2021 Pac 12 Thread

[Brutus Buckeye]

[CatsbyAZ]

What are your preseason prognostications regarding the divisional pecking orders?

It's way too early for projections. Too much is still pending when it comes to potential transfers, opt-out returns, and how many players will take advantage of the added year of eligibility. Final rosters are very uncertain. 

However...

USC is supposed to be good but they live and die by the big play and can't control tempo. Oregon will get by on a lot of talent but are poorly coached and undisciplined much like the Lane Kiffin/Sark coached USC teams of 5 - 10 yrs ago. Arizona State and UCLA finally have the talent and stability to greatly improve, especially if they can limit the lack of mental toughness that at times has cost them games these past 3 seasons. And pollsters will likely preseason-rank Washington high, but their new coaching staff is a big downgrade and their roster is in flux. I have zero idea what Michigan can expect to face when the Huskies visit Ann Arbor this September.

[Brutus Buckeye]

So it will be the Ducks vs the winner of the USC-UCLA game in the CCG? 

That sucks. 

[OrangeAfroMan]

When I get one here. We just bought one for Kenosha, to live on in the summer.

Luckily, at any given time, there are an infinite number of boats for sale in FL.  

[OrangeAfroMan]

Alligators, while not as aggressive as crocs, have still been around for ~200 million years.  So they're doing something right.  

[847badgerfan]

Luckily, at any given time, there are an infinite number of boats for sale in FL. 

You'd be surprised how little inventory is out there, and how quickly it sells - normally with a bidding war.

"Everyone" is buying boats (and RV's) right now because of the virus.

I suspect there will be glut on the market next year, which is when I plan to get my Florida boat.

[Brutus Buckeye]

Just float that bad boy down the Erie Canal, and then work your way down the Atlantic coast. 

[OrangeAfroMan]

I suspect there will be glut on the market next year, which is when I plan to get my Florida boat.

Nice

[FearlessF]

Alligators, while not as aggressive as crocs, have still been around for ~200 million years.  So they're doing something right. 

most of them steering clear of large crocs

[FearlessF]

I'd hoped there'd be a glut of used C6 Vettes on the market since the 2020 and 2021 Vettes are being produced

not so far, but I'm a patient man

[Brutus Buckeye]

Pretty sure both of the critters in that pic are gators. But the larger one clearly is. 

[CatsbyAZ]

So it will be the Ducks vs the winner of the USC-UCLA game in the CCG?

That sucks.

Arizona St, Stanford, Washington could make a run too. Maybe Colorado or Utah.

I have consistently preseason-overrated UCLA dating back to Neuheisel’s 2008 hiring, mostly because of how much better UCLA recruits than the Arizona schools, but for a harbinger of where the PAC 12 might be headed (spoiler: mediocrity), let’s walk through this UCLA article from the LA Times, the only industry publication bothering to cover UCLA football these days.

UCLA’s [AD] Martin Jarmond remains a big believer in Chip Kelly: https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2020-12-29/ucla-martin-jarmond

“The Bruins athletic director Tuesday lauded the team’s upward trajectory under coach Chip Kelly, saying it was on the rise despite a 3-4 record last season that resulted largely from a handful of agonizing finishes. “I liked the energy with the team and the fight,” Jarmond told The Times in a wide-ranging interview regarding the state of a football program that recently completed its first season under his watch.” – this out to tell you everything about how UCLA football views itself these days. Going from 4-8 to 3-4 now counts as improvement in the Westwood. Keep that in mind.


“Kelly has two years remaining on a contract that includes a $9-million buyout expiring Jan. 15, 2022, terms that would make it difficult to dismiss the coach at a time while other top candidates were available without absorbing that massive payout. Jarmond wouldn’t comment on possible extension talks with Kelly that could include a revision of his buyout clause except to say he had “no news to report on that front.” – Michigan extending Harbaugh’s contract in order to lower(?) his buyout is something I suspect a LOT of ADs (especially in the PAC 12) also want to do because it lowers the financial fallout of firing a coach while also providing not only an appearance of internal stability (especially for the sake of recruiting) but giving an impression of a positive relationship between the AD and the Coach. It’s thus good business sense for Jarmond to publicly praise Kelly despite a 10-21 record in Westwood. Same scenario is going on at USC.


“History says that Jarmond doesn’t settle for sustained mediocrity. At Boston College, Jarmond dismissed coach Steve Addazio after Addazio posted a .500 record, the Eagles going to six bowl games in seven seasons. Reminded of that decision, Jarmond said it had no bearing on his evaluation of Kelly.” – this is where I call editorial BS, because Addazio’s insistent mediocrity (44 - 44 in SEVEN seasons) should’ve been dealt with earlier by Jarmond. However, it’s a telling statement because it reveals what will now fly in the lowered football standards of the PAC 12. As long as football brings in balanced financials, avoids costly buyouts, and *mostly* wins, a 7-6 coach will get a long leash from the University and the casual public who, out West, care about others matters. Sustained football mediocrity will in fact now be settled for across the PAC 12 even if the two dozen regular comment-posters on the Bruins/Bears/Buffalos/Beavers SBNation blogs demand otherwise.

[utee94]

I'd hoped there'd be a glut of used C6 Vettes on the market since the 2020 and 2021 Vettes are being produced

not so far, but I'm a patient man

With so little international/exotic travel, people with disposable income, are looking way closer to home, for their spending desires.  Luxury and recreation products and activities that lend themselves to personal use, or isolated family use, are in high demand.

So boats, RVs, domestic vacation properties, "fun" vehicles, are all selling quickly, and for high dollars.  For similar reasons, exercise and outdoor equipment are in short supply as well.

As badge points out, in another 1-2  years, a lot of those people are going be selling, because they either realize they didn't use it as much as they planned, or they can now spend their recreational dollars elsewhere, on foreign travel or whatever.  So I'd anticipate prices to fall dramatically on luxury items at that point, especially on the secondary market.

[ELA]

Alligators, while not as aggressive as crocs, have still been around for ~200 million years.  So they're doing something right. 

So have cockroaches