UF star Spikes rips Big 12 defenses, USC and more

2009-09-08T11:20:21-04:00

2009-01-06T13:54:44-05:00

445

2009-01-06T13:54:43-05:00

2009-01-19T16:26:39-05:00

238

200mphrocker

Harlingen 622271

460 LAst Word, SEC baby. 4041526

2009-01-08T16:29:52-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/359/734/thumb/Gators.jpg 42 FL

EddieD

Boca Raton 360174

If OSU puts together a string of 1 loss seasons, with those losses coming to Michigan, Tressel will be out of a job.Conference rivalries are what it's all about. The NC, like other people have pointed out due to it being an "invitation", is more or less an "exhibition game".

455 Even if he wins a National Championship(s)? I find that hard to believe. Conference rivalries are great but they are just a stepping stone to the bigger prize. As for the NC being an "exhibition game" because it's by "invitation" then by your definition ALL bowl games are exhibitions because ALL bowl games are by invitation. Do you think there would be such passion for these games if they were thought of as exhibitions? I'm assuming you're a Buckeye fan. If so, did you consider your BCS title games against Florida, LSU, and Miami exhibition games? I like your posts but I think you're way off-base on this one T-Bone. 3912447

2009-01-09T05:04:00-05:00

636

thebone

No City 206408

As for the NC being an "exhibition game" because it's by "invitation" then by your definition ALL bowl games are exhibitions because ALL bowl games are by invitation. Do you think there would be such passion for these games if they were thought of as exhibitions? I'm assuming you're a Buckeye fan. If so, did you consider your BCS title games against Florida, LSU, and Miami exhibition games? I like your posts but I think you're way off-base on this one T-Bone.

459 A few other things. 1. That isn't my definition. Note my usage of quotation marks > [The NC, like other people have pointed out due to it being an "invitation", is more or less an "exhibition game".] 2. That's quite an assumption to make about who I cheer for. Not even close. In fact, about as far as you can get from OSU. 3. I notice you left out the Mack Brown vs Oklahoma part. I'll speak in your language - Ron Zook. If Zook does better in rivalry games, he goes to an SEC championship or two, and he doesn't get canned so quickly. Winning the conference is in the team's hands (unless it's the Big 12). Bowl games, even the NC to an extent, is an invitation. The BCS has a formula, sure, but voting plays a major role, thus, the only way a team can get their is.......take care of business in the conference and hope you get the votes. You kind of have to win your conference before you can be considered NATIONAL champion. P.S. What were Urban Meyer's main goals when he arrived at Florida ? 3919873

2009-01-08T16:29:52-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/359/734/thumb/Gators.jpg 42 FL

EddieD

Boca Raton 360174

2009-01-08T21:49:41-05:00

636

thebone

No City 206408

Even if he wins a National Championship(s)? I find that hard to believe. Conference rivalries are great but they are just a stepping stone to the bigger prize. As for the NC being an "exhibition game" because it's by "invitation" then by your definition ALL bowl games are exhibitions because ALL bowl games are by invitation. Do you think there would be such passion for these games if they were thought of as exhibitions? I'm assuming you're a Buckeye fan. If so, did you consider your BCS title games against Florida, LSU, and Miami exhibition games? I like your posts but I think you're way off-base on this one T-Bone.

458 How exactly can they win the NC if they lose to Michigan ? They end their seasons against each other. The only way your scenario could happen is if Michigan is 1, OSU 2, OSU loses by just a few points, the rest of the football world falls off the face of the earth and somehow they get a rematch. Impossible ? No, it's happened before (1996 Gators vs Seminoles) but those two weren't conference foes. Voters tend to value conference championships so the rest of FBS would have to really suck it down the stretch for a Michigan OSU rematch to happen in a national title game. Otherwise, OSU isn't winning any national titles if they don't beat Michigan 3916795

2009-01-08T13:50:48-05:00

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jelly donut

No City 604743

I'm a little confused. Every BCS championship game has featured 2 teams that went "straight into the NC game". No teams have ever had to play 2 playoff games to get there and in most years there are teams with the same or fewer losses that have been shafted. (i.e; this year Utah, USC and Texas). Hence, the need for a playoff. In fact, it can be argued that the SEC and Big-12, both of which have a conference championship game are the only one's who have a "playoff" game. Please clarify.

449 See Quote #440. The guy makes a good case although he left out that Oklahoma has 3 times got into the NC game when there were other teams with the same number of losses. In 2003 Oklahoma lost the conference championship game and still got in the NC game. I'm not saying the SEC teams don't deserve to be in the NC games, just that the polls almost always favor Oklahoma and the SEC. In week 7 this year Florida jumped from #11 to #5 in the AP for beating LSU. It's as though the polls feel the need to keep 2 SEC teams in the top 5 at all times. When they took LSU out, they put Florida in. 3908843

2009-01-08T19:18:16-05:00

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jelly donut

No City 604743

See Quote #440.

457 To EddieD- Sorry, dude. I was in a hurry to get off the computer and didn't check my typing. I meant Quote #400, not 440. 3915103

2009-01-08T14:24:29-05:00

636

thebone

No City 206408

Fair enough. I'll assume that winning a NC still takes priority over beating Michigan. That is; losing to Michigan but winning the NC would be preferable to beating Michigan but losing the NC game.

450 I am not so sure it does. Lloyd Carr was a hero.....until Tressel came along and routinely beat him. Mind you, getting to the NC usually meant one beating the other. But John Cooper was fired because he usually always had top 10 teams, but couldn't beat Michigan. Carr got fired because he couldn't beat Tressel. If OSU puts together a string of 1 loss seasons, with those losses coming to Michigan, Tressel will be out of a job. Conference rivalries are what it's all about. The NC, like other people have pointed out due to it being an "invitation", is more or less an "exhibition game". Remember when Mack Bown was on the hot seat a few years back ? Winning the NC wasn't what got him off the hot seat - snapping a long losing streak to Stoops did it. 3909337

2009-01-08T16:29:52-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/359/734/thumb/Gators.jpg 42 FL

EddieD

Boca Raton 360174

2009-01-08T15:04:26-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/480/605/thumb/BB_4761_10.jpg 8757 FL

CRIMSONandTNERB

Orlando 481045

Before you jump all over me for being a biased Gator; I work for a large company that is based in Dayton, Ohio and am friends with dozens of Buckeye alumni and they are all tired of Tressel getting outcoached and the players being outhustled in big games that turn into blowouts. Their words, not mine. Bottom line: in top tier programs like UF, USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, LSU, etc. getting there is not enough...you gotta win it. And, yes, I know you won it all in 2002 (aided by a very favorable call from the ref) but that was 6 seasons ago. Unless you're Bobby Bowden or Joe Paterno, I'd be worried.

451 My take...there are 119 Div-I schools....2 make to the title game.....117 schools WISH they were there..... 3910236

2009-01-08T16:21:59-05:00

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jwb182

Biloxi 656480

My take...there are 119 Div-I schools....2 make to the title game.....117 schools WISH they were there.....

454 It's one thing to wish you were there. I am from Ole Miss and of course I WISH we were in the championship, but of course realistically that can't happen this year so I don't EXPECT us to be there. That's where the problems arises - every team in the top 10 thinks they should be in the NC, when statistically, solely on their conference and stats, they have no right being there. Biases aside, OSU should not expect to be in a championship game for 3-5 years with the performances they keep giving in BCS games. What if Texas Tech got a bid? They couldn't even beat us in the cotten bowl. The only team I see with any argument at all would be Texas, but statistically they weren't as advanced as OK was this season, even though they did beat them. Lets face it, voters look at past performances and records when deciding who wins the tiebreaker for the NC. Perhaps this is why Utah isn't in it. They came virtually out of nowhere and, to the voters, one solid season from an unknown team doesn't constitute a bid to the NC. 3912262

2009-01-08T12:23:14-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/480/605/thumb/BB_4761_10.jpg 8757 FL

CRIMSONandTNERB

Orlando 481045

As a recent graduate from ole miss, i'm having a difficult time restraining my laugher at these kids raving about big 12 and pac 10. First, all of this USC talk - Are you kidding? When's the last time they won a championship, oh and before you say 2004, they were CO-champs - shared with an SEC team. Look at their conference, who is so unbelievable every year that they can't go undefeated? Oregon state? Arizona? Please, those teams struggle for recruitment and get Tier 3 players every year. USC simply can't finish and get themselves to a national title game. That's the fact. Next, after bearing 4 pathetic losing seasons at Ole Miss, I am the first to tell you that we had coaching problems mixed with misinformed, blatantly arrogant alumni thinking they could run the team. But for some moron to say a loss to us is worse than a loss to oregon is a joke. In case you have been unconscious for the past 4 months, we beat florida in their home stadium. We embarassed texas tech in their own state. And we owned lsu in their own stadium, all in one season under a brand new head coach. Oh and our 4 losses, all were with a combined 19 points. What has USC done? I'll tell you, they've proven once again they can sit in their comfort zone and play their weak conference opponents and again fail to come out with an undefeated season. Anyway, all of you big 12 fans can gawk at how great your conference is, and I'm still not sure why any of you think you have the right to because there's nothing special about any team in it except possibly Texas, but I'm just curious after tonight when florida embarasses OU, what will your excuse be then?

439 When your done REWQRITING this year's college football season, why don't you start and rewrite your state's embarassing history....If states were in conferences, you guys would be in the sun belt.... 3907031

2009-01-08T16:09:50-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/655/840/thumb/images.jpg 48 MS

jwb182

Biloxi 656480

When your done REWQRITING this year's college football season, why don't you start and rewrite your state's embarassing history....If states were in conferences, you guys would be in the sun belt....

453 Out of pure curiosity, what does my state's history have to do with ANYTHING we are talking about, which would be football in case your undersized brain didn't compute that by now. And last I checked, Ole Miss is in Mississippi and we've had 0 trouble getting solid recruits at any point in "my state's history". So obviously something here is attracting oustanding athletes, moron. 3911905

2009-01-08T15:04:26-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/480/605/thumb/BB_4761_10.jpg 8757 FL

CRIMSONandTNERB

Orlando 481045

451 My take...there are 119 Div-I schools....2 make to the title game.....117 schools WISH they were there..... 3910236

2009-01-08T15:42:33-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/359/734/thumb/Gators.jpg 42 FL

EddieD

Boca Raton 360174

My take...there are 119 Div-I schools....2 make to the title game.....117 schools WISH they were there.....

452 This poses an interesting question: Assume your team finishes the regular season 12-1. Would you rather your team plays in the BCS title game and loses... or your team plays in a slightly lesser bowl (Rose, Orange, Fiesta, Sugar) and wins - thus ending their season on a high note and with a better overall record. What do you think? 3911196

2009-01-08T13:46:10-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/359/734/thumb/Gators.jpg 42 FL

EddieD

Boca Raton 360174

When OSU starts losing to Michigan, then it's time to worry.Tressel will never be John Cooper until Michigan starts upsetting their seasons.

448 Fair enough. I'll assume that winning a NC still takes priority over beating Michigan. That is; losing to Michigan but winning the NC would be preferable to beating Michigan but losing the NC game. 3908694

2009-01-08T14:24:29-05:00

636

thebone

No City 206408

Fair enough. I'll assume that winning a NC still takes priority over beating Michigan. That is; losing to Michigan but winning the NC would be preferable to beating Michigan but losing the NC game.

2009-01-08T13:37:27-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/359/734/thumb/Gators.jpg 42 FL

EddieD

Boca Raton 360174

Ironic, isn't it. The Pac-10 and Big-10 are propping up the system (BCS) that allows the bias in the polls against the Pac-10/Big 10 to put LSU (twice), Oklahoma (twice) and Florida (this year) straight into the NC game when there are other teams with the same number of losses. Florida and LSU deserve their NC game wins, but due to the BCS they didn't have to play the first two rounds of a playoff to get there.I agree the Rose Bowl - clinging to an archaic idea they're still special - is part of the problem. Reminds me of Notre Dame and their idea they should remain independent.

447 I'm a little confused. Every BCS championship game has featured 2 teams that went "straight into the NC game". No teams have ever had to play 2 playoff games to get there and in most years there are teams with the same or fewer losses that have been shafted. (i.e; this year Utah, USC and Texas). Hence, the need for a playoff. In fact, it can be argued that the SEC and Big-12, both of which have a conference championship game are the only one's who have a "playoff" game. Please clarify. 3908548

2009-01-08T13:50:48-05:00

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jelly donut

No City 604743

445

<div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://img.fannation.com/upload/si_blog_post_images/t1_spikes16.jpg" alt="T1_spikes16" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: left;">Florida's Brandon Spikes has no trouble speaking his mind.<br />Tim Larson/Icon SMI<br /></div> </div> <p>FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- In 10 years of covering BCS title games, I can't ever remember there being this much smack-talk among the players leading up to the game. (Perhaps it helps that the Ohio State Robots -- er, Buckeyes -- aren't here this time.) The chief orator, without question, has been Florida linebacker <strong>Brandon Spikes</strong>.<br /> <br /> Mind you, Spikes hasn't taken any specific shots at Oklahoma or any of its players. He does, however, have some pretty strong opinions about the Sooners' conference, starting with ...<br /> <br /> "I think Big 12 defenses are a joke," said Spikes.<br /> <br /> Is that so, Brandon? Do expound.<br /> <br /> "It's just a really big difference when you watch the film. You can just tell, when you put a Big 12 tape in, you can see the difference [in athletes]. Defense, offense, special teams. When they punt the ball, it takes the guys on their coverage team a little bit longer to get down the field than the SEC. I'm not trying to be cocky about the SEC. It's just what I see with my own eyes."<br /> <br /> More Spikes:<br /> <br /> On the high scores in the Big 12: "When I watch SportsCenter and I see the scores, it's just ridiculous. It's kind of like basketball scores. You don't really get too many high scores in the SEC. The best defenses win the games."<br /> <br /> On <strong>Pete Carroll</strong>'s comments that no one can beat USC right now. "We lost a game in the SEC. Who did USC lose to? [Reporter: Oregon State.] Exactly. Of course he's going to say that, he's the head guy, he's riding high, but he just beat Penn State. (Derisively) Penn ... State. (More derisively) Penn ... State." <br /> <br /> On Ole Miss upsetting Texas Tech: "I knew that was going to happen. Texas Tech, they were putting up 50 [points per game], too. Then they play an SEC school -- that kind of stops. Then the Ole Miss offense looked like they were going against their scout team.<br /> <br /> "Big 12 defenses -- I just feel like they're a joke."<br /> <br /> I guess we'll find out Thursday night.</p> 38302 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/940/61/thumb/mandel_stewart.jpg 2 NY

Stewart Mandel

New York 94361