Quote from: forgetful on December 07, 2025, 10:09:17 PMClock management wasn't too bad. I think they should have sped up a bit, maybe 10 seconds, but the problem wasn't clock management. It was being stuffed on 3rd and 1.

Then came the chess. Johnson figured everyone expected a run, and he could catch them off guard with a roll out (chance to run for it, or hit an open receiver). MLF pretty much thought, they are going to try to catch us off guard with a roll out. Let's defend that.

MLF won the chess match at the end. If I'm Johnson, I go with the power run game. Don't try to catch anyone off guard, just win the game with your strength...power run.

That's valid but it appeared that the play call created an open receiver in the end zone that the QB threw to late. You could say that Johnson should account for having an inexperienced QB.

Quote from: WhiteTrash on December 07, 2025, 11:04:06 PMThis is a fascinating response. I'm looking forward to you adding some color to it.

Which spectrum would you like?

Quote from: Pakuni on December 07, 2025, 09:46:33 PMI may have heard him wrong, but I don't think he said lock out the G5. I think he said get rid of the autobid. That may be close to the same thing, but it would leave open  the door for a G5 program to earn its way in, as Boise State would have last year or Cincinnati in 2021.

You are correct. In practice it would eliminate G5 most years and eventually completely eliminate the G5. Valid or not, that's the SEC commish's position.

Quote from: Newsdreams on December 07, 2025, 09:49:29 PMYou don't seem to know how it works, do you?

This is a fascinating response. I'm looking forward to you adding some color to it.

Quote from: MU82 on December 07, 2025, 10:36:25 PMI believe the players themselves voted to skip the exhibition.

I'm not sure that's true, but so what? I imagine they were heartbroken about missing the playoffs and not likely in the best frame of mind for that decision a couple hours later. The grown ups in the room ought to made the decision based on what's best for the program, not their feelings being hurt. 
Notre Dame's not the first and won't be the last team to feel they were wronged by the playoff committee. They're the first I can remember who acted like this in response.

Quote from: Pakuni on December 07, 2025, 10:29:22 PMI think it's exceptionally lame and shortsighted. I get that their feels are hurt, but they're giving up an opportunity for extra practice, additional reps for young players, a chance for early enrollees to pratice with the team, etc. Even discounting the player development aspect, it's a chance to reward the players with a free trip in late December somewhere better (and warmer) than South Bend, Indiana. And lastly, there are a bunch of kids on that team who will never play football for Notre Dame or anyone again, and this would have given them another chance to put on the uniform and be on the field one last time.
I'm all for players sitting out bowls to protect themselves and their draft stock, but the majority of that or any roster will never play in the NFL, except maybe preseason. ND has deprived those kids of that out of petulance.

Is it an exhibition? Sure. So are most college games. Did Purdue-Minnesota mean anything? Or Wake Forest-Virginia Tech? Any Oregon State game?

I believe the players themselves voted to skip the exhibition.

Quote from: Galway Eagle on December 07, 2025, 09:19:44 PMWhich part of his final year were we "not completely out of the running for an at-large bid"

Started the season 5-2, with wins over #4 Wisconsin and #9 Creighton.

Quote from: Pakuni on December 07, 2025, 10:14:08 PMAndy Reid, what are you doing?

Brutal decision to go for it from your own 30 when your defense is totally dominating the game.

Quote from: CreightonWarrior on December 07, 2025, 10:25:16 PMThe worst part of it is I have a feeling Travis is going to be even more annoying in retirement.

Yeah, time to settle down with Tay-Tay. He's a HoFer, but he's toast.

Quote from: MU82 on December 07, 2025, 07:01:49 PMAs for not playing in an exhibition game, I don't blame them or any other team that turns down the XBox Bowl, Gasparilla Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl or, really, any of 'em.

I think it's exceptionally lame and shortsighted. I get that their feels are hurt, but they're giving up an opportunity for extra practice, additional reps for young players, a chance for early enrollees to pratice with the team, etc. Even discounting the player development aspect, it's a chance to reward the players with a free trip in late December somewhere better (and warmer) than South Bend, Indiana. And lastly, there are a bunch of kids on that team who will never play football for Notre Dame or anyone again, and this would have given them another chance to put on the uniform and be on the field one last time.
I'm all for players sitting out bowls to protect themselves and their draft stock, but the majority of that or any roster will never play in the NFL, except maybe preseason. ND has deprived those kids of that out of petulance.

Is it an exhibition? Sure. So are most college games. Did Purdue-Minnesota mean anything? Or Wake Forest-Virginia Tech? Any Oregon State game?

The worst part of it is I have a feeling Travis is going to be even more annoying in retirement.