Kind of OT: I need a college team to support

[BelichickFan]

There is a winner and it is the Penn State Nittany Lions.

All that fuss about you pick a Little Eleven team . . . the horror.

 

[bruinator]

Boston Bruins or Celtics should do the trick.

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

I was at the game. It was pretty freakin' cold. And I was in the end zone as UConn fans made a lot of noise and forced a huge delay of game penalty on USF as they were threatening on the goal line late in the game. USF didn't score, and UConn just barely beat them.

I was in that end zone too. Very cold and USF fans were complaining. I told them to come back in February when it gets really cold.

BTW your posts on the boneyard are rather insightful, especially when it comes to things outside of the big east where too many there are (rightfully) focused. When we take a step back at the larger picture there, things don't look as bad as some would paint it.

 

[upstater1]

I was in that end zone too. Very cold and USF fans were complaining. I told them to come back in February when it gets really cold.

BTW your posts on the boneyard are rather insightful, especially when it comes to things outside of the big east where too many there are (rightfully) focused. When we take a step back at the larger picture there, things don't look as bad as some would paint it.

I think the BE suffers because it doesn't have a top dog or two with the long tradition, but otherwise all of its teams can compete with all the other BCS conferences everywhere but the very top. You can go to each and every league and isolate the top team, and then the rest going head to head against the BE would have a .500 record.

I think they need a few years more of stability. The fans are coming around at Rutgers, UConn, etc. If cincy and USF stepped it up fanwise, the league would be very strong.

 

[pheenix11]

As a USF Bulls fan, I have some differences in opinion. You guys have a brand new stadium, a growing fan base and some good young talent. But the Big East is going to be all bulls in a year or so...so get used to it. We are the eight largest college in America, with an enrollement of close to 40,000 and in just ten years of being a football team, we have joined the Big East, won a bowl game and this year will for the first time, could start the season in the top 25. We are the future of college football....

You're right.

As an alumni, grad student and new season ticket holder I would advise everyone to get on the USF bandwagon now while there is still room.

We don't have our own stadium but we do play at Raymond James (home of the sucks err I mean Bucs).

 

[Mike the Brit]

By and large, you're right about the odious business of college football. But I can say there are bigtime programs that do NOT pay players under the table, and they expect them to go to class, and graduate, and I can tell you this is true from the inside. I have spent many hours writing reports for Paterno's football players. The coaches watch those kids like hawks to make sure they're progressing in class, and when they don't, they sit (Jurevicius and Enis skipped a couple classes and were benched for a huge bowl game when I was there).

Luckily, Gomezcat picked a school that does it right and takes the student part of the equation seriously.

I can get behind that. After all, the "theory" of athletic scholarships says that you take guys who aren't Norman Einstein (or Alfred Einstein either) and give them an educational boost, whether they go on to careers as professional athletes or not.

My own worry is that a lot of the programmes that are said to have "standards" look to me to be more about drilling the players into a (somewhat questionable) set of values than developing their capacities for independent and critical thought. But maybe that's just me -- I have never been up close with such a program as you have ..

 

[FSUPatsFan]

Alright, I'm going to try to make a pitch for Florida State.

1) Highest quality talent sent to the NFL

A study was done recently by either the New York Times or Wall Street Journal of what school sends the best talent to the NFL. The study wasn't of who sends the most number 1 draft picks or most players to the NFL, but what school's players turn out to have the best NFL careers. FSU was number 1 in that study. So, since you're an NFL fan, you will be able to follow FSU alums through the NFL and watch them succeed.

2) Get ready to witness the rebirth of a dynasty

Since you're a Patriots fan you must know how much fun it is to follow a dynasty. Well, there may not be a better dynasty in the history of college football than the Seminoles of the 90s. They had 14 straight years in the top 5 with two national championships and 5 national championship game appearances.

Although the program has had difficult times of late, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The coaching staff has been revamped. Jimbo Fisher is our new offensive coordinator and was the offensive coordinator of the LSU national championship team and the QB coach for JaMarcus Russel. We brought back Chuck Amato to coach our linebackers. Rick Tricket is probably the best kept secret as far as new coaches. He's the former West Virginia offensive line coach. Since he's been here all our OL has lost on average 30 pounds.

Since the coaches have been here they have been stockpiling recruits. We currently have a top 5 recruiting class for 2008 and the number 1 pro-style QB has just commited. We may already have one of the best defensive recruiting classes in a long time, and more offensive recruits are going to follow the qb commit. Look for this recruiting classes to be one of the best ever.

3) Greatest coach of all-time
Previous posters have said Joe Paterno is the best coach. Wrong. Bobby Bowden is the better of the two. He turned a small school into a football dynasty and has more wins in less years than Joe Paterno has at Penn State.

4) Eye Candy
When you watch FSU games on tv, you won't find better looking girls anywhere else. If you don't believe me, look up the name Jenn Sterger. She was discovered at the FSU/Miami game in 2005 and has posed for playboy.

 

[PromisedLand]

Gotta support the local Boston College Eagles. They beat the big boys, and graduate their kids better than anyone. Also, they own Notre Dame.

Do like Tom O'Brien and switch to NC State! Plus, they wear red and white - BRIGHT WOLFPACK RED, not maroon, not crimson, nor any other variation. In fact, they are the exact same colors as the original Pats unies.

 

[PATSNUTme]

I can get behind that. After all, the "theory" of athletic scholarships says that you take guys who aren't Norman Einstein (or Alfred Einstein either) and give them an educational boost, whether they go on to careers as professional athletes or not.

My own worry is that a lot of the programmes that are said to have "standards" look to me to be more about drilling the players into a (somewhat questionable) set of values than developing their capacities for independent and critical thought. But maybe that's just me -- I have never been up close with such a program as you have ..

Well, what's more important? Providing entertainment for students and alums and a feeder system for the NFL, or some kid getting an education?

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

If you are looking for someone to start a good bar fight, go with BC!

 

[Bruschi 3:16]

Boston College.

 

[pheenix11]

4) Eye Candy
When you watch FSU games on tv, you won't find better looking girls anywhere else. If you don't believe me, look up the name Jenn Sterger. She was discovered at the FSU/Miami game in 2005 and has posed for playboy.

This guy does make a good point....

 

[Mike the Brit]

Well, what's more important? Providing entertainment for students and alums and a feeder system for the NFL, or some kid getting an education?

Oh man, that's a good question! Can a foreigner invoke the Fifth Amendment?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Oh man, that's a good question! Can a foreigner invoke the Fifth Amendment?

You do realize that the only "fifth" recognized by a certain Maine based individual is often cleverly concealed in a brown paper bag and requires frequent explorations of the trees for Patriots' logo golfballs when golfing (or a varient of the sport).

 

[RayClay]

Well, what's more important? Providing entertainment for students and alums and a feeder system for the NFL, or some kid getting an education?

We do both here in Florida!

Oh, you said get an education. That makes three. Never mind. *imagine bashful purple smilie here*

 

[F0nSY]

Florida babe!!!! the florida gators!!!!!

 

[Asante4prez]

First you're bashing New England football, then you admit you're a USF fan??? :singing: :singing: :singing:

Yea I did. Im a patriots fan that moved to FL...There is no place in the country where less football players come out of. Boston College is the only decent college football team in NE and they are normally mediocre at best for the most part. Face it New England is not know for its football prospects or college football whatsoever...

 

[Jacky Roberts]

Boston College is the only decent college football team in NE and they are normally mediocre at best for the most part. Face it New England is not know for its football prospects or college football whatsoever...

I'd give BC a little more credit than that. They've won a bunch of bowl games recently and I know they haven't played for the national title, but didn't they win at FSU last year and beat Clemson? With their move to the ACC, BC football is going to be a lot of fun to watch.

 

[gomezcat]

You do realize that the only "fifth" recognized by a certain Maine based individual is often cleverly concealed in a brown paper bag and requires frequent explorations of the trees for Patriots' logo golfballs when golfing (or a varient of the sport).

I can only assume that your attorney needs the work....

 

[Michigan Dave]

Don't fall under the trap of supporting precious Michigan or OSU. You want a true blue collar and clean program with a world class coach. That college and coach is Penn State with Joe Paterno.

As an example of how old school Joe is: This summer there was a confrontation in the street where some kid got in a player's gf's face and pushed her to the ground. So then the football player grabbed three teammates and followed the kid to a party where there was a fight. No serious injuries but certainly not something you should brag about. After hearing of this Joe Paterno as punishment has decided that all players, coaches, and staff will be responsible for cleaning up Beaver Stadium Sun mornings after games including himself as he saw it as reflection of a team problem of discipline. This duty is usually reserved for clubs who get paid $500 to help fund their activities. Joe has said that all $ will still go to the clubs who were signed up for the activity however they need not show as his team will handle the work. Also as a side note, the 4 players involved, 2 are suspended for the year and 2 are suspended for 4 games.

That my friends is why PSU to me is the greatest program in College Football. A hardnosed coach who btw has the highest graduation rate among players in the Big 10 (tied with Northwestern). We may not win as much as we used to but we have never been prouder.

Penn State was relevant once, too. Back before they joined the BigTen and became Michigan's annual whipping boy. 8 straight wins. PSU hasn't beaten Michigan since 1996. Completely tremendous. Thanks for coming out, PSU, with Indiana rotating off the schedule every 2 years, it's great to have another automatic "W."