Today's College Football Thread -- BCS Championship Game Edition

[fishwax]

National Anthem has been sung, and kickoff is a mere 13 minutes away. :woohoo:

[blonndee]

1. Was waiting for ya, fishwax!

I'm so freaking nervous. I've been almost sick all day.

I think I have a bit of a problem.

[fishwax]

2. I'm nervous too

I can't stand it. I'm bouncing off the walls. I hope this goes well :toast:

[blonndee]

4. Glad to hear I'm not the only one.

We are a die-hard bunch, aren't we Sooners? I miss OU so much, I'm actually going BACK this fall! Canya believe it? I guess I'm a glutton for grad-school punishment. :)

:toast: Thanks for the pic.

[fishwax]

5. Hey, that's cool!

I miss OU too :) So you're going back for more school?

I was trying to find a picture of the statue with the oranges in his basket, but couldn't. :)

[blonndee]

18. Hee. I haven't seen that one.

Yep, after teaching high school for two years I've come to my senses. I'm going to adjunct for the first year and then enter the Ph.D. program. Fun, fun.

Hope you're well. :)

[fishwax]

45. Congrats and good luck

Are you going to be in the English Department again? (You also were in journalism as well, right?)

Found a pic of the seed sower with Oranges--this pic is from 2000, but apparently they did it again this year, with both oranges and beach wear :)

It was really cool in 2002 when OU went to the Rose Bowl and they filled the basket with Roses.

[blonndee]

50. I love the photo. Thanks!

It reminds me of the beautiful flowers all around the OU campus. I remember being dumbfounded when I was thinking of coming to OU, learning about the "trust" that takes care of the landscaping at the campus. After spending about four years there, I see what that trust does, and it's just lovely.

Yup, English.

[RoyGBiv]

51. My daughter's there ...

In the English department, that is. One of her professors has really encouraged her this past year, and she's going great guns. She'll be working in some capacity for the department next year if all goes well.

Good luck to you.

[blonndee]

59. Wow, I'll surely be working with her, then.

The OU English Dept. is so great. Very supportive. Good for her!

[bigwillq]

3. Good Luck to your team.

:toast:

[fishwax]

6. thanks!

:toast:

[RoyGBiv]

7. Bout time you showed up.

:woohoo:

I'm nervous as all hell. I have this feeling that the unstoppable force is meeting the immovable object, and one's going to be proved a liar.

[fishwax]

9. I here ya

I'm nervous too--so nervous I wasn't sure I could stomach starting a thread.

But we're almost underway!

[RoyGBiv]

11. I'm watching in a mirror ...

I have my computer set up against a wall that is all mirror and the television situated just so I can see it in the mirror.

Easier to look away that way. :)

My daughter is at this massive watch party on campus. I'm quite jealous.

[fishwax]

8. and now a word from our sponsor

get off the screen, fedex man!

[TZ]

10. a national championship game?

Huh...I thought Utah had already won that, at least according to the media...KIDDING.:Hi:
luck to your team1

[bigwillq]

12. Wow, what a hit!

That would've been a fine in the NFL.

[motely36]

15. how are you able to watch the game at work

:shrug:

[bigwillq]

16. We have TVs in our side of the office

I am a Sports Writer, so we need to be able to watch the games to know when they end so we know when we can anticipate a story.

[motely36]

21. Oh my God!

that is so cool!

[bigwillq]

22. Yes it is!

I am just working in the office tonight, taking phone calls and e-mails and faxes from the local high school teams that report their results. It's been slow tonight. But it should get busy soon since most games are at 7 p.m.

:) :hi:

[RoyGBiv]

17. That had to hurt ...

That's the kind of thing that can make a receiver start dropping passes.

[bigwillq]

13. OU stopped on first offensive series.

Chomp, chomp

[Texasgal]

14. GO GATORS!

I hope OU CHOKES!!!!

[RoyGBiv]

19. OU's Defense Sucks So BAD ...

Oh ... wait a minute ...

:evilgrin:

[blonndee]

25. ...that they've intercepted TWICE.

Yeah, what a sucky defense. OU is overrated. :eyes:

[fishwax]

26. Tim Tebow was so anxious to play against a Big 12 defense, too

:)

[RoyGBiv]

31. Merry Christmas, Tim ...

Have at it. :)

[fishwax]

20. Nic Harris intercepts Tim Tebow

First turnover of the game.

[fishwax]

23. Tied at 7 now

Oklahoma sure answered quickly :)

[RoyGBiv]

24. Yeah ...

And they just can't run against Florida, nor can they pass. Odd how that drive got put together considering these "facts."

Boomer Sooner...

[charlie and algernon]

27. wow! what a goal line stand!

[RoyGBiv]

28. Can we get new announcers, please?

Kthnxbi

[RoyGBiv]

35. Seriously ...

They can't keep track of downs. They refer to orchestrated pass plays as "getting rid of it."

Do they understand football at all?

[blonndee]

37. The announcers drive me crazy sometimes. They're not really offering any insight or

differing opinions at all. Only when something is painfully obvious to everyone will they comment on it. That, or they say shit that is off-track, like what you cited, or is totally irrelevant.

[fishwax]

29. Florida gets a big stop on 4th and goal

My anxiety level has not subsided :)

[RoyGBiv]

30. That was a mistake ...

A lead is a lead is a lead.

Take the field goal.

[fishwax]

32. I wish they had run a sneak from the half-yard line

especially since they had the defense out of rhythm.

Need the defense to step up again here ...

[RoyGBiv]

34. Yeah ...

That could have worked, but you don't run a regular play like that after giving time for the defense to take a look at you. I like that Stoops has that kind of confidence, but if you're going to take chances, go for it all the way.

Well, we'll see what happens. Got some good defense there in response.

[blonndee]

39. I agree. I wanted them to kick a FG, too.

Who am I to question the Wise and Powerful Stoops, but sometimes he is too aggressive and overconfident for my liking/comfort.

[texas1928]

33. Oh, OW forced splits.

Yeah I would be rolling around in pain too.

[charlie and algernon]

36. great interception!

great teamwork! lol

[RagAss]

38. I can coach the Sooners Offense ....from my Lazyboy chair, Drunk...better than this !!!!

[gratuitous]

40. I must retract an earlier comment

I said that Florida deserved to be in the championship game and that Oklahoma did not. I must retract that statement. Neither one of these teams should be there. It should have been Utah vs. USC.

[bluesbassman]

42. +1

You got that right!

[fishwax]

43. USC played basically a home game against the champ of the worst conference in the BCS

Their Rose Bowl win wasn't all it's been cracked up to be.

[RoyGBiv]

44. Sit down, bus driver ...

What the hell is it with this idea that a game has to be all-offense-all-the-time to be good.

I heard the same sort of comment about OU-FSU. Clearly they both sucked because it was such a low-scoring game with the defenses stepping up and playing like their lives depended on it.

Utah ... pfftt ...

[fishwax]

47. yeah, I remember them interviewing Denzel Washington during that game

That was the year of Remember the Titans and he was on the sidelines as master of ceremonies or something. Anyway, they interviewed him somewhere in the second half and asked him about the game, and he said "it looks like nobody wants it out there." I thought: "the defenses seem to want it pretty bad." :shrug:

I thought the first half was great. Both offenses moved the ball, but both defenses came up big at important times. I've had great fun seeing the Sooners score 50+ week after week this season, but a defensive battle certainly doesn't mean it's a bad game.

Both teams have played well, aside from a few penalties. There haven't been dropped passes, the turnovers have been good defensive plays, etc.

[RoyGBiv]

48. I love defensive football ...

It's ironic, too. Supposedly OU has sucked all season 'cause they've made up for their total lack of defense with this go-for-broke offense. I'm more inclined to think their defense has gotten a little lazy in the later stages of games because they have these massive leads. Not that this is an excuse, but generally speaking, that's the way it has played out.

OU may well go on to lose this game, but it's *not* going to be because their defense couldn't hang.

And anyone who calls this boring can bite me. This is what football should be, imo. Lopsided blowouts are great and all, but they're also rather boring after a certain point. 2000 OU-TX game excepted. :-)

[fishwax]

49. I totally agree

When you're up four touchdowns or so, it's not that unusual for the defense to let up a bit. Like you said, that doesn't make it excusable, but that's how it happens. Plus, when you consider that all of Oklahoma's scores just gave the other team that many more possessions in the game. There are bound to be a breakdown or two. Then, too, OU's defense has definitely gotten better over the course of the year. They started out with a lot of very young talent, especially in the secondary, and as they've matured, the defense has gotten better.

I hope they can keep it up :)

[gratuitous]

58. Z-z-z-z-z-z

Defense? The way Oklahoma is zooming up and down the field, and then pinching off its scoring threats? The way Florida's offense is sleepwalking? USC would have taken the measure of either one of these teams by now. Oklahoma's 50 and 60 point outbursts against other Big 12 competition should have informed the voters that the Sooners were fattening up on inferior opponents. That is, if the BCS wasn't so heavily weighted in this lousy conference's favor.

Another Big 12 stink bomb, aided and abetted by Florida, which is clearly off its game tonight.

[RoyGBiv]

60. LOL

Funny. Keep that up. You might have a career in it.

[gratuitous]

62. Nearly 600 yards total offense through three quarters

And two teams with three measly touchdowns to show for it. Whatever you want to call it, it ain't "defense."

[RoyGBiv]

67. It's okay to be a hater ...

Not healthy, but it's okay.

[gratuitous]

68. Another long drive for Florida

And . . . fizzles out in the red zone. Again. Wake me up if one of these "top" teams decides to take this game by the throat.

[blonndee]

69. self-delete

I really shouldn't speculate about people's motives and problems.

[gratuitous]

82. I'll solve your conundrum

I enjoy college football when it's well played. Thanks to the built-in biases of the BCS, the nation is again subjected to a snorefest between two overrated programs, simply because the powers that be in the NCAA don't recognize any football played west of the Central time zone.

[RoyGBiv]

97. Sit. Down.

No one wants to hear from the bus driver.

You said this would be a snore-fest when you assumed it would be a blow-out. You said it was a snore-fest when it wasn't.

Anyone who has followed any of your commentary knows what you're on about. That, truly, is a snore-fest.

It's just football. Being a perpetual whiner with football is rather sad ... and boring.

Congrats to the Gators.

[Twillig]

55. The Beavs fucked up the BCS bigtime.

'We' punked the ToeJams (our rivals to the south) out of the Nat. Championship, and then Fucking Blew It, on the road, against the Utes.

No way the Utes go undefeated in the Pac 10. They're not all that.

And neither is the SEC if you (they) want Alabammy to be a representative. (where were the "SEC! SEC!" chants againts the Utes?)



USC should have been it.







(Tough shit, GO BEAVS!)

[gratuitous]

61. Yeah

Pac 10 teams have to go undefeated to receive any BCS consideration at all. And look at this shite tonight: Both teams have nearly 300 yards of total offense at the end of the third quarter, and we're looking at a 14-7 score. I don't know what "defense" some of the other folks on this thread are raving about, because it looks to me like two offenses that get tight throats when they enter the red zone.

[fishwax]

41. Boy, what a first half

Both defenses have come up big. I think Oklahoma's offense looks the better of the two right now. They've moved the ball really well, but Florida has come up with big stops inside the ten. It will be interesting to see how the second half starts. Florida gets the ball first, and that first possession will be huge.

Even though OU's defense has been good, holding Florida to 7 points and picking off Tebow twice, they didn't force a punt until Florida's last drive of the half. Florida's offense has been great on 3rd down. It will be interesting to see how that first drive shakes out.

[RoyGBiv]

46. Still nerves from hell ...

But it's been an excellent game. Both teams are clearly equally matched and have brought their A game.

[greatauntoftriplets]

52. What's the score?

Afraid to look, but I want to know.

:hi:

[bigwillq]

53. 14-7 Gators

:bounce:

[greatauntoftriplets]

56. Thanks.

[texas1928]

54. 14 to 7 Florida

[charlie and algernon]

57. 14-7 Florida

minute to go in the 3rd

[gratuitous]

63. Somnambulent to self-destruct

Oh wait, Florida just handed Oklahoma a touchdown with an incredibly stupid unsportsmanlike penalty. THESE are the top two teams in the nation?! It sure does take a computer to screw things up royally.

[texas1928]

64. Throw that fucking OU player out of the game.

Harvin was down and he held on to his legs and twisted them.


THROW THAT LITTLE CHEAP MOTHERFUCKER OUT OF THE GAME!!

[blonndee]

65. LOLOL....

[texas1928]

66. WAY TO TAKE THE BALL AWAY!!!

Now go down and let's get another score.

[texas1928]

70. TOUCHDOWN FLORIDA!!!!!

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[thewiseguy]

71. Texas rooting for Florida?

:rofl:

[texas1928]

72. You know why the winds blow in Texas?

[blonndee]

74. I heard it the other way around.

[blonndee]

73. Texas is just bitter they couldn't even MAKE it to the national championship this year.

Talk about bitter haters.

And look how they played against OSU. They no longer have anything to say.

[texas1928]

75. And who won their BCS Bowl game?

[blonndee]

77. LOL...Mmmhmmm. Second-rate sour grapes.

But that's to be expected.

[texas1928]

79. Poor losers who laugh at the fact that one of their players blatantly tried to injure another player

who was down. That is not decent football. Shows what OU is made of.

[blonndee]

81. LOL

Speaking of "poor losers..." I don't see any OU fans making excuses here, do you?

[Fleshdancer]

76. at least we won our bowl game

:rofl:

[blonndee]

78. Yes, you did. I'll give you that. You won your sorry little game, barely,

looking like an Ivy-league team. Congratualations, sincerely!

[texas1928]

80. 5 straight BCS Bowl game loses.

OUCH

[blonndee]

84. And?

Big deal! Being in that many championships and bowl games is an honor.

[texas1928]

87. See the key is, to win the bowl game.

What so going to the bowl game is all that counts?

What is it for the gift bags?

[blonndee]

88. No, the key is to be good enough to make it to the championship.

But you wouldn't know much about that, now would you? :)

[texas1928]

90. Uh Texas won their trip to the National Championship Bowl Game.

Means maybe their was an over rating going on there?

[blonndee]

92. I'm sorry, I thought we were talking about this year.

But I understand the need to dredge up the past, seeing as how this year didn't pan out the way you wanted. I actually was sympathetic to Texas and even Tech this year because I thought that there was no fair BCS solution to the problem, and I realized that if OU were in your situation I would be mad, too. But "fans" like you and others here make Texas look just like what I suspected. Keep acting like assholes. That's what we thought you were anyway.

[Fleshdancer]

94. it's just football lady. calling people assholes makes you look ridiculous

especially when it was you that started this whole chain in the first place.

[blonndee]

95. I didn't start it, silly.

And don't call me "lady." :)

[Scooter24]

85. I know....such a shame really.

I guess OU just can't close the deal? :shrug:

[Fleshdancer]

83. that's a lot of trash talk for a Sooner so soon after losing...again.

I understand the anger though. I sympathize.

[blonndee]

86. self-delete

I'm not going to act like a Texan, ever, in any way.

[Scooter24]

89. ...

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

[thewiseguy]

93. I know and it is pathetic.

I am a CU fan, but when it comes to the bowl games I support all big 12 teams.

[Jack_Dawson]

91. Utah Wins!

Sorry but Utah is the National Champion. Nobody else can claim it. Undefeated. Four (4) victories over Top 25 teams, and a SMACKDOWN of Alabama, ranked #1 in the nation 5 weeks in a row.

:beer:

[RoyGBiv]

96. Congratulations to the Gators ...

Excellent game and a hard fought win. All the armchair quarterbacks will be talking smack in the next few minutes and for the next several weeks, but of course you'll ignore them. The armchair quarterbacks are just that.

I still can't listen to Tim Tebow talk, but that's a personal thing. :)

[Awsi Dooger]

98. Seconded

Congrats to Florida. They were forgiven a home loss by the system and then allowed to play a team from a very soft conference. Ridiculous that the Big 8 then Big 12 used to be a bully conference but now it's over rotated to being comical finesse. The Gators were simply more physical when it mattered, in the short yardage plays and many times when the ball was in the air.

I thought the representative play in that regard was end of the first half, tied at 7 with 10 seconds remaining, OU first and goal with no time outs. The analyst said the obvious, Oklahoma must throw it into the end zone, but I was not so sure. In Sam Bradford's mind it's still like the regular season, playing in their little flag football conference where a pitch to the 2 yard line will be rewarded with an uncontested jog into the end zone. Sure enough, he threw it short. Florida belted the receiver and made a crucial INT. Same thing at the end of the game when OU tried to throw short of the yard marker on 4th down. Plus the classic Bradford look of astonishment and "no fair" when his receiver was stripped of the ball for an INT when Oklahoma trailed only 17-14. The Big 12 always wants the easy way out. Its two best teams, Oklahoma and Texas, didn't stop a meaningful possession down the stretch of their bowls. Texas gave up a 17-6 lead to trail 24-21 before the somewhat fortunate final drive, and tonight Oklahoma didn't stop anything after it was tied 7-7 late 3rd quarter.

If it weren't the damn Gators, who I despise, I would have loved it, the pantyhose Big 12 being mauled. Here's how overrated the Big 12 was -- not one of the top 5 teams covered the spread in the bowl game. Missouri went into OT as a 12 point favorite, Oklahoma State lost by double digits as a favorite, same thing with Texas Tech, Texas barely escaped to win by 3 as an 8 point chalk, and tonight Oklahoma lost by 10 after being an underdog of +3 to +5, depending when you shopped. The public jumped on Florida late, proper disrespect for the Big 12.