College Football

[DLee25]

Well, I am getting pumped for the season....

Who's your team!?

Nebraska Cornhuskers

[VanMan]

Iowa Hawkeyes!

[Doba]

I grew up in Wisconsin. The Badgers finally have some preseason recognition and are going into the season ranked #7.

Have you guys heard about the Big Ten Network yet? It sounds pretty cool. I just hope I get it down here in AZ.

[ChiCubs1984]

Notre Dame fighting Irish!! and Northwestern Wildcats

[VanMan]

Have you guys heard about the Big Ten Network yet? It sounds pretty cool. I just hope I get it down here in AZ.
Actually, the only national outlet that will carry the Big Ten Network is DirecTV. It's going to be regional with the cable companies, and at that, the three largest cable companies in the Big Ten region (Mediacom in Iowa, Time Warner and Comcast everywhere else) are still refusing to carry the network because the Big Ten wants it on expanded basic, but the big cable companies want to put it on digital because not everyone wants to pay the additional $1.10 per month if they don't want to watch Iowa volleyball in Indiana.

[DLee25]

I think the Huskers are ranked 14th preseason. It would be nice to put a championship under our belt again.

[SKIPPER 11]

Kentucky Wildcats- okay so we are a basketball school, but we did win a bowl game last year.

[diehardnorthsider]

Be nice to me and don't pick on me too much......Iowa State. Who by the way just lost their first game to Kent State tonight, it's going to be a looooong year I think.

[DLee25]

Brett Myers, stinks. Not sure if i spelled his name right, and I live in Iowa.

[BigZ38]

Iowa State is a joke.....go Hawks. Anyone see Michigan totally choke?? Funniest thing ever, I think that takes them out of the National Championship picture.

[VanMan]

Yeah, even if they run the table the rest of the way, Michigan won't go to New Orleans for the BCS Championship game, because their one loss would be the worst among others with one loss.

[DLee25]

Iowa is a joke.... this year.

[VanMan]

Don't count out the Hawkeyes!

[diehardnorthsider]

Iowa State is a joke.....go Hawks. Anyone see Michigan totally choke?? Funniest thing ever, I think that takes them out of the National Championship picture.

You are right, the whole team is a joke not just Meyer. The defense is horrid, outside of Todd Blythe the offense is in shambles.

I guess I can thank my family for being born an ISU fan. Thanks Dad, Thanks alot!!

[DLee25]

Lol, I do like ISU fans more than Iowa fans.

[SKIPPER 11]

SEC FOOTBALL RULES

[BigZ38]

You are right, the whole team is a joke not just Meyer. The defense is horrid, outside of Todd Blythe the offense is in shambles.

I guess I can thank my family for being born an ISU fan. Thanks Dad, Thanks alot!!

Having said that about ISU I think they will be a team to watch in 2-3 years with Chizik at the helm. He seems to be a defensive wizard and once he gets some tools the Big 12 better watch out.

[DLee25]

I think once he gets the guys in there that he wants, ISU will be a pretty good team.

[VanMan]

Yeah, it'll be an adjustment for Chizik, just like it was for McCarney before the Cyclones got momentum. Of course, anything for ISU is better than the last few coaches they had.

[SKIPPER 11]

The Huskers looked good Saturday- DLEE25 400+ YARDS RUSHING, over 600 total


Tough game this week coming though Wake may be w/o their QB, which would good for the Huskers.

[DLee25]

the blackshirts will take care of em

[SKIPPER 11]

the blackshirts will take care of em

then look who you get to play- USC- and I dont mean the Steve Spurrier South Carolina gamecocks. That should be an awesome game. Callahan has surprised me a ton with the job he has done in Lincoln. Keller will be looking forward to the USC game. He had them beat 2 years ago when he was with ASU, but they blew it late. One game at a time though. Going to Wake will be tough, especially with them coming off a loss.

[bringbacktuffy]

Callahan finally figured out that Marlon Lucky is a pretty good running back and that Nebraska footbal is about the ground game, not the west coast offense. In any case USC at Nebby should be a fun one to watch.
That said....

Go Hawks!!!!!!
My blood type may be cubbie blue but home is where the heart is.

[bringbacktuffy]

I'm also PO'd that comcast doesnt carry big ten network. Iowa vs ISU will be on the Vesus channel in Chicago if anyone didnt know or cares.

[VanMan]

Comcast, Time Warner and Mediacom all do not carry the BTN because they think that a vast majority of their subscribers don't want to pay $1.10 per month to watch women's volleyball, swimming and diving, gymnastics and softball when the network's not showing football or men's basketball. The BTN says that Big Ten sports are in high demand, and belong on expanded basic, while the three cable giants say it should be on digital or a la carte. There was a big op-ed piece in The Des Moines Register yesterday, with Mediacom's north central manager and BTN's president giving their sides of the debate.

[bringbacktuffy]

I would happily fork over $1.10 to watch the hawkeyes every week. Then when BB season comes around, Im covered.

[VanMan]

Tuffy:
You're the one that Mediacom, Comcast and Time Warner wants to purchase the digital package so you can get the Big Ten Network. Not only are you paying the $1.10, but you're also paying the $10-18 additional package fee, $5 box rental and the upgrade fee. Big Cable doesn't want to prevent its non-sports-fan customers to subsidize the start-up network, it wants you to buy the upgrade.

[DLee25]

LOL at Iowa. UNI owns this state.

[TRIPLE PLAY]

BOILER-UP !!

[diehardnorthsider]

How about those Cyclones?!?

Unfortunatly this may be the only game Iowa State wins all year.

[VanMan]

Well, as it is with Cyclone fans, they could go 1-11 or whatever, but if the 1 is against Iowa, it's a successful season.

[bringbacktuffy]

Well, as it is with Cyclone fans, they could go 1-11 or whatever, but if the 1 is against Iowa, it's a successful season.

Truth. God that was just an awful game to watch. The O-line better start getting their heads out of the dark side of the moon if the Hawks want to have any kind of respectable Big 10 season. Gotta hand it to the clones though, they played their hearts out. Why they couldnt play like that against UNI and Kent State is beyond me.

Anyhoo they have Wisky on saturday night, thank god its on ABC. Thanks for the info on comcast, everytime i read anything about it I get a headache.

Hoping for a big upset for my b-day! (and a cubbies W of course!)

[DLee25]

Well, as it is with Cyclone fans, they could go 1-11 or whatever, but if the 1 is against Iowa, it's a successful season.

Wow, I now know 2 Iowa fans who can give credit to the Cyclones. Hawk fans are so ignorant.

[bringbacktuffy]

All this hostility for a team the huskers dont even play? Wow. I have to give a lot of credit to ISU for winning that game, their defense played lights out. However Iowa did make some mistakes that cost them the game, ie dropped passes, poor blocking and just all around sloppy football. For some reason, ISU gets jacked up for this game while the Hawks do not. Whether thats a problem with the coaching staff or the youth of the team I dont know, but its seems that everytime ISU beats Iowa, the Hawks wind up having a stellar year. (2002 for example) A january bowl for Iowa, while unlikely, is still possible. And I would love to see an Iowa Nebraska series sometime soon.

[TRIPLE PLAY]

Anyone see on ESPN; Regis Philbin moaning @ pep rally in south bend? as J.Rome would say....Hiiilarrious! wonder if K.Lee or K.Ripka is in the "playbook"?



(don't ask why i know their names)

[bringbacktuffy]

The Irish about the only team my hawkeyes could beat this year. Ugh. Pitiful.

[DLee25]

All this hostility for a team the huskers dont even play? Wow. I have to give a lot of credit to ISU for winning that game, their defense played lights out. However Iowa did make some mistakes that cost them the game, ie dropped passes, poor blocking and just all around sloppy football. For some reason, ISU gets jacked up for this game while the Hawks do not. Whether thats a problem with the coaching staff or the youth of the team I dont know, but its seems that everytime ISU beats Iowa, the Hawks wind up having a stellar year. (2002 for example) A january bowl for Iowa, while unlikely, is still possible. And I would love to see an Iowa Nebraska series sometime soon.

Well I think its pretty funny how you are saying the hawks dont play the huskers, it's probably a good thing. The hawks are garbage, no offense. I am not even gonna talk up the huskers, they aren't that great. But they did put 31 points or something like that on the best defense in the nation (USC) but on the otherhand they gave up like 40 something to ball state. I think the university of northern iowa would dominate iowa, i wish they played this year. But back to nebraska, the last time i checked the huskers beat the hawks like 66-7 last time they played, or something around that nature. Nebraska would dominate. BigZ38 would even agree with me on this, he talks **** about how bad they are this year.... funny, only one hawk fan that talks the truth.

PS... National Championships? Talk to me when you get one.

[bringbacktuffy]

jeez pal, dont get all defensive cuz im not a huskers fan. I'm more than aware how bad the hawks are this year. all i said is that i would like to see a home and home. but yeah, the hawks have been on the downward slide the last few years for the reason I alluded to in my earlier post. yeah the huskers would whoop the hawks this year but with young talent they have now, and if they get a new O-coordinator, they might be back to being one of the better teams in the big 10 in a few years.

[Madden King]

How 'bout those Illini?!?! The boys from Champaign get a big win over the 5th ranked Badgers!!! :D
Illinois 31, (5) Wisconsin 26

By DAVID MERCER, Associated Press Writer
October 6, 2007

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Rashard Mendenhall led Illinois into unfamiliar territory Saturday, rushing for 160 yards and scoring two touchdowns in the Illini's 31-26 win over No. 5 Wisconsin.

The Illini ended Wisconsin's 14-game winning streak, the longest in the nation, and improved to 5-1 overall. Illinois is off to a 3-0 start in the Big Ten for the first time since 1990.

Mendenhall had 100 yards rushing in the first half, leading the Illini to a 17-6 lead. Wisconsin didn't score until less than three minutes were left in the half on a 38-yard field goal from Taylor Mehlhaff.

The Badgers (5-1, 2-1) hadn't lost since Sept. 16, 2006, at Michigan.

Wisconsin's P.J. Hill entered the game as the Big Ten's top running back, averaging 133.4 yards a game. But the Illini held him to 83 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown.

Illinois quarterback Juice Williams ran for another 92 yards on 14 carries -- though it was the sophomore quarterback's relief, Eddie McGee, who essentially sealed the win.

For the second week in a row, Illinois coach Ron Zook sent McGee in during the second half. Against Penn State, the redshirt freshman ripped of a 53-yard run to secure a 24-19 win. This time, he scored on a 5-yard keeper that put the Illini up 31-19 with 5 1/2 minutes to go.

Before the touchdown, Wisconsin had grabbed the momentum and quieted the crowd of 57,078 who packed sold-out Memorial Stadium.

Hill leaned into the end zone from 1 yard out to cap a 78-yard drive that pulled Wisconsin within 24-19, the second of three second-half touchdowns given up by Illinois.

Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Donovan threw two interceptions in Illinois territory, the first to Illinois safety Kevin Mitchell and the second to cornerback Vontae Davis. The 6-foot Davis out-jumped the taller Travis Beckum at the Illini 29 with just over 10 minutes left in the game.

Donovan, though, led the Badgers to the brink of a comeback. The senior quarterback, who was high on several throws, hit tight end Garrett Graham for a 12-yard touchdown with 1:31 left in the game.

The Badgers tried an onside kick, but Illinois recovered it.

Donovan completed 27 of 49 passes for two touchdowns, with Beckum his favorite target. He caught 11 balls for 160 yards.

Williams was far more effective on the ground than in the air. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown -- a pitch to Mendenhall that was ruled a forward pass.

The Badgers contained freshman sensation Arrelious Benn, who scored twice against Penn State. The Illinois receiver caught five passes for only 51 yards.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/recap;_ylt=ArKOdd4dAmd4saKM2fBGExgcvrYF?gid=200710 060026&prov=ap

[bringbacktuffy]

That was a heck of a game by the illini.

[taz57]

Great game for the Fighting Illini against Ohio State. I had a funny feeing before the game that an upset would be in the mix. Excellent clock management in the 4th quarter with a key interception thrown in. The Buckeyes offense can't score if they are standing on the sideline for 12 minutes plus in the final quarter. Ron Zook is repairing all the damage that Ron Turner created in the program. They could be a serious contender for the Big 10 title next season.

[DLee25]

I should delete all my posts about nebraska.

Thought I would tell you that they suck.

[bringbacktuffy]

Iowa lost to Iowa State and W. Michigan this year. Ugh, terrible. This is a crazy year for college football.

[VanMan]

Iowa lost to Iowa State and W. Michigan this year. Ugh, terrible. This is a crazy year for college football.
And the loss to Western Michigan hurt Iowa's bowl chances, since there are 10 bowl-eligible teams of the 11 Big Ten conferences (only Minnesota is known to be shivering in December and January). Now, if Ohio State can get into the national title game (by the winner of Kansas-Missouri losing to either Texas or Oklahoma in the Big XII title game, and either LSU losing to Arkansas or in the SEC title game or West Virginia losing to either Connecticut or Pittsburgh), Illinois, thanks to the BCS conference commissioners expanding the at-large pool from the top 14 to the 18 on Dec. 2, can go to the Rose Bowl, and bump everyone else in the Big Ten up a slot (but Wisconsin, who'd go to the Outback Bowl either way). Iowa, in that case, would either go to the Las Vegas Bowl (in place of the fifth Pac 10 team) or the Texas Bowl (in place of the eighth Big XII team).

[BigZ38]

Iowa's only going to make a bowl due to the fans and how well they travel.
I pray to God Ohio State doesn't make the National Championship because quite frankley I hate every single one of them. West Virgina and Kansas in the National Championship!

[CUBScrazy22]

Arkansas beat LSU and Missouri beat Kansas tonight.

[bringbacktuffy]

I think Iowa will be staying home this year. OSU wont get the title game I dont think, WVU vs Oklahoma/Mizzou will get that game I think. Sidenote- Oklahoma is favored in the Big 12 Championship despite being ranked 9th while Missery is #1.

[VanMan]

I think Iowa will be staying home this year. OSU wont get the title game I dont think, WVU vs Oklahoma/Mizzou will get that game I think. Sidenote- Oklahoma is favored in the Big 12 Championship despite being ranked 9th while Missery is #1.
You forget one thing, if Oklahoma beats Mizzou, Ohio State hops into the No. 2 spot.

[bringbacktuffy]

Oh yeah. More and more I'm starting to lean towards a playoff format of some kind. With parity what it is in CF, several teams will get the shaft.

[VanMan]

Unfortunately, the BCS comissioners continue to assert there will NEVER be a playoff in what is now known as the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I. They might be open to a so-called "plus-one" format, where the top four teams would play in two of the four BCS games, and then meet a week later to decide the national championship. I still think they should have a 16-team playoff throughout December with semi-finals at two of the BCS bowls and the finals at another on Jan. 8. The teams that don't make the playoffs would still be invited to the lower- and mid-tier bowl games, with the losers of the quarter-final games going to two of the BCS games not used for the semi-finals. First-round losers would go to the other Jan. 1 bowl games.

My 16 teams would be the champions of the 11 conferences in the FBS and five at-large teams, with Notre Dame getting an automatic bid if it is ranked within the top 16 in the final ratings, using a similar formula the BCS currently uses, and has nine or more wins.

I can work. The Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III and NAIA all have tournaments, all other Division I sports have tournaments or national meets, why not FBS football?