College Football Opening Night - Open Thread
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.
September 1st, 2011 at 9:31 PM ^
"Wilson has been "meh" and honestly doesn't seema great fit for the typical Wiscy offense."
Umm he seems to be doing okay. I think one half of the first game of the season against an overmatched opponent might be too soon to decide that he doesn't fit the offense, no?
As of this post he's 7/10 for 190some yards. Plus that sweet TD run.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^
I've seen him miss some rather open receivers, and while he definitely has put up some nice stats (especially that run), I'm not sure they are in the flow of the typical Wiscy offense. He looks like the guy he was at NC State - a dynamic playmaker who can make the tough throw or run when the play breaks down. That worked with the Wolfpack because they were usually overmatched. Heck, that long run was the type of run he should make, but name me the last Wiscy QB who consistently ran the ball? Maybe Sorgi, and he wasn't close to Russell as an athlete.
But with Wiscy, they want their QBs to throw the ball conservatively and hand off whenever possible. And that style works against the mediocre teams that they tend to face in the OOC schedule. But when they have to line up against a good defense that doesn't allow White and Ball to run wild, will Wilson be able to make the types of safe-but-solid throws that Tolzien gave them last year? I'm not sure, and that's why I'm not sold on them being the B1G champions. They have a very good team, but for all that Russell brings as an elite athlete I'm not sure he is a good fit for Wiscy. Look at all the trouble Pryor had at OSU being "free" in their offense (and I know he won a bunch), and that was with a couple of years practice. With about a month of legit work, I'm dubious about Russell being a cogent part of this offense.
September 1st, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^
for as long as they keep the Wisky first string D out there. Maybe their LBs aren't that great in the middle, or maybe they're just having a hard time with the pistol. But Borland hasn't looked great.
Their O looks fantastic, but again UNLV is awful
September 1st, 2011 at 9:22 PM ^
can someone hook me up with a non espn3 stream of wisconsion please? espn3 won't work with my internet provider for some reason.
September 1st, 2011 at 9:31 PM ^
google sajaa sports. i don't want to get brian in trouble with links
September 1st, 2011 at 9:31 PM ^
Hyping that block from the Wisconsin center, and then a replay he pretty much blocked a falling guy in the back.
September 1st, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^
The reciever had a very key block on that play that allowed the QB to get down the sideline.
September 1st, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
> God
Pick two.
September 1st, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^
This may be the most boring opening night of college football...ever.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:05 PM ^
It must be. The only game within one score is Kentucky WKU, and I really have no interest in that one. Hopefully TCU-Baylor/YSU-little bro makes up for it tomorrow
September 1st, 2011 at 10:22 PM ^
I was so excited to get home and finally watch college football and... no game on TV worth following closer than background noise within an hour.
September 1st, 2011 at 9:59 PM ^
Ryan Mallet is in right now for the Patriots vs. the Giants...taking his lumps but that is to be expected...should be interesting to see how things go for him
September 1st, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^
Well at least we don't play Wisconsin in the regular season.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:22 PM ^
I agree with you. But that fact still kind of depresses me that we're at this point. This is a team we owned for close to a century. And even when Alvarez brought the program up and took them to Rose Bowl's, they still couldn't beat us.
Now they're putting up great seasons year after year and it kills me because Bielema is such a jackass.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:16 PM ^
- hideously boring offense
- keeping in starters well into the second half with a 30+ point lead
- taking a shot at the most humble player in college football by saying he would "never recruit a guy like Denard Robinson"
September 1st, 2011 at 10:19 PM ^
Scumbag Bielema
Up by 41 points in 3rd quarter...
Keeps starters in and throws play action pass on 1st down
September 1st, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^
It boggles my mind. I won't be surprised if he goes for two and tries an onside kick.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:24 PM ^
up 48 territory. If the starters stay in after this I don't even know what to say.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:48 PM ^
Bielma is quickly gaining Bobby Bowden status with me... (For the record, that is not a compliment.)
September 1st, 2011 at 10:17 PM ^
Touchdown, Browns!
September 1st, 2011 at 10:20 PM ^
It's 44-3 and Wisconsin still has their starters playing. Bielema has no class.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:22 PM ^
For those of you looking for an actual game to watch, tune in to Cuse-Wake on ESPN 3. While it may not be the most exciting game ever, it is a 20-14 game late in the 3rd, and it isn't as ugly as anything else on right now.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:26 PM ^
Brady Hoke and al Borges are watching Wisconsin together and drooooling over the MANBALL. Badgers look good; assume this is how they want Michigan to look as soon as possible.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:30 PM ^
meh, Borges has always had a much more complex passing game. I'm pretty sure they'd like us to match Wisco phisically, but I bet we look quite a bit different.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:30 PM ^
any of the top 75 or so teams could come in and run up the score using Wisconsin's offense against UNLV, right? UNLV is simply terrible. I seriously doubt any coach is watching Wisconsin's performance in awe right now.
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:00 AM ^
I really don't understand everyone's obsession with MANBALL. Bo ran a west coast offense.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:34 PM ^
You get my expectations up, and then break my heart all over again. I feel like I'm back in college.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^
I'm surprised. As a fellow browns fan, I would have thought you'd be used to this by now.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:43 PM ^
and servicable backup QBs! What could possibly go wrong!?
September 1st, 2011 at 10:42 PM ^
How are they only down by 12? Schaefer's D is getting carved up tonight.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:50 PM ^
Look at the t.o.p. statistics. Wisconsin's offense is not CONTROLLING THE BALL and KEEPING THEIR DEFENSE OF THE FIELD!!!
September 1st, 2011 at 10:56 PM ^
double post. sorry.
September 1st, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
Not sure what your point is. How does ball control factor into a game when you're up by 5+ touchdowns? If anything this is an argument against Wiscy. They should be running the clock down.
September 1st, 2011 at 11:01 PM ^
September 1st, 2011 at 11:08 PM ^
I used to like Wiscy when Alvarez was the HC. Now I have to reconsider my whole view of that program. Kind of like I have to decide what to do with my White Stripes albums after the whole ICP thing. I mean, Alvarez hired that douche!
September 1st, 2011 at 11:10 PM ^
September 1st, 2011 at 11:18 PM ^
Bielma must have a 1:1 ratio of points scored to $$$ paid to all non-conference opponents.
September 1st, 2011 at 11:05 PM ^
29-29
September 1st, 2011 at 11:13 PM ^
cuse gets big pick inside the wake 40 and is driving.
September 1st, 2011 at 11:06 PM ^
Tie Game in Syracuse, 29-29, 7 to go. An actual close game.
September 1st, 2011 at 11:11 PM ^
talking about this saturday's game on espn now, and cuse just intercepted a pass.
September 1st, 2011 at 11:12 PM ^
September 1st, 2011 at 11:22 PM ^
I might have to just tune in Kentucky v. Western Kentucky...
September 1st, 2011 at 11:37 PM ^
You Suck.
September 1st, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
This Kentucky/WKU game is actually pretty good (ESPNU)... Lots of defense which I thoroughly enjoy watching.
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:00 AM ^
September 1st, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
Syracuse 36, Wake Forest 29, Final
Wow, what a comeback, but holy shit did we suck in the first half.
Now let's Go Blue on Saturday!
September 1st, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
They just couldn't finish with it. When Wisky comes up against a reasonably sized team with a mobile QB, I think Bilema is gonna get smoked. Asshat.
September 1st, 2011 at 11:55 PM ^
but UNLV did seem to run on them fairly consistent
Still, don't see anyone beating them, look really strong, balanced, upper classman led team
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:04 AM ^