Death to Google Ads! Texans Talk Tip Jar! 🍺😎👍
Thanks for your support!

College Football Primer

thunderkyss

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
I'm not too big into college sports. But at the end of the NFL regular season, I always feel... unsatisfied.

I want to watch more football, so I'm opening myself up to college football.

It's not that I haven't tried before, but for some reason, I can't get into it.

So I need help.

When you watch, do you feel a connection to a particular team?? Or are you looking for individual players??

Do you only watch the national televised games, or the regionals??

Does a particular conferance catch your eye??

So many college games turn out to be blow-outs, and I find myself wondering why I'm watching in the first place.
 
thunderkyss said:
I'm not too big into college sports. But at the end of the NFL regular season, I always feel... unsatisfied.

I want to watch more football, so I'm opening myself up to college football.

It's not that I haven't tried before, but for some reason, I can't get into it.

So I need help.

When you watch, do you feel a connection to a particular team?? Or are you looking for individual players??

Do you only watch the national televised games, or the regionals??

Does a particular conferance catch your eye??

So many college games turn out to be blow-outs, and I find myself wondering why I'm watching in the first place.
Click to expand...

I watch it to look for prospects. I'm not a fan of one team and I root for all Texas teams, Red Radiers,Longhorns,Aggies,Cougars,etc. I like college football but I like the excitement and the level of play in the NFL better.
 
steroids said:
I went to UT, so thats a no brainer. If you went to college at a big football school, you would know why the passion exists. Its unlike anything else in sports.

Things to watch for to make it fun:

- Upsets. Who doesn't love watching Stanford beat USC?
- Rivalry games. The NFL can't hold a candle to what rivalries mean in CFB.
- The SEC. If you don't love SEC football, you don't love football. Saturday night showdowns between any combination of Tenn, LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia etc are just AWESOME.
- Tracking prospects towards the draft. Is the draft fun when you know all the players in the first round? You bet. You know how much more fun it is when you know them through round 5 or 6? I do.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Yeah everything that Steroids said is pretty much true. I'll add that

*When you do follow a team it is interesting to see which 4 to 5 star players really step up and answer the hype and which ones are college busts.

*Most players want to succed in college more because they have nothing and have all the motivation in the world to play their best, so competition is at it's greatest.

NEGATIVE ASPECTS

*Well the horrible BcS will always ruin a lot of aspects at the end of the season because certain teams get cheated while others get unfair rankings. You don't get to see who the best is because their is no single elimination tournament like in every other sport which is completely pathetic.

*Some conferences have a conference championship game to decide who wins the conference while other conferences just award the conference championship to who is the highest ranked team after a certain amount of games usually with the best record.

Overall I love college football, but the BcS really does annoy me every single season, but I still watch and enjoy the competition.
 
Why would you not watch Tx Tech Grahm Harrell throw for 500+ yards every game and see Michael Crabtree haul in 200+ rec yards? Its a different animal than the NFL, a lot more emotion in the players and the crowd. I love it!
 
I follow Kansas for obvious reasons. If Kansas is not in the game, I will root for any Texas team. Personally, I am not a huge fan of Big 10 football or Big East football, though I do like South Florida. I am a big fan of Miami football. Also, you have to love SEC football, that is a defensive conference, and that is football.
 
YoungTexanFan said:
I follow Kansas for obvious reasons. If Kansas is not in the game, I will root for any Texas team. Personally, I am not a huge fan of Big 10 football or Big East football, though I do like South Florida. I am a big fan of Miami football. Also, you have to love SEC football, that is a defensive conference, and that is football.
Click to expand...

Agreed about the SEC and about the Big 10. The Big 10 is hard to watch.
 
TexanSam said:
Agreed about the SEC and about the Big 10. The Big 10 is hard to watch.
Click to expand...

I like the atmosphere with Big 12 football, but I'm not a huge fan of the spread in a football purest standpoint. I know Kansas runs a spread, but I'm not a fan of it otherwise. I really just like football in the South the most. Southeast is prime football country, outside of Texas. I love schools with tradition and teams that have a history of producing NFL linemen. I like Oklahoma more than I should. I also love a team that has LB's that will knock your teeth out and not hesitate. I really like what USC is doing with their defense, though I dislike the whole USC team and showtime concept, but I do like the history.

I guess my list would look something like this:
1. Kansas
2. Miami
3. Alabama
4. Georgia
5. Oklahoma
 
YoungTexanFan said:
I like the atmosphere with Big 12 football, but I'm not a huge fan of the spread in a football purest standpoint. I know Kansas runs a spread, but I'm not a fan of it otherwise. I really just like football in the South the most. Southeast is prime football country, outside of Texas. I love schools with tradition and teams that have a history of producing NFL linemen. I like Oklahoma more than I should. I also love a team that has LB's that will knock your teeth out and not hesitate. I really like what USC is doing with their defense, though I dislike the whole USC team and showtime concept, but I do like the history.

I guess my list would look something like this:
1. Kansas
2. Miami
3. Alabama
4. Georgia
5. Oklahoma
Click to expand...

I love all college football my list:
1. Southwest Texas State (Alma Matter)
2. Tx Tech
3. Texas
4. Fl State
5. Va Tech
6. LSU

Top 2-4 all have a family connection, but the last 2 are just programs that I respect. SEC is def the top football conference top to bottom. I enjoy tracking prospects that are legitimate draft possibilites. The past two years my freinds and I have made a huge spreadsheet with prospects and we get together for the draft and it makes it less boring. We drink a lot too those 2 days.
 
I was never a fan of college football until I went to TxTech. Their style of football is more fun to watch than any other IMO. Who doesn't love to see a team come back from 38-7 and win the game.

I really only watch Big 12 games though. I find it hard to get into other conferences.

The only problem I have with college football is the lack of parity. Rice will never beat UT, not going to happen. The Texans may lose to the Colts most of the time but the tide could easily change in just one year. The draft and salary cap are what makes the NFL better than college football. I get tired of seeing the same standings in the big 12 year after year (in the South anyways).

With that said, I love college football and can't imagine spending Saturdays any other way. I can't wait to see what Crabtree can do with a year of experience under his belt.
 
This is the time of the year to start to plan your college football TV schedule.
I will watch for the South Carolina's games just for the fact they've been a pipe line to the Texans the last four years. Like we saw with Tommy Blake http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=352085lt Last summer, being rated a day one pick in august is no guarantee that they will be on the radar come March. The lists of top rated college stars now are out at Rivals and Great Blue Northern. That is a very good place to start. The schedule of the college broadcasts of the national games are out. USC vs Oregon is must see TV for Texan draft nicks. Just for the fact that there will be several high end prospects who slot into positions of critical need for the '09 team. Florida Atlantic QB might be worth a watch. He comes off a stellar bowl game and has NFL typical size. Is he the '09 version of Joe Flacco ? Gotta watch. already seen Chase Hollbrook of New Mexico St. Pretty sure someone will roll the dice on the guy in the third next year. He's tall , has an arm and runs a pro style offense.

The Kid from Nevada runs an interesting offense...run & shoot I. If you've never seen it. it is worth a watch. The kid has a major league arm but he is built like a string bean. Won't attempt to spell his name: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=183575

He'll ride into Lubbock the second week, 9/6, without much help around him. If he puts up some numbers vs tech...on the road, you can start using Farve's name when mentioning the arm. RS Sophomore, probably 2010 class.

Bought Phill Steel's college preview mag. mostly a gamblers book with lots of stats and trends...but it was good way to get caught up. Get a free NFL preview, if you fill out the card and send it in. He likes to sniff his own rear too much for my tastes but the data is top notched.
 
JWarren14 said:
I love all college football my list:
1. Southwest Texas State (Alma Matter)
2. Tx Tech
3. Texas
4. Fl State
5. Va Tech
6. LSU

Top 2-4 all have a family connection, but the last 2 are just programs that I respect. SEC is def the top football conference top to bottom. I enjoy tracking prospects that are legitimate draft possibilites. The past two years my freinds and I have made a huge spreadsheet with prospects and we get together for the draft and it makes it less boring. We drink a lot too those 2 days.
Click to expand...

I do like Va. Tech's swarming defense, but I've never been able to follow them as much as other teams because of their offense. Miami's struggles at QB have also been hard to follow.
 
dc_txtech said:
I was never a fan of college football until I went to TxTech. Their style of football is more fun to watch than any other IMO. Who doesn't love to see a team come back from 38-7 and win the game.

I really only watch Big 12 games though. I find it hard to get into other conferences.

The only problem I have with college football is the lack of parity. Rice will never beat UT, not going to happen. The Texans may lose to the Colts most of the time but the tide could easily change in just one year. The draft and salary cap are what makes the NFL better than college football. I get tired of seeing the same standings in the big 12 year after year (in the South anyways).

With that said, I love college football and can't imagine spending Saturdays any other way. I can't wait to see what Crabtree can do with a year of experience under his belt.
Click to expand...

I don't agree with this at all. Last year was filled with upsets, starting off in week one with Appy State over Michigan. Kansas' and Missouri's run to the top of the Big 12? South Florida?

Now, there are some over-hyped college recruits that come in with some fanfare, but every single one of the kids playing college ball is playing purely for the love of the game. They aren't playing for their next contract. You see so many more guys play with heart than at the next level, it makes football what it is. I really don't like the NFL aside from the draft and the Texans. I dislike the whole premise of being paid gaudy contracts to play football when the kids at the college level just play for fun.
 
YoungTexanFan said:
I don't agree with this at all. Last year was filled with upsets, starting off in week one with Appy State over Michigan. Kansas' and Missouri's run to the top of the Big 12? South Florida?

Now, there are some over-hyped college recruits that come in with some fanfare, but every single one of the kids playing college ball is playing purely for the love of the game. They aren't playing for their next contract. You see so many more guys play with heart than at the next level, it makes football what it is. I really don't like the NFL aside from the draft and the Texans. I dislike the whole premise of being paid gaudy contracts to play football when the kids at the college level just play for fun.
Click to expand...

Michigan losing to Appalachian was called the biggest upset ever. It was a one time thing, it's not like Appy State is going to be the new Michigan. If Mousorri and Kansas become perrenial top ten teams like OU and UT, then I might have to eat my words. But one year does not justify the 30 years(just a guess I don't know how long it's been) of no BCS games. College football has upsets but the same teams are good every year for the most part. In the NFL the best team in the league can quickly become the worst and vice versa.

I always hear that college players play only for the love of the game. Not true. Most play to get attention from scouts. Some play just to get a scholarship, and some for the love of the game. If you want to see guys play for the love of the game, go watch some 7th graders battle it out. And I'm not saying that a lot of guys don't play just because they like to in college, but not all of them. Maybe not even the majority of them.

I see your point about NFL players getting ridiculous salaries. But these college athletes are coddled so much it is sickening. Not only do they get free tuition, free room and board, and spending money. They get private rooms, better food than paying students, free clothes and gear, don't have to go to class, etc, etc..... And that is not including what these kids get under the table. And to assume that they are not being paid under the table is ludicrous. It's only the guys who get caught that we hear about.

I love college football, but after being in college and seeing what goes down with these athletes, I can't agree that they all play for the love of the game. And I don't think that college football has near the amount of parity that the NFL does.
 
dc_txtech said:
Michigan losing to Appalachian was called the biggest upset ever. It was a one time thing, it's not like Appy State is going to be the new Michigan. If Mousorri and Kansas become perrenial top ten teams like OU and UT, then I might have to eat my words. But one year does not justify the 30 years(just a guess I don't know how long it's been) of no BCS games. College football has upsets but the same teams are good every year for the most part. In the NFL the best team in the league can quickly become the worst and vice versa.

I always hear that college players play only for the love of the game. Not true. Most play to get attention from scouts. Some play just to get a scholarship, and some for the love of the game. If you want to see guys play for the love of the game, go watch some 7th graders battle it out. And I'm not saying that a lot of guys don't play just because they like to in college, but not all of them. Maybe not even the majority of them.

I see your point about NFL players getting ridiculous salaries. But these college athletes are coddled so much it is sickening. Not only do they get free tuition, free room and board, and spending money. They get private rooms, better food than paying students, free clothes and gear, don't have to go to class, etc, etc..... And that is not including what these kids get under the table. And to assume that they are not being paid under the table is ludicrous. It's only the guys who get caught that we hear about.

I love college football, but after being in college and seeing what goes down with these athletes, I can't agree that they all play for the love of the game. And I don't think that college football has near the amount of parity that the NFL does.
Click to expand...

College football does have less parity than the NFL, but there are also 119 teams I believe, not 32. Great teams and dynasties fall off the face of the earth in college football. Look at Miami from the mid 80's through say 2004, and then look at them now. Look at the Alabama glory days with Bear Bryant and they are still trying to come full circle with Saben. Look at Florida State from the late 80's-early 90's and look at them today. Kansas was good in the 60's. I'm sure you've heard of Gayle Sayers? He's from Kansas. Missouri was good in the past as well. Some teams will always be a perenial power because of name recognition and tradition of putting players to the next level. However, upstart programs like Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, South Florida, and Arizona State usually don't just fade away, and help bring parity to the college game. With the increasing number of recruits and the increasing number of upstart programs to supplement the current power programs, more prevalent issues become important to prospects such as playing time early, recent success, coach's previous success, and the recruits current class; meaning more programs will continue to ascend rankings and reputation, thus creating more parity.
 
You also have to remember, much of a college's ability to sustain themselves over the generations and throughout different coaches is their ability to consistently recruit. And being able to consistently able to recruit depends largely on location. Some teams that have been good for generations, just as an example: Texas, USC, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Miami; look at their central recruiting base. Texas and Oklahoma continually restock with talent from Texas mostly. USC has kept their program strong with talent from Souther California. Alabama was able to recruit in a very strong state for football and the surrounding areas. Miami feasted on the recruiting hotbed that was and is Miami and the surround areas. Sure, all these teams and teams in general can and do bring in recruits from outside of those recruiting pipelines. We are seeing that more as the game advances itself, and that is helping to create parity.
 
Tradition and rivalry are the top two reasons to watch college football.

Pick out a couple of rivalry games and watch them for the next 3 years:

Ohio State vs. Michigan
Miami vs. Florida St.
Auburn vs. Alabama
Florida vs. Florida St.
USC vs UCLA
Texas vs. Oklahoma
Missouri vs. Kansas
Florida vs. Georgia


Watching rivalry games over time really helps you understand what college football is all about and makes watching it more enjoyable. Most of these rivalry games have huge implications on bowl selection and conference standings.

If your looking for rich conferences you might want to just watch a SEC, ACC, or Big 12 conference matchup every week.

Another great thing about watching college football is how fast some players rise to stardom. The NFL has established talents, but you never know who will bust out and have a huge season in college ball. You will find great prospects in games that you wouldn't expect.

If I were to give advice to someone just starting to watch college football on a weekly basis I would tell them to watch a primetime game, and a conference game (I'd pick SEC or ACC) of your choice every week.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top