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</p>
<p>Had to mute because of it. I could never root for FSU for any reason because of it.</p>
<p>You know me so well, Nrds! ;)</p>
<p>I’ve been standing two feet in front of my TV for the past 30 minutes. :D</p>
<p>The Auburn TD at the end was interesting. The announcers pointed to 2 blocks but missed the key thing, which is that the wide receiver held the defensive back (#20). That DB had leaned to the outside, which opened the inside lane for a cutback, but had time to recover except he was being held. Then of course the chasing DB (#15?) overran the play when the safety hit the ballcarrier and the RB bounced off. </p>
<p>On the long FSU passing play after that score, the DB’s made the essential error of not keeping the play in front of them. I wondered if they were looking more at the QB than the WR because they were both a step behind what should have been an easy coverage. </p>
<p>The pass interference in the end zone was, to me, a case of the DB trying to make a play when there was no play to make. He was driving through the receiver to deflect a pass he couldn’t reach - neither could. I sort of blame that on the absurd way coaches teach players to look like they’re always trying. You know, chase after the thing even if it’s in the stands rather than look like you’ve “given up” on it. If the DB “gave up” on the ball, it was an incompletion. Maybe FSU scores, but that was 3rd down, meaning FSU had one shot to score or get a first down inside the 2. The smart play was not competing for that ball.</p>
<p>BTW, I think it’s a huge advantage for NO that they played Seattle in Seattle already. They know what the noise is like. And Seattle has in its memory how NO folded, which makes it harder to react when NO doesn’t fold.</p>
<p>This quarterback, though…</p>
<p>Now, I am going to TRY to go to bed. Second day of classes and all that. It’s crazy to think these students started their semester with this. :eek:</p>
<p><–;;—SEMINOLES-------<<<<<<</p>
<p>Unconquered!</p>
<p>I’m glad all the predictions of a FSU blowout were completely wrong. It made for a very entertaining game, unlike that yawn fest last year.</p>
<p>We are having a collective fit here in Nashville because it strongly looks like our beloved Vanderbilt coach is about to go to Penn State, which I think is a big mistake on his part (but what do I know).</p>
<p>Must not be bolting for the heightened academics or integrity in the football program at PSU. Had the NCAA had a embryo of a spine, this would never have been in the cards. </p>
<p>Blame them, or blame the fact that King Football in Happy Valley still has a sizeable wallet.</p>
<p>I personally think it would be a mistake on Franklin’s part to go to Penn State, and my hope is that he is using it as leverage for some more facility upgrades (huge amounts done already to keep him last year) at Vanderbilt. The AD at Vanderbilt, who is probably my number one hero in all of college athletics, just made a statement to the press that they aren’t going to let Franklin get away. The Twitter feed is out of control, as are the message boards.</p>
<p>I think Penn State would be a step down in integrity and lifestyle- and those are supposedly important to him.</p>
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It’s a step up in football pedigree, even considering Penn State’s current stay in purgatory, which is half over, and the program has been returned to some level of respectability by Bill O’Brien.</p>
<p>If he has ambitions, he isn’t going to be at Vanderbilt for long IMO, even if he doesn’t wind up at Penn State.</p>
<p>Well, considering the recent success of Duke (as well as Vandy’s) one could argue that much more respect can be gained at a school that ends up combining athletics and academic achievement. And, of course, the model of Stanford is there for anyone to see! </p>
<p>By now, we all know how the football pedigree was achieved and maintained at Penn State. Being a step up is all in the eye of the beholder! </p>
<p>As far as respectability, it is a given that it will return to a certain degree. But that is only because most quickly forget or did not care much about what happened in Happy Valley in the first place, and could not care less about the scandalous behavior of the so-called leaders at that school. No amount of fake contrition will ever undo the history. </p>
<p>And it should never have been “taken care” with what amounted to a slap on the wrist. Happy Valley should have been a desolated football site for years, if not decades. At best, PSU should be discussed in the same sentence as SMU in Dallas. </p>
<p>And they should have to live with similar … respectability.</p>
<p>Like MOWC, I am very surprised Franklin would entertain the idea of going to Penn State. People manage to baffle me every day.</p>
<p>Penn State has a higher graduation rate of football players than both Stanford and Vanderbilt, according to this:</p>
<p>[Stanford</a>, Northwestern, Vanderbilt headline college football nerds’ revenge - College Football - Stewart Mandel - SI.com](<a href=“http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130815/nerds-stanford-northwestern-vanderbilt/]Stanford”>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130815/nerds-stanford-northwestern-vanderbilt/)</p>
<p>Then there’s this:</p>
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</p>
<p>I’d like to see the average SAT of a football player at Stanford compared to the student body at large. I’m willing to bet it is way below the median. They apparently have a collection of “Rocks for Jocks” classes.</p>
<p>Vandy had their own horrible scandal last summer, so what does that say about the caliber of human they are recruiting for their football team?</p>
<p>None of these programs are perfect.</p>
<p>“None of these programs are perfect.”</p>
<p>so true</p>
<p>notrichenough- Comparing anything about Vandy to Penn State is laughable. Yes, Vandy had the terrible rape situation this summer, but just look at the difference in the way the coach and the university handled it compared to what Penn State did. I think that’s all that needs to be said, really.</p>
<p>I am from Pennsylvania and very familiar with the Penn State culture. There is simply no comparison to a Vandy, Duke or Stanford. It is not easy to be a student-athlete, and there is certainly a range of academic strength among the players even at the top academic schools. I know what I have seen from the Vandy players (barring the 4 involved this summer) and I’m very impressed. There have also been some wonderful Penn State players. But to think this is a good move for Franklin- I just don’t see it.</p>
<p>I could see him taking the Texas job had it been offered. But Penn State? It has to be a ton of money and the fact that he sees himself as a Savior.</p>
<p>He is from Langhorne Pa. so Penn St may have been his dream job. He will have an easier time competing at Penn St than at Vanderbilt/SEC.</p>
<p>I have heard great things about him.</p>
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<p>Don’t you think that the pesky element of curriculum difficulty and original selectivity of the student body might play a role in graduation rates? There are many ways to ensure a higher graduation rate. It just happens to be one statistic that is mostly meaningless without a controlling element. We all know that academic factories and more than a few athletic powerhouses graduate bona fide illiterates. </p>
<p>Simply stated, the student bodies at Stanford, Vanderbilt, and Penn State are hardly interchangeable.</p>
<p>I’m not saying that overall Vanderbilt isn’t a better school than Penn State, just that if your goal is to be a head coach at one of the major powers or in the NFL, Penn State is a better stepping stone. IMO.</p>
<p>Franklin is also the guy who said he checks out his assistants’ wives before he makes a hiring decision, and she has to be ‘D-1’ caliber in the looks department for them to get the job. He’s not a saint.</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>Haha, remember he coaches in an area where looks are important. The coaches might worry that Brent Musburger is not only ogling the GF of the stars but the sidelines and seats where the coaches’ wifes, GF, and mistresses might be hiding. </p>
<p>Belichick might agree with Franklin!</p>
<p>By the way, it is hard to disagree with this:</p>
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</p>
<p>The Texans’ coach has to be nodding.</p>
<p>Prospective assistant coaches interviewing for job with Franklin would have a big advantage getting hired if not only their wife is good-looking, but they have a few smokin’ hot girlfriends on the side too. Franklin sounds perfect for Penn State…not!</p>
<p>Franklin should maybe get a job with a college team nicknamed ‘Cougars’.</p>