West Coast Football

[donovan]

I am not really sure where the line of demarcation is for West Coast Football. In my mind it is somewhere West of the Rocky Mountains. ( I am thinking right now about my friend, Mr. Billybud and Florida where the highest point is 345 feet. ((I think we call that a knoll.)) This has been a dismal football year for me. Not sure why. My teams did not do well, I did not attend that many games in person, the weather was ugly, the milk was too white and the pancakes too round. The message board was solemn and my football friends had more aches and pains than cooties at the Gospel Mission.

But for some reason, I have had an awakening about West Coast football for this coming year. I am thinking that the utter disaster of this year's playoffs will make me not care about that folderol (yes, I had to look up how to spell it and I am not sure yet, lot of different opinions on that word.) and just enjoy the games.

The PAC 12 I think will be strong this next year. We will see some fruits come to harvest. Washington, Washington State, Utah, have laid some strong groundwork the past couple of years. Oregon will be Okay, not sure Oregon State is quite there, but Andersen is a fine coach and may have something in the works. The California teams will have more stability and if Stanford disbands their band, then they will be watchable.

The Mountain West will be competitive and I think Boise State will make a real run. Harsin is a good coach and has filled in some gaps.

Anyway, Baseball is close and I am committed to watching college ball this year. Oregon State I think will be in contention again. They start in a month or so, but the games are all in Arizona where the game would not be confused with water polo.

[billybud]

Things are cyclical...Michigan State isn't as bad as they looked, the PAC 12 is stronger than they looked, Bama is not unbeatable, the Big 12 will get stronger as Texas and Oklahoma build, etc. The PAC 12 is as solid as any league

Here in North Carolina, I will miss the spring sun in the FSU stands while watching baseball (my wife always brought a book to read). Baseball is not a game that should be watched on TV..it is just a pitcher/batter show on the tube.

But I am, alas, a college football guy and am entering that long, dark period without my game...but there is recruiting (National Signing day), and spring practice...the two other football seasons in the south.

[Spence]

I think the Pac12 will be really good this year. I think they were better this year than they got credit for being. I'm not sure the B12 will be stronger. They need to start recruiting defense. Florida State should be ready to climb back into the playoffs, they have to get by Deshawn Watson. I believe they will. I think Michigan - much to my dismay- will get their turn at the table next year. LSU or Alabama rounded out by the PAC12 champ. Oklahoma will get to much credit for beating my Buckeye's early. Ohio State has lots of question marks for next year. I like the seasons where Ohio State is building. Too many holes to get it done next year, but I look for us to make TTUN sweat again in Columbus next year.

[highfly24]

I too think the PAC 12 will have a very strong year this fall. The North division should be very competitive. Washington had a lot of youth and I believe should be the favorites. Stanford will be a threat with a healthy McCaffery but they lose a lot around him, including the O-line. Oregon will also be strong and Wazzou should continue to improve. The south got all the hype coming in to this season, and will most years simply due to the LA market. Maybe the Rams will steal some of that this season but that shine will dull quickly again. Utah and USC should be strong while UCLA and Arizona should certainly provide depth to the conference if they can stay relatively healthy. That should be some fun games to keep an eye on in the late hours of the Saturdays.

[Spence]

College football is starting to turn. Really, today, the only conference that doesn't play defense is the B12. The PAC12 is starting value defense against a of pro style offense. Alabama, Florida State, Clemson, and Michigan do largely the same thing. I think that is the recipe to build a long term winner. The days of the read option working are beginning to dry up. Football will never be 3 yards and a cloud of dust. It will more likely resemble Bill Walsh's idea of offense.