Who Besides LSU Are You Rooting For
by Richard Pittman on Sep 2, 2009 6:34 AM CDT
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PrintIt's a simple question, and I imagine we will have similar answers, but I want your feedback on this. Who, outside of LSU, do you want to see do well this season? I have a few answers, and varying reasons behind them.
Stanford: Whether it's beating mighty USC with a squad that most said would have trouble competing in the FCS, or grousing about Rich Rodriguez at Michigan before it was cool, you have to like Jim Harbaugh. You also have to like a school with a belligerent tree as a mascot. You also have to like a football program that is made of unabashedly smart people. You also have to wonder if any of them have any sanity. I have Harbaugh on my short list of head coaching candidates should LSU find themselves in need of one, which we certainly eventually will. We just hope that Les Miles does well and that we won't need it for a while. Stanford starts their season with a winnable game against Washington State, one that should end a little before ours begins, and occurs right up the road from our season-opener.
Michigan: Uh, there's one other way that we could end up needing a new head coach soon. I think we can official declare Rich Rodriguez to be "beleaguered" at this point. The Times-Picayune has a story where they asked a bunch of LSU players to compare their own regimen to that reported in Ann Arbor. While they acknowledge that you can't win if you only work at football 20 hours per week, there is no equivalent at LSU to what is reportedly happening at Michigan. It was a rough season last year as the Wolverines went 3-9, a historically bad campaign, and if Michigan has another rough season like that, the embarrassment associated with this episode would be one more thing to pile onto Rich Rodriguez and I think would lead to Michigan pulling the plug. If Michigan pulls the plug and LSU has a good year (say, 9+ wins), the first call is to Les Miles' agent. I would think Miles would make that jump, and I wouldn't blame him. However, Rich Rodriguez can forestall that by winning. If he wins 7 games, I think he's safe. Season starts with Western Michigan, but then they get Notre Dame in week 2. If you like Les Miles and want him to stay, root for Michigan against Notre Dame. A win there would silence the critics for a while.
A few more after the jump.
Nebraska: It's Bo Pelini's new-ish stomping grounds, and I'd really like to see him succeed. Last year's 9-4 record was a step in the right direction, and even under the best of circumstances it may be a year or so before they're really able to compete with the guys in the Big 12 South, but I think they could be the best team in the North division this year. Nebraska may be the Big 12 what Bama was to the SEC a few years ago, a sleeping giant that the right coach can awaken into a national power in a hurry. Is Pelini that right coach?
Louisiana Tech: And no, not just because they play Auburn in the first game. Derek Dooley is also on my short list of future head coaching candidates, and I want to see a second Louisiana school emerge that will take the talent that is just under LSU's level. I would rather see guys go to La Tech than to Texas A&M or Ole Miss where they can really come back to haunt us. Yes, I know we play La Tech this year, and I won't be rooting for them then. La Tech has some good players this year, including one or two that LSU wrongly decided they did not want. How much could we use a guy like Phillip Livas?
For some of the same reasons, I also hope that ULM does well.
Buffalo: Under the direction of Turner Gill (another short list guy), this program has gone from one of the worst in the country to the MAC championship last year. They did it with a crazy offense that had a 1,400 yard receiver and a 1,300 yard rusher. They'll be replacing their quarterback, unfortunately. I doubt I'll take in any Buffalo games on TV, but I'll be keeping up with the scores.
Anyway, that's my list. What's yours?
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I like Stanford, La Tech, and Nebraska as well...
For basically the same reasons that you said.
I’ve got a lot of buddies who went to Miss St. and since they aren’t a threat to LSU I pull for them vs other SEC teams.
I’m also a pretty big Oregon fan. I think I might be the only person in America that likes their unis, the all white with green helmets is awesome. LSU vs Oregon in 2007 with both teams healthy would have rivaled USC-Texas 2005 for the best NC game ever.
One of my good friends went to Wake Forest, so we all kinda pull for Wake too.
And because of Nick Saban at Bama, and my new bride, I don’t hate Auburn as much as I used to, which is pretty damn hard to admit.
Great post.
Va Tech
A few years ago, I went out on a limb and picked Va Tech in some pre-season prediction w/ my buddies. They came through for me. Since then, I like to pull for Va Tech when it doesn’t conflict w/ the tigers.
I also have an affinity for the mobile qb. Tyrod for Heisman. I think that has something to do w/ my playstation years in college.
For family:
Alabama (grandfather), Missouri (grandmother), Maryland(sister, two cousins), Tennessee (cousin-in-law), Texas (uncle), Utah (brother-in-law)
For friends:
Georgia Tech, Duke, Utah, Temple – wow my friends are lame
I also dig Cal even though I tried to go there for grad school and they wouldn’t have me.
by janepriceestrada on Sep 2, 2009 9:07 AM CDT reply actions
Great question:
Virginia Tech: my brother went there, I’ve been to many of their games, the campus is beautiful, and they embrace their goofy mascot.
Maryland: grew up in the Old Line State, so I’ve always rooted for the Terps.
Baylor: my law school, been to a few games and I really liked the George’s tent, they have two live bears, and I think they finally have a good coach
Wake: Jim Grobe. I honestly believe he is the best coach in America.
TCU: I live in Dallas, and I just root for the Frogs to irritate the UT and A&M partisans. I hope they crash the BCS party.
Bowling Green: my girlfriend went there. She likes Urban Meyer more than BGSU, but there’s no way in hell I’m rooting for Florida. Besides, now I have a MAC rooting interest.
Nebraska: Bo Pellini. Omaha. Return of the blackshirts. As you can tell, I like defense.
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
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Stanford, for whom I have high hopes this year
looks with disdain on all you bandwagon jumping Cardinal fans
Also the Wreck, because I love Paul Johnson’s offense.
by 4.0 Point Stance on Sep 2, 2009 11:19 AM CDT reply actions
I like
Tulane—-went there for undergrad…football team sucked, but we still went to every home game (except for when I was at Tiger Stadium)
ULM—-went there freshmen year when it was NLU before transferring to Tulane.
Cincinnati—-taught there and then attended there for law school.
OU—-Grandfather went there after WWII and missed only 2 games over a 30-40 year period (although I don’t like Stoops…he’s just too damned whiney. Also, I think 2004 championship may have gotten me written out of the will).
Ark—-gotta keep the in-laws happy.
Kentucky—-I live here now, so I want to root for the home team as long as they aren’t playing the Tigers.
Penn State—-always liked Paterno.
Anyone in the conference playing a non-conference opponent with the possible exception of UT as long as Kiffin is there. (He just seems like a punk.)
Anyone playing Notre Dame in the Weiss or Holtz eras.
Anyone in the conference playing UF.
Nebraska—-for Bo.
by Displaced Tiger on Sep 2, 2009 11:30 AM CDT reply actions
I kind of like Illinois
I think Zook got a bit of a raw deal at UF, plus I like in St. Louis, and UI is kind of big here. They are kind of my adopted Big11Ten team. UI are a fun team to watch — Juice Williams is good and exciting player. I think they could surprise some people this year.
Gregatron is not responsible for any of the crap he just wrote.
St. Louis vegetarian blog
Oregon, of course, because it’s where I go to grad school. Also, home games are like someone took around 30,000 seats out of Death Valley, and left the sun out.
Nebraska, because (a) I went there for a summer for academics (b) while I was there, everyone was generally great and friendly, and mildly apologetic about stealing Bo, to which I told them © “You hired a coordinator to become a head coach. I have no problem with that, and in fact will be rooting for him”
Michigan, both for your reasons and because I like the Schembechler quotation “If they choose to vote you number one, then you’re the national champion. But a national champion is a mythical national champion, and I think you guys ought to know that. It’s mythical.”
Tulane, because of many family members, and I started there before realizing that even with a half-tuition scholarship, it’s expensive.
UGa, because I have lots of family in Georgia, so they’re the East team I (relatively) don’t mind.
Conflicted on liking ND for family/friends reasons, but not liking Weis.
Defending the SEC in Addicted to Quack and the Pac-10 in Team Speed Kills and And the Valley Shook.
ACC – Georgia Tech – If I hadn’t gone to LSU, that’s probably where I would have gone to college. I love that Paul Johnson is bringing the flexbone/wishbone back to major college football.
Big Televen – Michigan – Always a classy program and I have a good friend who’s a Michigan grad. Plus, really cool uniforms/helmets. I think the whole RichRod/workout controversy will blow over pretty fast if they start winning again.
Big 12 – Nebraska – Really nice people there and great football fans. I like Pelini and want to see him successful. They’re another program that seems to try to do things the right way. I also like Texas and will generally pull for them on TV in any generic game I don’t have a rooting interest in.
Pac 10 – Generally whoever’s playing USC that week. Not just for the 2003 split title, but I was actually at the 1979 heartbreaker in Tiger Stadium (freshman year at LSU).
I don’t pay any attention to the Big East, but I kind of liked West Virginia when Rodriguez was there. And similar to USC, I automatically pull for any team playing Notre Dame. When USC and Notre Dame play, I pull for a tie.
UCLA-my mom’s whole side of the family grew up in L.A. and went there, my dad got his Ph.D there, like their basketball program too.
BYU-live in Utah, I’m a Mormon, they usually have pretty high character players. My parents met there also.
Utah-This might seem strange to have the 2 rivals right next to each other, but I like them both the same. I tell BYU fans I’m a Utah fan and Utah fans that I’m a BYU fan just so I can irritate them. Plus my dad is about as high up as you can get in their business department.
Nebraska-Bo Pelini
Texas-Just because they beat USC in 05, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for them.
Anyone playing USC-Obviously as someone who’s top 2 teams are LSU and UCLA, I hate USC beyond belief. The hype and stuff they get just blows my mind.
Southern Miss – They’ve gotta win the conference plus how could you not pull for them
Oregon – really any team in the pac 10 who can win the conference other then the cry babies from usc
Nebraska – Bo pelini and i’m tired of texas/oklahoma and all the talk about them
Michigan – so miles won’t leave
anyone in the big 10 who will win the conference and keep ohio st from winning it
nevada – because i can’t stand boise st (join a real conference if you wanna go to the national championship game, that goes for utah byu and tcu also)
tcu – because i don’t like utah
Nebraska, Notre Dame
Back when I first started following college football with any regularity, Notre Dame was in the midst of actually making some history instead of living off it. I got taken in completely by the tradition and Knute Rockne and the Golden Dome and all that. The 1993 FSU/ND game is one of my favorites. I enjoy seeing the Irish win.
At the same time I picked up Notre Dame, Nebraska was running the triple option, which captured my imagination for some reason. Defensively, they were switching to faster, more aggressive personnel and strategy, which was tons of fun to watch. Tommie Frazier is still my favorite college player ever, and Tom Osborne is my favorite coach.
I’m interested in watching Georgia Tech right now, but I don’t care if they win or lose and my interest will end when Paul Johnson’s tenure does.
spite
I root for teams whose victories help LSU.
I root for SEC teams against non-conference opponents—I want them to have good records and to be highly ranked when we beat them.
I root for teams that play Florida St. because Bowden is an ass. It’s been over a decade, but don’t forget he ducked joining the SEC and chose a weakling conference instead (back then the ACC was a laughing stock).
I root for teams that play Notre Dame out of spite for know-nothing “fans” who wear their duds by default because it’s popular, but don’t follow the team.
I root for teams that play USC because their fans deserve to suffer.
I root for teams whose victories make further mockery of the BCS.
Stanford?
’eff Stanford. Go Bears.
Beyond that, I can’t comment; football is a tertiary interest despite playing for nearly a decade.
Rickey has spoken. Keep the Athletics in Bump City.
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