2015 College Football Season

[Jeff Lebowski]

Do you really want me to answer that? I'm trying to not use foul language any longer, so I can't answer this honestly.

Ha. You haven't changed.

[bluegoose]

I take a long break from all sports message boards, only to return to see that things never change.

Isn't it wonderful to have a man of maturity at the head? A man who isn't blown about by every wind of doctrine?

[TripletDaddy]

Isn't it wonderful to have a man of maturity at the head? A man who isn't blown about by every wind of doctrine?

Haha. Gbh knew how to play the game

[MartyFunkhouser]

Utah receiving a lot of national respect lately. I'm confused, I was told the national media doesn't even know who Utah is and that we would never get any respect.

Of course, the respect means nothing right now. If the Utes get to 7-0, then we can start legitimately talking about playoffs, NY6 bowls, and winning the South.

For now, it is time to focus on the biggest game this week in college football: the showdown between undefeated Utah and undefeated Cal.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Utah receiving a lot of national respect lately. I'm confused, I was told the national media doesn't even know who Utah is and that we would never get any respect.

Of course, the respect means nothing right now. If the Utes get to 7-0, then we can start legitimately talking about playoffs, NY6 bowls, and winning the South.

For now, it is time to focus on the biggest game this week in college football: the showdown between undefeated Utah and undefeated Cal.

I agree that Utah shouldn't be getting much respect yet.

Also agree that there are very few interesting matchups this weekend.

[USUC]

I agree that Utah shouldn't be getting much respect yet.

Also agree that there are very few interesting matchups this weekend.

My inside sources told me that ESPN regards Northwester v Michigan to be the premiere game this week. But they couldn't chance having Gameday at Ann Arbor 2 weeks in a row.

[Commando]

I agree that Utah shouldn't be getting much respect yet.

Also agree that there are very few interesting matchups this weekend.

Yeah the only thing I'm seeing are the Ws, but look- Fresno, Utah St., a down Oregon squad, and Week 1 Michigan. I won't take Michigan away, but that schedule is iffy. BYU would be clogging the coverage had we held off UCLA and/or managed to not shit the bed vs. Michigan. I mean- a respectable loss at Ann Arbor and a 4-1/3-2 BYU team still holds serve over uninteresting Utah in the national limelight. Wouldn't hurt if Nebraska stopped quitting at the end of their games, either! Boise State is certainly holding up their end of things and that's going to be a great win when all is said and done.

I guess what I'm saying is that we could probably stand to schedule down a bit- not too much, but c'mon- wouldn't have hurt to have a break between UCLA and Michigan; as long as we're winning things tend to take care of themselves-- doesn't matter if we're in a conference or not.

[Paperback Writer]

Maybe this belongs in an officiating thread, if one exists, but something interesting happened in the Nebraska-Illinois game last week. Officials robbed Illinois of a down and awarded the ball to Nebraska. Both teams thought a play was 3rd down until the officials called a TO, had replay review, conferred for about five minutes, and then awarded the ball to Nebraska. It was bizarre and hard to believe that officials could get it wrong even after replay review. How hard is it to count to four? Here's the sequence:
Pass play for 9 yards:
(Here's where things go wrong, I don't recall seeing a first down indication by officials; Illinois is in hurry-up mode on offense).
Run play for gain of 3 yards: Everyone thinks this is now first down-it's really 2nd down.
Run play for gain 6 yards: supposedly 2nd and 4; really 3rd and 1
Run Play for loss of 2 yards: supposedly 3rd and 6; really 4th and 3
Pass Play for gain of 2 yards.

Ball is close to midfield. This is where things get really weird. Illinois' punt team starts to take the field when the officials huddle. Then they measure for first down distance. Illinois is a foot short. I think Illinois got a generous spot. Sometimes that happens with forward progress; still find it hard to believe the receiver got an extra three yards. Now I'm worried that Illinois is going to go for it on 4th and short. They have already done it once earlier in the game. The official announces a TO to certify the spot. So I think, Illinois is going to lose those "extra" three yards and have to punt. The TV announcers don't know what's going on and start talking about one down maker on one side of the field has 4th down and one on the other side of the field has 1st down. Then the officials trot out onto the field, re-spots the ball and measures again. It's still a foot short! I'm relieved when I see the Illinois punting team start to take the field. Then the TV announcers mention that part of the review was to count the downs. Suddenly, Nebraska's offense takes the field. What? Despite Mike Riley being a poor coach, he recognizes a gift once it's been wrapped. Nobody but perhaps some of the officials thought a first down was gained on the first play of the sequence. The TV crew certainly didn't; no build up to Illinois going for it at midfield on 4th and 3. And the Illinois head coach certainly didn't know he was going for it on 4th and 3. If only Bo Pelini were the coach of Illinois - the moment would have been priceless.

Apparently, there is some review committee and today they stated that the officials along with the review booth got it wrong. Theoretically, it is still possible for another 5th down ala 1990 Colorado-Missouri despite have replay booth review.

[Mormon Red Death]

Maybe this belongs in an officiating thread, if one exists, but something interesting happened in the Nebraska-Illinois game last week. Officials robbed Illinois of a down and awarded the ball to Nebraska. Both teams thought a play was 3rd down until the officials called a TO, had replay review, conferred for about five minutes, and then awarded the ball to Nebraska. It was bizarre and hard to believe that officials could get it wrong even after replay review. How hard is it to count to four? Here's the sequence:
Pass play for 9 yards:
(Here's where things go wrong, I don't recall seeing a first down indication by officials; Illinois is in hurry-up mode on offense).
Run play for gain of 3 yards: Everyone thinks this is now first down-it's really 2nd down.
Run play for gain 6 yards: supposedly 2nd and 4; really 3rd and 1
Run Play for loss of 2 yards: supposedly 3rd and 6; really 4th and 3
Pass Play for gain of 2 yards.

Ball is close to midfield. This is where things get really weird. Illinois' punt team starts to take the field when the officials huddle. Then they measure for first down distance. Illinois is a foot short. I think Illinois got a generous spot. Sometimes that happens with forward progress; still find it hard to believe the receiver got an extra three yards. Now I'm worried that Illinois is going to go for it on 4th and short. They have already done it once earlier in the game. The official announces a TO to certify the spot. So I think, Illinois is going to lose those "extra" three yards and have to punt. The TV announcers don't know what's going on and start talking about one down maker on one side of the field has 4th down and one on the other side of the field has 1st down. Then the officials trot out onto the field, re-spots the ball and measures again. It's still a foot short! I'm relieved when I see the Illinois punting team start to take the field. Then the TV announcers mention that part of the review was to count the downs. Suddenly, Nebraska's offense takes the field. What? Despite Mike Riley being a poor coach, he recognizes a gift once it's been wrapped. Nobody but perhaps some of the officials thought a first down was gained on the first play of the sequence. The TV crew certainly didn't; no build up to Illinois going for it at midfield on 4th and 3. And the Illinois head coach certainly didn't know he was going for it on 4th and 3. If only Bo Pelini were the coach of Illinois - the moment would have been priceless.

Apparently, there is some review committee and today they stated that the officials along with the review booth got it wrong. Theoretically, it is still possible for another 5th down ala 1990 Colorado-Missouri despite have replay booth review.

why the hell didnt riley kick the fg?

[Paperback Writer]

why the hell didnt riley kick the fg?

I wish I had an answer. Or perhaps not because maybe the answer is Riley is not a good football coach and Nebraska is screwed for four more seasons. Nebraska's FG kicker was 2/2 and capable of making that kick, even if it was into the wind. What's worse was that was the reason the Nebraska QB threw the ball on 3rd-and-7 on a QB rollout despite being instructed not to throw...because he was under pressure and didn't want to lose yards and put the Huskers out of FG range. He figured Nebraska would kick the FG on fourth down and possibly go up 9 points. To clarify, Riley called a pass play on 3rd-and-7 but told his QB not to throw it. If you don't intend on kicking a FG and want to run time off the clock, then call a designed run play. On 4th down, the odds are better that Nebraska makes a 43-yard FG then Armstrong completes a pass for the first down.

[Jeff Lebowski]

There was a major officiating screwup in the Big 12 also.

http://mediacomtoday.com/news/read/c...ccurred_in-tca

[Omaha 680]

Maybe this belongs in an officiating thread, if one exists, but something interesting happened in the Nebraska-Illinois game last week. Officials robbed Illinois of a down and awarded the ball to Nebraska. Both teams thought a play was 3rd down until the officials called a TO, had replay review, conferred for about five minutes, and then awarded the ball to Nebraska. It was bizarre and hard to believe that officials could get it wrong even after replay review. How hard is it to count to four? Here's the sequence:
Pass play for 9 yards:
(Here's where things go wrong, I don't recall seeing a first down indication by officials; Illinois is in hurry-up mode on offense).
Run play for gain of 3 yards: Everyone thinks this is now first down-it's really 2nd down.
Run play for gain 6 yards: supposedly 2nd and 4; really 3rd and 1
Run Play for loss of 2 yards: supposedly 3rd and 6; really 4th and 3
Pass Play for gain of 2 yards.

Ball is close to midfield. This is where things get really weird. Illinois' punt team starts to take the field when the officials huddle. Then they measure for first down distance. Illinois is a foot short. I think Illinois got a generous spot. Sometimes that happens with forward progress; still find it hard to believe the receiver got an extra three yards. Now I'm worried that Illinois is going to go for it on 4th and short. They have already done it once earlier in the game. The official announces a TO to certify the spot. So I think, Illinois is going to lose those "extra" three yards and have to punt. The TV announcers don't know what's going on and start talking about one down maker on one side of the field has 4th down and one on the other side of the field has 1st down. Then the officials trot out onto the field, re-spots the ball and measures again. It's still a foot short! I'm relieved when I see the Illinois punting team start to take the field. Then the TV announcers mention that part of the review was to count the downs. Suddenly, Nebraska's offense takes the field. What? Despite Mike Riley being a poor coach, he recognizes a gift once it's been wrapped. Nobody but perhaps some of the officials thought a first down was gained on the first play of the sequence. The TV crew certainly didn't; no build up to Illinois going for it at midfield on 4th and 3. And the Illinois head coach certainly didn't know he was going for it on 4th and 3. If only Bo Pelini were the coach of Illinois - the moment would have been priceless.

Apparently, there is some review committee and today they stated that the officials along with the review booth got it wrong. Theoretically, it is still possible for another 5th down ala 1990 Colorado-Missouri despite have replay booth review.

This does belong in the officiating thread!

I didn't catch this sequence but it's amazing they got it wrong if it's as you say. All officials on the field (what is a college crew now, 8?l) have their own down indicator on their wrist that they are updating. It's hard to imagine all the officials and the chain crew messed up and even harder to understand how the replay official missed it.

Now I don't know what the replay rules are in college and how far back the officials can make a correction. In high school, the referee has authority to correct the down number until the ball becomes live on a new series (i.e. once the offense snaps the ball on first down after reaching the line to gain or after a turnover it is too late to correct the down error in the last series). But even if this is the same rule in college, they should have been able to correct the mistake because Nebraska hadn't snapped the ball yet on first down. Sounds really weird and it makes sense if the review committee said they got it wrong.

[Omaha 680]

I wish I had an answer. Or perhaps not because maybe the answer is Riley is not a good football coach and Nebraska is screwed for four more seasons. Nebraska's FG kicker was 2/2 and capable of making that kick, even if it was into the wind. What's worse was that was the reason the Nebraska QB threw the ball on 3rd-and-7 on a QB rollout despite being instructed not to throw...because he was under pressure and didn't want to lose yards and put the Huskers out of FG range. He figured Nebraska would kick the FG on fourth down and possibly go up 9 points. To clarify, Riley called a pass play on 3rd-and-7 but told his QB not to throw it. If you don't intend on kicking a FG and want to run time off the clock, then call a designed run play. On 4th down, the odds are better that Nebraska makes a 43-yard FG then Armstrong completes a pass for the first down.

Sounds like Armstrong is the second coming of Jamaal Lord: impressive talent coupled with a tiny football brain.

[il Padrino Ute]

Yep, everything is the same here.

[Green Monstah]

Utah receiving a lot of national respect lately. I'm confused, I was told the national media doesn't even know who Utah is and that we would never get any respect.

Of course, the respect means nothing right now. If the Utes get to 7-0, then we can start legitimately talking about playoffs, NY6 bowls, and winning the South.

For now, it is time to focus on the biggest game this week in college football: the showdown between undefeated Utah and undefeated Cal.

They're getting well deserved publicity right now. I will note that after the Bears pulled the same fake return trick as the Utes, the color commentator said that "a college team did the same thing yesterday, but I can't remember which one," but he's only one voice of many.