(09-29-2020 04:17 AM)sierrajip Wrote:  

(09-27-2020 12:44 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Several LSU players opted out this season.

And UCF had 10 opt out. I am sure other schools had the same plight. It is interesting to see, in this season where depth is an issue, how these teams handle it. I just don't like the excuse card being used.

I agree. And if anything, a UCF should be hurt more by opt-outs than LSU, because UCF has less talent-depth. E.g., when UCF played LSU in the Fiesta Bowl, LSU was missing 3 of its 4 starting DBs. But the guys they replaced them with were 3*, 4* and 5* backups. UCF could never do that.

That said, in reality LSU will be hurt more, because they play a much tougher schedule. Even with their losses, LSU would surely be 2-0 right now if they had played Georgia Tech and ECU. People can look down on Mississippi State if they want, but they have 22 players in the NFL this year, more than any G5 program. In 2017, they walloped an LSU team that finished #17 in the final polls 36-7. All told, LSU is just 4-3 vs Mississippi State in the CFP years. It's not a gimme game, and that's far from the toughest on their schedule.

*That* said, the covid-19 situation has made things weird and uniquely challenging for everyone, and it will be fascinating watching how teams cope with that. It's kind of like a strike-shortened year in the NFL or NBA, some organizations adapt better than others.

Given the reality of covid, I suspect just about everyone who has a bad year will get a kind of pass, because of the unique circumstances. The coach hot-seat will just not be so hot.

(09-29-2020 09:31 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(09-29-2020 04:17 AM)sierrajip Wrote:  

(09-27-2020 12:44 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Several LSU players opted out this season.

And UCF had 10 opt out. I am sure other schools had the same plight. It is interesting to see, in this season where depth is an issue, how these teams handle it. I just don't like the excuse card being used.

I agree. And if anything, a UCF should be hurt more by opt-outs than LSU, because UCF has less talent-depth. E.g., when UCF played LSU in the Fiesta Bowl, LSU was missing 3 of its 4 starting DBs. But the guys they replaced them with were 3*, 4* and 5* backups. UCF could never do that.

That said, in reality LSU will be hurt more, because they play a much tougher schedule. Even with their losses, LSU would surely be 2-0 right now if they had played Georgia Tech and ECU. People can look down on Mississippi State if they want, but they have 22 players in the NFL this year, more than any G5 program. In 2017, they walloped an LSU team that finished #17 in the final polls 36-7. All told, LSU is just 4-3 vs Mississippi State in the CFP years. It's not a gimme game, and that's far from the toughest on their schedule.

*That* said, the covid-19 situation has made things weird and uniquely challenging for everyone, and it will be fascinating watching how teams cope with that. It's kind of like a strike-shortened year in the NFL or NBA, some organizations adapt better than others.

Given the reality of covid, I suspect just about everyone who has a bad year will get a kind of pass, because of the unique circumstances. The coach hot-seat will just not be so hot.

Mississippi State is in the greatest decade in their history. This isn't situation normal for them. They managed to fire Moorhead before he tanked what Mullen had built. Leach will no doubt keep them above water, but they'll be back to sucking regularly whenever Leach rides out.

Jackie Sherrill did manage 4 T25 seasons and Davis Wade Stadium has come a long way since then. Surprisingly, Mississippi St's all-time record is 24 games above .500 so they should keep winning more than they lose for the future.

(09-29-2020 09:31 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(09-29-2020 04:17 AM)sierrajip Wrote:  

(09-27-2020 12:44 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Several LSU players opted out this season.

And UCF had 10 opt out. I am sure other schools had the same plight. It is interesting to see, in this season where depth is an issue, how these teams handle it. I just don't like the excuse card being used.

I agree. And if anything, a UCF should be hurt more by opt-outs than LSU, because UCF has less talent-depth. E.g., when UCF played LSU in the Fiesta Bowl, LSU was missing 3 of its 4 starting DBs. But the guys they replaced them with were 3*, 4* and 5* backups. UCF could never do that.

That said, in reality LSU will be hurt more, because they play a much tougher schedule. Even with their losses, LSU would surely be 2-0 right now if they had played Georgia Tech and ECU. People can look down on Mississippi State if they want, but they have 22 players in the NFL this year, more than any G5 program. In 2017, they walloped an LSU team that finished #17 in the final polls 36-7. All told, LSU is just 4-3 vs Mississippi State in the CFP years. It's not a gimme game, and that's far from the toughest on their schedule.

*That* said, the covid-19 situation has made things weird and uniquely challenging for everyone, and it will be fascinating watching how teams cope with that. It's kind of like a strike-shortened year in the NFL or NBA, some organizations adapt better than others.

Given the reality of covid, I suspect just about everyone who has a bad year will get a kind of pass, because of the unique circumstances. The coach hot-seat will just not be so hot.

Are you sure you shouldn't put LSU on you list of favorite teams?

I do agree that this year all teams will be given a pass because of Covid. This is what we have. No excuses.

(09-30-2020 05:39 AM)sierrajip Wrote:  

(09-29-2020 09:31 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(09-29-2020 04:17 AM)sierrajip Wrote:  

(09-27-2020 12:44 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Several LSU players opted out this season.

And UCF had 10 opt out. I am sure other schools had the same plight. It is interesting to see, in this season where depth is an issue, how these teams handle it. I just don't like the excuse card being used.

I agree. And if anything, a UCF should be hurt more by opt-outs than LSU, because UCF has less talent-depth. E.g., when UCF played LSU in the Fiesta Bowl, LSU was missing 3 of its 4 starting DBs. But the guys they replaced them with were 3*, 4* and 5* backups. UCF could never do that.

That said, in reality LSU will be hurt more, because they play a much tougher schedule. Even with their losses, LSU would surely be 2-0 right now if they had played Georgia Tech and ECU. People can look down on Mississippi State if they want, but they have 22 players in the NFL this year, more than any G5 program. In 2017, they walloped an LSU team that finished #17 in the final polls 36-7. All told, LSU is just 4-3 vs Mississippi State in the CFP years. It's not a gimme game, and that's far from the toughest on their schedule.

*That* said, the covid-19 situation has made things weird and uniquely challenging for everyone, and it will be fascinating watching how teams cope with that. It's kind of like a strike-shortened year in the NFL or NBA, some organizations adapt better than others.

Given the reality of covid, I suspect just about everyone who has a bad year will get a kind of pass, because of the unique circumstances. The coach hot-seat will just not be so hot.

Are you sure you shouldn't put LSU on you list of favorite teams?

I do agree that this year all teams will be given a pass because of Covid. This is what we have. No excuses.

There are three teams that are my football favorites. By osmosis, I have been a Notre Dame fan for 50 years. My dad grew up a Chicago-area Catholic who never attended ND but has been a massive fan all his life, so I was indoctrinated at a very early age. My first memory of CFB is watching Notre Dame vs Texas in the 1970 Cotton Bowl when I was five years old.

My co-favorite is of course my alma-mater, USF. When USF and ND play, as they did a few weeks ago, I want ND to win but for USF to play respectably, hated seeing us get embarrassed like we did. Kind of like how I am about USF and Georgetown in basketball. ND and Georgetown come first because the ties came first.

My third favorite is Southern University, the school I work at. They are an FCS team so don't conflict with the above two.

LSU comes next after that. Partly by osmosis - I have lived in Baton Rouge a long time and have many friends and colleagues at LSU, and because my kid went to LSU so I've paid LSU more money than any school other than USF. They are a team I root for kind of like a lifelong Knicks fan who grew up in New York but then moves to Orlando might adopt the Magic as a local rooting interest, while still being a Knicks fan first and foremost. So I don't consider them a "favorite team". I don't buy LSU championship t-shirts when they win things like I would for USF (if we ever won anything) or Notre Dame or Southern. When LSU beat Clemson last year I cheered, and I felt great for all the LSU fans in town celebrating, but I didn't feel like it was "my" victory. I didn't walk around with a puffed-chest like my team just won the championship. Because they aren't my team.

All that said, I don't regard the part you bolded as being a fan-boy kind of post. I think it is a fair appraisal of the situation.