Bobref

16 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

What?  I've been told on this very forum that this kind of thing is anathema, working with different crews.  Blasphemy!

 

Opinions vary.

36 minutes ago, BDGiant93 said:

I guess it just increased the pool of teams that could play Indiana teams.

Exactly. I’m just curious whether that increased pool results in an increase in games vs. non-Indiana opponents.

We don’t have the final contestants determined quite yet. But we have sufficiently narrowed the field to start a discussion. 

First order of business: Congratulations to Bill Vinovich, selected by the League to wear the white hat. Dependable, unflappable, veteran crew chief. Great choice.

25 minutes ago, BDGiant93 said:

What has changed

Well, just for starters, we wouldn’t have had a chance to see IMG under the old rule.

4 minutes ago, temptation said:

An Indiana team (particularly a slightly above average one) traveling two time zones to play a football game.

It’s not dumb. My opinion.

13 minutes ago, temptation said:

This is dumb.  My opinion.

What do you mean by “this?”

3 hours ago, Muda69 said:

What exactly are the advantages to long-distance games like this?  Financial?  Competition? Promotion?

 

Different schools probably do it for different reasons. For the elite schools playing on ESPN or FoxSports, it’s about money and exposure (which also translates to money), I would guess. I believe many schools do it to provide the students with a great experience as a part of their education. A field trip, if you will.

Obviously, the best nickname/mascot for St. Joseph would be “The Carpenters.” Perhaps some people thought fans would get board of it, since it’s rather plane. But I think it hits the nail on the head.

31 minutes ago, Boilernation said:

Nothing has been reported that he's involved. I'm leaning towards them taking Caleb Williams and trading Fields. But, based on them interviewing Roman I'm not sold that they're moving on from Fields. Roman's specialty is moreso someone like Fields.

If they intend to keep Fields, I imagine he’d be involved in some way in hiring a new OC.

I have a feeling that, with the IHSAA’s relaxation of the travel limitations in recent years, we’ll be seeing more matchups that were not possible under the old rule. So, I thought it might be fun to see exactly how many schools take advantage of the new rule. Saw this on the Facebook page for Crown Point football:

4 hours ago, Boilernation said:

Agreed. I suspect we'll hear a lot of news regarding interviews and who the Bears are talking to. I would hope Poles interviews as many people as possibly to collect data on hjow prospective OC's feel about and would utilize Fields, Williams, Maye and possibly Jayden Daniels.

I have just one question: Have the Bears involved Fields in any way in the process of finding a new OC? The answer will reveal a lot. 

OK, it’s not football. But the event was big enough to warrant mention here.

50 years ago today, the invincible UCLA Bruins basketball team came into South Bend, riding an NCAA record 88 game winning streak. Just 20 days after the Irish football team upset mighty Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to win the national championship, the basketball team took down the 7-time defending champs 71-70, scoring the last 11 pts. of the game. I was there in person at both games. I can still see The Iceman, Dwight Clay, rising on the right baseline for the game winner. When we got up the next morning (OK, it might have been afternoon), the Irish were national champs in football and ranked #1 in basketball. Those were the days …

https://www.wndu.com/video/2024/01/19/remembering-notre-dames-historic-upset-over-ucla-50-years-later/

Little known fact: before that game in 1974, the Bruins had not lost a game since the 1970-71 season … when Austin Carr and the Irish took down Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, Henry Bibby, etc. I was at that one, too.

2 hours ago, temptation said:

(Sorry @Bobref, I had to.)

An irresistible compulsion to do something you know is wrong is one of the earliest of the classic insanity defenses.

52 minutes ago, BTF said:

Help me out here..............Knute Rockne All American, Rudy, and?

17 minutes ago, BTF said:

"Arguably." I've got Notre Dame. Probably depends on what area of the country you reside. 

I don’t think it’s arguable. You said most “storied.” Not the best. Not the most championships or All-Americans. Not the most players in the NFL. Find another program that has been featured in 3 full length movies.

7 hours ago, BTF said:

arguably the most storied program in college football.

Ummm, no.

3 hours ago, Impartial_Observer said:

I can get back to my Justified binge.

Raylan is the best!

9 hours ago, Irishman said:

I am guessing this did McCarthy in

If that’s the case, it’s ironic that a game where he finally demonstrated he can manage the clock properly (the drive that ended with a TD and :00 on the clock to close the 1st half) got him fired.

Whoa! Did not see that one coming. Two observations:

1. The Love kid can really play. Looks like the Packers hit the QB lottery … again.
2. There has to be a scapegoat in Dallas. Dan Quinn, the DC was thought to be bulletproof and headed to a HC job somewhere. Is this the year Jerry decides that Mike McCarthy has taken them as far as he can, and they need someone else to get them the rest of the way? Do not miss Steven A. Smith’s inevitable rant about the Cowboys on First Take tomorrow morning.

His stock will never be higher.

You've got to admire a guy who is willing to accept a challenge like that. The $10+ million a year probably doesn’t hurt, either. Washington will always be a red-headed stepchild in the B1G. Now he’s at the marquee school in the marquee conference. Guy’s definitely got some big ones!

I understand that of the 8 officials on this crew, 6 of them have been assigned to work on Wild Card weekend. If the League thought these officials made such a huge miss in that game, I doubt that would be the case.

7 minutes ago, Grover said:

I'm guessing they go after Kiffin

You mean Tommy Rees was not the heir apparent? 🤣😂😆

14 minutes ago, Boilernation said:

You've been bullish on Fields all year. Are you not concerend about him consistently not finding the open WR's when he does have time to throw? Or do you think the combo of Getsy and Nagy ruined him? I honestly can't remember if he was throwing WR's open at Ohio State are just alway benefited from having great pass protection and WR's who were always open. I love his arm and running ability. But, the Bears are giving up good trade value now if the new OC/QB coach are telling Poles after next season that he just can't read a defense and the Bears let him walk as a FA.

As always, the question is whether he will progress to the point where the game slows down for him in the pocket. And what’s the alternative? Wasting a #1 pick on a relatively immobile unknown quantity who you can’t protect? You know they’re going to throw him out there from Day 1.

20 hours ago, Coach Nowlin said:

How can they get Alt at 9?

You’re right that they can’t both take Williams with the #1 and get Alt at #9. Here’s what I’d like to see, in order of priority:

1. Keep Fields, which would make the upcoming OC and QB coach hires even more important. I think, with the right coaching, Fields can be a bigger Lamar Jackson. He was a better passer than Jackson in college. No reason he can’t get there at this level. Drafting Caleb Williams - who is not nearly as mobile as Fields- without getting major upgrades in the OL would be just setting him up for failure.
2. Trade down with the #1 pick to get additional draft capital. Combine that with that #9 pick, and get Marvin Harrison, Jr. and the best offensive tackle available.
3. Use remaining draft capital and salary cap room to address edge rusher, LB depth and remaining OL issues.