College Football Opening Night - Open Thread

Submitted by jcgold on

Tonight's TV Matchups:

Murray St. at Louisville - 6:00 ET - ESPNU

UNLV at Wisconsin - 8:00 ET - ESPN

Miss St. at Memphis - 8:00 ET - FSN

Kentucky vs. WKU (at Nashville) - 9:15 ET - ESPNU

In addition, you'll find Wake at Cuse and a bunch of 1-A vs. 1-AA matchups on ESPN 3

It's good to be back to college football, even if the matchups are awful.

In reply to by Darth Wolverine

RowoneEndzone

September 2nd, 2011 at 8:27 AM ^

Agreed, most of his incomplete passes were well away from defenders.  That beats INTs.  Wiscy looked very good last night.  Only issue will be the rush defense.  They looked a bit soft  up there.  Good B1G teams may easily run it down their throat.

JT4104

September 1st, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^

Granted it's the Wiscy Oline it really looks like UNLV is already throwing in the towel, I mean how in the hell do you stand there as an LB and allow a 320lb man to just run at you.

His Dudeness

September 1st, 2011 at 8:41 PM ^

This Wisconsin offense sure is fun to waZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz...

Manball is boring as fuck. Sorry, it is. It's not entertaining at all. Run middle. Run middle. Run middle. Run middle. Run right. Punt.

ryebadger

September 2nd, 2011 at 3:04 AM ^

How does the fact that their punter didn't see the field until well ino the 3rd quarter with almost 50 points on the board fit into your little summary? You know what I found exciting? Rich Rodriguez's spread averaging about 5 points in the first half of every game against a bowl team last year. What fun!!

You're embarrassing yourself.

uofmUT

September 1st, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^

Watching these games tonight is getting me so pumped. I think I may have to call in sick tomorrow because I don't think I'll even be able to get any work done.

bronxblue

September 1st, 2011 at 8:50 PM ^

/Note, stepping onto soapbox

There are a couple of teams in CFB that I can't stand, but the only team I truly hate to watch play is Wisconsin.  I hate the fact that they bludgeon teams with the same couple of running plays, act as if they are world beaters because they beat up on the UNLV's and IU's of the world, and have a tendency of taking decently in-shape freshmen RBs and turn them into fat RBs as seniors.  Announcers love to talk up their line and how they are, but they always strike me as a one-trick pony; really good if they have the size and talent advantage, but no extra gear when they face an elite defense or at least one that they are not able to bulldoze for 4 quarters.  They always lost to UM for this reason, and regardless of how they look against a 2-11 team they will always be a second-rate program in my eyes.  

I know people dream of the day UM "returns" to the MANBALL type employed by Wiscy, but the UM I remember under Carr was so much more, with so much more well-rounded talent and a penchant for being able to beat teams multiple ways.  That may mean having "smaller" OL than Wiscy, but the day UM trots out a bunch of fat guys and try to push good teams around for 4 quarters will be a long day for me as a fan.

/steps off soapbox, will hang up and listen

In reply to by Darth Wolverine

Darth Wolverine

September 1st, 2011 at 10:11 PM ^

So because you don't agree with me, you mark my comment as "trolling." You're a fool and should not have the ability to vote posts up or down because you're clearly abusing it.

His Dudeness

September 1st, 2011 at 10:24 PM ^

I marked you trolling because there is no "fucking moron" moderation button. Shoot. I will have to bitch to Brian about it in a thread soon. Oh and complain about other people abusing the moderation.

jabberwock

September 1st, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^

Youve got to get up early tomorrow anyway;  mow some lawns, check your 8th grade homeroom schedule, etc.

Your Dad's also going to be really pissed when he finds out you snuck some of his Bud lights and started using the 'puter again after bedtime.

Call it a night.

Argyle

September 1st, 2011 at 9:06 PM ^

Is having a great game against an overmatched defense. Still, he's down almost 30 pounds and it shows. He's going to be impressive this year.

marlon

September 1st, 2011 at 9:12 PM ^

I really hope Hoke and Co. don't institute manball ala Wisconsin.  This is the dullest style of offense imagineable and, being one-dimensional, is terribly susceptible to complete breakdown if met with a competent, game-planned defense.  On top of putting people to sleep, let's face it: manball doesn't win championships.  Stout defenses and dyanamic (i.e., spread) offenses win championships. 

marlon

September 1st, 2011 at 9:28 PM ^

I want the same substance every other Michigan fan wants: a national championship.  I don't believe that a Wisconsin-style offense will ever (EVER!) win a national championship.  It's an effective offense when you're bigger and more talented than most of your opponents, but it's not a good offense for consistently beating the big boys.  The Floridas and Oregons and Boise States and Auburns and Ohio States of the world are the top of the heap, and they all run spread offenses.  That's not a coincidence.

Butterfield

September 1st, 2011 at 9:40 PM ^

Ummm....well.  Of the five teams you mentioned, only two (TWO!) have won national championships using a spread offense.  Florida and Auburn.  Ohio State won a NC with Craig Krenzel in a MANBALL scheme.  Oregon is a one-time bridesmaid and Boise is a no time anything.  Convenient how you left LSU and Alabama off your list, lol. 

You don't value wins, you value aesthetics, and you use flawed statistics to rationalize your preferred style of play.  Is the spread awful?  No.  Is it the only way to win a championship?  Hell no. 

Butterfield

September 1st, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^

Your sample size is too damn small.  Only four of the last 100 national champions has run what is today considered a spread.  Arguments could be made for Florida in the 90's as well but its besides the point, and LSU may have featured some spread components but I certainly wouldn't call it a hybrid - they were a pro-style team which, to borrow the NFL term, went "Wildcat" on very limited occasions.    This is the same stupid argument as the people who claim MSU has a better football PROGRAM since State has beaten Michigan 3 years in a row dressed up in new clothing.  Bacari Alexander HALOL's at your LOL barrage. 

CWoodson

September 1st, 2011 at 10:06 PM ^

While both of you are arguing this poorly (and rehashing points made far, far too often here over the last 3 years), Wisconsin runs the most vanilla "manball" offense out. There is no reason to believe that a team with that style could win a championship in 2012 or beyond.

That's not the pro style that USC runs or even close to the one Lloyd ran at Michigan. OSU, while coached by a man called a dinosaur by critics of his offense, never ran an offense as boring as Wisky's. I'm 25, and am certain I'll go to my grave before Wisconsin wins a national championship. Thinking they are boring and doomed to lose to every good team they play is not the same as thinking SPREAD>ALL.

Butterfield

September 1st, 2011 at 10:12 PM ^

It's hurtful deep down inside to realize I was arguing something poorly, but I agree completely with you if that makes you feel any better.  My only point was to contradict Marlon's assertion that the spread attack (of which there are several varieties also, just like pro-sets) is not the only way to win a MNC. 

bronxblue

September 1st, 2011 at 9:17 PM ^

UNLV could have made this a much closer game than it looks.  They probably should have at least 10 points, maybe 14.  Wiscy looks good offensively using their bread-and-butter stuff, but Wilson has been "meh" and honestly doesn't seema great fit for the typical Wiscy offense.  He needs to be able to run around and (to steal a horrible cliche) "make plays", and Wiscy's offense definitely tries to limit that spontaneity.  Should be interesting to see if he becomes a more prototypical passer or Wiscy opens up the offense a bit.