Trump told the Russians to block your account. 😛

ND d coordinator and LSU head coach fired.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-notre-dame-brian-vangorder-fired-spt-20160925-story.html
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly fires defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder

day after Notre Dame absorbed its biggest upset loss in 20 years, coach Brian Kelly announced Sunday he had fired defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder.

Kelly also warned that everyone's spot on the team — including his own — was in jeopardy after the Irish, favored by 21 points, lost 38-35 to Duke on Saturday. According to ESPN Stats and Info, it was the program's biggest upset defeat against the point spread in two decades.

"Players' jobs are on the line; all coaches' jobs are on the line," Kelly said. "I'm under review as well.

"When you're 1-3 at Notre Dame, changes are going to be made. Our defense simply isn't where it should be and I believe this change is necessary for the best interest of our program and our student-athletes."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2016/09/25/les-miles-fired-lsu/91089640/
LSU fires coach Les Miles four games into his 12th season

It seems like that DC was the fall guy. Okay Kelly, save your ass for another week and make someone else hold the bag.

And the LSU firing makes no sense. If they wanted to get rid of him, they should have done it after last season.

Michigan is giving 10.5 against Wisconsin. Really? They are begging us to take Wisconsin.

I won the college pool this week. AND I can win the NFL one tonight!

We'll miss Les...but I'm sure he will turn up somewhere else.

LSU should've followed through with his firing last year. I think honestly that the media shamed LSU brass to keep him. The onslaught of "what are they doing" "what more can they want" "what a good man he is"...all that stuff at the end of the year last year, it was a titlewave of support and LSU decision makers wilted in front of it.

But what we saw week 1 was the exact reason that alot of people within the LSU program wanted to change courses. There was no improvement in QB development. There was no creative offensive playcalling or schemes. Les was unwilling to make the changes necessary that LSU needed, that the players on that team deserve to compete for SEC and National Titles.

LSU didn't score in the 4th qrt this year. I think they scored something like 4 TDs vs power 5 teams this year (3 games).

The clock mismanagement vs Auburn, it wasn't just that there was :01 left and if there were :03 seconds left on that play and LSU wins we aren't talking about this. On that final drive, LSU got a 1st down with :54 left, clock runs...it took them :24 on a single play to call, lineup and throw an incompletion. Had LSU practiced a 2 minute drill? Players standing around looking towards the sidelines, lack of urgency. Those wasted seconds came back to haunt them. They lost to 5 Auburn FGs. That is not good enough. Sadly Les had become not good enough. I think the move makes perfect sense, for LSU's part I just wish it would've happened last year so they'd be ahead of things this year.

Wisconsin just keeps taking people's money. Nobody gave them a chance vs LSU. Many (myself included) thought Akron would compete good enough to cover, they didn't. They took a week off with Georgia St, then most expected Michigan St to beat them (and cover the relatively small 3.5 spread). Mich St continually shot themselves in both feet and Badgers just did what they do, execute within the system and capitalize on opportunities the opponent presents.

Badgers are a hard team to fade. But so many have been on Michigan's nuts this year, their lines have been inflated and they still cover (except for the Colorado game). Feels like the line would be more like 7.5 or 8 rather than 10.5 this week. I'd probably rather have Michigan this week...and Wisconsin will probably take my money again.

We will find out if the Michigan OL and running game is real this week.

How about Louisville at Clemson. Open Clemson -3.5, now Louisville -2. Wow.

Hard to get in front of that Louisville train right now, but man...not wanting to lay pts with them on the road at night. Maybe the Ohio St - Oklahoma game has influenced betting trends and line movement here (OU favored game of year -5, OSU -2ish game week and OSU dominated). OSU dominated their 2 opponents and questions arose following OU's loss to Houston.

Louisville has been dominating opponents and Clemson's games have raised questions.

It is like Louisville is better than last year's Clemson team? I don't know.

If Clemson can play 4 qrt like they did in the 1st half vs GT, then that is the Clemson that we expect to see. Instead the D is kind of leading the way. Surprisingly Marshall D had a good plan against LV...but with their backup QB starting, the Herd couldn't generate any O and the Marshall D was on the field all game.

Perhaps Venables has something up his sleeve? I like Venables.

If Clemson is catching +3 at home in primetime, I will be on the Tigers.

[Edited on 9/28/2016 by nebish]

ND's Kelly came under alot of fire this week by throwing his players under the bus. He did say everyone is subject to criticism "even I'm under review", but his comments were much more directed at the poor play and desire of the players than the coaching staff, which rubbed people the wrong way.

Awesome win for Duke, and continues to build the legend that is David Cutcliffe. But for ND there is no excuse to losing to Duke, this Duke team who lost at home to Wake Forest and at Northwestern. Duke ran for double the rushing yards on ND as they did NW. There was one drive that the Duke QB was 7 of 7 passing marching down field for a TD. Kizer threw INTs, others fumbled... Just horrible. Losing to Texas and Michigan St is one thing, losing to this Duke team is completely another.

Look out this week, Syracuse can score some pts and that ND D is just downright awful. Will be interesting to see if the DC change creates enough of an impact to change things up enough to stop the bleeding. Pretty interested in watching that ND-Cuse game now.

As much as I like Les Miles - I agree with everything Nebish says. They had the opportunity and the RIGHT to axe him after last season. Having said that, I feel that they should've let him finish this season.

I wish Les success and happiness. I honestly feel he should seek employment outside of the SEC, where he'd likely be more successful. Ask Bobby Bowden. 😉

... maybe Les Should send a resume to South Bend. That's all I'm sayin'.

Two very good games tonight! Great Friday Night Action, I'm very excited!!

Changing of the guard in the PAC 12 North? We'll find out if Washington is ready for this stage and lives up to the hype. First matchup of top 10 teams at Husky Stadium in almost 20 years. I think UW should be ready, Stanford is still great at what they do, but seems a couple notches below their normal self.

Plus Toledo at BYU. Toledo one of the absolute best MAC teams and strong again this year, average margin of victory 33 pts, but competition is suspect. BYU continues their gauntlet schedule. They are just 1-3, but 4-0 ATS in all three close losses by combined 7 pts. Always tough for teams from the east to come to altitude and play such a late kickoff (10:15 eastern).

Get the beverages, popcorn or whatever you like to settle in for some good games tonight!

Both those games are in the pick'em also.

... maybe Les Should send a resume to South Bend. That's all I'm sayin'.

If Notre Dame played Vanderbilt, I'd have a hard time deciding who I'd rather lose.

If it were Ohio State, I'm for anybody playing them. Urban is a tool.

Meeechigan won but we didn't cover. I kind of laid an egg on my picks this week. And I can't believe Michigan State lost again. Who the loses to Indiana in football? 😮

Football Saturdays in the fall = best days of my life! Wow, just so hard to put into words what is witnessed on these days.

I had Michigan, very frustrating. As the competition has gotten better (CU in first half before QB injury, Wisconsin yesterday) they are showing some chinks in that armor. I feel like they have alot of untapped potential, but aren't an elite team, not a top 5 team. They would be underdogs on neutral field to 5-6 other teams nationally for sure and maybe a half dozen others. They just aren't playing the best right now and have some kinks to work out on OL...pass blocking was pretty bad yesterday and run blocking wasn't much better. The D is pretty solid. Special teams, people, including Harbaugh likes to rave about Peppers, but man, how about getting somebody to kick some FGs! 23-7 final likely if they make all 3 of their FGs. I mean you stay over a kids house on a recruiting trip, the #1 kicker in the country and he is third string apparently. Fortunately for Michigan the schedule remains very soft for 2 more games.

Losing to Indiana...well Michigan was lucky not to lose to them last year...

Page 2? I guess there is more action in the WP than I realized.

4 Friday games on the pick'em.

Yahoo seems to really suck this year - I was entering my picks today, and also entered the tiebreakers. It came back and showed incomplete because I had missed one game. I made the pick and hit 'save picks' - now it shows all games picked, but says I am incomplete with the tie breakers - and it doesn't show them on the bottom of the page anymore. The webpage keeps trying to update and then just gives up.

But I'll still beat DanB...........

EfF Sang the blind squirrel and bastid

Just poking my face in the door to let you know I still hang out from time to time - and I can come here even when the Dawgs lose like they did. (wincing)

Wondering, Scott, if you read that story about how the LSU/FL cancellation could end up benefiting Florida and hurting Tennessee?

*********************************************************************

Florida and LSU not playing this season might not affect the division races in the SEC. It also might end up screwing Tennessee.

If this happens:

Tennessee loses two of its remaining six SEC games (among them: @Texas A&M, vs. Alabama) and finishes 6-2 in the conference.
Florida (which lost to Tennessee already this season) wins the rest of its SEC games (Georgia, @Arkansas among them) and finishes 6-1 in the conference.
Who would make the SEC Championship Game, a 6-2 Tennessee team (that beat Florida) or a 6-1 Florida team (that lost to Tennessee)?

According to Kyle Tucker of SEC Country, the SEC has said – based on its league bylaws – that Florida would make it.

Read more: http://thespun.com/college-football/tennessee-florida-lsu-game-sec#ixzz4MPri1pq3
******************************************************************************

A couple of things...and this, of course, is assuming the above scenario would take place...
first, I find it very hard to believe it's that black & white. Butch has said he believes the Conference will do the right thing - Um.....
second, You mean to tell me there's nothing in the by-laws that says you have to play all scheduled games within your conference? How stupid can you guys be? OK, just realized who I was talking about when I typed this.

So, if all this is true, how many UGA fans did we just pick up in Knoxvegas?

Your thoughts?

[Edited on 10/7/2016 by hoffcl]

Hey Chris...good to see you (in an internet forum kind of way 😉

So I got a smart phone over the summer, long time coming I know, but I'm old fashioned and like my flip phone...like Les Miles liked his offense.

But anyway, so now I can listen to XM radio all the time. CollegeSportsNation, Finebaum on ESPNXtra.

Was an interesting day on the LSU-Florida topic. You can imagine the conspiracy theories....I heard one guy said it was Bama's fault...and probably Obama's.

I have to think that the SEC requires this game gets played, but I don't know how someone doesn't feel screwed. If they take that November 19th weekend and buy out UF's opponent Presbyterian and LSU's opponent South Alabama...then that can work. But LSU's problem there is that makes 3 straight road games in conference to end the year. Florida wants it to remain as a home game. But for the bigger picture an agreement needs made, that is what the people at the league office should be doing.

It does sound like the divisional winner is determined by conference winning %...not necessarily most wins or fewest losses. So yeah, if Gators win out and Vols drop 2 games then that sends Gators to ATL if they win out and really that isn't right.
.

Texas has won 2 of the last 3 all of double digit underdogs...

Was an interesting day on the LSU-Florida topic. You can imagine the conspiracy theories....I heard one guy said it was Bama's fault...and probably Obama's.
.

Oh jeez! That's funny! Probably heard Sankey w/ the CBS folks eh? He sure sounds like someone who is an outsider on this topic. What did you think?

It's hard for me to imagine that with all the money that pays these people and floats around that someone, somewhere, didn't have contingencies for cancellations...instead of worrying where to cash their checks.....

Yeah, I know, I just re-read what I wrote and I'm cracking up too!

Speaking of Knoxville though...Have you been to Stock & Barrel on the square? Yummie.

Welcome to new millennium with your phone! I can't live without XM Radio and Drew Carey's show!

Are you enjoying some Sunday Georgia football? I am.

Yeah, I heard him during the Vols and aTm game. He gave the most vague answers possible. Like what is the big secret. He said they worked all week on it, why is it still so unclear? Why not play it on Sunday like UGA and SC did or Charlotte and FAU? He wouldn't tell us what was discussed or what the possibilities were from the respective parties' points of view.

Man I thought that Vols were still going to win that game yesterday. Just crazy game...like all their games. Don't know how they have enough healthy bodies or gas in the tank to play Bama this week. Arkansas was just good enough to keep it a 2-3 score game throughout, but I thought Tide pretty much dominated. Saban was NOT happy with his defense post game. Big week of practice coming up for that unit in T-Town. Don't know what the line is...maybe Bama 10 or 11. Healthy Tennessee team I think could take Alabama to the limit, but such a tough stretch and attrition for them. But that is why we watch.

I was only in Knoxville once. I will look you up again if I hit town at some point and check out the local establishments.

Wow. As usual I'm a little late to the party this season. Well my Bruins are 3-3 and can't run the ball to save their lives. The OL stinks and it looks like our QB is injured plus our receivers seem to have butter fingers. At this point, I'll be happy finishing 6-6. It's football...

Wow. As usual I'm a little late to the party this season. Well my Bruins are 3-3 and can't run the ball to save their lives. The OL stinks and it looks like our QB is injured plus our receivers seem to have butter fingers. At this point, I'll be happy finishing 6-6. It's football...

Teams really get tested when seasons start off like this and expectations are out the window and team performance is a mess.

We will learn alot about Mora, how his team respects and responds to him while also learning the character of this team. Next 4 games Washington State and Colorado are playing extremely well right now, Bruins are not. But I think Bruins can win 1 if not both of those. Not playing in Salt Lake is huge from UCLA's chances vs Utah and unless there is a look ahead to USC, Oregon St is a win. Hard to think the Bruins would be overconfident to not take any team seriously right now. Seems like 3-1 over the next 4 could be in the cards. I think 2-2 would be very disappointing obviously and that might be what some would see looking at the next 4. Mora and company have lots of answers to be looking for on how to do it. Good luck on the rest of the year Strat.

My Wildcats may actually get to go bowling this year. Football season will drive a man crazy here in Kentucky.

I was only in Knoxville once. I will look you up again if I hit town at some point and check out the local establishments.

I actually live in Nashville. Well, Franklin, south of Nashville to be more exact. But, still...lemme know.
Lived in Knoxville for about 4.5 years.