# I'm ready for College Football. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 14, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938 "2009-07-14T03:08:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/181 "2009-09-08T13:34:49Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > And Auburn went to USC, and Arkansas went to Texas, and Tennessee went to Notre Dame, and Alabama went to Oklahoma, and Ole Miss went to Missouri, and… wait, what were we talking about again? We were talking about how insulated the SEC has historically been, except for a very few exceptions already mentioned here. Florida played at UCLA in 1958 too, but that’s the last time they ventured out of their territory and that’s too long ago. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/182 "2009-09-08T13:44:51Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > We were talking about how insulated the SEC has historically been, except for a very few exceptions already mentioned here. Florida played at UCLA in 1958 too, but that’s the last time they ventured out of their territory and that’s too long ago. Yeah, if you can count on both hands the number of BCS-level road games a team has played in the past 50 years…we may have an issue. On the other hand, Cal went to Tennessee in 2006, Maryland in 2008, and goes to Minnesota next week. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/183 "2009-09-08T14:20:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Florida played at UCLA in 1958 too, but that’s the last time they ventured out of their territory and that’s too long ago. FTR, UF had a home/home with USC in 1982/1983. Florida has two big time out of conference rivals that it plays frequently. They play FSU every year and they have played Miami 3 times this century int he regular season. Teams that don’t have natural in-state out of conference rivals have an easier time scheduling National games than teams that do. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/184 "2009-09-08T14:38:17Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > We were talking about how insulated the SEC has historically been, except for a very few exceptions already mentioned here. Florida played at UCLA in 1958 too, but that’s the last time they ventured out of their territory and that’s too long ago. You’d actually have a point if I wasn’t talking about the last couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/185 "2009-09-08T14:39:04Z")
Doing some more research, Florida played at Syracuse in September, 1991 and played at Houston in September 1979, At Georgia Tech in 1978 and 1980, ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/186 "2009-09-08T14:55:45Z")
As a life-long Ohio State fan, it pains me to say that I think USC is going to destroy us. Our offensive line is horrible, and that will be the key to the game. As talented as Pryor is, he can’t do everything on his own. I also don’t see much hope for stopping USC’s running game–which I think is often overlooked. Joe McKnight is probably the best back in college football, and you never hear him get much play in the national media. OSU’s only chance to win is to stop McKnight and protect Pryor. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/187 "2009-09-08T14:56:56Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > You’d actually have a point if I wasn’t talking about the last couple of years. No kidding. Someone up thread actually mentioned teams playing against “negroes.” We’re not in the 60s folks. The old canard about “the SEC doesn’t travel” is just that–old. Sure, no SEC team can play a traveling road show like a Notre Dame or a mid-major can–there’s just too much brutal conference play. But most SEC teams are making a non-conference effort within the past 5 years. > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by\*\* Labrador Deceiver \*\* > And Auburn went to USC, and Arkansas went to Texas, and Tennessee went to Notre Dame, and Alabama went to Oklahoma, and Ole Miss went to Missouri, and… wait, what were we talking about again? And LSU went to Arizona to play Arizona. And to Arizona to play Arizona St. And to Washington to play Washington. In fact, LSU’s record against the PAC-10 last 10 games? 10-0. Overall non-conference record the last 20 games? 20-0. And that includes bowl game smash-downs against Notre Dame, Miami, Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, and Ohio State. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/188 "2009-09-08T15:26:08Z")
> [@divemaster](#): > > Sure, no SEC team can play a traveling road show like a Notre Dame or a mid-major can–there’s just too much brutal conference play. But most SEC teams are making a non-conference effort within the past 5 years. I really don’t want to derail this wonderful thread into a conference pissing match, so I’ll just get in the last word, then we’ll move on: 😉 There is some circular logic in the SEC rationale. 1. We can’t play good teams OOC because we’re so powerful 2. We’re so powerful because so many of our teams are highly ranked 3. We’re so highly ranked because of our great OOC W-L record Go to #1 and repeat. If you play 4 cupcakes, + Vandy, Miss St and Kentucky…it’s not hard to get to a bowl game. But I will acknowledge that there is some recent movement towards decent OOC matchups involving SEC teams, wandering more than one zip code away from home. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/189 "2009-09-08T18:37:21Z")
Here’s an interesting article dated 9/5/09 by David Whitley re Florida’s reluctance to venture out of the Swamp: [Florida’s cupcake diet should make Gators’ fans sick](http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/06/floridas-cupcake-diet-should-make-gators-fans-sick/) I liked this passage: > [@](#): > > Since World War II (the Gators) have played 10 – yes 10 – road games against non-conference teams. And it’s not as if the home schedule has been laden with Michigans and Penn States . Though there have been plenty of Eastern Michigans and New Mexico States . > > All this comes with one qualifier. We’re excluding Florida State, simply because the Gators have to play the Seminoles. Even then, it took a threat from the state legislature for Florida to start playing FSU in 1958. > > If the Gators could get out of that one now, they would. Just as they ducked out of their series with Miami in the early 1980s. > > That earned Florida the nickname “Chicken Gators.” I don’t think Florida’s scared to play anybody. It’s just more, shall we say, risk-averse than most big-time schools. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/190 "2009-09-08T18:41:42Z")
Since some in here are doing some research, is there any chance you could look up what the most recent SDMB college football thread was that didn’t devolve into an SEC/Big 10 bitch fest? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/191 "2009-09-08T18:48:48Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Since some in here are doing some research, is there any chance you could look up what the most recent SDMB college football thread was that didn’t devolve into an SEC/Big 10 bitch fest? 🙂 Yeah, let’s nip this in the bud. My headlines for the weekend: SI Cover Jinx Strikes Oregon Michigan, Notre Dame Don’t Suck as Much as Last Year BYU? Really? Best Team in the ACC Loses (note: it’s debatable as to whether VT or GT is better…that’s why we play the games) Ohio State, Iowa and Minnesota Hang on to the last Shreds of Big 10 Dignity SEC Teams other than bama Beat Up Crippled Kids and Take Their Lunch Money ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/192 "2009-09-08T18:57:31Z")
10 games? since 1945? Its probably not very many but I think it is more than 10 games. As I pointed out previously: GT in 1978, 1980 USC in 1983 Syra in 1991 NC State 1947, 1966, 1975 UNC in 1946 and 1968 UCLA in 1958 Miami about 20 times ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/193 "2009-09-08T19:07:53Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > 10 games? since 1945? > > Its probably not very many but I think it is more than 10 games. > > As I pointed out previously: > > GT in 1978, 1980 > USC in 1983 > Syra in 1991 > NC State 1947, 1966, 1975 > UNC in 1946 and 1968 > UCLA in 1958 > Miami about 20 times Maybe he only included games outside the South? If nobody can confirm this online, I’ve got a CFB Encyclopedia at home that’ll have the facts. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/194 "2009-09-08T19:14:57Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Maybe he only included games outside the South? If nobody can confirm this online, I’ve got a CFB Encyclopedia at home that’ll have the facts. The article excluded Florida State only. There has been 22 UF/Miami games in Miami since 1945. They also played @Tulane in 1967 and 1982, after Tulane left the SEC. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/195 "2009-09-08T21:49:58Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Since some in here are doing some research, is there any chance you could look up what the most recent SDMB college football thread was that didn’t devolve into an SEC/Big 10 bitch fest? 🙂 > [@](#): > > The following errors occurred with your search: > > 1. Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/196 "2009-09-09T02:22:05Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > If you play 4 cupcakes, + Vandy, Miss St and Kentucky…it’s not hard to get to a bowl game. I’d be pleased if you could point out a team & season where this was the case. 4 OOC cupcakes, plus Vandy, Miss St, & UK (2 of which were bowl eligible last year, by the way). After that, you could point to several more, since you are implying that it is common. Anyway, that’s a damn fine looking strawman you’ve got with you in the stands. Damn fine. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/197 "2009-09-09T13:28:28Z")
Every conference has 3 teams that won’t be bowl eligible. If you beat those 3, plus you schedule 3 guaranteed-beatable OOC games…ta da. Instant winning record. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/198 "2009-09-09T13:51:33Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Every conference has 3 teams that won’t be bowl eligible. If you beat those 3, plus you schedule 3 guaranteed-beatable OOC games…ta da. Instant winning record. UGA played Arizona State & Georgia Tech OOC last year, and only 2 teams that were not bowl eligible within the conference. That is 3 fewer easy wins than you listed in your original scenario. The same can be said for several other SEC teams last year. Fact is, none of the top SEC teams from the past several years were playing 4 OOC cupcakes. You can keep saying it, and saying it, and saying it, but it will continue to be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/199 "2009-09-09T14:48:09Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Mal Williams had a decent game but the real story was Jordan Shipley - had about 185 yards receiving, one on a 78 yard bomb. John Chiles and Dan Buckner had nice catches as well. We even saw Marquise Goodwin, who apparently holds some junior world record for the high jump… a real burner. Texas has no tight end but an embarrassment of riches in the receiving corps. I’m most excited about D.J. Monroe, who returned a punt for a TD and might be the solution to our running back issue at the moment… Malcom Williams basically no-showed. He had one catch in the game to continue his under achieving ways. It’s sad that someone as talented as him is such a non-factor in almost every game. You must have confused him with someone else (maybe Buckner) when you said he had a decent game. Also, Monroe returned a kickoff not a punt. He apparently has trouble fielding punts so don’t expect to see him doing so this year. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938/200 "2009-09-09T15:28:01Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > UGA played Arizona State & Georgia Tech OOC last year, and only 2 teams that were not bowl eligible within the conference. That is 3 fewer easy wins than you listed in your original scenario. The same can be said for several other SEC teams last year. > > Fact is, none of the top SEC teams from the past several years were playing 4 OOC cupcakes. You can keep saying it, and saying it, and saying it, but it will continue to be wrong. OK, here’s what I’m talking about, and then let’s let it go. Florida’s 2009 schedule: OOC: Charleston Southern, Troy, Florida Int’l, Florida State. That’s 3 cupcakes, and a bran muffin. Conference schedule includes 2 teams that were 6-6 last year and 3 teams that were below .500. The “tough games” on their slate are Georgia (9-3) and LSU and So Carolina (both 7-5). But so I’m not just picking on the SEC, here’s the same deal with Penn State: OOC: Akron, Syracuse, Temple, Eastern Illinois. Give me a break. Conference schedule: 3 sub-.500 teams from last year (Illinois, Mich, Indiana). The best teams on their schedule this year are Ohio State (10-2), Northwestern?? (9-3) and Iowa (8-4). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-ready-for-college-football/502938.md?page=11)