Today's College Football and Tailgate Thread

[fishwax]

At long last, it’s that time of year again :woohoo:

Of course, there are always a lot of blowouts this time of year, with highly-ranked, major conference teams buying sparring partners from small directional schools. I wonder which will be the biggest blowout: top-ranked Georgia plays Georgia Southern, Ohio State plays Youngstown State, Oklahoma plays Tennessee-Chatanooga, Texas plays Florida Atlantic, and so on. Appalachian State, who kicked off last season with the huge upset of Michigan in Ann Arbor, starts the season against defending champ LSU.

There are some good games, too, including two games between ranked teams: Alabama at Clemson and Missouri vs. Illinois in St. Louis.

If I only had an outdoor grill, life would be perfect, but it's still a great day to cook up a feast, down a few malty beverages, and kick back with some college football--So what game will you be watching?

[fishwax]

1. East Carolina at Virginia Tech

The Hokies have turned the ball over twice inside the ECU twenty--looks like ECU's defense could make this game an interesting one ...

[lizerdbits]

9. It's probably good I didn't see that

I've got some game channels thing on with updates while at work waiting on an incubation. 14-7 Hokies at the half.

[fishwax]

15. They made up for it with their own defense and special teams

The first touchdown was a fumble return and the second was set up by a fumble recovery on a punt. But ECU scored right before the half (another VT turnover that ECU returned to the one yard line) and they're driving at the start of the third ...

[TZ]

31. Oh dear.

Good thing you were working today...Hokies lose......:wtf:

[lizerdbits]

47. Just saw it online before coming here

ARGH! Well at least my plaque assays are pretty.

[fishwax]

28. ECU about to get the ball back with 2 minutes left and down by 2

[fishwax]

29. WOW! Pirates block the punt and return it for a touchdown

Now up 27-22 with 1:52 left. VaTech about to get the ball back ...

[fishwax]

2. In the "Might Have Been Interesting Last Year" department, Hawaii and Florida play today

Florida expected to be better than last year, Hawaii (having lost their coach and QB) not expected to be nearly as good.

But halfway through the first quarter it's still scoreless ...

[Awsi Dooger]

37. Florida would have thumped Hawaii last year

Not as soundly as Georgia did in the Sugar Bowl, but one sided. Hawaii was laughably overrated.

For one thing, the game would have been played at Florida. The Gators are too petrified to venture out of state in non conference. Last example: a 38-21 thumping at Syracuse in 1991. That's right, 1991, when Bush 41 was president.

[fishwax]

40. 1991? Is there any school with a longer active streak?

That's pretty funny. I mean, I know they can get good non-conference games w/o leaving the state, but still :rofl:

[Awsi Dooger]

46. I doubt it

The pathetic aspect is Florida's rationale when they dumped Miami as an annual rival in the late '80s. The Gators said the reason was they wanted to pursue an aggressive intersectional schedule.

I like USC's approach. They'll play on the road non-conference early every season. Today at Virginia, last year at Nebraska, two years ago opening at Arkansas, with Leinart opening at Auburn and also playing Va Tech in the Washington, DC area.

The SEC protects itself with home games vs. chumps.

[av8rdave]

3. Bama - Clemson tonite in the Ga Dome

Roll Tide!

[fishwax]

4. That game should be a lot of fun

I always like the neutral field games. :)

Enjoy! :toast:

[av8rdave]

5. It should be a good one. Unfortunately, I'll be flying, so will have to

sneak whatever updates I can.

[Ava]

13. didn't know you were a bama fan!

roll tide! :woohoo:

[av8rdave]

19. I am...my son is just starting his senior year there

Roll Tide!

[JVS]

6. I have a grill but no tv.

:cry:

[fishwax]

7. D'oh!

The Illinois-Mizzou game could be worth a trip to a sports bar :)



:toast:

[The Straight Story]

8. OSU, then I want to watch Michigan lose to Utah

:)

[fishwax]

17. OSU having no trouble with Youngstown State (surprise)

I'm intrigued by the Michigan-Utah game ...

[Ava]

10. Roll Tide!

:woohoo:

[fishwax]

18. great matchup tonight--

if they can get away with a win, could be a sign of good things to come for Alabama.

Either way, I look forward (as I think I say at the start of every season) to the Oklahoma-Bama respectful rivalry being renewed someday. :)

[Chovexani]

11. I can't stand football

But I love a good tailgate. :D

[pokerfan]

14. nothing like a good weenie roast

[Chovexani]

16. That wins

:rofl:

[pokerfan]

23. See, that's the things about hot dogs

There's always a bigger one.

[fishwax]

21. .

:rofl:

[fishwax]

20. ah, now I'm hungry

:toast:

[pokerfan]

12. Pretty Pac-10 oriented

The early part of the season often sucks but the Pac-10 has their second conference match-up of the season tonight.

USC at Virginia on ABC
Oklahoma State at Wash. State on FSN
Michigan St. at Cal on ABC
Washington at Oregon on FSN

[fishwax]

22. seems like the Pac-10 always has a few conference games early

I guess it's necessary since they play one more conference game than most other conferences. It keeps the schedule interesting, though, and they've got good out of conference matchups this year too. All of those games look interesting.

Of course, the Pac 10 game I'm really looking forward to is when Oklahoma travels to Washington in two weeks. :D

[pokerfan]

24. Yeah, we've had conference openers in August before

I remember opening against UCLA in 97. A win got us on the right track and we went to the Rose Bowl that year.

Beat the crap out of those hussies! Everyone else is.

[fishwax]

33. I'm thinking we will

"Beat the crap out of those hussies! Everyone else is."
:)

And here's to WSU stomping the Cowboys today :toast:

[Mz Pip]

56. Go Bears

for what it's worth.

[pokerfan]

69. Good win for the Bears!

but I still think this conference is USC and everyone else.

[VenusRising]

25. Woohoo!!

Time Warner Cable finally got the Big Ten Network and I can watch the Buckeye game! :bounce::bounce::bounce:

[fishwax]

26. hooray! -- we finally got it here in Illini-land too

It was absurd not to have it last year :grr:

:toast:

[VenusRising]

30. We were lucky to have Insight Cable last year.

When we moved I was worried cause we had TWC. I'm so glad they finally came to a decision. The whole negotiation thing was asinine.

Congrats to y'all, too! :toast:

[fishwax]

27. Bowling Green is beating Pittsburgh at the end of the third quarter

Pitt started the season ranked in the top 25--looks like that might not last long ...

[tigereye]

38. yeah, I asked my son what that ranking was based on -

we were thinking about going to that game- maybe it's good that we didn't

Lots of fumbles from what I heard.... :(

[fishwax]

39. I think it was from the upset of WVU at the end of last season

That raised some expectations. But Bowling Green can be a tough team. Sorry your team lost, tigereye :toast:

[tigereye]

41. that's what my son said- but we need to hold onto the ball better!

:hi:

[Lyric]

32. Let's GOOOOOO Mountaineers!

And HUGE CONGRATS to East Carolina for starting the season off right by humbling the Hokies. We don't like V-Tech around here, so all of Morgantown is cheering for you. We'll see ya'll next week!

[fishwax]

35. Looks like they're handling Villanova quite well

Watch out for the Pirates, though--looks like they've got a pretty solid defense ...

[taterguy]

36. The Mountaineers lost to LSU a couple hours ago

Unless you were talking about some other team
:shrug:

[Lyric]

42. I'm talking about the REAL Mountaineers.

West Virginia University, baby.

[fishwax]

34. Utah scores a TD late in the first half to go up 22-10

Looks like Michigan might lose another home opener ...

[Lyric]

43. Oh, how dreadful!

I'm so terribly distressed. :P

:hide:

[fishwax]

44. lol -- none of the Buckeye or Mountaineer fans mind, I'm sure

:)

But Michigan has come storming back--now they're only down by two ...

[Lyric]

45. Yeah, I'm feeling a lot of affinity for Ohio State lately.

I used to be kinda "Meh," but now I cheer for them, just for spite. :P

And things are going insane down here in Mountaineer land. Granted, Villanova isn't exactly a tough opponent, but after Michigan's mess with Appalachian State last year, I never take "easy games" for granted. Morgantown is gonna have a lot of intoxicated students tonight, lol.

[Maccagirl]

49. and...they LOST by 2.

:party: :bounce:

Oh Happy Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fishwax]

48. Oklahoma up big against an overmatched opponent

They wound up scheduling UT-Chattanooga after an earlier opponent dropped out. No surprise that OU is dominating them, currently up 36-0 with 12 minutes left in the first quarter. The Mocs have only completed one pass and have -12 total yards.

Next week should be more interesting :)

[Duppers]

50. poor Virginia

they were stomped by USC, but you could've guess it.

They're not the team they were last yr.

[BulletproofLandshark]

53. That was PAINFUL to watch.

I knew we weren't going to beat USC, but I didn't think we'd be so overmatched on both sides of the ball. Peter Lalich is going to have nightmares about Clay Matthews and Rey Maualuga tonight.

[Duppers]

57. fer sure. nt

nt

[fishwax]

51. Alabama up 6-0 against Clemson

5:15 left in the 1st quarter ...

[fishwax]

52. Missouri and Illinois underway

Mizzou gets the ball first and their marching down the field.

C'mon Illini!

[GOPisEvil]

54. I'm conflicted.

I'm a Big 12 guy, but my ancestral home is IL. Home wins! Go Illini!

The only team from MO for which I cheer is the Cardinals. :)

[fishwax]

61. Mizzou got on my bad side a bit last year

all the talk after they lost that first game in Norman about how it was a fluke, they were coming back, they had major injuries, etc., and the rematch would be different got on my nerves. Of course, the Sooners settled the issue pretty thoroughly in the CCG (:D) but it soured me. And being in Illinois for grad school I've got to favor them--but they're not getting it done right now ...

[GOPisEvil]

55. Texas A&M leading mighty Arkansas St. 14-3 in the 3rd.

Guess the new system hasn't taken hold yet. :eyes:

[GOPisEvil]

58. Jeez - now it's 14-9

At least the sucky defense isn't giving up touchdowns. It's long to be a long year in Aggieland if things don't improve, stat.

[fishwax]

62. oh my

What happened? :wtf:

[GOPisEvil]

65. We have no defense. I knew that would be a real weak point.

We moved from playing a 4-2-5 to a 4-3. With graduation and a lack of linebackers in general, we are thin there, and the guys we have flat out suck and are slow as molasses in February. We're going to have an awful year.

We only have one good player on offense, too. It's going to be a transition year with the new coaches and all. Nice to have your season over in August. :)

Oh well. I'll find someone else to cheer for. I guess Oregon, since one of my best friends went there.

[BulletproofLandshark]

59. Alabama is mugging Clemson right now

23-3 at the half. The Tigers didn't have any heart in the first half.

[libnnc]

66. how come this game is played at the Georgia Dome?

[BulletproofLandshark]

68. Probably a mutually agreed neutral-site game. n/t

[av8rdave]

70. Roll Tide!!!

[Ava]

71. they ran all over clemson

:woohoo:

[av8rdave]

72. Oh, yeah!!!

:toast:

[SeattleGirl]

60. Oregon / Washington just about ready for the kickoff to their game.

GOOOOOOOOOO DUCKS!!!!!!

[SalmonChantedEvening]

63. Paterno ties Bowden

66-10 over Coastal Carolina.

Yikes. ;)

[fishwax]

64. Congrats to Paterno -- but Coastal Carolina?

;)

[SalmonChantedEvening]

67. lol I know

I always wince at these kinda games, but for the CC players, this will probably be one of the most memorable games of their careers. Seeing Joe Paterno across the field. Maybe a handshake and a hello. What a story to tell the kids and grandkids. :)