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Louisiana

Louisiana

Recruiting is a big factor…

Recruiting is a big factor. But we've all seen Michigan right up there with Alabama, OSU, Clemson in recruiting in recent years.  Coaching and lack of transition costs with coaching departures is another. 

I think a big factor people overlook is the fact that these programs were great when the Playoff began, and when a recruit looks at a school, one of their goals is to win a championship.  Only a few programs have shown that they can consistently make the Playoff, leading to top recruits choosing those schools, those schools making the Playoff, and other top recruits choosing those schools for the same reason.  It's a vicious cycle for the schools that haven't been able to break through into the Playoff, though.

Look at the pellets

If you agree that he secured it after an initial bobble, I am still of the opinion that he got two feet down - or one foot and a toe drag.  If you agree his right foot was down when he regained possession, the photo below would seem to indicate he dragged his left foot (and kicked up the rubber pellets) before fully planting out of bounds.  IIRC only one of the replay angles showed the pellets - the dark blue end zone made it difficult to see in the others.

What is the best ESPN view to watch?

I'm thinking of watching this on the "All-22", but could see the SkyCam views being good.  What do y'all say?

Roku app is clunky

The box should help with the buffering issue and be a little faster overall (better specs).

I have a Roku 3 and have really enjoyed it, but if you are thinking about moving to PS Vue, there might be a better setup than Roku.  As mentioned above, PS used the base template to design their Roku app.  This has made the app extremely clunky and difficult to navigate in my mind.  Other boxes (Amazon Fire TV, I think) let you watch TV while searching for a new channel, have a channel guide, and are a better functioning app in general. 

I used the Vue trial last year to watch the UM game on BTN, but I kept my Comcast cable for now until I decide it's worth it to invest in another type of box or Vue updates their Roku app.

Pure Gold

"...they basically say oh it's a system, suggesting that people who don't do it that way, who just run it up the middle, stick all your asses together so one hand grenade can kill everybody, that's the right way to do it."

Former holder myself

As a former holder in high school - among other positions - this highlight reel makes me smile.  One of my favorite plays as a holder was one-handing a snap over my head a-la-OBJ and getting it down in time for the kick.  No one saw it except for the long-snapper and kicker because no one watches field goals in high school.  The long-snapper was very thankful for bailing him out.

To account for margin of

To account for margin of victory, you could add half of the points awarded for a win greater than 3 scores (>17 points).  This would award blowout wins over good teams more than blowout wins over average teams.

 

For example: Michigan's win over Penn State would gain them 6 points (4 for a Top 10 win + 2 for a blowout win); Michigan's win over UCF would gain 1.5 points (1 for Group of 5 w/ winning record + 0.5 for blowout win); Michigan's win over Rutgers would still net 0 points :(

 

I like the rankings so far.  They certainly pass the eye test.

 

EDIT: I misread your point system.  The Rutgers win would gain 1.5 points.  Hawaii would have been a better example of a 0 point blowout win.

That GIF

I can't stop laughing at that GIF.  The mass commotion as everyone prepares for the incoming missile.  Watching that trainer turn in time to see Peppers barreling right at him, the face of fear and death. His hat spinning off to the right.  Then his body reappears on the left, falling face down, where he slumps over the QB's knee.  Amazing.

Hype Beating

I believe Harbaugh tells Speight to put his helmet on mid-beating.

Neutral Site

Maybe they could play a neutral site game in Detroit to get the schedules back on track.

I approve...

My alma mater playing my childhood favorite team...again...I'll take it!!

...

"What the hell's going on out here?"

- Vince Lombardi

Nice hire.

I'll take a Michigan grad to coach my alma mater any day.

Agreed

Having just graduated VT this past spring, I lived through the last 4 years of Greenburg's tenure. I had student tickets all 4 years and watched in pain as Tech looked clueless on the floor and didn't seem to know what a play was or how to rebound. Johnson has proven early what a good coach he is just by getting his team to do those two simple things.

FWIW

FWIW, I graduated from Virginia Tech this spring and we had the same issue in my four years.  It seemed to get worse each year even though VT has been consistently good, especially at home.  We also have a great team entrance with 'Enter Sandman', so I could never figure out why you would want to miss that.  I don't think there's any way around it.

Luck

I would take Luck hands down.

I think everyone is forgetting how mobile and athletic Luck is.  He may not be a track star like RGIII, but I believe he was top 5 in every QB category during the combine and ran a pretty solid 40.  Both player's throwing skills and accuracy are off the charts, but I only need to look at two play to know Luck is going to be good:

1. When Luck crushed the USC DB and forced a fumble

2.  Luck's one-handed catch

Luck is a competitor, has called his own plays for the past few years, and his intelligence is extraordinary.

Not exactly...

Its not that VT has been there too many times, its more that the fan base is extremely disappointed from a blowout title game loss coupled with the fact that Tech is 1-4 in its last 5 BCS bowl games (with its one win coming against Cincinnati).  I think fans are assuming Tech will get blown out again and it's a waste of time after seeing what happened in the ACC Championship game.  Personally, I think it will be a closer game because the players will be mad about everyone saying they shouldn't be in the game.

Press Conference Update

After listening to the Virginia Tech press conference with school officials and lead officers, it seems that this is an apparent murder/suicide.  The suspect walked up to an officer in his car while he was performing a traffic stop and shot the officer (the suspect was not involved in the traffic stop).  He then fled to a separate parking lot roughly 1/4 miles away where he was seen by another officer.  When the officer moved to question the individual, he apparently turned the gun on himself and commited suicide.

As a Virginia Tech student

 

As a Viginia Tech student and a HUGE Michigan fan, I'm pretty excited about this match-up.  With that said, I believe Michigan will be able to handle Virginia Tech fairly easily.  

OFFENSE - Tech has two senior recievers in Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale that are 1 and 2 in the school record books for receptions and yards.  Boykin is the better of the two with big hands and decent speed.  Coale is a possession-type with great hands and route running skills.  David Wilson is one of the fastest running-backs in the country and is dangerous in space.  Logan Thomas is a 6-6 245 monster with a strong arm and decent running ability (for a guy his size).  He came to Tech as one of the top TEs in the country, but played QB in HS.  Where Michigan will shine is on the line.  Tech has a very experienced offensive line, but they were not highly rated recruits and the lines on both side of the ball are the weakest link at Virginia Tech over the last few years.  Tech was manhandled last year by Stanford's huge offensive line, and Clemson's athletic defensive line dominated the Hokies twice this season.  

DEFENSE - As stated above, Virginia Tech has some good athletes on the field on both sides of the ball, but the line is probably our weakest unit.  The Hokie defense has been decimated by ijuries this season, with four players out for the season, including two linebackers and a defensive tackle.  The secondary is the strongest group, headlined by 2010 All-American CB Jayron Hosley.  Hosley has been plagued by injuries this season, but should be healthy by the bowl game.  Opposite of him is Kyle Fuller, a guy that is used all over the field by Bud Foster, and should have been named 1st Team All-ACC.  At safety, Eddie Whitley is a good run stopper, but has slow hips and struggles to defend the pass, even when he seems to have a guy covered.  At free safety is Antone Exum, a hard-hitter and overall good player.  The linebackers are decent to good, with the best one, Bruce Taylor, out for the season with a foot injury.  Defensive line is small, but the best one is DE James Gayle.  

SPECIAL TEAMS - Virginia Tech is known for Beamerball and great special teams play.  However, this year has been an exception.  The Hokies kicker is new this year and has not been great.  Tech has played three punters this year, with the last and current starter being WR Danny Coale.  The return game is decent with RB David Wilson returning kicks, and CB Jayron Hosley returns punts.  Both have scored on returns in their career, but there has not been a return TD this season.

Overall, Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster is a very good coach and knows how to coach a defense.  The same cannot be said for Offensive Coordinator Brian Stinespring.  Tech fans have been unhappy with his play-calling ability for years, and this year he was removed from game-day playcalling and replaced by the QB coach.  Athough Tech has won 11 games this year, the playcalling has been questionable at best.  

If Michigan can penetrate with Martin and Van Bergen to shut down the run, David Wilson will be taken out of the game and Logan Thomas will be forced to throw.  Although he is still a good passer, without the threat of a play-action, he could have trouble finding open receivers.

Michigan's offense will have success if it can get its running game going with Denard and Fitz, but I expect Denard to throw at least one INT.  Like always, this is a known risk, but I expect Michigan to win by 14.