CFB Questions: Playoff Kickoff

The first College Football Playoff is about to be underway and fans couldn’t be happier (unless you’re a Baylor fan).

Regardless of where your allegience lies, there are tons of great storylines surrounding these four games. I thought it would be cool to take a quick look at some of the best ones. Here’s a few questions:

How did it all get started?

Remember a few years ago in the Game of the Century of Alabama and LSU – Alabama lost. Then they somehow made their way back in and put on a clinic with SEC Western Division foe LSU in a 21-0 shutout in the Bayou Bengals’ backyard. The game left an aftertaste in everyone’s mouth. How can a team that lost during the season win the BCS against the same team? They wanted a playoff, which coincidentally would allow the same exact thing to happen, as it does in the NFL all the time . . . but what do I know.

So soon the talk began.

BCS Meets Tuesday on Postseason Format | NBC Sports

Did LSU – Alabama in 2011 Cause the College Football Playoff | USA Today

As soon as the playoff was decided, they had to get to work.

How did the logo come to pass?

(get it…pass…)

Before the selection committee, locations, or dates set, we had to get a logo.

College Football Playoff having logo vote | SBNation 

Where did that trophy come from?

Oh that one’s easy.

Then they figured how it all would work out.

Overview | College Football Playoff

Committee members were selected and given iPads, binders, and leave of absences for health reasons (Archie). They decided on bowl locations, the New Year’s Six, and weekly ranking announcements.

The games were played and teams moved up and down. Then the final four were decided.

What about the players?

These aren’t just teams on the field. These are guys with stories. Here’s some of my favorites.

Mariota’s Landmark Heisman Moment | Fox Sports

Amari Cooper’s mother surprised by emotional story told live on Heisman Trophy broadcast | AL.com

Blake Sims: From Unlikely QB to Unquestioned Leader for Alabama | CBSSports

‘Bama Benchwarmer Has Chance at Another Ring | YahooSports

Ohio State’s Cardale Jones, once frusturated, now resuscited | Newsday

Of course I’ll feature my favorite Jameis Winston article

A Star Player Accused, and Flawed Rape Investigation | NY Times – A great read.

And some funny stories along the way…

While You Were Sleeping OSU Fan’s Violoated Bear Bryant & Saban Statue | ElevenWarriors.com

Lane Kiffin Spends Awards Speech Cracking Nick Saban Jokes | Fox Sports

The Unis?

Nike unveiled new uniforms for each of the four playoff teams. They even tossed in a few special effects on December 30th. 

Four Nike-Sponsored Teams Battle For College Football Playoff Title | Nike

via OregonLive.com

But what about the important things…the memes?

There’s plenty of good ones out there. Here’s my favorites:

I hope everyone enjoys the games and remember, we all asked for a playoff.

College Football Questions: Rivalry Week

College Football Questions – A different look at college football

College football’s greatest blessing has finally arrived – Rivalry Week. One of the most unique things about the sport are the rivals. Sure other sports have rivalry games: The Jets vs the Pats, Redsocks vs Yankees, the Lakers vs old age, and some soccer team in England vs some other soccer team. College football doesn’t just have rivalry games though, college football has RIVALS. You’ll never see so many fans root for a team they have nothing to do with just because they are playing their rivals. Just ask any Alabama fan what size their Florida State shirt was last year. But now that they greatest week is here, let’s ask some questions.

• As the season is now coming to a close, coaches are jumping aboard the carousel. One of the first to clear out his office is Will Muschamp from Florida. The question begins-who will be the next coach at Florida? I say hire the one and only Jameis Winston. He’s the only person we’ve seen that has been able to pull Florida State down in the polls.
• Have you seen logo and trophy for the “Palmetto Bowl”? Neither has anyone else, as the schools have decided to give the rivalry a name, but haven’t gotten to the rest.
• We knew Oregon was fast, but come on, 80 in a 55? That’s a little too fast even for Mariota. In case you missed the story, Oregon’s Heisman contender QB got a speeding ticket in none other than LANE county. I find it a little prophetic.

• Speaking of coaches pacing the sidelines, let’s take a closer look at these guys and ask who would win in a coaching face-off?

It just always looks like someone shoved Chris Christie in an Adidas polo and put him on the sidelines. You won’t catch Urban not prepared for a windstorm. You can catch him off-guard grabbing a slice of pizza or with an Alabama defense, but when it comes to breaking wind, he’s got that covered.

Dabo seems like a nice guy but khakis and sweatshirts is a look that kinda belongs to soccer moms. Meanwhile Spurrier looks like he’s thinking about tomorrow’s tee time.

The Egg Bowl has never been bigger than this year and the nation will watch to see who will lay the biggest egg. Mullen always looks level-headed while Hugh looks like a possum in over his head.

It doesn’t really matter what Will Muschamp looks like because he won’t be there any longer. Jimbo used to look like a guy anyone would love to play for but that’s changed because of who he has playing for him.

The Iron Bowl has always been a big game between two outstanding programs and name-brand coaches. This year’s game is no different. While Nick Saban looks like the living legend, Gus sort of looks like a math teacher who idolizes Mike Ditka. “Let’s go mathletes!”

As always let’s enjoy the games and be glad we’re watching where none of the players and coaches can hear us.

College Football Questions: Week Six

College Football Questions – A different look at college football

College football finally has more than one or two great games to watch this weekend. What’s not surprising is that these all take place in the SEC. The state of Mississippi is making headlines across the nation, and this time it’s not for their high rates of  illiteracy, obesity, or poverty. Here’s a few questions:

• A Notre Dame player, KeiVarae Russell, who got himself into trouble took to social media and called the school “ridiculous.” Has anyone else seen Lou Holtz’s response to the incident?

• Since when have grocery store’s become the place of controversy for those involved in college football? First Winston’s crab legs and now a Cincinnati athletic official allegedly exposed himself to adults in a Krogers.  To combat this sweeping trend, here’s a new uniform for the practice squads-

No more grocery stores

• Some great SEC match-ups happen today and some of the best coaches in the country are facing off. Let’s get a quick look at those faces-

It’s okay Hugh . . I mean you still have a cool mascot

Brother against brother! Not only does Chris Kiffin coach at Ole Miss, he also exists! (Let’s be honest, no one has heard of this guy until now.)

The Battle of the Burgundy

Tiger vs Tiger. Cap vs Visor. Pullover vs Sweater Vest. Awkward Clap vs “BOOM!”

“Fiery” is an understatement

As always, let’s enjoy the games and be glad we’re watching where the players and coaches can’t hear us.

If you liked this post you might also enjoy:

• College Football Questions
• Best Lookin’ Logos of the SEC
• Worst Logos of College Football

College Football Questions: Week Four

We all knew this week would be different than the previous ones this season, but we didn’t know it would be like this. Expletives belong on the practice field and in the stands, but no one told that to the Heisman winner. We only have a few questions this week so let’s get started.

• The largest question on everyone’s mind has already been answered. Yes, the table claimed it was consensual…
• What do you get when you get accused of sexual assault?

The Heisman

• What do you get when you steal seafood?

Three Game Vacation

• What do you get when you shout obscenities on campus?

A fashionably-late entrance to one of the biggest games of the season

• What do we get? Confirmation that this guy is a punk.
• Why is an Alabama player missing the first half of his game? Because he accidentally bumped heads with a Southern Miss player. This after serving a suspension from the last half of that game as well.
• Coach Nick goes against his one-time assistant, Will Muschamp this weekend and that got me thinking. Who all has coached under ol’ Saint Nick? Here’s a look at some of the most notable coaching Nick’s done.

 

Now let’s enjoy the games and be glad we are watching where none of the players and coaches can hear us. 

College Football Questions: Week Three

We are three weeks into the 2013 college football season. We’ve been blessed with two great Saturdays. We’ve seen the unthinkable of ACC teams knock off SEC (East) giants. And now as the Tide rolls into Kyle Field there’s still questions to ask. Here we go:

• Geography anyone? We learned in week one that NC/SC are in-state rivals.
• Bobby Petrino has been talking to Western Kentucky players all summer long about how he’s turning over a new leaf. Did they hear anything other than “turn over”?
• BUI for UGA? Kicker gets kicked for boating with booze.
• Did you know they toss flags for fashion choices? The Red Wolves learned the hard way that some times flash just draws a flag.
  
• Was Eminem hoping a little Musberger attention will launch him into the spotlight like it did for Katherine Webb?
• Did you know everything is bigger in Texas. That includes the downward spirals….
• Seriously Gameday, how hard would it be to make one of these?!
• Sure Michigan won the big game against Notre Dame but did ND win the spelling bee?
  

  I thought it was “Meeechigan”

• Speaking of Notre Dame, are they allowed to make roster changes like this during the season? Someone at CBS Sports thought so.
  

  Wait a min…McCarron doesn’t play for them!

• When will Lane Kiffin get his act together? Just order already and put that menu down!
• What are the odds Johnny Football does this to a DB from the Crimson Tide?
• How is Bill Snyder different? In a profession where the most successful are control freaks and curmudgeons, he shows he’s a cut above the rest.
• I was very sad to hear about the sudden loss to the UCLA family. It was truly tragic. I can only say that if I was in the Pasquale family I would be proud to have his coach do this on his behalf.

As always let’s enjoy the games be glad we are sitting where the coaches and players can’t hear us yell.

College Football Questions: Rivalry Week

I’ve taken a break for a while, mostly because of this guy. I’m back now and a lot has happened. Top teams have fallen and coaches have already started heading to the exits. Here’s a few questions:

• Can anyone think of one happy little ginger?
  

  “Shollin Shlein losh to Baylor . .”

• Does Matt Barkley regret it?
• Sometimes it’s hard to pull for either team.
  

  ND & USC = The Unlike-a-bowl

• What are UT fans hoping for more at this point? Jon Gruden or James Franklin leaving Vanderbilt?
• Has anyone seen Texas A&M’s OC, Kliff Kingsbury, do his best Risky Business impression?
• With no head coach and no SEC wins between Tennessee and Kentucky this season, one of them has to walk away with a win . . . right?
• The Auburn family sure was excited about their 51-7 win over Alabama . . .  A&M (you are just supposed to whisper that last part).
• Here’s a major question I know has been on everyone’s mind- If Chizik is fired, will Under Armor stop making those awful jackets?
• Have you ordered yours yet? They won’t be shipping to Baton Rouge.
• Will anyone ever realize that the only following Lane Kiffin has is NCAA investigators?
• Speaking of investigators . . . do you see a trend?
• Have you ever actually seen the Mad Hatter go mad?

Let’s sit back and enjoy the games and be THANKFUL  we are sitting where none of the coaches and players can hear us.

College Football Questions: Week One

College football is finally here. It’s been 234 days since we last saw it in New Orleans. And by “it” I’m still talking about football and not what happened at Krystal’s. Last year I got to celebrate the season as not only a fan, but a father. After October 15th, I get to double the feeling when my wife and I expect our second son to arrive. But as the season begins I’m still left with several questions that I hope are answered. Here they are:

• Is Lou Holtz a real doctor?
  

  Zipped up to the neck? Really?

• Will someone talk to Gene Chizik about those windbreakers?
• How many times will we hear about a playoff?
• Will someone explain what “spice” really is?
• How many sources does Joe Schad actually have?
• Will Twitter be able to keep up with Clay Travis bashing Tennessee?
• Will we still hear the term “Tebow-esque”?
• How many coaches will throw their headsets and forget they are still attached?
• Will Tom Rinaldi keep trying to make me cry? 
• Does anyone else think Dan Mullen looks like a used-car salesmen?
• Will Lee Corso ever pick the road team?
• How will Brady Hoke get Michigan ready for Alabama when he’s making speeches at the Republican National Convention?

Chris Christie & Brady Hoke

• Will anything mess up Derek Dooley’s hair?
• What player from LSU will Verne Lundquist mispronounce?
• Which mascots will take things a little too far?
• Will Lane Kiffin have enough time for USC while he’s filming Tosh.O?

Daniel Tosh & Lane Kiffin

• Will the University of North Alabama be the third team in four years from Alabama to win a National Championship?
• Will Nick Saban make it happen back-to-back? Why not? I did. (see October 15th)

So let’s sit back, enjoy, and be thankful that we are able to yell at these coaches and players from where none of them can hear us.

“In short, in life, as in a foot-ball game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard; don’t foul and don’t shirk, but hit the line hard!” -Theodore Roosevelt

(Here’s what I’ll be waiting to see)