Warm Weather Programs

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!Maybe I'm completely missing something here, but I don't recall ANYBODY making an argument that 'warm-weather ' football programs were better.What HAS been talked about is the conditioning of high school athletes in the south being more conducive to speed, which may, might, maybe give southern conferences an advantage in regards to 'team-speed' - NOT that they're better programs....clearly, if you're a college football fan you'd should know better than that...just look at this current bowl season.This thread is completely meritless IMO - this has never been the argument.

Well then you haven't been reading many of the threads on here, and while we're in the process of calling board contributions worthless, your latest post is worthless. I've said it at least twice now that my post had NOTHING to do with the quality of kids in any particular part of the country, it was ALL about college football D-1 programs, specifically the Top 25, and their geographic distribution.Again, post if you have something to say about the thread, but please don't waste my (or anybody else's) time by posting that you're not interested in this thread. I wouldn't do that to you. You shouldn't do it to me.

Like I said, perhaps I've missed something - and you could've pointed out what I've missed, if that is the case. You could've referenced a debate to provide clarity for me....but since we're on it, take the time to COMPREHEND - READ. I don't call anyone or anyone's contribution "worthless".I said the premise of this thread is without merit due to the fact I have yet to see what you're arguing. Get your diction-game up before you choose to insult somebody.My point had everything to do with your argument. You reference warm weather programs. Those programs primarily recruit from southern states (southern athletes), so YES, this would relate to the 'quality' of the athletes.However, I won't WASTE your time any further pointing out what you apparently didn't comprehend.Carry-on....

...and like I said, your posts in this thread are worthless, or perhaps I should use the term "meritless" as you did. Perhaps in "football country" there is a meaningful difference between the two terms in the context of this discussion.Carry on....

The value you place on my post is "worthless" and your apparent fragile nature is without "merit"....so yes, I shall,"carry-on". We have clarity in 'Football Country'.

...and away walks Football Country, thumb in keester, mumbling to himself about clarity. I guess you showed me big guy!

[dgull021878]

...and away walks Football Country, thumb in keester, mumbling to himself about clarity. I guess you showed me big guy!

"Thumb in keester"...? Somebody has watched too many reruns of Full House - as long as you've suceeded in entertaining yourself.

[g-mann17]

Allow me to add some intelligence to this thread.

That would be a first.Also, how many yards rushing does Alabama's QB have? Just curious.I'll save you the trouble 110. You need a running game, some teams use their QB for it, some use multiple backs. It's not a WR/QB game and it never will be. Teams that can't hand the ball off and run effectively and gain yards lose, bottom line.

[GP1]

You need a running game, some teams use their QB for it, some use multiple backs. It's not a WR/QB game and it never will be. Teams that can't hand the ball off and run effectively and gain yards lose, bottom line.

It's already a QB/WR game. Have you been watching bowl games?A lot of teams are using their QB as a runner and they get positive yards doing so. These teams usually have one back and a good running QB. That's two RBs.When I dismissed you guys for New Years holiday, I asked all of you to come back with a different paradigm about football. Football has changed. 20 years ago it was hard to find a good passing HS QB....today, high schools QBs are much better at passing and more sophisticated in their understanding of defenses out of more complicated offenses. The days of I-Formation are over for almost every team (except on short yardage). A spread formation with one RB and a QB that can both run and pass is deadly. It gives a good QB many options to throw to. It can eliminate a certain number of players "in the box" which helps the O-Line better evaluate who they are going to block. Fewer defenders in the box also helps the single RB better gain yardage because there are fewer defenders at the line. It neutralizes blitzing because the QB can get the ball out faster to a hot receiver from the shotgun quickly. It can create huge mismatches (ie: LB covering fast RB in a pass pattern) for the QB to exploit. If everyone is covered, the QB can run from the pocket and gain yardage more easily because the defense is spread all over the field.A fullback offers almost zero threat to a defense. It has become such an insignificant position that NFL teams usually only dress one. If that guy gets hurt, they just pick up some other schlub off of the free agent list or the practice team to plough into the line.Going into bowl season, I didn't think Texas had a chance against Alabama after the Big 12 Championship. Nebraska turned out to have a really good team after all. Texas can move the ball and score points. They have a good shot of winning.Tonight, if Iowa can stop the GA Tech option early, they will blow them out with a good passing game. If you can't stop the option early, it only gets worse as the game progresses. Talk about spread offenses, everyone thinks the GA Tech offense is the old style option. It's a spread offense that runs a lot and can exploit a defense when they put too many guys in the box with some passes.Welcome to the 21st Century.

[g-mann17]

You need a running game, some teams use their QB for it, some use multiple backs. It's not a WR/QB game and it never will be. Teams that can't hand the ball off and run effectively and gain yards lose, bottom line.

It's already a QB/WR game. Have you been watching bowl games?A lot of teams are using their QB as a runner and they get positive yards doing so. These teams usually have one back and a good running QB. That's two RBs.When I dismissed you guys for New Years holiday, I asked all of you to come back with a different paradigm about football. Football has changed. 20 years ago it was hard to find a good passing HS QB....today, high schools QBs are much better at passing and more sophisticated in their understanding of defenses out of more complicated offenses. The days of I-Formation are over for almost every team (except on short yardage). A spread formation with one RB and a QB that can both run and pass is deadly. It gives a good QB many options to throw to. It can eliminate a certain number of players "in the box" which helps the O-Line better evaluate who they are going to block. Fewer defenders in the box also helps the single RB better gain yardage because there are fewer defenders at the line. It neutralizes blitzing because the QB can get the ball out faster to a hot receiver from the shotgun quickly. It can create huge mismatches (ie: LB covering fast RB in a pass pattern) for the QB to exploit. If everyone is covered, the QB can run from the pocket and gain yardage more easily because the defense is spread all over the field.A fullback offers almost zero threat to a defense. It has become such an insignificant position that NFL teams usually only dress one. If that guy gets hurt, they just pick up some other schlub off of the free agent list or the practice team to plough into the line.Going into bowl season, I didn't think Texas had a chance against Alabama after the Big 12 Championship. Nebraska turned out to have a really good team after all. Texas can move the ball and score points. They have a good shot of winning.Tonight, if Iowa can stop the GA Tech option early, they will blow them out with a good passing game. If you can't stop the option early, it only gets worse as the game progresses. Talk about spread offenses, everyone thinks the GA Tech offense is the old style option. It's a spread offense that runs a lot and can exploit a defense when they put too many guys in the box with some passes.Welcome to the 21st Century.

You need to read a book or two about football.Or play the game one of the two. They have run "pass" first offenses since the mid 80's (real 21st century) it's called the run and shoot. Meyer changed a couple of things when he found athletes that were intelligent enough to remember plays and they think it's a new offense. It's not. Additionally the more a QB runs, the "older school" the style is. Tech is as old school as you can get, the flex-bone offense (your idea of a spread) has been used since they started playing "conventional" football. Every Academy school has run, we ran it in high school. It looks different because Johnson can make it work. Which is another testament to the "have to have the right players for the right system".I agree more people throw the ball, and they do it sooner (mostly because of the over emphasis of the QB position) but bottom line is, you run the ball or you lose. (technically you have to do both run and pass) but we are talking about the "new era of passing teams" that started in the 70's.

[GP1]

You need a running game, some teams use their QB for it, some use multiple backs. It's not a WR/QB game and it never will be. Teams that can't hand the ball off and run effectively and gain yards lose, bottom line.

It's already a QB/WR game. Have you been watching bowl games?A lot of teams are using their QB as a runner and they get positive yards doing so. These teams usually have one back and a good running QB. That's two RBs.When I dismissed you guys for New Years holiday, I asked all of you to come back with a different paradigm about football. Football has changed. 20 years ago it was hard to find a good passing HS QB....today, high schools QBs are much better at passing and more sophisticated in their understanding of defenses out of more complicated offenses. The days of I-Formation are over for almost every team (except on short yardage). A spread formation with one RB and a QB that can both run and pass is deadly. It gives a good QB many options to throw to. It can eliminate a certain number of players "in the box" which helps the O-Line better evaluate who they are going to block. Fewer defenders in the box also helps the single RB better gain yardage because there are fewer defenders at the line. It neutralizes blitzing because the QB can get the ball out faster to a hot receiver from the shotgun quickly. It can create huge mismatches (ie: LB covering fast RB in a pass pattern) for the QB to exploit. If everyone is covered, the QB can run from the pocket and gain yardage more easily because the defense is spread all over the field.A fullback offers almost zero threat to a defense. It has become such an insignificant position that NFL teams usually only dress one. If that guy gets hurt, they just pick up some other schlub off of the free agent list or the practice team to plough into the line.Going into bowl season, I didn't think Texas had a chance against Alabama after the Big 12 Championship. Nebraska turned out to have a really good team after all. Texas can move the ball and score points. They have a good shot of winning.Tonight, if Iowa can stop the GA Tech option early, they will blow them out with a good passing game. If you can't stop the option early, it only gets worse as the game progresses. Talk about spread offenses, everyone thinks the GA Tech offense is the old style option. It's a spread offense that runs a lot and can exploit a defense when they put too many guys in the box with some passes.Welcome to the 21st Century.

You need to read a book or two about football.

No thanks. I received my PHD in football from my position coach in college who is now an assistant in the NFL. He will be coaching with San Diego this post season.Football has changed guys. It isn't the 1950s any longer. Heck, it isn't the 1990s either.

[Dr Z]

Football has changed guys. It isn't the 1950s any longer. Heck, it isn't the 1990s either.

"Worked well for me"

[cornbread]

You need a running game, some teams use their QB for it, some use multiple backs. It's not a WR/QB game and it never will be. Teams that can't hand the ball off and run effectively and gain yards lose, bottom line.

It's already a QB/WR game. Have you been watching bowl games?A lot of teams are using their QB as a runner and they get positive yards doing so. These teams usually have one back and a good running QB. That's two RBs.When I dismissed you guys for New Years holiday, I asked all of you to come back with a different paradigm about football. Football has changed. 20 years ago it was hard to find a good passing HS QB....today, high schools QBs are much better at passing and more sophisticated in their understanding of defenses out of more complicated offenses. The days of I-Formation are over for almost every team (except on short yardage). A spread formation with one RB and a QB that can both run and pass is deadly. It gives a good QB many options to throw to. It can eliminate a certain number of players "in the box" which helps the O-Line better evaluate who they are going to block. Fewer defenders in the box also helps the single RB better gain yardage because there are fewer defenders at the line. It neutralizes blitzing because the QB can get the ball out faster to a hot receiver from the shotgun quickly. It can create huge mismatches (ie: LB covering fast RB in a pass pattern) for the QB to exploit. If everyone is covered, the QB can run from the pocket and gain yardage more easily because the defense is spread all over the field.A fullback offers almost zero threat to a defense. It has become such an insignificant position that NFL teams usually only dress one. If that guy gets hurt, they just pick up some other schlub off of the free agent list or the practice team to plough into the line.Going into bowl season, I didn't think Texas had a chance against Alabama after the Big 12 Championship. Nebraska turned out to have a really good team after all. Texas can move the ball and score points. They have a good shot of winning.Tonight, if Iowa can stop the GA Tech option early, they will blow them out with a good passing game. If you can't stop the option early, it only gets worse as the game progresses. Talk about spread offenses, everyone thinks the GA Tech offense is the old style option. It's a spread offense that runs a lot and can exploit a defense when they put too many guys in the box with some passes.Welcome to the 21st Century.

How do you explain the redefining of the single wing offense as the Wildcat then? QBs have always run. It is a choice by the coach given the talent level and football philosophy. Think outside the box. Take for example your rant about fullbacks.Why do you use the NFL as a qualifier? It's talent level, rule structure, and field dimensions (narrower hashes leads to more field, where speed is valued) make large bodied backs less useful. Stop getting stuck on definitions.You cannot argue with facts. Large, strong ball carriers are harder to tackle, and when they run into you, it hurts more and they fall forward. Coaches will find uses for matchups like that. Look at Toby Gerhart, Brandon Jacobs, Brian Leonard, Ron Dayne, Dallas Clark, etcStop trying to define the world and just live in it bro... you're harshin the 'sphere

[Zip Watcher]

No thanks. I received my PHD in football from my position coach in college who is now an assistant in the NFL. He will be coaching with San Diego this post season.

So you're saying the O-Line coach at San Diego, who has the benefit of having LT behind his line .. would agree that running the football with a RB isn't a relevant part of football anymore?

[g-mann17]

No thanks. I received my PHD in football from my position coach in college who is now an assistant in the NFL. He will be coaching with San Diego this post season.Football has changed guys. It isn't the 1950s any longer. Heck, it isn't the 1990s either.

I would say that PhD program was lacking quite a bit.

[GP1]

No thanks. I received my PHD in football from my position coach in college who is now an assistant in the NFL. He will be coaching with San Diego this post season.

So you're saying the O-Line coach at San Diego, who has the benefit of having LT behind his line .. would agree that running the football with a RB isn't a relevant part of football anymore?

Where do I say the RB is not relevant? You guys overreact to everything I write. It's amazing.....Over the past couple of years, LT has become less productive and the team has gotten better. If Turner doesn't go Bill Cowher (years 1-14), San Diego has their best shot yet at winning the SB this season. Rivers is ready to be turned loose in the playoffs. Does anyone out there really think LT is the answer to beating Indy in the playoffs? SD will need to score points in bunches in order to beat them. Ben Roethlisberger was the key to beating Indy three years ago, not Bettis and Parker.

[g-mann17]

No thanks. I received my PHD in football from my position coach in college who is now an assistant in the NFL. He will be coaching with San Diego this post season.

So you're saying the O-Line coach at San Diego, who has the benefit of having LT behind his line .. would agree that running the football with a RB isn't a relevant part of football anymore?

Where do I say the RB is not relevant? You guys overreact to everything I write. It's amazing.....Over the past couple of years, LT has become less productive and the team has gotten better. If Turner doesn't go Bill Cowher (years 1-14), San Diego has their best shot yet at winning the SB this season. Rivers is ready to be turned loose in the playoffs. Does anyone out there really think LT is the answer to beating Indy in the playoffs? SD will need to score points in bunches in order to beat them. Ben Roethlisberger was the key to beating Indy three years ago, not Bettis and Parker.

Miami scored points in bunches against the Colts and lost. Oh wait they didn't pass, they needed to score quicker and through the air, that's the ticket right? Also the times that SD has beaten the Colts, it was because LT had a superb game. And you forget that Sproles plays a big part of that offense too.And I would say the only over-anything anybody is doing is you, with your over-simplification of every aspect of everything (football, life, taxes, Amish etc).

[GP1]

How do you explain the redefining of the single wing offense as the Wildcat then? QBs have always run. It is a choice by the coach given the talent level and football philosophy. Why do you use the NFL as a qualifier? It's talent level, rule structure, and field dimensions (narrower hashes leads to more field, where speed is valued) make large bodied backs less useful. Stop getting stuck on definitions.You cannot argue with facts. Large, strong ball carriers are harder to tackle, and when they run into you, it hurts more and they fall forward. Coaches will find uses for matchups like that. Look at Toby Gerhart, Brandon Jacobs, Brian Leonard, Ron Dayne, Dallas Clark, etc

The Wildcat is a gimmick. There isn't a team out there that could win with it running it every play.It wasn't that long ago that the NFL was using a FB frequently. I'm 40 and the dimensions of the field have been the same my entire life, or at least as much of it as I can remember. College has modified their hashmarks once in my life....along with goal post width. Creative play call going as far back as Paul Brown has changed football much more than the shape of the field.All of the guys you site are running backs except Dallas Clark who is a TE. Leonard....where did this guy win anything? Dayne....maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think he was on the Giants when the won the SB. Jacobs has the only SB ring. Toby Gerhart....I saw, in person, Stanford take something like a 24-3 lead into halftime at Wake Forest and not score a point the second half running this guy into the line. 10-15 years ago that game would have been over at half, but Wake was able to put enough passing game talent on the field to come back and win. Wake finished the year at 5-7 in a terrible conference. We'll see how this cartoon character does in the NFL next year. I'm not buying his greatness against PAC 10 schools designed to stop the pass.Right now, the NFL is defined by QBs, WRs and coaches. Yards are so hard to get that you have to get them in big chunks in order to be successful. In a few years that may change, but today that's how the game works. Sorry if some of you are offended by this idea. Other positions will continue to be used, but the key to victory will fall on the shoulders of the QBs, WRs and coaches for now.Maybe someone could do us a favor. What percent of Super Bowl winning teams had either their QB or a WR win MVP and of that group, how many are in the Hall of Fame that are eligible?One excellent point you made is about the rules. The rules in the NFL/NCAA make it advantageous to pass. 5 yards/automatic first down for illegal contact. Interference downfield is awarded at the spot of the foul (NFL). Offensive interference is almost never called. There are no additional yards to intentional grounding if called. In fact, throwing the ball away is encouraged by the rules. If you touch the QBs head even slightly it is 15 yards/automatic first down. In my life there was a time when linemen couldn't use their hands....today you can in order to protect the QB. Not passing in the NFL is like using a restrictor plate in NASCAR in a race where they aren't required....it makes not sense. Use the rules to your advantage. Get players that allow your team to take advantage of the rules.It's 2010 guys. Don't be scared of what football has become. It is better today then it ever has been. Embrace it, don't shy away.

[Dr Z]

Ben Roethlisberger was the key to beating Indy three years ago, not Bettis and Parker.

Dick Lebeau come up with one of the greatest defensive schemes against Peyton Manning in that game. Dick Lebeau won that game. Ben had 14 whole completions in that game!?!? They ran the ball 42 times!

[GP1]

Ben Roethlisberger was the key to beating Indy three years ago, not Bettis and Parker.

Dick Lebeau come up with one of the greatest defensive schemes against Peyton Manning in that game. Dick Lebeau won that game. Ben had 14 whole completions in that game!?!? They ran the ball 42 times!

And a great tackle.It's OK to admit that the Steelers are a passing team now.

[Dr Z]

It's OK to admit that the Steelers are a passing team now.

I can admit it, and also realize I will not be watching them play next week because of it. I think Nicely is going to be a good one with the Zips, but I sure hope we can run the ball when we need to. Ball control and clock control depend on it.

[GP1]

It's OK to admit that the Steelers are a passing team now.

I can admit it, and also realize I will not be watching them play next week because of it.

There is a difference between not being able to run and deciding not to run. The Steelers couldn't run so they didn't. Step one to recharging the Pitt running game is to resign Parker. Step two is to start Parker and not Spindenhall.The Steelers will be fine. Losing two key starters on defense killed them. "But GP1, you said defense wasn't important." No I didn't....it just can't be horrible. With an average defense, they make the playoffs.

[g-mann17]

How do you explain the redefining of the single wing offense as the Wildcat then? QBs have always run. It is a choice by the coach given the talent level and football philosophy. Why do you use the NFL as a qualifier? It's talent level, rule structure, and field dimensions (narrower hashes leads to more field, where speed is valued) make large bodied backs less useful. Stop getting stuck on definitions.You cannot argue with facts. Large, strong ball carriers are harder to tackle, and when they run into you, it hurts more and they fall forward. Coaches will find uses for matchups like that. Look at Toby Gerhart, Brandon Jacobs, Brian Leonard, Ron Dayne, Dallas Clark, etc

The Wildcat is a gimmick. There isn't a team out there that could win with it running it every play.

Florida won two national championships running it every play. What do you think it was that Tebow was running? The Wildcat for other teams is just getting the best runner directly behind the center. For Florida their best runner was Tebow. I would also argue that Utah went undefeated using it. CMU just won the MAC using it.And that was the only thing worth commenting on because the rest of it is normal GP1 nonsense.

[zippy5]

It's OK to admit that the Steelers are a passing team now.

I can admit it, and also realize I will not be watching them play next week because of it.

There is a difference between not being able to run and deciding not to run. The Steelers couldn't run so they didn't. Step one to recharging the Pitt running game is to resign Parker. Step two is to start Parker and not Spindenhall.The Steelers will be fine. Losing two key starters on defense killed them. "But GP1, you said defense wasn't important." No I didn't....it just can't be horrible. With an average defense, they make the playoffs.

i lost a little respect for you as a steeler fan with that statement. mendenhall averaged 4.6 to parker's 4 YPC. Mendenhall doesn't have hands of stone, and is a threat coming out of the backfield. he also doesn't get hurt every three plays, and is on the upswing, not downfall of his career. you're the first person I've ever seen make that statement.

[GP1]

i lost a little respect for you as a steeler fan with that statement. mendenhall averaged 4.6 to parker's 4 YPC. Mendenhall doesn't have hands of stone, and is a threat coming out of the backfield. he also doesn't get hurt every three plays, and is on the upswing, not downfall of his career. you're the first person I've ever seen make that statement.

Parker is a tough runner and Mendenhall is not. Mendenhall carries the ball too loose. He misses a lot of holes because he is too busy spinning around to see what is in front of him. The guy is soft. How would you know if Mendenhall has good hands...they rarely throw to the RB. Why throw to the RB if you have Wallace, Ward and Holmes?I read all sorts of statistics on this board and most can be made to say anything you want them to say. Here is a CBS thread on the fiction of my Steelers final rankings. The first says it all. The defense has a good ranking, but couldn't stop anybody when it counted.They need to badly keep Parker around if they can. If not, they need another RB. I don't have much confidence in Mendenhall....I don't care what the stats say.

[GP1]

Ben Roethlisberger was the key to beating Indy three years ago, not Bettis and Parker.

Dick Lebeau come up with one of the greatest defensive schemes against Peyton Manning in that game. Dick Lebeau won that game. Ben had 14 whole completions in that game!?!? They ran the ball 42 times!

Lebeau's defense went into one of their now patented late game collapses. They had a 21-3 lead and almost blew it with Cowher Ball. God help the NFL team that hires Cowher to coach their team to a Super Bowl. I watched that guy blow AFC Championship Games one after another. What other team would put up with him for 14 years before finally winning something....maybe Tennessee. Lebeau's defense was so bad this year that in the fourth quarter when the Steelers defense was on the field, they should have played Tapps in lieu or Renegade on the jumbo screen. Next year will be a different story when they have their starters back, but this year they were terrible. If you remember, they had a defensive disaster and gave up a lead in the SB last year.....I really don't want to hear about their #1 ranking because when it mattered, it fell apart and the offense had to save their asses. The Harrison TD run was him breaking from the coaches instruction to blitz and drop back in coverage. The Steelers need to score more points to keep their defense OFF the field.As far as the game noted above, I know how much you like statistics, so here they go. Ben won that game in the first quarter. On the first drive he completed seven straight passes for 76 yards on an 84 yard TD drive. On the second drive he had a 45 yard pass and then another TD pass. After that, Cowher did his usual run the ball into the line and they almost blew it if Ben doesn't tackle the Colts defender after Bettis fumbled going into the endzone.For those of you who aren't Steelers fans, you have to understand the cycle. The cycle isn't perfect, but it usually involves two straight years in the playoffs and then one out. The year out usually involves injuries or young players still developing. This year was the third year. I just so happens that the last time it happened to them was after a SB victory in Detroit. Three of the six times the Steelers have won the SB they have not made the playoffs the following season.Sorry to talk about the Steelers so much on a Zips board, but fiction created by statistics needed to be corrected by historical reality. Again, my apologies.

[GP1]

Florida won two national championships running it every play. What do you think it was that Tebow was running? The Wildcat for other teams is just getting the best runner directly behind the center. For Florida their best runner was Tebow. I would also argue that Utah went undefeated using it. CMU just won the MAC using it.And that was the only thing worth commenting on because the rest of it is normal GP1 nonsense.

Florida vs Oklahoma, January 2009Tim Tebow...18 completions on 30 attempts.....231 yards......7.7 average.......2 TD (14 points, they only scored 24).Tebow did have 109 yards rushing and no rushing TDs.

[jaycevs]

I'm ready to see someone eat some words about cold weather football after last night, but I knew last night was going to go exactly how it happened. Ferentz, with over a week to prepare for anyone, will always have the Iowa D ready to shut someone down. The cold weather major conference in college football was 4-3 this year, and what stood out to me is that in all of those wins, they made the opponents play their style of football. Penn State over LSU, shouldn't happen according to most of you guys. Iowa over Georgia Tech, was 50 degrees in Miami too cold for the southern boys? Did defense and running the ball bore Oregon into an offensive performance they are not used to? Did Wisconsin not do what they always do, play tough football and impose their style? Like I said before, when Michigan returns to form those comments about the south will fade away. As for your NFL discussion, San Diego CANT run the ball anymore without the passing game, the offensive line is not that good, and they also had their fullback that led LT leave that team a few years ago, so we can discuss the fullback some more. They also have a QB that I would take over pretty much anyone in the league. Rivers average pass is longer than anyone in the league, and yet he doesn't throw int's. If you really watch the throws he makes, no one else in the league can make those throws that he makes look routine. As for Pittsburgh, can they really blame this whole year on losing a safety?

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

I'm ready to see someone eat some words about cold weather football after last night, but I knew last night was going to go exactly how it happened. Ferentz, with over a week to prepare for anyone, will always have the Iowa D ready to shut someone down. The cold weather major conference in college football was 4-3 this year, and what stood out to me is that in all of those wins, they made the opponents play their style of football. Penn State over LSU, shouldn't happen according to most of you guys. Iowa over Georgia Tech, was 50 degrees in Miami too cold for the southern boys? Did defense and running the ball bore Oregon into an offensive performance they are not used to? Did Wisconsin not do what they always do, play tough football and impose their style? Like I said before, when Michigan returns to form those comments about the south will fade away. As for your NFL discussion, San Diego CANT run the ball anymore without the passing game, the offensive line is not that good, and they also had their fullback that led LT leave that team a few years ago, so we can discuss the fullback some more. They also have a QB that I would take over pretty much anyone in the league. Rivers average pass is longer than anyone in the league, and yet he doesn't throw int's. If you really watch the throws he makes, no one else in the league can make those throws that he makes look routine. As for Pittsburgh, can they really blame this whole year on losing a safety?

Excellent, excellent post. +1 in a big way. The Southeast can SUCK IT.

[johnnyzip84]

Bump.

I know someone will discredit the source for reasons having nothing to do with sports, but HERE is a pretty decent article that ties the rust belt's economic decline to the Big 10's struggles in football.