CFB51 College Football Fan Community

The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: CatsbyAZ on January 22, 2021, 10:44:18 AM

Title: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on January 22, 2021, 10:44:18 AM
Let's get this year started as sensibly as possible: Pac 12 decides it's time to move on from Larry Scott!

After earning $40 million during his 11-year tenure, Scott leaves the Pac 12 with the Pac 12 network on life support; Scott's legacy is of over promoting Olympic sports (college tennis, waterpolo, etc) and striving to establish an international presence (especially in China) at the cost of both basketball and football falling to the bottom of P5 recognition.

OK Pac 12, time to let football and basketball lead again, lean on and promote the success of your big brands (USC Football), and figure out what to do about the Pac 12 network given the limitations. Maybe turn it into a streaming-only service?


https://pac-12.com/article/2021/01/20/pac-12-conference-announces-commissioner-larry-scott-conclude-term-commissioner

https://twitter.com/APlayersProgram/status/1352470153234026499

Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on January 22, 2021, 10:50:43 AM
What are your preseason prognostications regarding the divisional pecking orders? 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on January 22, 2021, 10:53:33 AM
Yeah, I think it's all about USC football. When they're down, the PAC is irrelevant.  

They should also consider just cancelling the time zone issue and just play games at 9am, noon, and 4pm only.  Forfeit a lil ticket sales for some national relevance. 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on January 22, 2021, 11:26:42 AM
The start times are rough. I'm in Utah, and some of these Utes games wouldn't even be at halftime yet by the time 10pm rolled around. So I'd throw in the towel, as I'd already been watching CFB off and on for the last 12 hours by that point. 

You shouldn't have to stay up until the wee hours of the morning in order to watch the local teams. 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 22, 2021, 11:55:53 AM
you would think the TV execs and accountants would be able to gauge the best times for ratings
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on January 22, 2021, 12:13:43 PM
I disagree with playing in the 9 AM PT slot, but think that PAC12 After Dark is just a terrible idea. 

Heck, I don't know how you Eastern Time Zone folks handle "primetime" games. Games start at 8 PM ET? College football games often exceed 3 1/2 hours... So you're up until nearly midnight to watch the highest-profile game of the week? 

I'd shoot for just the noon or 12:30 PT slot and the 5 PM PT slot. You have 12 teams. Nearly every one is "paired" in a geographical overlap of fandom, i.e. UW/WSU, OR/OrSU, Stan/Cal, UCLA/USC, AZ/ASU. The only one that really doesn't have a geographical overlap of fans are probably UT and Colorado.. Try to work the scheduling so that you don't schedule the teams in the same geo at the same time. So if UW is playing at noon, WSU should play at 5, or vice versa.

Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on January 22, 2021, 01:50:34 PM
Well the 9am thing is about how things are out west.  I was blown away that I could go to a sports bar and get a drink at 9am.  Games are on, why not PAC games?  
Especially coming from FL, where on Sundays, you can't get a drink until 1:00 on the dot.  
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on January 22, 2021, 01:55:03 PM
Florida is weird with booze. I've lived in Illinois and Wisconsin and save for a few municipal quirks, you could buy booze in a grocery store.

Here, it's only beer and wine. I have to go next door to Publix Liquors to buy booze. It's annoying. 

I'm calling Governor Ron on this.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on January 22, 2021, 01:57:29 PM
Governor Ron isn't much of a Governor. would love to help you, depending on your vote and donation amount.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on January 22, 2021, 02:07:20 PM
Well the 9am thing is about how things are out west.  I was blown away that I could go to a sports bar and get a drink at 9am.  Games are on, why not PAC games? 
Especially coming from FL, where on Sundays, you can't get a drink until 1:00 on the dot. 
Purely for the in-person fans. Nobody wants to be at a football game at 9 AM. You'd have no tailgate culture at all, because to tailgate you'd need to be in the parking lot before 7 AM to set up, and then you barely get any time to enjoy it. A lot of fans aren't going to want to get up at 6 AM on a Saturday, to have enough time to get showered, dressed (and for the ladies to get dolled up), to rush to a stadium for a 9 AM kick. 

Culturally we do have more acceptance of earlier start times for games on TV, and when the NFL teams go on the road to East Coast stadiums, we are used to watching the NFL at 10 AM--even our own teams. But when West Coast teams are playing at home, they never play before the 1:00 PM PT time slot.

If the NFL, which has a much bigger following in LA / SF / Seattle than college football in general doesn't want to have home games at 10:00 AM, how could it possibly be a good thing for the college football teams to be kicking off at 9:00 AM? I don't think it will work to make PAC12 football more popular. 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on January 22, 2021, 02:17:34 PM
I'm not sure there are enough PAC fans to make PAC football more popular.

USC ranked #20 in 2019 for attendance. Washington was #22. UCLA #24. Oregon #34. ASU #39.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on January 22, 2021, 02:35:46 PM
Right, and I already answered "how could it be a good thing" - sacrificing some ticket sales for NATIONAL relevance.  It's wrong and pretty stupid, but it may yield gains in ranking spots, awards, etc.  Maybe even the difference between being ranked 5th and 4th one year.
.
Plenty of eastern programs get talent from CA, but how often do west schools poach OH, FL, or LA?  And while I don't have evidence (again!), I'd venture a guess that more talent flows east than flows west.  If the little kid in Chattanooga who grows up to be a top recruit has never seen Washington play isn't going to sign with the Huskies.  
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on January 22, 2021, 03:18:13 PM
The west recruits Texas okay
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 22, 2021, 03:43:20 PM
Florida is weird with booze. I've lived in Illinois and Wisconsin and save for a few municipal quirks, you could buy booze in a grocery store.

Here, it's only beer and wine. I have to go next door to Publix Liquors to buy booze. It's annoying.

I'm calling Governor Ron on this.
another reason I'm moving to Texas and not Florida
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: utee94 on January 22, 2021, 04:06:32 PM
another reason I'm moving to Texas and not Florida
Texas is weird with booze too.  Sounds similar to Florida.

Grocery stores can only sell beer and wine.  And you can't buy after midnight (or 1 AM on Saturday night/Sunday morning).  And you can't buy booze before noon at a grocery store on Sunday, or 11 AM at a restaurant but only with a food purchase.

You have to go to a liquor store for hard liquor.  And no hard liquor can be sold anywhere, on Sundays.

Edit: You can buy cocktails at a bar on Sunday after 12-noon.  But you can't buy packaged liquor on Sundays.

Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on January 22, 2021, 04:08:28 PM
UTee... trying to get FF to move HERE.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: utee94 on January 22, 2021, 04:10:20 PM
UTee... trying to get FF to move HERE.
If Fearless is worried about weird booze laws, he'll have to avoid everywhere in the South.

California is probably where he needs to be, not sure they have any laws at all out there regarding purchase of hooch.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on January 22, 2021, 04:15:22 PM
If Fearless is worried about weird booze laws, he'll have to avoid everywhere in the South.

California is probably where he needs to be, not sure they have any laws at all out there regarding purchase of hooch.
I'm not sure if I can buy Everclear at the grocery store...

...because I've never looked. 

But we can buy hard booze at the grocery store. 

Seems you can buy pretty much anything else, anywhere, any time. 

Oddly all the people who think that selling liquor at the grocery stores, or having the big box booze shops like BevMo or Total Wine, will put the mom & pop liquor stores out of business haven't been to California. We've got plenty of those too. 

Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 22, 2021, 04:16:37 PM
some say if you are protecting your booze supply, you're an alcoholic

I say you're just smarter than the average drunk

Lincoln had a city ordinance back when I was living there, maybe still do, couldn't buy booze on Sunday.

Everyone knew to stock up or the nearest spot just outside of the city limits to restock
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on January 22, 2021, 04:19:19 PM
Right, and I already answered "how could it be a good thing" - sacrificing some ticket sales for NATIONAL relevance.  It's wrong and pretty stupid, but it may yield gains in ranking spots, awards, etc.  Maybe even the difference between being ranked 5th and 4th one year.
.
Plenty of eastern programs get talent from CA, but how often do west schools poach OH, FL, or LA?  And while I don't have evidence (again!), I'd venture a guess that more talent flows east than flows west.  If the little kid in Chattanooga who grows up to be a top recruit has never seen Washington play isn't going to sign with the Huskies. 
I dunno, most Eastern and Central time zone folks are more likely to watch any of their local teams than the Huskies, even if they're on TV in the noon time slot. 

Would maybe the 9 AM kick be better than PAC12 After Dark, for national relevance? Maybe. But I'd rather they avoid both time slots.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: utee94 on January 22, 2021, 04:22:25 PM
some say if you are protecting your booze supply, you're an alcoholic

I say you're just smarter than the average drunk

Lincoln had a city ordinance back when I was living there, maybe still do, couldn't buy booze on Sunday.

Everyone knew to stock up or the nearest spot just outside of the city limits to restock

Here you just learn to stock up on Saturday.  It only took a handful of rushed beer-runs during commercials of a Sunday noon-Central Cowboys game, before I learned the value of the Saturday stock-up.

As for hard liquor, well, if you're a grown adult and don't have a liquor cabinet stocked well enough to get you through a Sunday, then I think you're probably beyond help.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on January 22, 2021, 04:33:15 PM
Have I talked about the real deal here?

If it flies, bites, crawls or stings... it lives here. Year round.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on January 22, 2021, 04:35:15 PM
Nevada has some pretty lax alcohol laws. People walk up and down the streets drinking at all hours, day or night. 

What year are they moving the Pac 12 CCG to Vegas? 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 22, 2021, 04:50:33 PM
Have I talked about the real deal here?

If it flies, bites, crawls or stings... it lives here. Year round.
they have most of those things in Texas, but not all of them. and not as many.  too dry
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 22, 2021, 04:50:57 PM
Here you just learn to stock up on Saturday.  It only took a handful of rushed beer-runs during commercials of a Sunday noon-Central Cowboys game, before I learned the value of the Saturday stock-up.

As for hard liquor, well, if you're a grown adult and don't have a liquor cabinet stocked well enough to get you through a Sunday, then I think you're probably beyond help.

Amen!
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: utee94 on January 22, 2021, 05:00:02 PM
Have I talked about the real deal here?

If it flies, bites, crawls or stings... it lives here. Year round.
But the beaches are way nicer than Texas.

FF should definitely move there.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: MrNubbz on January 22, 2021, 05:07:10 PM
Well if FF is strolling around the beaches it automatically ups your  everyone's chances with the babes
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 22, 2021, 05:17:23 PM
the only thing close to a beach I'm strolling around are the sand traps on the golf course
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: utee94 on January 22, 2021, 05:21:03 PM
the only thing close to a beach I'm strolling around are the sand traps on the golf course
Better golfing in Florida too, I'm quite sure.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: MrNubbz on January 22, 2021, 05:30:12 PM


Well it all boils down to if FF wants to pal around with you and Bwarb in Austin or Badge,HB and Mdot21 in FLA
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on January 22, 2021, 05:31:28 PM
the only thing close to a beach I'm strolling around are the sand traps on the golf course
Bull crap, I saw you swimming with the mermaids. 



(https://bearmythology.blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/larry-the-cable-guy-merman.jpg)
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on January 22, 2021, 05:47:54 PM
the only thing close to a beach I'm strolling around are the sand traps on the golf course
Yeah, but you have to watch out for the alligators in the traps in FL, and I'm not talking about OAM. 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on January 22, 2021, 05:52:04 PM
Fearless has them covered too. 

(https://cropper.watch.aetnd.com/public-content-aetn.video.aetnd.com/video-thumbnails/AETN-History_VMS/21/184/History_Only-in-America-with-Larry-the-Cable-Guy_Larry-Gits-a-Gator_LF_HD_1104x622-16x9.jpg)
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: utee94 on January 22, 2021, 05:59:48 PM
Wait, isn't this thread supposed to be about how we can keep Bama in check?

Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 22, 2021, 08:26:30 PM
Bull crap, I saw you swimming with the mermaids.



(https://bearmythology.blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/larry-the-cable-guy-merman.jpg)
Larry moved from Nebraska to Florida
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 22, 2021, 08:28:28 PM
Yeah, but you have to watch out for the alligators in the traps in FL, and I'm not talking about OAM.
plenty of gators in South Carolina courses.  Those reptiles can just keep my golf ball.  I'll buy more
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on January 23, 2021, 12:34:41 AM

Florida's got Alligators AND crocodiles. 

(https://myfwc.com/media/14789/americancrocodile-map.jpg)
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on January 23, 2021, 02:06:04 AM
Don't forget about the unnatural python infestation, too.  Big ones - big enough to eat crocs and gators.  
Basically keep your ass in the fanboat if you tour the Everglades!
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 23, 2021, 10:09:20 AM
got no desire or intention of riding around in a fan boat in the Glades 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on January 23, 2021, 10:21:55 AM
Not me.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 23, 2021, 10:24:15 AM
rather take a cruise in Badger's boat in the gulf and the intercoastals
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on January 23, 2021, 10:33:50 AM
When I get one here. We just bought one for Kenosha, to live on in the summer.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on January 23, 2021, 10:37:42 AM
(https://media.kgw.com/assets/WTSP/images/132747068/132747068_750x422.jpg)
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on January 23, 2021, 11:58:34 AM
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.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on January 23, 2021, 12:42:30 PM
So it will be the Ducks vs the winner of the USC-UCLA game in the CCG? 

That sucks. 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on January 23, 2021, 12:57:10 PM
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.  
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on January 23, 2021, 12:58:10 PM
(https://media.kgw.com/assets/WTSP/images/132747068/132747068_750x422.jpg)
Alligators, while not as aggressive as crocs, have still been around for ~200 million years.  So they're doing something right.  
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on January 23, 2021, 01:14:52 PM
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.


(https://i.imgur.com/b3tzKbU.png)
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on January 23, 2021, 01:21:15 PM
Just float that bad boy down the Erie Canal, and then work your way down the Atlantic coast. 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on January 23, 2021, 01:25:54 PM

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

Nice
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 23, 2021, 01:41:33 PM
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
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 23, 2021, 01:42:57 PM
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
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on January 23, 2021, 02:10:51 PM
Pretty sure both of the critters in that pic are gators. But the larger one clearly is. 

(https://www.floridiannature.com/croc.jpg)
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on January 27, 2021, 10:36:40 AM
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.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: utee94 on January 27, 2021, 11:02:22 AM
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.

Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: ELA on January 27, 2021, 01:06:01 PM
Alligators, while not as aggressive as crocs, have still been around for ~200 million years.  So they're doing something right. 
So have cockroaches
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on January 28, 2021, 10:57:39 AM
“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.


Gonna quote myself this specific point ^^^ to see if anyone maybe wants to talk football? (Michigan is even mentioned.)

If not no worries. It’s fitting for the PAC 12 Football thread to diverge into anything and everything else – buying liquor on Sundays, alligators, boating – because for the past decade the PAC 12 powers that be also care about anything and everything else.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on January 28, 2021, 11:15:03 AM
Alright, back to the Pac South. 

You have USC and UCLA duking it out for the top spot. You have Utah and Colorado right behind them as the dark horses, most likely in that order. So you must not be high on either of the Arizona schools. 

So why are the Devils supposed to be so bad this year? Has Herman gone stale? Will your Wildcats be able to defeat them on the gridiron? 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on January 28, 2021, 06:17:41 PM
Former Husker assistant Mike Cavanaugh is reportedly joining the Arizona State staff as O-line coach.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on January 29, 2021, 11:34:49 AM
Alright, back to the Pac South.

You have USC and UCLA duking it out for the top spot. You have Utah and Colorado right behind them as the dark horses, most likely in that order. So you must not be high on either of the Arizona schools.

So why are the Devils supposed to be so bad this year? Has Herman gone stale? Will your Wildcats be able to defeat them on the gridiron?


This is how the pecking order in the PAC 12 South should look compared to the rest of the nation:

USC: Top 25

Arizona St, Utah, Colorado, UCLA: 35 - 55

Arizona: 65 - 75

None of these teams would do better than 7-5 in the Big Ten East.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: FearlessF on February 02, 2021, 01:19:07 PM
Nebraska football has reportedly found its new director of player development, and he is a face familiar to head coach Scott Frost.

Frost has hired Marcus Castro-Walker away from Arizona State to take the job the fourth-year head coach recently described to the Journal Star as “an all-encompassing” role, according to a FootballScoop report Monday evening.


_________________________________________________ _________________

any comments about this guy???
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on February 02, 2021, 08:45:54 PM
CFB in the MTZ is rough. 

Only 4 P5s, all in the Pac South along with the LA twins. The pecking order there is probably Arizona St, Utah, Colorado and Arizona. 

Then there's BYU; too big time for the Mountain West, but not big time enough for the Pac 12. 

Then there is the Mountain Division of the Mountain West, headlined of course by Boise, along with Air Force, Colorado St, Wyoming, Utah St and New Mexico. 

Then there is New Mexico St, who is the bad kind of FBS Independent in that nobody wants them in their conference. 

Bringing up the rear is UTEP, whose inclusion in the MTZ is more of a trivia question than anything else. Perennial CUSA-W doormat. 

After that you are down to the FCS Montana schools, and it only gets worse from there. A lot worse. 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on April 12, 2021, 09:44:51 AM
Crazy story out of USC's Spring practices (from Scott Wolf's Inside USC blog):

"A guy showed up off the street who wanted to be a walk-on and found his way inside the McKay Center. He got ahold of a helmet and jersey, etc., and went out to football practice.

He was actually catching punts when someone finally wondered who this guy was. Some USC staff detained him and then called campus security, which came and picked him up."



"I’ve had several conversations with a USC campus security source the past 2 days and was told the following based on conversations with the imposter:

1.) The imposter actually shared a jacuzzi at the McKay Center with other football players.

2.) He ate at the football dining facility without issue.

3.) He also slept for some time at a suite in the Coliseum. He was known to USC security because he was caught at the soccer field (McAlister Field) on 30th Street and Hoover."


https://insideusc.blog/2021/04/02/if-its-friday-its-time-for-a-usc-notes-column-103/

https://insideusc.blog/2021/04/08/24427/
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on April 14, 2021, 12:49:27 AM
https://twitter.com/InsideUSC/status/1382108446334406657
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on August 29, 2021, 10:48:03 AM
Yesterday UCLA blew out an overmatched Todd Graham coached Hawaii squad 44-10 in a mostly empty seated Rose Bowl to kick-off the Pac 12’s 2021 season.

I'm putting UCLA's over/under win total at 8.5. Bruins have 10 or 11 SRs starting on defense and return nearly all of their skill position production from the past two seasons.

‘Bout time Chip Kelly delivered in Westwood.

https://twitter.com/EmptySeatsPics/status/1431764597384560643


Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on August 29, 2021, 11:06:21 AM
The student section in the end zone was very well coordinated by shirt color. It almost looks like a tarp.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on September 08, 2021, 01:49:45 PM
Stanford only amassed 233 yards of total offense in a 24-7 loss Vs Kansas State last weekend. They were pushed around by K-State on both sides of the trenches. At this point the Cardinal looks pretty lifeless under David Shaw. With a tough schedule looming - their first four conference games are currently ranked USC, UCLA, Oregon and Arizona State teams. Shaw only 8-11 since the start of 2019. Least Stanford wasn't losing to Montana last weekend.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on September 19, 2021, 11:11:16 AM
Lots of letdown and underachieving across the Pac 12 this past weekend. Five more nonconference losses, four from non-P5 schools.

Starting with Colorado getting shutout by Minnesota 30-0.

In the late games Arizona State lost to BYU 27-17 in a game which was largely decided by two Jayden Daniels INTs, sixteen penalties, and ASU's defense getting gassed in the 4th quarter.

San Diego State beat Utah in overtime, 33-31.

Worst of all Arizona lost to Northern Arizona.

And in what might be the most exciting game of the day, Fresno State pulled out an unlikely late victory against UCLA, 40-37. Bulldogs QB Jake Haener had a game for the ages, throwing 39/53 for 455 yds against a Bruins pass rush that served him quite a beating.

https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1439496085215580160

With #13 UCLA losing, Oregon is the only Pac 12 program left to make national noise.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on September 29, 2021, 10:44:17 AM

This is how the pecking order in the PAC 12 South should look compared to the rest of the nation:

USC: Top 25

Arizona St, Utah, Colorado, UCLA: 35 - 55

Arizona: 65 - 75

None of these teams would do better than 7-5 in the Big Ten East.


I oversold the South, and by extension the North too.

To recap, USC is NOT Top 25, not even close. Not after getting blown out by Stanford and shelled by Oregon State 45-27 last weekend.

I was strong on UCLA after they gave LSU a beat down in a game powered by experienced quarterbacking and a defense starting 10 seniors. Chip Kelly was back, except it turns out LSU might not even be a Top 50 program, and besides, UCLA no sooner lost to Fresno State at home. Still, after controlling and eventually holding off a pesky Stanford squad last weekend, UCLA has the South’s inside track to Vegas.

Utah, along with Arizona State, are largely listless against anyone with a pulse. Their wins coming against overmatched programs. And in ASU’s case it’s worth wondering how much their investigation is keeping their season under the weather because it’s definitely put a dent in recruiting. The Sun Devils have recently lost THREE 4-star commits and are now down to a class of only 5 commits, ranked last in the Pac 12, and 95th nationally.

It’s barely worth mentioning how hopeless Arizona and Colorado are, with their mid-October matchup quite likely the last chance either program has at a win the rest of the way. I’m not sure either the Wildcats or the Buffaloes would do better than 4-8 if in the Mountain West.

https://twitter.com/realBJP/status/1441844229882351618

Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on September 29, 2021, 11:27:15 AM
Sounds like UCLA will run away with the Pac South. The rest of the division is a trainwreck. 

Does the Civil War decide the North? Or does Stanford get their rematch with the Bruins? 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on October 04, 2021, 10:43:41 AM
Sounds like UCLA will run away with the Pac South. The rest of the division is a trainwreck. 


Dating back to their Karl Dorrell tenure, UCLA has failed my fair expectations time and time again. The Bruins have both the conference’s most experienced defense and QB, along with a stud RB, and were ranked at home last Saturday night when they came out lifeless in the Second Half and laid down to an inconsistent Arizona State team.

Now Arizona State is in the driver’s seat at 2-0, but I wouldn’t be surprised if by this time next week, should an also hit-or-miss Stanford team win in Tempe this Friday, a Utah team with losses to BYU and San Diego St is in the forefront for the South.

And with previously #3 Oregon making mental mistake after mental mistake on their way to last Saturday’s loss to Stanford, it’s almost by design that the Pac 12 disqualifies itself from any practical chance at the CFB by Week 2 of conference play.

For any Pac 12 fans whining about how “unfair” it is for the SEC and Big Ten to get so much more attention, how about filling a stadium for once? Over the weekend’s two premier conference matchups, there’s acreages of empty seats in Palo Alto featuring the 3rd ranked Oregon visiting on an 80F afternoon. And in Pasadena the highly ranked home Bruins were playing for rare control of the division where half the stadium went unfilled. There hasn’t been a single sellout across Pac 12 this season. Show up to your games before fussing about other conferences.

https://twitter.com/ByPatForde/status/1444387135792971776

https://twitter.com/AthensLuke/status/1444495259614863373
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on October 04, 2021, 10:49:47 AM
Jeez. That is horrible.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: utee94 on October 04, 2021, 11:08:09 AM
Are California/West Coast mandates allowing full stadiums?

I mean, I know the PAC has a big problem with attendance anyway, dating back well before pre-COVID, but I'm not sure THIS season is the one to gauge them on.  
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on October 04, 2021, 11:38:56 AM
Are California/West Coast mandates allowing full stadiums?

I mean, I know the PAC has a big problem with attendance anyway, dating back well before pre-COVID, but I'm not sure THIS season is the one to gauge them on. 
A quick search from the googles suggests that UCLA has a mask mandate but doesn't mention capacity restrictions. Stanford appears to have a mandate for proof of vaccination or a negative test within the past 72 hours, but I didn't see capacity restrictions.

However, I'd highlight from local knowledge that LA County and the entire Bay Area collection of counties are about the most careful areas of California, and probably the country, when it comes to COVID. The Bay Area was first to announce lockdowns when this happened [before it occurred statewide], and has consistently been extraordinarily restrictive. LA County has been less so, but with the case numbers they have, are significantly more restrictive than anywhere in CA except the Bay. Both areas still have indoor mask mandates regardless of vaccination status. 

So I agree--this isn't exactly the season to gauge this on. The argument that you can make is that in some areas of the country, college football is more important than COVID, and obviously in LA and the Bay, that's simply not the case. Maybe that speaks to the apathy of fans out here, but I'd still argue that this is more about COVID than apathy.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on October 12, 2021, 10:46:25 AM
Was surprised to see ASU handle a Stanford team that can usually rally the horses and play smart. ASU felled the Trees in the same fashion as everybody else on their way to a 5-1 start – by outplaying them in the second half. ASU has outscored every opponent in the 2nd half, including in their losing effort to BYU. Credit the Sun Devil coaching staff’s proactive halftime adjustments for outscoring opponents 92-23 in 2nd halves.

At 3-0 ASU shares the top of the division with 2-0 Utah, with whom they play Saturday night.

In the North, 2-1 Oregon State leads the rest of the division by a half-game default: 2-2 Stanford, 2-2 WSU, #9 1-1 Oregon, and 1-1 Washington.

Cowherd says it all:

https://twitter.com/ColinCowherd/status/1444502267353128962
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on October 12, 2021, 12:31:54 PM
Who would win a three way tie between Ucla, Utah and Arizona St, whereby all three teams went 1-1 against each other? 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Mdot21 on October 12, 2021, 02:38:09 PM
USC finds the right coach they could take over in a jiffy. Great job because of tradition, location/proximity to crazy talent pool, and it's in what has to be maybe the easiest conference to come in and shake things up and dominate.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on October 12, 2021, 02:50:06 PM
Gruden to USC? O0
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on October 13, 2021, 12:45:51 PM
Who would win a three way tie between Ucla, Utah and Arizona St, whereby all three teams went 1-1 against each other?


(https://i.imgur.com/3MJrJEF.jpg)


In ACC news, Mack Brown is taking no responsibility for why his 3-3 North Carolina squad is the most disappointing squad in the nation:

From Outkick: “According to Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown, UNC football’s not to blame for the 35-25 loss on Saturday; rather, the media deserves to get the finger pointed at them for setting high hopes on the Heels’ season. Brown spoke with the media following the loss and gave an asinine excuse as to why the focus of the day’s loss should not be placed on sub-par coaching, or even poor player development by the coach. “My expectation is to win every game, so three times we’ve met it and three times we haven’t,” shared Brown, acknowledging his infamous string of losses (0-8) against his alma mater. “The national media’s expectation, the expectation for us to be a top-10 team, were wrong. So I guess we should all be critical of the media for picking us that high.”

https://twitter.com/Outkick/status/1447011520223793160
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on October 13, 2021, 04:06:42 PM
Oh, I meant the rock paper scissors scenario where UCLA, Utah and Arizona St all go 8-1; so ASU beats UCLA, Utah beats ASU and UCLA beats Utah. 

Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on October 17, 2021, 12:43:12 PM
Well we are a UCLA win over Utah away from the three-way rock paper scissors tie in the South. 

The Civil War looms large in the North, with Oregon and OSU3 tied atop the standings. Wazzou is one game back. 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on October 21, 2021, 10:13:38 AM
After my Arizona alma mater lost 34-0 to another bottom feeding Colorado team last weekend I haven't felt this hopeless about a team since Arizona’s 2011 road loss to Oregon State dropped the Wildcats to 1-5 (10 years ago to the week). Arizona had no DL, offense was disorganized, and the schedule offered no breaks. But the second half of the season still gave wins over UCLA and ASU and by next season the stadium was full again and the team was going to bowls and a lot of fun to watch.

It’s more and more likely Arizona doesn’t win another game this year, going 0-12 despite a Pac 12 continuing to be worse by the year and cannibalize itself at every chance. Arizona is down to fielding a wounded third stringer at QB, losing their first and second QBs in consecutive weeks. This is the most talent stricken Pac 10/12 team I’ve seen since Washington State’s Paul Wulff years.

Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 02, 2021, 10:17:45 AM
With control of the South at stake, UCLA played like dog logs on the road Vs Utah last Saturday. Lost 44-24 or something like that. Fell to 5-4 and loses grip on what was an attainable division title. Yet somehow year 4 of the Chip Kelly era is the Bruins' best so far. Football purgatory despite 10 seniors on defense and fielding among the nations most experienced and productive backfields.

Of course the last of a few beat writers who cover Bruins football are calling for Chip Kelly’s job. What doesn’t get through to Bruins fans, who along with the Washington Huskies are the conference’s whiniest fans, demanding 10 wins seasons, is that a 5-4, overpaid Chip Kelly is what Westwood DESERVES.

When UCLA (and the rest of the conference) can’t come close to filling a stadium (see below), when the LA Times only publishes a single UCLA Football article per week (usually offputtingly negative), when the state’s high school population is more interested in playing soccer, and when your TV deals and game ratings are dwarfed by the SEC and Big Ten’s, a 5-4 season is what’s DESERVEDLY just in the college football world.

Expecting a title contending coach overnight is as clueless as my DJ friend, who after months performing sets around LA (fittingly) telling me “my first vehicle that I’m going to purchase is a G-Wagon but I want it to be neon green.” This despite having no way to pay her $500 phone bill or overdue rent.

https://twitter.com/MarcKulkin/status/1454581703247237120
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on November 02, 2021, 10:32:51 AM
Utah and Oregon are each up a game, but November could obviously turn the whole thing on its ear. 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 03, 2021, 09:22:28 AM
To look at a SECOND team to listlessly cede control of the South over the weekend, Arizona State lost their homecoming game to a Washington State team who’s recently overturned coaching staff is helmed by an interim coach whose latest gig was Safeties coach at Wyoming. ASU was down 28-0 right before halftime and 34-7 in the 4th to emphasize a totally unprepared effort by the Sun Devils.

To think two weeks ago ASU was sitting pretty with a 5-1 W/L record, a Top 25 ranking, and a not-so-difficult schedule to hold pace of first in the South. Topping their collapse with the lingering investigation that’s sidelined a sizeable portion of their coaching staff, I think the Sun Devil’s roster has checked out. I for one don’t think Herm will be fired, as many fans are calling for, b/c AD Ray Anderson won’t fire his buddy. Rather it’s very likely Herm retires at the end of the season, especially as the NCAA investigation moves along.

TL;DR: M.O. of Pac 12 Football is flopping at the pole position and not showing face at home games:

https://twitter.com/jwa1994/status/1454528431803158528

Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 04, 2021, 09:12:20 AM
Remember not so long ago when Washington and Stanford were strong enough to win a run of the better New Year’s Day Bowls? And UCLA and USC weren’t far behind, a half decade ago? Well now, save for dink-n-dunk Oregon, whose equivalently unskilled coaching is overcome by a roster of NFL talent, the programs that could make the Pac 12 look more like the Big Ten conference have taken a step back and nobody is filling their shoes.

Last Saturday 3-4 Washington faced 3-4 Stanford in a nearly empty stadium (see below) in Palo Alto. The game itself was as dry as corn flakes until Washington’s QB Morris marched the Huskies 68 yards for a game winning drive, topped by an impressive, over-the-shoulder TD pass to go up 20-13. Don’t let anyone claim this was a defensive struggle; these were two clueless offenses.

Recruiting has waned for both programs, under Washington’s new coach Jimmy Lake, and Stanford is no longer signing the Christian McCaffrey, Zach Ertz, or Andrus Peat level talents anymore.

I have a hard time pegging a single Pac 12 program who’s trending upward these days. Oregon State has gradually scratched their way out of the ditch. Oregon and Utah will likely tread the top of their divisions going forward. But the rest of the conference is sinking in their own mire by a combination of serial underachieving (USC, UCLA, ASU) and inadequate rosters (Arizona, Colorado). As a whole the Pac 12 is tracking toward worse days before maybe having the chance to improve.

(https://i.imgur.com/2Smz3xb.jpg)
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 08, 2021, 10:01:42 AM
Fair or not, it took Cal sitting out 24 players and 5 coaches for my Arizona Wildcats to find the leverage for their first win of the season and break a 20 game losing streak. Even then nothing came easy. Arizona’s offense, on both of their only first half drives inside Cal’s red zone, committed fatal turnovers, leading to a 0-0 game at the half. This is the single ugliest game I’ve ever attended. Which is what I apologetically mentioned to the guy next to us, whom we found out was a tourist from Europe here in the Southwest for a several-months desert biking trip. Couldn’t’ve asked for a worse introduction to American Football.

Later in the game both teams finally traded FGs. On the Wildcats last meaningful drive their ground game, which was sniffed out by Cal’s DL all afternoon, finally broke open, capping a late drive with a 10 yard TD. By the time Cal had a chance to answer, Arizona’s defensive ends were teeing off against a worn out Cal OL and both of Arizona’s CBs kept up their pretty solid work of shutting down Cal’s downfield passing.

Tucson overall was gorgeous all weekend – the sun strong but the temps mild; by early November Arizona’s weather turns heavenly.


(https://i.imgur.com/LxmNoIL.jpg)
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 10, 2021, 09:52:33 AM
Of all the despair and crap football across the Pac 12 – Arizona’s 2-year losing streak, ASU’s NCAA investigation and firing of assistants and broadcasters, Washington State’s Covid firings, Stanford falling apart – no program might be having a worse past week than the Washington Huskies.

It is bad enough the Huskies lost at home to their rival Oregon, but before that both Universities released statements over Coach Jimmy Lake outright insulting Oregon’s academics: “Our [recruiting] battles are really – the schools that we go against are way more … have academic prowess, like the University of Washington. Notre Dame. Stanford. USC. We go with a lot of battles toe-to-toe all the way to the end with those schools. So I think that’s made up in your world. In our world, we battle more academically prowess teams.”

A day after that loss, OC John Donavan was canned. The Huskies offense had ranked 10th Pac 12 scoring, in total offense, in passing, and 11th in rushing. Penn State fans might remember Donavon as getting fired from James Franklin’s staff after the Lions offense finished 2014 113th nationally in scoring, good for last in the Big Ten.

If that isn’t enough, looking ahead to Saturday’s game Vs Arizona State, Coach Lake will be absent from the sideline as he serves a one game suspension for hitting one of his own players while separating him from a sideline scuffle Vs Oregon (see below).

Washington is 4-5, to include a home loss to Montana, and is far removed from their #20 preseason ranking. To be fair to Coach Lake, he seems like a genuinely good guy you want to root for and see succeed. This past week aside, he handles himself with dignity, sticks up for his players and fellow coaches, and faces the media with respect. But his mistakes have been self-inflicted, recruiting isn’t going well, and internal support is wearing thin. Not sure Lake survives the season.

https://twitter.com/NCAAFootballHQ/status/1457782500185423878
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: 847badgerfan on November 10, 2021, 09:59:27 AM
Ouch.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: MaximumSam on November 10, 2021, 10:01:53 AM
I'm jaded but when I see this all I think is Washington is trying to get out of paying him a buyout.
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on November 10, 2021, 12:32:55 PM
So do the Utes and Ducks split their upcoming two game series? Or does one team sweep the other? 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 11, 2021, 10:27:38 AM
I'm jaded but when I see this all I think is Washington is trying to get out of paying him a buyout.

Agree.

So do the Utes and Ducks split their upcoming two game series? Or does one team sweep the other?

Some (meaning myself) would argue that the real drama out West isn’t between Utah and Oregon, but rather, the drama is in how so many Pac 12 programs are bottoming out for various unfortunate reasons. For instance Cal: What was supposed to be this coming weekend’s Cal-USC game has been rescheduled for December 4th due to a COVID outbreak. From the source below: “Berkeley’s Department of Health confirmed 44 have tested positive for coronavirus and said the team didn’t take the proper measures to stop the spread. The department says it is working closely with university health officials to contain a major COVID-19 outbreak involving coaches, students and staff in the Cal Football program.”

This after Cal was out 24 players and 5 coaches for last Saturday’s trip to Tucson, which, by now is a surprise it was played.

https://twitter.com/SFnewsnow/status/1458335254263959554
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on November 11, 2021, 12:11:17 PM
Personally I am more interested in the football than the self inflicted (covid/political theatre) drama. 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on November 11, 2021, 12:13:30 PM
Is the CCG on for Vegas this year? 

Are there attendance restrictions in place? 

Might go if it's Utes-Ducks. 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 11, 2021, 06:39:15 PM
Is the CCG on for Vegas this year?

Are there attendance restrictions in place?

Might go if it's Utes-Ducks.

No. But Allegiant Stadium does require proof of vaccination. There is no mask policy.

Personally I am more interested in the football than the self inflicted (covid/political theatre) drama.


Sounds like Cal’s player’s have taken the Covid theatre stage against the Berkeley Dept. of Public Health's disruptive testing regulations (see below). Keep in mind Cal’s roster is 99% vaccinated, which evidently didn’t mitigate Covid’s spread to 44 players. The rumor mill is playing up the drama to wonder whether Bears’ coach Justin Wilcox bothers sticking around Berkeley, especially as several Huskies insiders are voicing confidence in Washington, given their troubles with Jimmy Lake, offering the job to Wilcox.

https://twitter.com/LucBequette/status/1458142012872425473






Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: ELA on November 12, 2021, 07:55:45 AM
Hasn't Wilcox been mediocre to bad at Cal?  Why would Washington want him?
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 12, 2021, 03:13:49 PM
Hasn't Wilcox been mediocre to bad at Cal?  Why would Washington want him?

When we agree that Washington doesn’t want Wilcox, let’s define which derivation of Washington we’re talking about. Huskie fans CERTAINLY don’t want Wilcox due to the plateauing at Cal you’ve pointed out, much like Sark’s (more on him in a moment). But I’ll slightly defend Wilcox’s mediocrity because he’s toughed out two winning seasons in an environment where Berkeley gives him nothing to work with.

After Wilcox took over a program dead in the water, he quickly delivered victories over rivals Stanford and Washington, earned long-awaited bowl bids in years two and three, and recruiting class rankings steadily improved from 70 to 42 to 43 to 39 to 28 all despite an administration that holds back their football program. This especially came to light during these past two Covid years when both the University and City of Berkeley have stonewalled football with unrelenting regulations which has led to mass sidelining of (vaccinated) players or outright cancelations of games.

No, Huskie fans don’t want him, but Wilcox would be a safe, stabilizing hire for a Washington administration (AD Jen Cohen) who doesn’t exactly shoot for the moon and can count on Wilcox not leaving anytime soon. Like Sark’s hirings at USC and Texas, how many times are we going to see administrations like the Longhorns, despite all the money in the world (over 200 million in annual rev – see posts from @Gigem (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1706) in Coaching changes thread), make unambitious and even lazy, DOA hires (again, Sark!!!)?

And as a side point that I really want to get across, it’s worth pointing out the difference between being able to do better for yourself (see LA Times commentary below: “UCLA can do much better than Chip Kelly”) and getting what you DESERVE. Yes UCLA, ASU, USC, etc can do better than 5-4 or 6-3 but what the more vocal core of Bruins, Sun Devils, and Trojans fans don’t understand is that treading 6 or 7 wins/year is what’s DESERVED! The stadiums are quite empty (see above images), the TV ratings are low, the local coverage is at a trickle, and across the Pac 12 landscape, the recruiting base hasn’t held up.

Washington might not want a flat-lining Justin Wilcox, but they deserve him.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2021-10-31/commentary-chip-kelly-is-nowhere-close-to-elite-and-ucla-can-do-much-better

Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 14, 2021, 11:18:06 AM
For all the frustration voiced this season by ASU fans (and I was with a few for last night’s game), last night the Sun Devils went into Washington and came out with a comeback win propelled by a dominant running game taking over in the 2nd Half. Despite the ongoing investigation and a homecoming collapse Vs WSU, this is a steady season for Herm. 7-3 & 5-2 in conference ranks ASU squarely at #3 across the Pac 12.

For more noteworthy Pac 12 context (Matt Zemek: https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/2021/11/08/mind-blowing-fact-emerges-about-herm-edwards-after-jimmy-lake-suspension/):

“I am not sure if I have ever come across a more improbable fact than the one I will shortly disclose to you. First off, let’s realize what is happening in the Pac-12 this football season.

We have had Washington State’s head coach essentially fire himself over a vaccine. He was told by his employer to take it. He refused. He didn’t get an exemption. Nick Rolovich clearly did not want to keep coaching Wazzu if it meant getting a vaccine. We have had USC fire its head coach, Clay Helton, two weeks into a season. We have now seen Washington suspend Jimmy Lake for a game due to inappropriate behavior this past Saturday night against Oregon.

It would be a wild and wacky year if just one of those three things happened within the course of a college football season. In the Pac-12 in 2021, all three have happened within two months. It’s absolutely insane: vaccine termination, Week 2 coach firing, one-game suspension for hitting a player, all in a two-month span. That’s so Pac-12 it hurts. It creates the mind-blowing fact I am about to drop on all of you:

Arizona State’s Herm Edwards will coach against three interim/acting/non-permanent head coaches in three consecutive games.

On Oct. 30 (Week 9), he coached against Jake Dickert, the interim coach at Washington State.

On Nov. 6 (Week 10), Edwards coached against Donte Williams, the interim coach at USC.

On Nov. 13 (Week 11), Herm will coach against Bob Gregory, the acting/temporary head coach for Washington while Jimmy Lake serves his one-game suspension.”

https://twitter.com/Jacob_Rudner/status/1459673895657562114
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on November 14, 2021, 02:40:49 PM
Ducks-Utes round 1 this week... 
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 14, 2021, 06:16:45 PM
I'm jaded but when I see this all I think is Washington is trying to get out of paying him a buyout.

And it sounds like he’s getting his buyout after UW decided to avoid the civil court risks of trying to fire Jimmy Lake for cause.

https://twitter.com/theScore/status/1460017066942029825
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 17, 2021, 10:42:17 AM
After another listless start which left the Bruins trailing hapless Colorado 20-10 at halftime last Saturday, UCLA roared back with 34 unanswered points to win 44-20, improve to 6-4, and qualify for their first bowl since 2017, which is a long time coming given this is year 4 under Chip Kelly.

Of note, UCLA might stupidly be in store for more than just a bowl bid (from YAHOO): “They have an easy finishing stretch with USC and Cal remaining, and 8-4 would be viewed as a strong improvement after 10 wins in Kelly’s first three years. It’s expected Kelly will be offered some sort of extension with a strong finish. Kelly is fiercely loyal to staff, so it’ll be interesting to see if the fate of embattled defensive coordinator Jerry Azzinaro factors into the calculus.” (https://sports.yahoo.com/2021-college-football-coaching-carousel-get-ready-for-a-chaotic-transformational-whirlwind-of-movement-191536455.html)

I’ve never heard of Jerry Azzinaro (partly by design – he refuses to interact with media) but his continued employment despite decades worth of underachieving defenses gives bizarre insight into Chip Kelly treating the UCLA job like a wine club for his long time buddies.

From SI: “The Bruins' scoring defenses have ranked No. 104, No. 116, No. 73 and No. 79 in the country over the past four seasons. Overall, Azzinaro's defenses have allowed 431.9 yards per game. That's the most by any UCLA defensive coordinator since Nick Aliotti, who had just one season of work in Westwood back in 1998.”

“Kelly was asked about his defensive coordinator's lack of public presence since arriving in Westwood before practice Wednesday, and he continued to show his support for Azzinaro. "It’s the United States of America, we’re not going to force anybody to do anything," Kelly said. "That’s his choice that he doesn’t want to speak to the media." And by making that choice, standing by it and having his friend come out and defend that choice on his behalf, Azzinaro continues to show a complete lack of maturity for a 63-year-old whose job is to lead young men on and off the field.” (https://www.si.com/college/ucla/football/secretive-historically-poor-tenure-of-ucla-dc-jerry-azzinaro-somehow-still-alive)

My sense tells me when Kelly was pursued by the higher paying, higher profile Gators job he had in mind all along to take the UCLA job precisely because there’s no way Florida fans would stand for Chip stockpiling his staff with underachieving buddies like he’s mostly getting away with in Westwood. Look at Florida firing Grantham this past week. No way Jerry Azzinaro lasts two seasons in Gainesville.

https://twitter.com/FootballByNikko/status/1459717748435472391
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 21, 2021, 11:58:43 AM
Emerging from this weekend all the Pac 12 talk will be of Utah blowing out #3 Oregon because it’s the only game with any national relevance. But in LA, despite the UCLA defense characteristically giving up nearly another 500 yards in another characteristically half-empty Pac 12 stadium (see below), the Bruins delivered a memorable win over their crosstown rival.

After a slow start on offense thanks to two early Dorian Thompson-Robinson (DTR) interceptions, UCLA’s senior experience took over. It didn’t do USC any favors that four first half ref-ing calls brought back explosive plays. Two offensive pass interferences after long pass catches, an ineligible man downfield after a long pass catch, and an overturned catch after a long pass catch. However, USC’s big play dependent offense strikes right before the half to keep the Trojans in the game, trailing the Bruins 28-17.

The Trojans held on through about the third quarter until UCLA scored at will in a rout that amounted to a 62-33 win. So much went right for UCLA in the second half. In one moment, DTR hurdled a defender to cross the goal line. In another moment, DTR picked up a flag for celebrating another TD by signing a fan’s hat in the endzone. Among other moments: Michigan transfer Zach Charbonnet ran for 167 yards on 28 carries, upping his season rushing total to over 1000 yds. A special teams player took his first chance at RB to score a 42-yd run. A fifth year UCLA walk-on got the game closing sack. And Chip Kelly was all crooked smiles when interviewed after the game saying “hi” to his mom on the east coast, and ending the interview with “Go Bruins.”

(https://i.imgur.com/EyDaQwJ.jpg)

Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on November 23, 2021, 12:09:59 PM
In what seems like a lost story amidst all the other badness of the Pac 12 this season, is anybody going to notice how far David Shaw and Stanford have fallen off??? Cal, with a large part of their roster emerging from Berkeley’s Covid protocol limitations, ripped apart Stanford last Saturday for over 600 yds on their way to a 41-11 route.

Earlier this season, at 3-2 and fresh off an early October win over a third ranked Oregon, Stanford has since lost SIX straight, FOUR of which by blowout. And if that isn’t bad enough, this Saturday Stanford hosts a Notre Dame squad intent on a blowout to impress the CFB Committee. With what might be the best Irish offense under Kelly, and coming off a 55-0 win over Georgia Tech in which Brian Kelly showed no signs of letting off the gas, how bad does Stanford’s season have to get before David Shaw’s job is put in question? I don’t hear any chatter from the usual beat writers questioning Shaw’s job status.

https://twitter.com/NickShepkowski/status/1462251652644225026


Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: betarhoalphadelta on November 23, 2021, 12:38:45 PM
In what seems like a lost story amidst all the other badness of the Pac 12 this season, is anybody going to notice how far David Shaw and Stanford have fallen off??? 
If Pac-12 football falls in the forest and nobody is around, does it make a sound?
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on December 01, 2021, 10:20:28 AM
Colin Cowherd, one of the few national level media voices that takes the time to follow and support college football out West, is ALL IN on Lincoln Riley to USC. Enthusiastically hosted him on his show yesterday.

“Why did Lincoln Riley leave Oklahoma? Listen, you want to get into the playoff? What’s the easiest route to the playoff? To battle Alabama and Georgia and LSU? Or to battle Oregon? You always want the best JOB in your conference. Alabama is the best JOB in the SEC. Ohio State despite this weekend is the best JOB in the Big Ten. Oklahoma for years was the best JOB in the Big 12 for years despite the Texas branding. And USC – look at the natties, the guys in the NFL, look at the conference championships, look at the Heisman winners, look at the downtown geography in Los Angeles. USC is easily, easily the best, most coveted job in the Pac 12 conference. Also know, if you star at USC it is a glamorous, high profile program. Networks are dying to put the Trojans on. Your next step will be to the NFL. Lincoln Riley to USC is a Grand Slam. He will win VERY quickly. And I get the move completely. Big game hunting, they landed their man.”

https://twitter.com/ColinCowherd/status/1465749101421621248
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on December 01, 2021, 10:24:14 AM
(https://www.sltrib.com/resizer/a76lej4U2HdXW4_mDuvTDmBwIq8=/1024x725/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/sltrib/5AKQM7ERVZGODPWFE5GI3SQDFA.jpg)
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on December 02, 2021, 11:38:44 AM
Overshadowed by USC hiring Lincoln Riley is the Washington Huskies hiring Fresno State’s Kalen DeBoer. The headlines are positive: “All We Hear is Purple: All DeBoer DeKalen Train,” “Fresno St announcer: UW Huskies land ‘real deal’ in Kalen DeBoer.” And Huskies fans themselves, the whiniest, most embittered fans west of the Rockies, seem tempered with DeBoer for now, even the idiot Huskies who stupidly expected Bob Stoops to pursue the job. It helps that DeBoer is putting the Portal to use to bring several top Fresno State players to Seattle (see below) to include QB Jake Haener who previously played for Washington. Not sure if I’ve ever heard of a player transferring back to the school they’d previously transferred from.

DeBoer is a Midwest guy, coaching in South Dakota off and on since the 90s, and mixing in stops at Southern Illinois, Indiana, and Eastern Michigan before heading out West. If his time in Seattle goes well don’t be surprised if Big Ten country bids DeBoer back.

https://twitter.com/WestCoastCFB/status/1465867062975164417
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on December 03, 2021, 10:37:48 AM
Another born & raised Midwest guy gets a Pac 12 job. Jack Dickert was officially named as Washington State’s acting head coach after piloting the Cougars to a 3-2 finish and a 40-13 blowout over rival Washington in the Apple Cup. Dickert was coaching on an interim basis thanks to Nick Rolovich’s refusal to vaccinate prompted his midseason firing. Until 2020 Rickert had never held a P5 coaching position, instead working his way up the ranks at Midwest outposts of North Dakota State, South Dakota, Southeast Missouri State, Augustana, and Minnesota State before Craig Bohl hired him as a defensive coach at Wyoming.

Washington State’s crushing of the Huskies certainly shored up Dickert’s hiring, as Cougars fans rushed the field in Seattle, a sentiment celebrated in spiteful terms by Cougars super fan and columnist Jim Moore whose Tacoma editorial was a mocking letter to Washington’s AD:

“Dear Jen Cohen, Just wanted to write to thank you for the colossal mess you’ve created at Washington and to offer some neighborly advice. I admit to being pathetic, enjoying Husky heartache as much as Coug success, and at the Apple Cup this year, we got a whole lotta both. It’s unbelievable, Jen — you’re usually blowing our doors off, yet there we were blowing yours off last Friday, posting the biggest Washington State win in Apple Cup history. That must have been hard for you to watch in your athletic director suite, seeing fans from your cross-state rival frolic on your field after the 40-13 victory.”

Now that’s some level of petty we should all strive for.

https://twitter.com/cougsgo/status/1465484683794214915


Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: CatsbyAZ on December 06, 2021, 08:39:41 AM
In the aftermath of Oregon’s embarrassing blowout loss to Utah in last Friday’s Pac 12 Championship game, all attention shifted to the job status of Mario Cristobal, who, it turns out, was getting recruited since last month by Miami for the head coaching job that as of now – isn't it still filled by Manny Diaz? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a school openly hire a coach while a current, non-interim coach is still employed.

Cristobal was born in Miami, played for the Hurricanes and will now earn a reported $8M/yr because, you know, Miami’s way of making a splash is overpaying a slightly above average coach to win the headlines alongside the bloated +$90M contracts handed out by LSU, USC, and Michigan State. And Miami, for their veiled searching efforts, blocked their university’s private jet’s movements from flight tracking websites (see below). I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that either.

As for Oregon, this is a bunch that wasted no time running off Mark Helfrich after his big title run and never appreciated their Justin Herbert led Rose Bowl run two seasons ago. The Ducks deserve to get dumped.

Oregon’s early primary target is speculated as Chip Kelly, currently 18-25 at UCLA, as though the Ducks don’t realize this in no way is the same Chip Kelly from their success a decade ago.

https://twitter.com/Deadspin/status/1467254154464616449
Title: Re: 2021 Pac 12 Thread
Post by: Cincydawg on December 06, 2021, 08:49:49 AM
I had a notion Kelly might do pretty well out there.