern girls. Brilliant.

In high school debate club, the kids are trained to find one point to counter all other points regardless of how silly it may be. If Boise, Lincoln, Wyoming and KC are the future of the country, I'll eat my computer. Those are out of the way places destined to always be small time American cities away from where many people want to live. I could also throw out that an airplane manufacturer is moving 3,800 jobs from Washington to Charleston, SC which will create a total of around 23,000 jobs in that area alone to support the one industry, but the Great GP1 thinks bigger than that.

In reality, I think Ohio is a great place and if someone wants to live there I don't think that makes that person stupid. It has nothing to do with me leaving and everything to do with the vast numbers of people that have left. That's where the demographics come into play. There aren't fewer good football players in Ohio because parents are stupid because they want to live there. That's a silly argument that I actually have never made here. There are fewer good football players in Ohio because there are fewer people. There are increasingly more good players in the south because there are increasingly more people in the south.

[GP1]

There is an underlying theme to most of GP1's arguments about college football, and it correlates directly to his self-pleasure

I never mix self pleasure with football.

[Spin]

I agree with everything GP1 says. I'll add a couple things to that.

Not only are the girls wearing shorts in January in SEC-land, but would you rather play your games in Ohio in late November? Would you rather drive through a snowstorm and walk through chill-factor winds to get to class? Then scrape your windshield and brush off your car to leave?

Then, there's another thing that as changed in college football the past decade or two. EXPOSURE. You don't HAVE to go to Notre Dame or the Big Ten to be on network TV. That was one of Notre Dame's biggest selling points, you can be on ABC every week. Your friends and family can watch you in their living rooms.

Now, there are dozens of games on nationwide coverage. And how many people really tune in to watch a top Big Ten team run up 70+ on conference fodder? Not so much this year when there wasn't a top Big Ten team... That's not entertainment.

Someone else brought up the MAC spread. How many spread quarterbacks have made the transition to the NFL, and can throw a 3 yard out? Can do a 5 step drop? You're not going to recruit top quarterbacks to play that gimmick. And you're not going to recruit top receivers to play 5 wide. That aint going to teach them anything about the NFL. Or let them showcase their NFL potential. It's as bad (or worse) then tOSU playing Woodie Hayes' three yard and a cloud of dust. High school skill players want to go where they play a pro-like game.

College football is going the way of college baseball. South. For many of the same reasons...

[g-mann17]

I agree with everything GP1 says. I'll add a couple things to that.

Not only are the girls wearing shorts in January in SEC-land, but would you rather play your games in Ohio in late November? Would you rather drive through a snowstorm and walk through chill-factor winds to get to class? Then scrape your windshield and brush off your car to leave?

Then, there's another thing that as changed in college football the past decade or two. EXPOSURE. You don't HAVE to go to Notre Dame or the Big Ten to be on network TV. That was one of Notre Dame's biggest selling points, you can be on ABC every week. Your friends and family can watch you in their living rooms.

Now, there are dozens of games on nationwide coverage. And how many people really tune in to watch a top Big Ten team run up 70+ on conference fodder? Not so much this year when there wasn't a top Big Ten team... That's not entertainment.

Someone else brought up the MAC spread. How many spread quarterbacks have made the transition to the NFL, and can throw a 3 yard out? Can do a 5 step drop? You're not going to recruit top quarterbacks to play that gimmick. And you're not going to recruit top receivers to play 5 wide. That aint going to teach them anything about the NFL. Or let them showcase their NFL potential. It's as bad (or worse) then tOSU playing Woodie Hayes' three yard and a cloud of dust. High school skill players want to go where they play a pro-like game.

College football is going the way of college baseball. South. For many of the same reasons...

LOL, college baseball has always been in the south or warm weather states, Alabama has more titles than any other team in football (and titles in general favor the south). What has happened is exposure and that people have become aware outside of the main populace (Michigan to the East Coast) that there are other teams besides the Big 10. Now there is a demand for these teams to play the SEC and "winners" more often. The other thing is the ESPN/SEC contract and the push by Disney to market the heck out of these schools so it can make it's $2 billion dollar investment pay off in ad revenue. Remember for 30 years FSU has been "Florida's school" that isn't good business for the SEC.

The south has a different sporting season, you get to play baseball longer, football get's to have spring games in high school more development practices and most importantly soccer is in the spring. That means dual sports players get to stay in shape with soccer or track and football becomes the only show in town in the fall.

[Spin]

Anybody knows college baseball has always been only big in the south, and why they are. That's why I used it as a comparison.

Nobody wants to hit a fastball in Akron in March, nobody wants to hit a linebacker in Akron (or Ohio State) (or Notre Dame) in November. IF they have an opportunity to play down south.

And you agree other schools are getting more exposure. It use to be we had three networks. One was tied to Notre Dame, one was tied to the Big Ten. Now, I have three networks that show nothing but college sports. With the dozen+ sports networks, the other major conferences are playing on national TV too now.

Heck I'd wager Baldwin Wallace and Mount U gets more TV time than Akron does. But that's a whole nuther topic for another rant...

I don't understand if you think you disagree with me or vice versa, or whatever.

[g-mann17]

Anybody knows college baseball has always been only big in the south, and why they are. That's why I used it as a comparison.

Nobody wants to hit a fastball in Akron in March, nobody wants to hit a linebacker in Akron (or Ohio State) (or Notre Dame) in November. IF they have an opportunity to play down south.

And you agree other schools are getting more exposure. It use to be we had three networks. One was tied to Notre Dame, one was tied to the Big Ten. Now, I have three networks that show nothing but college sports. With the dozen+ sports networks, the other major conferences are playing on national TV too now.

Heck I'd wager Baldwin Wallace and Mount U gets more TV time than Akron does. But that's a whole nuther topic for another rant...

I don't understand if you think you disagree with me or vice versa, or whatever.

I'm saying everyone's point is moot.

The fact is, Texas, Nebraska, Alabama, FSU, Miami, LSU, Clemson, Arkansas have always been the "winners" SEC, Big12, and PAC 10

Big 10 never had a "network" except in the region their schools existed. Yes that region includes Chicago but for the most part it ended in Philly.

The point I was making is that the "Big 10 world" and "superiority comlex" has been shattered by the availability of seeing other teams play when ever you want, have access to more sports news then ever. My point was, the arguing back and forth on why the "south is all of sudden better" is stupid, because that has never changed. We had a 15 year period from 1955-1970 where the northern and midwest schools had something a little different then the south.

But the southern "dominance" has nothing to do with warm weather, or population migration and everything to do, with substandard educational practices, and a more open high school sports rules that allow for more sports education. And more money pumped into athletics at every level.

My friend works in a little county in South Carolina as a teacher. They are getting new schools built. 45% of the money went to their sports facilities. This is a public school. The Sports facilities were built and completed first and the football stadium is a small scale Infocision. Now don't go thinking this is a sports mecca. The last D-1 prospect the school had was a Baseball player that went to Charleston Southern. They are still working on the school. (athletics first, education last is the southern mentality). The schools that put education first, are rarely winners.

[FootballCountry]

Baseball?.....zzzzzzzz.

Now back to real sports....

[jaycevs]

I disagree with most of what has been said in this whole argument on the South, etc. College football is cyclical, and when Michigan returns to form so will the perception and the competitiveness of the entire Big 10.

As was said earlier, Alabama plays Big 10 style football, and so does a lot of the SEC, so the opinions people have on running the ball and playing defense like the Big 10 does doesn't make any sense to me, and kids can go play for a spread offense and see what it does for their NFL futures, just check the recent list of Texas Tech record setting QBs for examples. I think a player with half a brain should be able to see past that. Pryor at OSU, despite his faults, realized the pro style system would give him a chance to be a NFL QB, and even though he has not progressed, how many games has Pat White started, or how well has Alex Smith played, or how great will Tebow be at the next level? The majority of elite teams will likely keep playing NFL style for that reason.

So, in my opinion major conference programs dont need the spread or gimmick offenses unless its to cover a deficiency, but it is the equalizer for everyone else like a 3 pointer, the only chance to compete for a lot of schools that are not going to physically compete with the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, etc.

[GP1]

As was said earlier, Alabama plays Big 10 style football, and so does a lot of the SEC, so the opinions people have on running the ball and playing defense like the Big 10 does doesn't make any sense to me, and kids can go play for a spread offense and see what it does for their NFL futures, just check the recent list of Texas Tech record setting QBs for examples.

I can't think of one elite NFL QB under 32 that didn't play in either a spread offense or at least one geared toward passing. Brees was from Purdue, but he grew up in Texas and Purdue runs a spread style offense. Roethlisberger ran a spread type offense at Miami. Tennessee was almost completely dependent upon Manning's arm. Brady went to Michigan but was a California kid who understood how to pass and wasn't very good in their offense at UM. Palmer won the Heisman because of his arm, not USC's defense and running game. Rivers is from NC and went to NC State where they threw constantly.

Alabama is absolutely loaded with talent and it makes more traditional offenses easier to run. The spread is a good offense with only a couple of good players and lesser talent. WVU under Rodrigues had Slaton, White and Henry and that was about it. That's why they HAD to run the spread.

The NFL game today is much different that even 10 years ago. Trent Dilfer is the best commentator on today's NFL and he always says the league is about QBs, WRs and coaches. Is it coincidence that the elite QBs are also the ones in the playoffs this season? Favre is not under 32, but he is an elite NFL qb. The rules in the NFL are geared toward passing....you can't touch a receiver after five yards (this penalty results in automatic first down)....if you breath on one while the ball is in the air or you get a penalty...any shot to the QBs head is a 15 year penalty...if you tackle the QB too low you get a penalty...the list could go on. Smash mouth football teams don't win the big games in the NFL anymore. The Steelers lost AFC Championship one after another until Cowher realized he needed to turn the ball over to his QB. Minnesota will not even go to the Super Bowl because they are a smash mouth team. Cincy will not win one playoff game because their coach will go Cowher and run the ball too much in the playoffs. San Diego is better because their QB is more productive and Tomlinson is less productive.

Since this is a Zips board, I'll bring it all around. If the Zips ignore the fact that they have a QB with an NFL arm and start running the ball too much, they will continue to lose. The Zips badly need to find two good wide receivers for next year for Nicely to throw to. With improvements in his accuracy, I believe Nicely can be the winner we have been looking for. All they need to do on defense is show some level of ability and they should be able to win.

I hope going into next year, all of you on this board make a resolution to stop thinking about college football as if it is the 1950s. It will greatly help the Great GP1 utilize his time in educating you guys and bringing our fan base into the 21st Century. I'm going to go get drunk now and I don't plan on posting tomorrow. On Saturday, I'm going to Hilton Head for a couple of nights ($40 per night at hotels) to walk the beach and go to the Jazz Corner on Sunday night to see one of my favorite bands. I don't want any more 1950s posts between now and when I get back Monday afternoon.

Happy New Year from the Great GP1 and Mrs. GP1, the luckiest woman in the world!

[Zipmeister]

I find the farther South I go, the smarter I get.

[SeeTeeZip]

I find the farther South I go, the smarter I get.

That's simply because you are comparing yourself to the redneck inbred hillbillies who inhabit the southeastern US. I'll take the North, the Midwest and the West of this country any and all day over ANY place south of Washington DC and east of the Colorado border.

[SeeTeeZip]

As was said earlier, Alabama plays Big 10 style football, and so does a lot of the SEC, so the opinions people have on running the ball and playing defense like the Big 10 does doesn't make any sense to me, and kids can go play for a spread offense and see what it does for their NFL futures, just check the recent list of Texas Tech record setting QBs for examples.

I can't think of one elite NFL QB under 32 that didn't play in either a spread offense or at least one geared toward passing. Brees was from Purdue, but he grew up in Texas and Purdue runs a spread style offense. Roethlisberger ran a spread type offense at Miami. Tennessee was almost completely dependent upon Manning's arm. Brady went to Michigan but was a California kid who understood how to pass and wasn't very good in their offense at UM. Palmer won the Heisman because of his arm, not USC's defense and running game. Rivers is from NC and went to NC State where they threw constantly.

Alabama is absolutely loaded with talent and it makes more traditional offenses easier to run. The spread is a good offense with only a couple of good players and lesser talent. WVU under Rodrigues had Slaton, White and Henry and that was about it. That's why they HAD to run the spread.

The NFL game today is much different that even 10 years ago. Trent Dilfer is the best commentator on today's NFL and he always says the league is about QBs, WRs and coaches. Is it coincidence that the elite QBs are also the ones in the playoffs this season? Favre is not under 32, but he is an elite NFL qb. The rules in the NFL are geared toward passing....you can't touch a receiver after five yards (this penalty results in automatic first down)....if you breath on one while the ball is in the air or you get a penalty...any shot to the QBs head is a 15 year penalty...if you tackle the QB too low you get a penalty...the list could go on. Smash mouth football teams don't win the big games in the NFL anymore. The Steelers lost AFC Championship one after another until Cowher realized he needed to turn the ball over to his QB. Minnesota will not even go to the Super Bowl because they are a smash mouth team. Cincy will not win one playoff game because their coach will go Cowher and run the ball too much in the playoffs. San Diego is better because their QB is more productive and Tomlinson is less productive.

Since this is a Zips board, I'll bring it all around. If the Zips ignore the fact that they have a QB with an NFL arm and start running the ball too much, they will continue to lose. The Zips badly need to find two good wide receivers for next year for Nicely to throw to. With improvements in his accuracy, I believe Nicely can be the winner we have been looking for. All they need to do on defense is show some level of ability and they should be able to win.

I hope going into next year, all of you on this board make a resolution to stop thinking about college football as if it is the 1950s. It will greatly help the Great GP1 utilize his time in educating you guys and bringing our fan base into the 21st Century. I'm going to go get drunk now and I don't plan on posting tomorrow. On Saturday, I'm going to Hilton Head for a couple of nights ($40 per night at hotels) to walk the beach and go to the Jazz Corner on Sunday night to see one of my favorite bands. I don't want any more 1950s posts between now and when I get back Monday afternoon.

Happy New Year from the Great GP1 and Mrs. GP1, the luckiest woman in the world!

Uh yeah. You completely lost me at Trent Dilfer being the best commentator on the NFL today. That.Is.Wrong.

[FootballCountry]

As was said earlier, Alabama plays Big 10 style football, and so does a lot of the SEC, so the opinions people have on running the ball and playing defense like the Big 10 does doesn't make any sense to me, and kids can go play for a spread offense and see what it does for their NFL futures, just check the recent list of Texas Tech record setting QBs for examples.

I can't think of one elite NFL QB under 32 that didn't play in either a spread offense or at least one geared toward passing. Brees was from Purdue, but he grew up in Texas and Purdue runs a spread style offense. Roethlisberger ran a spread type offense at Miami. Tennessee was almost completely dependent upon Manning's arm. Brady went to Michigan but was a California kid who understood how to pass and wasn't very good in their offense at UM. Palmer won the Heisman because of his arm, not USC's defense and running game. Rivers is from NC and went to NC State where they threw constantly.

Alabama is absolutely loaded with talent and it makes more traditional offenses easier to run. The spread is a good offense with only a couple of good players and lesser talent. WVU under Rodrigues had Slaton, White and Henry and that was about it. That's why they HAD to run the spread.

The NFL game today is much different that even 10 years ago. Trent Dilfer is the best commentator on today's NFL and he always says the league is about QBs, WRs and coaches. Is it coincidence that the elite QBs are also the ones in the playoffs this season? Favre is not under 32, but he is an elite NFL qb. The rules in the NFL are geared toward passing....you can't touch a receiver after five yards (this penalty results in automatic first down)....if you breath on one while the ball is in the air or you get a penalty...any shot to the QBs head is a 15 year penalty...if you tackle the QB too low you get a penalty...the list could go on. Smash mouth football teams don't win the big games in the NFL anymore. The Steelers lost AFC Championship one after another until Cowher realized he needed to turn the ball over to his QB. Minnesota will not even go to the Super Bowl because they are a smash mouth team. Cincy will not win one playoff game because their coach will go Cowher and run the ball too much in the playoffs. San Diego is better because their QB is more productive and Tomlinson is less productive.

Since this is a Zips board, I'll bring it all around. If the Zips ignore the fact that they have a QB with an NFL arm and start running the ball too much, they will continue to lose. The Zips badly need to find two good wide receivers for next year for Nicely to throw to. With improvements in his accuracy, I believe Nicely can be the winner we have been looking for. All they need to do on defense is show some level of ability and they should be able to win.

I hope going into next year, all of you on this board make a resolution to stop thinking about college football as if it is the 1950s. It will greatly help the Great GP1 utilize his time in educating you guys and bringing our fan base into the 21st Century. I'm going to go get drunk now and I don't plan on posting tomorrow. On Saturday, I'm going to Hilton Head for a couple of nights ($40 per night at hotels) to walk the beach and go to the Jazz Corner on Sunday night to see one of my favorite bands. I don't want any more 1950s posts between now and when I get back Monday afternoon.

Happy New Year from the Great GP1 and Mrs. GP1, the luckiest woman in the world!

Uh yeah. You completely lost me at Trent Dilfer being the best commentator on the NFL today. That.Is.Wrong.

^^


I've gotta co-sign that!!

[FootballCountry]

I disagree with most of what has been said in this whole argument on the South, etc. College football is cyclical, and when Michigan returns to form so will the perception and the competitiveness of the entire Big 10.

As was said earlier, Alabama plays Big 10 style football, and so does a lot of the SEC, so the opinions people have on running the ball and playing defense like the Big 10 does doesn't make any sense to me, and kids can go play for a spread offense and see what it does for their NFL futures, just check the recent list of Texas Tech record setting QBs for examples. I think a player with half a brain should be able to see past that. Pryor at OSU, despite his faults, realized the pro style system would give him a chance to be a NFL QB, and even though he has not progressed, how many games has Pat White started, or how well has Alex Smith played, or how great will Tebow be at the next level? The majority of elite teams will likely keep playing NFL style for that reason.

So, in my opinion major conference programs dont need the spread or gimmick offenses unless its to cover a deficiency, but it is the equalizer for everyone else like a 3 pointer, the only chance to compete for a lot of schools that are not going to physically compete with the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, etc.

Jaycevs brings up very valid points, particularly about it being cyclical. I personally prefer a Pro-Style system over all others.