Roaming Bull

I’m sure the lobbyists drop them off the primo stuff

Maybe. Is there going to be carne asada, tequila, and a piñata?

Seems about right. Have you heard of…. Inflation? Right now Percent. Plus the “supply chain” issues. Add in a couple wars, weather issues, and random other world events. Hell we’ll be lucky to get this thing build under $325 million with the way things are looking right now. You want cup holders? That might be an extra 15-20 million easy.

Looks like he isn’t going anywhere. They’re in works to offer the football program more money. He doesn’t seem to be a serious contender outside Texas.

Can politicians focus? Fix the roads and bridges, build a school or library, or do something that could be construed as being productive for society. Instead they keep trying to score brownie points by doing these diversionary moves.

A second Texas program would have advantages, but I’m not sure who they would be able peal away. And you nailed the order. TTU would bring the most to the table. If you go after them do you make a play for Okie St too? Taking those two programs would put distance between the ACC and B12

I think the addition of Memphis would fill that out well. Academically not as strong, but they could bring money to the table. Something like: NE: BC/UConn/Pitt/Syracuse/WVU/Cinci W: Cal/Stan/Utah/ASU/Zona/SMU South/Central: USF/Tulane/Miami/Louisville/GaTech/Memphis East: UVA/VaTech/UNC/Duke/WF/NCSt

Never watched

He has had a hell of a career, and mostly been successful. If he wants to walk away now I wouldn’t blame him. You only live once and enjoying your time is important. If he three-peated in the USFL he has to get into some hall of fame. Back to back championships are hard to pull off, but three in a row is a greater achievement.

Let’s wait and see if this is a blessing or curse. I’m not sure yet. I think he sees the writing on wall and is trying to make a dignified exit. The conference has been a revolving door and the product is diluted. I’m wondering if he is the best the conference can do, or will they be able to find someone who can bring relevance and revenue.

That’s probably mainly based on conference affiliation, ironically enough. I think the fact that we have continuity in our system of preparation and coaches should help. They have guys leaving, coaches being shuffled, they have to travel further, and they have to adjust to temperature. Hopefully those advantages are enough for us to come out victorious. I think there will be a lot of emotion in this game for some of the players.

Interesting. 2 USFL championships and he took an advisor role. I wonder if he was dipping a toe into the water, or if he is eyeing retirement and just wanted to keep busy.

College football coaching carousel TEAMINOUTANALYSIS Mike Elko (Duke head coach)Jimbo FisherElko is familiar with the program after spending four seasons as Fisher's defensive coordinator (2018-21). He's aware of the expectations. His 16-9 record at Duke shows that he is able to develop players who can compete at a high level. However, he only has two years of head coaching experience and will have to create top-down unity at a program with a lot of chefs in the kitchen. Mark Stoops would have been a better option, and Elko would be graded higher had the deal with Stoops not imploded. We will have to wait a few years to see if this hire works out, but Elko shares similar coaching characteristics as Stoops. Grade: B+ Jonathan Smith (Oregon State)Mel Tucker (cause)Smith is the perfect hire for Michigan State. The former Oregon State quarterback rebuilt the Beavers program into a consistent team despite challenges in the recruiting department. Michigan State is bound to be a developmental program in the new-look Big Ten, and Smith has proven that he's one of the best at developing talent throughout his coaching career. Grade: A+ Jeff Lebby (Oklahoma offensive coordinator)Zach ArnettLebby has been successful as an offensive coordinator at Ole Miss, UCF and Oklahoma. However, finding success in the new-look SEC that includes Texas and Oklahoma will be almost impossible for a first-year coach at a program that is constantly fighting an uphill battle like Mississippi State. Grade: C David Braun (Northwestern interim head coach)Pat Fitzgerald (cause)Fitzgerald was dismissed after an investigation revealed a culture of hazing within the program. He was 110-101 in 17 seasons leading the Wildcats. Braun was tabbed as the team's interim coach at the beginning of the season and has surpassed all expectations, guiding the Wildcats to the brink of bowl eligibility. Northwestern rewarded Braun by removing the interim tag and making him the full-time head coach. Sure, the Wildcats could have tried for a splashier hire, but it's hard to argue with the job Braun has done so far. Grade: B Fran Brown (Georgia defensive backs coach)Dino BabersThis is a big jump for Brown, going from a position coach to a head coach in a Power Five conference. It's going to be a tall order for Brown to succeed early on, especially in the expanded ACC. However, the New Jersey native is currently ranked as the top recruiter in the nation, according to 247Sports, and finished No. 8 last year. He will help the Orange replenish that roster through high school recruiting and the transfer portal. Grade: B- Trent Bray (Oregon State defensive coordinator)Jonathan SmithBray has taken over for Jonathan Smith after Smith left to take the Michigan State job. This is an interesting hire because Bray, who was the Nebraska interim coach for one week as it made the transition from Mike Riley to Scott Frost after the 2017 season, has never actually coached an FBS game. There are two ways to look at this hire. The continuity he provides after being serving on the Beavers staff since 2018 will help them make the transition out of the Pac-12. However, these are uncharted waters for a program that has no home. There's no way to gauge what the blueprint is for this program, so keeping it in-house is probably the right move. Grade: B- Curt Cignetti (James Madison coach)Tom AllenCignetti was the talk of the college football world during the first two-plus months of the season as he led James Madison into the national conversation with 10 straight wins to open the campaign. He has three double-digit win seasons since taking over the program in 2019, finished in the top three in the final FCS rankings from 2019-21 prior to the program moving up to FBS. It's going to be tough for him to rebuild Indiana, but he is the right man for the job. Grade: A Sean Lewis (Colorado offensive coordinator)Brady Hoke (retired)Lewis was bound to be a hot commodity at the Group of Five level, and San Diego State struck while the iron was hot. Lewis' one-year tenure as the Colorado offensive coordinator failed not due to anything that he did, but because the Buffaloes simply couldn't block. He has one division championship in four years at Kent State and will give the Aztecs an offensive identity that it lacked last season. Grade: A- Willie Fritz (Tulane head coach)Dana HolgorsenThis is a perfect hire for a program that has enormous upside in the Big 12. Fritz turned Georgia Southern around as it transitioned to FBS. Then he transformed the Green Wave into a New Year's Six bowl contender. Houston needs a coach that can succeed fighting a tough battle, and Fritz is the best in the country at that. Grade: A+ Spencer Danielson (Boise State interim head coach/defensive coordinator)Andy AvalosDanielson served as the Broncos' interim head coach over the final three games. He led them to a 3-0 record and became the first interim head coach in FBS history to win a conference title when they topped UNLV in the Mountain West Championship Game. He has served in a variety of roles on the Boise State staff since 2017, so he knows the expectations within the fan base and administration. There is no doubt that he earned the chance to lead the program, and it'll be interesting to see if he can handle the responsibility on a permanent basis for a team that should be contending for New Year's Six bowl games every year. Grade: B+ Scotty Walden (Austin Peay coach)Dana DimelWalden is one of the hot up-and-coming names in the coaching industry after finding success at Austin Peay, where he posted a 26-14 record in four seasons. His win total increased in each season, culminating with a 9-3 record and FCS playoff berth in 2023. Plus, his four-game stint as the interim coach at Southern Miss in 2020 allowed him to get his feet wet leading an FBS program. He is a native Texan, and the ties to the high school coaches in the state will go a long way towards rebuilding the roster with enough talent to contend in Conference USA. Grade: A- Bryant Vincent (New Mexico offensive coordinator)Terry BowdenVincent was 7-6 as UAB's interim coach during the 2022 season following the retirement of Bill Clark and led the Blazers to win in the Bahamas Bowl. He served as the New Mexico offensive coordinator last season and helped the Lobos average 6.21 yards per play. He has ties to the Southeastern footprint as a high school and college coach, which will help him build the roster in Monroe. He's a good fit, but this is going to be a tough rebuild. Grade: B- Derek Mason (former Vanderbilt head coach)Rick StockstillMason took one year off of coaching last season after serving as the Oklahoma State defensive coordinator in 2022. He was the head coach at Vanderbilt from 2014-20, so his knowledge of the landscape in central Tennessee will be vital to the rebuilding effort in Murfreesboro. He is a master salesman, is well-versed on building defenses and has SEC experience. He's a prefect fit for the Blue Raiders. Grade: A Bronco Mendenhall (former BYU and Virginia head coach)Danny GonzalesWhat an upgrade from Gonzales to Mendenhall. The former BYU and Virginia coach has a 135-81 record as a head coach, has led teams to Top 25 rankings in either the coaches or the AP poll six times and has ties to the "Four Corners" region of the United States. He is known for his hard-nosed approach, discipline and ability to get the most out of his players. Grade: A+ Jay SawvellCraig Bohl (retired)It's never easy to follow a legend, but that is what Sawvell is going to be tasked with after Bohl's success in Laramie. Sawvell has been on Bohl's staff as defensive coordinator and safeties coach since 20202, and has experience as an assistant at Wake Forest, Minnesota and several other FBS schools. However, it's hard to imagine a first-time head coach jumping in for a legend and quickly contending for a conference title. Grade: C+ Mike ElkoElko left to take the Texas A&M job after posting a 16-9 record in two seasons at Duke. Curt CignettiCignetti was 52-9 with the Duke prior to being hired away by Indiana. Ken WilsonWilson went 4-20 in two seasons leading the Wolf Pack. Willie FritzFritz joined Houston after leading the Green Wave to a 54-47 record in eight years with the program. College football coaching carousel: Tracker, analysis, grades on coach changes, 2023-24 firings and hirings WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM

I agree. I think he will see this game as a way to set a tone, or send a message. A bowl game and bowl win should help with retention and recruiting efforts. Plus, I think he wants a winning record and bowl win in his first season.

Ranking each college football bowl game from 41 to 1 WWW.MLIVE.COM There will be plenty of college football over the next month to bet... 34. South Florida (6-6) vs. Syracuse (6-6) Date: December 21st Spread: Syracuse -3.5 Total: Over/Under 58.5 USF went 4-29 over the previous three seasons and became bowl-eligible in their first season under Alex Golesh. They probably feel great. The vibes in Syracuse are different as a 4-0 start to the season was wasted and Dino Babers was fired. Ranking all 41 college football bowl games for 2023-24: Rose shines as all-timer with Orange, Sun intriguing WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM They have us ahead of SMU 38. Fenway Bowl: No. 24 SMU vs. Boston College 37. Boca Raton Bowl: Syracuse vs. South Florida Thursday, Dec. 21, 8 p.m. -- Alex Golesh took over a South Florida team that went 4-29 over the three previous seasons and got them to a bowl in Year 1. I don't care how you spin it, that's impressive. We also shouldn't forget one of those six losses was a 17-3 loss to Alabama that had people questioning if the Alabama dynasty was over. The problem for the Bulls is that their defensive performance against the Tide was an outlier compared to the rest of the season; they do tend to give up points in a hurry when things go poorly. QB Byrum Brown, a hidden gem at the position this season, helps them answer quickly, though. Syracuse likely won't feel the same joy as USF to be here. The Orange fired coach Dino Babers during the season and lost six of their last eight games after a 4-0 start. Silver lining? They've won two of the last three to pick up some momentum heading into the postseason. athlonsports.com ATHLONSPORTS.COM 34. Boca Raton Bowl - South Florida (6-6) vs. Syracuse (6-6) Dec. 21 - 8 p.m. ET, ESPN South Florida showed big-time improvement under first-year coach Alex Golesh and rising star quarterback Byrum Brown (318.6 total yards a game). Syracuse will be under the direction of interim coach Nunzio Campanile after Dino Babers was dismissed in November. The Orange average 185 rushing yards a game behind quarterback Garrett Shrader and running back LeQuint Allen. I also saw this game ranked as 40 on a couple sites. Mid-30’s seems fair, I guess. There are definitely some games that seem like no one will be watching, but the diehards.

It’s probably AI generated. They doubled down on AI generated news earlier this year. There is an article about some of the perimeters around they placed on topics out there somewhere. I’m not sure people actually work there anymore. this is from about 6 years ago: “It’s been a year since The Washington Post started using its homegrown artificial intelligence technology, Heliograf, to spit out around 300 short reports” “In its first year, the Post has produced around 850 articles using Heliograf.” The Washington Post’s robot reporter has published 850 articles in the past year MEDIAMAKERSMEET.COM It’s been a year since The Washington Post started using its homegrown...

Ray Jay red? Or a different red?

it’s bowl season. We made it.

I agree. There is subterfuge in this decision, but like espn analysis it’s not that deep. This is them trying to pull teams like FSU out of conferences they want to collapse, and helps them to justify pushing away teams they deem unworthy in the future.

The is much bigger than the semenholes. No one likes them, but we understand the door this opens. If you can leave them out this season perhaps that allows you to leave others out in future. There could be multiple G5 teams that have good records, 0-1 losses, but now the committee can justify putting 2-3 loss teams ahead of them. Especially if they played Bama, Georgia, and so on. Doing this now means it will be less controversial when they rinse and repeat later.

I can’t keep up with SEC math. Bama and FSU have a common opponent in LSU. FSU beat LSU by a wider margin than Bama, but LSU beat UF by a wider margin than FSU. Therefore Bama gets the quality victory, but FSU get penalized because they only beat Louisville by 10. But USF played Bama closer than LSU and we beat Charlotte by a wider margin than UF did, so by way of SEC math we should be at least in 4th place in the SEC right now. boom