2013 NCAA FOOTBALL THREAD

[DS729]

Man, it's kind of weird to say this is the last time we'll probably see Manziel at the college level. Such a good player, he's definetley a once-in-a-generation guy, he's truly the most exciting QB IMO I've seen since Michael Vick.

[oddball]

Yeah, it's a good thing that we get rid of the over-hyped Manziel. I can't wait until he gets to the next level and becomes the next Tim Tebow, a "great" college quarterback with "great" leadership and horrible mechanics. Truthfully, Duke gave this game away. There is no way, that A&M even deserved to be in the game let alone win it. And don't give me the "Manziel" hype crap, it wasn't Manziel that did anything, it was a horrible Duke defense in the second half. I just don't see what the big deal about a quarterback with horrible mechanics who runs around is. Johnny Manziel is as good as he is, because football players these days have no fundamentals and can not tackle. Defenses go for the big hit and they don't wrap up. Defenses today are just plain horrible, and Manziel is the product of horrible defenses.

[DS729]

I honeslt disagree about 99% with your post oddball. While Manziel's succession in the NFL is more of an opinion/projection than a fact, he is still a great college player, no doubt. Manziel has consistently played well against great defenses like Auburn, Alabama, and LSU. He's been tested, he walked into Tuscalosa last year and beat Alabama, who cam say that over the past 5 years? That's an exclusive group he's thrown in, along with torching them again this year.

Secondly, A&M's defense is complete trash this hear, no denying that. The only reason why they're 9-4 is because of Manziel, he's been able to score enough points for them to win, or even be competitive. Without Manziel, they would be 4-8, simple as that.

Thirdly, yeah Boone kinda blew it for Duke. But A&M's D actually showed up in the second half, and Duke just couldn't stop Manziel, that's simply how it was. I think this is kind of an unpopular opinion, but I think Manziel will not just be an NFL starter, he'll win Offensive ROY and become a franchise QB for years to come. Manziel isn't a bad passer, he doesn't rely on his running game to beat you. He doesn't have a problem beating you through the air. His mechanics are meh, but he's been great so far against great defenses that have lots of NFL guys on them. His scrambles are great improv plays, he avoids sacks, picks up yards, and adds another weapon for the defense to defend against with his running game. About maybe 40% of the rushing yardage he's racked up over the past couple years has been through scrambling instead of designed QB runs and options. I'd like to compare him to Russell Wilson. Not the perfect NFL QB, but his skills through the air and on the ground make him a constant weapon the defense had to worry about.

Fourthly, I believe Manziel's media hype is more of a lifestyle choice. Manziel's a guy who likes to be the life of the party, he wants to be the guy everyone wants to be around, and because of that networks like ESPN will constantly hype him and his team up good or bad.

Truth is, I don't think Manziel is as bad as everyone gives him credit for. He's a helluva guy at the college level, whether that willtrans late to the pros who knows.

[Lee Noire]

Just caught highlights from that VT/A&M and all I can say is wow. Johnny's failed hurdle attempt turned touchdown and that Duke wideout that tip toed down the field without stepping out were just crazy.

[dfwabel]

Damn that playcalling by Duke at the end of the game was a disgrace to coaching. Especially the throw at 2nd and 5 and up by 3.

The game was lost in the 3rd quarter when Duke was in aTm territory three times and came away with only 3 points.

Possession 1: Incomplete pass on 4th&1 from aTm 35.

Possession 2: Ball on aTm 29. Missed FG

Possession 3: Had 1st & Goal from the aTm 3 and settled for a FG.

[Lights Out]

Honestly, the game was lost when Duke wasted time and had to settle for a FG before halftime. I knew they were done when that happened.

[vicfurth]

I missed the game last night, but when someone showed me the 52-48 score, I already knew how it happened. Why? Because A&M has had four other games that did the same thing. The hilariously-ironic thing was the pick six that gave the Aggies the lead.

People give Johnny flack for mechanics and how his game won't translate, and that might be valid. However, he's a damn sight to see. Give him a pop warner level defense (yes, the Aggies were THAT bad) and this team is in the BCS, national championship if they had an FCS defense. Manziel may be the reason they got to 9-4, but that defense was the only reason they fell to 9-4.

All that said, I'm really disappointed I missed the game. Looked like a "dandy" (end Keith Jackson voice).

[FiddySicks]

Looks like Georgia is taking defensive cues from the Chicago Bears. 99.9 yard TD pass for the Huskers.

[Burkell007]

so just wondering who has the longest bowl drought??

[DS729]

New Mexico State, who hasn't been to a bowl game since 1960, thus making their bowl drought a whopping 52 years!

The longest BCS team was Washington St, but they broke through to the New Mexico Bowl this year, so the new holder is a tie between Colorado and Indiana, they haven't been bowling for 6 seasons.

[FiddySicks]

Congrats to Michigan State, but David Shaw has to be one of the absolute dumbest coaches in D1 college football. All three of the losses Stanford took this year can be attributed to him not having his team properly prepared and absolute dogs**t play calling. This Stanford team is a squad that has the talent to compete for a National Title and they squandered it away with AWFUL coaching calls.

[TheRicSlick]

Sparty gets the W in the 100th Rose Bowl.

[infrared41]

That was a pretty entertaining Rose Bowl game. Sparty has a helluva defense.

[Lights Out]

To say Shaw's playcalling was puzzling would be an understatement. Despite the fact that Sparty kept shutting them down, he kept running it up the middle again and again and again. Easily the worst-coached bowl game of the year.

Sparty has been one of my favorite teams to watch all year long, that defense is incredible. I really like the way their team plays in all phases of the game.

[drdougfresh]

Wow. Can't believe we pulled out a Rose Bowl W... First time in my life I've seen them win one. Awesome season. And a hell of a tackle to end the game.

Connor Cook saved us this year -- had we ridden Andrew Maxwell all year, there's no way 13-1 happens.

[TheRicSlick]

To say Shaw's playcalling was puzzling would be an understatement. Despite the fact that Sparty kept shutting them down, he kept running it up the middle again and again and again. Easily the worst-coached bowl game of the year.

Sparty has been one of my favorite teams to watch all year long, that defense is incredible. I really like the way their team plays in all phases of the game.

Thats because he had too much faith in Gaffney.

[dbadefense1990]

I find it funny how ESPN promoted both Baylor and UCF for the Fiesta Bowl as "two teams making their BCS debuts," even though this is the last year of the BCS system.

[drdougfresh]

I find it funny how ESPN promoted both Baylor and UCF for the Fiesta Bowl as "two teams making their BCS debuts," even though this is the last year of the BCS system.

To be fair, they said they were making their first and last BCS bowl appearances.

[Raysfan12]

Storm Johnson punches another TD and UCF is ahead of Baylor 14-0. I still can't believe that the Cards lost to this team and if they didn't lose the UCF game, they would be playing Baylor.

[pianoknight]

To say Shaw's playcalling was puzzling would be an understatement. Despite the fact that Sparty kept shutting them down, he kept running it up the middle again and again and again. Easily the worst-coached bowl game of the year.

Sparty has been one of my favorite teams to watch all year long, that defense is incredible. I really like the way their team plays in all phases of the game.

Thats because he had too much faith in Gaffney.

+1. After Gaffney ran wild against Oregon, it seems like the Stanford coaching staff just called it a day. Kind of like, "well heck, we can outscore freaking OREGON, might as well just keep running the same plays the rest of the season."