After a hellacious three weeks of work, we are finally back and stoked for college football.
114 days and shrinking baby!!!! or 16 weeks.....
The transcript from the meeting of the BCS Commissioner in south Florida
Mike Tranghese - Big East
Dan Beebe - Big 12
Mike Slive - SEC
Kevin White - ND Athletic Director
John Swofford - ACC and BCS Commissioner
Thomas Hansen - Pac 10
Jim Delany - Big 10
JS: Hey guys thanks for getting together again this year. Great year all around for everybody. Mike nice championship. Two in a row for you.
MS: You're @#$% right nice year. The SEC rules all.
JS: Calm down, calm down... ok ok. Old Business?
KW: Yes. We talked last year about changing some of the revisions to get Notre Dame into the BCS more easily...
JS, MS, DB, JD, TH, MT: ... grumble grumble grumble.............
KW: ... well I think we need to change it more.
JS: Why the heck do we need to do that?
KW: Well we got left out this year.
DB: You guys won 3 games man... what do you expect?
KW: We're Notre Dame. We're the definition of...
JS: We'll talk about it later Kev.
KW: OK... but don't forget like last year.
JS: We won't. OK new business?
MT: I would like to make a motion. I want to kick out you, John, and Jim Delany
JD: What? Why?
JS: That's ridiculous Mike. Why would we do that?
MT: Well.... we're still pissy about the whole raid of Virginia Tech and Miami thing.
JS: Mike that was over five years ago man.
MT: And our only good coach left for Jim's league to Michigan
JD: That's not my fault.
MT: I don't care. I'm tired of sucking. We've sucked for too long. It's somebody else's turn to start sucking for a while. Why not the Big 10. They've sucked up their last four BCS appearances. Or the Big XII We beat OU. Yeah let Dan for a while now. He's the rookie.
JS: It doesn't work like that. Maybe y'all need to get some more competitive teams. Kevin, I don't get why you guys can't just join up like in the other sports.
KW: We're Notre Dame. We don't need a league. We'd dominate the East. No question.
MT: Y'all sucked last year. We won our BCS game against Oklahoma. You won three games and lost to Navy for the first time in forever.
JS: OK we'll talk about that one later to guys. Let's talk about the elephant in the room.
BCS.
Controversy.
Playoffs.
Plus-one.
All: ... ... ...
JS: Come on guys you have to talk about it this year. They said we would and I have to say something to the reporters.
Jim, Thomas have y'all made any head way.
JD: #$@$#%$#% you and #@$%$%$ your @$#@$% playoffs. Rose Bowl or bust &^%^*%.
TH: Yeah. What he said!
DB: Guys come on you have to at least talk to us about this... why not?
TH: The Rose Bowl stays. It is the Grand Daddy of them all.
DB: Look guys, I know you hate losing the match up but we all have to at one point or another. It's just part of the deal. We didn't get to be in the Fiesta Bowl for two years there. It's just a part of trying to find the best teams.
JD: The Pac 10 and the Big 10 are the best teams.
MS: Y'all have two championships this decade guys.
TH: 2003 counts.
MS: Like heck it does. LSU won that fair and square.
TH: The AP says otherwise.
MS: The AP also has Pitt ranked before the start of the season
MT: Hey!!! What's wrong with that!
DB: Shut up Big Least.
JS: Calm down calm down guys. Come on. Now look. This is why we have to figure this out. All the arguing and fighting has to stop. We set up a solid system and this stuff goes away.
KW: I'll only accept a plus-one/playoff if ND is guauranteed an invite.
JS: We can't do that Kevin.
KW: Why?
JS: Is it fair if we invite a 0-12 Notre Dame over a 12-0 Boise State?
DB and KW: Yes!!!
KW: Dan... why do you care.... oh yeah. Forgot about that.
DB: Shutup.
JS: Stop it all of you. Am I going to have to call Myles again.
All: No sir.
JS: Good. Now seriously. We've got to decide on something. We're taking too much heat.
Jim.
Thomas.
I need you guys to be serious and help us out here. We're going to have to be serious here and have some intelligent discussion. Playoffs. ABC. Rose Bowl. Breakup.
JD, TH: (begin singing) We shall be free.... We shall be free. So stand straight, Walk proud, 'Cause we shall be free.
(JS begins crying quietly)
DB: How about we keep the Rose Bowl and the match up, but just make it a part of the playoffs?
JD: The Rose Bowl is the MNC each year.
MS: No it's not, man. It hosts the MNC game once every four years like every other Bowl.
JD: No it's the MNC.
TH: He's right.
JS: (wiping his tears and speaking through a broken voice) Let's just bump it to next year.
sob..
sniff...
JD: Anything else wainch?
NH: Yeah got got something else to say?
JS: No. Good meeting.... See you guys.... sniff... sob... next year.
(Delaney and Hansen slap each other on the back and walk out for a night of bar hopping and loose living. Swofford curls into a ball continues crying.)
KW: Wait what about the BCS and the...
MT: Not this year man... next year maybe... next year.
DB: Are all the meetings like this?
MS: Well a lot of them involve some fighting so this was a relatively good one.
MT: You get used to the crying after a few years.
Finally, the last dang one. We'll compile the lists into your top games for each week sometime later, but w/out further adieu, the Pac-10:
Week 1
Michigan State at California - California drops the opening week toughie with Tennessee and picks up a decent foe from the Big Ten. Should be a good matchup, unless California returns to early season form from last year.
Washington at Oregon - Starting off the conference early, Washington has to start winning and winning now. In three years they've slipped to the bottom of the rung in the conference. Like... below Stamford.
USC at Virginia - USC has not shied away from a strong OOC schedule and this year is no different. While Virginia isn't a juggernaut they aren't a team to be taken lightly.
Oklahoma State vs. Washington State (Seattle) - Oklahoma State isn't a great team by any stretch, but their offense is just explosive enough to give the Cougs some fits. It probably won't be pretty for Wassu.
Tennessee at UCLA - Tennessee moves south in their opener this year. A good game to finish off Memorial Day weekend.
Week 2
Oregon Sate at Penn State - The Beavers head to Beaver Stadium to have a good test against the Nittany Lions. OSU hasn't been overly impressive the last few years and this is a good chance to start getting there quickly.
BYU at Washington - The Mormons continue their quest for perfection. No 
Week 3 - (Great week in the Pac-10, you can't go wrong watching any game!)
California at Maryland - Maryland will be a nice test for the Golden Bears. A team with a bit of history, but not a monster.
Oregon at Purdue - Purdue's offense has been high flying as of late. It will be a good test for the Oregon D before conference play gets too hot and heavy.
Hawaii at Oregon State - Hawaii begins the June Jonesless era. Can the offense keep up with a mid-level team like Oregon State now?
Stanford at TCU - You have to think that Stanford took some steps forward last year, but is it enough to start beating some decent teams like TCU
BYU at UCLA - UCLA comes back for more of BYU after splitting their regular and a bowl games last year. More of a statement game for BYU than the Washington.
Ohio State at USC - Probably the season's best OOC game. Neither will be knocked out of the MNC picture because of this one, but it will cause some separation.
Oklahoma at Washington - The Huskies probably won't take out the Sooners, but Locker just might be able to cause some problems to the defense
Washington State at Baylor - Two struggling teams with new coaches can use a boost by winning here.
Week 4
Georgia at Arizona State - Dennis Erickson pulled on through an easy schedule last year. They didn't win against Oregon, USC, or Texas all top 50 teams. The question is whether or or not it was flash in a pan, or real talent.
Boise State at Oregon - Boise State had a good season last year, but took a tumble from where they want to be. Oregon should win this one based on talent alone, but don't expect an easy game.
Week 5
USC at Oregon State - Oregon State has won 19 games in two years and that's pretty dang impressive. They pulled off the upset here two years ago. They need to start moving up the pack if they want to start challenging for the conference title.
Stanford at Washington - Two teams that have been down recently need to start improving. Willingham can't afford a bowless season again.
Fresno State at UCLA - Fresno continues to show no fear in its scheduling practices. Wisconsin, Rutgers, and UCLA is a pretty rough schedule for a mid-major and Pat Hill will have that schedule every year. Kudos to them.
Week 6
Oregon State at Utah - The Utes haven't maintained the glory of their BCS season but they haven't faded into o
California at Arizona State - ASU showed some spunk last year when Cal started to falter. Second place in the conference is up for grabs and these two teams with Oregon can all challenge for the title.
Oregon at USC - A rematch of last year's game should be good. Likely a conference championship game.
Week 7
Arizona State at USC - Arizona State got exposed when they played Oregon and USC last season. Are they better?
UCLA at Oregon - UCLA took advantage of an ailing Duck quad last season. Dixon is gone.
Washington State at Oregon State - Washington State fired Bill Doba to start winning these games.
Week 8
Oregon State at Washington - Washington needs to start beating the middle of the pack teams if they want to get there themselves.
Stanford at UCLA - The two Cali teams are each looking to get over their current humps. Stanford doesn't have to win all of the games like this but they need to get some wind under them by staying in them.
Week 9
Oregon at Arizona State - The winner of this one last year should have been playing for the championship had Oregon not lost Dixon. Will both teams be as good this year?
UCLA at California - Both teams want to usurp USC as the top of the conference. The coaching is there. The talent is lacking. Both teams will probably be in the picture this late in the season.
Notre Dame at Washington - I personally pray to all that is Holy that Washington will wipe the floor with the Irish. Just for racisms sake. ( I got your back, Mark May. I got you.)
Week 10
Oregon at California - This game was huge last year. Cali won due to a last second Oregon gaffe on the goal line... and then proceeded to tank like the Poseidon.
Washington at USC - The Huskies have kept this close for the last two years, closer than USC should have let it. Can this be the year they finally knock them off?
Week 11
Arizona State at Washington - ASU got their fancy smancy new coach and got a Holiday Bowl in one year. Washington still hasn't been to a bowl since before Willingham got there.
California at USC - Cal hasn't been able to get past USC since they beat them in 2003. They've played it close, but just haven't gotten that W.
Week 12
Arizona at Oregon - When Dixon went down last year you knew things were going to get bad for the Ducks. Losing to Arizona was the low point of the season for them.
USC at Stanford - I'm not saying... but I'm just saying. Again... think A&M/OU 2002.
Week 13
Stanford at California - Stanford finally won this one last year after Cal took a serious downturn midseason. Don't expect for Tedford's teams to let it happen again.
Washington at Washington State - The battle for the Apple Cup.
Week 14
UCLA at Arizona State - Two teams who should be challenging USC this year finish up before they take on their in-state rivals
Oregon at Oregon State - Ditto
Notre Dame at USC - Notre Dame has made one game of this since Crew Cut showed up in South Bend. Other than that it hasn't been much of a contest.
Washington State at Hawaii - Wassu takes on what should still be a good Hawaii team.
Week 15
Arizona State at Arizona - Having a decent season is a must for Stoops. Beating ASU will help ease some of the bad years.
USC at UCLA - USC took care of business last year after the 2006 debacle. Slick Rick will bring some new fire to this rivalry.
Your Pac 10 Champ...
USC
I know it's easy to pick them... but let's be honest. Pete Carroll continues to pull in top classes. Kids will travel across the country to play for USC and be on the third string where they would be starting anywhere else. USC can lose two games and still be the conference champ every year.
The picks for top games each week in the Big East: Kentucky at Louisville - Instate rivalry to start off the season. Kentucky pulled off the upset last year Fresno State at Rutgers - A last minute add for Rutgers a la KState. Fresno is a tough team. Just ask USC, A&M, Kansas State, or Georgia Tech. None of them want anything to do with Pat Hill again for a long time. Week 2 South Florida at UCF - UCF was good, and got better as the season went on. USF took care of business last year but expect the Knights to put up a fi Cincinnati at Oklahoma - Good for the Bearcats taking on a strong OOC game. Let's hope it doesn't turn out as bad as most times that teams take on OU West Virginia at East Carolina - East Carolina showed to have some life last year. Expect lots of offensive fireworks. Week 3 North Carolina at Rutgers - Covered in the ACC one, but should be a good match up. UNC has to improve. Virginia at Connecticut - This was a good game last year from teams that had better seasons than expected. Both should still be competitive. Kansas at USF - Kansas stops the cupcakes and takes on some serious competition. Both teams had breakout years last year and this will be a good indicator of whether or not it was a fluke. Penn State at Syracuse - Syracuse needs to get decent and get decent now. They probably won't beat JoePa, but a competitive game here can do wonders for the year. Week 4 Kansas State at Louisville - Kansas State can be a fluky team. If Louisville's defense is still fluky here, we'll know it. West Virginia at Colorado - Could b very telling game for both teams. Colorado has had some trouble in Dan Hawkins first two years, but success as well. Iowa at Pitt - These are two teams that should be better than they are year in and year Baylor at Connecticut - UConn has lifted themselves out of the cellar. Can Baylor? Week 5 UConn at Louisville - Good game last year, should be better teams this year. Marshall at West Virginia - Marshall hasn't been relevant in this game in a while. Would be nice for a real rivalry to form here Rutgers vs. TBA - Should be epic. Week 6 Rutgers at West Virginia - Rutgers will have to start making a name for themselves without Rice. Here's the game to do it. Week 7 Syracuse at West Virginia - Only because I think it will be a beating of magnitudenal proportions. Maybe not. Maybe I'm full of it and Syracuse decides to be good. I hope so. Rutgers at Cincinnati- Good game last year that Cinci won. 2 TD's in 19 seconds as well. Week 8 Middle Tennessee at Louisville - This is the game last year where we figured out that Louisville had problems Week 9 Auburn at West Virginia - Nice Thursday night game. Probably the best one ESPN is offering this year. Can be a very uplifting or damaging game to the winner or loser in the rankings, while not affecting conference standing. South Florida at Louisville - If we assume that Louisville is back we should expect a heck of a game here USF at Cinci - Both teams have improved dramatically the last few years and become real contenders. Louisville at Syracuse - For some strange and ungodly reason I picked this upset last year. Don't know why. Pitt at Notre Dame - Just here to tell ND to suck it. The game could be good. Both teams have to be better than the last year versions of themselves. Week 11 Cinci at WVU - Here is a big game for Cinci. They've been teetering with being above average for some time now. Knocking out powerhouse WVU would be a big step into the big time. Louisville at Pitt - Both Wannstedt and Kragthorpe can't afford mediocre seasons again. Syracuse at Rutgers - Always funny that NYers claim Rutgers as their own over Syracuse. Winning will do that. Week 12 Cincinnati at Louisville - The old C-USA teams meet with Cini probably being the favored team this year after the Ville's collapse last season Rutgers at USF - Both teams bring good some defenses with a little bit of offensive firepower to the match. Should be good. Week 13 Pitt at Cincinnati - We keep expecting bigger things from both of these programs. At this point in the season we'll see if it was merited. Connecticut at South Florida - Another game against teams that have become conference powers just recently. WVU at Louisville - This game has been very heated for about three years now. The winner of this game has won the conference in those three years as well. Week 14 WVU at Pitt - Backyard Brawl that could matter. For some reason WVU couldn't get it going here last year and it cost them their shot at the MNC Week 15 Cincinnati at Hawaii - Neither team has made a huge name for themselves on defense lately, should be a pretty exciting game if Hawaii rebounds from losing their QB, coach and cajones in the Sugar Bowl. USF at WVU - This has been a bad deal for WVU the last few years. USF continues to improve and if WVU wants to continue to the be dominant team in the Eig Conference Champion: WVU. I don't think the offensive philosophy will change that much with RichRod's departure. Maybe somebody will surprise us and step it up... but who? Rutgers, Louisville, UConn, Pitt, USF, and Cinci all seem like they can. Should be the most interesting conference race this year.
Thanks CFN
Week 1
Week 10
It's been a busy day. Sorry.
I hate doing this, but...
(Again thanks to Wizard of Odds)
Emporer Parseghian does not look kindly upon failures
Parseghian is one of Notre Dame's most prolific and successful coaches in the school's history.
“It defies a logical explanation,” said Parseghian, 84, who splits time at residences in northern Indiana just five miles from Notre Dame Stadium and in Marco Island, Fla. “Apparently after winning 19 games and losing six in two years, the rebuilding process didn’t quite measure up. The schedule is not quite as difficult this year, so I think they’ll make a rebound.”
Charlie, you have been called out by an 85 year old man.
Get your crap together.
Apparently Coach Edsall hasn't read our previous commentary. It's the one telling Notre Dame to suck it, Randy.
In an ESPN article he's claiming that the league needs to add a team. To which, I agree. Eight teams? That's pretty weak all in all. A good portion of those teams were in Conference USA five years ago. (USF, Louiville, and Cinci)
It is unfortunate that the ACC had their raid a few years ago which ended up with Miami, VaTech and Boston College heading to the ailing conference. It hasn't helped too much as the ACC still is struggling to find it's niche. While it improved the ACC, it hurt the Big East deeply.
The Big East has had some moments of competitiveness. West Virginia was one decent offensive series away from the big show in the Big Easy last year. Louisville put together a nice season two years ago with a BCS win. WVU also had a 1 loss season with a BCS win the season before that. So it's not like there's NO good teams. There's just not enough. Or I guess you could say, just not enough parity.
Consider this, 6 of 8 teams were bowl eligible this last year. Wow. If anything the Big East needs to nab some more C-USA or MAC teams just to install their perverbial Bayfordukeandy ™ (I'm trademarking that one)
I'm personally a big fan of telling the Independents to shut up or join up. Being a member of a conference is just good in a lot of ways. Unless your a moneywhore of a school. But we're not naming any names. I think as the schools push more and more for some sort of elimination system to declare the champion of the college football season we'll see how the independents respond.
